oak ridge, tn 2009 magazine

Member of Women’s Council of Realtors, Knoxville Chapter

Tel:

Email: [email protected]

www.oakridgechamber.org 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

»FeatureNew Science Labs

Renovations to the science classrooms at Oak Ridge

High School weren’t just about cleaning up and adding

a fresh coat of paint. The faculty’s science teachers

were given the opportunity to work side-by-side with

builders, designers, and architects to custom-create

classrooms and labs that are ideally suited to their

teaching and project needs. The results have garnered

awards and attention at a national level.

12

Alternative Financing for Technology Construction

ORNL and Y-12 were in need of costly

updates, but they didn’t want to undergo

the process of federal grant approval.

Both facilities embraced unique solutions

that not only quickly raised needed

dollars for renovation, but also helped

funnel a significant amount of new tax

revenue into both city and county coffers.

»Feature

“The rooms are sleek and

modern, and they look

much like something you’d

see in a university setting.”

18

RIDGES | Summer ’092

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chamber Welcome .................................................................. 5

Here and Now .......................................................................... 6Branching OutLet’s Talk TechnologyReport Card: What’s Happening at Oak Ridge Schools

Around Town ........................................................................... 9Oak Ridge SpeaksDear AbbyRetro and Refreshing

Health Notes ......................................................................... 11What You Know About Head Injuries May Save a LifeWelcome Dr. Mary Misischia

Innovation ............................................ 12Public to Private and Back AgainIt IS Easy Being Green

Science Labs .......................................... 18State-of-the-Art Space for Science

Voices .................................................... 22

We the People ........................................ 24Get to Know Mayor Pro Tem Jane MillerGolf ’s Brightest Teaching Star Chooses Oak Ridge

Summer ’09

“Oak Ridge has a family-oriented,

small-town feel. We appreciate

the sense of community and

above all else love the schools.”

— Denise Roma

See what other citizens have to say

about Oak Ridge on page 22.

Common / Uncommon Knowledge ..................................... 28Bringing Tennessee History to the Big ScreenThat’s One Powerful CatReady, Set, RowSecret City Commemorative Walk

Small Talk............................................................................ 32Good Morning, Willow Brook Elementary!

Index of Advertisers ........................................................... 34

Parting Shot ........................................................................ 35

1032


EQUITY FINANCIAL GROUP

ROBERT L. REMINE, SR. RICHARD D. ALBRIGHT ROBERT L. REMINE, JR.

EFG is a team of Investment Advisor Representatives who are well trained, properly licensed, and extensively experienced in assisting our clients in all aspects of retirement, and investment planning prior to and during their retirement years.

Robert Remine, Richard Albright, and Robert Remine, Jr., are licensed to transact business for their clients in all aspects of financial invest-ment vehicles to include:

CommunityLink.com

production

production manager MATT PRICE

director of publication design AMAndA WhITE managing editor LAuRA WILCoxEn

contributing writers JEnnIFER BuLL

JudY dIGREGoRIo

TIM hASTInGS

MARY MCGLASSon

LAuRA WILCoxEn

REBECCA d. WILLIAMS

proofreader ChRISTInA REESE

director of photography LISA LEhR

photography provided by AKInSCRISP

PuBLIC STRATEGIES

RoB douGhERTY

METhodIST MEdICAL

CEnTER oF oAK RIdGE

dEvIn MILLER

oRnL

LIndA RIPLEY

SAIC

web site creation & support JoSh ChAndLER

director of media purchasing dIAnA vAuGhn

business development

director of business development GEoRGE PRudhoMME

director of outside sales dEBBIE MoSS

marketing consultant GARY RoGERS

business development manager BonnIE EBERS

customer service director KAThY RISLEY

customer service representative JudITh SoMMER

advertising

director of ad development KACEY WoLTERS

ad research MARY KoPShEvER

AMY SChWARTzKoPF

ad traffic CARoL SMITh

ad design JoSh MuELLER

administrative support

administrative support KAThY hAGEnE

CARoL SMITh

account support TERRI AhnER

TRICIA CAnnEdY

human resources assistant TERESA CRAIG

mailroom technician MELIndA BoWLIn

information technology

publishing systems specialist ChRISToPhER MILLER

executive leadership

chairman and founder CRAIG WILLIAMS

chief financial officer RhondA hARSY

ABOUT This magazine is published by CommunityLink

and distributed through The Oak Ridge Chamber of

Commerce. For advertising information or questions or

comments about this book, contact CommunityLink at

800-455-5600 or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR INFORMATION The Oak Ridge Chamber of

Commerce, 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN

37830, Telephone 865-483-1321, Fax 865-483-1678,

www.oakridgechamber.org

© 2009 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie

Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306,

618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this

magazine may be reproduced without the expressed writ-

ten consent of the publisher.

5

CHAMBER WELCOME

W hen I was a teenager, I swore that once I left Oak Ridge I would never return. I vividly remember hearing my

mother say, “Never say what you’ll never do.” Now, 10 years later, I am back living in the community in which I grew up, and I couldn’t be happier.

My family moved to Oak Ridge when I was 11 years old, and the one thing I remember my mother saying was how excited she was that we would be receiving one of the best educations

in the country. She was right. I have had the opportunity to receive the high-quality education that our school system provides and also play on some outstanding sports teams under coaches with the highest standards of integrity and character. After many twists and turns, my life has brought me here, back home.

Now, I am very happy to say that I am serving the community that has done so much for me. As your relocation specialist, I am here to assist in all of your relocation needs. From housing to schools, cultural experiences to outdoor activities, I am here to help ensure that your transition is a smooth one. Our city is one of the most intriguing, innovative, and historically interesting cities in our country.

While our community has tremendous organizations, educational institutions, businesses, and residential communities, I realize that our most attractive and important element is our people. As you prepare to decide where to live, I hope you will allow me the opportunity to show you what Oak Ridge has to offer. I am here to answer any questions you may have or introduce you to people or entities in our city that may interest you.

We all know that relocating can be a very difficult and challenging time, for both adults and children. Allow me the opportunity to make this process as seamless as possible. Morning or evening, I am available to assist in any manner you see fit. If you are interested in finding out more about Oak Ridge, please feel free to contact

me at 865-483-1321 or [email protected]. I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Kenneth HerringRelocation SpecialistOak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

Welcome toOak Ridge, Tennessee

Now, I am very happy to say that I am serving the community that has done so much for me.{


In July 2008, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), a FORTUNE 500 scientific-, engineering-, and technology-applications company, announced plans to

establish its shared-services headquarters in Oak Ridge — a move that will result in the creation of 150 new jobs in the Oak Ridge area.

The new Shared Services Center (SSC), located in an existing SAIC facility on Laboratory Road, is the site of transaction-based functions associated with human resources, finance, and corporate purchasing — functions that were previously located in SAIC’s San Diego, California, and McLean, Virginia, offices.

With the advent of the new SSC, Oak Ridge will become the headquarters of an enterprise-wide effort to deliver quality business services to the corporation worldwide — this in addition to the company’s more than 30-year presence in Oak Ridge as a leading employer, providing support to clients that include the U.S. Department of Energy and many commercial businesses.

“We were drawn to the Oak Ridge area because of its stable workforce, modern telecommunications infrastructure, favorable business environment, and attractive quality of life,” said Leo Hazlewood, the SAIC senior executive who leads the Oak Ridge SSC. “We’ve developed a great deal of respect for the business and social environment by virtue of our presence in the area for the past 30 years.”

A team led by the Oak Ridge Economic Partnership, a support corporation of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, worked with SAIC officials for several months to compile the necessary demographic and financial information for SAIC to make the decision to locate the SSC in Oak Ridge.

The renovation to the Laboratory Road facility was completed and the space occupied in October and November 2008. Hiring for the SSC began in summer 2008, with the result that, as of March 1, 2009, 110 new employees have been added to the approximately 700 full-time SAIC employees who were already in the Oak Ridge area.

Branching Out SAIC Locates New Shared-Services Center in Oak Ridge

By Mary McGlasson

“We were drawn to the Oak Ridge area because of its stable workforce, modern telecommunications infrastructure, favorable business environment, and attractive quality of life.”{

6 RIDGES | Summer ’09

July 10, July 24, and August 7Secret City Sounds Concert Series

7 p.m., Bissell Park Pavilionwww.artscouncilofoakridge.org

June 1–September 4Manhattan Project Sites Tours

www.amse.org

July 10–26The Full Monty

Oak Ridge Playhousewww.orplayhouse.com

August 21–September 6The Graduate

Oak Ridge Playhousewww.orplayhouse.com

September 27Oak Ridge Chamber Orchestra

3 p.m. at Pollard Auditoriumwww.orcma.org

October 3 & 4Hansel & Gretel

Oak Ridge Junior Playhousewww.orplayhouse.com

October 8–11Secret City Film Festival

www.secretcityfilms.com

HERE AnD NOW

Calendar of Events

In 2009, the TVC National Technology Summit is returning to Oak Ridge. This

21st annual Summit brings together 500 of the top regional and national science, technology, economic development, and education leaders. Formed in 1995 by Congressman Zach Wamp, the Tennessee Valley Corridor has built a strong alliance of community, business, education, and government leaders through a series of regular regional and national economic summits led by the Corridor’s bipartisan and multi-state Congressional delegation and a blue-ribbon board of regional leaders. These regular Summits have become the region’s best vehicle to convene, inform, and mobilize top leaders on issues of importance.

The high caliber of speakers, leaders, and organizations attending the event is indicative of the role the region plays in solving America’s toughest challenges.

“The collaboration among key players, both in our region and from across the

nation, that takes place at this event is essential in continuing to advance the Corridor as one of America’s most prized science and technology centers, which is the main goal of the event — to foster collaborations and help advance our region as a leader in science and technology,” says Tom Rogers, Corridor chairman.

As energy is on everyone’s mind, this year’s Summit will focus on energy innovation in a variety of areas, including solar, nuclear, and fuel cells, as well as how best to advance entrepreneurship and economic development in the region.

This is the first time since the premiere Summit in 1995 that the event has returned to Oak Ridge, and the growth of the Summit since then has been phenomenal.

“What started as a small regional summit in Oak Ridge has grown to become a national, award-winning economic development organization uniting 10 congressional districts across five states, all

working together to demonstrate ‘national leadership through regional cooperation’ and to create the jobs of the future,” Rogers says.

“Oak Ridge really is central to the entire Corridor footprint,” Rogers continues. “It is one of the primary science and technology hubs in the Corridor and is very centrally located to the rest of the Corridor congressional districts and local communities. So we think it’s advantageous [to hold the event here] and are hopeful that a record number of folks from all corners of the Corridor will be able to join us in Oak Ridge this May.

“But in addition to that, I think, given how many great science and technology assets are located right here in our community, we have a lot to offer to the agenda and to the priorities of the event,” Rogers concludes. “Having so many experts and assets to call upon in one local community is advantageous to the Corridor Board of Directors in planning a strong agenda for the event.”

Let’s Talk TechnologyThe Technology Summit Has Returned to Oak Ridge

By Jennifer Bull

HERE AnD NOW

7www.oakridgechamber.org

Willow Brook ElementaryMrs. Lucretia Pack, fourth grade teacher, • was honored as our community’s 2008 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year. Willow Brook received a $1,000 donation, and Mrs. Pack received a $100 gift card to Wal-Mart.

Woodland ElementaryEighteen Woodland Chess Club students • competed in the 2009 Tennessee Scholastic Chess Region 1 Qualifying Tournament, winning over 47 matches. All of Woodland’s players scored points. In the Primary Division, four Woodland students received medals and fi nished in the top 20; one student playing in the Primary Division fi nished in fi fth place and received a trophy for fi nishing in the top 10. This student also qualifi ed to participate in the Individual State Chess Championship in Cookeville in February and received a trophy for the top unrated player in the Primary Section. Additionally, one Woodland student received a medal in the Elementary Division.

Jefferson Middle SchoolThe Jefferson Middle School Math Club • traveled to Alabama in January 2009 to participate in the Southwest Math Competition at Muscle Shoals. Twenty-seven JMS students participated in the Division II competition against 16 other schools. JMS placed third in the sixth grade category, second in the seventh grade category, and fourth in algebra. Four individual trophies were awarded to JMS students, including fi rst place in the seventh grade and algebra categories.

Robertsville Middle RMS Football: 2008 City Champions.• RMS Basketball: Both the girls’ and • boys’ teams were crowned 2008 District Champions.An RMS seventh grade student is the • 2009 Citywide Spelling Bee Champion and Regional Champion and represented the region in the National Spelling Bee.Scot Smith, RMS librarian, received • the Clara Hasbrouck Award in November 2008. This award is given to an outstanding individual who has demonstrated dedication and commitment to furthering the cause of school libraries in Tennessee by contributing time, leadership, and effort to numerous TASL (Tennessee Association of School Librarians) activities.Tryouts were held in Maryville for the • All East Junior Clinic. Five hundred sixth through eighth grade musicians

from 40 schools tried out for 200 chairs. Eighteen students were selected from the Robertsville Middle School Band: Nine students made the gold band, and nine students made the silver band.Students from all over East Tennessee • traveled to Maryville Middle School to audition for the Junior Clinic Orchestras, an East Tennessee honors orchestra for students in grades seven through nine. Robertsville orchestra students competed against 200 other strings players for a position; several Robertsville students were accepted to play.

Oak Ridge High SchoolThe Math Science/Computer Science • students of Oak Ridge High School are continuing their winning tradition in scientifi c research via the prestigious Siemens Math, Science, Technology Competition. In fall 2008 both a two-student team project and an individual project were selected for Regional Finalist status. Just 30 research projects in each category (team and individual) are selected nationwide each year for Regional Finalist recognition. Oak Ridge thesis students conduct their research with the mentorship of scientists at the Oak Ridge National Lab and other scientifi c agencies in the area — an important alliance for the Oak Ridge Schools.Thirteen ninth graders won a chair • at Junior Orchestra Clinic, held at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City on November 20 and 21, 2008. Nineteen students in • grades 10–12 were selected for Senior Clinic (All East), held in Gatlinburg on February 5–7, 2009. Four students • qualifi ed to participate in the All State Orchestra in Nashville on April 15–17, 2009.

District Art Students

Students from • several Oak Ridge Schools had their artwork on display in the main galleries at the Knoxville Museum of Art during the East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition, sponsored by the KMA and the Tennessee Art Education Association. Over 1,000 works of art

were submitted to the show; only 250 were selected to hang in the museum. Twenty-three pieces by Jefferson Middle School and Oak Ridge High School students were chosen. Six Oak Ridge students received prestigious awards, and several of these students were awarded scholarships, amounting to over $50,000, to visual art universities and colleges.

Report Card:What’s Happening at Oak Ridge Schools A+HERE AnD NOW


students in grades seven through nine. Robertsville orchestra students competed against 200 other strings players for a position; several Robertsville students were accepted to play.

Oak Ridge High SchoolThe Math Science/Computer Science students of Oak Ridge High School are continuing their winning tradition in scientifi c research via the prestigious Siemens Math, Science, Technology Competition. In fall 2008 both a two-student team project and an individual project were selected for Regional Finalist status. Just 30 research projects in each category (team and individual) are selected nationwide each year for Regional Finalist recognition. Oak Ridge thesis students conduct their research with the mentorship of scientists at the Oak Ridge National Lab and other scientifi c agencies in the area — an important alliance for the Oak Ridge

Thirteen ninth graders won a chair at Junior Orchestra Clinic, held at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City on November 20 and 21, 2008. Nineteen students in grades 10–12 were selected for Senior Clinic (All East), held in Gatlinburg on February 5–7, 2009.

participate in the All State Orchestra in Nashville on April

several Oak Ridge Schools had their artwork on display in the main galleries at the Knoxville Museum of Art during the East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition, sponsored by the KMA and the Tennessee Art Education Association. Over 1,000 works of art

to visual art universities and colleges.

AROUND TOWN

For several years, the Oak Ridge Chamber has taken the lead in telling the Oak

Ridge story to newcomers, prospective businesses, and even long-time Oak Ridge residents who may not have known about all the great things the city has to share. Through magazines, viewbooks, DVDs, and more, the Oak Ridge Chamber has reached out to people across the nation to let them know what great opportunities await in the Secret City.

Now, the Oak Ridge Chamber is the first in the nation to take advantage of a new Web program that will show the faces and places of Oak Ridge to not only a national, but a worldwide audience. The Chamber is proud to announce that they have

joined with long-time publishing partner CommunityLink to begin production of the Oak Ridge TownCast Web site.

While browsing the ’Net, you may have run across a sample of traditional “community video.” While a dutiful rehash of a community’s static amenities may have

its uses, it doesn’t tell the story of a community’s greatest strength — the people.

TownCast is an exciting new way to introduce the best of Oak Ridge to the rest of the world. Our community’s story — told by the people living it — will be shared online through a series of professionally produced, authentic community clips, presented in a custom-branded navigation system.

Greta Ownby, CCE, is executive vice president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. She got her first glimpse of the TownCast approach at the 2008 American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ convention, and she was immediately

struck by the “very human approach” used to present a community’s stories.

TownCast producers and videographers will be coming to Oak Ridge to talk to community members — those who know Oak Ridge best. They want to hear all of Oak Ridge’s great stories — from the

long-time kids’ sports coach; from the family who

have been blown away by all their new community has to offer;

from the scientists whose research will someday change the world; from the kids who are enjoying the new school’s facilities. These Oak Ridgers will tell the city’s story

from their perspective, in their own words, to a worldwide audience.

There’s more. Through “Shoot It Proud,” TownCast will involve local students in a scholarship contest, encouraging them to create video showing the world their perspective on Oak Ridge. They can research the project, become involved in the process, and express their creativity while promoting our community.

Through “Fresh Footage,” new content can be uploaded by members of the community. From shots of the Secret City Festival, to rowing on Melton Lake, to a family hike on the trail system, we can showcase what we love about life in Oak Ridge.

Take a look at what the TownCast system will be bringing to Oak Ridge at www.towncast.com. Keep an eye and ear open — local newspapers, future issues of Ridges magazine, and the Chamber will be keeping the city updated on the progress of this very exciting project. People of Oak Ridge, the spotlight it on you!

Oak Ridge SpeaksOak Ridge Chamber Is First in the Nation to Sign Up for Revolutionary Towncast Web Video System By Laura Wilcoxen

TownCast is an exciting new way to introduce the best of Oak Ridge to the rest of the world. {


AROUND TOWN

For the last five years or so, The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square has had a tireless greeter.Eyes trained to the front door, she hardly blinks while

watching for customers. Every time the door jangles, she hops up quickly to offer a silent but enthusiastic hello. Then, she plops down obediently to wait for the next customer in the colonial gift and accessory shop.

“She only barks at the UPS man,” says shop owner, Barbara Ferrell.

We should explain that this special greeter is Ferrell’s 18-pound, black-and-white cocker spaniel, Abby. Ferrell got her from SARG, the Shelter Animals Rescue Group of Oak Ridge, which rescues cats and dogs destined for euthanasia at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter.

“One of my customers volunteers with SARG. She walked in here with her, and she was trying to find her a good home,” says Ferrell. “The minute I saw her I wanted that dog.”

Each animal SARG offers is selected for good health and temperament, and all new owners must agree to a home visit before the adoption. If an owner decides not to keep the animal, it must go back to SARG.

Not that Ferrell would ever give up Abby. Despite many offers of cash, Ferrell says Abby is the one item in the shop that’s not for sale.

“When I was little I had a black-and-white cocker. I guess that’s why I was attracted to her. Plus, she has these big soulful eyes,” says Ferrell.

It seems that customers have fallen in love with them, too. “She puts the customers in a good mood,” says Ferrell. “If

I leave her at home just one day, there’s always someone who comes in to see her.”

Step into Moondollars Café on the corner of historic Jackson Square and you are greeted by eclectic works of original art

on the walls. A colorful Oak Ridge mural immediately catches your eye, as does the rosy-colored ceiling. There is a ’50s ambience to the place that is warm and inviting, including a coffee bar where regular patrons can leave their own mug.

The menu blends the unique with the familiar, featuring daily specials such as portabella and swiss sandwiches and the shepherd’s pie burger for lunch and raspberry chipotle salmon and pork tenderloin stuffed with dried fruit for dinner. Desserts include caramel apple bread pudding, turtle chocolate cake, and red velvet cake.

The café’s delicious food has earned a four-star rating from the Knoxville News-Sentinel’s “Grub Scout,” who described the setting as “retro-funky” and reported that his entrée was “… wonderful and would have been right at home on any upscale restaurant menu.” Moondollars was also honored by the News-Sentinel as a Top 10 Restaurant in 2008.

Entertainment is also on the bill of fare. The newly expanded restaurant features first-class music of all styles, with a variety of bands such as Mo-Jo Bid-ness, Memphis Dave and Blues Thunder, and well-known Knoxville jazz musician Wendell Warner.

Owners Kelly and Chris Ayers describe Moondollars as a full-service café and bistro that offers coffee, food, beer, and outstanding music and

entertainment. They cater everything from school field trips to white-linen events. The café also features talks and signings by local authors, and the Ayers donate a portion of food sales to support community organizations such as Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties.

Dear AbbyThe Ferrell Shop Features Four-Legged, Floppy Eared Greeter

By Rebecca D. WilliamsRetro and RefreshingMoondollars Café and Bistro Delighting Diners By Judy DiGregorio

Moondollars was also honored by the News-Sentinel as

a Top 10 Restaurant in 2008}10 RIDGES | Summer ’09


HEALTH NOTES

When researching places to live, Dr. Mary Misischia wanted

a close-knit community known for outstanding schools. As an oncologist, an exceptional medical facility was also a must. Oak Ridge was the perfect fit.

“Oak Ridge offers the best of all worlds,” says Dr. Misischia. “My husband and I are thrilled to be raising our kids in a town where we can spend time with our family without fighting traffic. I find it even more rewarding because I can still practice, still be a mom and wife — all in one day. There are no trade-offs, and coming from California, you can’t always say that.”

A board-certified and fellowship-trained oncologist on staff at Methodist Medical Center and the Thompson Cancer Survival Center at Methodist, Dr. Misischia is passionate about her patients and her field.

“I went into oncology for two reasons,” explains Dr. Misischia. “Absolutely the first was the patients. Second, the field of oncology is our future — an exciting frontier. We are continually finding new treatments, and that is incredibly rewarding.”

A new treatment concept of which Dr. Misischia is especially proud is the Comprehensive Chest Clinic. One of the first clinics of its type in the nation, it reduces the time between discovery of possible cancer and treatment from weeks to days. Since it began in 2001, the clinic has seen more than 3,100 patients from seven states.

“Our medical staff is wonderful — they take a team approach to treating patients,” says Dr. Misischia. “Working as a team is so important — you need everyone at the table to fight cancer.”

For information about Dr. Misischia or MMC, call 865-835-4662.

Welcome Dr. Mary Misischia!By Crystal Jordan, MMC

The skull provides excellent protection for the brain. Consequently, most everyday

head injuries are minor. An injured person experiences a slight headache or other mild symptoms and resumes regular activities within a short time. Some people, however, sustain a seemingly minor head injury that suddenly becomes life-threatening.

Knowing what to do, when to do it, and what not to do in the event of a head injury can save lives. John Whitley, M.D., Ph.D., a board-certified neurosurgeon on staff at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, offers information about head injuries that every adult should know.

What causes head injuries?In the United States, head injuries in

adults most commonly result from traffic accidents, falls, and assaults. In children, common causes are falls, sports activities such as biking and skateboarding, and abuse.

Are there different kinds of head injuries?

Head injuries are categorized as open or closed. An open injury is one in which an object strikes the head, or vice versa; the skull is fractured; and the object enters the brain — it may be a bullet, or a sharp tool, or a windshield. If the patient does not die immediately, surgery may be necessary to stop bleeding and remove debris from the brain. A closed injury describes a condition in which the head is injured but the skull remains intact. In some cases, swelling occurs and pressure within the skull increases, causing a cycle of damage to the brain, increased swelling, and increased pressure until the patient dies. Symptoms may be present immediately or develop over a period of hours or days following the injury.

What are the symptoms of a serious head injury?

Patients should receive emergency treatment if their symptoms include convulsions, severe headache, unequal sizes of the pupils, irritability, an inability to move their arms or legs, slurred speech, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, stiff

neck, vomiting, lack of coordination, changes in level of consciousness, or fluid draining from the nose, mouth, or ears.

What should someone who sees an accident do and not do?

Call 911 if you suspect that someone has a brain injury. Do not move the person unless absolutely necessary. Check the person’s airway and breathing, and begin rescue breathing and CPR if you know how to perform these procedures. Place your hands on both sides of the person’s neck to prevent it from moving. Roll the person’s head, neck, and body as one unit to prevent choking if the person vomits. Press a clean cloth, if one is available, to stop any bleeding, but do not remove the cloth if it becomes soaked with blood. Do not apply direct pressure if there’s a possibility the skull might be fractured. Do not remove any debris from around the wound or any objects sticking out of it. Do not pick up a child who may have a head injury.

What are common treatments for head injuries?

Physicians base their treatment recommendations for head injuries on the location of the injury and extent of the damage. Treatment may be as non-invasive as elevating the patient’s head slightly and keeping the neck straight to allow collected blood to drain, restricting fluids to help control swelling in the brain, or prescribing medications. Other treatments include inserting a small tube called a “ventricular drain” to measure pressure inside the skull and placing the patient on a ventilator to facilitate breathing.

The goals of surgery are to stop bleeding inside the brain, prevent an increase of pressure in the skull, control pressure if it increases, maintain adequate blood flow to the brain, and remove large blood clots. A neurosurgeon may open the skull to remove clots and bone fragments or treat swollen brain tissue, or remove a piece of bone from the skull to relieve pressure caused by swollen brain tissue.

What You Know About Head Injuries May Save a Life

By Crystal Jordan, MMC

Ph

oto

By

Don

Du

den

bost

el

John Whitley, M.D., Ph.D.


INNOvAtION

Two of Oak Ridge’s most prominent employers, Oak Ridge National

Laboratories (ORNL) and the Y-12 National Security Complex, have implemented alternative-financing plans for recent building projects to update, modernize, and expand their facilities.

Through Oak Ridge’s innovative alternative financing program, private companies build on land deeded to them by the government and then lease the buildings back to the government. This process benefits not only those who utilize the buildings, but also the City of Oak Ridge and Anderson and Roane counties, all of which are able to collect taxes on the properties through the arrangement, and both of which have seen increased revenues as a result.

ORNL Modernizes Its Vintage CampusORNL, the U.S. Department of Energy’s

(DOE) largest science and energy laboratory, has been managed since April 2000 by a partnership of the University of Tennessee and Battelle. When UT-Battelle assumed management of ORNL, its first priority was an ORNL campus modernization campaign.

With its facilities and infrastructure being mostly vintage 1950s, much of ORNL was in serious need of upgrading. Additionally, scientific advances in areas like high-performance computing necessitated up-to-date facilities and infrastructure to support them.

Recognizing that obtaining federal funding for such an ambitious building program would be a slow process,

UT-Battelle utilized a three-tiered funding strategy — seeking federal, state, and private funds — as the best way to realize the goals of the modernization project.

Breaking Down the FundingFederal: The federal DOE funded

construction of what is now the ORNL Conference Center, which includes the Visitor Center and cafeteria. DOE has also provided land on the ORNL campus to the Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee for the establishment of the Oak Ridge Science and Technology Park, which is planned to enable private companies to locate near ORNL’s research facilities. One company is already constructing a facility on the site, which will be leased to private-entity tenants.

Public to Private and Back AgainOak Ridge’s Alternative Financing Program Offers Triple Benefit to the CommunityBy Mary McGlasson

Ph

otos

Pro

vid

ed B

y O

RN

L


INNOvAtION

State: The state of Tennessee has invested in ORNL through construction of four joint institutes, two of which — the Joint Institute for Computational Science and the Joint Institute for Biological Sciences — are now complete. Construction has begun on a Joint Institute for Neutron Science, and a Joint Institute for Advanced Materials will be located at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Private: In this first wave of ORNL’s modernization campaign, three major adjoining facilities — the Research Office Building, the Computational Science Building, and the Engineering Technology Facility — were made available with $73 million in private dollars on land deeded by DOE to the UT-Battelle Development Corp.

The Results From 2002 to 2007, the three-tiered

funding strategy has enabled the laboratory to open 13 new facilities at a combined cost of approximately $1.8 billion.

Construction on the new east campus, which includes the first privately funded complex, began in February 2002. ORNL staff began moving into the privately funded complex in the summer of 2004. The $42 million Multiprogram Research Facility followed two years later, constructed on the east campus with prime office and laboratory space.

Parking lots and outmoded buildings were replaced with 181,000 square feet of modern laboratories and 1,409 new offices. Staff members have moved from nearly 2 million square feet of outdated, expensive facilities into nearly 1 million square feet of new facilities that boast high energy efficiency and state-of-the-art technology.

The modernization, which has included the demolition of 70 excess buildings and the consolidation of 10 nuclear facilities into four, has transformed ORNL into the crown jewel of the DOE national laboratory system and has resulted in significant scientific program growth.

The private funding approach, in concert with state and federal funding, has resulted in leadership roles for ORNL in several major DOE science programs, including neutron, nanoscale, biological, and computational sciences. This leadership is reflected in the Oak Ridge community through UT-Battelle’s early support of the renovation of Oak Ridge High School and regional support of economic development and science and mathematics education.

The modernization has transformed

ORNL into the crown jewel of the

DOE national laboratory system and

has resulted in significant scientific

program growth. {


INNOvAtION

Y-12 Finds Innovative Approach for Finance

A U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration premier manufacturing facility, Oak Ridge’s Y-12 National Security Complex utilized an innovative approach to finance its largest construction project since World War II: the completion of the New Hope and Jack Case centers.

Plans for the centers, which provide new work space to one-third of Y-12’s employees, began as a way to update and consolidate the technical, research, and support facilities, as well as to ensure compliance with current codes and energy efficiency. However, Y-12 realized that such a project would be costly and take time if a traditional federal line-item approach toward funding was used, so alternative financing was

sought in an operating lease — a third-party-financed, design-build project on land transferred directly to a private entity. Because Y-12 is a Superfund site, NNSA had to seek approval from both the state of Tennessee and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before the property could be transferred to a private party.

Utilizing the operating-lease approach, the developer supplied design, finance, and construction services, and the complexes were built using approximately $100 million in industrial development bonds. Y-12 hopes this approach will save $100 million in reduced operating, maintenance, and renovation costs over the next 25 years.

Y-12 staff occupied the New Hope and Jack Case centers in summer 2007. The Jack Case Center houses 1,100 employees and is home to centralized mission-related functions. Three stories tall, it was planned to reflect the large-scale buildings constructed during World War II, with a 21st-century interpretation. The two-story New Hope Center, now home to 330 employees, is Y-12’s new “front door.” The facility’s visitors center and public-service groups welcome visitors and the community to the Y-12 site. Both centers were designed with energy-saving features, including high-efficiency glass and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems; an Energy Star-compliant roof system; energy-efficient lighting and controls; and more.

In this modernization and streamlining building project, Y-12 has not been the only benefactor: The tax base for the City of Oak Ridge has increased by approximately $1 million per year, while Anderson County has received approximately $900,000 in annual taxes. This increased revenue is one of the ways in which Y-12 maintains its status within the Oak Ridge area as a community partner and corporate citizen, fulfilling that role as well as its mission as a vital component in U.S. national security.

Ph

otos

Pro

vid

ed R

ob D

ough

erty

CITY OF OAK RIDGE STAFF

City Manager: Jim O’ConnorDeputy City Manager: Steve Jenkins

City Attorney: Ken KrushenskiCity Clerk: Jackie Bernard

Front Row, Left to Right: Ellen Smith, Mayor Tom Beehan, Mayor Pro Tem Jane MillerBack Row, Left to Right: Charlie Hensley, Willie Golden, Jr., Tom Hayes, David Mosby

P.O. BOX 1200 SOUTH TULANE AVE.

OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE 37831

OAK RIDGE CITY COUNCIL(865) 425-3550

www.cortn.org

INNOvAtION

Given the choice, all of us would like to do our part to protect the environment.

For some time, recycling has been a consumer’s best route to helping keep waste materials out of landfills. But recycling can be time-consuming; recyclables must be sorted, washed, prepared, and often transported by the consumer to a facility. While many working families may have the best of intentions, their schedules may preclude them from participating in the recycling process as fully as they’d like.

But not anymore — not in Oak Ridge, anyway. In October 2008, the City of OakRidge and Waste Connections, Inc., introduced Single Stream Recycling to the community, and good “green” habits got a whole lot easier for residents.

Through the Single Stream Recycling program, all the materials a consumer wishes to recycle may be mixed together in one collection. All the sorting and processing is done at an automated facility. Now, customers can simply toss all of their recyclables into a single bin, placing the bin

at the curb on their usual trash pick-up day. It’s as simple as that! The new automated process also allows Waste Connections to accept a wider range of recyclables, including mixed paper, mail, magazines, phone books, cardboard, and select recyclable plastics, in addition to previously accepted materials like glass, steel and aluminum cans, and newspaper.

The ease of recycling might well be incentive enough for anyone to leap at the chance to join Single Stream. But the City of Oak Ridge has teamed up with a

It IS Easy Being GreenNew Programs Make It Simple — and Profitable — to Do Your Part for the EnvironmentBy Laura Wilcoxen

preclude them from participating in the recycling process as fully as they’d like.

processing is done at an automated facility. Now, customers can simply toss all of their recyclables into a single bin, placing the bin

16 RIDGES | Summer ’09Photo Provided By Linda Ripley


INNOvAtION

company called RecycleBank to offer not only ecological benefits, but economic bonuses as well.

Through RecycleBank, each customer receives a bin with a computer chip. When the recycling is collected, an arm on the recycling truck weighs each customer’s bin and records the amount. The data is credited to an online account, earning consumers RecycleBank points. Consumers can track their points via the RecycleBank Web site (www.recyclebank.com). The points that the customer earns through this

program can be redeemed for coupons and gift certificates from area vendors, as well as from several national retailers. It also gives customers a sense of accomplishment; by following their online accounts, they get a measure of their part in environmental efforts.

The City of Oak Ridge benefits too, seeing significant savings on disposal fees as more and more trash is diverted from landfills. RecycleBank reports that its program regularly doubles the recycling rate in communities that it partners with.

New customers interested in recycling should contact Waste Connections at 865-482-3656, send in an online application at www.wasteconnectionstn.com/residential_recycle_service_request.shtml, or pick up a recycling bin at the Oak Ridge office on 400 Warehouse Road.

Absolute Salon1122 Oak Ridge Turnpike ................................................. 865-481-0812

Connie’s Naturally Gourmet1143 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 107 ............................... 865-272-3904

Downtown Hardware298 S. Illinois Avenue .............................................................. 865-483-4339

The Ferrell Shop235 Jackson Square ..........................................................................865-483-0961

Firehouse Subs1143 Oak Ridge Turnpike ..................................................................865-483-0866

Merle Norman Cosmetics1163 Oak Ridge Turnpike ..................................................................865-483-1112

Moondollars Café201 Jackson Square ..........................................................................865-482-1568

National Fitness Center750 Briarcliff Avenue .........................................................................865-483-6868

The Soup Kitchen47 E. Tennessee Avenue ...................................................................865-482-3525

If you’re a business owner interested in becoming a RecycleBank partner, contact:

Alyson Paltelky ..................................................................................517-614-0982

[email protected]

Tiffany Jorgensen ..............................................................................215-510-4781

[email protected]

*List current at press time of this magazine

program regularly doubles the recycling rate in communities that it partners with.

865-483-0961

865-483-0866

Oak Ridge Chamber Members Participating in RecycleBank*

To activate your RecycleBank account, call 888-727-2978 or visit www.recyclebank.com.{

SCIEnCE LabS

In Nivedita Ganguly’s college-level environmental science class at Oak Ridge High School, students dribble water into their homemade “ecosystem

columns,” made out of three 2-liter bottles that are cut, stacked, and taped together. The water drips through two layers of soil in the top bottles and then into a water layer below.

“Pretty soon we’ll put fish in it,” says Ganguly, head of the science department at the high school. She will ask students to test water and soil quality in the ecosystem over a period of six weeks as they pour in polluted water, too.

State-of-the-Art Space for Science

Architects Tapped Teachers for Ideas When Designing New Labs at Oak Ridge High School

By Rebecca D. Williams

The science

teachers worked

with architects

for about a

year to create

classrooms

specific to their

needs.}


SCIEnCE LabS

It’s a messy experiment. But that’s no problem in Ganguly’s room, a light-filled, organized space with plenty of sinks for cleanup, thanks to a three-year, $61 million expansion and renovation of Oak Ridge High School that was completed just in time for the 2008–2009 school year.

Now that the dust has settled, students and teachers are enjoying their first year without construction, and the science teachers are proud of their new space. These were some of the first classes completed in what is now called the Learning Center of the high school. This two-story new addition is home to 13 science teachers, each with a classroom custom-designed for his or her needs and area of discipline.

The rooms are sleek and modern, and they look much like something you’d see in a university setting. All are wired for SMART technology, which includes interactive white boards. Teachers use the boards to display everything from worksheets and videos to on-screen quizzes. Students can respond with hand-held remote devices that tally their answers and display them on the screen. Each science department has a computer lab, and there are extra computers in the media center for research.


SCIEnCE LabS

The science teachers worked with architects for about a year to create classrooms specific to their needs:

Physics classes feature electrical •boxes and volt meters on the desks and ceiling tracks for hanging pendulums. Biology and environmental science •classrooms contain extra sinks and table space just steps away from the lecture area. Students can move between both quickly. In the chemistry classrooms, the •laboratory is sealed off from the lecture area for safety, with several large venting hoods nearby.

After the construction, teachers have plenty of something else they always wanted — storage. There are common areas toward the center of the building with prep counters, dishwaters, industrial-sized sinks, and an autoclave to sterilize equipment. There is plenty of meeting space for science clubs, and there are cabinets in which to store student projects. Just outside the chemistry department, the storage closets for chemicals are compliant with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health guidelines.

“We have really state-of-the-art storage rooms,” says Ganguly, showing off the

chemical storage areas. “They are vented to the outside.”

Because the major storage areas are in the middle of the

building, the classrooms can be situated along the outside, with plenty of natural light flooding each room through banks of tall windows.

“We worked for a year with the architects,” Ganguly says. “We went back and forth … we wanted this, wanted that. The one thing we really

wanted was natural light. The kids learn better. I think

it calms them down.” Ganguly and her team were

impressed with the focus given to their department. “Now this is so nice,” Ganguly says.

“The science program was clearly a high priority.”

As for Ganguly’s classroom, it’s a far cry from the converted home economics room in which she used to teach.

“There were not enough plug points or sinks, and there were wires crawling across the room. It was definitely not fun,” Ganguly remembers.

Senior student Mary Ann Aabye, 17, agrees. “These are so much better. The lab I used for biology freshman year was so cluttered; everything was outdated.”

Renovating the high school with all 1,500 students in it wasn’t easy. The project was completed in about 20 phases, says

Principal Chuck Carringer. Classrooms had to be shifted around to temporary space while each area was demolished or renovated. That meant that students got used to the sound of jack hammers and bulldozers and to getting to class by walking outside and around the campus.

“Our students and staff did an outstanding job keeping teaching and

learning the order of the day during construction,” says Carringer.

But now that it’s over, there’s plenty to enjoy about the new high school.

“The construction project as a whole has been a tremendous improvement for our school and students,” says Carringer. “Student morale has been extremely favorable. I think our students are proud of the facility.”

The entire effort has united the community from the start. The Oak Ridge Public School Educational Foundation helped to raise over $8 million in private donations to help fund the school. The community celebrated groundbreaking ceremonies for the renovation at the soccer field on June 14, 2005. Just over three years later, a dedication ceremony was held August 18, the first day of classes for the 2008–2009 school year.

The new facility has already garnered a variety of awards:

Oak Ridge High School recently •received a Tennessee state award and two national awards for its design and construction.

The project was featured in the •December 2008 issue of School Planning & Design.

ORHS was recognized with a Citation •Award from the American Association of School Administrators.

The campus received the 2009 •Learning by Design Citation of Excellence from the American School Board Journal .

The Tennessee School Boards •Association selected ORHS as the School of the Year for Excellence in Architectural Design. ORHS earned second place in the Renovation Division.

“Student morale has been extremely favorable. I think our students are proud of the facility.”{



COMMUNITYFEATURES

Voices

vOICES

Anthony: “Oak Ridge has a small-town

atmosphere without big-city hassles like traffic.

There is plenty to do here, and we really enjoy

the cultural diversity.”

Betty: “Having lived in Savannah, Georgia,

and then Ohio, we were pleased by the warmth

of the people here. There is also an exceptional

education system for the children, and we

have found an extended family and a church

family here.”

Anthony & Betty Wooten


ofOak Ridge

vOICES

Craig: “We relocated our business

from Florida and had no idea what

to expect when we arrived. We were literally

blown away by how friendly and welcoming the

business community has been. They have been

helpful even in instances where they are not

directly connected to our business.”

Denise: “Oak Ridge has a family-oriented,

small-town feel. We appreciate the sense

of community and above all else love

the schools.”

Craig & Denise Roma

Ryan: “We love the convenience of everything

here. Unlike Knoxville, we can do all of our

shopping very close to home and visit multiple

stores without traffic. I am in the physical

fitness industry, and I’m very impressed with

the Community Center’s many activities.”

Sue: “We love the parks and recreational

activities available. The schools are

recognized as the best in the state.”

Ryan & Sue Burchfield

Jane Miller began her service on the Oak Ridge City Council on October 6, 2003, when she was appointed to fill a vacancy. She was elected to serve the remainder of an unexpired term

on August 5, 2004, and was then re-elected to serve a full four-year term on June 7, 2005. She was elected to a two-year term as mayor pro tem by the City Council in July 2007.

» You’ve been a resident of Oak Ridge since you were 3 years old. What was it like growing up here?

Growing up in Oak Ridge was wonderful! I had the advantage of the Oak Ridge schools. During the school year, we spent weekends at either basketball or football games. The summers consisted of long days at the Oak Ridge swimming pool, neighborhood softball games, and eating peaches from a tree in our yard. In junior high, I walked with friends to play tennis or putt-putt. Sunday and Wednesday nights were devoted to church. We did not have a lot of material things by today’s standards, but we had the things that mattered — home, family, friends, security, structure, and hope for the future.

» Why did you decide to become a public official?I had been on the fringes of city government for several

years, working on Chamber projects and then on the board of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau (ORCVB), where I served two terms as board chairman. Public service is an honor and a privilege and I love Oak

Ridge — the people here are so wonderful, and I wanted to give something back.

» How has your life changed since becoming mayor pro tem?It is an extra special honor to represent the city when the

mayor has a schedule conflict or is out of town. It is almost surreal, sometimes, when I think of that shy little girl at Willow Brook School now being mayor pro tem.

One really great thing about serving on the City Council is that I have the opportunity to go to events and meet so many people I might not otherwise ever meet. It is exciting and, again, a great honor to represent the citizens of Oak Ridge, but “mayor pro tem” is just a title — I am still just me.

» Who are your heroes?My dad was a World War II veteran and my mom a war-bride

factory worker, so I was lucky to be raised by good parents who were members of the “Greatest Generation.” We are so fortunate to have several of these great people still around us here in Oak Ridge, like Bill and Jeane Wilcox, who I’ve known since high school.

In the political arena, Congressman Zach Wamp is my hero because of his enthusiasm and positive leadership skills. He has been a champion for Oak Ridge and governs from his heart. Although his schedule is very busy, he is devoted to his family and is at his home church in Chattanooga most Sundays.

Get to KnowMayor Pro Tem Jane Miller By Mary McGlasson

WE THE PEOPLE



» How do you find a balance between home, work, and city leadership?I try to work smart and focus on the task at hand. I use good tools —

Outlook calendars, my Blackberry, checklists, and daily “to do” lists. I have always enjoyed multi-tasking and managing multiple projects. As a public relations specialist at B&W Y-12, my focus on community/public relations is a perfect fit for an elected official. I am high-energy, but I don’t drink and I eat healthy, which helps. I need to make time for exercise every day, but that has just not happened yet.

» Why do you feel you’re suited for the duties of mayor pro tem?My degree in business management from UT, Leadership Oak Ridge, East

Tennessee Regional Leadership, and my professional experience in the public and private sector prepared me for this work. I have also had the opportunity at Y-12 to know and work with government officials in Nashville and Washington, D.C., and that experience has given me a good understanding of how both the state and federal governments work.

I have always looked for new challenges and enjoy building consensus. I am positive and have always been Oak Ridge’s biggest cheerleader! Most importantly, I truly care about the people and have a strong desire to work to move our city forward.

» Describe some of the personal accomplishments of which you are most proud.Shortly after joining the City Council, I successfully advocated and led

establishment of the “Council’s Night Out” program for citizens to meet with the Council to discuss issues of concern. I have worked closely with citizens and small businesses in various parts of the city, both one-on-one and with groups, to address and solve specific issues and concerns.

For the past five years, I have served as co-chair for fundraising for the Secret City Festival, which celebrates Oak Ridge’s heritage and future. Our festival’s corporate sponsorships have doubled and annual attendance has grown to more than 25,000. In 2007, the Secret City Festival was awarded the prominent “Shining Example Award” award from the Southeastern Tourism Society for the best festival of the year and has received many other awards since.

I am also very proud to be a member of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce “Live Where You Work” task force, especially the work we have done to develop a plan to grow our city with more Oak Ridge workers and improve our economic stability.

» What do the words “community involvement” mean to you?To me it means “putting feet on your words.” Some people have

good ideas and can articulate them well, but “community involvement” means taking action to make a difference. It means participating, caring, teaming, contributing, working, and giving your personal time to make Oak Ridge a better place to live, work, and visit.

Fortunately, we have a great community where many citizens volunteer their time on city boards and commissions and for children’s activities. We have a great Neighborhood Watch program that takes an active role in reducing crime. We could not run our city without the many citizen volunteers who give freely of their time and energy for the good of our community.

“I truly care about the people and

have a strong desire to work to

move our city forward.” {

WE THE PEOPLE


Golf lovers in Oak Ridge have a unique opportunity when seeking to perfect

their swing: They can work with golf pro and instructor Des Mahoney, an award-winning teacher whose honors and recognition include:

“PGA Teacher of the Year Award” •in both the Tennessee and Aloha sectionsPGA Horton Smith Award•PGA Junior Golf Leader•East Tennessee Golf News• “PGA Teacher of the Year”Golf Magazine’s• “Top Teachers in the Southeast”Golf Digest’s• “Top Teachers in Tennessee” Golf Range Magazine’s• “Top 50 Teachers in the USA”

Mahoney is a contributor to Golf Illustrated Magazine, PGA Magazine, USA Today, and East Tennessee Golf News. Past students have included the governor of

Hawaii, and Mahoney is known throughout golfing circles for being both professional and personable.

Born in Canada, Des Mahoney has lived in various places throughout the United States, including Southern California and St. Louis. With his credentials and

teaching talent, he could have chosen to relocate anywhere in the country and would have been eagerly welcomed by any golf community. But after taking time to look around, he specifically chose Oak Ridge to raise his daughter and teach golf.

“I had offers to go places like Nashville or here or Charlotte or Dallas,” Mahoney recalls. “I actually visited Nashville, then we moved here.

“Even though I grew up in Western Canada, I liked a milder climate,” Mahoney continues. “I really picked up on the fact we’ve got four moderate seasons here. It is very comfortable, and the area was really similar to North Carolina for about half the price.”

The combination of Oak Ridge attractions was just too good for the Mahoney family to pass up.

“There’s wonderful weather, housing costs were good, and it is known for having a very good school system and low traffic. I really felt like it was a good overall fit for us.”

Another aspect of life in Oak Ridge that Mahoney enjoys is his church. Recently, the widower married a lady he met through his church. In addition to a happy church family and married life, Mahoney is a proud father: the primary reason the celebrated Oak Ridge school system was such an attraction.

Golf ’s Brightest Teaching Star Chooses Oak RidgeBy Jennifer Bull

“I had offers to go places like Nashville or here or Charlotte or Dallas. I actually visited Nashville, then we moved here.” {

WE THE PEOPLE


WE THE PEOPLE

“Kelly is in sixth grade here and she is a cheerleader and she is a wonderful young lady,” Mahoney says of his daughter, love and fatherly pride evident in his voice.

The professional facilities available to him in Oak Ridge are another big plus. Mahoney teaches at the Centennial Learning Center, a 2,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art indoor facility. He uses split-screen video analysis and the latest teaching aids to help all levels of golfers improve their golf game. Lessons can be booked directly from Mahoney’s Web site (www.desmahoneygolf.com).

While Mahoney is pleased with Oak Ridge, the community is delighted and proud to have him as well. Many people from out of town come to the area specifically to learn from one of the best the sport has to offer.


COMMOn / uNCOMMON kNOWLEdgE

For years, Oak Ridge’s role as the center of the Manhattan Project during World War II was not widely known —

Oak Ridge was indeed a “Secret City.” When an independent filmmaker set out to tell the story of Oak Ridge during the 1940s, the members of the community proved an invaluable resource.

East Tennessee native Keith McDaniel, 51, along with his production company, Secret City Films, creates films that bring the history of this region of Tennessee to life. He says he could not accomplish his goals as a filmmaker without the help of his neighbors in Oak Ridge.

“The folks in Oak Ridge have been very receptive of me and my work,” McDaniel says. “There are a lot of people in Oak Ridge I couldn’t do my work without.”

The Oak Ridge Public Library in particular helped with his first major film, Secret City, which documents the development of the atomic bomb — the Manhattan Project — in Oak Ridge during World War II.

“The very first thing I did was go to the library,” McDaniel says. “They had a collection of 1,000 black-and-white photographs from the Manhattan Project. I got permission to make high-resolution scans of every photo.”

Additionally, D. Ray Smith at Y-12 National Security Complex helped McDaniel access the Y-12 film archive. This ground-laying research helped the project win “Best Documentary” awards at film festivals in 2006 and 2007.

McDaniel has also told the story of the integration of Clinton High School in 1956.

“Clinton High School in Clinton, Tennessee [10 miles from Oak Ridge], was the very first school in the South to be integrated after the landmark Brown decision,” McDaniel says. “The city planned to tell the story through a documentary. I knew we needed the country to see this film.”

McDaniel wrote, directed, and produced The Clinton 12, named for 12 African-American students who broke the school’s color barrier. The documentary began airing on PBS in 2008.

Bringing Tennessee History to the Big ScreenIndependent Filmmaker Thrives in Oak Ridge

“There are a lot of people in Oak Ridge I couldn’t do my work without.”{

By Tim Hastings


It’s fitting that a lightning-fast supercomputer helping scientists study climate change bears the name of one of nature’s

most powerful cats — “Jaguar.” Capable of a staggering 1.64 “petaflops” — a quadrillion mathematical calculations — per second, Jaguar has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy as the fastest in the world. Jaguar is located at ORNL.

According to the project director of the Leadership Computing Facility (LCF) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the computer is helping scientists understand climate change and helping to assure that cost-effective energy is available.

“Our understanding of climate change is that global warming is being caused by human activity, much of which is related to energy production,” says LCF Project Director Arthur S. “Buddy” Bland. “Monitoring the effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the effects that will have on the climate relies on the power of these very large computers.”

The project also explores keeping energy affordable and efficient. “Last summer gas went up to $5 per gallon,” Bland says. “We all know that over time we need to change from energy production based on petroleum to other types of energy. The scientists using these computers are looking at ways to produce

electrical power from sunlight, as well as new technologies for storing electricity.”

Scientists are also working on new superconducting wires to increase the efficiency of transmitting electricity. “About 25 percent of electricity generated in the U.S. today just turns to heat in the transmission wires and doesn’t provide any benefit,” Bland explains.

Owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, Jaguar occupies floor space a little larger than a basketball court and stands 8.5 feet tall. It contains 180,000 processors (most home computers contain a single processor) and holds 300 trillion pieces of information.

Also at ORNL is a supercomputer owned by the National Science Foundation. Containing 66,000 processors, “Kraken” was installed side-by-side with Jaguar in 2008.

That’s One Powerful CatWorld’s Fastest Computer Is Located in Oak Ridge By Tim Hastings


Mild temperatures, calm water, and proximity to 60 percent of the national

population attract approximately 30,000 trainees and competitors each year to the Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) facility at Melton Hill Lake.

“If you came down today, you’d literally see people training on the water,” Director of Rowing Development Mark Wilson said in mid-February. “We have teams come here from the Northeast, Upper Midwest, Canada, and other locations for spring training. Their water is frozen this time of year, but they can get down here in about a day’s drive

and practice on flat open water. Oak Ridge is an

ideal setting for rowing, as the hills protect the water and the moderate climate makes it perfect for early spring rowing.”

But Oak Ridge has more to offer rowers than just clear water.

“The community is a welcoming place for rowers and coaches, and our citizens enjoy having athletes in town,” Wilson said. “Oak Ridge is a safe, small city that has everything visitors need.”

Additional Oak Ridge amenities make training easy and enjoyable for both coaches and spectators.

“Walking and biking paths parallel the entire 1.25-mile race course,” Wilson said. “This is especially good for coaches because they can follow the entire race. The association also maintains an open grassy area

for fans to sit and watch.”ORRA knows they have

a great thing going, and they’re eager to encourage others in the community to join in. Besides hosting events, the association offers rowing instruction for all ages. Wilson said interest in the sport is

growing exponentially because of its physical and social benefits.

“Anyone who can walk can row,” Wilson said. “It uses every muscle group and is very aerobic. And it’s a great social sport. Regardless of an individual’s strength or weakness, you stay together in the boat. There can be 60 kids on a rowing team, and there is no bench. Everybody rows.”

But if you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, you can still join the fun.

“Another great way to get involved is to volunteer at one of the various events during the year,” Wilson said. “We are in the Volunteer State, after all!”

The association will host 11 events in 2009, including three National Championships. USRowing selected Oak Ridge as its Association of the Year in 2005.

Ready, Set, RowOak Ridge’s Melton Hill Lake Hosts Thousands Each YearBy Tim Hastings


“Regardless of an individual’s strength or weakness, you stay together in the boat. There can be 60 kids on a rowing team, and there is no bench. Everybody rows.”{



COMMON / uNCOMMON kNOWLEdgE

Directly across from the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is the Secret

City Commemorative Walk. This memorial honors the founders of Oak Ridge and gives an overview of how the secret work conducted here during World War II caused the city to grow to 75,000 people in three years — all without appearing on any map.

Oak Ridge City Historian and Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce member Bill Wilcox says, “The Rotary Club adopted the idea of building a founders monument in 2003. The result was this $350,000 gift to the city in June 2005.”

The Walk has three main attractions.

“Ten bronze, waist-high tablets describe what the primary institutions of the Secret City did — such as the four Manhattan Project plants and the other institutions of wartime Oak Ridge,” Wilcox says. “Also, eight large historical markers describe life in the city during the ‘closed gates’ years from 1942 through 1949 — people enjoy these because they tell what it was like to live here in each of the Secret City years.

“Finally, there are four, 30-foot-long, 6-foot-high walls on which are mounted plaques honoring 1,488 individuals who were founders of the Secret City,” Wilcox concludes. “These plaques could be

purchased during construction to honor anyone who lived and worked here — including homemakers — during those eight ‘secret’ years.”

The work that began here during World War II has had a profound impact on the city’s direction and prosperity ever since, and the project celebrates this influence.

“The Walk honors both the patriots who helped bring peace to a world aching from six long years of World War II, as well as those who began, in the years right after the war, applying nuclear science to medicine, energy, agriculture, industry, and other peacetime applications,” Wilcox says.

Secret City Commemorative WalkRotary Club Gift Honors the Founders of Oak Ridge By Tim Hastings

The walk honors the founders of Oak Ridge.{


SMALL TaLk

Peering into a digital video camera on a tripod, 9-year-old Olivia Kelly holds up her

finger and whispers, “Five! Four! Three!” Then she mouths “two” and “one,” pointing to the anchor desk in the small broadcast studio at Willow Brook Elementary School in Oak Ridge.

“Good morning,” says Brennan Whitson, 8. “I’m Brennan!”

“And I’m Mykia!” says Mykia Albert, also 8. Brennan and Mykia wear red school t-shirts and beam mega-watt smiles.

“We’re both reporting to you from WBES!” they say together.

So begins the WBES Student News Broadcast, airing live on the school’s closed-circuit television system every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 8:30 and later in the day as a podcast on the school’s Web site, http://willowbrook.ortn.edu.

Willow Brook has had a morning broadcast for about 10 years, as do several other Oak Ridge schools. But this elementary school’s show is especially professional and high-tech after an upgrade about three years ago.

The school received a $5,000 grant from the Oak Ridge Public School Educational Foundation, which has raised thousands of dollars through private and corporate donations for educational projects, facilities improvements, and teacher education. The Foundation’s grant to Willow Brook bought a second camera, two laptop computers, and a video mixer. Volunteers from the community helped pull it all together, including one from HGTV who redecorated the set and made a “blue screen” out of painter’s tape behind the

WBES Broadcast an Invaluable Experience

for Budding Oak Ridge Journalists


Peering into a digital video camera on a tripod, 9-year-old Olivia Kelly holds up her

finger and whispers, “Five! Four! Three!” Then she mouths “two” and “one,” pointing to the anchor desk in the small broadcast studio at Willow Brook Elementary School in Oak Ridge.

“Good morning,” says Brennan Whitson, 8. “I’m Brennan!”

“And I’m Mykia!” says Mykia Albert, also 8. Brennan and Mykia wear red school t-shirts and beam mega-watt smiles.

“We’re both reporting to you from WBES!” they say together.

So begins the WBES Student News Broadcast, airing live on the school’s closed-circuit television system every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 8:30 and later in the day as a podcast on the school’s Web site, http://willowbrook.ortn.edu.

Willow Brook has had a morning broadcast for about 10 years, as do several other Oak Ridge schools. But this elementary school’s show is especially professional and high-tech after an upgrade about three years ago.

The school received a $5,000 grant from the Oak Ridge Public School Educational Foundation, which has raised thousands of dollars through private and corporate donations for educational projects, facilities improvements, and teacher education. The Foundation’s grant to Willow Brook bought a second camera, two laptop computers, and a video mixer. Volunteers from the community helped pull it all together, including one from HGTV who redecorated the set and made a “blue screen” out of painter’s tape behind the

WBES Broadcast an Invaluable Experience

for Budding Oak Ridge Journalists

Good Morning, Willow Brook Elementary!

By Rebecca D. Williams


SMALL TaLk

anchor desk, enabling the computer to broadcast graphics behind the anchors.

However, the most amazing thing about Willow Brook’s show is that it is put on entirely by 8- to 10-year-olds in the third and fourth grades. Each child learns every job. They can step in at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency, says the school librarian and show’s producer, Todd McDonald.

Like, say… a lost tooth. “The tooth was a big surprise,” says

McDonald, as he relates the story of a previous anchor’s losing a molar while on-air.

“Her mouth was just gushing blood,” McDonald remembers. “Another child slipped into the anchor seat while she went to get a tissue. We kept on rolling.”

McDonald chooses a new crew every grading period, and they practice Mondays after school. McDonald chooses two children to stay on and help train the next crew. They’re eager to describe their jobs.

“I’m in the back scenes,” says John Vance, 9, who’s taking his second turn at WBES and says he may someday go into broadcasting as a career. “I work the

controls for the camera. It’s really fun because I get to learn all the neat stuff about computers.”

“It’s fun,” says Dalton Wilson, a third grader taking his first turn on Camera Two. “You have to really learn about it, but I’ve gotten used to it. I’ve only been doing it two days, but it’s really fun.”

“I’m the director camera,” explains Olivia Kelly. “I start it off and point to them. It’s really fun because it’s a big opportunity. Not many people get to do this.”

It is, indeed, an honor to be chosen for the show. McDonald hand-picks the kids for their ability to take direction and work responsibly. After nine weeks, it’s time to move on, letting another crew have a chance.

“Some of them shed a few tears,” McDonald says. “They take real ownership of their camera, their sound equipment.” To cheer them up, they’ll have a celebration

and field trip at the end of the year to WATE, a professional broadcast station in Knoxville.

Principal Mardee Miller says the broadcast exposes WBES children to potential careers they might not consider

or even be aware of otherwise.

“Seventy percent of our kids are ‘at risk,’ which means their families are at or below poverty level,” Miller says. “That’s a higher rate than most other Oak Ridge

“Today is the big Thanksgiving Lunch when tons of parents will visit Willow Brook to eat with their children. In other news, WBES anchor, Hunter Gaenslen, loses a tooth in mid-announcement. Good thing Demarea Whitt was waiting in the wings to step in while Hunter took care of that tooth!”— WBES blog, Nov. 18, 2008

{

schools, and higher than the state poverty rate” (36 percent in 2004, according to the Kids Count Project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation).

Despite this, Willow Brook’s progress with students is remarkable:*

Ninety percent of students have •met the federal benchmarks for proficiency in math, reading, and language for the last three years. The school attendance rate is •95.9 percent, higher than the state average of 93 percent.Willow Brook received all A’s and B’s •for academic achievement in math, reading, and language arts. All of Willow Brook’s courses are •taught by “highly qualified” teachers who hold at least a bachelor’s degree and are certified in the courses they teach.

“Our motto here is that Willow Brook is the best school in America,” says Miller. “Any time we can give them opportunities, we try to open the door for them. Our kids don’t lack abilities; they just lack opportunities, so the more things we can bring in for them to experience, the better.”

Miller attributes some of Willow Brook’s success to its special year-round schedule. Students attend school for 45 days, and then they’re off for 15 days — which means breaks of three weeks in the fall, winter, and spring, called “Intersessions.” Summer break is about six weeks long, with the school year starting in mid-July.

During fall and spring Intersession, the school offers optional week-long enrichment classes like cooking and computer instruction, plus remedial instruction for those who need it.

“We never have to wait until summer to do remedial instruction,” Miller points out. “And our summer is shorter, so the children retain more.”

But, Miller adds, the best systems and facilities mean nothing without dedicated teachers. The staff of Willow Brook is enthusiastic, making every effort to expose children to the extras in life.

Mykia seems to agree. With curls bouncing and a beaming smile, she says, “This is just the best school in America. You can do anything here!”

*Source: Tennessee State School Report Card, 2008.

InDEx OF advErTiSErS


ADP (Automatic Data Processing, Inc.) ...25

American Museum of

Science & Energy ................................23

B&W Technical Services Group .............21

Canberra ................................................25

City of Oak Ridge ...................................15

Corporate Quarters ....... Inside Front Cover

Endoscopy Center of Oak Ridge, LLC .....3

Energy Solutions ....................................21

Equity Financial Group .............................4

The Estates of Oak Ridge ......................27

Herron-Connell Insurance .....................25

ICX Technologies (ICX Radiation) ...........17

Len Hart Construction Co., Inc. ..............14

Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home ...........22

Methodist Medical Center

of Oak Ridge............ Outside Back Cover

NHC Healthcare .....................................27

Oak Ridge Associated Universities ........28

Oak Ridge Convention &

Visitors Bureau ....................................29

Oak Ridge Gastroenterology

Associates ................. Inside Back Cover

Oak Ridge Tool-Engineering Inc. .............7

Oak Ridge Utility District ..........................4

ORNL Federal Credit Union ....................23

Pellissippi State

Technical Community College ............27

Rarity Ridge ...........................................36

Roane State Community College ..........31

Rolling Hills Apartment Homes ..............22

St. Mary’s School ...................................27

State Farm Insurance – Ruby Miller .......7

Weatherford Mortuary ...........................29

Y-12 Federal Credit Union .....................15

PARTInG ShOT

35

Sunset over Melton Lake


oak ridge, tn 2009 magazine

Documents