Oak Ridge Today

Officials launch new Top Secret Trail driving tour

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Top Secret Trail Launched at Secret City Festival

Oak Ridge and Tennessee officials launch a Top Secret Trail self-guided driving tour during the Secret City Festival’s opening ceremony Friday.

Oak Ridge and Tennessee officials launched a new 465-mile Top Secret Trail—a self-guided tour across 10 counties— during the opening ceremonies for the Secret City Festival Friday morning.

The Top Secret Trail allows travelers to explore Middle and East Tennessee, touring fascinating towns from Oak Ridge, a Secret City during World War II, to Rugby, one of the most authentically preserved historic villages in America, a state press release said.

The trail has 111 points of interest highlighted in a 27-page brochure. It starts in Knoxville and has stops in Clinton, Norris, Huntsville, Jamestown, Harriman, Wartburg, and Oliver Springs, and it showcases the region’s history, culture, music, and food.

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Oak Ridge is not one of 15 dog park finalists

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Despite the best efforts of some local residents, Oak Ridge has not been included in a list of 15 finalists in a contest to win $100,000 for a dog park.

The first phase of voting in the contest, called “Bark for Your Park,” ended June 13, and the winning cities will be announced Aug. 3.

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Secret City Festival begins today

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The Secret City Festival begins today at 11:30 a.m. and goes through 7 p.m. Saturday at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

It features children’s activities, a youth area, music, food, history exhibits, bus tours, arts and crafts, and a World War II re-enactment.

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Lavender Festival at Jackson Square this weekend

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The 14th annual Lavender Festival in historic Jackson Square is happening this Friday and Saturday, and it features herbs, music, food and crafts.

There will also be demonstrations, such as information about growing  your own lavender, “Herbs for Radiant Skin,” and learning about extracting botanical waters.

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Tennessee Creates arts and crafts fair Friday, Saturday

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A juried arts and craft fair called Tennessee Creates will feature original arts and crafts from regional artists during this weekend’s Secret City Festival.

Sponsored by the Oak Ridge Art Center, the free arts and crafts fair is called Tennessee Creates. Now in its sixth year, it runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday.

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‘Let Them Eat Cupcakes!’ play reading at Library Saturday

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As part of the Secret City Festival, Oak Ridge Revitalization Effort will present a free reading of Oak Ridge playwright Leslie Agron’s new play “Let Them Eat Cupcakes!”

The reading will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Oak Ridge Public Library Auditorium.

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Lady Vols coach helps ORNL kick off United Way drive

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Holly Warlick and ORNL Free Throw Winners

University of Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Holly Warlick, left, congratulates Belinda Loi, an Oak Ridge National Laboratory student intern, and Jason Craig, ORNL scientific glass blower, after a free throw competition Thursday.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is already one of the United Way’s largest regional contributors, and officials said they hope to raise even more money this year.

“You’d be amazed at the difference that even $10 a week can make,” Hurtis Hodges, ORNL United Way campaign chairman said during a Thursday morning ceremony on the lab’s Main Street.

Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach Holly Warlick helped ORNL kick off its annual United Way campaign with a short speech and free-throw competition.

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Battle for Secret City Greenway is Sunday

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Proceeds from a new 4.2-mile greenway run and walk will be used to install benches on local trails.

The first annual Battle for the Secret City Greenway starts Sunday near the Oak Ridge Rowing Association Boathouse and ends at the west end of Haw Ridge Park.

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‘Life of a Secret City Kid’ book for sale at Secret City Festival

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Life of a Secret City Kid book cover

Life of a Secret City Kid book cover

Don Bell, a local author and musician, will have his book, “Life of a Secret City Kid,” for sale at the Secret City Festival on Saturday at the Secret City Kid’s booth. The cost of the book is $10.

The book is from a compilation of articles that Bell wrote starting in 2008  for The Oak Ridger and Oak Ridge Observer. Gayla Turner Bailey helped put the book together, and Clifford Smith drew the cover.

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Small World exhibit opens at AMSE

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Green Lacewing

Green Lacewing

An exhibit that opened Friday at the American Museum of Science and Energy features artistic pictures of hard-to-see objects such as green lacewing larva and a blade of grass.

The 20 award winning photomicrographs are part of the 2011 Nikon Small World exhibition.

“Celebrating its 37th year, Nikon Small World has become the top forum for showing the beauty and complexity of life as seen through the light microscope, and it celebrates the world’s best photomicrographers who create beautiful imagery while demonstrating a variety of scientific principles,” an AMSE press release said.

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Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm hosts Teacher Appreciation Day on June 23

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On Saturday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm is showing thanks to our local teachers with their “Teacher Appreciation Day.” There is no registration required for this free event.

Teachers can learn how to cook with herbs during the presentation, “Fresh Herbs in the Kitchen,” at 10:30 and enjoy herbal tea and treats. There will be door prizes and special discounts in the greenhouse and gift shop.

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Oak Ridge Community Band plays July 4

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The Oak Ridge Community Band will play its Independence Day concert at 7:30 p.m. July 4 at A.K. Bissell Park.

The free concert, which will precede the city’s fireworks display, will feature the traditional “1812 Overture,” Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever,” some swing, Gershwin’s best pieces, a medley of Henry Mancini’s tunes, and “even some Glenn Miller big band tunes,” a press release said.

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