Oak Ridge Today

Federal official to give K-25 preservation update Thursday

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K-25 Original Building

The K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant is pictured above as it was when it was operating. (Submitted photos)

A federal official will give an update on the historic preservation plans for the former K-25 Building in west Oak Ridge on Thursday.

Karen Doughty, who works in environmental management for the U.S. Department of Energy in Oak Ridge, will present the status update on the K-25 Historic Preservation initiative during a Thursday evening meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association. The public meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum Gala celebrates 1970s

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Jack Funari and John Brown

Jack Funari, also known as “Saxophone Jack,” and John Brown will perform at the Children’s Museum 40th Birthday Gala on Friday, Dec. 6. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will celebrate its origins in the 1970s when guests gather for the 40th Birthday Gala at the museum on Friday, Dec. 6. The theme will be “Rocketing through the 70s!” in honor of the March 11, 1973, birth of the museum and the Rocket Room play area that delights children of all ages.

Guests will hop aboard the “Soul Train,” with the museum decked out as Knoxville’s Southern Terminal, as they enjoy the folk, rock, and pop culture of the 1970s.

Saxophone Jack and Friends will entertain guests with the music from the 1970s, and guests are invited to dress as their favorite characters of that era. Jack Furnari, also known as Saxophone Jack, has been in the Knoxville and East Tennessee music scene for more than 30 years. [Read more…]

FORNL lecture features presentation on finding unmarked graves

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Katie Corcoran

Katie Corcoran

A lecture in Oak Ridge today will feature a presentation on finding unmarked graves.

Katie Corcoran is pursuing a doctorate in anthropology at the University of Tennessee, and she is also a graduate intern in the Geographic Information Science and Technology Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Her lecture at a Friends of ORNL meeting is titled “The Remote Detection of Unmarked Graves.” The meeting starts at 11 a.m., and the lecture begins at noon at the University of Tennessee Resource Center at 1201 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It’s open to the public. [Read more…]

Y-12 emergency services director to discuss plant activities Tuesday

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A Tuesday lunch meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Oak Ridge will feature the director of emergency services at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The meeting starts at noon, and the presentation by  Jason M. Hatfield will begin at 12:10 p.m. It’s in the smaller meeting room of the Golden Oak Grill Buffet on 401 South Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge. Hatfield will talk about Y-12 activities, a press release said. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum reopens Waterworks Exhibit

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TVA Group Exhibit Display

Tennessee Valley Authority staff members, who designed graphics showing TVA’s role on the Tennessee River and displaying river safety information, join TVA board member Neil McBride, center, and others who helped renovate the exhibit. Laura Smith, with TVA, holds the plaque thanking TVA for its many contributions to the exhibit. (Submitted photos)

Children are once again splashing water as they send wooden tugboats down river in the TVA Waterworks Exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The exhibit recently reopened with some new additions that highlight learning through play.

In addition to operating small locks and dams in a flume donated by the Tennessee Valley Authority, children now may climb aboard a child-sized tugboat for an imaginary trip down the Tennessee River. After boarding, children may walk around the deck before entering the pilot house and crews’ quarters of the red, white, and blue tugboat, a small-scale replica of Ingram Marine Group’s working tugboats. [Read more…]

Reminder: Veterans Day parade in Clinton tonight

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2013 Anderson County Veterans Day ParadeThe 7th Annual Anderson County Veterans Day Parade will be held at 6 p.m. today (Monday, Nov. 11) in downtown Clinton.

This year’s theme is “Showing Our County’s Veterans We Care.”

The parade will start on Market Street in Clinton and move toward Main Street, passing in front of the Anderson County Courthouse.

Immediately after the parade, there will be a ceremony celebrating veterans featuring a “mini-concert” by local favorites Russ and Becky Jeffers in the Ritz Theater. [Read more…]

Two AC properties receive East Tennessee Preservation Awards

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The Hemlocks in Anderson County

The Hemlocks in Anderson County is pictured above. (Photos courtesy East Tennessee Preservation Alliance)

Two Anderson County properties were among a dozen that received East Tennessee Preservation Awards on Friday.

The two properties are The Hemlocks and 101 West Norris, the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance said in a press release Monday.

The awards presentation on Friday at the Chilhowee Club in Maryville was part of the fifth annual East Tennessee Preservation Conference, which focused on preservation and economic development.

Accepting an award on behalf of The Hemlocks were Susan and Marianne Fowler, and receiving the award for 101 West Norris were Regina and Jeff Merritt. The Hemlocks is at 1135 Old Lake City Highway in Clinton, and the West Norris home is at 101 West Norris Ave. in Norris. [Read more…]

Special recycling on Saturday includes old computers, TVs, cell phones

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Keep Anderson County Beautiful is having a special recycling program at the Potter’s Clearance Center on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Saturday.

During the special recycling event, volunteers will collect old computers and peripherals, televisions (no cabinetry), cell phones, rechargeable and button batteries, fluorescent light bulbs (tubes and compact), used books (but not textbooks), and eyeglasses.

Personal document shredding will also be offered courtesy of ORNL Federal Credit Union from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Senior Center has open house today

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center is having an open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today (Friday).

Several changes have taken place at the center, a press release said. They include recovering the game room’s billiards tables and adding new programs and activities.

“Come in to see all the exciting changes and find out how you can be a part of the Oak Ridge Senior Center either as a participant or a volunteer,” the release said. [Read more…]

Parade of Trees to benefit Girls Inc. on Nov. 16

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Girls Inc. Parade of Trees

Helping to decorate gift bags for the Girls Inc. Parade of Trees are, from left, Carolyn Singer, Ella Stewart, Savannah Russell, Samantha Asbury, and Bailee Lane. (Submitted photos)

The festive spirit of a New York Christmas holiday will transform the Pollard Center for an evening of glitz and glamour on Saturday, Nov. 16. It’s the 19th Annual Parade of Trees, a benefit for Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge.

“Beautifully decorated and lighted trees, wreaths, centerpieces, and of course, mistletoe, will enhance the magical atmosphere of a night in Manhattan,” a press release said. “In addition, this year’s ‘Park Avenue’ gift shop will feature unique hostess gifts and items to make your holiday table sparkle. Jams, jellies, and baked treats (tastings will be available) can be purchased in gift bags ready to deliver to a special friend. Don’t need a new Christmas tree? Then plan to take home a bag of beautiful ornaments to freshen your existing tree!” [Read more…]

Dr. William Culbert to speak on Affordable Care Act on Thursday

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William Culbert

William Culbert

William Culbert Jr., MD, a family practice physician who is an advocate of the Affordable Care Act, will be the guest speaker at the Thursday meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Women’s Club.

“The ACA, an Idea Whose Time Has Come,” is the topic of Dr. Culbert’s talk. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the Club Room of the Clinton Community Center.

Vernon’s Burnins will serve Vernon Long’s award-winning, slow cooked barbecue, and the dinner costs $10 per person. For reservations, e-mail Ann Mostoller at amostoller@msw-law.com or call Mary Matheny at (865) 483-8937. [Read more…]

Anderson County Hall of Fame Class of 2013 announced

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Hall of Fame will continue its tradition of honoring the area’s finest community members at the dinner and induction ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 21, at the First Baptist Church of Clinton.

Stephen Bargatze, internationally acclaimed comedian and motivational speaker, will serve as the keynote speaker of the 7th annual celebration. Each year, individuals with ties to Anderson County are inducted into the Hall of Fame in ten categories, and the Class of 2013 is as follows: [Read more…]