Oak Ridge Today

Kris Emery named director of ORAU Financial Operations

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Oak Ridge, Tenn. — ORAU named Kris Emery director of its Financial Operations. He brings with him 30-plus years of accounting and finance experience across public accounting, healthcare and government sectors.

Emery served as the ORAU controller for more than seven years before becoming the interim director of Financial Operations late last year when the former director retired. Prior to ORAU, he spent six years as director of firm operations at Burkhart & Company, P.C., in Knoxville.

“With years of integral experience and a proven track record of excellence, Kris has been a cornerstone of our financial team,” said ORAU Chief Financial and Business Operations Officer Phil Andrews. “His leadership and expertise will undoubtedly continue to serve as an invaluable asset as we advance ORAU’s mission and help drive organizational success.”

Emery holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in accounting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

ORAU integrates academia, government and industry to advance the nation’s learning, health and scientific knowledge to build a better world. Through our specialized teams of subject matter experts, decades of experience, and collaborations with our consortium of more than 160 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU is a recognized leader when the priorities of our federal, state, local, and commercial customers require innovative solutions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ORAU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and government contractor. For more information, visit https://www.orau.org/.

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James Buckner named director of Environment, Safety & Health for ORAU and ORISE

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OAK RIDGE, Tenn.— James Buckner has been named the new director of Environment, Safety & Health (ES&H) for ORAU and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). In this role, Buckner will oversee strategic and tactical ES&H operations and staff.

Prior to this position, Buckner served as the ES&H manager for the past three years, and he brings 25 years of relevant experience to this position.

“We are thrilled for James to step in and take over this leadership role for us, especially since he is bringing such a wealth of experience with him,” said ORAU President and CEO Meghan Millwood.

Buckner earned his Bachelor of Science, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and he holds the designations of Certified Safety Professional and Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.

About ORAU
ORAU integrates academia, government and industry to advance the nation’s learning, health and scientific knowledge to build a better world. Through our specialized teams of subject matter experts, decades of experience, and collaborations with our consortium of more than 160 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU is a recognized leader when the priorities of our federal, state, local, and commercial customers require innovative solutions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). ORAU is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and government contractor.
For more information, visit https://www.orau.org/.
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orautogether
Follow us on X: https://x.com/orau
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau

About ORISE
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is a U.S. Department of Energy asset that is dedicated to enabling critical scientific, research, and health initiatives of the department and its laboratory system by providing world-class expertise in STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination. ORISE is managed by ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and federal contractor, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science
Like us on Facebook: ORISE Facebook
Follow us on Twitter: ORISE Twitter
Connect with us on LinkedIn: ORISE LinkedIn
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oriseconnect/
Visit our website: https://orise.orau.gov
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National Supplemental Screening Program celebrates 20 years of service; eligible individuals encouraged to participate

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Oak Ridge, Tenn.—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Supplemental Screening Program (NSSP), managed by ORAU, is celebrating 20 years of continued service and encourages those eligible to participate in the program.

The NSSP, part of the DOE Former Worker Medical Screening Program (FWP), offers medical screening exams at no cost to DOE former federal, contractor and subcontractor workers who may be at risk for occupational diseases. To date, more than 25,000 individuals have enrolled in the NSSP, over 22,000 individuals have received medical screening exams and more than 33,000 exams have been performed.

Hundreds of thousands more former DOE workers are eligible for these free medical screenings.

“As we celebrate 20 years of the NSSP and all that we have accomplished, we want to raise awareness of the NSSP and the FWP,” said Dr. Jamie Stalker, NSSP senior director. “We know that many DOE former workers across the country have not been screened and are potentially eligible to participate. We encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible to contact us, even if they are currently under the care of their personal medical provider.”

Participants are eligible for rescreening every three years. The NSSP completed a seventh screening for a participant recently, a first for the NSSP.

“We have people choosing to return to the NSSP for screenings on schedule every three years, demonstrating the value this program holds for former workers,” said Zac Hubbell, Ph.D., ORAU NSSP coordinator. “Whether the screening identifies a potential health issue that needs to be addressed, or everything comes back normal, it provides important information.”

Some of the health conditions found during these screenings include restrictive lung disease, obstructive lung disease, noise-induced hearing loss, elevated creatinine (possible kidney disease), asbestos-related disease and beryllium sensitization.

“For some key health indicators, such as kidney function, we have found the proportion of NSSP participants who show signs of disease is much higher than the global rate of those conditions with some job groups (production line workers for example) linked to especially elevated occurrence,” said Hubbell. “A large percentage of these conditions were identified through the NSSP screening.”

For more information or to register for the program, call 1-866-812-6703 or visit: https://orau.org/nssp/.

The NSSP is funded by Cooperative Agreement DE-FC01-05EH04022 between ORAU and DOE.
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Tennis court dances recreate wartime event

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Photo courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Monthly dances by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park recreate the open-air tennis court dances that entertained 75,000 workers and their families in the Secret City during World War II.

“Put on your dancing shoes, another summer of tennis court dances are kicking off on the Jackson Square tennis courts,” a press release said.

The all-ages dances are scheduled monthly on the third Thursday.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Philharmonia presents two free concerts in August

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The Oak Ridge Philharmonia will present two free POPS concerts in August in Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

“We hope you can join us for a generous portion of very enjoyable and inspiring music,” a press release said.

Musical performances will include:

[Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival this weekend

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Charlotte Blake Alston, Bil Lepp, and Josh Goforth will entertain this weekend at the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival kicks off Friday at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge with three nationally-known storytellers sharing tales and music that will make you laugh, sing, and learn as you listen.

The storytellers are Charlotte Blake Alston, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp.

“All three use the power of storytelling to entertain and educate audiences, with hilarious, exaggerated tales or with true stories that shed light on cultures and historic events,” a press release said.

At 7 p.m. Friday, Alston will tell the inspiring story of the Six-Triple-Eight, the first all-Black Womens Army Corps battalion assigned to military duty in Europe during World War II. She received a standing ovation after telling the story at the 2022 National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough. [Read more…]

Volunteer team plans Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival

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Members of the Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival team gather in this years festival t-shirts. They are, from left, seated, Pat Postma, Matt Tucker, Liz Tucker, Becky Dodson, and Ram Uppuluri. From left, standing, are Vanessa Spratling, Martha Hobson, Kay Brookshire, Charles Crowe, Judy Wilson, Ray Smith, Sue Byrne, and Mark Watson. (Photo by Linde Mills)

Volunteers from civic, charitable, and business organizations throughout the community are planning to welcome three renowned storytellers to Oak Ridge for the June 7 and 8 Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival at the Historic Grove Theater.

Members of the three Oak Ridge Rotary Clubs are taking lead roles in the Flatwater Tales team planning the festival, which originated in 2018 as a community project led by Emily and Charlie Jernigan, Pat Postma, and Martha and David Hobson.

This year, Sue Byrne and Martha Hobson are co-chairing the Flatwater Executive Committee. Others on the Executive Committee are Lydia Birk, treasurer; Charles Crowe, leading the revenue team; Becky Dodson, heading the promotion team; and Pat Postma, secretary who is also on the performances team with Liz Tucker and Matt Tucker.

The storytellers coming to Flatwater Tales are Charlotte Blake Alston, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Playhouse offers reimagined ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ swirls on stage at Oak Ridge Playhouse from Friday, May 10, to Sunday, May 19! Pictured from left to right above are Jon Zierden, Nathan Fink, Casey Maxwell, Nicholas Johnson, Carly Rawlings, and Josh McCormick. (Photo credit: Oak Ridge Playhouse Photographer Eric Smith.)

Oak RidgePlayhouseis closing out its 81st season of shows with an exciting revamp of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rices beloved masterpiece, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” a press release said.

It’s one of the most enduring musicals of all time, and the Oak Ridge Playhouse will offer seven performances between Friday, May 10, and Sunday, May 19.

“From dreams to destiny, this is the extraordinary story of Joseph,” the press release said. “Witness his meteoric rise from favored son to betrayed brother, from prisoner to right-hand man. Blessed with prophetic dreams and one very colorful garment, experience Josephs dazzling journey like youve never seen before.

[Read more…]

Manhattan Project Park summertime tennis court dances start May 16

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Image courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park)

The summertime tennis court dances organized by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park start in two weeks.

The first dance of this summer is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16, on the Jackson Square Tennis Courts. They continue monthly on the third Thursday.

“The park recreates the open air tennis court dances held during the Manhattan Project to entertain the
75,000 war workers and their families contained within Americas Secret City (Oak Ridge),” a newsletter said. “The dances are an all-ages event, and all are encouraged to participate. Featuring swing music
from the 1940s, you might get bit by the jitterbug out on the court.”

[Read more…]

Puccini opera in Oak Ridge in June

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Marble City Opera will present two performances of “Il Tabarro” by renowned composer Giacomo Puccini in Oak Ridge and Vonore in June.

The first performance will be at the Port of Tellico in Vonore on Saturday, June 22.

The Oak Ridge performance will be at Melton Lake Park on Melton Lake Drive in Oak Ridge on Sunday, June 23.

[Read more…]

Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival returns in June

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Charlotte Blake Alston (Submitted photo)

The Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival, inspired by the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, will bring three nationally known storytellers to Oak Ridge on June 7 and 8 with performances at the Historic Grove Theater, the Oak Ridge Public Library, and the Oak Ridge Senior Center.

The storytellers are Charlotte Blake Alston, Josh Goforth, and Bil Lepp.

“Each uses the power of storytelling to entertain and educate audiences, with hilarious, exaggerated tales or with true stories that shed light on cultures and historic events,” a press release said.

All three storytellers will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, June 7, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Grove Theater. [Read more…]

Music Association appoints executive director

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Oak Ridge Civic Music Association appoints Joy Bonamarte as executive director (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Civic Music Association has appointed Joy Bonamarte as executive director. The appointment was announced by ORCMA President Larry Vance.

ORCMA is home to the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Oak Ridge Chorus, Chamber Music Series, and Coffee Concerts, and the organization is gearing up to celebrate its 80th anniversary in the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

“Bonamarte brings a dynamic blend of artistic passion and strategic leadership to her new role,” a press release said. “With over a decade of experience in arts management, marketing, and a deep commitment to community engagement, Joy is poised to lead ORCMA into its next phase of growth and impact.”

[Read more…]