Oak Ridge Today

Former astronaut to speak during eclipse activities at AMSE on Saturday, Aug. 19

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A former astronaut originally from Jamestown, Tennessee, will share stories and answer questions regarding his experience as a payload specialist aboard a NASA Space Shuttle mission in 1997 as part of solar eclipse-related activities at the American Museum of Science and Energy on Saturday, August 19.

Roger Crouch will be at AMSE at 1 p.m. August 19.

The activities at AMSE that day are in preparation for the total solar eclipse occurring on Monday, August 21. They’re scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Hands-on “Explore Science: Earth & Space” activities will allow visitors to explore the eclipse phenomenon, a press release said. The activities were developed and distributed nationwide by the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net) and used in more than 250 museums during the spring and summer of 2017. [Read more…]

‘Race to Space’ photos focus on Manhattan Project scientists who later joined U.S. space program

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Edward Teller

Edward Teller

 

A photo exhibition that opens next week at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will focus on Manhattan Project scientists who went on to join the United States space program.

The “Race to Space” photo exhibition is hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Explore Oak Ridge. The month-long exhibit will open Tuesday, August 15, with a reception from 8 to 9 a.m. The photo exhibit is sponsored by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Explore Oak Ridge.

It is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park’s activities that highlight this month’s once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. [Read more…]

INVO PEO donates more than $8,500 in school supplies to Boys & Girls Clubs of Clinch Valley

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INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

 

INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said.

Employees at both INVO PEO’s Clinton and Oak Ridge offices collected more than $2,600 in monetary donations, 116 pairs of shoes, 85 backpacks, 416 packs of paper and notebooks, 1,130 writing utensils, 274 pocket folders, 550 glue sticks, and 919 other miscellaneous items, the press release said.

All the supplies collected will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs so they can distribute to students as needed. The total dollar amount of all items collected is estimated to be more than $8,500. [Read more…]

Families in need appreciate ADFAC backpacks, school supplies

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Oak Ridge Utility District employees packed 156 backpacks for Robertsville Middle School students. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Utility District employees packed 156 backpacks for Robertsville Middle School students. (Submitted photo)

 

Becky Hook’s back-to-school shopping list includes 3,500 backpacks, 5,100 dry erase markers, and 700 clipboards, among thousands of other items. That’s because she is shopping for ADFAC, which is giving away the backpacks filled with supplies to children whose families can’t afford them.

A mother of six students at Sunbright School in Morgan County said the backpacks and school supplies ADFAC recently provided for her children came just at the right time.

“This has been an extremely difficult summer. I lost my job and am going through a divorce, but regardless of what is happening in my life, my children still have needs and lives that go on,” Mary Ann Massey said. “These backpacks have been a godsend.”

ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties) is distributing the 3,500 new backpacks with supplies to children in need at 33 schools in Clinton, Oak Ridge, Anderson County, and Morgan County.

“I wish you could see the joy that students have when they come to pick out their backpack and the relief that their grown-ups feel to know that their children have the supplies they need to start the school year,” said Jo Bruce, director of Oak Ridge Schools Family Resource Center. [Read more…]

Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September

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Nuclear Suppliers Workshop Oak Ridge September 6-7 2017 Oak Ridge

The East Tennessee Economic Council and the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council are having a Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September.

The workshop is September 6-7 at the Pollard Technology Conference Center in Oak Ridge.

The focus of the event will be on manufacturing opportunities arising in the southeastern United States around small modular reactors, next generation nuclear technology, nuclear medicine, and national security programs, a press release said.

Invited speakers include senior executives from the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NuScale Power, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Terrestrial Energy, University of Tennessee, Duke Energy, and others. The final agenda is still under development, the press release said. [Read more…]

Second Annual Puppy Pool Party is Saturday, Aug. 19

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A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road in 2016. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

A dog enjoys the Puppy Pool Party at the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road in 2016. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Second Annual Puppy Pool Party is at the Outdoor Municipal Swimming Pool on Saturday, August 19.

It’s scheduled for the day after public swimming ends for the season. The last day for public swimming will be Friday, August 18, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. The puppy pool party will take place on Saturday, August 19, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Puppy Pool Party is hosted by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

“This is the second year for the puppy pool party, an event which marks the end of the summer swimming season at the outdoor pool,” the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release. “Owners may only wade in water up to knee deep and must clean up after their pet. Children are not allowed in the pool during the event.” [Read more…]

ORHS Class of 1982 to hold 35-year reunion

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The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1982 will be holding its 35-year reunion September 1-3.

Activities include a Friday night social, a Saturday night dinner and dance, and a Sunday picnic. The cost for the weekend’s events is $65 per person.

For more information or to register for the reunion, contact Mark Boatner at (865) 483-0402 or by e-mail at boatnerm@comcast.net.

ORNL names chief scientist of Global Security Directorate

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James Peery

James Peery

 

James Peery, who has led critical national security programs at Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory, has been selected as the chief scientist of the Global Security Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“James brings more than two decades of experience in creating successful national security initiatives for the U.S. Department of Energy,” said Brent Park, associate laboratory director of global security at ORNL. “In particular, his leadership in cybersecurity, data analytics, and high-performance computing will enable him to lead the laboratory’s cybersecurity initiative for the electric grid and beyond.”

Next-generation cybersecurity for the electric grid is a multi-directorate, multi-program effort at ORNL that supports the DOE cybersecurity program for critical energy infrastructure, a press release said. The initiative aims to enable electric utilities and other components of the nation’s energy supply to defend against emerging and previously unseen cyberattacks.

Peery also will help ORNL researchers draw on the lab’s distinctive capabilities to develop scientific and technological solutions aligned with national security policies and strategies, the press release said. [Read more…]

Jefferson Middle School students win map award

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Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools

Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools

 

Jefferson Middle School students Ian Bailey and Beatrice Shea were awarded second place in the Student Map—up to age 12 category at the Esri 2017 Users Conference Map Gallery.

The students selected their mapping project because their school is unique by having wooded and protected areas near it. They learned that these areas provide a habitat that is important to the local ecosystem. Jefferson Middle School has taken a strong interest in protecting these resources and has taken steps to add more habitats, creating a wetland, for example, and maintaining trails, eradicating invasive species, and providing bird boxes in the Cedar Barrens.

Their map, Cedar Barrens, is an online Story Map created using ArcGIS Online to display efforts to engage Jefferson Middle School students in their surroundings in a meaningful way. Students collected the locations shown on the map using GPS, added photos and text to explain each location. You can view their map at http://arcg.is/2g66cm1. [Read more…]

Roane State joins National CyberWatch Center as college grows high-tech cyber defense program

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George Meghabghab leads Roane State's cyber defense program. The college is now part of the National CyberWatch Center. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

George Meghabghab leads Roane State’s cyber defense program. The college is now part of the National CyberWatch Center. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

In this era of widespread hacking, ransomware, and other cyberattacks, Roane State Community College is about to launch an educational counterattack.

Preparations are under way for the college to become a center for academic excellence in cyber defense.

George Meghabghab, professor of computer science and director of Roane State’s computer information technology program, recently unveiled the college’s long-range plan to expand its IT (information technology) curriculum.

“We’re going to begin a culture of cybersecurity,” he said. “Cybersecurity is a growing field, and our goal is to build a program that teaches the very latest technology and is closely aligned to industry needs.” [Read more…]

Roane State to offer extended business hours beginning Aug. 21

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Roane State Community College will offer extended business hours to help students get ready for the start of the new semester. Fall classes begin August 28.

Extended hours for the Roane County and Oak Ridge campuses are:

  • Monday, August 21-Thursday, August 24, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
  • Monday, August 28-Thursday, August 31, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Roane County and Oak Ridge campuses will maintain usual business hours (8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) on Fridays. [Read more…]

Girls Inc. art on display at Library in August

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The art exhibit at Oak Ridge Public Library for the month of August is a collection of drawings and paintings by young artists from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge.

This organization first began in 1976 as a girls-only sports program, but quickly grew into an after school, summer camp, and sports program for girls between five and 18 years old. Girls Inc. serves more than 850 girls per year, a press release said.

Girls in the program are encouraged to be strong, smart, and bold, the press release said. [Read more…]