Oak Ridge Today

Model residential drug recovery court showing success, attorney says

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Brad MacLean and Bob Cantrell

Brad McLean, left, program director of the Morgan County Residential Recovery Court, welcomes the commitment of Rev. Bob Cantrell and Presbyterians to help residents “reconnect with the community.” (Submitted photo)

 

By Carolyn Krause

The United States has a broken criminal justice system and a huge drug addiction epidemic, and the country leads the world in the number of people who are in prisons and jails. More than half of released prisoners re-offend and return to prison within three years.

Brad MacLean, an award-winning Nashville attorney and opponent of the death penalty who lives in Clinton, decided more than two years ago to help combat these major issues. He created and is supervising the nation’s first statewide residential drug recovery court, a pilot program and potential model for other states. On August 1, 2013, the Morgan County Residential Recovery Court opened at the Morgan County Correctional Complex, a state prison for men.

MacLean, who had volunteered in Judge Seth Norman’s residential drug court for Davidson County inmates, is program director at the Morgan County residential recovery court for nonviolent, drug-addicted felons across the state. [Read more…]

Avery, Stone to give vocal recital at First Presbyterian on Aug. 13

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Rachel Avery

Rachel Avery

Rachel Avery and Taylor Stone will perform a vocal recital on Thursday, August 13, in Oak Ridge. The recital starts at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive.

Avery is a recent graduate of American University with a minor in vocal performance. She performed her senior voice recital in Washington, D.C., in March and will be presenting several numbers from that performance.

Avery will be joined by her friend and fellow Sound Company alumni Taylor Stone. Stone is a senior at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville majoring in vocal performance, and he will be presenting selections from his junior recital, also from March. [Read more…]

Education: A path out of poverty

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Chris Whaley

Chris Whaley

“Education: A Path out of Poverty,” will be the theme of an interfaith luncheon at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge at noon on June 5. Chris Whaley, president of Roane State Community College, will be the guest speaker.

The cost of the noon luncheon is $5, payable at the door. The luncheon is open to the public.

Admission to the talk is free. To make a reservation, call the church office at (865) 482-1318 or send an email to [email protected].

In the international development community, it is well-known that education is one of the most effective ways to improve the economic growth and potential of a country, a press release said. UNESCO reports that an additional year of schooling will raise income by 10 percent. [Read more…]

Second Annual Youth Pride Fest is May 9 in Oak Ridge

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The second annual East Tennessee Youth Pride Fest will be held in Oak Ridge on Saturday, May 9.

Organizers said the festival will celebrate diversity.

“The fun planned event is an opportunity for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth and their friends and allies to celebrate themselves through awareness, visibility, and pride,” a press release said.

The Youth Pride Fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 9 at the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge. The church is located at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the corner of Lafayette Drive and Oak Ridge Turnpike). [Read more…]

KPD training specialist to discuss bullying on Monday

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Aubrey Maples

Aubrey Maples

Aubrey Maples, training specialist for the Safety Education Unit of the Knoxville Police Department, will speak at the Monday, February 23, luncheon meeting of the Oak Ridge Branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women) in Room 102 of the Activities Building at First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Maples, who is a civilian educator with the KPD Safety Education Unit, will talk about the Department’s “Take a Stand Against Bullying” Program. Also present will be Officer Lori Banks of the Safety Education Unit.

Maples received her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and is currently pursuing her master’s in applied behavioral science, with an emphasis on criminal justice and social problems, a press release said. [Read more…]

‘Fracking,’ the environment to be discussed Monday

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Joanna McFarlane

Joanna McFarlane

A manager in the Fossil Energy Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will discuss the environment and hydraulic fracturing, often referred to as “fracking,” during a Monday meeting.

Joanna McFarlane, who has a doctorate, is a manager for the RPSEA (Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America) and Environmentally Friendly Drilling in the Fossil Energy Program at ORNL.

She will give a presentation on “Hydraulic Fracturing and the Environment” during a meeting at 11:30 a.m. Monday, January 26. It’s a luncheon meeting of the AAUW Oak Ridge Branch. The group will meet in the Activities Building of First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. [Read more…]

AAUW has Holiday Green Tea on Sunday

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AAUW Holiday Green Tea

AAUW, American Association of University Women, will hold its Holiday Green Tea on Sunday, December 14, from 3-5 p.m. in Room 102 of the Activities Building of First Presbyterian Church at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Pictured above are Joanne King, Mayme Crowell, and Fay Martin, who were the hosts at last’s year’s tea.

Funds raised from the tea will go to local scholarships and other AAUW programs. The public is invited to attend and enjoy the festive event, a press release said.

Service of memory, hope at First Presbyterian Tuesday

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A special Service of Memory and Hope will be held in the sanctuary at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 9, at First Presbyterian Church, located at the southeast corner of Lafayette Drive and Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“The candlelight service is especially for folks who find the holiday season difficult because of the loss of a loved one or other struggles,” said the Rev. Sharon Youngs, who will conduct the service.

The third annual service at the church will include music and readings designed to bring comfort and solace to worshipers, a press release said.

Vocalist, pianist to perform Hispanic music in Coffee Concert on Sunday

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Judy DiGregorio and Vera Maya

Vocalist Judy DiGregorio, left, and pianist Vera Maya will perform Hispanic music during the first Coffee Concert of the season on Sunday. (Submitted photo)

 

The first Coffee Concert of the season will feature a vocalist and pianist performing Hispanic music on Sunday.

Mezzo soprano Judy DiGregorio and pianist Vera Maya will perform Ladino folk songs from Sephardic Jews and works by composers such as Valverde, Granados, Dominguez, Lara, Grever, Sanchez de Fuentes, Padilla, and Lecuona, a press release said.

It’s the first Coffee Concert of the season for the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, and it starts at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 26, at First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

ADFAC annual meeting this evening

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ADFAC has its annual meeting this evening. At the meeting, new board members will be elected, and the 2013 annual report will be made available. The inaugural “Silent Hero” award will also be presented.

The meeting is scheduled from 5:15-6:15 p.m. today (Monday, October 20) in Room 102 of the Activities Building at First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Church Women United has Friday program on Big Brothers, Big Sisters

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Church Women United of Oak Ridge is hosting a program about Big Brothers and Big Sisters of East Tennessee on Friday, October 3, at First Presbyterian Church at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Vivian Gwinn will be the guest speaker.

Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m. with refreshments, followed by a short meeting and program at noon, a press release said. Visitors are welcome to drop in and stay however long they can. The program will be held in Room 102 of the Activities Building at the southeast corner of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Lafayette Drive. The building is handicap-accessible. [Read more…]

Food, music at Taste of Oak Ridge to benefit Free Medical Clinic

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Taste of Oak Ridge

 

The format will be the same, but this year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held at the new Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike—instead of in Jackson Square. It was moved because organizers weren’t sure when construction work might start on a revitalization project at Jackson Square.

Taste of Oak Ridge features food from Oak Ridge restaurants and performances by local musicians.

The sixth annual festival, scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, will raise money to benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. The Free Medical Clinic provides free medical care to residents of Anderson, Roane, and Morgan counties who don’t have insurance and can’t afford to pay for care.

Area restaurants will showcase some of their finest food in small portions. The price range for the “tastes” from each vendor will be $1 to $4 per item. Tickets will be available for purchase at entrances to the event. Attendees can buy as many tickets as they want for $1 each. In addition, beer and wine will be available to buy.

This year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at its new address at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, north of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building. [Read more…]