Oak Ridge Today

Manhattan Project public program: Ride with a ranger, learn about Oak Ridge history on Saturday

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Join a park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway in Oak Ridge to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present a free program at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

You can join a park ranger for a bicycle ride and learn more about the history of Oak Ridge on Melton Lake Greenway on Saturday morning, May 13, 2017. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

 

You can join a park ranger for a bicycle ride and learn more about the history of Oak Ridge on Melton Lake Greenway on Saturday morning.

The free program is presented by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. It will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Elza Gate Park, former entry point to the “Secret City,” 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,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Pink lady’s slipper nature walk scheduled for Sunday, May 7

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A wildlife nature walk featuring observance of the pink lady’s slipper will be conducted from 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7, on the Oak Ridge Reservation.

This is part of the spring nature walk series offered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and was rescheduled due to rain from a previous date.

Participants will meet at 1:30 p.m. at the North Boundary Greenway along Tennessee Highway 95 located east of the junction with Tennessee Highway 58. [Read more…]

Relay for Life moved to Midway Road on Friday

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Relay for Life has moved from Melton Lake Park to 97 Midway Road in Oak Ridge on Friday. It is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 5.

The Twilight 5K run will still take place at 8 p.m. Friday at Melton Lake Park, rain or shine.

This is the first year that the former Oak Ridge and Clinton events have combined into one larger event, a press release said.

“The joint effort is sure to make the Relay For Life event bigger and better than ever with more activities to create a fun and festive atmosphere for families to enjoy,” the press release said. “The goal this year is to raise at least $72,000, which can only be reached if the community comes out to join the fun and to support this event.” [Read more…]

Stomp Out Tobacco 5k is May 20 at Grove Center

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The Third Annual Oak Ridge Schools Stomp Out Tobacco 5k is Saturday, May 20, starting at Grove Center.

The race is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. May 20, with registration in front of the Oak Ridge outdoor swimming pool at Robertsville Road/Randolph Road.

The race will benefit Oak Ridge Schools Coordinated School Health Program, and all the program to provide events such as the Turkey Trot free of charge to students. [Read more…]

Two spring nature walks remain on Oak Ridge Reservation

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Two more nature walks are scheduled this spring on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Reservation.

They include frog calls and bat monitoring on Friday, May 19, and reptiles and amphibians inventory on Sunday, June 4.

Previous walks included wildflower walks on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 23, and a bird walk on Saturday, April 29.

The May 19 frog calls and bat monitoring event runs from 8 until 10 p.m. as participants will visit some small impounded waterbodies along the Freels Bend causeway to learn how Oak Ridge National Laboratory personnel are monitoring local bat populations and how to identify local frog populations based on calls. Nikki Jones and Kitty McCracken will lead the group along a one-mile level dirt and gravel road. A reliable flashlight is recommended as the walk will occur after sunset, a press release said. The walk is limited to 25, and children are allowed.

[Read more…]

Jeep Jamboree at Windrock Park this weekend

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Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and coordinator Bob Yarbrough welcome nearly 250 participants and their 125 jeeps from 26 states to the Tennessee Mountains Jeep Jamboree on Thursday morning, April 27, 2017, at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy Terry Frank)

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and coordinator Bob Yarbrough welcome nearly 250 participants and their 125 jeeps from 26 states to the Tennessee Mountains Jeep Jamboree on Thursday morning, April 27, 2017, at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy Terry Frank)

 

There is a Jeep Jamboree at Windrock Park north of Oliver Springs this weekend, and close to 250 participants in 125 Jeeps from 26 states are reported to be attending.

The Tennessee Mountains Jeep Jamboree is an event inspired by local coordinator Bob Yarborough. Participants kicked off their three days of off-road trail adventures Thursday morning at the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge with a hearty welcome, discussion of trail guides and ground rules, and a review of the schedule of events that includes an awards dinner, the Anderson County Mayor’s Office said.

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and Yarbrough welcomed the participants at AMSE on Thursday.

According to organizers, “the mountain vistas create a dynamic back drop for this scenic” jamboree, the Mayor’s Office said. Frank said she welcomed participants to Anderson County and encouraged them to have fun and enjoy the beauty of Anderson County and East Tennessee.

Bike with a Ranger on the North Boundary Greenway on Saturday

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Join a park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway in Oak Ridge to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present a free program at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

Join a park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway in Oak Ridge to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present the free program at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2017. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

 

You can join a National Park Service park ranger for a bike ride on the North Boundary Greenway to see how the former communities of the area have changed during the past 70 years.

It’s a free program by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and it will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 29. The program will begin at the Turnpike Gatehouse and travel down Quarry Trail, 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.”

The Turnpike Gatehouse is located at 2900 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. Tennessee state law requires that bicycle operators under 16 years of age must wear a helmet, and child passengers under 40 pounds or 40 inches must be seated and secured in a child restraining seat or bicycle trailer, the press release said. [Read more…]

‘Fore’ the Girls: Girls Inc. has Golf Classic on May 8

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Girls Inc. Golf Classic

Girls Incorporated of Oak Ridge is hosting its 20th Annual Golf Classic on Monday, May 8, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“What a better way to kick off spring than a beautiful day on the course supporting our next generation of women!” a press release said.

The Golf Classic this year will feature first- and second-place team prizes, division prizes, prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, and a putting contest.

“This fun day on the course will include refreshments and snacks as well as a fabulous dinner from the Oak Ridge Country Club by the recently remodeled pool and patio,” the press release said.

This year, the funds received from the Golf Classic sponsors and team fees will all support the upcoming Girls Inc. programs. Girls Inc. supports more than 900 girls per year in intentional and research based programs to empower girls to be healthy, educated, and independent, the press release said. [Read more…]

Suck It Up Buttercup KTM 5k in memory of Kerry Trammell on May 7

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Suck It Up Buttercup KTM 5k Bibs May 7 2017

The Suck It Up Buttercup KTM 5k in Oak Ridge on Sunday, May 7, will be in memory of Kerry Trammell.

The run is presented by Road Kill Timing and United Way of Anderson County.

Kerry Trammell was an active member of the Oak Ridge and Anderson County community. He was involved in almost everything around town, a press release said.

“He was passionate about senior services, emergency response and the beautiful greenways and parks,” the press release said.

The funds raised will help United Way fund programs that were important to Trammell and to which he dedicated his life. [Read more…]

UT students studied how to use Centennial for more than golf; hear their recommendations Tuesday

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Centennial Golf Course in east Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Centennial Golf Course in east Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

A team of graduate business students at the University of Tennessee have studied ways the city can use Centennial Golf Course for more than just golf, and the students will present their recommendations on Tuesday. The meeting is open to the public.

The graduate students are from UT’s Master of Business Administration, or MBA, program. They will present their recommendations from a recent “Innovations in Practice” project to the City of Oak Ridge at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.

There has been discussion of how to increase revenues at the golf course, including at Oak Ridge City Council meetings when the city has been asked to provide more money for the golf course.

A press release said the study of Centennial Golf Course took the group of four MBA students approximately seven weeks to complete. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge recreation manager named a community hero

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Matt Reedy, left, receives an official ICMA Community Hero certificate and letter from Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, right. From left to right in background are Mayor Pro Tem Rick Chinn, Council member Jim Dodson, and Council member Kelly Callison. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Matt Reedy, left, receives an official ICMA Community Hero certificate and letter from Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, right. From left to right in background are Mayor Pro Tem Rick Chinn, Council member Jim Dodson, and Council member Kelly Callison. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

Oak Ridge Recreation Manager Matt Reedy has been named a 2017 Community Hero by the International City/County Management Association, or ICMA. Reedy is one of just 10 people chosen from across the country, a press release said.

“The honor is part of an ICMA initiative called ‘Life, Well Run,’ which aims to raise awareness of and appreciation for the value professional managers bring to build ethical, efficient, effective local government, and great communities we’re proud to call home,” a press release said.

Reedy was surprised with the announcement and a presentation of a certificate from ICMA at the regular city council meeting on Monday, April 10, the press release said. Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson spoke about Reedy’s devotion to the city and its people, in particular its youth. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society has Spring Wildflower Walk on Sunday

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Kris Light (Submitted photo)

Kris Light (Submitted photo)

 

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have a spring wildflower walk on Sunday, April 9.

The walk is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Haw Ridge Park on Edgemoor Road in Oak Ridge. The parking lot is at the west end of the park. The walk is free and open to the public. Kris Light, an expert naturalist, educator, and photographer will lead this fun, educational, and easy walk, a press release said.

Participants may want to bring a camera to take pictures of the many wildflowers on the grounds, the press release said. If participants have a wildflower book, Light suggests bringing that as well. [Read more…]