Oak Ridge Today

Church Women United offers focus on community dialogue on Friday

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Church Women United will hold a public presentation on Friday, April 6, at Kern Memorial Methodist Church, which is located at 451 East Tennessee Avenue in Oak Ridge. Reverend David Allred of High Places Community Church will introduce an innovative supper program that the Oak Ridge Ministerial Association is developing to foster healthy conversation and closer ties between people of differing backgrounds, experiences, and core beliefs within our community, a press release said.

According to Allred: “Communities around the country are disconnecting from each other in ways that are driving us apart. We’re slowly losing our ability to listen to one another, fragmenting into ‘bunkers’ of sameness rather than giving space for each other’s differences.” To overcome this fragmentation, ORMA aims “to create spaces of togetherness that are not designed to fix community problems, but instead center on the practice hearing each other and being present with each other.” The inspiration for this program comes from the organization called “The People’s Supper.”

All are invited to attend the event however long they can, the press release said. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday, followed by a short meeting and prayer at noon, along with the presentation thereafter. Latecomers are welcome. Contact Gay Marie Logsdon at (865) 483-7940 for more information.

This press release was submitted by Gay Marie Logsdon.

Child advocacy seminar at Roane State on Thursday

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People concerned about the community’s children are invited to attend the fourth annual Nurturing and Safe World Child Advocacy Seminar this Thursday, June 5, in the Roane State Community College City Room on the Oak Ridge campus, a press release said.

The seminar will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Ministerial Association and the Oak Ridge Police Chaplains. Robert May of Oak Ridge Police Department Chaplains; Margaret Durgin of the Child Advocacy Center; David Allred, previous coordinator for Safe and Drug Free Schools; and Sarah Littlefield, a marriage and family therapist, will present sessions on the issue of bullying and hostile environments as it relates to children who are affected by this challenging problem.

There is no charge to participate, and lunch will be included. Certificates of Participation will be available for those who need annual training hours.

Pre-registration is required by contacting Myra Mansfield at (865) 220-8826 or by emailing [email protected].

Myra Mansfield running for County Commission in District 8

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Myra Mansfield

Myra Mansfield

Myra Mansfield has announced she is running to serve as an Anderson County Commissioner for District 8 in Oak Ridge. The district includes the Emory Valley, Hendrix Creek, and Woodland voting precincts.

Mansfield is a native Oak Ridger who grew up in the district where she is asking to serve, a press release said. She attended Woodland Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, and is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. After high school, she received an associate degree in accounting and a bachelor degree in business management. Later in life, she returned to school to receive her master’s degree while studying counseling.

The release said Mansfield has invested her adult life in business and nonprofit leadership, government and community service, parenting, writing, and public speaking. As a hobby, she has been involved in numerous multimedia projects. She loves history and historical research. Over the years, she found herself being offered a series of opportunities to use her leadership skills to bring positive transition to organizational structure, the release said. [Read more…]

CONTACT Care Line pancake breakfast on July 13

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CONTACT Care Line is hosting a pancake breakfast at Lincoln’s Sports Grille from 8-10 a.m. July 13.

Tickets are $5 and may be purchased from any board member or at the door. All proceeds will benefit CONTACT’s crisis call lines, which serve a nine-county region, including Anderson, Blount, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Roane, Sevier, and Union counties.

CONTACT has been in operation in Oak Ridge since 1973 and is celebrating its 40th year of service to the community, a press release said. [Read more…]

Child advocacy seminar on Tuesday

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The community is invited to attend the third annual Nurturing and Safe World Child Advocacy Seminar on Tuesday. The seminar will be held at the Roane State Community College City Room on the Oak Ridge campus.

Robert May, of ORPD Chaplains; Annette Beebe, of Anderson County Task Force on Domestic Violence; David Kitts, of Knox Police Family Crimes Unit; Margaret Durgin, of the Child Advocacy Center; and others will speak on the issue of domestic violence as it relates to the children who are affected by this challenging problem. [Read more…]