Frank Murpjy, of WNOX radio, will emcee the Children’s Museum Gala Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. (Submitted photo)
Celebrate Oak Ridge’s 75th birthday at Children’s Museum Gala
Knoxville’s three local TV stations are offering opportunities to shadow a meteorologist, be a news anchor in a mock news cast, and tour a haunted mansion, as auction experiences up for bid during a Gala on Friday at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.
The Children’s Museum is hosting its 17th annual Gala, a museum benefit with the theme “Oak Ridge at 75: A Night of Nostalgia,” at 6 p.m. Friday at the Museum, 461 West Outer Drive.
Guests will have a chance to bid on an exclusive offer to shadow WBIR-TV Todd Howell, the station’s chief meteorologist since 1996, for a day.
At WVLT-TV, after a station tour and catered lunch with news anchors Ted Hall or Amanda Hara, or both, the winning bidder will read actual news scripts on the news set with anchors during a mock news cast that will be recorded and sent to the winner.
At WATE-TV, the winning bidder will have an after-hours tour of the station’s home base, historic Greystone Mansion, and hear tales of the haunted mansion. Then the tour group will meet members of the WATE 6 On Your Side anchor team.
At the Gala, radio personality Frank Murphy, of WNOX, will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies. Murphy hosts the afternoon show on Classic Hits 93.1 WNOX. He’s also a member of the improvisational comedy group Einstein Simplified.
Welcoming guests will be a trio featuring Wendel Werner on piano, Mike Palmieri on tenor sax, and Diedre Ford as vocalist. Among youth entertainers will be the Oak Ridge High School Choral Ensemble with 1940s tunes, an ORHS Orchestra Quartet, and Oak Ridge Academy of Dance tap dancers.
Clinton auctioneer Bear Stephenson, of Stephenson Realty and Auction, will conduct the live auction. Among other auction items will be a five-course dinner for six by Knoxville Chef Paul Moody; a vintage-inspired necklace from Karen’s Jewelers; original pottery from acclaimed potter Bill Capshaw; and a framed photograph signed by Ed Westcott, whose photos record Oak Ridge’s earliest days.
Gala tickets are $125 per person, or $800 for a table of eight. Visit bit.ly/cmorgala2018 for more information and to purchase tickets, or call the Museum at (865) 482-1074 to learn more about the Gala.
The Gala is among many community events that have been announced by Explore Oak Ridge that are celebrating Oak Ridge’s 75th anniversary throughout 2017 and 2018. Construction began on the “secret city” of Oak Ridge, founded to support the war effort during World War II, in September 1942, and construction of the government sites Y-12, X-10 and K-25 began in 1943. Gala guests are invited to dress as original Oak Ridgers of that 1940s era or to wear semi-formal attire.
The Gala is the annual fundraiser for the Children’s Museum, supporting the museum’s mission of educating children of all ages through play and discovery. The Children’s Museum offers summer camps, classes throughout the year, after-school programs and experiences in history, the arts, science and cultures, serving children and families throughout the East Tennessee region.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
This press release was submitted by Kay Brookshire.
Jim and Ronnie Bogard display the a “Starry Night” painting at last year’s Children’s Museum Gala. (Submitted photo)
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