The Secret City Half Marathon and 5K will be in person again this year with a regular start.
Last year’s race had a time trial-style start to help ensure social distancing among the runners along with a temperature check for participants.
The 2021 race is scheduled for Saturday, November 20.
“Available spots are filling up quickly as the autumn marathon season gears up, so interested parties are encouraged to sign up before the race hits maximum capacity,” a press release said.
[Read more…]
The Teno Family Band is one of the many performing groups to provide entertainment at the Turning Wheel Revue on Friday evening, May 25, 2018, at Swifty’s Atomic Bar & Grill, and Saturday evening, May 26, at the Historic Grove Theater. (Submitted photo)
“Local musicians benefiting local charities.â€
That’s the tagline for the Turning Wheel Revue, a fundraiser to be held Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26, in Oak Ridge.
The Friday event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at Swifty’s Atomic Bar & Grill (119 South Illinois Avenue), and the Saturday fundraiser will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Historic Grove Theater (123 Randolph Road).
The bands that will trigger toe-tapping on Friday evening will be The Lewis Brothers (Robbie & James), The Ryan Meeker Band, $teve, The Thrips, The Unnamed, and special guests.
Turning to the Saturday evening event, attendees will hear Jeremiah Johnson & Jackson Coleman, Joey Shackleford, Kasey Moore, Samantha Mason & Marian Vacaluic, Sarah Joyal, (Rick) Payson Lyon, The Teno Family Band, Tim & Jodi Harbin, The Young Band, Nothing Band, and special guests.
The 13 local nonprofit service organizations that will benefit from your presence are: [Read more…]
Pictured above is recent community mission work by members of First United Methodist Church. (Submitted photo)
The First United Methodist Church Oak Ridge Adult Missions Ministry will sponsor a fundraising Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant on Saturday morning.
The church’s Missions Ministry supports many local humanitarian programs such as ADFAC, TORCH, Family Resource Center at Oak Ridge Schools, Ecumenical Storehouse, Free Medical Clinic, Girls Inc., Agape House, Tabitha’s Table, and Second Harvest “Food For Kids,” a press release said.
The Pancake Breakfast is scheduled from Saturday, December 9, from 8-10 a.m. [Read more…]
A chocolate fountain coats fruit and marshmallows in sweet chocolate.
Sample chocolate desserts, savor the flavors, and support Agape House of Oak Ridge at its third annual “An Evening of Everything Chocolate†on Saturday, April 29.
The event will feature tables filled with chocolate culinary temptations from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, a press release said. Guests will indulge in fudge, chocolate-covered potato chips and popcorn, truffles, chocolate-dipped fruit, brownies, and other special treats, including fresh baked-on-site chocolate chip cookies. Coffee, sipping chocolate, and water will also be served.
All proceeds will go to the direct support of Agape House, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless, the press release said. Since opening in 2014, Agape House has helped 36 homeless families or individuals with short-term, temporary housing, and other support services as they work with agencies to gain self-sufficiency.
“Because of support from the community, 36 families have had their lives positively changed and are now on a path to self-sufficiency, with positive future stories to tell,†said Michael McCutcheon, director of Agape House of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]
As of Friday, September 23, there were still 11 households that might not have a place to live when Applewood Apartments closes on September 30, according to an organization that helps homeless families in Anderson County. Pictured above is an Applewood Apartments building on Hunter Circle on Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
As of Friday, September 23, there were still 11 households that might not have a place to live when Applewood Apartments closes on September 30, according to an organization that helps homeless families in Anderson County.
The closure of the 13-building apartment complex on Hillside Road and Hunter Circle in the Highland View neighborhood was announced in early August.
Andy O’Quinn of Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, which is based in Oak Ridge, said he is “extremely proud” of the way the community and its organizations have worked together to help Applewood residents, but there is still work to do.
“At the moment, we are looking for landlords that would be willing to rent by the month to a few people that who receive a disability check and will be getting into income-based housing but need a place to go in the meantime,” O’Quinn said in a Friday status report. “We are also seeking two- and three-bedroom rentals below $550. for our working families. If you think you might have a unit to rent, please e-mail Andy O’Quinn at [email protected].” [Read more…]
An Oak Ridge nonprofit organization has received a $35,000 federal grant to help fight homelessness, officials said Thursday.
The Emergency Solutions Grant was awarded to the Trinity Outreach Center of Hope, or TORCH, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, or THDA, said in a press release. TORCH will use the grant to help fight homelessness among high-risk populations in Anderson County and surrounding areas.
The funds will be used to help with administrative services, street outreach, prevention, and rapid rehousing services that will help homeless people and families in the area covered by TORCH, the press release said. [Read more…]
TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2. (Submitted photo)
TORCH hosted a day of free family fun at the Children’s Museum on Saturday, April 2.
It was the first TORCH Springtastic! Elaine Graham of Balloonacy Lunacy presented the children with balloon animals, flowers, among other things, while Kelly Mules of Faces Gone Wild painted exquisite designs on their faces. Jeffery Bell portrayed Carley, the dog who is the main character in the TORCH Children’s book series. Nathan Zieger read Dr. Seuss, and Sheila Michel told stories and worked puppets.
Andy O’Quinn, TORCH executive director, put together music videos to which the children could dance. There were arts and crafts, fruits, vegetables and juice boxes to enjoy, and the opportunity to plant a fresh flower in a small pot to take home.
“It was a celebration of spring and healthy life choices,” a press release said. [Read more…]
Morgan Anderson dips fruit and marshmallows in a chocolate fountain at last year’s first “An Evening of Everything Chocolate.†(Submitted photo)
Tasting a variety of chocolate desserts will be a special treat during “An Evening of Everything Chocolate†on Saturday, May 7, in support of Agape House of Oak Ridge.
The Mother’s Day weekend event will feature tables filled with chocolate culinary temptations in the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The second annual “An Evening of Everything Chocolate†will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Truffles, fudge, cookies, brownies, and other treats will satisfy any sweet tooth, with coffee, sipping chocolate, and water also being served.
All proceeds will go to the direct support of Agape House, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless. Since opening in 2014, Agape House has helped 20 homeless families or individuals with short-term, temporary housing, and other support services as they work with agencies to take steps toward self-sufficiency.
Agape House is an all-volunteer agency, and a significant portion of its budget is raised through this fundraising event. [Read more…]
The director of an organization that helps homeless families in Oak Ridge and Anderson County will discuss homelessness during a Monday morning program in Oak Ridge.
Anthony “Andy†O. Quinn is executive director of TORCH, or Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope.
Besides homelessness, Quinn will also discuss TORCH during the Monday program, which starts at 11 a.m. January 4 at the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge, which is at 101 West Madison Lane. The program is presented by the Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]
Trinity Outreach Center for Hope, or TORCH, and the Blossom Center will have a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Saturday, October 3, at Grace Covenant Church.
The church is located at 320 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge. Dine-in or carry out will be available between 5 to 8 p.m.
Tickets prices for adults are $10, children $5, and $25 for families, and they will be available at the door and in advance at Ruby Miller’s State Farm office, which is at 574 Oak Ridge Turnpike. (Telephone (865) 483-5663.)
Those who want to purchase tickets online may do so by sending a message to Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence Inc. or Creed Mushimbo on Facebook. [Read more…]
Photo from the Brew Review on Sept. 12, 2014, by Margaretanne Ingle.
Trinity Out-Reach Center for Hope, or TORCH, has its Second Annual Brew Review on Saturday, August 29. It’s a one-of-a-kind fundraiser in Oak Ridge.
The Brew Review is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, from 7 to 11 pm, at St. Mary’s Catholic School Gymnasium at 323 Vermont Avenue in Oak Ridge.
The evening will include beer tasting, finger foods, and live music, a press release said. Guests can mingle with their food and beer, dance to live music and/or enter the Corn Hole Tournament.
The bands performing are The Portals, Rhiannon, Jack Russell and the Terriers, and Ridge City Ramblers. [Read more…]
Scott Payne of the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network, or TSPN, will offer a free one-hour gatekeeper training program for all who want to learn more about suicide prevention on Saturday, August 22, at Grace Lutheran Church. The church is located at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge.
The presentation, which is titled “Addressing Suicidal Ideation and Behavior,†will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. Free child care will be provided.
The training is appropriate for anyone who may come in contact with a person who is having suicidal thoughts and wants to help that person choose life, a press release said.
In information provided by Payne, he noted that the training is a customized version of the evidence-based, best practice “Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)†suicide prevention training and that it will enhance each participant’s awareness of their values, attitudes, and beliefs regarding suicide. [Read more…]
