Oak Ridge Today

Gov. Haslam supports national preservation award for Alexander Inn

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Alexander Inn Groundbreaking

Local, state, and federal officials join volunteers and nonprofit and business executives for a groundbreaking ceremony at the historic Alexander Inn in November.

Gov. Bill Haslam is supporting a nomination for a national historic preservation award for a project converting the Alexander Inn in Oak Ridge into an assisted living center.

Knox Heritage and East Tennessee Preservation Alliance have nominated the hotel for the 2014 The National Trust/Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Award for Federal Partnerships in Historic Preservation.

In a Feb. 25 letter, Haslam said he supports the nomination. The letter was sent to Stephanie Meeks at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C.

The Alexander Inn was built during World War II, when Oak Ridge raced to help build the world’s first atomic weapons as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project. Guests who once stayed at the two-story hotel included Gen. Leslie Groves, Secretary of War Henry Stimson, and physicists J. Robert Oppenheimer and Enrico Fermi. [Read more…]

Lunch with League: Math and the connection between HIV, AIDS

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The role of mathematical modeling in understanding the connection between HIV and AIDS will be the focus of a March 4 Lunch with the League.

The presentation by Vitaly Ganusov starts at noon on Tuesday, March 4, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

“Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains one of the major causes of death due to infectious diseases, with over 35 million people being infected with the virus,” a press release said. “Since its discovery in 1983, our understanding how HIV causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has evolved with different theories being proposed and overturned by alternative theories. Mathematical modeling played an important role in generating support for some of these theories. [Read more…]

Local physicians compete in Doc Rock battle of the bands

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Submitted

Join area physicians and health professionals for a rockin’ good time at “Doc Rock for Health” on Saturday, March 1, in Knoxville’s Old City at “NV” at 125 E. Jackson Ave. (across from Barley’s). Doc Rock features six bands that represent several area hospitals. Each band will play a 45-minute set and compete to win cover charge proceeds, which will benefit their favorite health-based charity.

The local physician band Second Opinion will be playing to support Methodist Medical Center’s Hospitality Houses. These houses primarily provide free lodging to families and patients who travel to Methodist for cancer treatment. The Hospitality Houses have been home to nearly 4,000 guests since opening in 1997.

Second Opinion’s Doc Rock performance will include Methodist Medical Center physicians: gastroenterologist Ken Luckmann, MD; and retired otolaryngologist John Jernigan, MD; plus Parkwest radiologist Daryl Harp, MD; along with friends of Methodist: Melissa Carter, Tim Comer, David Lynch, Larry Sheumaker, and Todd Wright. [Read more…]

Get rid of your unused medicines on Saturday morning

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You can get rid of your unused medicines in a Saturday morning drop-off at the Oak Ridge Police Department.

Operation Medicine Cabinet is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon at the Oak Ridge Police Department at the Municipal Building at 200 S. Tulane Ave.

“Come and drop off your old and expired drugs,” organizers said. “No names given.”

It’s being promoted by the ORPD and Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County, or ASAP. For more information, call ORPD Officer Brandan Sharp at (865) 556-6696 or visit www.asapofanderson.org.

Oak Ridge library offers two dates to enroll in Affordable Care Act

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The Oak Ridge Public Library will offer two opportunities for the public to enroll in the Affordable Care Act on Saturday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, March 8, from 2-5:30 p.m.

These events will be held in the auditorium and manned by volunteers who will provide both ACA information and ACA enrollment assistance for those interested in signing up for health insurance under the new ACA Exchanges. Individual computer stations will be available, and volunteers will be on hand to assist as needed. In addition, a Spanish-language translator will also be available.

The official website for enrollment is www.healthcare.gov; this site also contains detailed information about the ACA, and its costs and benefits. [Read more…]

Anderson County school board honors high school staffers who saved girl

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Information from WYSH Radio

During Tuesday’s Anderson County Board of Education meeting, a group of teachers, principals, and other staff members were honored for saving a student’s life.

Last month, Brittany Overton went into cardiac arrest in the school courtyard before classes began. On Tuesday, leaders honored the crew of teachers, principals, and staff members that helped bring her back to health. Overton attended the School Board meeting. [Read more…]

Tuesday: Impact of the Affordable Care Act on the Free Medical Clinic

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Tanya Vargas

Tanya Vargas

Dr. Tanya Vargas, co-medical director of the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, will discuss the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the clinic during Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

Vargas will be the guest speaker during the lunchtime meeting in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. Vargas’ presentation is scheduled to start at noon Tuesday.

The Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge was established to provide free healthcare and to promote a healthy lifestyle to low-income clients in Anderson, Morgan, and Roane counties who lack health insurance and cannot afford medical care, a press release said.

“Vargas will discuss the issues that are faced by the segment of the Tennessee population that is eligible for neither the Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies nor TennCare,” the release said. [Read more…]

UT research finds link between alcohol use, not pot, and domestic violence

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KNOXVILLE—Alcohol use is more likely than marijuana use to lead to violence between partners, according to studies done at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Research among college students found that men under the influence of alcohol are more likely to perpetrate physical, psychological, or sexual aggression against their partners than men under the influence of marijuana. Women, on the other hand, were more likely to be physically and psychologically aggressive under the influence of alcohol, but, unlike men, they were also more likely to be psychologically aggressive under the influence of marijuana.

The research has implications for domestic violence intervention and prevention programs. [Read more…]

Y-12 donates DVDs, teddy bears to Children’s Hospital

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B&W Y-12 Donate DVDs to East Tennessee Children's Hospital

AnnMarie Corbett, Lily Matthiessen, KelliAnn, Kevin, Emily and Victoria Corbett deliver DVDs to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. More than 350 DVDs were collected at Y-12 for patients at the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. (Photos courtesy B&W Y-12)

More than 350 DVDs and some 360 teddy bears were collected by Y-12 National Security Complex employees for patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.

The DVDs were collected as part of the “DVDs for Joy” campaign, which is the brainchild of KelliAnn Corbett, daughter of B&W Y-12’s Kevin Corbett. KelliAnn and her sisters collected DVDs at some Oak Ridge schools last year, and they invited “Y-12ers” to join them this year. Kathi Hofstad, ETCH coordinator for volunteer services and programs, said the DVDs gathered have helped create a mobile library where families can check out movies to entertain them during their stay at the hospital. [Read more…]

UT professor offers tips to help avoid, deal with flu season

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Paul Campbell Erwin

Paul Campbell Erwin

Forty states—including Tennessee—are already experiencing widespread and increasing influenza infections this season, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Paul Erwin, head of the Department of Public Health at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, offers three simple tips that can go a long way in protecting you from getting or spreading the flu:

  • Get vaccinated.

Erwin noted that flu vaccines are still available and effective. [Read more…]

Open house on Affordable Care Act at Kern Methodist on Saturday

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Kern Memorial United Methodist Church is having a Saturday open house on the Affordable Care Act and options available to buy health insurance through the new Marketplace.

The open house is from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday. The church and volunteers will make printed information available as well as computers to get online resources, and they will provide individual help.

The open house will include informational PowerPoint presentations, especially for those who have never had health insurance. Access to websites such as www.healthcare.gov, www.KFF.org, and www.valuepenguin.com will be provided. Paper registration forms for the ACA will be available, as well as the toll-free phone number for getting information and signing up. Light refreshments will be served. [Read more…]

Free flu shots, warm coats available at Jan. 31 Stone Soup meal

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ORUUC Stone Soup Community Meal and Flu Shots

Free flu shots will be available at the Jan. 31 Stone Soup community meal at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. (Submitted photo)

Free flu shots and warm coats will be available at the Jan. 31 Stone Soup community meal at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

Everyone is invited to the free community meal, scheduled from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, a press release said. The church is located at 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Stone Soup team will prepare and serve homemade white chicken chili, corn bread, and a cookie and milk.

The Stone Soup Ministry team has partnered with the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge, or FMCOR, to provide free flu shots to anyone in need. Nurses who are volunteers at FMCOR will be on hand to give the shots, the press release said. The vaccine is being provided by the clinic. [Read more…]