Oak Ridge Today

Biloski running for Anderson County Juvenile Court judge

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Lauren Biloski

Lauren Biloski

Lauren R. Biloski has announced that she is seeking the office of Anderson County Juvenile Court judge.

Lauren is a partner at Ritter, Biloski, and Associates, located in Oak Ridge. She has developed a thriving multi-county practice that includes criminal defense, civil litigation, and family and juvenile law, a press release said.

She is the third candidate to announce a candidacy for juvenile court judge. The current judge, Brandon Fisher, is running for Anderson County chancellor.

Biloski is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Tennesseee at Knoxville in three years, the press release said. Immediately following graduation, she earned her J.D. from Indiana University in 2006, where she was the recipient of the Norman Lefstein Award of Excellence. [Read more…]

Guest column: A heartwarming holiday story from CASA

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As we reach the end of 2013, we look back at the stories of the children CASA has worked with and want to celebrate one of those with our community. This year, more than 230 children had a CASA volunteer advocate, children like Keisha and Dakota (names changed to protect privacy).

When CASA first met Keisha and her brother Dakota, they came into court as a scared three-year-old and hardened, angry eight-year-old. They had been brought into custody on and off their entire lives, being raised by a single mother who had been arrested for prostitution multiple times.

This time, in May, they were permanently removed when their mom passed out from a fatal dose of drugs and alcohol. Keisha was inconsolable; her brother would speak to no one and stopped anyone from approaching his sister.

They were assigned a CASA volunteer, Katy, who sat at the end of the bench in the court room. As the people all around them were talking, Katy took care to explain what was happening to Keisha and Dakota. Katy explained to them who she was, that she cared about them deeply and wanted to make sure they found a safe home. [Read more…]

Comfort Inn holiday events benefit CASA of the Tennessee Heartland

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Breakfast with Santa

Proceeds from a “Breakfast with Santa” at Comfort Inn Oak Ridge on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will benefit CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. (Photo courtesy T. Whigham Photography)

Families can kick off the Christmas season with Santa and help a local nonprofit volunteer organization at the same time by visiting the Comfort Inn Oak Ridge during December. The hotel is offering several different activities for the community to get in the holiday spirit with a portion of the proceeds from each event going to CASA of the Tennessee Heartland.

“We are so thankful to Comfort Inn for contacting us with this opportunity,” said Naomi Asher, executive director of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. “Every dollar raised will help provide a voice in court for an abused and neglected child right here in our community.”

The Comfort Inn Oak Ridge will serve as the official site for “Pictures with Santa” throughout the holidays. T. Whigham Photography will be taking professional photos with Santa at the hotel from Friday, Nov. 29, through Saturday, Dec. 21. The hours are as follows: Monday through Friday from 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays from noon-6 p.m. One dollar from every photo taken will benefit CASA and will be matched by Enrichment Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Florida runner finishes first in Secret City Half Marathon

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Secret City Half Marathon Start

Five hundred thirty-six runners start in the Secret City Half Marathon on Briarcliff Avenue on Sunday morning.

A Florida man finished first in the Secret City Half Marathon on Sunday morning, crossing the finish line almost eight minutes ahead of the second-place runner.

Jason McLeod, 21, of Orlando, Fla., finished the 13.1-mile course in 1:11:53. It was his first half marathon.

McLeod has never competed in a full marathon either, but he did run cross country for four years at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn.

Gina Rouse, 34, of Knoxville finished second with a time of 1:19:50. She was also the top female runner among the 536 athletes who started Sunday. She has competed in marathons, including the Nashville Marathon in 2006 and Atlanta Marathon in 2011. [Read more…]

Secret City Half Marathon Weekend to feature new 5K, 10K races; health, fitness expo

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Secret City Half Marathon

The Secret City Half Marathon Weekend at the end of November will feature 5K and 10K races, and a new Health and Fitness Expo.

The Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the changes on Wednesday. The marathon weekend is Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

“With less than two months to the race, runners and walkers are encouraged to lace up their running shoes and sign up soon to participate in one of these great family friendly athletic events in Oak Ridge,” a press release said.

The first-ever Secret City 5K and 10K races will be held Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 a.m. Both courses start and end near the Oak Ridge Civic Center and run through the streets of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

‘Night in Paris’ features music, wine, auction; raises money for CASA

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CASA Evening with the Arts

An Oct. 11 fundraiser will feature music, wine, and an art auction, and it will raise money for CASA of the Tennessee Heartland.

It’s the Fourth Annual Evening with the Arts—A Night in Paris, and it will be held Friday, Oct. 11, from 7-10 p.m. at Pollard Auditorium in Oak Ridge.

The evening will include wine, finger foods from The Market House, and sweets from Emma Lou Bakery.  Jazz and blues singer Sarah Clapp will perform, and the evening will be emceed by Hallerin Hilton Hill. A silent auction will feature local art pieces including a Bill Capshaw raku vase, several original numbered prints, and several “unique and beautiful pieces,” a press release said. [Read more…]

CASA fundraiser features barbecue, bluegrass

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Ridge City Ramblers

Members of the Ridge City Ramblers are, from left, Gary Coleman, Mary Tuskan, Scott Linn, Abbie Hoerner, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan and Steve Reddick. (Submitted photo)

A March 2 fundraiser that features music, a barbecue dinner, and auctions will support an organization that helps abused or neglected children in Anderson, Blount and Scott counties who are under court protection.

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland’s 10th Annual Barbeque and Bluegrass Bash is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 2, at the Junior Achievement – Hollingsworth Center in Clinton.

The musicians scheduled to perform are hammer dulcimer player Allen McBride and bluegrass and Americana group the Ridge City Ramblers, featuring Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Child advocacy seminar at Roane State Thursday

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People concerned about the community’s children are invited to attend the Nurturing and Safe World Child Advocacy Seminar Thursday in the Roane State Community College City Room, a press release said.

Stephanie Strutner of ASAP, Lisa Givonetti of CASA, Matt Reed of Faith Baptist Church’s Reformers Unanimous, and several other organizational representatives will speak about drug and alcohol abuse and addiction as it relates to the community’s children.

There is no charge to participate, and lunch will be included, the release said.

[Read more…]