Oak Ridge Today

Secret City Pocket Guide unveiled in anticipation of the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge, DOE

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

pocket-guide-cover-400x728-b

The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association has unveiled a new guide to the historic sites of the “Secret City” of Oak Ridge. The Manhattan Project, Secret City Pocket Guide was prepared by the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association in cooperation with the National Park Service and the Oak Ridge Schools.

The 44-page guide measures only 4 inches by 7 inches in size, so it easily fits in your pocket, a press release said. It tells the story of the Manhattan Project’s first major nuclear site, Oak Ridge—created less than a year after the Pearl Harbor attack. The guide is priced at $5.

The new guide is packed with historic photos, an introduction to the new national historical park, a driving map of Oak Ridge’s heritage sites, and fascinating factoids on the people who built one of the most amazing technical achievements in history, the press release said.

The guide’s author, Martin McBride, is a member of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association Board and a retired nuclear safety division director from the U.S. Department of Energy. [Read more…]

Give the gift of hope through financial donations to Ecumenical Storehouse

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Your end-of-the-year financial donation can help make a big difference for Ecumenical Storehouse, an organization that is best known for seeking donations of household items for distribution to people in need.

But what many don’t know is that financial contributions are always greatly appreciated by the nonprofit, volunteer organization to help pay for scarce items in high demand, such as heaters and blankets during cold weather and for help with operating expenses.

Many of the clients served are from among the vast number of Appalachian poor in the area. Others have lost everything in a fire or natural disaster. Still others were formally in abusive situations and need emergency assistance to establish a new home. Clients are referred to Ecumenical Storehouse by various social service agencies and churches. [Read more…]

Council unanimously approves AMSE land transfer

Posted at
By 2 Comments

The American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above in central Oak Ridge. The wide road running vertically at center-right through the aerial photo is South Tulane Avenue. The proposed Main Street Oak Ridge would be on the right side of South Tulane Avenue at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The road running horizontally at bottom is South Illinois Avenue. AMSE is the brown-roofed building at top-center.

The American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above in central Oak Ridge. The wide road running vertically at center-right through the aerial photo is South Tulane Avenue. Main Street Oak Ridge is being built on the right side of South Tulane Avenue at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The road running horizontally at bottom is South Illinois Avenue. AMSE is the brown-roofed building at top-center.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11 p.m.

The Oak Ridge City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the transfer of the American Museum of Science and Energy property. The roughly 17.42 acres will be transferred from the U.S. Department of Energy to the City of Oak Ridge. It could then be transferred in two phases to a company set up by the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge.

Under the agreement, the AMSE missions will be relocated within about one year to 18,000 square feet of space in a two-story building that once housed a Sears store next to JCPenney at Main Street Oak Ridge. That space, once finished, will be provided by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC, a Main Street Oak Ridge company, to the city at no cost for 15 years.

The city will, in turn, sublease the former Sears space to DOE at no charge for 15 years, and it can be used for the public outreach and education missions now conducted at AMSE—as well as for a temporary visitor center for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. That visitor center is now housed at AMSE.
[Read more…]

Secret City Festival to expand into week-long celebration in June

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Secret City Festival World War II Re-enactment 2015

A Flak 88 firing during a Battle of Normandy re-enactment at the 2015 Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

The Secret City Festival will expand into a week-long celebration in June, and it will be called the Secret City Celebration.

The change has been announced by Celebrate Oak Ridge, a nonprofit organization created by the Oak Ridge City Council to take over the production of the festival from the city.

The Secret City Celebration will include a full week of events celebrating the arts, culture, and history of Oak Ridge, organizers said. It will kick off with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, June 2, 2017. It will include events presented by Celebrate Oak Ridge and other partner organizations.

“A crowd favorite, World War II Living History, will serve as the kickoff event on June 2 and 3, with re-enactments scheduled on Saturday,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Photos, video: See plans for the new International Friendship Bell Pavilion

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-international-frienship-bell-interior-scaled

Design of the Peace Pavilion for the Oak Ridge International Friendship Bell by Demian\Wilbur\Architects, Washington, D.C.

 

ORAU donated $100,000 on Friday, and organizers said they have now raised $525,000 in a drive to  build a new Peace Pavilion for the International Friendship Bell in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.

Organizers have said it could cost $750,000 to build a new structure for the 8,000-pound bronze bell.

The Japanese-style bell symbolizes unity between the United States and Japan. The two countries fought in World War II. Uranium enriched in Oak Ridge fueled the first atomic bomb used in wartime. It was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, shortly before the end of the war. [Read more…]

ORAU donates $100,000 to International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

orau-donation-to-friendship-bell-tatum-postma

ORAU President and CEO Andy Page, left, surprises Pat Postma, second from left, and Alan Tatum, second from right, co-chairs of the Advisory Committee of the International Friendship Peace Pavilion, with a $100,000 donation from ORAU to go toward the new pavilion on Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. Also pictured is ORAU Executive Vice President Eric Abelquist. (DOE photo courtesy Lynn Freeny)

 

Surprise announcement made at ETEC annual awards luncheon

ORAU President and CEO Andy Page presented a $100,000 donation for the International Friendship Peace Pavilion during a surprise announcement at the East Tennessee Economic Council’s annual awards luncheon on Friday.

The plans for the new International Friendship Bell Peace Pavilion, which includes moving the 8,000-pound bronze cast bell from its current location in Alvin K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge to another location within the park, were unveiled recently.

Organizers and volunteers have now raised $525,000 in the drive to  build the new Peace Pavilion. They have said it could cost $750,000 to build the new structure and pavilion. [Read more…]

First year: More than 80,000 visit three Manhattan Project Park sites in 2016

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

bill-wilcox-and-international-friendship-bell-scaled

The late Bill Wilcox by the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge. (Courtesy of Friends of the International Friendship Bell via Atomic Heritage Foundation)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m. Dec. 8.

More than 80,000 people have visited the three sites of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge, according to a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.

Besides Oak Ridge, the park includes Hanford, Washington, and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

In Oak Ridge, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park has a volunteer or ranger at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge when the museum is open. The park also has activities. For example, there is a program on secrecy, security, and spies at the Oak Ridge Turnpike Gatehouse in west Oak Ridge on Saturday, December 17. And the park, in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, will be featuring a Parks in Focus photography exhibit during the month of December. The photography exhibit is located in the Imagination Gallery at the museum located at 461 West Outer Drive.

Also, a virtual tour of the K-25 Building can be found at the new K-25 Virtual Museum website. And from March to November, admission to AMSE includes a three-hour bus tour of the Oak Ridge Reservation, including the X-10 Graphite Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, New Bethel Church at ORNL, the visitor overlook at the East Tennessee Technology Park (former home to the K-25 gaseous diffusion building), and Y-12 New Hope History Center. [Read more…]

Underage drinking town hall meeting held at Ritz Theatre

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ASAP Logo

CLINTON—At the Ritz Theatre in Clinton on Wednesday night, the Anderson County Underage Drinking Task Force held a well-attended Town Hall meeting to discuss underage drinking. A panel of experts was assembled to discuss the issue and answer questions raised by members of the audience.

Panelists included Russell Barker, director of the Seventh Judicial Crime Task Force; Kim Guinn, director of Project AWARE; Gary Terry, assistant principal, athletic director, and mentor at Anderson County High School; and Jack and Mary Lou Winkler, parents in partnership with MADD.

“Underage drinking is not a minor problem; it’s a major one,” Barker said. “Almost every case I’ve ever investigated as a police officer has had alcohol or drugs involved.” [Read more…]

Children’s Museum offering free admission for photo exhibit today

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

This photo by Madiya of Girls Inc. will be among those in the photo exhibit at the Children's Museum. (Submitted photo)

This photo by Madiya of Girls Inc. will be among those in the photo exhibit at the Children’s Museum. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is offering free admission this weekend, including Sunday, December 3, inviting the public to view the Parks-in-Focus photography exhibit developed in partnership with the National Park Service and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The exhibit, with photos taken by young photographers from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge, was first shown at the Children’s Museum Gala on Friday, December 2, when the museum’s annual benefit celebrated the centennial of the National Park Service. The Gala, “Tribute to the National Parks—A Centennial Celebration,” was an official National Park Service Centennial Event.

The photographs will be on exhibit throughout the month of December in the Imagination Gallery at the museum, 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

First Christian Church donates to ADFAC to remember Jenkins, honor Herbes

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pictured above are Annie Cacheiro, ADFAC executive director, and Tom Row of the First Christian Church Witness Ministry Team. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above are Annie Cacheiro, ADFAC executive director, and Tom Row of the First Christian Church Witness Ministry Team. (Submitted photo)

 

The Witness Ministry Team of First Christian Church recently made a $1,000 donation to ADFAC (Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties Inc.), a press release said. Barbara Wilson, Witness Ministry Team chairperson noted in the presentation that this donation is in memory of Judy Jenkins and in honor of Elizabeth Herbes, long time ADFAC staff member.

Before Jenkins died, she gave a generous donation to the Witness Ministry Team at First Christian Church, giving them authority to distribute her gift as part of their outreach ministry in the community, the press release said.

According to Witness Team members Tom and Pat Row, “we are so excited to be able to give this donation to honor Liz Herbes because she has dedicated her life to helping those in need with concern and support.” [Read more…]

Anderson County Underage Drinking Task Force to present Town Hall, free movie on Nov. 30

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ASAP Logo

The Anderson County Underage Drinking Task Force will be presenting a Town Hall meeting on November 30 at the Ritz Theater in Clinton. The Town Hall is scheduled to start at 6 p.m., a press release said.

It will be an open discussion of underage drinking, and it will be open to all adults in the community as well as middle and high school students who must be accompanied by their parents, guardians, and other adults, the press release said.

There will be a panel discussion formed around underage drinking in Anderson County including information on what resources are available for parents, what support is available for students, and a discussion of AWARE Anderson County, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs donate $10,000 to Friendship Bell project

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-rotary-clubs-donate-to-oak-ridge-friendship-bell-nov-17-2016

Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs announced on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, a $10,000 donation to the project to rebuild the pavilion for the International Friendship Bell and relocate it at Alvin K. Bissell Park. From left are Devrin Kuipers, president of Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club; Jennifer Campbell, president of Oak Ridge Rotary Club; Emily Jernigan, president of Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club; and Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs announced Thursday that they are donating $10,000 to the project to build a new Peace Pavilion to house the International Friendship Bell at a new location in Oak Ridge’s Alvin K. Bissell Park.

The donation was announced by Devrin Kuipers, president of Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club; Jennifer Campbell, president of Oak Ridge Rotary Club; and Emily Jernigan, president of Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club. It was accepted by Pat Postma and Alan Tatum, co-chairs of the International Friendship Bell Citizens Advisory Committee.

The check presentation was the start of a public campaign to raise $750,000 for the project. A total of $416,000, or more than half the money, has either already been raised or pledged.

Also Thursday, UT-Battelle announced a $150,000 donation to the project. [Read more…]