Special Events Committee
Since 2019, the Special Events Committee has been actively raising funds for the construction of the Veterans Honor Green at Heritage Farm Park. This site will be dedicated to honoring our military servicemen and women. Sales of the brick pavers to be laid along the Honor Walk are ongoing with completion of the site anticipated in the second half of 2024. Construction of the Veterans site is anticipated to begin in May, 2024, with completion expected in September, 2024.
The Special Events Committee is also orchestrating the following events for 2024 (please refer to the Events Calendar for details):
- Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Oak Ridge Town incorporation with an appreciation dinner for volunteers (January 20)
- Memorial Day Observance with honored guest speakers and patriotic music (May 27)
- Independence Day Celebration with a Kids’ Bike Parade around the Town Park and food and treats for participants (July 4)
- 9/11 Memorial Observance with honored guest speakers and moments of respectful reflection (September 8)
- Oak Ridge Heritage Day with local artisans, period costumes, contests, exhibits and demonstrations to commemorate the Town’s distinctive footprint in history (September 28)
- Veteran’s Day Observance with honored guest speakers (November 11)
- Light Up the Night to ring in the holiday season with sparkling luminaries, lighting of the Town Christmas tree, visits with Santa, music, activities, foods, and crafts (December 7)
The Special Events Committee invites anyone to join them. Meetings are held in person at Town Hall on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Additional meetings may be held during busier events. A majority of the members of the Oak Ridge Town Council may attend the duly scheduled meetings of the statutory boards and appointed committees of the Town of Oak Ridge.
For information on this committee, please contact:
Patti Dmuchowski, Chair
(908) 334-2370
patriciadmuchowski@hotmail.com
Ben Walraven, Vice Chair
ben@walravensignaturehomes.com
Past Activities
In 2019, the committee began planning for the Veterans Honor Green. Other events included a baking contest and a beard contest at Heritage Day and the first Thanksgiving Parade & Light Up the Night Event in the Town Park. In addition, the committee joined the Historic Preservation Commission in holding a Christmas tour at Maple Glade, a historic house on the campus of Oak Ridge Military Academy. Proceeds benefited historic preservation on the Academy’s historic campus.
The Special Events Committee was formed in 2018 to celebrate the Town's 20th anniversary. That year, the committee planned and held a lawn party at the historic Charles Benbow House, organized kids' games at Music in the Park, held a town-wide Scavenger Hunt, sponsored pie-baking and beard contests at Heritage Day, and coordinated the Community Trees & Stars display in Oak Ridge Town Park as part of the Light Up the Night event. They wrapped up the year of celebration with a volunteer recognition dinner honoring all residents who have served as volunteers since the town was formed.