Oak Ridge Today

Keynote speaker announced for Emory Valley Center’s spring fundraiser

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Timothy Shriver (Submitted photo)

 

Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, will be the keynote speaker for the Fourth Annual Spring Fundraiser for the Emory Valley Center. The fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, April 28.

In the 1950s and early 1960s, Dr. Shriver’s mother, Eunice Shriver, saw how unfairly people with intellectual disabilities were being treated. She also noticed that many children with intellectual disabilities didn’t even have a place to play, so she took action and planned a backyard summer camp for them which focused on their abilities. Over the years, the movement grew and in 1968, the first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago, a press release said. [Read more…]

UT-Battelle fulfills $250,000 pledge to Emory Valley Center campaign

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Emory Valley Center and UT-Battelle Check Jan 2017

On hand for UT-Battelle’s check presentation at the new facility construction site are, from left to right, Shirley Raines, Emory Valley Center board vice president; Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, EVC capital co-chairs; Jennifer Enderson, EVC president; ORNL’s Jeff Smith and Leigha Humphries; Tennessee senators Ken Yager and Randy McNally; and Janet Wood, EVC vice president of community engagement. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

UT-Battelle, the managing contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, made the final installment of a $250,000 pledge by presenting a $50,000 check in late December to the Emory Valley Center, a community facility that serves people with disabilities, a press release said.

UT-Battelle made the pledge in 2011 when the Emory Valley Center, which provides services and support for adults and children with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities, began a building program to replace its aging structure. The center’s new building is now under construction.

ORNL Deputy Director for Operations Jeff Smith and Community Relations Manager Leigha Humphries presented the check to Jennifer Enderson, the center’s president. [Read more…]

Car, Truck, Motorcycle Show to benefit Emory Valley Center at Calvary Baptist

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2015 Winner—Ken Wetherinton—1923 Model T (Submitted photo)

 

Calvary Baptist Church will host its second annual Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, May 14. The show is scheduled from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and it’s free. It’s open to the public, and it will include fun for the entire family, a press release said.

“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out and enjoy the variety of cars, trucks, and motorcycles featured—this event is open to all vehicles,” the press release said.

The pre-registration entry fee per vehicle is $10, and the registration fee the day of show is $15 per vehicle. Proceeds from donations and registration fees will be donated to support Emory Valley Center. In the case of rain, the event will be moved to Saturday, May 21.

For more information, please contact John Ellis at [email protected]. [Read more…]

Emory Valley Center breaks ground on new building

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Pictured above during a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 15, 2016, are Tennessee Representative John Ragan, Calvin with Emory Valley Center, Mike with EVC, state Senator Ken Yager, EVC Board President John Eschenberg, Gaye with EVC, EVC President Jennifer Enderson, state Senator Randy McNally, Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, Michael with EVC, and EVC Board member Alan Icenhour. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

Emory Valley Center held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new building on Friday, April 15. The ceremony included people that Emory Valley Center supports, EVC staff and board members, Capital Campaign co-chairs Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, Representative John Ragan, Senator Ken Yager, and representatives of Michael Brady Inc. and Hickory Construction Inc.

Emory Valley Center launched a Capital Campaign for a new building six years ago, when plans for probable demolition of the building the organization uses for some of its services to people with disabilities was discussed by the owners. Through the efforts of Thompson and Caldwell, business and individual donors, and grant awards for the project, the campaign is at a point where construction can begin.

“We are very excited to break ground on our new building and for construction to begin,” said EVC President Jennifer Enderson. “So many individual supporters, businesses, families, staff, and other community partners have worked very hard to make our new building a reality, and we are very grateful for their efforts and continuing support.” [Read more…]

Phil Yager announces candidacy for Anderson County Commission

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Phil Yager

Phil Yager

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m. June 5.

Phil Yager has announced that he is a candidate for Anderson County Commission in District 8, which includes the Woodland, Hendrix Creek, and Emory Valley precincts.

“I am running for this position because I want to work hard on issues that are important to all of us: safe neighborhoods, economic development, quality education, and improving our housing stock,” Yager said in a press release. He wants to help expand business and industrial opportunities, maintain the county’s quality of life, and make sure children have excellent schools.

Community service is important to Yager, who has served as a community volunteer for a number of organizations, the press release said. He was appointed by Oak Ridge City Council to serve on the Industrial Development Board and serves as treasurer on that board. He was also appointed to serve on the Oak Ridge Board of Building and Housing Code of Appeals.

Serving on those boards, Yager has been actively involved in important issues facing Oak Ridge—industrial and retail growth, as well as the issue of distressed housing, the press release said. Yager was also selected to serve on the Oak Ridge Charter Review Committee. [Read more…]

Emory Valley Center signs building contract with Hickory Construction Inc.

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Hickory Construction Inc. President Burke Pinnell, Emory Valley Center President Jennifer Enderson, and EVC Board President John Eschenberg are pictured above during a recent contract signing. (Submitted photo)

 

Emory Valley Center plans to start construction on its new building this spring, and EVC recently signed a contract with Hickory Construction Inc. of Alcoa.

Emory Valley Center launched a capital campaign for a new building six years ago. That’s when building owners discussed plans for the probable demolition of the building the organization uses for some of the services it provides to people with disabilities, a press release said.

Through the efforts of Capital Co-Chairpersons Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, business, and individual donors and grant awards for the project, the campaign is at a point where construction can begin, the press release said.

Emory Valley Center President Jennifer Enderson and Burke Pinnell, Hickory Construction president, recently signed a contract “partnering to make the dream of Emory Valley Center’s new building a reality,” the release said. [Read more…]

Options for county courthouse in Oak Ridge: Extend lease, stay put, move to govt. building

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The lease on Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, on Bus Terminal Road in Oak Ridge expires Dec. 31, but officials will ask for a one-year lease extension while courthouse options are considered. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

CLINTON—Several alternative locations have been proposed, including a city-owned building at A.K. Bissell Park and a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road, but for now, the Anderson County General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge could remain at a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road.

Once housed at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building, the General Sessions, Division II, courthouse has been on Bus Terminal Road since January 2009.

But the lease expires December 31.

On Monday, November 16, the Anderson County Commission voted 15-0 on a voice vote to ask for a one-year lease extension with no penalty and to work with Oak Ridge to share courthouse costs.

“That year buys us time to look at all the options,” said County Commissioner Myron Iwanski, who represents District 8, which includes Emory Valley, Woodland, and Hendrix Creek. [Read more…]

3M presents Supplies4Nonprofit Organizations

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3M Supplies for Nonprofit Organizations

Pictured from left to right above are Mike Swisher, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; Annie Cachiero and Cande Seay, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties; Anderson County Chamber President Rick Meredith presenting awards; Charlotte Bowers, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County; Janet Wood, Emory Valley Center; David Erb, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; and Terry Allen, Anderson County Rescue Squad. (Submitted photo)

 

Nonprofit organizations serving Anderson County have received a grant from the Annual 3M Supplies4Nonprofit Organizations product donation program, or S4NPO, in partnership with Good360.

The photo above was taken at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce’s annual Community Services Coffee in August. Pictured from left to right are Mike Swisher, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; Annie Cachiero and Cande Seay, Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties; Anderson County Chamber President Rick Meredith presenting awards; Charlotte Bowers, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County; Janet Wood, Emory Valley Center; David Erb, Boys and Girls Club of Tennessee Valley; and Terry Allen, Anderson County Rescue Squad.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Emory Valley Center has fundraising pancake breakfast on Saturday

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2014 EVC Pancake Fundraiser and Randy McNally

Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, right, serves members of the Oak Ridge Fire Department at the Emory Valley Center pancake breakfast fundraiser in 2014. (Submitted photo)

 

A fundraising breakfast at Applebee’s restaurant in Oak Ridge on Saturday will support Emory Valley Center’s Capital Campaign.

It’s an “All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast,” and it’s scheduled from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, June 13. Applebee’s will be providing the breakfast food items and staff members to cook the pancakes and sausage, a press release said.

“Please make plans to attend,” the release said.

Tickets are $5 for children and adults, and they may be purchased at Emory Valley Center, 715 Emory Valley Road, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and at the door Saturday morning. [Read more…]

Car, truck, motorcycle show on Saturday to benefit Emory Valley Center

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Calvary Baptist Church and Emory Valley Center Car Show

Submitted photo

 

Calvary Baptist Church will have its first Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show on Saturday, and the proceeds will be donated to support Emory Valley Center’s Capital Campaign.

The show is scheduled from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 6. Calvary Baptist Church is located at 163  North Jefferson Circle in Oak Ridge.

The show is free and open to the public, and it will include fun for the entire family, a press release said. A bounce house, crafts, and activities for children will be part of the day’s event in addition to the show and include local food vendors.

“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out and enjoy the variety of cars, trucks, and motorcycles featured in the show,” the press release said. “You can also help choose the winning entries by making a donation to your favorite vehicle. First-, second-, and third-place prizes will be awarded based on which vehicles generate the most ‘votes’ by the highest donations.” [Read more…]

Eschenberg, UPF federal project director, retiring from federal service May 30

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John Eschenberg

John Eschenberg

Note: This story was last updated at 1:19 p.m.

John Eschenberg, federal project director for the proposed Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, announced Monday that he’s retiring from federal service on May 30.

Eschenberg said his decision to leave federal service is driven by a desire to “focus on new career opportunities in the private sector and to further my focus on serving nonprofit organizations.” Eschenberg said he is heavily involved with the Emory Valley Center (an institution for the developmentally and intellectually disabled) and its plan to start construction of a new facility in Oak Ridge later this fall.

Eschenberg has been the federal project director of the Uranium Processing Facility for almost three years, and he has been in Oak Ridge nearly six. He has served under six different U.S. Department of Energy secretaries, in five different states, and in all of its major programs, Eschenberg said in an email announcement obtained by Oak Ridge Today. [Read more…]

Heroes of the Day: Officers, bystander rescue woman by flipping EVC van after crash

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Cassen Garrison and Brandan Sharp at Emory Valley Center Van Crash

With help from a bystander and another officer, Oak Ridge Police Department officers Cassen Garrison, left, and Brandan Sharp lifted this white Emory Valley Center van off its passenger side after a Tuesday morning crash at Northwestern and North Purdue avenues in Woodland. A female passenger, who was reported to be partially pinned underneath the van, was flown to a hospital by a Lifestar medical helicopter.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:28 p.m.

Neighbors called them the heroes of the day. Three Oak Ridge Police Department officers and at least one bystander lifted an Emory Valley Center van off of a woman who was partially pinned underneath it after a crash in Woodland on Tuesday morning.

Witnesses said the right arm and shoulder of the female passenger were pinned underneath the passenger side of the van after the crash, which was reported at about 10 a.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Northwestern and North Purdue avenues.

The three officers were identified as Cassen Garrison, Brandan Sharp, and Sergeant Pete Nance. Garrison’s right arm was bandaged. Witnesses said he used his hands to break out a back window of the Chevrolet Express van and rescue a male EVC client in the back of the van.

The female passenger, who was partially ejected, was flown to a hospital by a University of Tennessee Lifestar medical helicopter after it landed at the nearby Oak Ridge City Center. Three others were also reportedly taken to the hospital.

Ed Taylor, who lives at the Manhattan Apartments, also helped lift the van. Witnesses said other neighbors helped as well. [Read more…]