Oak Ridge Today

Center for Oak Ridge Oral History seeks new interviews

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Oak Ridge Public Library

The Oak Ridge Public Library is pictured above.

The Oak Ridge Public Library is seeking new interviews as part of the Center for Oak Ridge Oral History project. More than 800 oral history entries have already been logged, but additional stories are needed from those who experienced Oak Ridge as children.

COROH’s main focus has been the Manhattan Project era of Oak Ridge’s history, from late 1942 to the end of World War II in August 1945. Interviewees are asked about what it was like to live in the “Secret City.” As the project continues, staff and volunteers will be looking to the second generation of Oak Ridgers in order to record their memories as well. [Read more…]

Items from AMSE on Tulane will be for sale

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american-museum-of-science-and-energy-front-2-jan-2-2017-web

The American Museum of Science and Energy is pictured above on South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Items from the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue will be available for sale from September 6-8.

That museum location closed in July as officials move the museum to a renovated building at Main Street Oak Ridge, the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. The new museum is expected to open in October.

The public property sale in September was announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Energy Integrated Support Center—Oak Ridge and the American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation. The sale will take place September 6-8 at 300 South Tulane Avenue, the AMSE facility on Tulane Avenue. [Read more…]

Sam Venable to speak at Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club meeting

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Sam Venable

Sam Venable

 

Sam Venable, a humor columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel, will be the guest speaker at the August 27 meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club. The club will host a light supper and silent auction at 6 p.m. Monday in a meeting room of the Clinton Community Center, which is at 101 South Hicks Street in Clinton.

Venable, a University of Tennessee graduate, has written for the Knoxville News Sentinel since 1970, first as outdoors editor and later as a columnist specializing in humor. He retired from daily duties at the newspaper in 2014 but continues to write a twice-weekly column.

The winner of more than three dozen state, regional and national writing awards, Venable is a member of the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame (Class of 2009) and the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame (Class of 2014). His six-part News Sentinel series “Fragments of Hate,” published during Black History Month in 2014, won the Sigma Delta Chi feature reporting award from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Investigative Reporting award from the Tennessee Press Association, and was a Pulitzer Prize nominee. [Read more…]

Weinberg papers preservation project seeks community support

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Weinberg Web Page (Submitted photo)

Weinberg Web Page (Submitted photo)

 

As the city celebrates its 75th anniversary, the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is soliciting the community’s support to ensure the legacy of a famous Oak Ridger is preserved for posterity.

Alvin Weinberg, a renowned nuclear physicist, worked on the Manhattan Project, became head of the Physics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, then research director, and ultimately the director of the laboratory for 18 years. He donated his personal papers to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge when Selma Shapiro, the museum’s founder, was serving as its executive director. Now Shapiro’s daughter, Rhonda Bogard, is part of a core team working to permanently preserve the papers.

The goal of the project is to ensure Weinberg’s work and legacy are preserved for future generations, a press release said. Bogard thinks his work speaks for itself. “His work will be remembered for the vision and leadership it symbolizes,” she said. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum offers kids’ healthy living workshop for teachers in August

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The Children’s Museum garden at the Kids Go Green Environmental Center gives children the opportunity to grow, harvest, and eat fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum garden at the Kids Go Green Environmental Center gives children the opportunity to grow, harvest, and eat fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruit. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is offering teachers of kindergarten through grade 5 the second of two Saturday morning workshops on healthy living and eating for kids on Saturday, August 25. The workshop will bring teachers to the Museum’s Kids in Action! Healthy Living exhibit and to the garden in the Kids Go Green Environmental Center.

The free workshop was offered from 8:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday, August 25, and it is being offered again on Saturday, August 25. Kids in Action and Kids Go Green staff and volunteers will lead the workshops and garden activities. These trainings are approved for in-service credit for teachers in the Oak Ridge school district, a press release said. [Read more…]

Green McAdoo now part of TN State Museum system, U.S. Civil Rights Trail

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Photo via Adventure Anderson County and Explore Oak Ridge

Photo via Adventure Anderson County and Explore Oak Ridge

 

The Green McAdoo Cultural Center in Clinton has become a part of the Tennessee State Museum system in Nashville and the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, according to Adventure Anderson County and Explore Oak Ridge.

It’s a significant announcement, and Green McAdoo invites all those that have aided in their success to celebrate by attending a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 25, with a pre-celebration reception at 9 a.m. at the Green McAdoo Museum, an electronic newsletter said. [Read more…]

‘Sergeant York: The Play’ to benefit hurricane relief in Puerto Rico

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First United Methodist Church Sergeant York The Play 0818 500x333

The touring play, “Sergeant York: The Play,” will be presented in Oak Ridge on Friday and Saturday, and proceeds will benefit hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.

The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, August 17, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 18, in the Multi-Purpose Room at First United Methodist Church.

It’s a one-man show starring Greg Helton as Sergeant York, and it was written and directed by Lisa Soland.

Sergeant York grew up on a farm in Pall Mall, Tennessee, and he was the most highly decorated veteran of World War I, a press release said.

It said Soland did two years of research to put the play together, and it will travel across the United States. [Read more…]

Today: Want to have a great meal, help others? ADFAC has the answer!

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Doris Carl, assistant food and beverage director, is one part of the fantastic team at Burchfield’s. Burchfield’s staff go the extra mile to ensure you have a wonderful dining experience! (Submitted photo)

Doris Carl, assistant food and beverage director, is one part of the fantastic team at Burchfield’s. Burchfield’s staff go the extra mile to ensure you have a wonderful dining experience! (Submitted photo)

 

Want to have a great meal and help others at the same time? ADFAC has the answer!

On Monday, August 13, several local restaurants will be donating a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

“Don’t heat up that kitchen—let someone else cook for you!” ADFAC said in a press release.

Burchfield’s Restaurant, located inside the Doubletree Hotel is the featured restaurant for August. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch has pancake breakfast Saturday

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The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, August 11, at Aubrey’s Restaurant at 481 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Tickets are $5 per plate. A plate includes two pancakes, eggs, bacon, and a fountain drink, milk, orange juice, tea, or coffee. Tickets are on sale now from Joana Springmier at jspringmier3@gmail.com or (865) 272-5153, or Barbara Brower at bbrow13@gmail.com.

The Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program is a self-funded organization that relies solely on donations and fundraisers to promote safe neighborhoods.

“Thanks for your support!” organizers said.

This press release was submitted by Joana Springmier.

New AMSE has grand opening in October

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The current location of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue could close at the end of July, and the museum could re-open at its new home at Main Street Oak Ridge in the early fall, officials said. The new location is pictured above under construction on Thursday, June 21, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The last location of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue closed at the end of July, and the museum will re-open at its new home at Main Street Oak Ridge in October, officials said. The new location is pictured above under construction on Thursday, June 21, 2018. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new American Museum of Science and Energy at Main Street Oak Ridge will have a grand opening ceremony on October 18, officials said Friday.

The ceremony will welcome visitors to the new location on the northeast side of Main Street Oak Ridge, near JCPenney. The new 18,000-square-foot space will include a newly designed exhibit gallery featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits and hands-on activities, as well as a lecture hall and classroom facilities, a press release said.

“AMSE is planning a multi-phase opening to ensure a smooth transition and quality experience for museum staff, stakeholders, and the public,” the press release said.

On October 1, AMSE will open to the public on a limited schedule, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed on weekends). This will lead up to AMSE’s grand opening event on October 18, the press release said. [Read more…]

Arts festival in Jackson Square on Saturday

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Mad Hatters Art Festival Through Looking Glass 0718 390x600

The Mad Hatter’s Arts Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday will feature arts and crafts vendors, poetry, music, food, dancers, authors, and interactive arts stations.

The free festival, the first of its kind, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s presented by Through the Looking Glass Antiques and Collectibles in Jackson Square.

A Jabberwocky Poetry Slam is scheduled at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An open mic will start at 2 p.m. for walk-ins who didn’t sign up for the family-friendly event but want to perform.

Sixteen local songwriters will perform original acoustic music all day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the square. There will also be musicians playing cover songs at the festival, said Linda Johnston of Through the Looking Glass.

At noon, the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet dancers will perform in the square. [Read more…]

Nurse to discuss mental health issues among school-age children

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A registered nurse who works for Anderson County Schools will discuss mental health issues among school-age children in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The talk is hosted by the Grace Lutheran Mental Health Ministry. It’s title “Mental Health: Back to School Basics,” a free community program scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 4, in the church’s fellowship hall.

Kim Guinn, a registered nurse and director of the Project AWARE Initiative for Anderson County Schools, will discuss the current prevalence and status of mental health issues among school-age children and the correlation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health problems, a press release said. [Read more…]