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Children’s Museum Imagination Station Summer Camps begin June 6

Posted at 6:25 pm June 4, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Submitted photo

Children may be artists, chefs, and scientists, or learn about model railroading, build with LEGO bricks, and much more during Imagination Station Summer Camps beginning Monday, June 6, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The Children’s Museum will offer camps weekly from June 6-July 29, giving children opportunities to learn and grow through play in a fun and safe environment. Each camp is specifically created with age-appropriate activities aligned with children’s developmental stages. Register and pay for camps online, at www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org, by mail, or in person, at 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge 37830.

Camp fees are fully refundable up until 14 days before the start date. The fee for each Monday-Friday camp is $125 for members and $135 for non-members, except where noted. A discount is available if two siblings register for camp during the same week or if a child registers for two half-day camps in the same week. [Read more…]

MORE2 meeting on June 14 for residents who want to reduce electrical use

Posted at 6:11 pm June 4, 2016
By Annie Cacheiro Leave a Comment

There will be a public meeting on Tuesday, June 14, for the Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient, or MORE2, a program meant to reduce electrical use in all-electric homes that are at least 20 years old.

The meeting is an opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about the application process for qualified, low-income Oak Ridge residents, a press release said.

The meeting is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church, which is at 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Information on other energy saving programs will also be available for those who do not qualify for the MORE2 program. MORE2 representatives will be at the meeting to help interested applicants complete applications, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORISE report shows nuclear engineering graduation rates rebounding in 2015 after brief decline

Posted at 5:44 pm June 4, 2016
By Nicole Merrifield Leave a Comment

Increases seen in undergraduate and master degrees, while number of doctorate degrees awarded declined

After briefly declining in 2014 following five straight years of continual increases, the number of college students graduating with majors in nuclear engineering has rebounded. This is according to an annual study conducted by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education which surveyed 35 U.S. universities with nuclear engineering programs. The report, titled “Nuclear Engineering Enrollments and Degrees Survey, 2015 Data,” includes degrees granted between September 1, 2014, and August 31, 2015.

Overall number of nuclear engineering degrees increases

According to the report, 652 students received bachelor’s degrees with majors in nuclear engineering in 2015—a 4 percent increase over 2014 and just 0.5 percent lower than 2013. This is the second highest number of bachelor’s degrees reported since 1984; however, it remains 23 percent below the peak years in the 1970s.

The number of nuclear engineering master’s degrees awarded in 2015 increased by 13 percent over 2014 and is nearly identical to the number reported for 2013. The 363 master’s degrees awarded in 2015 are the highest since the 1980s. [Read more…]

Methodist Wound Treatment Center celebrates 10 years of healing wounds

Posted at 5:29 pm June 4, 2016
By Kelly Goodman Leave a Comment

The Methodist Wound Treatment Center is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in conjunction with Wound Care Awareness Week, which is held June 6-10. In honor of the occasions, the Methodist Wound Treatment Center will host an open house and education event where the public, caregivers, and clinicians may tour the center, learn about advanced wound care services and products, and meet the expert staff, a press release said.

The Methodist Wound Treatment Center open house will take place on Wednesday, June 8, from 3-6 p.m. The center is located at 160A West Tennessee Avenue in Oak Ridge, behind Methodist Medical Center. The event is free.

This is the third annual Wound Care Awareness Week. It is estimated that chronic wounds affect 6.7 million people in the United States and the incidence is rising, fueled by an aging population and increasing rates of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and the late effects of radiation therapy. If left untreated, chronic wounds can lead to diminished quality of life and possibly amputation of the affected limb. [Read more…]

Roane State awarded grant to develop specialized welding courses

Posted at 5:16 pm June 4, 2016
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

The Roane State Community College campus in Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by Roane State)

Roane State Community College received a $25,000 grant to develop classes in lightweight metal welding, a skill set needed by automotive manufacturers.

The grant from the Center for Advanced Automotive Technology will be used to develop four courses: aluminum welding, robotic welding, non-destructive testing, and metallurgy. Grant funds will pay for costs related to course development, supplies, and outreach materials.

Markus Pomper, dean of Roane State’s Mathematics and Sciences Division, said the course material will have applications in the automotive industry and for work at the Uranium Processing Facility under development in Oak Ridge.

“Automotive manufacturers are using light metals, such as aluminum, in their designs in order to increase their vehicles’ fuel efficiency,” Pomper said. “The lightweight metal welding courses will train the workforce for the lightweight auto manufacturing. In addition, we anticipate that the planned Uranium Processing Facility will require welders who can weld exotic metals and also test their work.” [Read more…]

Canceled: Central Baptist Church at Paradox Teen Center on Sunday

Posted at 10:30 am June 4, 2016
By Darla Comeaux Leave a Comment

Updated: Central Baptist Church has canceled the Vacation Bible School Preview at the Paradox on Sunday, June 5, due to the forecast for rain.

For more information, call (865) 483-7495 or send an email to darcomeaux@yahoo.com.

Secret City Festival to feature World War II re-enactment

Posted at 10:46 pm June 3, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Secret City Festival World War II Re-enactment 2015

A Flak 88 firing during a Battle of Normandy re-enactment at the 2015 Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge. (Photo by Rob Welton)

The Secret City Festival next week will feature a World War II re-enactment.

The re-enactment of the Battle of Bloody Gulch will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Alvin K. Bissell Park in central Oak Ridge. It’s presented by NSPS, or National Strategic Protective Services.

Here is some of the equipment scheduled to be involved, according to a press release:

Returning from the 2015 reenactment, the only fully live firing German Flak 88 in the United States, which will perform firing demonstrations.
Authentic Allied vehicles including jeeps, armored halftracks, scout cars, and anti-tank artillery.
Authentic Axis vehicles including a German Stug III Ausf G assault tank, Panzer III command tank, a Sd. Kfz 251 halftrack, and a M3 Antitank Gun just to name a few.
Static display pieces include a 1940 Ford 20mm gun truck with gun, a Russian 1944 T34 main battle tank, a 1943 British 25 pound field howitzer with limber, and more.
Re-enactors representing American infantry, German Wehrmacht, assault troops, Fallschirmjagers, and more.

[Read more…]

Lavender Festival on June 18 celebrates herbs, crafts, food, music

Posted at 10:19 pm June 3, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Several thousand people visit Jackson Square Lavender Festival each year, now in a newly renovated Jackson Square. (Photo by Shawn Millsaps)

The 18th annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 18, will celebrate herbs, crafts, food, and music.

It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 in the renovated Jackson Square, which now features a fountain and pleasant sitting area in the center, a press release said.

The festival will celebrate the “Herb of the Year,” Capsicum, or hot peppers.

New this year, “A Taste of Tennessee Wines” brings wine tasting to Lavender Festival, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tasting is hosted by Great Valley Wine Trail, which is made up of five independent wineries in East Tennessee. Many of these Tennessee wines earned silver, gold, and concordance gold medals in the Wines of the South Regional Wine Competition in October 2015 at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. Adults over 21 may purchase a $10 tasting ticket, and will receive a free glass and wine tote, and the opportunity to buy bottles of Tennessee wine and meet the winemakers. Customers may enjoy the wine at seating areas at the festival, with lunch served all day by several food trucks, caterers, and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds of the wine tasting will benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Part of Manhattan Avenue to be rebuilt, closed for about three weeks

Posted at 9:42 pm June 3, 2016
By John Huotari 15 Comments

Manhattan-Avenue-and-Northwestern-Avenue-June-3-2016

Road work is scheduled to begin Monday, June 6, 2016, on a small portion of Manhattan Avenue between South Purdue Avenue and Northwestern Avenue. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A short section of Manhattan Avenue will be rebuilt, and that section of the street could be closed for about three weeks.

The work is scheduled to start Monday, June 6, on Manhattan Avenue between South Purdue and Northwestern avenues.

Manhattan Avenue will be closed there to through traffic, and alternate routes could be in place for about three weeks, a press release said. Only residents will be allowed access to the roadway and their driveways.

“A road reconstruction is a major project for the City of Oak Ridge, as usually we only mill and resurface streets,” the press release said. “Due to the subsurface failure of this portion of Manhattan Avenue, reconstruction of the roadway is necessary.” [Read more…]

City representatives attend Energy Communities Alliance conference, meet with DOE officials

Posted at 7:31 pm June 3, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Watson Klaus and Hope at DOE Headquarters

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, left, and City Council member Chuck Hope, right, meet with David Klaus, the U.S. Department of Energy under secretary for management and performance, at DOE Headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge City Councilman Chuck Hope and City Manager Mark Watson recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend a conference sponsored by the Energy Communities Alliance, or ECA. The ECA is the membership organization of local governments that host or are located near U.S. Department of Energy sites. The ECA supported attendance at the meeting with travel grants to the participants.

The two-day conference focused on DOE’s Environmental Management program. DOE staff made presentations on topics such as waste disposition, accomplishments in the cleanup mission, fiscal year 2017 budget planning, and a “view from the secretary’s office,” a press release said.

Additional sessions were held on the local government role in cleanup agreements, and working with local communities to improve contracting, the press release said. Hope helped lead a session on fiscal year 2017 appropriations and implications for DOE cleanup, while Watson was a panelist in a session on the future of DOE contracting. [Read more…]

Man dies after two-vehicle crash in west Oak Ridge on Thursday

Posted at 5:23 pm June 3, 2016
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Dodge Ram Pickup Fatal Crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike June 2 2016

One man died after a two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday evening, June 2, 2016. Authorities said a 2015 Toyota Prius was turning out of the Weigel’s parking lot onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike in west Oak Ridge and pulled into the path of this 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck, which was hauling a livestock trailer. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 6 p.m.

An Oak Ridge man died after a two-vehicle crash on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Thursday, authorities said.

The crash was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday in front of Weigel’s at 2385 Oak Ridge Turnpike, on the west end of town.

A 2015 Toyota Prius was turning out of the Weigel’s parking lot onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike and pulled into the path of a 2013 Dodge Ram pickup truck hauling a livestock trailer, the Oak Ridge Police Police Department said.

The driver of the Toyota Prius, Lawrence Landau of Oak Ridge, was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he later died, the ORPD said. [Read more…]