The Oak Ridge Police Department, in partnership with East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, will conduct free drive-through car seat checks on Tuesday, October 22, and Wednesday, October 23, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Officers will be set up across the street from Oak Ridge Preschool, located at 304 New York Avenue. Parents and caregivers are invited to stop by with no need to pre-register.

This safety checkpoint is an annual event for the Oak Ridge Police Department. Car seats will be checked for manufacturer recalls and examined for proper installation by certified technicians. Crews will also distribute educational material about car seats.

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital advises anyone planning to attend a car seat inspection to bring their car seat instruction booklet and vehicle owner’s manual if possible. Also, to make the process more efficient, please install the child restraint seat to the best of your ability before attending the inspection.

For more information, contact the Oak Ridge Police Department at (865) 425-3504.

The City of Oak Ridge and its Community Development Department will present possibilities for the mixed-use redevelopment of the Wilson Street Corridor at a public meeting set for Wednesday, October 23.

The meeting will be held at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike, from 5 p.m. until 6 p.m. The community is invited to view the presentation, which uses data compiled over several years of study and public engagement focused on the needs of Oak Ridge residents, business owners, and visitors.

The UT Arboretum Society will present an educational program about bats on Friday, October 25 th , at 7:00 p.m. in the UT Arboretum Auditorium in Oak Ridge.

An expert in bats and their environments, Pandy Upchurch, Assistant Chief of Biological Diversity with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, will talk about “Living with Tennessee Bats.” She will address the many advantages bats provide the environment and how people and bats can co-exist. As an interesting case study, she will discuss the problem Oak Ridge High School had with a bat infestation this past summer.

This very popular program is free but seating is limited, so people must RSVP in advance to “Living with Bats.” Go to http://utarboretumsociety.org/ (click here) or call 865-483-7277. Make sure to RSVP with the total number in your party.

Come see us RAIN or SHINE!

FARM is a historical agricultural co-op operating in the Oak Ridge/Knoxville area since 1976, making it one of the oldest farmers markets in the state of Tennessee. Area farmers have been working together to bring locally grown food and other farm products to  East Tennessee communities for 43 years.

Over 70 vendors make up FARM’s membership with most being local farmers who produce fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, honey and other farm items. Many members grow and sell plants, cut flowers and other garden products. Local artisans and bakers are also a part of the FARM cooperative.

Members must grow or make what they sell locally. Shipped-in items, and the reselling of products is not allowed. FARM’s mission for over 40 years has been to assist local farmers in marketing their produce and goods directly to the community.

New farmers and artisans are welcomed to apply for membership with FARM. Community outreach booths made be set up for informational purposes. To schedule your organizations booth or apply to join FARM, visit the website  www.easttnfarmmarkets.org.  or email info@easttnfarmmarkets.org.. 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and Oak Ridge Police Department, in partnership with the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program, are in the planning stages for this year’s Fire & Crime Prevention Celebration. The date has been set for Saturday, October 26, 2019.

Everyone is invited to participate and support this free event, which combines the police department’s annual National Night Out and the fire department’s Fire Prevention Parade into one big community celebration. Goals of the Fire & Crime Prevention Celebration include:

• Celebrating the partnership between the community and the police/fire departments
• Increasing awareness of fire, crime, violence, and drug prevention efforts
• Generating support for local anti-crime programs and fire prevention initiatives
• Providing information to help create a more sustainable environment
• Generating interest in leading a healthier lifestyle
• Demonstrating fire and crime prevention skills and safety techniques
• Promoting neighborhood unity

The event will kick off with a parade at 11 a.m. starting at ORFD Fire Station #3 on Tuskegee Drive and ending at A.K. Bissell Park. The celebration in the park is expected to begin around noon following the parade. The event will also feature food, emergency services equipment displays, bounce houses, safety information booths, and police/fire demonstrations.

Line-up for the parade will begin at 10 a.m. For those interested in participating, follow this link to register your fire engine or emergency vehicle: http://bit.ly/FireCrimePreventionRegistration2019.

This event is still in the planning stages, but more information will be released soon. Please save the date and watch for additional details over the coming weeks. Questions can be directed to the Oak Ridge Fire Department at (865) 425-3520.