Oak Ridge Today

Preservationists concerned as NOAA seeks comment on possible move from historic building

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Preservationists are concerned as federal officials seek public comment on the possibility of moving out of a historic building that is one of the few World War II-era buildings remaining on main roads in Oak Ridge—and possibly the only one left on Illinois Avenue. It was once an emergency hospital and then a health department. It now houses the Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, or ATDD, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, at 456 South Illinois Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Preservationists are concerned as federal officials seek public comment on the possibility of moving out of a historic building that is one of the few World War II-era buildings remaining on main roads in Oak Ridge—and possibly the only one left on Illinois Avenue.

The Atmospheric Turbulence and Diffusion Division, or ATDD, of the Air Resources Laboratory, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is now at 456 South Illinois Avenue. It’s just north of Ole Ben Franklin Motors and across from new shopping centers on the other side of South Illinois Avenue.

During World War II, the single-story white building was an emergency hospital to serve federal plants. Oak Ridge was built in the mid-1940s, during the war, to help make the world’s first nuclear weapons as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, and it enriched uranium for the first atomic bomb used in wartime.

After the war, the building, which is now owned by NOAA, was used as the city’s health department, said Mick Wiest of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, or ORHPA.

Wiest said the building is well-maintained, and it’s received a historic preservation award from ORHPA. [Read more…]

Enjoy Danny Brian playing famous Tchaikovsky ‘Piano Concerto,’ with ‘Nutcracker’ bonus

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Danny Brian

Danny Brian

 

By Dale Gedcke

The Friday and Saturday concerts by the Oak Ridge Philharmonia will feature two of the most enjoyable compositions by Tchaikovsky. Danny Brian will play the exhilarating “Piano Concerto No. 1,” and the orchestra will perform selections from the enchanting “Nutcracker Suite.” For more information, continue to read below.

Danny Brian may be best known locally for serving as organist/pianist for 30 years at Cokesbury United Methodist Church. He has also been the accompanist for the Knoxville Choral Society and Knoxville Chamber Chorale for many years. Brian is an active local artist playing solo recitals and chamber music in the Knoxville area. He has been on the faculty at Knoxville College, and was staff accompanist at the University of Tennessee for several years. Brian won first place in the Mid-South Piano Competition, and has played with many orchestras throughout the Southeast. He began his musical studies at Blair School of music in Nashville, and he received his undergraduate degree in piano performance from Middle Tennessee State University, where he studied with Jerry Perkins. He also studied with David Northington at the University of Tennessee while he worked on his master’s degree. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum to celebrate national parks at gala in December

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Martha Hart of Karen’s Jewelers, left, with Lee McGetrick and Mike Morris, all members of the Children’s Museum Gala Committee, display a National Park poster for the Gala, which will celebrate the National Park Service Centennial. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service at its annual Gala Evening, a benefit for the museum on Friday, December 2.

“Tribute to the National Parks—A Centennial Celebration” will feature National Park trivia and prizes, National Park-inspired cuisine by Rosa’s Catering, music from the Oak Ridge High School Choral Ensemble, an exhibition of children’s photographs from the parks, and a surprise for Gala attendees.

The Gala will be an official National Park Service Centennial Event. In honor of that designation, the museum will offer free admission Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, inviting the public to view the “Parks-in-Focus” National Parks photography exhibit in the Imagination Gallery. Photos of area parks taken by girls from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge will be shown in the exhibit.

Guests are invited to come dressed to represent a favorite National Park or in semi-formal attire to the Gala, to be held from 5:30-9:30 p.m. December 2 at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Friends of Oak Ridge Library have Fall Book Sale this week

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Friends of the Oak Ridge Library, or FOL, will have its Fall 2016 Book Sale October 27 through 30 in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium.

The sale will include fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, audiovisual materials, and other publications covering almost every subject, a press release said. Most titles are 50 cents or $1 each.

Titles withdrawn from the Library are half price Thursday through Saturday. Although most sale items are books, there are always a few non-book items.

Thursday evening from 5 to 7:30 p.m. is a preview sale for members, the press release said. Memberships will be available at the door ($5 per person and $10 per family). Scanning devices cannot be used during the preview sale on Thursday. The Silent Auction begins on Thursday evening and ends at 5 p.m. on Saturday. [Read more…]

Hike near Norris Dam State Park on Saturday

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The trail in a greener season. (Photo courtesy Joe Feeman)

The trail in a greener season. (Photo courtesy Joe Feeman)

 

The Norris Municipal Watershed, situated adjacent to Norris Dam State Park, is a 2,300-acre area that is the watershed of Clear Creek; it is managed for water quality protection, sustainable forest management, and public recreation. A network of about 30 miles of forest roads and single-track trails are managed by the Norris Watershed Board.

A Saturday, October 29, outing will include a hike up Clear Creek Trail to Lower White Pine Trail, up Raccoon Run Trail to Red Hill Trail, and then to the White Oak Spring Trail and back down Clear Creek Trail to the start.

“As we walk, we’ll learn about the forest and discuss the history of this area,” a press release said. [Read more…]

United Way campaign off to strong start

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United Way of Anderson County has held several events already this campaign season, including their inaugural Leading Ladies United luncheon, which provided an opportunity for networking and for attendees to hear about several girls’ and women’s initiatives that United Way has under way.

Taste of Anderson County was a success in September, with live music, food vendors, a full bar, and plenty of kids activities. The community came out to support in full force and had a great Thursday night eating and drinking together, a press release said.

Bob Kesling came to celebrate the Vols with United Way supporters at a September 16 breakfast that focused on getting the community involved through giving back with time and money.

“Of course, Campaign Co-Chair Bear Stephenson auctioned a few Vols items to raise some extra dollars,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Photos: History talk at Freels Bend Cabin, city’s oldest structure

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Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, discussed life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016 during a meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. The Freels Bend Cabin was built in 1844, and it is the oldest structure in Oak Ridge. It’s on the National Historic Register. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, discussed life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on Thursday, October 13.

It was the monthly public and membership meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. Here are pictures by D. Ray Smith.

The Freels Bend Cabin was built in 1844, and it is the oldest structure in Oak Ridge. It’s on the National Historic Register. [Read more…]

Help local families through Dine & Donate on Monday

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What do we “Seay” here? Grandchildren of committee chair Cande Seay enjoying their choice of sandwiches at Which Wich in Oak Ridge! (Photo by ADFAC)

 

On Monday, October 10, six local restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. The event, Dine & Donate, happens on the second Monday of each month.

“Dine & Donate is a very important fundraiser for ADFAC,” said Cande Seay, Dine & Donate chair. “It always gladdens my heart to see friends and family dine out on second Mondays—enjoying meals together and helping ADFAC!”

Participating restaurants on Monday, October 10, are: [Read more…]

Before Oak Ridge: Life along the Clinch River in Anderson, Roane counties

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Historic Freels Bend Cabin: A marvelous setting for the Oct. 13, 2016, public and membership meeting of Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, in partnership with UT-Battelle. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. to be sure the program can be completed before dark. (Photo courtesy ORHPA)

 

Aaron Astor, an associate history professor at Maryville College, will discuss life along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane counties before Oak Ridge was built in a special meeting at the historic Freels Bend Cabin on October 13.

It’s the monthly public and membership meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, a press release said. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, October 13, at the Freels Bend Cabin.

“We will meet at the parking lot at the Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ South Campus at 5 p.m., and at 5:15 p.m., we will caravan to the Freels Bend Cabin,” the press release said.

Astor’s topic is “Before Oak Ridge: Life Along the Clinch River in Anderson and Roane Counties.” [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale is Saturday

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The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society’s Fall Plant Sale is in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The plant sale is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the UT Arboretum, which is at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Fall is the ideal time to add plants to the landscape,” a press release said. “To help satisfy that need, Beaver Creek Nursery, East Fork Nursery, Riverdale Nursery, Sunlight Gardens, as well as the UT Arboretum Society’s members and friends, will offer a variety of high-quality plants at this sale.”

Will Witte, the Society’s “Answer Man,” will be at the plant sale to answer all of your plant questions. Dano’s Hot Dogs will be back with his popular dogs, burgers, and lemonade, the press release said. [Read more…]

ADFAC to honor Stephenson, Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award winner, on Oct. 25

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From left, past Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award recipients Ray Smith and Cande Seay share the great news with Bear Stephenson, the 2016 Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Awardee. (Submitted photo)

From left, past Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award recipients Ray Smith and Cande Seay share the great news with Bear Stephenson, the 2016 Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Awardee. (Submitted photo)

 

William “Bear” Stephenson has been unanimously chosen as the 2016 winner of ADFAC’s Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Award.

Stephenson is a dedicated volunteer and advocate, a press release said He was chosen as the Bow Tie Award winner earlier this year. He will be recognized this month by ADFAC, or Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties Inc., at the Fourth Annual Bill Wilcox Bow Tie Celebration and Fundraiser.

Previous winners of the prestigious award have been Ray Smith, the late Tim Myrick, and Cande Seay.

The celebratory fundraising event will be from 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, October 25, at St. Mary’s Parish Life Center in Oak Ridge.

“Our community will come together to honor Stephenson, and we hope family, friends, past coworkers, and the many businesses and nonprofit organizations he has been involved with through the years will join us,” the press release said. “The dynamic and entertaining Elaine Graham will serve as the evening’s emcee while the music will be provided by the Mt. LeConte Jug Band.” [Read more…]

ORAU exceeds $100,000 in annual giving campaign for ninth year in row

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The 2016 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign Chair Don Hanlon, pictured right, Co-Chair Mae Mosley, pictured left, and ORAU President and CEO Andy Page reveal ORAU’s combined giving total of $108,827.16. (Photo by ORAU)

 

For the ninth year in a row, ORAU has broken the $100,000 mark in donations as part of its annual giving campaign for the United Way and Community Shares.

During a concluding ceremony on September 28 in the ORAU Pollard Technology Conference Center, ORAU President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Page announced the 2016 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign total donation amount: $108,827.16. As part of the total donation, ORAU (Oak Ridge Associated Universities) and its employees pledged $78,362 to the United Way and $30,465.16 to Community Shares. [Read more…]