Oak Ridge Today

Council work session on Tuesday will be at Jefferson Middle School

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The date and location of the Oak Ridge City Council’s monthly work session has been changed for November. The new date is Tuesday, November 7, and the new venue is Jefferson Middle School, located at 200 Fairbanks Road. The meeting will still begin at 6 p.m.

The change of location is part of an ongoing effort to encourage community engagement. The suggestion was brought up during one of the recent Oak Ridge City Blueprint open house meetings organized by the Community Development Department, a press release said.

Work sessions are non-voting meetings of City Council and do not typically include a public comment period. However, this meeting will include an opportunity for informal conversation with City Council members and municipal staff, the press release said. [Read more…]

Twelve musicians featured with full orchestra in free concert on Saturday, Nov. 18

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The Oak Ridge Philharmonia in the August 2017 Concert. (Submitted photo)

The Oak Ridge Philharmonia in the August 2017 Concert. (Submitted photo)

 

There will be 12 featured musicians performing with the full orchestra during a free concert of the Oak Ridge Philharmonia on Saturday, November 18.

Danny Brian will be the soloist for the unforgettable “Piano Concerto No. 1” by Franz Liszt, a press release said. Concertmaster Margaret Moore has selected Beethoven’s “Fifth Violin Sonata” for her performance. The lively first movement of “Concerto for Flute, Oboe, and Bassoon” by Antonio Vivaldi will be presented by Barbara Sparks, Cyndi Jeffers, and Cora Nappo. Kimberly Simpkins, Belle James, and Kathryn York will tangle with the “Tango, Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas” by  Ástor Piazzolla,” the press release said. To add a Mexican flavor, Greg Foertter, Ward Bigler, and Dale Gedcke will play the “Chiapanecas Trumpet Trio,” as arranged by Raphael Méndez. In addition to conducting the piano concerto, and accompanying the violin and trumpet soloists on piano, Marcelo Urias will direct the orchestra in a colorful symphonic poem, “Les Préludes,” by Franz Liszt.

Franz Liszt (1811-1886) was a child prodigy, who leveraged his musical skills into great wealth by playing piano concerts throughout Europe during most of his life.  He was also a well-developed composer, the press release said. Although most of the themes were created before the age of 19, it was a long 26 years of revisions before he finally completed the “Piano Concerto No. 1” to his satisfaction. The result was an impressive composition, with which pianists can enchant their audiences, just as Liszt did, the press release said. It incorporates some dramatic themes, which will cycle through your memory for weeks thereafter, the release said. Danny Brian, a familiar performer with the ORPH, brings a vibrant enjoyment to this piano concerto, the press release said.

Liszt also composed “Les Préludes (Love Storm and Victory)” and thereby established a new category, the symphonic poem, when it premiered in 1854, the release said. That label aptly describes the nature of the composition.

“The music captures the essence of the three scenarios, with intense feelings,” the press release said. “After the orchestra finishes this piece, you may find yourself humming some of the melodies for the next week.” [Read more…]

Veterans Breakfast on Saturday before Veterans Day Parade

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CLINTON—Military veterans from Anderson County are again invited to come together this weekend for a community Veterans Breakfast, a press release said. This month, veterans are encouraged, but not required, to wear their uniforms to the breakfast then walk over to watch the Veterans Day Parade that begins at 10 a.m. The parade route begins on Market Street, then moves down Main Street, passing in front of the Anderson County Courthouse.

The breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens, is sponsored this month by Joe Walker. The breakfast will be held this Saturday, November 11, at the Clinton Community Center. “Chow line” opens at 8:30 a.m., and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m. The special guest speaker this month will be Lieutenant Commander Don Thomas, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired) Chaplain Corps.

All of the Veterans Breakfasts recognize and honor local veterans and their families for their service to the United States, the press release said. [Read more…]

Altrusa, Girls Inc. partner for Make a Difference Day

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Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. Each of the girls had a questionnaire and engaged in conversation with each of the career professionals.

One child has dreams of becoming a baker. When asked what she would like to bake, she explained “cakes, cookies and crème brule.” Other girls were interested in fields such as architecture, nursing, pet care, and coding. One child explained that many girls are interested in coding and being encouraged to go into coding, but she felt that architecture would be a better fit for her. Each girl had big dreams for their futures.

Event organizer Altrusan Jane Palmer commented to the participants: “You are helping each one of these girls look at possible careers in a new way. Your influence will last a lifetime.” [Read more…]

Seminars of interest to government contractors

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Here are some upcoming events of interest to government contractors.

  • Thursday, December 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    Cyber Security Awareness Training for government contractors
    Location: Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce
    Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/university-of-tennessee-ptac-cyber-security-east-tn-tickets-38584137193

    • This class will teach government contractors:
      – How to minimize the risk of a company’s inside threats.
      – About controlling unclassified information and determining which information to pass on to subcontractors.
      – To have a better understanding of cyber security oversight responsibilities in becoming compliant with NIST 800-171 and DFARS 252.207.7012-required by December 31, 2017.

[Read more…]

Rezoning map shows possible grocery, retail stores south of AMSE

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A rezoning map for an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, shows that a grocery or large retail store could be built on the 7.4 acres south of American Museum of Science and Energy. The map also shows three smaller retailers or restaurants are possible. AMSE is to the north of the proposed grocery or large retail building.

A rezoning map for an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, shows that a grocery or large retail store could be built on the 7.4 acres south of American Museum of Science and Energy. The map also shows three smaller retailers or restaurants are possible. AMSE is to the north of the proposed grocery or large retail building.

 

A rezoning map shows a grocery or large retail store could be built on the property south of American Museum of Science and Energy.

The rezoning map shows the grocery or retailer could be 55,000 square feet, set back from South Illinois Avenue and next to Badger Avenue. But no prospective tenant has been publicly announced yet.

Also shown on the rezoning map, which was filed for an Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission meeting in October, are three smaller possible retail or restaurant buildings of about 4,000 to 7,000 square feet.

The rezoning was requested by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC for the 7.4 acres south of AMSE along South Illinois Avenue between South Tulane Avenue and Badger Avenue. That property was once part of the AMSE property and owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, but it has since been transferred to the City of Oak Ridge and then to TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC.

The rezoning was approved, with a few contingencies, by the Planning Commission on October 19, and it’s been referred to the Oak Ridge City Council, presumably for the Monday, November 13 meeting. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, Knox, private school students will try to break world record in computer coding

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Students from Knox County Schools, Oak Ridge City Schools, and area private schools will try to break the world record for the number of students learning how to code at the same time.

The students will make the attempt at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 8. In Oak Ridge, the attempt will occur throughout the district in the classrooms of teachers who choose to participate.

The idea to attempt a Guinness World Record came from Brandon Bruce, co-founder and chief operating officer of Cirrus Insight, and Caleb Fristoe, project manager of CodeTN—a Great Schools Partnership initiative that organizes coding clubs, camps, and competitions at area schools, a press release said. The effort is heavily supported by Knox County Schools and its Educational Technology and Information Technology departments, the release said.

“Amazing things are happening in Knoxville and Oak Ridge in technology and education,” Bruce said. “Attempting the Guinness World Record for the number of students learning how to code at the same time will help shine a light on the everyday great work of our students, parents, teachers, and principals. Keep an eye on East Tennessee for big successes in education and technology.” [Read more…]

Man pleads guilty to homicide in fatal crash

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Justin Lee Seeber

Justin Lee Seeber

 

An Anderson County man pleaded guilty on Monday to criminally negligent homicide in the death of a 19-year-old woman in a single-vehicle crash on US 25W in May 2013.

Justin Lee Seeber, 28, also pleaded guilty in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton to reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

The crash on May 28, 2013, killed Amber Elaine Smith of Knoxville, a graduate of Hardin Valley Academy who attended Roane State Community College.

Seeber’s two-year sentence was suspended, and he was placed on state-supervised probation. As a standard offender, his release eligibility was set at 30 percent. If he successfully completes probation, he will not have to go to prison. But if he violates probation, he will have to serve prison time, authorities said. [Read more…]

ORNL provides building data that helps hurricane response

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As hurricanes formed in the Gulf Coast, Oak Ridge National Laboratory activated a computing technique to quickly gather building structure data from Texas' coastal counties. (Image credit: Mark Tuttle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy)

As hurricanes formed in the Gulf Coast, Oak Ridge National Laboratory activated a computing technique to quickly gather building structure data from Texas’ coastal counties. (Image credit: Mark Tuttle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy)

 

Geospatial scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new computing technique to quickly gather data about building structures to help emergency response teams assessing properties that were damaged by hurricanes Harvey and Irma in August and September.

By coupling deep learning with high-performance computing, ORNL collected and extracted building outlines and roadways from high-resolution satellite and aerial images, ORNL said. As hurricanes formed in the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Ocean, ORNL activated its technique.

“During devastating weather events, it’s difficult and time consuming to assess damage manually,” said ORNL’s Mark Tuttle. “Our method supports emergency response efforts by providing preliminary building structure data—which can be categorized for residential, multi-family and commercial properties—on the county level, and this has been applied for hurricane-impacted areas of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. Caribbean territories.” [Read more…]

Clinton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 9

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Ridgedale Baptist Church in Clinton Christmas Parade

Ridgedale Baptist Church placed second in the Christmas Parade in Clinton with a float featuring a large ark on Dec. 1, 2012. (File photo)

 

Clinton’s traditional Christmas Parade of bands, floats, and many other processional entries will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 9. This year’s theme is “Christmas From the Heart.”

Businesses, churches, schools, and other marching groups are encouraged to register and participate in the parade, a press release said. There is no parade entry fee. The deadline to register is Monday, December 4, at 4:30 p.m. There will be no late entries, the press release said.

Entry forms must be picked up at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce office at 245 North Main Street, Suite 200, in Clinton, or you can call the Chamber at (865) 457-2559 to have a form emailed to you. No registrations will be accepted by fax this year, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORNL approves 204 for voluntary separations as lab reduces workforce

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory Sign

Photo by ORNL

 

Lab managers have approved 204 of the 302 applications submitted for a voluntary separation program that could reduce the workforce at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by up to 350 positions.

The Self-Select Voluntary Separation Program was announced by ORNL Director Thomas Zacharia in an August 8 email to employees. ORNL employees were able to apply for the program from Monday, August 14, to Wednesday, September 27. Applicants were notified October 25 whether their application was approved, according to information provided on Friday by Morgan McCorkle, ORNL media relations manager.

Accepted applicants will leave the payroll by December 31.

Applications were approved from staff who charge to indirect accounts, along with some research staff affected by fiscal year 2017 funding who could not be placed elsewhere in the lab. [Read more…]

WYSH: Green McAdoo soon to be part of state museum system

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Green-McAdoo-Cultural-Center

Information from WYSH Radio

The Clinton City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution to transfer the Green McAdoo Cultural Center and Museum to the Tennessee State Museum, a move officials said will ensure that the facility remains open to tell the story of the first black students to attend a previously all-white, Southern, public high school in 1956.

The state budget passed earlier this year included $100,000 to be used exclusively for maintenance and operational expenses at the museum, located on School Street. The museum opened in 2006, on the 50th anniversary of the day in 1956 when 12 black students walked from the former Green McAdoo School down the hill to Clinton High School and into history. Green McAdoo was, at the time, the school for black students in Clinton. [Read more…]