Oak Ridge Today

Secret City Festival to feature World War II re-enactment

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Secret City Festival World War II Re-enactment 2015

A Flak 88 firing during a Battle of Normandy re-enactment at the 2015 Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

The Secret City Festival next week will feature a World War II re-enactment.

The re-enactment of the Battle of Bloody Gulch will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge. It’s presented by NSPS, or National Strategic Protective Services.

Here is some of the equipment scheduled to be involved, according to a press release:

  • Returning from the 2015 reenactment, the only fully live firing German Flak 88 in the United States, which will perform firing demonstrations.
  • Authentic Allied vehicles including jeeps, armored halftracks, scout cars, and anti-tank artillery.
  • Authentic Axis vehicles including a German Stug III Ausf G assault tank, Panzer III command tank, a Sd. Kfz 251 halftrack, and a M3 Antitank Gun just to name a few.
  • Static display pieces include a 1940 Ford 20mm gun truck with gun, a Russian 1944 T34 main battle tank, a 1943 British 25 pound field howitzer with limber, and more.
  • Re-enactors representing American infantry, German Wehrmacht, assault troops, Fallschirmjagers, and more.

[Read more…]

Lavender Festival on June 18 celebrates herbs, crafts, food, music

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

2015_LavenderFestival 33

Several thousand people visit Jackson Square Lavender Festival each year, now in a newly renovated Jackson Square. (Photo by Shawn Millsaps)

 

The 18th annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 18, will celebrate herbs, crafts, food, and music.

It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 in the renovated Jackson Square, which now features a fountain and pleasant sitting area in the center, a press release said.

The festival will celebrate the “Herb of the Year,” Capsicum, or hot peppers.

New this year, “A Taste of Tennessee Wines” brings wine tasting to Lavender Festival, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tasting is hosted by Great Valley Wine Trail, which is made up of five independent wineries in East Tennessee. Many of these Tennessee wines earned silver, gold, and concordance gold medals in the Wines of the South Regional Wine Competition in October 2015 at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. Adults over 21 may purchase a $10 tasting ticket, and will receive a free glass and wine tote, and the opportunity to buy bottles of Tennessee wine and meet the winemakers. Customers may enjoy the wine at seating areas at the festival, with lunch served all day by several food trucks, caterers, and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds of the wine tasting will benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Westcott photo exhibit of Oak Ridge during World War II opens Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Ed Westcott and Ray Smith

Ed Westcott, right, was the only official photographer in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project in World War II, a top-secret project to build the world’s first atomic bomb. Westcott is pictured above with D. Ray Smith, Y-12 National Security Complex historian and newspaper history columnist. (Photo courtesy D. Ray Smith)

 

An exhibit of more than 50 historic photographs by James Edward “Ed” Westcott, the official photographer of the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge during World War II, will open Friday in Knoxville.

The exhibit is titled “Through the Lens of Ed Westcott: A Photographic History of World War II’s Secret City.” It’s scheduled to be on display from June 3 to August 6 at the University of Tennessee Gallery at 106 South Gay Street in Knoxville.

A First Friday Opening Reception is scheduled from 5-9 p.m. Friday, June 3. Westcott will be in attendance from 6:30-8:30 p.m., a press release said.

There will be a gallery talk with Baldwin Lee, UT art professor emeritus, starting at 7 p.m. Friday. Baldwin will discuss the photos in the exhibition, the press release said.

Here is more information from the press release: [Read more…]

See the city manager’s budget presentation here

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Today has uploaded a copy of the city manager’s budget presentation to Oak Ridge City Council. You can see a PDF version of the budget presentation here: City of Oak Ridge (Fiscal Year 2017 Budget).

Council received the PowerPoint presentation during a special meeting on Tuesday.

Here are a few highlights from the Tuesday meeting: [Read more…]

Lawrence Hahn Golf Classic to benefit Boys, Girls Club on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lawrence Hahn Golf Classic June 4 2016

The Lawrence Hahn Golf Classic on Saturday will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge.

A shotgun start is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

The Lawrence Hahn Golf Classic is held annually by the Oak Ridge Boys Club Alumni Association to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

City’s proposed budget would leave property tax rate unchanged

Posted at
By 10 Comments

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Note: This story was last updated at 10:30 a.m.

The proposed city budget presented to Oak Ridge City Council members on Tuesday would leave the property tax rate unchanged, but it could include rate increases for water, sewer, and trash collection.

If approved by Council, the budget would not increase the property tax rate for the ninth year in a row. After five-year reappraisals last year, the rate is now set at $2.52 per $100 of assessed value.

The proposed budget includes a 3 percent pay adjustment that would move employees along their pay scales, helping to separate those who have worked for the city for a while from those who have just started.

The trash fee would increase by $3.50 per month, raising it from $10.50 to $14 per month starting in October. The fee was raised to $10.50 last year. At $14 per month, the city would no longer subsidize part of the trash fee, as it has previously done. The city used to pay half of the $14 fee, meaning residents paid $7 per month and the city paid $7. [Read more…]

Tonight: City manager to present proposed budget to City Council

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mark Watson

Mark Watson

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson will present the proposed budget for the next fiscal year during a special meeting this evening (Tuesday, May 31).

Watson will present the budget to the Oak Ridge City Council in a meeting that starts at 7 p.m. today in the Municipal Building Courtroom.

Council is expected to consider approving the budget in two meetings in June. [Read more…]

Graduation Celebration, an all-night party for high school graduates, is June 2

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Graduation Celebration 2015

Three graduates from 2015 celebrate at Graduation Celebration. This year’s event is June 2. (File photo courtesy Matt Reedy/City of Oak Ridge)

 

Graduation Celebration, a free, all-night party for high school graduates in Oak Ridge, will host its 19th annual event at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, from 10 p.m. June 2 until 5 a.m. June 3. It is seeking volunteers and donations to help with this community-wide effort to keep youth safe on graduation night, a press release said.

“We are so glad to be able to offer this wonderful event to our graduates,” said Debbie Magill, chairperson of the event. “It shows our youth that the City of Oak Ridge cares about them and is proud of their accomplishments. We could not put on this event without the generous support of the Parks and Recreation Department, the Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board, and the citizens and businesses of our city.”

All of the city’s high school graduates‚ whether from Oak Ridge High School, local home schools, or private schools—are invited to the free event. The party features activities such as inflatables, bingo, Sumo wrestling, SCUBA in the Civic Center pool, face painting, board games, and the annual “balloon drop.” More than $13,000 in prizes and scholarships are given every year in what has become an annual favorite event among the city’s youth. [Read more…]

‘State of EMS’ briefing for county commissioners on June 15

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Anderson County Emergency Medical Services will host a “State of EMS” briefing for county commissioners on June 15, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

This briefing will cover the current operations of Anderson County EMS, potential upcoming changes in EMS nationally, and current reimbursement issues.

The briefing, which is open to the general public, will be held at EMS headquarters, 314 Public Safety Lane in Clinton.

Exhibit to honor U.S. military chaplains of World War II at Secret City Festival

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An exhibit at the Secret City Festival in June will honor the service and heroism of U.S. military chaplains of World War II. (Submitted photo)

An exhibit at the Secret City Festival in June will honor the service and heroism of U.S. military chaplains of World War II. (Submitted photo)

 

An exhibit at the Secret City Festival in June will honor the service and heroism of U.S. military chaplains of World War II.

The exhibit, “Faith and Courage,” recognizes the contributions of a special group of veterans whose story is rarely told, U.S. military chaplains, a press release said. The dedicated service of chaplains to those who go into harm’s way for our country, their humble self-sacrifice, and their common, but little-known, acts of heroism exemplify personal values, traits, and traditions that are of unquestionable benefit to any society, the release said.

“This exhibit honors these exceptional individuals and attempts to extend the value of their service and sacrifice by keeping their memories alive as an example for later generations,” it said. [Read more…]

June 2 seminar: How to win friends, influence people in digital age

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce has again teamed up with Dale Carnegie of Tennessee to offer a workshop series on leadership essentials. The June 2 session is titled “How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age.”

“The digital age is changing how we work, play, communicate, and think,” a seminar description said. “It is an exciting frontier that rewards those who leverage the power that it presents. This workshop provides and introduction to the tools needed to develop the attitudes of success necessary to move to new levels of effectiveness in the digital age.”

A discount is available for members of the Chamber. The June 2 session is scheduled from 8-10 a.m. at the Chamber, which is located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Thrive, Prevent, Celebrate: ‘Survivor Sundae’ offers cancer information for all

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mt.-LeConte-Jug-Band-WEB

The Mt. LeConte Jug Band will once again entertain guests at Methodist’s “Survivor Sundae” celebration and cancer awareness event on Sunday, June 5. (Submitted photo)

 

Note: This story was updated at 5:25 p.m. May 30.

With improved screenings and advanced treatment, more and more people are beating cancer each year. But that doesn’t change the significance of being a cancer survivor and the hard fight to put cancer in its place.

Join Methodist Medical Center as we celebrate National Cancer Survivors’ Day on Sunday, June 5, with the third annual “Survivor Sundae.” This special ice cream social will take place from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Cheyenne Ambulatory Center, 944 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Survivor Sundae will honor cancer survivors and their families who have supported them along the way as well as provide cancer prevention and awareness information for the community. Cancer survivors can leave their mark on a special group art project supplied by Painting with a Twist, which will be displayed in the Thompson Cancer Survival Center at Methodist. [Read more…]