Oak Ridge Today

Tuesday presentation by UT professor to focus on science, ethics, war

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Jeffrey Kovac

Jeffrey Kovac

A University of Tennessee professor will discuss science and war-related research during a Tuesday presentation in Oak Ridge. (Note: This presentation was canceled due to the weather and could be rescheduled later.)

Jeffrey Kovac, a UT chemistry professor and director of undergraduate studies, will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday.

“Science and the military have had a long and often mutually beneficial relationship, a relationship that is seldom questioned,” a press release said. “But because scientists are simultaneously professionals, citizens of a particular country, and human beings, sometimes with strong religious convictions, they are subject to conflicting moral and practical demands. In this presentation, Dr. Kovac will examine the question of whether scientists should engage in war-related research and, if so, under what circumstances.” [Read more…]

Free flu shots, warm coats at free Stone Soup community meal on Friday

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Stone Soup Ministry Community Meal

Sister and brother Lilly and Logan Swain help serve food at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church’s Stone Soup Ministry meal in November 2012. (Submitted photo)

Stay warm and healthy with a steamy bowl of homemade soup and a free flu shot at a community meal at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Friday.

The meal is scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. in the church’s Social Hall. It’s a great opportunity to spend time to relax and enjoy time with others from throughout the community, a press release said.

The Stone Soup team will prepare and serve a homemade meal of black eyed pea soup, sandwiches, pumpkin pie, and milk.

Nurses from the Free Medical Clinic are volunteering their time to give flu shots. Nicknamed the “flu crew,” the nurses plan to be ready to start at 4:30 p.m. and plan to finish at 5:30 p.m. The vaccine is being provided by the clinic. [Read more…]

Free screening of ‘Chasing Ice,’ global warming discussion on Wednesday

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Chasing Ice

Volunteers will show an award-winning movie on global warming and its effects on the world’s glaciers in Oak Ridge on Wednesday evening.

The movie “Chasing Ice” was filmed by Jeff Balog, a photojournalist working for National Geographic, a press release said. It will be shown at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

Balog filmed the movie in the “stunningly beautiful and dangerously challenging Artic landscape, in search of the truth about global warming and its effects on the world’s glaciers,” the press release said. Released in 2012, “Chasing Ice” received the Excellence in Cinematography Award from the Sundance Film Festival.

“Ninety seven percent of scientists agree that manmade climate change is real, and is happening now,” the release said. “A majority of Americans accept the science of climate change, but many do not fully understand its impacts. Jeff Balog himself was once a skeptic, until he saw firsthand how the warming planet is losing ice, even in the planet’s most brutally cold lands.” [Read more…]

Forum on homelessness in Anderson County on Tuesday

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Experts from social service agencies and faith-based groups will discuss homelessness in Anderson County during a Tuesday evening forum.

The forum starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. It’s been organized by the Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, and ORUUC.

The experts and community members will also discuss factors that contribute to homelessness in the county, explore potential solutions, and consider how to begin a 10-year plan to end chronic homelessness, a press release said. The discussion will also outline ways that people can be involved in the upcoming “Point In Time Count.”
 [Read more…]

‘Messiah’ sing-along at ORUUC on Sunday, Dec. 8

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The Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is having its annual “Messiah” sing-along on Sunday, Dec. 8.

Under the direction of Sandy Wells, the sing-along will begin at 5 p.m. Dec. 8 in the church sanctuary, and it will last about one hour, a press release said. The concert will be presented by 30 area singers accompanied by a 20-piece orchestra.

Everyone is welcome, and music will be provided for early-arriving audience members. Admission is free. [Read more…]

UT economics professor to discuss virtues, limits of free markets

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Marianne Wanamaker

Marianne Wanamaker

An assistant economics professor at the University of Tennessee will discuss the virtues and limits of free markets during a noon lecture Tuesday.

Marianne Wanamaker will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League at lunchtime Tuesday at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. Her presentation is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

Wanamaker is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics in the University Of Tennessee’s College of Business Administration. [Read more…]

World-wide polio eradication to be discussed at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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Brenda Thornburgh in India

Brenda Thornburgh, left, president of Galbraith Laboratories Inc. and past President of Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, marks a child’s left pinkie with a purple marker during a polio eradication mission in India in 2012, indicating that the child has received the immunization. (Submitted photo).

Brenda Thornburgh, president of Galbraith Laboratories Inc. and past President of Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, will discuss the worldwide effort to eradicate polio during Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

The meeting starts at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

For most Americans, paralytic polio is a disease of the past, a press release said. However, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of confirmed cases across the world in 2013, primarily in non-endemic countries such as Somalia, Kenya, and the Syrian Arab Republic. [Read more…]

Watson to discuss ‘State of the City’ at Lunch with the League

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will give an update on the state of the city during Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

The meeting starts at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Watson became Oak Ridge city manager in August 2010. He is the chief administrative officer of the city, and his responsibilities include planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and evaluating the operations of the municipal government in order to implement Oak Ridge City Council policies in an effective and economic manner, a press release said. [Read more…]

Construction starts at Unitarian Universalist Church near Federal Building

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Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Site

Construction work has started at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church between Oak Ridge Turnpike and the Joe L. Evins Federal Building.

Construction work has started at the site of a new home for the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church near the Joe L. Evins Federal Building.

Hickory Construction Inc., which has headquarters in Alcoa, announced on Thursday that it has broken ground at the 4.6-acre site. The building could be complete by next summer, a press release said.

Hickory will work with Johnson Architecture Inc. to create a larger church building that will give the congregation an extra 3,000 square feet, compared to the current building a few miles down Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said. The new church will feature an updated, modern appearance. [Read more…]

Possible changes in Tennessee judicial selections to be discussed at Lunch with the League

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Judy Cornett

Judy Cornett

A University of Tennessee law professor will discuss potential changes to Tennessee’s judicial selection process during a Lunch with the League meeting on Tuesday.

Judy Cornett is a distinguished professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law, and her presentation starts at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

In November 2014, Tennessee voters will vote on three proposed amendments to the Tennessee Constitution, a press release said. One proposed amendment would create a semi-federal system of selecting Tennessee’s appellate judges. This amendment would empower the governor to nominate a candidate, who would then be subject to confirmation by both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly. Cornett will discuss the history of the legislative battle over judicial selection and will analyze the proposed amendment, which has been touted as an alternative to popular election of appellate judges. [Read more…]

Choral concert at ORUUC tonight celebrates National Coming Out Day

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In celebration of National Coming Out Day, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will present a choral concert headlined by the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus, under the direction of Freddie Brabson. The concert is at 7 p.m. today at ORUUC. Tickets are $5.

Proceeds will go to the Gay/Straight Alliance at Oak Ridge High School. ORUUC is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

There will also be featured performances by musicians from other area Unitarian Universalist churches, including the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church choir, the new Foothills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship choir, ORUUC’s own Mighty Choir, as well as musical selections from members of The Westside Unitarian Universalist Church. [Read more…]

Namoli Brennet in concert at Unitarian Universalist Church

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Namoli Brennet

Namoli Brennet

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Dubbed “one of the best folk-rock artists in the country,” transgender artist Namoli Brennet will be in concert at 7 p.m. Friday at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

The church is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Tickets are $12 or $10 for students and may be purchased at the door or online at www.oruuc.org/events/. [Read more…]