Oak Ridge Today



 










Holiday reception for seniors is Friday

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center’s annual holiday reception for area senior citizens has been scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s Shep Lauter Room (gymnasium) at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Photo City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Senior Center’s annual holiday reception for area senior citizens has been scheduled for Friday, December 13, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event will be held inside the Oak Ridge Civic Center’s Shep Lauter Room (gymnasium) at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The reception will feature a light lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cookies, as well as holiday music and fellowship, a press release said. The Senior Center guitar group will be playing live Christmas music beginning at 11 a.m.

Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m., and door prizes will be given away during that time, the press release said. Bingo will be after lunch for those who want to stay and play, the release said.

[Read more…]

Grand opening for new Oak Ridge Senior Center is Oct. 15

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Oak Ridge Senior Center exterior front 2019
The front of the new Oak Ridge Senior Center is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department has scheduled a grand opening and ribbon-cutting event for the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 15.

Brief remarks will kick off the celebration, followed by a ribbon-cutting and cake and refreshments inside the new building.

“Everyone is invited to take a tour of the senior center and learn about the activities and programs offered for local seniors,” a press release said.

[Read more…]

New Senior Center opens Thursday

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The front of the new Oak Ridge Senior Center is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The new Oak Ridge Senior Center opens today (Thursday, September 26) in Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge.

The new Senior Center was scheduled to open at 9 a.m. Normal operating hours were scheduled to resume Thursday, and so were most activities.

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department called it a “soft opening.” Oak Ridge municipal officials are planning a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony for later, and details will be announced soon, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Senior Center to be temporarily closed for move to new facility

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Oak Ridge Senior Center Front Sept 2019
Construction of the new Oak Ridge Senior Center on the west side of the Oak Ridge Civic Center has been completed. The front of the new Senior Center is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Senior Center will be temporarily closed starting Monday, September 16, to allow the staff to relocate to the new Senior Center on the west side of the Civic Center.

The temporary closure was announced by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

Construction of the new center was finished on schedule, and staff can now occupy the space to complete final preparations, a press release said.

[Read more…]

Volunteers needed for new MyRide Oak Ridge Senior Transportation Program

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MyRide-Oak-Ridge-Training-Session
A training session for MyRide Oak Ridge Senior Transportation Program is pictured above at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The new MyRide Oak Ridge Senior Transportation Program is hosting its third Volunteer Driver Information and Training Session from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, August 17, at the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

MyRide Oak Ridge began with a “soft launch” in the spring and provided its first ride on April 12, a press release said. Through the program, volunteers will use their personal vehicles to drive seniors to doctor appointments, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential destinations.

The program allows seniors to keep some of their independence while still participating in social activities like going to church, playing bingo at the Senior Center, or volunteering, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Ask an Officer: Learn about signs of elder abuse, scams affecting seniors

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The Oak Ridge Police Department, in partnership with ORNL Federal Credit Union, will host its quarterly “Ask an Officer” meeting at Oak Ridge Senior Center on Wednesday, June 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The focus will be on elder abuse in honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day happening later in the week, a press release said.

Everyone is invited to attend the free session. The discussion will focus on how to identify signs of elder abuse and scams affecting senior citizens. Presenters will also explain what the Oak Ridge Police Department and its partner agencies are doing to address these problems and how the community can get involved, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Council to consider budget, tax rate increase

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The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the municipal budget and a proposed two-cent tax rate increase on Monday evening, June 3.

The two-cent tax rate increase would raise the property tax rate from $2.54 per $100 of assessed value to $2.56. It would be the second tax rate increase in the past two years after about a decade of no tax rate increases.

Each cent on the property tax rate generates about $80,000 in revenue.

The city’s general fund is about $26.2 million, and its total budget, including all funds such as school funds and utility funds, is roughly $210 million.

The budget has to be considered in two readings, or meetings. Tonight’s vote is the first reading. The second and final reading will be on Monday, June 10.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge announces new senior transportation program

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The City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Senior Center are working to implement a new transportation program for senior citizens. The program, called “MyRide Oak Ridge,” has already provided its first ride with the full program set to roll out soon, a press release said on Friday, April 12, 2019. Pictured above are Bob Smallridge, Senior Advisory Board vice chair; Linda McGhee, Oak Ridge Senior Center manager; Denise West, ETHRA/ETAAAD SVTN region coordinator; Marty Adler-Jasny, Senior Advisory Board member; Pat Gengozian, volunteer driver and Senior Advisory Board chair; Willie Wade, rider; Jon Hetrick, City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks director. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Senior Center are working to implement a new transportation program for senior citizens. The program, called “MyRide Oak Ridge,” has already provided its first ride with the full program set to roll out soon, a press release said.

On Friday afternoon, April 12, local senior Willie Wade was driven by Pat Gengozian, chair of the Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board and the program’s first volunteer driver.

The City of Oak Ridge has offered transportation help to its senior population since 1974. Due to changes in grant reporting procedures from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the current taxi coupon program will be ending June 30. When fully operational, the new MyRide Oak Ridge program will allow for a new way to provide this assistance, the press release said.

The program includes door-through-door service provided by volunteer drivers in their own vehicles. This service helps seniors be more independent by allowing them to take trips to the grocery store, social events, and medical appointments, the press release said. It will also allow volunteers to accompany seniors into the store or doctor’s office, if needed, as well as help carry in groceries or other items.

[Read more…]

Senior Center needs community’s help furnishing building

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An image showing what the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at Alvin K. Bissell Park could look like. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

An image showing what the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at Alvin K. Bissell Park could look like. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

 

The new Oak Ridge Senior Center is scheduled to open later this year.

Area seniors will enjoy opportunites for recreation, physical fitness, education, health screenings, social activites, nutrition lunch program, and transportation assistance, a press release said.

At this time, the Senior Center needs the community’s help in furnishing the building, the press release said.

“Your donation of any of the pieces of furniture will greatly be appreciated,” the release said. “You can choose from the furniture on our list or assist with a cash donation.” [Read more…]

Construction Projects Job Fair scheduled for March 14

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Job Fair Flyer March 14 2019

The City of Oak Ridge is partnering with Jenkins & Stiles LLC to organize a job fair for those interested in positions with the construction firm. The job fair will be held Thursday, March 14, at the Scarboro Community Center from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., a press release said.

Jenkins & Stiles was selected in 2018 as the contractor for two major city projects: the new Oak Ridge Preschool with Scarboro Park improvements and the new Oak Ridge Senior Center. Both projects are already in progress and scheduled to be complete later this year. [Read more…]

Free guitar lessons start at Senior Center

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Guitar Intermediate Class

Free guitar lessons for senior citizens will begin on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at 9 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Senior Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike. This is a picture of the 2016 intermediate guitar class. (File photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

Free guitar lessons for senior citizens will begin on Friday, February 1, at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. Lessons for beginners are scheduled for Fridays at 9 a.m. with intermediate lessons following at 10 a.m.

Classes are open to area seniors age 50 and older.All levels of guitar players are welcome. Bass guitar lessons are also included and are scheduled for 11 a.m. following the other two classes. Wendall Cook, who has many years of experience playing and teaching, conducts the lessons. [Read more…]

City celebrates two major projects—Preschool, Senior Center—with groundbreakings

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The City of Oak Ridge held ceremonial groundbreakings on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, to celebrate the start of two major projects: the new Oak Ridge Preschool, pictured above, with Scarboro Park improvements and the new Oak Ridge Senior Center. Construction activity is already under way at both sites, and the buildings are slated for completion later this year. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge held ceremonial groundbreakings on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, to celebrate the start of two major projects: the new Oak Ridge Preschool, pictured above, with Scarboro Park improvements and the new Oak Ridge Senior Center. Construction activity is already under way at both sites, and the buildings are slated for completion later this year. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge held ceremonial groundbreakings on Monday, January 14, to celebrate the start of two major projects: the new Oak Ridge Preschool with Scarboro Park improvements and the new Oak Ridge Senior Center. Construction activity is already under way at both sites, and the buildings are slated for completion later this year.

“These projects have been in the planning stages for decades and we are making good on promises to deliver them,” Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said in a press release. “The Preschool and the Senior Center will have a positive impact on our citizens and their families for generations to come. We are excited to see construction begin.”

Studio Four Design Inc. was chosen to design the Preschool and the Senior Center. At a special meeting in October 2018, Oak Ridge City Council unanimously approved resolutions awarding construction contracts to Jenkins and Stiles LLC totaling just more than $11 million ($8.4 million for the new Preschool and Scarboro Park improvements and $2.68 million for the new Senior Center). General obligation bonds were sold in late November to completely fund the projects.

“After years of discussion, plans for these important facilities are coming to fruition,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in the press release. “The Preschool and Senior Center are welcome additions to our community. We are appreciative of all the hard work that has gone into making these amenities a reality for Oak Ridge.” [Read more…]

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