Oak Ridge Today

Peace Vigil on Sunday at Friendship Bell

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The International Friendship Bell is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

A Peace Vigil Against Gun Violence will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, September 22, at the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion in Alvin K. Bissell Park at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, a press release said. The vigil will feature guest speakers, music, and opportunities to write postcards to state and federal elected officials and sign a petition, the release said.

The Reverend Jake Morrill of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will serve as moderator of the vigil. Jinx Watson, who has experienced gun violence in Knoxville, will be among speakers for the event, the press release said. [Read more…]

Kimmelman to be remembered with state proclamation, tribute on Friday

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Mira Kimmelman accepts an award from Hadassah. (Submitted photo)

Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally will present a state proclamation in honor of Mira Kimmelman on Friday, August 16. The presentation will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge.

Jinx Watson will receive the proclamation from McNally and give a tribute to Kimmelman as her longtime friend and fellow educator, a press release said.

Following the program will be a Friday night service and then a potluck meal, the press release said.

“The public is invited to attend this celebration of Mira and the community potluck following the service,” the release said. [Read more…]

Holocaust Remembrance Program is Sunday in Oak Ridge

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Mira Kimmelman

Mira Kimmelman

There will be a Holocaust Remembrance Program at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge on Sunday.

It’s presented by the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The Holocaust Remembrance Service is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, and the public is encouraged to attend, a press release said. The City of Oak Ridge has proclaimed April 15 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day for 2018, the press release said.

The Holocaust Remembrance Program will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge Sanctuary, which is at 101 West Madison Lane. There will be a candle lighting ceremony, songs, readings by members of both congregations, and prayers, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORUUC Free Community Meal celebrates seven years today

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The community is invited to join in the celebration of the seventh birthday of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Stone Soup Free Community Meal on Friday, September 29. On the menu will be taco salad, Mexican rice, fresh fruit, and of course, birthday cake for dessert.

An assortment of nonperishable family friendly groceries will be available for free to anyone in need. Dine in or take out will be available from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

“While many of our guests are our food insecure neighbors, we want to start our eighth year making sure that we emphasize that the community meal is open to anyone who would like to come,” said program co-coordinator Jinx Watson. “There are a lot of connections that are made, not only among the guests, but also among the guests and the team. We enjoy dining with them and love the opportunity to celebrate someone’s birthday, hear news about their families, and build friendships. For some, attending is as much about the welcoming atmosphere as it is about the meal.” [Read more…]

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…]

Holocaust Remembrance program on April 23

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Mira Kimmelman

Mira Kimmelman

The City of Oak Ridge has proclaimed April 23 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day for 2017.

The Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge, or JCOR, and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, or ORUUC, have partnered together to study the Holocaust and to conduct a Holocaust Memorial Service. The service will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the JCOR Sanctuary at 101 West Madison Lane in Oak Ridge on April 23. There will be a candle lighting ceremony conducted by Mira Kimmelman, as well as song, readings, and prayers.

The Holocaust Memorial Service is a community service sponsored by the Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, and the public is encouraged to attend, a press release said. The Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership is a new community organization based out of ORUUC, and it is designed to bring people from different religious backgrounds together so that the group can educate, eliminate prejudice, and build a stronger community, the press release said. [Read more…]

Community meal is Friday at Oak Ridge church

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Every community needs a time and place to come together and what better way to do this than with food, friendship, and connectedness?

The final Friday of each month, the Stone Soup Ministry team at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, or ORUUC, invites its neighbors to their table. You can join them this Friday, March 31.

Dine-in or take-out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m., a press release said. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike (close to traffic light number 2) in Oak Ridge.

On the menu will be homemade beanie weenie soup, cornbread, fresh fruit, and cookies. There is no cost, the press release said. [Read more…]

Call for nominations for annual Naida Finane Award for Courage, Tolerance

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Nominations for the fourth annual award to honor the legacy of educator Naida Finane are currently being collected by the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Board of Trustees.

Any resident of Anderson or Roane counties who has demonstrated a superior act of compassion, love, and/or justice is eligible to be nominated for the Naida Finane Award for Courage and Tolerance, a press release said. The recipient shall have been at the forefront as a “voice for a more compassionate and inclusive greater Oak Ridge with the action(s) recognized having occurred in the greater Oak Ridge area and restricted to human issues.”

“Naida braved the world of Oak Ridge High School, where there was no club for GLBT students and took on the leadership for the first club. She was a memorable person for many students’ lives,” said her friend and fellow educator Jinx Watson.

“Naida’s infectious enthusiasm and openness, coupled with her originality, energy, and humor, captured the imaginations of students fortunate enough to find themselves in her classrooms during her 38-year teaching career, the majority of which was spent teaching English at Oak Ridge High School. A gifted and devoted teacher, an extraordinary person, whose innate joy and determination spilled out onto her family, friends, coworkers, and others, including her students,” words taken from her obituary. She died in February 2011. [Read more…]

Free community meal on Friday at Oak Ridge church

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The Stone Soup Ministry team at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will be serving a free community meal on Friday, January 27. 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) in Oak Ridge. Homemade white chicken chili, cornbread, fresh fruit, and cookies will be on the menu. [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…]

ORUUC Stone Soup Free CommUUnity Meal celebrates six years today

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The community is invited to join in the celebration of the sixth birthday of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Stone Soup Free CommUUnity Meal on Friday, September 30.

Volunteers will serve a homemade meal of Southern style cornbread and pinto beans with, of course, birthday cake for dessert! Dine in or take out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

“While many of our guests are our food insecure neighbors, we want to start our seventh year making sure that we emphasize that the community meal is open to anyone who would like to come,” said program coordinator Jinx Watson. “There are a lot of connections that are made, not only among the guests, but also among the guests and the team. We enjoy dining with them and love the opportunity to celebrate someone’s birthday, hear news about their families, and build friendships. For some, attending is as much about the welcoming atmosphere as it is about the meal. We miss folks if they don’t come and are concerned about how they are doing.” [Read more…]

Summer menu starts at Unitarian Universalist Church free community meal on Friday

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The “it’s too hot for soup” summer-style menu will start at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Stone Soup free community meal on Friday, June 24. The homemade meal will include ham sandwiches, smashed potato salad, brownies, and fresh fruit.

ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. Dine-in or take-out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday. An assortment of nonperishable family friendly groceries will be available for free to anyone in need.

“For some, attending is as much about the friendly atmosphere as it is about the meal. Everyone is welcome,” coordinator Jinx Watson said. The Stone Soup free community meal is offered on the final Friday of each month. [Read more…]