Oak Ridge Today

Free Community Meal on Friday, April 28, at Oak Ridge church

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On the final Friday of each month, the Stone Soup Ministry team at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, or ORUUC, invites its neighbors to a free community meal, a press release said.

You can join them on Friday, April 28. On the menu will be Mexican bean soup, turkey sandwiches, peach cobbler, and fresh fruit, the press release said. Dine-in or take-out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike (close to traffic light number 2.)

“Bring your family, your neighbors, or just yourself,” coordinator Jinx Watson said. “It’s a great place to come to meet new people for fellowship and too, if you just don’t feel like cooking. Some non-perishable family friendly groceries will be available for free to anyone in need.” [Read more…]

Professor to discuss gay civil rights movements on Monday

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Roane State Community College professor Don Windham will be the guest speaker at the Monday, April 3, PFLAG meeting. In his presentation, Windham will explore the rise of early gay civil rights movements beginning with the Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis to today, a press release said. The public is invited.

The meeting will be held at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge located at 101 West Madison Lane. Social time will start at 6:45 pm. The meeting will be from 7-8 p.m.

Windham has been professor of psychology at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge since 1990, the press release said. He has a doctorate in psychology from the University of Tennessee. [Read more…]

Breakfast with Legislators is Monday

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McNally-Ragan-Calfee-at-Breakfast-with-Legislators-April-25-2016

The next Breakfast with the Legislators is at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Monday, March 27, 2017. Pictured above in a breakfast in 2016 are Sen. Randy McNally (now lieutenant governor), Rep. John Ragan, and Rep. Kent Calfee. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The next Breakfast with the Legislators is Monday morning at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The breakfast is scheduled from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 27, in the Social Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The Civic Center is at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike. A light continental breakfast will be provided at no charge. The public is encouraged to attend, a press release said.

Senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally, who is now lieutenant governor, and representatives John Ragan and Kent Calfee have been invited to bring everyone up to date on what’s happening in the Tennessee General Assembly, the press release said. Members of the audience may ask questions and give opinions. [Read more…]

Community-wide Valentine’s Dance at First United Methodist on Feb. 11

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first-united-methodist-church-of-oak-ridge-jan-2017

First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge will celebrate recent renovations with an open house on Sunday evening, Jan. 8, 2017. The church is located at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and North Tulane Avenue. (Photo courtesy Jeff Kile)

 

First United Methodist Church has its Third Annual Community-wide Valentine’s Dance on Saturday, February 11.

The Valentine’s Day dance is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. February 11 in the Multipurpose Room at First United Methodist Church, which is at 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“Come dressed to impress for a fun-filled night of dancing and fellowship!” a press release said.

Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served, the press release said. [Read more…]

Community invited to World Harmony Week celebration at ORUUC

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The Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership will celebrate World Harmony Week on Thursday, February 2, at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, near traffic light number two.

Speakers from diverse traditions will speak about aspects of their faith they feel are important and often misunderstood, a press release said.

Mix and Mingle will be start at 6:30 p.m., the press release said. Presentations will be from 7 to 8 p.m. That will be followed an opportunity for dialogue and fellowship, the press release said. Refreshments will be served, and child care will be available. There is no cost to attend. [Read more…]

Groundbreaking ceremony held for first new Habitat home in 2017

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Habitat for Humanity Morgan Groundbreaking January 2017

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County (HFHAC) has plans to build three new homes in Oak Ridge in 2017. Now, thanks to generous sponsors and construction volunteers, these plans are being realized, a press release said. The foundation has been dug for the first home, located at 214 North Illinois Avenue. (Submitted photo)

 

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, or HFHAC, has plans to build three new homes in Oak Ridge in 2017.

“Now, thanks to all of the generous sponsors and construction volunteers, these plans are being realized!” a press release said.

The foundation has been dug for the first home, which is located at 214 North Illinois Avenue.

Representatives from UT-Battelle, the managing contractor of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, presented a $25,000 check to HFHAC during a January 5 groundbreaking ceremony. The donation will be used to purchase materials for the Morgan family home, the press release said. [Read more…]

Community invited to Breakfast for Dinner free community meal Friday

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The Stone Soup Ministry team at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will be firing up the griddle instead of filling up soup pots for a special free community meal Friday, October 28, from 5-6 p.m. Everyone is invited to the breakfast for dinner meal that will include pancakes and bacon along with fresh fruit, and milk, all provided by Kroger, a press release said. The October meal marks the start of the seventh year of the ministry.

Dine-in or takeout will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Social Hall of the church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike (close to traffic light number #2) in Oak Ridge.

“We are so grateful to our community partner Kroger for supplying the food for the October meal and for helping it to become a community tradition. This is the fourth year they have donated the food,” said program coordinator Jinx Watson. “Throughout the year they also provide fresh fruit to serve at our meals, something our diners really enjoy.” [Read more…]

Bargains galore at Church Rummage Sale on Friday, Saturday

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will have its popular semi-annual rummage sale on Friday, September 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., a press release said. Bargain hunters have come to rely on the low prices for much-needed or desired items, the release said.

ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Proceeds raised will help to support various ministries of the church, the press release said.

Shop the sale and find very low prices for linens, kitchenware, small appliances, furniture, home décor items, DVDs, CDs, books, baby items, toys, tools, athletic equipment, garden equipment, low cost computers, TVs, and other electronic devices, the press release said.

For many shoppers, the sale is highly anticipated for renewing and refurbishing the wardrobe for the entire family, the release said. Clothing, shoes, and accessories will be available. [Read more…]

Neighborhood cleanup focuses on Highland View on May 2

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Keep Anderson County Beautiful T-shirt

Photo submitted by Mare Martell

Help put the unity back in commUNITY at this year’s neighborhood cleanup hosted by the Oak Ridge Police Department Community Resource Office, the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program, Keep Anderson County Beautiful, and Central Baptist Church.

All participants will rally in the big parking lot of Central Baptist Church at the Hillside Road side. Sign-in and equipment pickup starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 2. The event will run from 9 a.m.-12  p.m. This happens rain or shine.

If you have a particular area on which you prefer to focus your attention, please call one of the contact numbers to arrange for the pickup of the trash-filled bags. (The sign-in and equipment pickup applies even for the people who have special requested a particular area before May 2 by contacting Officer Brandan Sharp or Sharon Crane). [Read more…]

Letter: Chinn wants to be mayor, help attract new families, industries

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Rick Chinn

Rick Chinn

City Manager Mark Watson and honorable members of Oak Ridge City Council,

First, I would like to congratulate the new members elected to Council and express my enthusiasm in working with the three sitting members of Council for the coming years. I feel we have a great group of leaders and know that if we work together, we can accomplish some great things for the City of Oak Ridge.

In my opinion, a key to making these great things happen is working together in electing and supporting our new mayor. That said, I would like to officially announce my interest in becoming the new mayor.

I believe the mayor’s position is much more than cutting ribbons and running the monthly meetings. The mayor, in my opinion, is the chief lobbyist of the city.

We are unique from most cities in the fact that our health as a city is tied closely to the choices that are made by both state and federal lawmakers. [Read more…]

Letter: Asks City Council to appoint Gooch as mayor

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To the Editor:

Let me begin by saying thank you to those members of both City Council and the School Board who elected to not run again, and to those who did run but were not successful in their efforts. I appreciate each of them stepping up to the plate to make this community a better place, and I hope they all continue to remain active in a positive manner to keep this community moving forward.

Also, with the most recent election behind us and several new faces taking on the leadership responsibilities for the city and school system, I look forward to each of the newly elected representatives bringing their vision to the table and working with the existing members to make Oak Ridge an outstanding community to live, work, and play.

During the November 24 City Council meeting, City Council members will be electing a new mayor for a two-year term. In our “weak mayor” form of local government, the mayor has no power outside of Council, so the mayoral role is solely to lead the City Council meetings and to be the main representative of the city for various meetings, activities, and events. [Read more…]

Guest column: Smith responds to Progress PAC endorsement

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Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

By Ellen Smith

I was surprised and gratified by the recent news that the Progress PAC (the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce political action committee) endorsed my candidacy for City Council. To my dismay, several citizens have told me that this endorsement indicates that I have somehow “sold out” to the Chamber of Commerce. I am writing to respond to their allegations.

The Progress PAC endorsement was a surprise to me because I have never been aligned with the Chamber, I have strongly opposed some Chamber initiatives in the past, and I am not shy about my support for principles like conservation of publicly owned open space and putting the interests of existing residents and owners ahead of the interests of new business development.

However, I respect the Chamber as the main representative of and advocate for a very important element of our community—and a group whose members and volunteers who are passionate about the future of Oak Ridge. We share many common goals and interests for this community, and if we are going to make progress as a community, it’s necessary for government, the business community, our nonprofit sector, and (ideally) all citizens to try to understand each other’s interests and needs and work together for the benefit of all. [Read more…]