Oak Ridge Today

Writing workshop on Friday starts Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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Minton Sparks

Renowned writer and storyteller Minton Sparks will present another writing workshop this year as part of the 2019 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival that starts on Friday.

The writing workshop is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

“Let Minton help you craft stories from your family history and experiences, and structure it for effectiveness,” a press release said. “Join us for this workshop that will ‘spark’ your creativity and inspire you in your writing journal. This is the first event of the 2019 Flatwater Tales weekend.”

Minton Sparks will conduct a three-hour interactive writing workshop titled “My Crazy Kin—Transform Your Family Stories into a Compelling Personal Narrative.”

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Oak Ridge Community Band begins summer season on Memorial Day

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The Oak Ridge Community Band is pictured above at the 2018 Labor Day Concert. (Photo courtesy Barbara Gritzner)

The Oak Ridge Community Band will begins its 75th season with the Memorial Day Concert on Monday, May 27. The concert is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in A.K. Bissell Park at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“A special invitation is extended to area veterans and currently serving personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces to attend this concert for recognition and a salute to them for their service to our country,” a press release said.

There is no admission fee, but donations are gratefully appreciated to help offset band expenses, the press release said. You are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for outdoor seating, and there is a paved area for wheelchairs, the press release said. A popular tradition at the Community Band summer concerts is Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab, which provides refreshments for the audience. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project: Ride with a ranger on North Boundary Greenway on Saturday

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You can join a National Park Service park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway on Saturday, May 25, 2019, to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 75 years. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

You can join a National Park Service park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway on Saturday to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 75 years.

It’s a free program presented by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The bike ride will start at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Turnpike Gatehouse and travel down Big Oak Trail and North Boundary Road, a press release said.

“Along the ride, we will explore the former communities that were here before the Manhattan Project,” the press release said. “Rangers will stop several times along the bike ride to point out the rich history that is found within the Oak Ridge area.”

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‘The Polio Epidemic: A Personal Story’ topic of Lunch with League today

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Jerry Creasey

Anderson County Commissioner and longtime Oak Ridger Jerry Creasey will talk about the history of polio in the United States, and his childhood experience with the polio epidemic of 1944 during a meeting today (Tuesday, May 21).

Creasey will be the featured speaker at Lunch with the League, which starts at noon at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

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Sponsored: Award-winning Tennessee Medieval Faire celebrates 5th annual festival

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Photo courtesy Tennessee Medieval Faire

Discounted rooms at Baymont Inn and Suites for Faire fans

New online ticket sales and discounts available 

Earlier this year, the Tennessee Medieval Faire was awarded by 9 Lakes of East Tennessee and the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council (covering 16 counties) an Excellence in Tourism Award as the “2018 Best Annual Festival.”

“We are very grateful for the recognition that we are adding value to our community,” said Barrie Paulson, vice president-manager and entertainment director.

Now celebrating its fifth year, the Tennessee Medieval Faire invites patrons to go back in time to the High Middle Ages (circa 1190s) and “Live the Age of Chivalry!” with Robin Hood. This outdoor interactive PG festival will spring to life on May 25 and run for three weekends, including Memorial Day.

The dates are May 25-27, June 1-2, and June 8-9. The hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Easter Time.

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Learn about civil rights movement in lecture by Booker at Roane State

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Robert Booker

Robert J. Booker, local civil rights historian and Knoxville News Sentinel columnist, will present a talk titled “100 Years of the Civil Rights Movement” on Thursday, May 23, at 3 p.m. in the City Room at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

A Knoxville native, Booker is a graduate of Knoxville College, where he initiated and led the Sit-in Movement to desegregate lunch counters and movie theaters in Knoxville, a press release said. He was the first African American representing Knox County to be elected to the state legislature, where he served three terms, the press release said. He was administrative assistant to the Knoxville mayor for seven years and was executive director of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center for 17 years. He has also held positions on the State Civil Service Commission and the Tennessee Committee on Humanities. [Read more…]

Secret City Radio Show presents Robinella, Sarah Pirkle on Friday

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The Secret City Radio Show on Friday, May 10, 2019, will feature local singer/songwriter Robinella with special guests songwriter/fiddle player Sarah Pirkle and Giffin Vann. (Submitted photo)

The Secret City Radio Show on Friday will feature local singer/songwriter Robinella with special guests songwriter/fiddle player Sarah Pirkle and Giffin Vann.

The Secret City Radio Show will be broadcast live from the new American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge by East Tennessee’s WDVX 89.9 FM. The show is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10. You can also listen on 102.9 FM in Knoxville, at 93.9 FM in Seymour and Kodak, and online at WDVX.com.

Amber McBride of Oak Ridge National Laboratory will present some innovative bioscience technology that is preserving forests around the world, and UCOR will present the Clinch River Trail Alliance, a press release said.

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K-25 Visitors Center grand re-opening is Monday

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Image from Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association

There will be a grand re-opening celebration for the K-25 Visitors Center and Overlook in west Oak Ridge on Monday afternoon, according to the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association.

It’s a kick-off party for National Travel and Tourism Week. There will be food trucks, live music, interactive exhibits, and more, the ORHPA said.

The celebration is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Monday, May 6, at 2013 Highway 58.

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Holocaust Remembrance Program this Sunday

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Holocaust Remembrance Program 2018 Proclamation Reading (Submitted photo)

Holocaust Remembrance Day: The City of Oak Ridge has proclaimed May 5 to be Holocaust Remembrance Day for 2019.

The Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge (JCOR) and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church (ORUUC) have partnered together to present the annual Holocaust Remembrance Program, a press release said. It will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the JCOR Sanctuary, 101 West Madison Lane in Oak Ridge, on May 5. There will be a candle lighting ceremony, songs, readings, and prayers. The Holocaust Remembrance Service is sponsored by the Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, and the public is encouraged to attend, the press release said. [Read more…]

More than 550 pounds of medicines collected during Drug Take Back Days

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More than 550 pounds of unused and expired medications were collected during Drug Take Back Days in April, according to ASAP of Anderson.

ASAP of Anderson partnered with local businesses and police departments to collect unused and expired medications throughout the community, a press release said.

“A total of 582.2 pounds of medication was collected at six different Drug Take Back sites in April,” ASAP said in the press release. Collected medications are safely handled by police officers, turned over to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration representatives, and then incinerated to ensure they do not find their way back into the community.

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Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

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ASAP of Anderson and police departments in Anderson County have formed a partnership to take back expired or unused medicines on Saturday.

It’s part of the 2019 Drug Enforcement Administration Rx Drug Take Back Day.

“Community members can bring their expired or unused medicines to one of the Anderson County Take Back locations anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this Saturday,” a press release said.

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Friends of Library has Spring Book Sale May 2-5

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Oak Ridge Public Library
The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

The Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library 2019 Spring Book Sale will begin on the evening of Thursday, May 2, and end on Sunday, May 5.

Every day will have a special emphasis, a press release said. Thursday is the Members Sale, when you get to select from all of the books that will be available during the sale. Friday is Facebook Day; “like” Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library on Facebook (www.facebook.com/foloakridge) and receive a coupon for a free regular-priced item. (You can also use the discount at the Book Nooks later.)

On Saturday, all non-auction items (including the special price items) will be half price. Sunday continues to be the Buy-A-Bag-of-Books Sale, when $3 buys everything you can put in the bag we provide. Pricing for most of the titles will continue to be 50 cents or $1 each, the press release said. Withdrawn library titles will be half price Thursday through Saturday.

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