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Roane State recommends face masks indoors

Posted at 10:14 am August 5, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Roane State Community College has updated its COVID-19 response plan to include the recommendation that all students, faculty, staff and visitors wear face masks when indoors on campus.

This change is in response to a number of factors, including a recent surge in COVID-19 cases locally, the new Delta variant, and new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Tennessee Board of Regents, a press release said.

The updated face mask recommendation applies to anyone who enters a building on a Roane State campus, regardless of vaccination status. New signs are being posted on campuses to reflect this information, and the entire campus community has been notified of the request, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: College, COVID-19, Education, Front Page News, Health, Top Stories Tagged With: COVID-19, face masks, Roane State Community College

Battery research to be discussed Tuesday, Aug. 10

Posted at 12:15 pm July 31, 2021
By Carolyn H Krause Leave a Comment

John Bates, independent consultant for battery development and former researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will speak about solid-state lithium and lithium-ion batteries on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 12 noon to Friends of ORNL. The lecture is open to the public. To view the virtual lecture, click on the talk title on the homepage of the www.fornl.org website and click on the Zoom link on the page describing the lecture.

“I will give a brief history of the development of intercalation cathode materials such as lithium cobalt oxide and a review of some of the research on thin-film batteries at ORNL and other organizations,” Bates said. “I will list a few of the perceived applications of these batteries for powering small devices. Successful commercialization of thin-film batteries encourages the view that the daunting problems facing large-scale solid-state batteries are solvable but perhaps not as soon as advertised.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: battery development, battery research, Friends of ORNL, John Bates, lithium-ion batteries, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge Community Band has Back to School concert Sunday

Posted at 4:27 pm July 28, 2021
By Barbara Gritzner Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Community Band (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Community Band will have a Back to School concert in Alvin K. Bissell Park on Sunday evening.

Oak Ridge schools started a new school year this week.

Sunday evening will feature casual, relaxing music performed by the Oak Ridge Community Band, a press release said. The concert is free, and it will start at 7 p.m. It is a great opportunity for family and friends to enjoy an entertaining program of music featuring popular selections that children and students know and love but that also appeal to listeners of all ages, the press release said.

Sunday evening’s performance directed by conductor Shaun Salem is focusing on familiar and well-liked numbers including “Young Person’s Guide to John Williams” with “Raiders March,” “Prologue from Hook,” “Theme from E.T.,” “Hedwig’s Theme,” and Disney movie favorites “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Incredibles.”

Other compositions on Sunday’s program will be band director Shaun Salem’s mysterious “Ghost Ship” and John Powell’s “How to Train Your Dragon” featuring “This is Berk,” “Move Ahead,” and “Coming Back Around.” The band will also perform Rossano Galante’s “Mt. Everest” and Percy Grainger’s “Children’s March: Over the Hills and Far Away.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: Back to School concert, Oak Ridge Community Band, Shaun Salem

Jamie Stalker joins ORAU as physician and co-lead for NSSP

Posted at 10:09 pm July 27, 2021
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Jamie Stalker, M.D., has joined ORAU as physician and co-principal investigator for the National Supplemental Screening Program. She will be located in ORAU’s Arvada, Colorado, office and work with John McInerney, M.D., who currently leads the program and is beginning his transition to retirement, a press release said.

“Dr. Stalker brings extensive experience in the Department of Energy occupational medicine arena, including a deep familiarity with the DOE Former Worker Programs as a former NSSP Advisory Committee member,” said Andy Page, ORAU President and chief executive officer. “We are excited to welcome her to our team and have her lead this outstanding group.”

ORAU has managed the program since its inception in 2005, and McInerney has led this program since 2006. It provides free medical screening, nationwide, for former energy workers who may have been exposed to hazardous substances at work. The screenings are designed to identify occupational diseases such as chronic respiratory illnesses, hearing loss, kidney or liver disease, and some forms of cancer. More than 22,000 enrollees have signed up for free health screening. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Andy Page, Jamie Stalker, John McInerney, National Supplemental Screening Program, NSSP, ORAU

Arts Council of Oak Ridge closes

Posted at 2:07 pm July 27, 2021
By Charles Chin Leave a Comment

For the past 63 years, the Arts Council of Oak Ridge has been more than just a nonprofit organization. It has forged friendships, worked with some of the best community leaders, fostered new arts organizations, and proudly supported a region rich in arts and culture, a press release said.

But now it is time to start a new phase for the arts in Oak Ridge, the press release said.

The Council has decided to close its doors. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Dancing, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: Arts Council of Oak Ridge

ORPD: Two arrested after crashing stolen truck

Posted at 12:02 am July 27, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Two people were arrested after allegedly crashing a stolen pickup truck in Oak Ridge and trying to run from police Monday afternoon, officers said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department tried to stop the pickup truck on South Illinois Avenue at Tulsa Road at about 1 p.m. Monday, a press release said.

“The driver of the pickup truck began to flee, and officers discontinued the attempted traffic stop,” the press release said.

The pickup truck continued driving at a high rate of speed and crashed into a vehicle at the intersection of South Illinois Avenue at South Rutgers Avenue, the press release said. One tire blew out, and the pickup truck continued driving on the remaining three tires toward Edgemoor Road, the release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: crash, Edgemoor Road, Oak Ridge Police Department, ORPD, South Illinois Avenue, stolen pickup

Register Aug. 3 for in-person and online ORICL courses 

Posted at 11:01 pm July 22, 2021
By Carolyn H Krause Leave a Comment

“Great Monsters of the 20th Century” such as Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin. “Outsiders’ Effects on Native Americans.” “Outline of the MexicanPast.” “The Story of the 1958 National Championship Oak Ridge Football Team.”  
These are a few of the history classes being offered in person for the fall term of the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning (ORICL). Most of the smorgasbord of 59 courses will be presented in person but a few will be online via Zoom or as hybrid classes (in person and online). ORICL’s in-person and hybrid classes will be held mostly in the Coffey-McNally building on Roane State Community College’s Oak RidgeBranch Campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave.  
The fall catalog is posted on ORICL’s www.roanestate.edu/oricl website. The registration form and calendar are also posted there. Online registration opens Tuesday, Aug. 3.  
The fall term runs from Monday, Sept. 13, through Dec. 3. The registration fee for three terms (fall, winter-spring and summer) is $125; by paying it online or by a check included with the mailed paper form, you will become an ORICL member for a year. Mail your form and check to ORICL, RSCC, 701Briarcliff Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN  37830. For more information, contact the ORICL office at 865-481-8222 or at oricl@roanestate.edu.  
Science classes will include a pontoon boat tour of the Watts Bar Reservoir, a review of the Tellico Archaeological Project and an evening Zoom course on potential solutions to the climate crisis proposed by Project Drawdown.  
In-person medical classes will deal with aging, becoming a medical advocate, traumatic brain injury, esophageal disorders and the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.  
In-person religion classes address descriptions of the Jesus of history, the Biblical books of Amos and Hosea and spiritual practices. The Lovingkindness class will be online.  
If you enjoy participating in book groups, ORICL has online courses on nonfiction, mystery and classical literature books. The technical books group will meet in-person. The fiction book group will be hybrid (in-person and online).   
Other literature classes are devoted to reading Shakespeare plays and “The Aeneid” out loud (Zoom), memoir writing (hybrid), children’s books and George Singleton’s short stories (both in person).  
Another history course of interest is the first in a series of a three-part course on “The History of Home,” which focuses on residential architecture, interior design and decoration, as well as furniture of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Additional history courses address the American experience and Oak Ridge’s Secret City stories.  
If you want to strengthen body and mind, consider taking courses such as Body Menders (fitness class costs $5 and meets at the Children’s Museum) and cryptic varietal crossword puzzles (Zoom), sign language for beginners (in person, $6) and tarot (Zoom).  
If you wish to make money and pay less tax, you might want to sign up for the “stock investing for income” course or classes on “taxes after the pandemic.” If you want to keep peace in the family, consider taking the class on mediation.  
For music lovers, Great Courses videos featuring the “30 greatest orchestral works” will be presented. And Elza Gate(Bob Cushman and Pat Parr) will play and sing the bluegrass music of The Country Gentlemen.    
ORICL offers art classes for a fee at theOak Ridge Art Center on jewelry making, loom weaving, creative journaling and the Art a la Carte film series. Art classes at Roane State include the world’s greatest paintings (Teaching Company), bookmaking and the Zentangle® method, a meditational art form.  
Students can attend in-person classes on how to speak Russian and how to improve their Latin translation skills.  
The traditional Friday Lecture series, which often addresses scientific topics for a lay audience, will be in person. 

CUTLINE: An ORICL course this fall will explore Zentangle®, a fun, easy-to-learn,relaxing method of drawing beautiful images with structured patterns. As ameditational art form, every Zentangle stroke is mindful rather than mindless,like doodling.

Filed Under: Front Page News

Blackwell to oversee courthouse security

Posted at 2:03 pm July 22, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Marty Blackwell, left, is pictured above receiving his new rank with Anderson County General Sessions Court Judge Don Layton. (Submitted photo)

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department has promoted Marty Blackwell to the rank of corporal, and he will oversee courthouse security, a press release said.

Blackwell has been in law enforcement for 33 years, the press release said. He most recently served as court officer for General Sessions Judge Don A. Layton.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Anderson County, Courts, Front Page News, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County Sheriff's Department, courthouse security, Don Layton, Marty Blackwell

Secret City Improv Festival announces September lineup

Posted at 1:50 pm July 19, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The lineup has been announced for the first Secret City Improv Festival in Oak Ridge this fall.

The festival is scheduled for September 24 and 25 at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge.

Two rounds of submissions made up the qualification process for the Secret City Improv Festival, a press release said. The priority consideration period concluded on Friday, July 16. The final submission will conclude on August 13.

“We are excited to announce the first 16 teams that have been selected,” the press release said. “The selection of teams features a diverse lineup of styles, team size, and show format.”

The selections include both local improvisation teams and teams representing nine other states, the release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Comedy, Community, Entertainment, Festivals, Front Page News, Top Stories Tagged With: Grove Theater, Secret City Improv Festival

Anderson County Democrats have picnic Saturday

Posted at 9:18 pm July 16, 2021
By Kay Brookshire Leave a Comment

Planning the picnic at the Pavilion are, from left, Ann Miller, Paula Daniel, Abbie Moore, Liz Ibbotson, Ann Mostoller, and Laura Carrington. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Democrats will host a picnic from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, July 17, at the Pavilion at the Oak Ridge Marina on Melton Lake Drive.

Hot dogs, toppings, side dishes, and cold drinks will be provided at the picnic, sponsored by the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club and the Anderson County Democratic Party, a press release said. They request that those attending don’t bring food to share, although they may bring food for themselves. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Government Tagged With: Anderson County Democratic Party, Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club

Summer Sessions concerts start Saturday with Sierra Hull

Posted at 9:11 pm July 16, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Summer Sessions concerts start this summer with a performance by Sierra Hull in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

Hull, a native of Byrdstown, Tennessee, is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist who made her first Opry appearance  at the age of 10, a press release said. Her vocal debut album, “Secrets,” was released in 2008 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums chart. Hull has received numerous International Bluegrass Music Association nominations and received the Bluegrass Star Award presented by the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation in 2013, the press release said.

Opening for Hull will be The Po’ Ramblin Boys, a bluegrass band formed in the Great Smoky Mountains.

All Summer Sessions concerts are free and will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the pavilion in Alvin K. Bissell Park at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge. The concerts are sponsored by ORNL Federal Credit Union.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Oak Ridge Tagged With: concerts, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Sierra Hull, Summer Sessions, The Po' Ramblin' Boys

Anderson County Fair continues through Saturday

Posted at 1:35 pm July 16, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Anderson County continues Friday and Saturday.

The six-day fair in Clinton began Monday. The fair includes rides, animals, informational booths, music, events, and food, among other activities. You can see a schedule here: Schedule of Events | Anderson County Fair, TN | July 15-20 (andersoncountyfairtn.com).

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Festivals, Front Page News Tagged With: Anderson County Fair

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

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