Oak Ridge Today

Winter Farmers’ Market returns indoors, with a Market-To-Go curbside option

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Free-range eggs, radishes, and broccoli are just some of the products available all season at the Winter Farmers’ Market. (Photo courtesy Grow Oak Ridge)

The fifth season of the Winter Farmers’ Market begins indoors Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and it is focused on safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, a press release said.

The market is open Saturdays through March (closed December 26), at St. Mary’s Catholic School at 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge.

All vendors and customers must wear masks, and vendors are spread apart for social distancing, the press release said.

New this year is a 100 percent touch-free curbside pickup program called Market-to-Go. Customers can shop farmers’ market products online during the week, and pick them up curbside on Saturday mornings, the press release said.

“We have been working all year to get ready for a safe, indoor market. Not many towns our size offer a Winter Farmers’ Market, much less one with more than 30 vendors and a convenient online store,” said Rebecca Williams, director of Grow Oak Ridge, the nonprofit organization that produces the market.

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A former Oak Ridge student, artificial intelligence expert to visit city, talk at evening ceremony

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The cover of Kai-Fu Lee's book, "AI Superpowers." (Submitted)

The cover of Kai-Fu Lee’s book, “AI Superpowers.” (Submitted)

 

Kai-Fu Lee—a world-leading artificial intelligence expert, venture capitalist, writer, and former president of Google China—is planning a visit to Oak Ridge on May 6, a press release said.

Lee, a 1979 Oak Ridge High School graduate, will visit his former schools, St. Mary’s Catholic School and Oak Ridge Schools, meeting with students and teachers during the day, the press release said.

The public is invited to an evening ceremony at Pollard Auditorium including a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Lee’s talk at 6:30. This community event will be hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, UT-Battelle, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and Friends of ORNL. Lee will be available to sign his most recent best-selling book, “AI Super-Powers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order.” Copies of the book will be available for purchase, the press release said. [Read more…]

Effective community organizing to be be discussed in Saturday workshop

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The community is invited to learn how to join voices for effective change at home and across Tennessee at a training workshop on community organizing on Saturday, May 5. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic School, located at 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The training will be offered in English and in Spanish. There is no charge to attend but a donation of $10 is requested for lunch and snacks, payable on site. In order to plan for food, please reserve a spot by email to Greg Easterly at [email protected] or www.facebook.com/events/142180826614346/.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to learn from Gamaliel’s founders, Greg Galluzzo and Mary Gonzales, who will teach how to work together to build a powerful alliance to tackle issues of concern in our community,” said Easterly, who is lead organizer for Alliance for Community Transformation of East Tennessee. [Read more…]

St. Mary’s brings home volleyball gold for second consecutive year

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St. Mary's Volleyball TeamSubmitted

Several area middle schools were invited to Knoxville Catholic High School on August 15 to participate in the 2015 KCHS Volleyball Feeder Fest Tournament.

The tournament lasted more than eight hours, with some teams playing up to six games each. The varsity volleyball team from St. Mary’s School in Oak Ridge took first place in the overall pool and continued its winning streak through the finals, securing its second consecutive Feeder Fest championship.

The St. Mary’s Junior Varsity team also did very well, as they took first place in their pool and second overall in the finals. Both teams are coached by Laura McKenna and Rob Halcrow.

Coach McKenna said: “Both the JV and varsity teams have exceeded expectations in play, team bonding, and sportsmanship. The girls have laid a strong foundation for another spectacular season. As a coach, I could not be more proud of the hard work and dedication the team has shown and I look forward to helping the girls gain confidence in their volleyball skills and grow on and off the court.” [Read more…]

Students illustrate children’s book, help raise awareness of homelessness

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Student Art for Homelessness Book

TORCH, a local nonprofit that works with homeless families and low-income people, hosted its second annual art show during National Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Week from November 17-23.

Anderson County art students (grades seven-12) were invited to submit PIT Poster Contest entries, while younger students (grades kindergarten-six) were invited to submit illustrations for a children’s book, “The Home for Carley.”

The PIT Count is an annual, nationally mandated count of the homeless by county over a 24-hour period in the month of January. TORCH directs the PIT Count for Anderson County each year. [Read more…]