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Beauty of Giving: Free haircuts offered

Posted at 10:01 am July 25, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The Atomic City Sportsmen Club and Oak Valley Baptist Church have invited students to kick off the new school year with a fresh free haircut and style during the annual Beauty of Giving event today (Sunday, July 25).

Participating barber and beauty shops will open at 2 p.m. and provide haircuts and styles to children on a first-come basis, a press release said. Participating shops include High Maintenance, The Pro’s 2, Fade to Black, and Fresh Master Cuts in Oak Ridge.

An event advertisement said the event, Beauty of Giving, is from 2 to 7:30 p.m.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Front Page News Tagged With: Atomic City Sportsmen Club, Beauty of Giving, Oak Valley Baptist Church

Oak Ridge Orchestra, violist to pay tribute to trailblazing black, African American composers

Posted at 11:22 am February 7, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Derek Reeves

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra with special guest violist Derek Reeves will pay tribute to trailblazing black and African American composers in Musical Firsts on Sunday.

The concert is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 9, in the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Tickets are available at ORCMA.org, by phone at (865) 483-5569, or at The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square. Tickets are also available at the door. Prices are $25 for adults, $10 for young adults ages 19-29, and free for youth 18 and younger through the Penny4Arts initiative.

The orchestra will perform music by acclaimed composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Grant Still, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Jessie Montgomery. Reeves, the soloist, will be featured in the music by Still and also the “Viola Concerto” by Georg Friedrich Telemann before leading area viola students in a master class, a press release said.

“I’ve known Derek since he was a talented undergraduate student at Indiana University,” said Music Director Dan Allcott. “Now a seasoned professional, Derek belongs to that special category of musicians who has the ability to cross multiple boundaries and musical genres to engage all audiences. Oak Ridgers are in for a treat.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music Tagged With: African American composers, Black History Month, Dan Allcott, Derek Reeves, Grove Theater, Lisa Muci Eckhoff, Musical Firsts, Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Oak Valley Baptist Church, ORCMA, Scarboro Community Center, Susan Shor, violist

Oak Ridge church to host Emmy-nominated vocal ensemble in free holiday concert

Posted at 3:00 pm October 10, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Inversion (Submitted photo)

An Oak Ridge church will host a free holiday concert in December that will feature Inversion, an Emmy Award-nominated vocal ensemble.

The special concert will be presented by Masskus Productions in cooperation with Oak Valley Baptist Church of Oak Ridge. The concert will be at the church at 194 Hampton Road at 5 p.m. Sunday, December 8, a press release said.

“We feel blessed here in Oak Ridge and are delighted to offer this musical celebration to the community free of charge,” said Pastor Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church.  “This is just one way for folks to settle down and relax during this hectic holiday season. We hope everyone will bring friends to enjoy a beautiful Sunday afternoon.”

Under the direction of David Ragland Jr., Inversions was born from a desire to showcase an array of talented friends, the press release said.

“They bring an eclectic vibe to a variety of musical genres,” the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: David Ragland Jr., Derrick Hammond, holiday concert, Inversion, Masskus Productions, Oak Valley Baptist Church

Election 2018 Community Forum: Liberty and Justice for All

Posted at 9:14 am October 6, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

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…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Churches, Community, Federal, Front Page News, Government, State, Top Stories Tagged With: ACT-ET, Alliance for Community Transformation of East Tennessee, candidates, elected representatives, First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, Greg Easterly, Joan Burns, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Oak Valley Baptist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has 30th MLK Program on Monday

Posted at 1:58 pm January 11, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Archie Smart

Archie Smart

In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated (AKA), Oak Ridge Chapter, will present its 30th annual Community Speaks Program on Monday, January 15, at 9:45 a.m. at Consolidated Nuclear Security’s New Hope Center on Scarboro Road. This year’s theme is “Together We Win with Love for Humanity,” a press release said.

Archie Smart, the keynote speaker, is a native of South Carolina, a press release said. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from South Carolina State University. Smart is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a commissioned officer in the Adjutant General Corps.

He is a project manager at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), where he manages the third consecutive National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) project, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Education, Front Page News Tagged With: AKA, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Archie Smart, “Keep the Dream Alive” scholarships, Benjamin Stephens, By His Ministries, Church Women United, Community Speaks Program, Consolidated Nuclear Security, Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Men of Tomorrow Program Incorporated, Methodist Medical Center, New Hope Center, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Valley Baptist Church, ORAU, SECME Inc.

Martin Luther King Breakfast to feature Hammond as speaker

Posted at 3:01 pm January 7, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Derrick Hammond

Derrick Hammond

 

A Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast on Monday, January 15, will feature as keynote speaker the Reverend Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church in Oak Ridge.

It’s the 30th annual Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast hosted by the Atomic City Sportsmen.

The breakfast will be at the Oak Valley Baptist Church, 194 Hampton Road in Oak Ridge, on Monday, January 15. The program will begin at 8 a.m.

Hammond has served the Oak Valley Baptist Church for the past three years, a press release said. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University. He also completed the dual master’s degree program at Samford University, earning a Master of Divinity and a Master of Business Administration, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: Atomic City Sportsmen, David Mosby, Derrick Hammond, Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast, Oak Valley Baptist Church

‘Pathway to Politics: Engaging the African-American Community’ is Thursday

Posted at 4:31 am November 9, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Pathway to Politics Flyer2 (002)

A non-partisan program to educate, inspire, and mobilize African-Americans to run for office and engage in political advocacy in Oak Ridge is Thursday evening at Oak Valley Baptist Church.

The program is titled “Pathway to Politics: Engaging the African-American Community.”

It’s presented by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Oak Ridge Chapter. Co-sponsors are Oak Valley Baptist Church and Oak Ridge League of Women Voters. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2018 Election, Government Tagged With: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Engaging the African-American Community, Oak Ridge Chapter, Oak Ridge League of Women Voters, Oak Valley Baptist Church, Pathway to Politics

Pastor, police chief the speakers at event on building community

Posted at 1:13 pm September 10, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Derrick Hammond

Derrick Hammond

An Oak Ridge pastor and the police chief will be the speakers at a Monday morning discussion of building community.

The speakers are Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church, and Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi.

The discussion is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Monday, September 11, in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Covenant Church at 320 Robertsville Road.

The discussion is sponsored by Women’s Interfaith Dialogue. It will focus on “Building Community in a Time of Hatred and Violence,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: building community, Building Community in a Time of Hatred and Violence, Derrick Hammond, Grace Covenant Church, James Akagi, Oak Valley Baptist Church, Women's Interfaith Dialogue

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

Posted at 11:48 am August 16, 2017
By John Huotari 15 Comments

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…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: alt-right, Charlottesville, Chuck Hope, condemnation of hatred and racism, Derrick Hammond, Ellen Smith, Father Brent Shelton, First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, Flynn Partnerships, Grace Covenant Church, Hans Vogel, Heather Heyer, Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge, Jim Dodson, Kelly Callison, Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge faith leaders, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Oak Valley Baptist Church, Rabbi Victor Rashkovsky, Reverend Annette Flynn, Reverend Brian Scott, Reverend Carolyn Dipboye, Reverend Jake Morrill, Reverend Larry Dipboye, Reverend Mark Flynn, Reverend Rory Naeve, Reverend Sharon Youngs, Reverend Steve Sherman, Rick Chinn, Robertsville Baptist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Unite the Right rally, Warren Gooch, white nationalist rally, white nationalists

Martin Luther King Jr. Day events

Posted at 4:15 pm January 15, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Reneé Kesler

Reneé Kesler

There are at least three events scheduled on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 16).

Atomic City Sportsmen Club hosts 28th Annual Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast Program

The Atomic City Sportsmen invite the community to the 28th annual Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast. The Breakfast will be held on Monday, January 16, at the Oak Valley Baptist Church, 191 Hampton Road in Oak Ridge.

The program begins at 8 a.m., and this year’s keynote speaker will be the Reverend Reneé Kesler, president and chief executive officer of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center Inc. in Knoxville.

Beck was established in 1975 as a primary repository of black history and culture in East Tennessee and remains dedicated to researching, collecting, conserving, preserving, and exhibiting works of art, writings, artifacts, memorabilia, and other evidence of contributions relating to the history and culture of African Americans in this region while fostering and promoting educational, artistic, and cultural activities and experiences, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Middle School, Sports Tagged With: Atomic City Sportsmen, Atomic City Sportsmen Club, Beck Cultural Exchange Center Inc., David Mosby, Green McAdoo Cultural Center, Green McAdoo Recreation Center, Martin Luther King Fellowship Breakfast, Martin Luther King Holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, MLK Prayer Breakfast, Oak Valley Baptist Church, Oliver Springs Middle School, Reneé Kesler, Robertsville Middle School

CWU celebrates reconciliation, grace, friendship on May 6

Posted at 7:16 pm April 26, 2016
By Gay Marie Logsdon Leave a Comment

Church Women United of Oak Ridge invites the public to its May Friendship Day celebration on Friday, May 6.

The celebration will feature a worship program titled “Finding Grace at the Table.” The program focuses on the table as a place for reconciliation and the need to recognize God presence in every person.

CWU will present Key Woman Awards to Mary Stephens and Judy Cohan for their dedicated service at Oak Valley Baptist Church and United Church, Chapel on the Hill, respectively, in addition to their contributions within the wider Oak Ridge community and Church Women United. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Faith, Front Page News, Meetings and Events Tagged With: Chapel on the Hill, Church Women United, Church Women United of Oak Ridge, CWU, Friendship Day, Gay Marie Logsdon, Mary Stephens, Oak Valley Baptist Church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, United Church

Community Matters leaders report back at ORHS on Sunday

Posted at 1:02 pm April 23, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Community-Matters-Unitarian-Universalist-Nov-1-2015-14

Pictured above at a Community Matters forum at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Nov. 1, 2015, are the Reverend Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church, center, the Rev. Jake Morrill of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, left, and Father Brent Shelton of St. Mary’s Parish. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The leaders of the Community Matters series of forums held last fall will report back on what they’ve learned at Oak Ridge High School on Sunday.

The informational session is scheduled from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 24. All Oak Ridge residents are invited to attend.

This event will feature community leaders including Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, Police Chief Jim Akagi, ORHS Principal Martin McDonald, and leading pastors in town, all to continue the conversation begun last fall, a press release said.

“In the last couple of years, communities around the country have engaged the conversation sparked by Black Lives Matter,” the press release said. “In some communities, this has looked like protest. In others, it has looked like study and reflection.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Community, Education, Front Page News, K-12, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Slider Tagged With: Black Lives Matter, Community Matters, Derrick Hammond, J.B. Shelton, Jake Morrill, James Akagi, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Oak Valley Baptist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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