Oak Ridge Today

County Commissioners to tour new home of Oak Ridge courtroom Tuesday

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Anderson County could renovate the former Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was once housed in this part of a building owned by Anderson County on Emory Valley Road, and use the space for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Anderson County is renovating the former Oak Ridge Senior Center, which was once housed in this part of a building owned by Anderson County on Emory Valley Road, and plans to use the space for Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Anderson County Commission on Tuesday will walk through and discuss renovations that are part of the project to relocate Anderson County General Sessions Court, Division II, from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge.

The public meeting is at 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 12, at the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center, a county-owned building at 728 Emory Valley Road. Parts of that building complex have been home to the Oak Ridge Senior Center, satellite offices of the Anderson County Clerk and Anderson County Trustee, Emory Valley Center, and The ARC Anderson County.

The Oak Ridge Senior Center has temporarily moved from that building to the Oak Ridge Civic Center until a new senior center can be built at Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The new General Sessions courtroom at the county-owned building will be in the big room where the pool and billiard tables used to be at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. [Read more…]

Senior Center to host holiday reception Friday

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center’s annual Holiday Reception will be Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gymnasium. Pictured above is a picture from last year's Holiday Reception. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Senior Center’s annual Holiday Reception will be Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gymnasium. Pictured above is a picture from last year’s Holiday Reception. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Senior Center will host a Holiday Reception for area senior citizens on Friday, December 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held in the gymnasium of the Civic Center, located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Local seniors are invited for a light lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cookies, as well as holiday music and fellowship, a press release said. The senior center’s guitar group will be playing live Christmas music. Bingo will be offered, and door prizes given away. Goodie bags will also be given out while supplies last. [Read more…]

Senior Board to meet with design firm to discuss new Senior Center on Monday

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This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board will meet with a design firm to discuss the new Senior Center on Monday.

The special meeting, a work session, is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday, October 16, in the B room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center. During that work session, the Board will be meeting with Studio 4 Design to discuss the new senior center project.

“Board members and other interested citizens are invited to attend,” a notice said.

If you have any questions, contact Recreation Manager Linda McGhee at [email protected] or (865) 425-3999.

Council to consider design contracts for Senior Center, Preschool

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The Oak Ridge City Council is pictured above in December 2016. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider design contracts for the new Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park and the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at the Civic Center.

The two contracts could total about $771,000. They would be awarded to Studio Four Design Inc. of Knoxville, which has been working on the projects. They would include architectural, interior design, and consulting engineering services.

The contracts could use $1 million in bond funding being considered by the Oak Ridge City Council for the design services and other initial project costs.

Council had earlier authorized a professional services agreement to Studio Four Design to provide architectural services for various projects, including the Preschool and the Senior Center, Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in an October 2 memo to City Council. [Read more…]

Free piano lesson interest meeting at Senior Center on Friday

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center is hosting a free interest meeting regarding piano lessons that will soon be offered to those age 50 and older.

The session is scheduled for Friday, October 6, at 2 p.m., and it will introduce the instructor, Chris LaLoggia, and his style of teaching, a press release said. Possible days and times for lessons will also be discussed at the meeting.

Anyone age 50 or older who is interested in learning how to play the piano is encouraged to attend the informational session. Please call the senior center at (865) 425-3999 in order to reserve a spot.

Tai chi demonstration at Oak Ridge Senior Center on Wednesday

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Ahead of United Nations International Day of Older Persons on October 1, the Taoist Tai Chi Society is hosting a special demonstration at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. On Wednesday, September 27, at 11 a.m., a Taoist tai chi instructor will show how practicing tai chi contributes to healthy aging, a press release said.

Program organizers say the gentle motions of tai chi offer health benefits for all ages, but the practice often appeals to seniors looking for ways to improve strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. The motions are also gentle and low impact, exercising the skeleton, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and all connective tissue, with very low risk of injury. [Read more…]

New exercise class at Oak Ridge Senior Center started this month

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Pierce Physical Therapy

The Oak Ridge Senior Center has partnered with Pierce Physical Therapy to sponsor a free exercise class for anyone age 50 and over. The class is being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. It started Thursday, July 6.

The Pierce Therapy Exercise Program, or P.E.P. for short, will concentrate on strength, balance, and mobility and will incorporate therapeutic exercise, functional training, and individual exercise modifications, a press release said.

Physical Therapist Assistant Chelsea Ferrell will be leading the class at the senior center with assistance from Physical Therapist Ray Pierce. Pierce has operated Pierce Physical Therapy in Oak Ridge for more than 30 years, and Ferrell works full time as a PTA in the practice.

There is no cost for the class, but space is limited. Please call the Oak Ridge Senior Center at (865) 425-3999 to register.

Senior Citizens’ Day at Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Wednesday, Aug. 2

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The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will be hosting its first-ever Senior Citizens’ Day at the city’s outdoor pool next month.

The pool will be reserved exclusively for seniors age 50 and older on Wednesday, August 2, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., a press release said. The pool facility is located at 172 Providence Road.

Local life insurance company WoodmenLife will be on site as a sponsor, providing music and food for the event. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis while it lasts. [Read more…]

Senior Center has Lunch & Learn programs in June

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center will be offering two Lunch & Learn programs during the month of June in support of Cancer Survivor Month, a press release said.

On Wednesday, June 14, join the Thompson Cancer Survival Center at 12 p.m. for an hour-long informational session about nutrition and how it relates to cancer treatment and survival. Lunch for this program will be sponsored by Brookdale Senior Living.

On Wednesday, June 28, at 12 p.m., the United Cancer Support Fund will present a special educational program that contains information and resources on specific types of cancer as well as applications for free screenings. Lunch will be provided. [Read more…]

Senior Advisory Board recommends Senior Center west of Civic Center

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This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

This site option was unanimously recommended for a new Oak Ridge Senior Center by the Senior Advisory Board on Monday, April 10, 2017. (Image courtesy Studio Four Design/City of Oak Ridge)

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:20 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board has recommended that the new senior center be built on the west side of the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The board unanimously recommended the site on a voice vote during a special meeting on Monday morning.

The site was one of two options presented to the board during Monday’s meeting. The board had been presented four options earlier, but one of those had been ruled out and two others had been combined.

The proposed site west of the Civic Center could have a building of about 15,000 square feet. It could include a kitchen and administrative space; game and exercise rooms; a large multi-purpose room for activities such as dancing, bingo, and card games; and billiard/pool and media rooms. Dancing is the most preferred activity, according to surveys, said Pat Gengozian, chair of the Senior Advisory Board, or SAB.

The site could be considered by the Oak Ridge City Council in May. The site is just west of the indoor pool and south of the parking lot on the west side of the Civic Center. [Read more…]

Senior Advisory Board to vote on location for new Senior Center at Civic Center

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This Option 1 for locating the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

This is Option 1 for locating the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The Senior Center would be the building with the pink-highlighted border to the right of the Community Center. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board will vote on one of four options for locating the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The board will vote during a special meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, April 10, in the Club Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The options were presented to the board by Studio 4 Design at the regular monthly Senior Advisory Board meeting on Monday, April 3. All four proposals have the new senior center facility located on the Civic Center property. Monday’s meeting will focus on recommendation of one of the options for the new center.

The current options take many factors into consideration, including parking availability, ease of access and possible drop-off locations, prominence of location relative to Oak Ridge Turnpike, potential construction complications, green space preservation, and optimization of aesthetic views, a City of Oak Ridge press release said. [Read more…]

County taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge

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Anderson County officials are taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road, pictured above, to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:50 p.m.

Anderson County officials are taking steps to move General Sessions Court in Oak Ridge from a privately owned building on Bus Terminal Road to a county-owned building on Emory Valley Road.

An 18-month lease on the current privately owned building, where the court has been since 2009, expires in June, officials said Wednesday.

Renovations are planned at the county-owned building on Emory Valley Road before the court moves there. Bid packages for the renovation work could go out to contractors this week, and the bid could be awarded in mid-April, said Anderson County Commissioner Phil Yager, one of two commissioners who represent District 8 in Oak Ridge.

The renovation work could take two to three months, Yager said. Michael Brady Inc., a Knoxville architectural firm helping Anderson County, has estimated the renovations could cost around $300,000. [Read more…]