Oak Ridge Today

Cleanup at Worthington Cemetery scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 24

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Prairie Rosinweed at Worthington Cemetery: Clean-up volunteers enjoy the bird deck at Worthington Cemetery in 2015. (Submitted photo)

 

Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning and Tennessee Valley Authority will partner again to clean up in the Worthington Cemetery area, near Elza Gate Park, on Saturday, September 24.

The cleanup is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. September 24 in the Worthington Cemetery area, which is on the Melton Hill Reservoir. It is classified as an ecological study area, or ESA.

This has become an annual National Public Lands Day celebration, with a complimentary noon pizza lunch for volunteers, a press release said. There are new bird boxes and bat boxes, thanks to the Tennessee Valley Authority, the press release said.

Ann Worthington, family historian for the Worthingtons, will talk about the Worthingtons, who lived here and are buried here, along with their slaves, the press release said. [Read more…]

9/11 photos: ORFD, ORHS dedicate new flagpole in memory of victims of terrorist attacks

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We will always remember those who gave their lives to save others on September 11, 2001. (Photo and caption courtesy Martin McDonald at Oak Ridge High School memorial ceremony and flagpole dedication on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee unveiled a new flagpole on Sunday and dedicated it in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Sunday was the 15th anniversary of the attacks, which killed 2,977 people in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and outside Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Here are photos by Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald, shared here with his permission. [Read more…]

Dine & Donate, which helps ADFAC, is Monday, Sept. 12

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Dine & Donate is Monday, September 12. Participating restaurants are Burchfield’s, Gallo Loco (shown in photo), Gondolier in Clinton, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, and Razzleberry’s. Each of these restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. (Submitted photo)

 

Dine & Donate is Monday, September 12.

Participating restaurants are Burchfield’s, Gallo Loco, Gondolier in Clinton, Hoskins, Mediterranean Delight, and Razzleberry’s. Each of these restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

Dine and Donate is a year-long event, with different restaurants participating on the second Monday of each month.

For a full calendar of restaurants and list of sponsors, please visit www.adfac.org. [Read more…]

Taste of Anderson County, a fundraiser for United Way, is this week

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The Eighth Annual Taste of Anderson County is next week. It’s scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, September 15, in the Jackson Square parking lot. (Photo via United Way of Anderson County/Eighth Annual Taste of Anderson County on Facebook)

 

The Eighth Annual Taste of Anderson County is this week. It’s scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, September 15, in the Jackson Square parking lot.

It’s a fundraiser for United way of Anderson County.

“United Way of Anderson County is thrilled to invite the community to this event, which will feature delicious local food, live music, and free family entertainment including a magic show and balloon animals,” a press release said.

Among the local restaurants offering sample food will be The Soup Kitchen, Swifty’s, Crossroads Coffee, Aubrey’s, and more, the press release said. Tickets are $1, and all food samples will be available for two tickets each.

“This year, we also have an amazing selection of wine, beer, and moonshine tastings,” the press release said. Tasters will be able to vote for their favorite drinks, or simply enjoy an exclusive cocktail, available at the bar. [Read more…]

East Tennessee charitable organizations can apply for grants from Y-12 Community Investment Fund

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CNS community investment fund enters second cycle; funds distributed through East Tennessee Foundation

Charitable organizations from across East Tennessee can apply for grants from the Y-12 Community Investment Fund that has been established by Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC. Also known as CNS, that contractor operates the Y-12 Nuclear Security Complex in Oak Ridge for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

CNS established the fund through the East Tennessee Foundation last year as part of its commitment to Oak Ridge and the surrounding communities, a press release said. In May, CNS awarded grants totaling more than $180,000 to 30 local nonprofits.

Nonprofit organizations in Y-12’s 20-county service area with projects or programs that address community needs and economic development opportunities are encouraged to apply for one-year grants, the press release said. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations or other exempt entities, such as public schools and governments/municipalities. [Read more…]

Free energy efficiency program has two workshops (one on Thursday), one public meeting

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The program that provides free energy efficiency upgrades to Oak Ridge homes has two more workshops scheduled—including one on Thursday, September 8—and one public meeting.

The program is called Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2. It kicked off in April and began retrofitting the homes of Oak Ridge residents with no-cost energy upgrades, such as new HVAC units and water heaters, a press release said.

It’s funded by the Tennessee Valley Authority.

“My home is so refreshing now with my new HVAC unit, and I can’t wait to try out the heat in a few months!” said one Oak Ridge resident, Linda Connolly, reacting to recent MORE2 upgrades to her home. [Read more…]

TCWP: See fall flowers in power line prairie on Saturday

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There will be a guided hike along a power line in the North Chickamauga State Natural Area on Saturday, September 10, and participants can meet for carpooling in Oak Ridge.

Led by well-known botanist Larry Pounds, the outing will begin at the Hixson Springs Trail Head with a walk through the woods, and then onto the power line right-of-way.

“We expect to see a wide array of fall flowers including Alabama rosinweed (Silphium gatesii), slow goldenrod (Solidago tarda), and Eastern silvery aster (Symphyotrichum concolor),” a press release said.
[Read more…]

Public program on Friday to focus on communicating with people who have dementia

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A public program in Oak Ridge on Friday will focus on communicating with people who have dementia.

Amanda Spencer, LPN, of Blue Harbor Senior Living, will be the guest speaker. Her presentation will help caregivers, family members, and friends better interact with loved ones whose abilities are diminished, a press release said.

The program has been organized by Church Women United. It’s the start of their 2016 fall season.

The event begins with fellowship at 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 9, followed by a short business meeting and the program at noon. [Read more…]

Secrecy, security, spies program at Turnpike Gatehouse on Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Turnpike Gatehouse is pictured above on the west end of town. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Turnpike Gatehouse is pictured above on the west end of town. (Submitted photo)

 

A Manhattan Project National Historical Park program in west Oak Ridge on Saturday will give visitors some insight into what life was like in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project with all the security, the need for secrecy, and the worrying about spies.

The program is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 10, at the Turnpike Gatehouse. It’s free and open to the public. Parking is limited, so please try to carpool if possible. The gatehouse is also at a trail head for the North Boundary Greenway, and visitors can go for a self-guided hike after the program.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park was established in November 2015. It includes Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic weapons during World War II, before Germany could. Oak Ridge was a production site for the project, and at the time, it was a secret city not shown on maps. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge resident to compete for Miss Tennessee USA 2017 as Miss Oak Ridge

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Emily Stansfield, Miss Oak Ridge

Emily Stansfield, Miss Oak Ridge, is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

 

Emily Stansfield, 18, of Oak Ridge, will compete for the title of Miss Tennessee USA 2017 in October in Clarksville, Tennessee. She will represent Oak Ridge with the title role of Miss Oak Ridge.

Stansfield is the daughter of Steve and Becky Stansfield. She attends Austin Peay State University, and her activities include dance, theater, writing, singing, reading, and hanging out with her cats, a press release said.

Miss Tennessee USA 2017 is October 6-8 at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville. [Read more…]

ORFD, ORHS to dedicate flagpole in memory of 9/11 victims

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ORHS flagpole wide

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee will join together on Sunday, September 11, to remember the tragic events that happened 15 years ago, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Fire Department and the Oak Ridge High School 9/11 WTC Committee will join together on Sunday, September 11, to remember the tragic events that happened 15 years ago, a press release said.

There will be a group meeting to officially unveil the new flagpole added this past year and to dedicate it in memory of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

“Thanks to generous donations from the American Legion Post 2 out of Knoxville and from Woodmen of the World, the site is now home to a 30-foot flagpole that is capable of flying a flag all the time,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project program: Bike with a ranger on Melton Lake Greenway on Sept. 24

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Manhattan Project National Historical Park Bike with a Ranger

You can join a National Park Service ranger for a bike ride down beautiful Melton Lake Greenway on Saturday, September 24, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

 

You can join a National Park Service ranger for a bike ride down beautiful Melton Lake Greenway on a Saturday in September, a press release said.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present the free program at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 24. The program will begin at Elza Gate Park, the former entry point to the once-secret city now known as Oak Ridge, and continue down Melton Lake Greenway. Rangers will stop several times along the bike ride to point out the rich history that is found within the Oak Ridge area, the press release said.

Elza Gate Park is located at 101 Oak Ridge Turnpike in east Oak Ridge, just east of Melton Lake Drive. Maps are available at the National Park desk in the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, or you can call (865) 576-6767. [Read more…]