Oak Ridge Today

Remembering veterans who died

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Memorial Day Salute

More than 150 people salute as 'Taps' is played during a Memorial Day ceremony in Clinton on Monday. At center is Amy Morris, mother of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Morris, who died in Iraq in 2006.

CLINTON—More than 150 people turned out for a Memorial Day ceremony in Clinton on Monday, an encouraging sign for Amy Morris of Clinton. Her son, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Morris, died in Iraq in 2006.

“It’s awesome to see the turnout,” said Morris, who lives in Clinton and wore her son’s sunglasses and a 1st Cavalry Division T-shirt he gave her. “My greatest fear is that people will forget.”

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Oak Ridge outdoor pool open today, again on June 2

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Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool

Hundreds of swimmers enjoy the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool on Providence Road on Memorial Day.

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool opened for the Memorial Day weekend, and it will open for the summer on June 2.

People streamed into the pool today, Memorial Day, seeking refuge from the hot sun on the holiday weekend. The pool is open until 6 p.m. today.

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Golf tournament on Saturday benefits Boys and Girls Club

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The Oak Ridge Country Club is hosting the Lawrence Hahn Golf Classic on Saturday starting at 1:30 p.m. This event is to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge.

There will be longest and straightest drive contests, an awards dinner, $10,000 in gifts and prizes, and a chance to win $1 million, which will be split with the Boys and Girls Club, according to promotional materials for the event.

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Jackson Square hosts Lavender Festival on June 16

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A vendor at the Lavender Festival

A vendor sells herbs at the Lavender Festival. (Photo submitted by Charlie Samuels)

Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square will host the 14th Annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The festival will feature information and products related to gardening, cooking, health, and aromatherapy. There will be plants and herbs for sale as well as arts and crafts. Children’s activities will include blow painting, seed planting, a sachet workshop, and more.

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Fairy Folk Festival at Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm on June 2

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Erin's fairy garden

A fairy garden at Erin's Meadow and Herb Farm. (Photo submitted by Kathy Mihalczo)

Come look for the Little People during The Fairy Folk Festival at Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm on June 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Fairy Folk Festival is a free event, but fees will apply for some of the activities.

Participants can explore the new fairy garden, learn how to attract fairies to the garden and enjoy fairy treats. Come dressed as a fairy and receive a free gift. There will also be door prizes and a special plant sale.

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Community band performance, veterans ceremony Monday

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Oak Ridge Community Band

The Oak Ridge Community Band will perform at 7 p.m. Monday at the A.K. Bissell Park Pavilion. (Submitted photo)

Two local Memorial Day ceremonies will pay tribute to U.S. military personnel.

The first ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton at 10 a.m. Monday. Tennessee Sen. Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, will be the guest speaker.

The second ceremony will feature the Oak Ridge Community Band in a free performance at 7 p.m. Monday at A.K. Bissell Park.

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DOE public bus tour starts June 4

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DOE public bus tour

The DOE Oak Ridge facilities public bus tour kicks off on June 4 and continues through Aug 31. (Photo submitted by DOE)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge facilities public bus tour begins June 4 and continues through August 31.

The three-hour tour starts at the American Museum of Science and Energy and travels to landmarks at the three DOE sites: East Tennessee Technology Park (the former K-25 site), Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Y-12 National Security Complex.

The tour provides visitors with historical facts and updates on the world-class missions under way in Oak Ridge.

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Officials, bike riders celebrate Melton Lake Greenway extension

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Melton Lake Greenway Ceremony

Oak Ridge residents Christopher Van Hook, right, and Zoe Van Hook, center, ride on the new Melton Lake Greenway IV after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday. Behind them are their parents Jennifer and Mark Van Hook and Mark's co-worker, Pete Xiques.

Planned for years, a 2.4-mile extension of the Melton Lake Greenway in Oak Ridge is complete, and local and state officials celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday.

The new greenway allows pedestrians, bicyclists, and runners to travel from a new parking lot at Solway Park East to the Edgemoor Road bridge over the Clinch River near the Bull Run Fossil Plant.

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Greenway dedication ceremony today

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Map of Greenway Ceremony

A map showing the location of today's greenway dedication ceremony.

Oak Ridge and Tennessee officials will have a dedication ceremony for Melton Lake Greenway IV at 2 p.m. today.

The event will be held in the new parking lot on Edgemoor Road at the end of the new greenway. The special guest will be Tennessee Department of Transportation Regional Director Steve Borden.

More than 1,000 turn out for Y-12 Volunteer Day

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Y-12 Volunteer Day with SARG

Jim Haynes, B&W Y-12 deputy general manger for programs and projects, far right, joins other volunteers to give a rescue dog a bath for Shelter Animal Rescue Group of Oak Ridge during Y-12 Volunteer Day. (Photo submitted by B&W Y-12)

More than 1,000 people turned out for the Y-12 National Security Complex’s annual Day of Volunteering last weekend to help nonprofit agencies in the region with about 60 projects. This was the program’s largest turnout in 10 years,  according to a press release from B&W Y-12.

The work benefits local individuals and organizations.

“Our folks volunteer year-round, but this annual event is a great reminder of how individuals working together can make a big difference in our communities,” said Darrel Kohlhorst, president and general manager of B&W Y-12, which buys the supplies for volunteers to use on the projects.

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ORNL scientist gives lecture on exploding stars Thursday

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Michael Smith

Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientist Michael Smith will give a lecture on exploding stars and atom smashers on May 24 at American Museum of Science and Energy.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientist Michael Smith will give a free presentation on exploding stars and atom smashers on May 24 at the American Museum of Science and Energy.

During the lecture, find out how atom smashers are used on Earth to investigate the mysteries of exploding stars. Some of the effects discussed include cosmic cannibalism, thermonuclear traffic jams, and stellar alchemy.

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Roane State to participate in summer jobs program

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This summer, Roane State Community College is participating in the Obama Administration’s Summer Jobs+ program, which is part of the American Jobs Act.

As part of the program, Roane State will offer free life-skills and work-skills classes to 50 people age 16-24. These classes will include training in money management, conflict resolution, how to apply for a job online, resume writing, and others.

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