Bear Stephenson Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Children’s Museum Gala will be a celestial celebration on Friday, Dec. 1

Posted at 12:05 pm November 29, 2017
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Guests will experience a “Starry CMOR Night” at the 16th annual Gala benefitting the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The celestial celebration of children, the arts, and science will be from 6-10 p.m. Friday, December 1, at the Museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

The Gala evening will feature entertainment by local youth, fine dining, and auctions, a press release said. With science and the arts among the themes of exhibits and classes at the Children’s Museum, as well as the Gala theme, those attending are invited to dress as their favorite scientist or artist, or to come in semi-formal attire.

David Fields, director of the Tamke-Allan Observatory at Roane State Community College, will present a “Starry Nights” chat that evening, the press release said.

Entertainers will include the Oak Ridge High School String Quartet, the Oak Ridge Academy of Dance, and harpist Amy Carty. [Read more…]

MCLinc sponsors ADFAC, Bow Tie Event

Posted at 2:53 pm November 11, 2017
By Annie Cacheiro Leave a Comment

Pictured above from left, ADFAC representatives Annie Cacheiro and Louise Mixon accept a corporate contribution from McLinc representatives Barry Stephenson and Michele Sanders. (Submitted photo)

Materials and Chemistry Laboratory Inc., or MCLinc, is a sponsor for ADFAC’s 2017 Corporate Membership Campaign, and the company is also a sponsor for this year’s Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Event, which will be held Saturday, November 11, a press release said.

MCLinc’s President and Chief Executive Officer Barry Stephenson and Laboratory Manager Michele Sanders met recently with ADFAC representatives to celebrate their corporate support for the local agency.

MCLinc is a commercial applied research company providing high-quality consulting and analytical testing for industrial forensics, materials characterization, environmental chemistry, and process optimization, the press release said.

“As MCLinc is an employee-owned company, all corporate charitable gifts are generously supported by the employees,” Stephenson said. “I am so pleased that our company and our employees are able and excited about supporting such a worthy cause as ADFAC. We are very much looking forward to the Bow Tie Award Event this year as we all celebrate local volunteer Tom Row.”

See previous story on the Bow Tie Award Event here. [Read more…]

Local volunteer Tom Row to be honored at ADFAC Bow Tie Award Event on Saturday

Posted at 3:30 am November 9, 2017
By Annie Cacheiro Leave a Comment

Tom Row

ADFAC’s Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award Event will be held Saturday, November 11, and it will honor local volunteer Tom Row.

The Bow Tie Award Event is from 5-10 p.m. Saturday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge. Row is the fifth winner of the Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award.

Also Saturday, ADFAC will posthumously honor Kathy Stimpson, whose committed efforts to help those less fortunate led to the inspiration and establishment of ADFAC in the mid 1980s, a press release said.

The Bow Tie Award Event is designed to honor a local volunteer and serve as a signature fundraising event for ADFAC and the Bow Tie Endowment Fund, which was established to ensure the short and long-term sustainability of ADFAC. Previous Bow Tie Award winners include Ray Smith (2013), Tim Myrick (2014), Cande Seay (2015), and Bear Stephenson (2016). [Read more…]

Free Medical Clinic’s FMC Bash: Auctions, dinner, dance contest on Aug. 12

Posted at 9:53 am July 10, 2017
By Carolyn H Krause Leave a Comment

Some of the dancers who will compete at the FMC Bash on Aug. 12, 2017, are, from left in front, Brianna Sprunger, Heidi O’Steen and Cande Seay; from left in the middle row, Laura Lynn Riden and Leslie England; and from left in back, David Vudragovich, Bruce England, and Hans Vogel. (Submitted photo)

Submitted

The best party in town, many attendees have said! A lively dance contest, delicious dinner, drinks, and delightful auction items. A Hawaiian sunset theme. Dance music by popular disc jockey Dave King. Casual attire.

Elaine Graham, the entertaining emcee and auctioneer and 2016 dance contest winner, will run the show, the annual “fun” fundraiser for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. FMCOR volunteers and staff will present the FMC Bash on Saturday, August 12, from 5 to 10 p.m. in the Parish Life Center of St. Mary’s Church, 327 Vermont Avenue, according to an FMCOR press release.

The dance contestants include Leslie and Bruce England of Jada Blade, Hans Vogel, Cande Seay, Laura Lynn Riden, Ruby Miller, Heidi Osteen, David Vudragovich, Briana Sprunger, Samantha and Matt Berven. You can “vote” now and that evening on the amazing and amusing Oak Ridge dancers as they compete in the celebrity dance contest.

The live auction, to be officiated by “Bear” Stephenson, will include big items such as a week’s stay in Maui, Hawaii, in a two-bedroom, two-bath condo that sleeps six and sits on the beach; an incredible Indian experience for eight at the home of Ginny and Sam Basseen that features an authentic Indian dinner, traditional Indian dancers, and more; a week’s stay in a two-bedroom, two-bath condo that sleeps eight and is in Crescent Beach, Florida, near historic St. Augustine; a dinner in the garden for 30 that offers wine, food and fun, and an evening of Hawaiian hospitality with dinner for 20. [Read more…]

Janelle Arthur is the special guest at CASA Barbeque & Bluegrass Bash on Saturday

Posted at 1:56 pm May 8, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Janelle Arthur

The Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash by CASA of the Tennessee Heartland on Saturday will include a barbecue buffet and live music by the Mt. Le Conte Jug Band, along with special guest Janelle Arthur. There will also be a silent auction along with a live auction with Bear Stephenson, a press release said.

Tickets are $65 each, or $520 for an eight-person table.

The Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Elizabeth Claire’s at 364 Market Street in Clinton.

You can see the CASA events here. You can see the event page on Facebook here.

Arthur is from Oliver Springs. She began singing in the heart of the Smoky Mountains at eight years old, when she landed the role as a young Dolly Parton in a production at Dollywood, the press release said. She performed thousands of shows in the Smoky Mountains area before moving to Nashville in 2010, where she soon began her “American Idol” journey. After three years of persistence, Arthur made it all the way to the Top 5, the release said. [Read more…]

United Way has its annual meeting at New Hope Center on Thursday

Posted at 1:37 pm April 18, 2017
By naomi asher Leave a Comment

United Way of Anderson County has its annual meeting on Thursday morning at the New Hope Center at Y-12 National Security Complex on Scarboro Road.

The 2017 Annual Meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 18. More than 100 community members, leaders, and volunteers are expected to attend. There will be a waffle and coffee bar, among other breakfast items, a press release said.

2016 Campaign Co-Chairs Carroll Welch and Bear Stephenson will welcome the crowd, and they will talk about the successes of the past year, the press release said. [Read more…]

Marlow Volunteer Fire Department has chili supper, auction fundraiser on March 11

Posted at 3:26 pm March 2, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Marlow Volunteer Fire Department will have a Community All-You-Can-Eat Chili Supper and Auction at Grand Oaks Elementary School on Saturday, March 11. Chili, hot dogs, and drinks with all the trimmings will be served starting at 6 p.m.

Bear Stephenson will oversee the 7 p.m. auction of homemade desserts provided by Marlow volunteers, along with gift cards and items donated by local businesses.

Tickets are $5 for adults. Children age five and under eat free. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum supports fire relief efforts in Gatlinburg

Posted at 11:02 pm December 21, 2016
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Guests at the Gala Evening at the Children’s Museum on December 2 contributed $6,260 for the fire relief effort as Clinton auctioneer Bear Stephenson extended the auction of a Gatlinburg activities package to accept contributions for organizations supporting the community and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after the wildfire that spread from the park into Gatlinburg earlier that week. (Submitted photo)

The generosity of Gatlinburg merchants in providing an auction package for the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge Gala resulted, in return, in generosity from the Children’s Museum and Gala attendees, who opened their wallets to support Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after the devastating Chimney Tops fire.

Martha Hart first raised the idea of donating to fire relief efforts by donating the proceeds from the Gatlinburg activities package back to the community. Hart, whose family owns Karen’s Jewelers, was helping manage the silent auction with her family as a volunteer at the Gala and suggested moving the Gatlinburg activities package from the silent to the live auction. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum to celebrate national parks at gala in December

Posted at 5:13 pm November 13, 2016
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Martha Hart of Karen’s Jewelers, left, with Lee McGetrick and Mike Morris, all members of the Children’s Museum Gala Committee, display a National Park poster for the Gala, which will celebrate the National Park Service Centennial. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service at its annual Gala Evening, a benefit for the museum on Friday, December 2.

“Tribute to the National Parks—A Centennial Celebration” will feature National Park trivia and prizes, National Park-inspired cuisine by Rosa’s Catering, music from the Oak Ridge High School Choral Ensemble, an exhibition of children’s photographs from the parks, and a surprise for Gala attendees.

The Gala will be an official National Park Service Centennial Event. In honor of that designation, the museum will offer free admission Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, inviting the public to view the “Parks-in-Focus” National Parks photography exhibit in the Imagination Gallery. Photos of area parks taken by girls from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge will be shown in the exhibit.

Guests are invited to come dressed to represent a favorite National Park or in semi-formal attire to the Gala, to be held from 5:30-9:30 p.m. December 2 at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

United Way campaign off to strong start

Posted at 7:08 am October 18, 2016
By naomi asher Leave a Comment

United Way of Anderson County has held several events already this campaign season, including their inaugural Leading Ladies United luncheon, which provided an opportunity for networking and for attendees to hear about several girls’ and women’s initiatives that United Way has under way.

Taste of Anderson County was a success in September, with live music, food vendors, a full bar, and plenty of kids activities. The community came out to support in full force and had a great Thursday night eating and drinking together, a press release said.

Bob Kesling came to celebrate the Vols with United Way supporters at a September 16 breakfast that focused on getting the community involved through giving back with time and money.

“Of course, Campaign Co-Chair Bear Stephenson auctioned a few Vols items to raise some extra dollars,” the press release said. [Read more…]

ADFAC to honor Stephenson, Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award winner, on Oct. 25

Posted at 12:01 am October 2, 2016
By Annie Cacheiro Leave a Comment

From left, past Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award recipients Ray Smith and Cande Seay share the great news with Bear Stephenson, the 2016 Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Awardee. (Submitted photo)

William “Bear” Stephenson has been unanimously chosen as the 2016 winner of ADFAC’s Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award.

Stephenson is a dedicated volunteer and advocate, a press release said He was chosen as the Bow Tie Award winner earlier this year. He will be recognized this month by ADFAC, or Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties Inc., at the Fourth Annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Celebration and Fundraiser.

Previous winners of the prestigious award have been Ray Smith, the late Tim Myrick, and Cande Seay.

The celebratory fundraising event will be from 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, October 25, at St. Mary’s Parish Life Center in Oak Ridge.

“Our community will come together to honor Stephenson, and we hope family, friends, past coworkers, and the many businesses and nonprofit organizations he has been involved with through the years will join us,” the press release said. “The dynamic and entertaining Elaine Graham will serve as the evening’s emcee while the music will be provided by the Mt. LeConte Jug Band.” [Read more…]

United Way 2016 Campaign kicks off today

Posted at 9:40 am August 15, 2016
By naomi asher Leave a Comment

The 2016 United Way of Anderson County Fundraising Campaign starts today (Monday, August 15).

“The fundraising campaign is being valiantly led this year by Bear Stephenson and Carroll Welch,” a press release said.

“This year also unveils a new mission statement for the organization: United Way of Anderson County improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good,” the press release said. “We focus on youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services—the building blocks for a good life and strong community.”

The new mission statement focuses on United Way’s renewed goals of mobilizing volunteers, creating lasting change, and empowering social service programs that serve Anderson County citizens, the release said. In addition, the new mission statement highlights United Way of Anderson County’s new focus areas: youth development, self-sufficiency, and senior and health services. [Read more…]