See the Secret City Festival schedule of events above. The events start Friday, June 2, and end June 17.
Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available. For more information, contact sponsor@celebrateoakridge.org.
World-renowned Poulenc Trio to perform in Oak Ridge
Poulenc Trio
The Poulenc Trio, the most active touring piano-wind chamber music ensemble in the world, will perform in Oak Ridge on Saturday, March 18, a press release said.
The concert is presented by the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association. It is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. March 18 at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.
In a recent review, the New York Times praised the trio for its “elegant rendition” of Piazzolla’s “Tangos,” the press release said. The Washington Post said the trio “does its namesake proud” in “an intriguing and beautifully played program” with “convincing elegance, near effortless lightness, and grace,” the release said.
The trio includes oboist James Austin Smith, bassoonist Bryan Young, and pianist Irina Kaplan. [Read more…]
Gene Caldwell—retired pediatrician, former state representative—dies at 84
Photo courtesy Amanda Caldwell
Note: This story was last updated at 10:40 a.m.
Dr. Gene Caldwell, a retired pediatrician and former Tennessee state representative, died Saturday, March 4. He was 84.
Caldwell, a beloved pediatrician who often said he was the luckiest guy in the world, died at NHC of Oak Ridge from congestive heart failure, according to his obituary. He would have turned 85 in 10 days.
Caldwell, a Democrat, served three terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing the 33rd District from 1996 to 2002.
“Gene Caldwell was a great public servant and did much for our community,” said Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican. “He will be missed, but his contributions will live on.”
The district lines have changed a bit since then, but at the time, the 33rd District included part of Anderson County, including Oak Ridge, Clinton, and Norris, said Jim Hackworth, who is also a former state representative in District 33. Caldwell preceded Hackworth.
“He was a good friend and will be sorely missed,” said Hackworth, who served the district for eight years.
Caldwell and his family had moved to Oak Ridge in 1966, when he began his practice with the Children’s Clinic of Oak Ridge. He retired in 1994 after 27 years. [Read more…]
Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is April 8; volunteers needed
A previous Oak Ridge Egg Hunt is pictured above. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)
The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2017 Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 8, at 11 a.m. Hundreds of children are expected to participate in this annual spring event, a press release said. More than 15,000 candy and prize-filled eggs will be hidden in Alvin K. Bissell Park with a first-place, second-place, and third-place prize egg in each age group.
This event will be held rain or shine, so participants should dress for the weather, the press release said. If severe weather prevents hiding the eggs outdoors, they will be given away in the Oak Ridge Civic Center gymnasium, and a drawing will be held for the prizes. [Read more…]
Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge offers Spring Break activities
Children get creative with crayons at a Children’s Museum camp. (Submitted photo)
Gardening, art, astronomy, and messy science experiments will be among Spring Break activities offered for children in first through fifth grades at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge from March 13-17.
The museum will offer morning activities from 9 a.m.-noon and afternoon sessions from 1-4 p.m. There will be a full day St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Friday, March 17, featuring an Irish lunch, “wearing o’ the green,” Highland games, and crafts, a press release said. Children may register for individual sessions, a day, all mornings, all afternoons, or the entire week.
The museum will also host “Wonderful Wednesday” programs from 11 a.m.-noon March 15 and 22. Kids love rocks, and on March 15, they can learn about rocks in our backyards. The East Tennessee Geological Society will have rocks, minerals, and fossils to explore. [Read more…]
Rummage sale at ORUUC on Friday, Saturday
Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church will have its popular semi-annual rummage sale on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ORUUC is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The proceeds that are raised will help to support various community outreach ministries of the church, a press release said.
Items that will be available will include low-priced kitchenware, small appliances, furniture, linens, home décor clothing, shoes and accessories for the family, books, tools, jewelry, DVDs, exercise equipment, computers, and other electronic devices, the press release said. Prices are doubled on Friday evening for the Preview Sale, which offers best selections at still-a-bargain prices, the press release said. [Read more…]
Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Community Mediation Services
The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday, April 28, 2017, will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf. (Photo via Community Mediation Services)
The Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament on April 28 will benefit Community Mediation Services of Anderson Country, providing participants a great way to give back to the youth and families in the community while having a great day of golf, a press release said.
It’s the 16th Annual Big Ed’s Memorial Golf Tournament. It will be on Friday, April 28, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.
“Oak Ridge Country Club provides a beautiful and challenging setting for all golfers,” the press release said.
The Tournament is a two-session, scramble format with two flights: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Golfers will get a complimentary breakfast, beverage carts, and a smoked barbecue lunch. Prize contests for participants in each flight will be awarded and a Hole-in-One Grand Prize will be available. Free Big Ed’s shirts and golf towels for all golfers are included. A Silent Auction will be held in conjunction with the Tournament. Auction items will be available for viewing online at www.peacefulresolution.org.
The registration deadline is Monday, April 24 ($125/player; $500/team). [Read more…]
Legal Aid Society receives grant for foreclosure prevention, community redevelopment
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, which is Tennessee’s largest nonprofit law firm and has an office in Oak Ridge, has received a two-year grant from the Tennessee Bar Foundation to increase foreclosure prevention and community redevelopment legal assistance.
The Tennessee Bar Foundation, the administrator of funds generated through Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts, or IOLTA, in Tennessee, received part of a nationwide donation to IOLTA programs from Bank of America, as part of a settlement of claims with the Justice Department arising from the home mortgage crisis. They have awarded Legal Aid Society $259,640 to give legal assistance to low-income people and seniors in their Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Oak Ridge, and Tullahoma offices, a press release said. [Read more…]
Brownworth Manor re-opened as The Kincaid House
Information from WYSH Radio
The house once named Brownworth Manor in Clinton has reopened its doors as The Kincaid House, according to Anderson County tourism officials.
The Kincaid House, as it was originally named, was built by the Carl Kincaid family in the 1930s. Kincaid was owner of Magnet Mills.
The Dutch Colonial style home originally contained 20 acres with a public garden. The Kincaids were collectors of boxwoods and irises, some of which are still on the property. The home features more than 4,000 square feet with a huge patio, stone walkways around the grounds, and a stone gazebo with “card room” upstairs. The stone used on the walls, walkways, and gazebo were originally from Norris Dam during its construction. The home now sits on 4.2 acres with a large section of the property wooded for privacy.
For more information, you can visit the Kincaid House page on Facebook.
Alternatives to Incarceration director to speak at Lunch with the League on Tuesday
The director of Alternatives to Incarceration in Anderson County will discuss the program—which is designed to save taxpayers money by reducing jail overcrowding while helping inmates—during a Tuesday afternoon lunch, a press release said.
The director is Mary Ann Young. She is the featured speaker at Lunch with the League at noon Tuesday, March 7, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church. The church is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
The press release said Alternatives to Incarceration provides a variety of work, vocational training, and counseling services.
The public is invited to the Tuesday lunch meeting. [Read more…]
Little Ponderosa Zoo floods; damage unknown, but animals safe, dry
The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2017. (Photo by Little Ponderosa Zoo)
The Little Ponderosa Zoo in Clinton has flooded. The damage is unknown, but the animals are safe and dry, the zoo said Wednesday afternoon.
“We have been hit with a lot of water today,” The Little Ponderosa Zoo said. “We have been able to keep our animals dry, but the damage to our bridges and buildings like our concession stand is for now unknown. We will know more once the water has receded.”
See The Little Ponderosa Zoo page on Facebook for more information. See a video posted on the zoo’s Facebook page below. [Read more…]
Young cancer survivor meets with Destiny, gets a dunk from Tee
AJ Cucksey, a six-year-old cancer survivor and kindergarten student at Farragut Primary, sits on the Oak Ridge Wildcats bench next to senior Tee Higgins (5), who dunked for AJ during a 68-38 win over West during a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017.
He’s already performed “Rocky Top” for Peyton Manning and become friends with Joshua Dobbs and his family.
Now six-year-old cancer survivor AJ Cucksey, who has seven inoperable brain tumors, has met two of Oak Ridge’s best athletes: junior Destiny Kassner and senior Tee Higgins, both basketball players.
AJ was at the Friday night game, when Destiny helped the Lady Wildcats beat Bearden in a regional tournament quarterfinal. He was back again on Saturday, when Tee helped the Wildcats in a win over West, also in a quarterfinal game.
AJ, a kindergarten student at Farragut Primary School in Farragut, met Destiny and Tee on Friday, and he sat on the bench next to Tee on Saturday. Tee, who spent time talking to AJ, dunked for him.
AJ, a football fan, was asked what he thought about meeting Tee, a top football recruit who has been named a Mr. Football finalist in Tennessee for the second year in a row.
“Cool,” AJ said. [Read more…]
