Oak Ridge Today

Pastor, police chief the speakers at event on building community

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Derrick Hammond

Derrick Hammond

An Oak Ridge pastor and the police chief will be the speakers at a Monday morning discussion of building community.

The speakers are Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church, and Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi.

The discussion is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Monday, September 11, in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Covenant Church at 320 Robertsville Road.

The discussion is sponsored by Women’s Interfaith Dialogue. It will focus on “Building Community in a Time of Hatred and Violence,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge faith leaders condemn racism, hatred, ask City Council to do the same

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Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments. The statement of condemnation was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments. The statement of condemnation was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments.

The statement of condemnation of hatred and racism was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church, during a Monday evening meeting of the Oak Ridge City Council as 14 other clergy members stood by him in support.

It came two days after a 32-year-old Virginia woman was killed and 19 other people were injured after a car plowed into counter-protesters on the day of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. About two hours after the car crash, two Virginia state troopers who both have East Tennessee ties were killed when their police helicopter crashed and burned; the helicopter had been involved in providing surveillance and information during the day, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported.

“This past weekend, a 32-year-old young lady by the name of Heather Heyer lost her life, and many others were seriously injured at a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia,” the Oak Ridge faith leaders said in their statement delivered to City Council on Monday. “The white nationalists, neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, and other ‘alt-right’ hate groups were gathered in order to ‘take America back.’

“While the kind of hate, bigotry, and white supremacist ideology that we witnessed in Charlottesville is not new to America, this racist minority movement has been emboldened by what they perceive as support for their un-American world view. Their rhetoric and actions threaten the historic progress our ancestors, from many faiths and ethnic backgrounds, have made toward equality for all. It is now our responsibility and privilege to celebrate the rich diversity of our nation and continue their work. [Read more…]

Grace Covenant Church has community meal this evening

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Grace Covenant Church of Oak Ridge will serve its regular third Thursday community meal on Thursday, December 17, from 5-6 p.m.

The menu includes Honey Baked ham, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, congealed salad, and dessert.

The meal is free, and all members of the community are welcome. Please park in the church’s upper parking lot at 320 Robertsville Road, and follow the sidewalk to the Social Hall on the lower level.

Disabled parking only is available in the lower parking lot.

Today: City planner to discuss demographic changes in Oak Ridge

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Sherith Colverson

Sherith Colverson

Sherith Colverson, senior planner for the City of Oak Ridge, will discuss the changing demographics of Oak Ridge at the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue meeting on Monday, November 2, at 11 a.m. The program will be held in the social hall of Grace Covenant Church, Trinity Center, 320 Robertsville Road.

Colverson will focus on the historical and current demographics of the city, a press release said. In a synopsis of her presentation, she said that these demographics tell the story of how Oak Ridge has changed, “both in form and function, throughout the past seven-and-a-half decades.”

She will also discuss how the city’s current demographics can help shape the future of our neighborhoods.  Colverson said she is also very interested in ideas of how to gain more involvement from all citizens in the future social and structural development of the city. [Read more…]

Grace Covenant Church has community meal today (Thursday, Oct. 15)

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Grace Covenant Church of Oak Ridge will serve its regular third Thursday community meal on Thursday, October 15, from 5-6 p.m.

The menu calls for creamy baked chicken, rice, salad, and dessert.

The meal is free, and all members of the community are welcome.

Please park in the church’s upper parking lot at 320 Robertsville Road, and follow the sidewalk to the Social Hall on the lower level, a press release said. Disabled parking only is available in the lower parking lot.

TORCH, Blossom Center have spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday

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Torch Logo

Trinity Outreach Center for Hope, or TORCH, and the Blossom Center will have a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday, October 3, at Grace Covenant Church.

The church is located at 320 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge. Dine-in or carry out will be available between 5 to 8 p.m.

Tickets prices for adults are $10, children $5, and $25 for families, and they will be available at the door and in advance at Ruby Miller’s State Farm office, which is at 574 Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Telephone (865) 483-5663.)

Those who want to purchase tickets online may do so by sending a message to Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence Inc. or Creed Mushimbo on Facebook. [Read more…]

Women’s Interfaith Dialogue features Girls Inc. director on Monday

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Rhoni Basden

Rhoni Basden

The Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge will feature a presentation by Rhoni Basden, executive director of Oak Ridge Girls Inc., on Monday, September 14, at 11 a.m.  The program will be held at Grace Covenant Church, Trinity Center, which is at 320 Robertsville Road.

Basden’s presentation is entitled “Girls Inc.: What We Do for Girls in Oak Ridge.”  She will address the focus, work and activities of the organization. She has headed the local club since 2013.

Basden located in East Tennessee from Seattle where she worked in nonprofit development and federally funded programming. She has an extensive background in child development, special needs, and nonprofit administration in varying organizations from Head Start programs to Autism Awareness groups throughout the city of Seattle. She began her studies at Stetson University in Florida and graduated from the University of San Francisco. [Read more…]

Christmastide Choral Festival at Grace Covenant on January 4

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The Fifth Annual Community Christmastide Choral Festival will be at the Grace Covenant Church at the Trinity Center on Robertsville Road on Sunday evening, January 4.

It’s been organized by the Rev. Rodney Parrish of Grace Covenant Church of Oak Ridge. Everyone is invited, a press release said.

“The celebration of Christmastide begins at Christmas Eve and ends 12 days later on what is traditionally called Epiphany, hence the 12 days of Christmas,” the press release said. “Many churches during this season will present choral programs of excellence. However, it is difficult for the community to be able to attend them all no matter how much they may want to. The purpose of this festival is to give the community an opportunity to close out the Christmas season with one last service of music while being able to appreciate the offerings of multiple church choirs. [Read more…]

Family Resource director to discuss ‘Breaking the Cycle of Violence’

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Jo Bruce

Jo Bruce

Jo Bruce, director of the Family Resource Center at Oak Ridge Schools, will discuss “Breaking the Cycle of Violence” during a Monday morning forum in Oak Ridge.

The community forum starts at 11 a.m. Monday, October 6, in the fellowship Hall of Grace Covenant Church, Trinity Center, at 320 Robertsville Road. It’s presented by the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge.

Bruce has held the director’s position at the Resource Center since its inception, a press release said. The local center, housed in Willow Brook Elementary School, is one of the original family resource centers established by the state of Tennessee in the fall of 1993.

In a summary of her presentation, Bruce said she will discuss the services she provides to families and students of the Oak Ridge school system in an effort to build trust and resilience. [Read more…]

Community forum: Not in Our Town

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Valerie Hughes

Valerie Hughes

The founder and executive director of an Oak Ridge chapter of the national Not In Our Town organization will be the featured speaker at a community forum in September.

The “Not in Our Town” presentation by Valerie Holland Hughes will start at 11 a.m. Monday, September 8, at Grace Covenant Church. It’s sponsored by the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue.

Grace Covenant Church is at 320 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge.

Hughes began working to establish the Oak Ridge group just over a year ago, a press release said. Her goal has been to ensure that Oak Ridge is a community that models “safety, acceptance, and inclusion as an effective method to address hatred, bullying, and violence.”

The press release said Hughes and NIOT members in Oak Ridge traveled to Billings, Montana, birthplace of the movement 20 years ago, to attend a national gathering of NIOT chapters from June 20-24. [Read more…]

Helen Ross McNabb coordinator to discuss Safe Place outreach on Monday

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Safe Place Logo

The residential program coordinator for the Helen Ross McNabb Center will discuss Safe Place outreach efforts of businesses and community volunteers during a Monday evening meeting in Oak Ridge.

Desiree Miller will be the guest speaker at a Monday evening meeting of Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or PFLAG, at the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

“Miller will share information about Safe Place outreach efforts of businesses and community volunteers in the Knoxville area seeking to establish a network of easily accessible places (schools, fire stations, libraries, youth-friendly businesses, etc.) to which children and teens can turn when they are in need of help,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Co-director to discuss Free Medical Clinic’s role under new health care law

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Tanya Vargas

Tanya Vargas

Dr. Tanya Vargas, co-director of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, will discuss the role of the clinic under the new health care act in a community forum to be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Grace Covenant Church, 320 Robertsville Road.

Her presentation is entitled “The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge after the Affordable Care Act.” Vargas said she will address the question, “If everyone is going to be insured after the Affordable Care Act, why would free medical clinics like FMCOR be needed?”

Vargas moved to Oak Ridge in 1990, after completing her pediatric training at Tulane University School of Medicine and Affiliated Hospitals, and three years of private practice in New Orleans.

She has been active in multiple organizations in Oak Ridge, including Oak Ridge Playhouse, ShowKids, Oak Ridge Baseball Association, and Montessori School of Oak Ridge. She is a founding member of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge board of directors and has served in various capacities on that board, including service as president. [Read more…]