Oak Ridge Today

Children’s Museum hosts A Tennessee Evening on Dec. 4

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tennessee Gala Volunteers at Children's Museum of Oak Ridge

A Tennessee Evening Gala volunteers join Mary Ann Damos, museum executive director, in the museum’s Appalachian Exhibit log cabin. From left, they are, seated, Pat Imperato and Cande Seay, and standing, Nancy Harrison, Lee McGetrick, Damos, and Larry Burkholder. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will host a Tennessee Evening Gala on Friday, December 4, celebrating Tennessee heritage with music, dance, and fine food representing the state’s traditions.

Guests are invited to come as a favorite Tennessee personality or character to the semi-formal event held from 6-11 p.m. December 4 at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

The Ridge City Ramblers will entertain with toe-tapping bluegrass and Americana music. Also entertaining will be Henry Perry, bringing his harmonica blues music to the event, and Slade Trammell, a concert pianist. The Knoxville Contra Dancers will bring old-time folk dancing to the Gala.

Beth Haynes of WBIR-TV will emcee the Gala. Haynes co-anchors WBIR’s “Live at Five at Four” with Russell Bivin and anchors 10 News at Five and the 10 p.m. news at Fox 43. [Read more…]

Boys, Girls Club of Oak Ridge has James Bond 007 fundraiser

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge Gala 2015

 

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley, Oak Ridge Unit, will have its annual gala on Saturday, March 7.

This year’s event will be held at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Guests can expect an evening of simple glamour while enjoying dinner, drinks, dancing, and live and silent auctions. Some items to be auctioned this year include an autographed Ted Williams photo “Opening Day 1947 at Fenway Park,” a luxury trip to Keeneland, a year’s membership to the Oak Ridge Country Club, a one-night accommodation at Buckhorn Inn in Gatlinburg, pottery from local artisans, and wine baskets.

The event is chaired by Unit Board President Aaron Wells and Corporate Board Member Ann Likens. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum Gala has Celtic theme

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Good Thymes Band

Good Thymes Band

 

Guests will dance jigs and reels to fiddlers’ tunes as they enjoy “A Celtic Holiday” at the annual Gala hosted by the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. The Gala, celebrating the culture and cuisine of Scotland and Ireland, will be held from 6-11 p.m. Friday, December 5, at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band, playing traditional Scottish music, will entertain after dinner with fiery Scottish tunes, as well as aires and waltzes. Guests will learn jigs and reels as the band plays with fiddles, guitar, penny whistle, bodhran, mandolin, and hammered dulcimer. The band formed in 2008 when several members of the Knoxville Scottish Music Club got together.

The Knoxville Pipe and Drums, wearing the ancient Mackenzie Tartan, will also entertain during the lively Celtic evening. The group has been together since the early 1990s, when three pipers began playing bagpipes together, adding a number of pipers and drummers over the years.

Becky Hook will perform Celtic music on the harp during dinner, a traditional Scottish feast prepared by Chef Mark Ferguson of The Scottish Cottage in Asheville, North Carolina. The Oak Ridge High School Chorus and an ORHS String Quartet will also entertain during the Gala. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum Gala celebrates 1970s

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jack Funari and John Brown

Jack Funari, also known as “Saxophone Jack,” and John Brown will perform at the Children’s Museum 40th Birthday Gala on Friday, Dec. 6. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will celebrate its origins in the 1970s when guests gather for the 40th Birthday Gala at the museum on Friday, Dec. 6. The theme will be “Rocketing through the 70s!” in honor of the March 11, 1973, birth of the museum and the Rocket Room play area that delights children of all ages.

Guests will hop aboard the “Soul Train,” with the museum decked out as Knoxville’s Southern Terminal, as they enjoy the folk, rock, and pop culture of the 1970s.

Saxophone Jack and Friends will entertain guests with the music from the 1970s, and guests are invited to dress as their favorite characters of that era. Jack Furnari, also known as Saxophone Jack, has been in the Knoxville and East Tennessee music scene for more than 30 years. [Read more…]

SARG donates $10K to Animal Shelter, has Gala Auction Friday

Posted at
By 6 Comments

SARG Donates to Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

At front left are Vada Oberlin and Secretary Shirley Auble of SARG presenting a check to Julie Armes of the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. In back are President Jack Archer, Secretary Jan Baker, Police Chief James T. Akagi, Vice President Sara Moore, ORPD Capt. Mike Uher, Linda Gonda, and Lt. Robin Smith. (Submitted photo)

Shelter Animal Rescue Group recently presented a $10,000 check to the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter from an auction last year, and SARG is getting ready for this year’s auction. It’s scheduled for Friday.

The $10,000 check was from the 2012 Paws for Life Gala Auction. The funds are going to assist the shelter with updating and creating a clinic area to do exams, shots, microchipping, and other general exams. SARG will also use the funds to help some animal owners with surgical and medical needs for their pets, a press release said.

This year’s gala auction is at 6 p.m. Friday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge. The press release said the gala will benefit many programs that help hundreds of dogs and cats in Anderson County. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum Gala features Jamaican dinner, steel drums

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Vere Henry

Vere Henry, arranger and director of Carib Sounds, from the Caribbean island of Antigua. (Submitted photo)

The 11th annual gala at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on Dec. 7 will feature the flavors and rhythms of Jamaica.

The evening will feature a steel drum band, a Jamaican meal, auctions, the Oak Ridge High School Chorus, and an ORHS String Quartet.

The gala, which starts at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, will benefit the Children’s Museum. This year’s theme is “Jamaica: Rhythm ‘n Paradise,” a press release said.

Guests will be entertained by the steel drum band Carib Sounds and island dancers, the press release said.

[Read more…]