Oak Ridge Today

Spaghetti lunch on Sunday to raise money for Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

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Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence Spaghetti & Meatballs Fundraiser Luncheon Feb 11 2018

An all-you-can-eat homemade Spaghetti & Meatballs Fundraiser Luncheon on Sunday will benefit Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence.

The luncheon is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, February 11, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The community is invited. Proceeds will benefit the Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence, a press release said.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under. The all-you-can-eat meal includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread, dessert, and a beverage. Take out will be available, the press release said. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling (865) 294-4133. [Read more…]

Rock to Bach Music Festival on Saturday will benefit Oak Ridge Civic Music Association

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Kelle Jolly on ukelele (Submitted photo)

Kelle Jolly on ukelele (Submitted photo)

 

Note: This story was updated at 12:55 p.m.

The sixth Oak Ridge Rock to Bach Music Festival, presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, will showcase talented local musicians on Saturday, February 10, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

A feast for music lovers, Rock to Bach will feature 19 live performances from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., a press release said. The performers include bands with singers, such as the Ridge City Ramblers and Mt. LeConte Jug Band, as well as string quartets, a flute choir, a jazz band, and two klezmer bands.

Solo artists are Allen McBride on the hammer dulcimer and vocalist Kelle Jolley, one of East Tennessee’s most celebrated jazz musicians. She is the host of Knoxville’s radio show on WUOT 91.9FM, “Jazz Jam with Kelle Jolly,” an hour-long show on Friday at 8 p.m. that celebrates great local, national, and international singers of jazz, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge city manager to discuss issues facing the city on Tuesday

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Mark Watson

Mark Watson

 

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will give his perspective on issues facing the city at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 6. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

In August 2010, Watson was selected as the city manager of Oak Ridge after a 30-year career in local government, a press release said. Prior to coming to Oak Ridge, he served as city manager of six cities in Texas, Montana, and Arizona. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration.

Watson is a credentialed public manager as accepted by the International City/County Management Association, where he previously served as vice president, the press release said. He has received numerous awards and has issued numerous publications, the most noted being the “Cities that Think” program, the release said. [Read more…]

Health care to be discussed at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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Walter Davis

Walter Davis

The speaker for Lunch with the League on Tuesday, December 5, will be Walter Davis, who will discuss health care issues, 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.

Davis has served as executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign in Nashville for the past 4.5 years. He previously served as executive director for the National Organizers Alliance in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the University of Louisville (Kentucky Southern College) and served in Colombia in the Peace Corps. He was recognized in February 2017 as the Community Shares’ Danny Mayfield Champion of Change for life achievement in social justice, the press release said.

The mission of THCC, a 28-year-old advocate organization, is to work for affordable, accessible health care for all Tennesseans, the release said. [Read more…]

YWCA Anderson County programs to be discussed at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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Maggie McNally

Maggie McNally

The director of Anderson County services at Knoxville YWCA will discuss programs and services during Lunch with the League in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

Maggie McNally will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League. 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.

An Oak Ridge native, McNally joined the Knoxville YWCA in September 2014 as the Enough! Volunteer coordinator, a press release said. She transitioned into the director of women services, and is now the director of Anderson County services. In her new position, McNally oversees domestic violence programming and staff in Oak Ridge and Anderson County, the press release said.

Previously, McNally did extensive work with children in therapeutic foster care and foster parent recruitment and training. Her experience also includes program development to provide substance abuse treatment services to women who delivered NAS and drug-exposed infants, and work with criminal justice related to clients with substance abuse issues, the press release said. [Read more…]

U.S. Senate candidate Mackler will be in Oak Ridge on Thursday

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James Mackler

James Mackler

 

James Mackler, the first Tennessee Democrat to launch a 2018 U.S. Senate campaign, will be in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

Mackler, a Nashville attorney and Iraq War veteran, will be the keynote speaker at the Anderson County Democratic Party general meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, is not seeking re-election in 2018. U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn, also a Tennessee Republican, has announced she will run for Corker’s seat.

A press release said Mackler left his job six months ago as a prosecutor and defense attorney to run for Corker’s seat. [Read more…]

ORUUC Free Community Meal celebrates seven years today

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The community is invited to join in the celebration of the seventh birthday of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Stone Soup Free Community Meal on Friday, September 29. On the menu will be taco salad, Mexican rice, fresh fruit, and of course, birthday cake for dessert.

An assortment of nonperishable family friendly groceries will be available for free to anyone in need. Dine in or take out will be available from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

“While many of our guests are our food insecure neighbors, we want to start our eighth year making sure that we emphasize that the community meal is open to anyone who would like to come,” said program co-coordinator Jinx Watson. “There are a lot of connections that are made, not only among the guests, but also among the guests and the team. We enjoy dining with them and love the opportunity to celebrate someone’s birthday, hear news about their families, and build friendships. For some, attending is as much about the welcoming atmosphere as it is about the meal.” [Read more…]

Yoga Peace Day is Saturday

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Peace begins with you! On Saturday, September 23, in honor of International Day of Peace, the yoga group at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church is hosting an event, “Yoga Peace Day,” that is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Presenters of the day will include Serene White, who will lead a restorative yoga session; Amanda Caldwell, who will lead a guided meditation with a slide show; and Jan Coe, who will treat everyone to a sound immersion concert, a press release said. There will be a blessing led by Reverend Tandy Scheffler to dedicate the new peace pole installed on the property, the press release said. [Read more…]

Lunch with the League features police chief on Tuesday

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James T. Akagi

James T. Akagi

The Oak Ridge League of Women Voters will host Lunch with the League on Tuesday at 11:45 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike.

The speaker will be Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi.

The public is invited, and there is no cost to attend.

The lunch, which will last until about 1 p.m. Tuesday, will be in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Akagi will talk about current issues in the City of Oak Ridge and surrounding areas that are affecting police activities—including opioid usage, immigration, and school safety, a press release said. [Read more…]

Bring a dish to share at the September PFLAG meeting

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PFLAG will hold its September on Monday, September 11, in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. Members, friends, and newcomers will have a chance to meet and greet and catch up beginning with a potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program at 7 p.m., a press release said. The church is located at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

During the meeting, there will be time to brainstorm on current and upcoming activities. Also planned is a discussion of transgendered service members and recent tweets and events.

The PFLAG mission is to provide opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation, gender identities, and to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity, the press release said. [Read more…]

Hot Dogs with the Works indoor picnic at ORUUC Free Community Meal on Friday

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Concern that it might be too hot outside for a picnic to mark the end of summer at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church Free Community Meal on Friday, August 25, didn’t deter the volunteers of their picnic idea.

“The group decided to just throw it indoors instead!” a press release said.

Everyone is invited for hot dogs, baked beans, cookies, and fruit, the press release said. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike (close to traffic light number 2) in Oak Ridge. Dine-in the Social Hall or take-out will be available from 5 to 6 p.m., the release said.

“Plans are already under way to celebrate our seventh birthday at the meal on September 29. The menu is still being planned but for certain will include birthday cake,” said volunteer Abbie Moore. “Over the years, our volunteers have prepared and served several thousand meals. We strive to serve nutritious, homemade meals to our guests. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge faith leaders condemn racism, hatred, ask City Council to do the same

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Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments. The statement of condemnation was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments. The statement of condemnation was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments.

The statement of condemnation of hatred and racism was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church, during a Monday evening meeting of the Oak Ridge City Council as 14 other clergy members stood by him in support.

It came two days after a 32-year-old Virginia woman was killed and 19 other people were injured after a car plowed into counter-protesters on the day of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. About two hours after the car crash, two Virginia state troopers who both have East Tennessee ties were killed when their police helicopter crashed and burned; the helicopter had been involved in providing surveillance and information during the day, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported.

“This past weekend, a 32-year-old young lady by the name of Heather Heyer lost her life, and many others were seriously injured at a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia,” the Oak Ridge faith leaders said in their statement delivered to City Council on Monday. “The white nationalists, neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, and other ‘alt-right’ hate groups were gathered in order to ‘take America back.’

“While the kind of hate, bigotry, and white supremacist ideology that we witnessed in Charlottesville is not new to America, this racist minority movement has been emboldened by what they perceive as support for their un-American world view. Their rhetoric and actions threaten the historic progress our ancestors, from many faiths and ethnic backgrounds, have made toward equality for all. It is now our responsibility and privilege to celebrate the rich diversity of our nation and continue their work. [Read more…]