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Blossom Center wins $10,000 grant from ORNL FCU

Posted at 10:51 pm September 26, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photos by Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

Photos by Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

 

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence of Oak Ridge is one of seven nonprofit organizations to receive $10,000 grants from ORNL Federal Credit Union.

Here is a press release announcing the grants:

Since August 6, 1948, ORNL Federal Credit Union has been a trusted financial cooperative for members, and the East Tennessee community. To celebrate its 70 year history, the Credit Union recently offered its members the opportunity to nominate worthy nonprofit organizations to receive one of seven $10,000 grants through a $70,000 Community Giveback and Investment opportunity.

The following organizations were selected to each receive a $10,000 grant:

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

By providing a sliding tuition scale based on income, the Oak Ridge-based Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence provides day care, after school care, and pre-school programs for low-income families for children from ages 12 months to 13 years old. Their programs include healthy meals, educational activities including STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs, and play time. The center is open each day from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. to accommodate parents with varying work schedules. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, grant, Knoxville Dream Center, Knoxville Pays it Forward, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Sertoma Center, Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, Sunshine Ambassadors, Youth Outreach STEM (YO! STEM)

Local bands benefiting charities tonight, Saturday

Posted at 2:36 pm May 25, 2018
By Carolyn H Krause Leave a Comment

The Teno Family Band is one of the many performing groups to provide entertainment at the Turning Wheel Revue on Friday evening, May 25, 2018, at Swifty’s Atomic Bar & Grill, and Saturday evening, May 26, at the Historic Grove Theater. (Submitted photo)

The Teno Family Band is one of the many performing groups to provide entertainment at the Turning Wheel Revue on Friday evening, May 25, 2018, at Swifty’s Atomic Bar & Grill, and Saturday evening, May 26, at the Historic Grove Theater. (Submitted photo)

 

“Local musicians benefiting local charities.”

That’s the tagline for the Turning Wheel Revue, a fundraiser to be held Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26, in Oak Ridge.

The Friday event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at Swifty’s Atomic Bar & Grill (119 South Illinois Avenue), and the Saturday fundraiser will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Historic Grove Theater (123 Randolph Road).

The bands that will trigger toe-tapping on Friday evening will be The Lewis Brothers (Robbie & James), The Ryan Meeker Band, $teve, The Thrips, The Unnamed, and special guests.

Turning to the Saturday evening event, attendees will hear Jeremiah Johnson & Jackson Coleman, Joey Shackleford, Kasey Moore, Samantha Mason & Marian Vacaluic, Sarah Joyal, (Rick) Payson Lyon, The Teno Family Band, Tim & Jodi Harbin, The Young Band, Nothing Band, and special guests.

The 13 local nonprofit service organizations that will benefit from your presence are: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Nonprofits Tagged With: $teve, ADFAC, Agape House, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, Alpha House, Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, CONTACT Care Line, Crossroads Center of Hope, Ecumenical Storehouse, fundraiser, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, Historic Grove Theater, Holiday Bureau, Hope of East Tennessee, Jeremiah Johnson & Jackson Coleman, Joey Shackleford, Kasey Moore, local bands benefiting charities, Nothing Band, Payson Lyon, Samantha Mason & Marian Vacaluic, Sarah Joyal, SARG, Shelter Animals Rescue Group, Swifty's Atomic Bar & Grill, The Arc Anderson County, The Lewis Brothers, The Ryan Meeker Band, The Teno Family Band, The Thrips, The Unnamed, The Young Band, Tim & Jodi Harbin, TORCH, Turning Wheel Revue

Flatwater Festival announces first storytelling festival in Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:34 pm May 18, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

From left are Bil Lepp, Tim Lowry, and Minton Sparks. (Photos courtesy Flatwater Tales)

From left are Bil Lepp, Tim Lowry, and Minton Sparks. (Photos courtesy Flatwater Tales)

 

Internationally acclaimed storytellers to perform, share laughter and tears, and create memories

The Flatwater Festival in Oak Ridge has announced a major addition to its 2018 schedule: The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, featuring three world renowned storytellers. This will be an annual event sponsored by the three Rotary Clubs in Oak Ridge, all volunteers, as part of the Flatwater Festival weekend. This is the first storytelling festival in the Oak Ridge area, a press release said.

Bil Lepp, Tim Lowry, and Minton Sparks will perform for this inaugural festival. They have achieved national and international recognition and appear regularly at festivals, including the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee, the press release said.

Flatwater Tales kicks off on Friday, June 1, with a three-hour interactive writing workshop, “Create Your Own Story,” with Minton Sparks. The goal is to help participants discover their own stories from their family history and experiences, structure their stories, and share them with others. The workshop is being held in a serene woodland setting at the auditorium in the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge. No previous writing or performing experience is needed, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Top Stories, Writing Tagged With: Bil Lepp, Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, Emily Jernigan, Flatwater Festival, International Storytelling Center, Kiran Singh Sirah, Minton Sparks, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Playhouse, Rotary clubs, storytelling festival, Tim Lowry, University of Tennessee Arboretum

Celebrate National Pi Day with a pie from Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

Posted at 9:18 am March 14, 2018
By Maureen Hoyt Leave a Comment

While National Pi Day on March 14 has been observed in many ways due to a pun based on the words “pi” and “pie” being homophones in English, the Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence has planned a unique way to celebrate Pi Day by doing what else? Having a fundraiser selling delicious homemade pies baked by Blossom’s Angels for everyone to take home to enjoy.

The pie sale was the brainchild of one of the Angels (also knows as the fund development team) to raise money to help support Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence while also helping the community learn more about programs available to families.

A variety of pies including key lime will be available for purchase for $25 each at Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence on Pi Day, Wednesday, March 14, between 3 and 6 p.m. Advance orders can made between March 5 and 14 by calling (865) 294-4233 or by email to [email protected]. (Please put “pie” on the subject line.) Blossom is located at 280 Royce Circle (across from Willow Brook Elementary School) in Oak Ridge.

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence offers excellent child centered programs that are affordable and accessible seven days a week to all families, thus closing the gap in Oak Ridge between what working higher and lower income parents can provide to enhance their children’s learning, a press release said. The nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization provides care for children 1 through 12 years. The center is open 20 hours a day; from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Currently 48 children are enrolled. More information about BCCE can be found on line at blossom24-7.org or by calling (865) 294-4133.

This press release was submitted by Maureen Hoyt.

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Food, Nonprofits Tagged With: Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, Blossom’s Angels, National Pi Day, pi

Spaghetti lunch on Sunday to raise money for Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

Posted at 5:31 am February 9, 2018
By Maureen Hoyt Leave a Comment

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence Spaghetti & Meatballs Fundraiser Luncheon Feb 11 2018

An all-you-can-eat homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs Fundraiser Luncheon on Sunday will benefit Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence.

The luncheon is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, February 11, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The community is invited. Proceeds will benefit the Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, a press release said.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under. The all-you-can-eat meal includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, dessert, and a beverage. Take out will be available, the press release said. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling (865) 294-4133. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Nonprofits Tagged With: Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, fundraiser, Maureen Hoyt, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Spaghetti & Meatballs Fundraiser Luncheon

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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