Oak Ridge Today

Human Rights Rally on Saturday in Oak Ridge

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Human Rights Rally Marchers in Rain 2019
Marchers at the first Human Rights Rally in Oak Ridge in 2019. (Submitted photo)

The second Human Rights Rally in Oak Ridge will be held on Saturday, January 18, at 2 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The organizers of the “Human Rights Rally:  How Can You Help?” event stated in a news release that the doors will be open at 1 p.m. for making signs for the march that will follow the 2 p.m. program of speakers and music.

Mark Flynn, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, will serve as the moderator. Speakers will include Lissie Meza Beehan, Jake Morrill, Kesha Shipe Waters, and Rose Weaver. Topics will range from the rights of children and LGBTQ rights to the challenges for the immigrant community in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

Music will be provided by the Oak Valley Voice of Praise, the ORUUC Sorta Singers, and the First Presbyterian Church Choir.

[Read more…]

Francisco Franco to be discussed at ‘Dictator’s Playbook’ today7

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The Community Education and Development group is hosting viewings and discussions of the PBS series, “The Dictator’s Playbook.”

You can join them from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, November 17, in the social hall of Oak Ridge Universal Unitarian Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, to learn about Francisco Franco’s rise and fall, a press release said. This is the fifth of six sessions, with each session covering a dictator who arose to infamy in the 20th century, the press release said. A final discussion and reception will be held on Sunday, December 8.

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Opportunity to view and discuss PBS series on six 20th century dictators

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As part of its Community Education and Development Ministry, the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will offer a series of viewings and discussions of the PBS series, “The Dictator’s Playbook.”

You can join them on Sunday afternoons from 3-5 p.m. from October 20 through November 24. A final discussion and reception will be held on Sunday, December 8, a press release said.

The group will meet in the Social Hall at ORUUC, which is at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Six moderator-led sessions will focus on the rise of a particular dictator who arose to infamy in the 20th century, the press release said: Kim II Sung (October 20), Saddam Hussein (October 27), Benito Mussolini (November 3), Manuel Noriega (November 10), Francisco Franco (November 17), and Idi Amin (November 24). The seventh session will be a discussion of common themes and lessons to be learned from the rise, rule, and fall of these modern dictators (December 8), the press release said.

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Holocaust Remembrance Program this Sunday

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Holocaust Remembrance Program 2018 Proclamation Reading (Submitted photo)

Holocaust Remembrance Day: The City of Oak Ridge has proclaimed May 5 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day for 2019.

The Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge (JCOR) and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (ORUUC) have partnered together to present the annual Holocaust Remembrance Program, a press release said. It will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the JCOR Sanctuary, 101 West Madison Lane in Oak Ridge, on May 5. There will be a candle lighting ceremony, songs, readings, and prayers. The Holocaust Remembrance Service is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, and the public is encouraged to attend, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge police chief to discuss crime, traffic safety

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Oak Ridge Police Chief Robin Smith (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge Police Chief Robin Smith (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The next Lunch with the League program will be held on Tuesday, February 19.  The speaker will be Oak Ridge Police Department Chief Robin Smith.  His topic will be titled “Data Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety.”

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Smith has served with the Oak Ridge Police Department since 2012. He served as a lieutenant for two years before being promoted to captain and then deputy chief. He was appointed ORPD Chief in October 2018. [Read more…]

Mental illness & capital punishment to be discussed Tuesday

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Sarah Graham McGee

Sarah Graham McGee

 

Mental illness and capital punishment will be discussed during a lunch in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The speaker will be Sarah Graham McGee, statewide coordinator for the Tennessee Alliance for the Severe Mental Illness Exclusion, or TASMIE, a press release said. TASMIE is a coalition of mental health advocates and other organizations that are educating Tennesseans about their concerns with sentencing those who have severe mental illness to death, the press release said.

The program is for Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 5. The meeting is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Rock to Bach Music Festival is Feb. 16

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Kelle Jolly (Submitted photo)

Kelle Jolly (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association will present the seventh Rock to Bach Music Festival on Saturday, February 16.

The festival will be at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The all-day music festival, which is sponsored by TNBank, will treat attendees to multiple genres of live music performed on two stages throughout the day, a press release said.

The doors will open at 10 a.m., and Kelle Jolly will open the performances at 10:30, the press release said. [Read more…]

Today: Human Rights Rally at ORUUC

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Members of the Human Rights Rally planning committee are, from left, Sue Byrne, Ann Mostoller, Nancy Highfill, Anne Backus, and Mary Zuhr. (Submitted photo)

Members of the Human Rights Rally planning committee are, from left, Sue Byrne, Ann Mostoller, Nancy Highfill, Anne Backus, and Mary Zuhr. (Submitted photo)

 

A Human Rights Rally and March for Equality, Justice, and Inclusivity will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 19, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The program will begin with inspirational talks, readings, and music. Then, all participants are encouraged to march from the Unitarian Church to the First Presbyterian Church along Oak Ridge Turnpike, weather permitting, a press release said.

Several organizations are sponsoring the event, which is hosted by the Unitarian Church and the Presbyterian Church. The Reverend Jake Morrill of the Unitarian Church will welcome participants. The Reverend Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church, the Reverend Sharon Youngs of First Presbyterian Church, and the Reverends Mark and Annette Flynn of First Methodist Church will be among speakers, and choirs from those churches will provide music. The Reverend Carol Dipboye of Grace Covenant Church will also participate. [Read more…]

Women in U.S. politics to be discussed Tuesday

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Women in U.S. politics will be discussed at “Lunch with the League” on Tuesday.

The speaker will be Patricia Freeland, professor of political science at the University of Tennessee. The title of her talk will be “Women in U.S. Politics: What’s Changing?”

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m.. to 1 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Election 2018 Community Forum: Liberty and Justice for All

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Submitted

A local faith-led, multiracial and interdenominational coalition of congregations, community organizations, and labor groups will present its vision for East Tennessee to candidates on October 7 from 3-5 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Cox Auditorium on the UT-Knoxville campus.

Through a months-long process of discussion and voting in a series of meetings open to all, the Alliance for Community Transformation of East Tennessee (ACT-ET) has arrived at three specific ways our elected representatives can improve the quality of life in our community:

  • Provide a path for all Tennessee residents to obtain a valid driver’s license.
  • Ensure local lending institutions provide equal opportunity to home mortgages for all families.
  • Increase access to necessary medical treatment for those struggling with opioid dependence.

ACT-ET member organizations include Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Members of First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, and Oak Valley Baptist Church participated in choosing the issues and planning the public meeting. [Read more…]

Director to discuss how United Way addresses community needs

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Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher

Naomi Asher, executive director of the United Way of Anderson County, will speak at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, October 2. She will discuss how the United Way is addressing needs in the community and how United Way agencies work together to help people in need, a press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A long-time resident of Oak Ridge, Asher graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 2001. She attended Johnson University, where she graduated with a double major in music and theology. After working in several industries, Asher found her passion for nonprofit work when she served as office manager for CASA of the Tennessee Heartland. She became executive director of CASA in 2010 and received her master’s degree in marketing from King University in 2012.

Asher has served as United Way’s executive director since 2015. [Read more…]

Today: State of city housing to be discussed

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The speaker for Lunch with the League on Tuesday, September 18, will be Anne Dunthorn, commissioner of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority. Her discussion will include current initiatives for middle class families and new initiatives for permanent and rental housing, a press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said.

A longtime citizen of Oak Ridge and Anderson County, Dunthorn has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Tennessee. She has served as business manager and consultant with C F Systems, technical consulting services, since 1977.  In the Housing and Urban Development arena, her work has included serving as grant writer, team leader, and developer of multi-family properties for nonprofit organizations that target people with special needs, the press release said. [Read more…]