Oak Ridge Today

Spotlight: Banners showcase art of the late Peggy Heddleson

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Peggy Heddleson

Peggy Heddleson

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“Peggy Heddleson Banners: A Celebration of Poetry in Felt,” a special proclaiming event honoring the memory of the late Margaret “Peggy” Thompson Heddleson, will be held from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, June 8, in the fellowship hall at Grace Lutheran Church at 131 W. Gettysburg Ave. in Oak Ridge.

Heddleson, who died in 2009, achieved acclaim as an artist in ceramics, painting, and basket weaving, but her banners, made of felt cloth with words, were her crowning artistic achievement.

Many of her banners were gifted to Grace Church, where she was a longtime member. On display in the sanctuary and the fellowship hall, they carry a message of faith and healing. Also on display for this event will be additional banners loaned by Peg’s daughter, Tina Armstrong. Many of the loaned banners deal with domestic violence and rape, topics with which Heddleson had some familiarity both from her own life and the stories many women shared with her as she traveled, giving “banner talks” advocating for battered women to church and civic groups. [Read more…]

Letter: Healthy Start to kick off fall campaign, seeks donations

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To the Editor:

After 15 years, with its continued mission of preventing child abuse and neglect in Anderson County, Healthy Start continues to support our families and is regarded as a model program. Healthy Start of Anderson County is funded solely through contributions from within Anderson County.

As part of its mission to prevent child abuse and neglect in Anderson County, Healthy Start seeks to support new parents toward a positive future, as well as enhancing their child’s development. Evidence shows that 98 percent of Healthy Start babies are at their age-appropriate developmental level, and 100 percent have well-baby checks and age appropriate immunizations.

Currently, however, the demand for Healthy Start services outpaces the ability to provide them because of funding limitations. [Read more…]

Social worker discusses Healthy Start during Monday AAUW meeting

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Virginia Coleman

Virginia Coleman

A social worker will discuss Healthy Start, a program that helps children and parents, during a Monday evening meeting of the American Association of University Women’s Oak Ridge Branch.

The talk by Virginia Coleman, who has a master’s degree in social work, is open to the public and starts at 7 p.m. Monday at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A press release said Coleman worked for years to see the Healthy Start preventive program come to fruition. During Monday’s meeting, she will talk about the reasons for the program and its success. [Read more…]