Oak Ridge Today

Harvard psychologist to discuss dreams, innovation at Education Foundation program

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Deirdre Barrett

Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist on the Harvard Medical School faculty, will discuss dreams and innovation as the featured speaker during an April 26 program hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation that will honor teachers who have received the Foundation’s 2013 grant awards. (Submitted photo)

Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist on the Harvard Medical School faculty known for her research on dreams and hypnosis, will return to her hometown to speak on “Dreams and Innovation” on Friday, April 26, in Oak Ridge.

Barrett is the featured speaker at the “Dreams and Innovation” program hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation to honor teachers who have received the Foundation’s 2013 grant awards, beginning at 5 p.m. at New Hope Center.

The free event is open to the public, and no reservations are required.

Barrett is an Oak Ridge High School graduate, and she will describe how dreams contribute to innovation and problem solving, relating research from her book, “The Committee of Sleep.” The book is subtitled “How Artists, Scientists, and Athletes Use Dreams for Creative Problem-Solving—How You Can Too.” [Read more…]

‘VolsTeach Program’ at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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Peggy Bertrand

Peggy Bertrand

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“VolsTeach” will be the focus of a presentation by university faculty member Peggy Bertrand, the guest speaker at “Lunch with the League” at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

“VolsTeach” is a University of Tennessee program targeted to undergraduate math, science, or engineering majors who are interested in expanding their professional skills and exploring a career in secondary teaching. Without any additional credit hours, students can graduate in four years with a degree and obtain licensure as highly qualified teachers in their respective content areas. The program emphasizes early and ongoing field-based experiences. [Read more…]

Homelessness forum on Saturday

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First United Methodist Church and Trinity Out-Reach Center of Hope, or TORCH, are hosting a forum on homelessness from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The free forum will be at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Planned for years, new railroad museum will not be built at Heritage Center

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Southern Appalachia Railway Museum Building

A plan for the Southern Appalachia Railway Museum that had been proposed at Heritage Center, the former K-25 site. (Submitted image)

Note: This story was updated at 10:13 a.m.

A railroad museum that has been planned for years at Heritage Center, the former K-25 site, will not be built due to budget constraints, officials said Monday.

The lowest qualified bid for the 3,315-square-foot facility came in at nearly $1 million, or about 26 percent more than expected, a press release said.

The Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee’s Heritage Center LLC and the Southern Appalachian Railway Museum determined this week that the cost was too high, the press release said. [Read more…]

Reader pic: Breakfast Rotary donates to Emory Valley Center

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Breakfast Rotary Donates to Emory Valley Center

The Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club makes a donation to the Emory Valley Center Capital Campaign. Pictured from left to right are Pete Peterson, ORBRC president; Rotarian Gene Caldwell and Dottie Thompson, campaign co-chairs; and Rotarian Dub Shults. (Submitted photo)

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The Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club recently made a donation to the Emory Valley Center Capital Campaign.

The capital campaign is raising money to help replace an Emory Valley Center building on Emory Valley Road. The center is raising money to replace the 55-year-old building, which will be demolished.

The Emory Valley Center serves intellectually and developmentally disabled children and adults in East Tennessee.

Gene Caldwell and Dottie Thompson are co-chairing the capital campaign. Anyone wishing to donate may do so by mailing a contribution to P.O. Box 5328, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, or by going online to www.emoryvalleycenter.com.

Reader pic: Anderson Mayor speaks to Breakfast Rotary

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Terry Frank at Breakfast Rotary

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank speaks to the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club. (Submitted photo)

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank recently spoke to the Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club.

The mayor shared some of her personal views and opinions on Anderson County and the challenges facing county leaders, such as housing, drugs, taxation, and an overcrowded jail. Frank said many of these challenges are similar for other communities across the state and country.

She also spoke about some of the positive aspects of Anderson County. Among those: being a diverse community in terms of people, terrain, history, and assets—from the small historical town of Oliver Springs to the manufacturing companies in Clinton, and a focus on the future with science and technology in Oak Ridge.

City historian to discuss last eight days of World War II

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Bill Wilcox and Clifton Truman Daniel

Oak Ridge City Historian Bill Wilcox, left, with Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of President Harry S. Truman, who made the decision to use atomic bombs on Japan at the end of World War II. Wilcox helped Daniel with background information for his new book on the decision to use the bombs. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge City Historian Bill Wilcox will discuss the last eight days of World War II during a presentation next week.

It starts at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Wildcat Den at the Midtown Community Center.

“Most Oak Ridgers know the story of Oak Ridge’s founding in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project and about how the uranium 235 for the world’s first atomic bomb used in warfare, ‘Little Boy,’ helped end World War II,” said a press release from the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. “Helped is correct. The two atomic bombs really did help, but even after Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there was no agreement in Japan’s ruling circle on surrender.” [Read more…]

Reader pic: Kiwanis presents credit union check to Emory Valley Center

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Kiwanis Club and Emory Valley Center

Oak Ridge Kiwanis President Mark Hembree, right, presents a check from Enrichment Federal Credit Union employees for the Emory Valley Early Learning Center to Kim Perkins, center, and Georgia Brownfield. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Kiwanis President Mark Hembree recently presented a check from Enrichment Federal Credit Union employees for the Emory Valley Early Learning Center to EVC employees Kim Perkins and Georgia Brownfield.

The money will be used by the Early Learning Center.

It’s part of a Kiwanis service project, a press release said. The check presentation occurred after a program at the March 12 Kiwanis meeting. During that program, Perkins and Brownfield talked about the Emory Valley Center, the press release said.

‘Understanding Evolution’ at Lunch with League on Tuesday

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A licensed professional counselor will discuss evolution during “Lunch with the League” on Tuesday.

Friederica “Freddie” Nechtow will be the guest speaker, and her presentation will focus on “understanding evolution and the evidence for it rather than a debate of the pros and cons,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Teachers admitted free to Thursday lecture on World War II bombing decision

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Clifton Truman Daniel

Clifton Truman Daniel

The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association is hosting journalist Clifton Truman Daniel, oldest grandson of former U.S. President Harry S. Truman, at a special speaking engagement at 7 p.m. Thursday at the New Hope Center.

Tickets to the lecture are $20, but the ORHPA is providing complimentary tickets to school teachers and their families, a press release said. [Read more…]

Music Arts has student recital

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Music Arts Recital

Pictured at a recent Music Arts recital are, front row, from left to right, Melody Guo, Torie Scott, Eli Ferguson, Atticus Harris, Catherine Albert, and Sam Neary; and second row, instructor Jodi Harbin, D.J. Roberts, instructor Lois White, Joseph LaFreniere, Kelsey LaFreniere, instructor Andy Bryenton, Bonnie Moon, and Melody Simmons. (Submitted photo)

Music Arts students recently played cello, piccolo, flute, and piano during a recital at West Village Christian Church on Robertsville Road.

“The performances went off without a hitch on Sunday afternoon, with applause filling the room as each of the students and instructors finished their performances,” a press release said. “This was something that we put on as a showcase of the many talents that abound here at Music Arts and was the first of 2013.”

Students that took part in the Feb. 24 recital were Sam Neary, Catherine Albert, Melody Guo, Eli Ferguson, Atticus Harris, D.J. Roberts, Joseph LaFreniere, Kelsey LaFreniere, Bonnie Moon, and Melody Simmons. [Read more…]

Telephone service, suicide prevention hotline has Saturday fundraiser

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A telephone service and suicide prevention hotline is having an annual Flea Market fundraiser on Saturday, and the organization is accepting donations through Thursday.

The CONTACT Care Line Flea Market is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Oak Ridge.

[Read more…]