Oak Ridge Today

Lavender Festival is Saturday in Jackson Square

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Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps

Lavender Festival (Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps)

 

The Lavender Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday will celebrate health, herbs, crafts, local foods—and lavender. There will also be music, children’s activities, and a wine tasting. It’s the 20th year of the festival, which is the only Lavender Festival in Tennessee.

“The Lavender Festival is a perennial crowd favorite, full of tradition, fun, and always something new,” a press release said.

The 20th annual Lavender Festival is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16, in Historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

The festival, which attracted about 8,000 people last year, is always free, with plenty of free parking available in surrounding city and business lots, and on side streets.

As is tradition, a bagpipe player will open the festival at 8 a.m., playing from upper Blankenship Field into Jackson Square. Also keeping with tradition, Alan McBride will follow with the hammered dulcimer in the bandstand. A complete music schedule is found below.

Informative presentations will be held in the lobby of Pinnacle Financial Partners, and they will include Thyroid Health & Tips for Optimal Brain function (10 a.m.), Home-Crafted Lavender Products (11:30 a.m.), and Turning Back the Bones of Time (1 p.m.).

Also returning for its third year is “A Taste of Tennessee Wines,” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., benefitting the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Party in the Park features family-friendly fun, crime prevention, music, food on Saturday

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Neighborhood Watch Program Party

Oak Ridge Police Department Officer John Thomas, front left, invites children to meet one of the ORPD’s K-9s at last year’s crime prevention celebration. Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi is pictured at back left. (Submitted photo)

 

The first annual Party in the Park on Saturday will feature family-friendly activities for children and adults, crime prevention presentations and information, free food, and more. It’s scheduled from 2-6 p.m. Saturday, October 17, at A.K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host the 2015 Party in the Park, with activities celebrating the partnership between the community and the police department. The focus of the event is crime prevention, safety, health, and wellness.

Kristine Kinsey will serve as master of ceremonies and comedian. Magician Danny Whitson will perform feats of magic during the celebration. Festivities will also include Oak Ridge Police K-9 demonstrations, safety and health exhibits, Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket rides, and drug abuse prevention information. [Read more…]

Photos: Lavender Festival on Saturday

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Lavender Festival in Oak Ridge 2015

The Lavender Festival celebrates “all things herbal” in Jackson Square from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Lavender Festival celebrates “all things herbal” in Jackson Square until 3 p.m. today (Saturday, June 20).

It’s the 17th annual festival, and there is no cost to attend. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

The Lavender Festival focuses on herbs, health, gardening, and cooking, and it features more than 100 vendors, a dozen herb and health presentations, children’s activities, and many musicians. Vendors line the covered walkways of Jackson Square, the parking lot, and both sides of Broadway Avenue, which is closed to traffic.

See this previous story for more information.

[Read more…]

Lavender Festival celebrates herbal products on Saturday

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Lavender Festival Crowd

The Lavender Festival will celebrate “all things herbal” in Jackson Square on Saturday.

The 17th annual festival is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. There is no cost to attend.

“Jackson Square has been under renovations since January, but they are expected to be finished in time for the festival, which will go on as planned,” organizers said.

They said free parking is available in surrounding city and business lots, and on side streets.

The Lavender Festival focuses on herbs, health, gardening, and cooking, and it features more than 100 vendors, a dozen herb and health presentations, children’s activities, and many musicians. Vendors will line the covered walkways of Jackson Square, the parking lot, and both sides of Broadway Avenue, which will be closed to traffic. [Read more…]

Education: A path out of poverty

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Chris Whaley

Chris Whaley

“Education: A Path out of Poverty,” will be the theme of an interfaith luncheon at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge at noon on June 5. Chris Whaley, president of Roane State Community College, will be the guest speaker.

The cost of the noon luncheon is $5, payable at the door. The luncheon is open to the public.

Admission to the talk is free. To make a reservation, call the church office at (865) 482-1318 or send an email to [email protected].

In the international development community, it is well-known that education is one of the most effective ways to improve the economic growth and potential of a country, a press release said. UNESCO reports that an additional year of schooling will raise income by 10 percent. [Read more…]

Morris named NPO assistant manager for environment, safety, health

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Susan Morris

Susan Morris

Susan Morris has been named assistant manager for environment, safety, health, and quality for the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office. The NPO oversees work at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas.

Morris is responsible for oversight of contractor programs for health physics and radiological protection, industrial hygiene and occupational medicine, industrial safety, transportation safety, construction safety, chemical safety, fire protection, firearm safety, explosive safety, aviation safety, and quality assurance at the Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex, a press release said. She has more than 28 years of federal service.

Morris has had a broad range of responsibilities, including serving as the team leader and subject matter expert/program manager for industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, fire protection, and environmental programs, and she served as the Y-12 Site Office NEPA compliance officer, the release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools have health, wellness panel, screening on Saturday

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Oak Ridge Schools Logo

The Oak Ridge Schools Office of Coordinated School Health and the Allergy, Asthma, and Sinus Center are hosting a free Health and Wellness Panel Discussion and Health Screening this Saturday, January 31, at Oak Ridge High School Auditorium from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The event will be hosted by Dr. Bob Overholt of the Dr. Bob Show. The panel will consist of Dr. Karthick Krishnan (asthma/allergy specialist), Dr. Chris Nolte (sleep specialist), Dr. Randy Robbins (orthopedic specialist), and Dr. Matthew McCallister (concussion/pediatric health). The panel will answer audience questions from 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m. [Read more…]

Sponsored: Tai Chi for better health

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Tai Chi Health Recovery Class

The Oak Ridge branch of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society offers a Health Recovery class. (Submitted photo)

 

By Marian Varner

January—it’s a time when many of us think about our health objectives for the coming year. We would all like to enjoy good health, but sometimes that is not easy. For some, finding an interesting, fun exercise can be a challenge. Tai Chi is one exercise option that even those who experience health difficulties of various kinds can try.

The Oak Ridge branch of the International Taoist Tai Chi Society has been teaching Tai Chi locally for about 30 years. This charitable organization includes a Health Recovery class as one of its offerings, in addition to the usual beginner and continuing classes. The Health Recovery class enables students to work with various exercises, adapted to whatever limitations each student has.

Tai Chi is known for improving the health of its practitioners in numerous ways. Most students of this ancient Chinese art discover better balance, increased flexibility, and relief from stress. With regular practice of Tai Chi, students have reported improvement in conditions such as high blood pressure, arthritis, back pain, low spirits, joint immobility, respiratory problems, digestive disorders, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, the long-term consequences of trauma or stroke, and fibromyalgia. [Read more…]

Sponsored: Taoist Tai Chi Society has open houses Saturday, Monday

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Taoist Tai Chi Exercise for LifeThe Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA has open houses in Oak Ridge on Saturday, January 3, and Monday, January 5.

Tai chi can be used to improve health and reduce stress. New beginner classes are starting soon.

Saturday’s workshop is free and open to the public. It’s scheduled from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at 362 East Tennessee Avenue in Oak Ridge. You can watch demonstrations and learn the first few moves. [Read more…]

ORISE receives DOE Legacy of Stars safety, health award

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US DOE VPP Legacy of Stars Award

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education has been given a 2014 Legacy of Stars award.

This is the third consecutive time ORISE has received the prestigious designation and only one of 10 such awards granted nationwide in 2014, a press release said. ORISE first achieved this designation in 2008.

The award is presented by the U.S. Department of Energy, and it recognize outstanding safety and health performance.

ORISE is managed for DOE by Oak Ridge Associated Universities. [Read more…]

Fitness expert to lead ‘Hike and Bike’ at Haw Ridge on Aug. 15

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Covenant Health Missy Kane

Missy Kane

A Covenant Health fitness expert will lead a “Hike and Bike” at Haw Ridge on Friday, August 15.

“Get ready to hit the trail for fitness,” a press release said.

The “Hike and Bike” will be led by fitness expert Missy Kane. Participants will enjoy a three- to five-mile hike with different length options. They can drive or ride bikes to Riverside Grille afterward for an optional lunch.

During that lunch, Kane will share personal tips for health and fitness. She will be joined by Karen Lacey, a registered dietitian for Methodist Medical Center. Lacey will discuss healthy eating and how to fuel your body for exercise.

[Read more…]

Mindfulness meditation program in Oak Ridge on Saturday

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Claudio Barrientos

Claudio Barrientos

Claudio Barrientos, director of the Mindful Center in Knoxville, will present a program on mindfulness meditation on Saturday, June 7, at Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge. The free 90-minute program, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the fellowship hall, is hosted by the church’s Mental Health Ministry Team.

Grace Lutheran Church is located at 131 W. Gettysburg Ave.

Barrientos will introduce ways to incorporate a few minutes of meditation in one’s daily life to help with many health issues, a press release said. The teachings are non-religious and evidence-based, rooted in the latest science of the mind, body, and brain, according to notes from Barrientos about the program. [Read more…]