Oak Ridge Today

Updated: Day of Peace features Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday

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Dan Alcott

Note: This press release has been updated to include information about event changes if it rains.

The Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra on Tuesday will present the Oak Ridge premiere of “Adaptation Variations” by Japanese American composer Takuma Itoh.

It will be the featured musical selection during the United Nations International Day of Peace observance Tuesday, September 21, at the International Friendship Bell and Peace Pavilion in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The outdoor Music for Peace performance will follow Haiku for Peace presentations and children’s activities by Oak Ridge Girl Scouts during a program focused on the Friendship Bell, Peace Pavilion, and the adjacent karesansui garden. Ziad Demian, architect who designed the Peace Pavilion dedicated in 2018, will speak about the tradition and technology in the pavilion design, the press release said. [Read more…]

Today: Manhattan Project Park celebrates 75 years of Girl Scouts in Oak Ridge

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Camp Trefoil Girl Scouts on Steps (Submitted photo)

Camp Trefoil Girl Scouts on Steps (Submitted photo)

 

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park is partnering with the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge and the Girl Scouts of the USA to celebrate 75 years of Girl Scouts in Oak Ridge on Saturday, March 10.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 10, individual Girl Scouts and/or troops are welcome to participate in hands-on activities at the Children’s Museum until 3:30 p.m. Admission to the Children’s Museum will be free to any Girl Scout in uniform and their immediate family. Girl Scouts of all levels are invited to participate and will have the opportunity to earn multiple patches, while supplies last, a press release said. Some of the activities include a Children’s Museum scavenger hunt, donating items to support the community, games, and a cupcake celebration.

Girl Scouts who bring a new or gently used book to be donated for the local Free Little Libraries can earn a patch, while supplies last. Participants are also asked to bring items to make hygiene kits for the American Red Cross. These items include toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, soap, washcloths, razors, and shaving cream. Girl Scouts can earn a limited edition Oak Ridge 75th Girl Scout patch by participating in the various events offered throughout the day. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum offers fall arts & clay classes for public, homeschoolers & Girl Scouts

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The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is featuring clay and the arts in its 2017 fall classes for the general public, for homeschoolers, and for Girl Scouts. (Submitted photo)

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is featuring clay and the arts in its 2017 fall classes for the general public, for homeschoolers, and for Girl Scouts. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is featuring clay and the arts in its fall classes for the general public, for homeschoolers, and for Girl Scouts.

A four-week Clay Sampler, for ages 7-11 and open to the public and homeschoolers, will offer hand-building and wheel work, surface and finishing techniques, then glazing as students prepare their pieces for the kiln, a press release said. The first session, with a Halloween theme, is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays on October 4, 18, and 25, and November 1. The second session, with a Holiday theme, will be on Wednesdays on November 8, 15, and 29, and December 6. Cost for the four-week class is $80 for members and $85 for non-members.

Clay Holiday Decorations will be a one-time class from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 18. Students will create a personalized holiday ornament and glaze it, to be picked up two weeks after the class. The class is open to all ages, and those under seven years old must have an adult present. Class fee is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Sign up for these classes at http://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org or by calling (865) 482-1074. [Read more…]

Manhattan Project National Park celebrates Girl Scout Week on Saturday

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Photo by Ed Westcott

Photo by Ed Westcott

 

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park is partnering with the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge and the Girl Scouts of USA to celebrate National Girl Scout Week on Saturday, March 11.

Beginning at 10 a.m. at the Children’s Museum, individual Girl Scouts and/or troops are welcome to participate in hands-on activities until 3:30 p.m., a press release said. Admission to CMOR will be free on that day for any Girl Scout in uniform and their families. Girl Scouts can earn the “Our Girl Scout Story” history patch and a MAPR Junior Ranger patch by participating in a historical scavenger hunt. The historical scavenger hunt activity information will be made available from March 11 through March 25 at the National Park Service desk at the American Museum of Science and Energy. [Read more…]

Girl Scouts host Peace Demonstration on Wednesday

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Becca Seay, right, and Daphne Seay, left, Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 20508 fold white peace doves as souvenirs of the Girl Scouts celebration of the UN's International Day of Peace. (Submitted photo)

Becca Seay, right, and Daphne Seay, left, Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 20508 fold white peace doves as souvenirs of the Girl Scouts celebration of the United Nation’s International Day of Peace. (Submitted photo)

 

Information and photos from Jerralyn Luckmann and Kay Brookshire

Oak Ridge Girl Scout Troops are planning a Peace Demonstration to celebrate the United NationՉ۪s International Day of Peace, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21. Also known as World Peace Day, September 21 is a global observance, a day when nations around the world are invited to honor a cessation of hostilities.

To inaugurate the International Day of Peace, the “Peace Bell” is rung at the United Nations Headquarters. The bell was cast in Japan and made from coins donated by children from all continents. It bears the inscription “Long live absolute world peace.”

Girl Scouts from many Oak Ridge troops will gather at the Oak Ridge Friendship Bell, near the proposed location for the Peace Pavilion, which will house the new bell support structure. In the shadow of our own “Peace Bell,” the Girl Scouts will present a program of songs and peace quotes. Troop members are folding peace doves to distribute as keepsakes of the event. [Read more…]

Sister City Support Organization selects middle school exchange delegates

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Sister City Support Organization and Oak Ridge Schools

Pictured above are back row, left to right, Myles Hebrard, Brion Fuson, Elijah Gardner, Julie Lee (RMS chaperone), Melissa Fox (JMS chaperone), Jakob Nussbaum, and Sarah Hammons; and front row, left to right, Madeline Davis, Lauryn Rouse, Savanna Rouse, Austin Mayes, Jayden Ellis, and Abby Hausladen. (Submitted photo)

 

The Sister City Support Organization in cooperation with Oak Ridge Schools has selected the delegates for the 2016 middle school exchange with the sister city, Naka-shi Japan. The 10 rising eighth-graders representing both Jefferson and Robertsville middle schools will be accompanied by two teacher/chaperones and Myles Hebrard, supervisor of special education of Oak Ridge Schools.

This is the 25th anniversary of the middle school exchange and the occasion will be celebrated in Naka-shi on July 5, 2016. Representatives from the Oak Ridge Schools, SCSO, Girl Scouts, and the City of Oak Ridge will travel to Naka with the student group in recognition of this milestone.

The SCSO and Oak Ridge schools will host a reciprocal celebration when the Naka students visit Oak Ridge in August.

The 2016 middle school delegates in cooperation with Time to Shine Car Wash are raising funds to help defray their travel expenses. Until the end of April, for any car wash patron using the SCSO code (8984) and purchasing the $20 special, Time to Shine contributes $10 to the students.

Jerralyn Luckmann is a contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Uppuluri receives Foreign Minister’s Award from Japanese consul-general

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Kinefuchi-Uppuluri-Coommendation-Award-March-2-2016

Japan Consulate-General Masami Kinefuchi, left, presents Shigeko Uppuluri of Oak Ridge with the Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award in a ceremony at ORAU on Wednesday, March 2, 2016. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

An Oak Ridge resident who has advocated for a “sister city” relationship between Oak Ridge and Naka, Japan, and proposed the International Friendship Bell in Oak Ridge received a Foreign Minister’s Commendation Award from the consul-general of Japan on Wednesday.

The award was presented to Shigeko Uppuluri by Masami Kinefuchi, consul-general of Japan, during a ceremony at Pollard Technology Conference Center of Oak Ridge Associated Universities on Wednesday. It recognized Uppuluri’s contributions to the friendship and understanding between Oak Ridge and Japan.

Uppuluri is the first Oak Ridge resident to receive the award.

The consul-general honored Uppuluri for her dedication to the creation and maintenance of the sister city relationship between Oak Ridge and Naka, Japan, a press release said. She has advocated for and participated in exchanges between the two cities, contributing to the goodwill and understanding between Japan and Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Girl Scouts have recruitment event on Saturday

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Girl Scouts Troop 20509 Brownies

Brownies from Girl Scout Troop 20509 are, from left to right, Becca Seay, Daphne Seay, Kaitlynn Perkins, and Kayla Howard. They display the “stained glass butterflies” they completed to earn the Bug Badge. (Submitted photos)

 

Oak Ridge Girl Scouts and the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians are holding a recruitment event from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center (Rooms A and B) on Saturday, September 13. All girls who would like to join Girl Scouts, the largest volunteer organization for girls and women in the world, are encouraged to come with their parents to the event, where they will be able to register to become a Girl Scout and find out more about scouting, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Girl Scout service unit will have activities and information exhibits about girl scouting. The Oak Ridge  Girl Scouts are sponsoring a toy drive to benefit the Holiday Bureau and girls who bring new or gently used toys to donate will receive a “toy drive” service patch to wear on their GS uniform, the release said. [Read more…]

Meet Japanese Girl Scouts visitors on Thursday

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Japanese Girl Scouts Visitors

Naka Troop 37 Girl Scouts will visit Oak Ridge this month. Pictured above in front row from left to right are Aya Kusumi, Yuna Umino, Kaho Otsuki, Chiaki Sasashima, Ryoko Usui, Sumika Hara, and Ayaka Namatame.
Leaders in back from left to right are Michiyo Namba, Nozomi Takane, Shoko Oyake, Hatsue Kashimura, and Fujiko Fujisaku. (Submitted photos)

 

Submitted

The Oak Ridge Girl Scouts service unit, in cooperation with the Oak Ridge Sister City Support Organization, will be hosting a group of 12 girls and leaders from our sister city of Naka-shi, Japan. Current Girl Scouts and girls interested in joining a Girl Scouts troop are invited to come meet our Japanese sisters and help with a local Girl Scout service project.

On Thursday, July 31, the Japanese girls and their U.S. hostesses will be cleaning and dressing dolls for the Holiday Bureau’s “Dolls for Daisy” project. This meeting will be at the Oak Ridge Children’s library auditorium from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Girls are invited to come help with the dolls, welcome the Japanese Girl Scouts, and register for local troops for the upcoming school year. [Read more…]

Honors: Girl Scouts awarded grants

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Joyce Maienschein and Miriam Ryburne

Ambassador Girl Scout Miriam Ryburne, pictured with Joyce Maienschein, has been awarded a Joyce Maienschein Leadership Grant of financial support for the service project she created to help needy children in the USA and in Indonesia. (Submitted photo)

 

The Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians has announced recent recipients of Leadership Grants to provide financial support for community service projects. The grant winners, middle- and high-school-age Girl Scouts, have each created and are leading a different community project.

Miriam Ryburne, daughter of Oak Ridgers Nan Shugart and Mark Cantley, organized and taught a team of people to make hand-knitted items for an all-girls orphanage in Indonesia, as well as for six other organizations, including the Florence Crittenden Agency and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Allison Campbell, of Knoxville, is upgrading the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital doctors’ waiting room, designing and printing activity books for the children, and gathering immediate needs for patients.

Sierra Turner of Chattanooga is collecting CD players and CDs for cancer patients at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. [Read more…]

Girl Scouts looking for adult volunteers in Anderson County

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With many girls looking for Girl Scout troops to become a part of amid a shortage of adult volunteers, the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians invites adult volunteers to apply for a role within Anderson County’s network of active troops.

GSCSA reports that there is a waiting list of girls who want to become part of a troop within Anderson County but cannot due to a lack of enough adult volunteers.

“A lot of people don’t know that you don’t have to be the mom of a girl to be a Girl Scout volunteer,” said GSCSA Chief Executive Officer Booth Kammann. “Dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or anyone else looking to help girls in their community to learn and grow within a troop’s many activities and adventures is invited to apply for a volunteer role.” [Read more…]

B&W Y-12 donates $2,500 to Girl Scouts summer camp program

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B&W Y-12 Donates to Girl Scouts

Booth Kammann, (center, left), CEO of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, accepts a $2,500 donation from Nancy Johnson, B&W Y-12’s vice president of Business Services and Performance Assurance. (Submitted photo)

Booth Kammann, chief executive officer of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians, recently accepted a $2,500 donation from Nancy Johnson, B&W Y-12’s vice president of Business Services and Performance Assurance.

The money will help fund the summer program at Camp Tanasi, located near Andersonville on Norris Lake.

Joining Kammann and Johnson in the picture at left are, from left, Rebekka Range, Anna Vacaliuc, Andrea Range, and Marian Vacaliuc.