The Oak Ridge Observer

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce released its 2008 economic report last week, and the numbers for this year show that the Chamber hit its required goals as the city’s primary marketing arm.

But, the bigger news from the meeting seemed to be the concern of the Chamber president regarding Oak Ridge’s retail situation.

Asked at the end of the presentation if he were concerned about the rapid growth of new retail construction at Hardin Valley, Parker Hardy, the Oak Ridge Chamber president, went on a several-minute long discussion of the threat facing the Secret City.

"Yeah, I’m really, really concerned," Hardy said. "We are quickly getting surrounded, and not just by Hardin Valley."

He said that developments in both Lenoir City and the I-75 interchange concern him as well.

"The business community is going to serve Oak Ridge," he said. "And the business community doesn’t care whether those stores are located either inside or outside Oak Ridge."

The Chamber report is in three pieces. To reader Parker Hardy's Cover letter, click here. To see the full report, click here. And the referenced exhibits in the report are here.

Oak Ridge City Council members spent most of Saturday, July 19, discussing the city’s future.

Council, after lengthy discussion led by a facilitator, created a draft “common agenda.”

Several Council members indicated in Monday night’s meeting that the “common agenda” was a draft. And that they desired more feedback.

“We need your input,” said Council member Tom Hayes. “We need your help.”

Council members will sit down again to refine the list during a Saturday, August 2, work session.

The decision to create a new list follows the death of the Visioning process, and the ending of the city’s former Strategic Plan – a controversial document that aimed to keep taxes low.

A group of advisors commissioned with exploring options for a new Senior Center has resoundingly said “no” to the Roane State option, and put forth a new one.

David L. McCoy, chairman of the Elder Citizens Advisory Board, recommended to City Council that the city of Oak Ridge purchase a church that’s no longer in use – Trinity United Methodist Church – for approximately $1.2 million and then spend another million dollars on renovating it.

The recommendation, a unanimous vote from the Elder Citizens Advisory Board, was to oppose using the Roane State option and enter into negotiations with Trinity United Methodist Church representatives to purchase the facility for a new Senior Center.

Approximately a dozen or more seniors attended Monday’s Council meeting to show support for a new Senior Center at Trinity United Methodist Church.

One of those who spoke in front of Council was Phil Longhurst. Longhurst said that while seniors enjoy being around young people some of the time, there are also times when they want to be to themselves.

City staff is studying the option, as well as others, and will eventually make a recommendation to City Council.

A recommendation by City Manager James R. O’Connor to support a tax abatement for a potential Holiday Inn Express on South Illinois Avenue led to strong debate during Monday’s City Council meeting.

O’Connor wrote that he supported a 50 percent tax abatement over a 10-year period that will pay for costs associated with public infrastructure for a couple of reasons.

Namely, because it falls within the city’s Commercial Incentive Guidelines that were previously adopted by City Council. And, because it matches the incentive that was given to the Staybridge Suites for a similar project just a couple of years ago. And finally, because “there is a significant return on the investment by the City and the County. There is estimated revenue of $2.2 million that will accrue to the city over that 10-year period. In addition, the county will receive nearly $400,000 over the same period.”

But several Council members let it be known practically before O’Connor was finished making his statement that they had concerns with the tax abatement.

Council member Willie Golden Jr. argued strongest against it, saying, “We need to start addressing things (such as this) on the front end.”

Several Council members felt that local Oak Ridge developer Shailesh Patel should have said on the front end – before the rezoning vote – that he would need a tax abatement.

Patel countered during the meeting and said that in the beginning, just getting the rezoning was the issue.

That rezoning was initially declined, and only narrowly passed following a lengthy six-month “corridor study” by city staff.

“This has been three years,” she said. “First, he changed from a five-story (hotel) to a three-story (hotel). This has been three years of (him) jumping through hoops. Bottom line, we need the business. We need the hotel.”

The Industrial Development Board will consider Patel’s tax abatement and then make a recommendation to City Council. City Council members will have the final say so as to whether Patel will receive the abatement.

First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Of Oak Ridge will hold their first annual Spiritual Growth Seminar on the evening of August 11 and 12, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the church, located at 127 Lafayette Drive, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

The guest lecturer will be Rev. Dr. Robert S. (Stan) Wood. Dr. Wood is Associate Academic Dean; Director of the Doctoral Ministry Program; Clara Scott Associate Professor in Ministry; and the editor of The Memphis Theological Seminary Journal at Memphis Theological Seminary. He teaches courses in Pastoral studies, Christian Education, and Theology. Dr. Wood is an Ordained Minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and America and presently feels the pulpit weekly at Trinity Presbyterian Church in West Point, Mississippi. Dr. Wood holds a B.A. degree from Bethel College, Master of Divinity for Memphis Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry degree from Vanderbilt University, and an honorary Doctors of Divinity degree from Bethel College.

Pre-registration is recommended to insure availability of Spiritual Growth Seminar literature and supplies for every attendee. Please contact First Cumberland Presbyterian Church Of Oak Ridge offices at 865-483-8433 to assist in determining attendance each night.

There is no cost involved, other than your time.

Contact Reverend James Buttram, Jr. at 865-483-8433 for more information.

Did you know that the sputtering Oak Ridge economy can (and probably will) jeopardize the future of Y-12 and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory?

This column discusses the problem and proposes a Congressional investment remedy. A Congressional investment would not only stabilize the city’s economy, it would also help protect the terribly important futures of Y-12 and ORNL.

Council Members Hensley, Smith, and Beehan

have all expressed interest in such an investment---as have the staffs of Oak Ridge’s two Congressional Representatives, Zack Wamp and Lincoln Davis. No one has come out in absolute support of it, yet. Therein lies the challenge, should the community wish to pursue the matter.

This proposal is a true “investment,” rather than another example of expensive federal pork. It both addresses an important national need and provides a clear financial pay-back for federal taxpayers. Congress has provided similar-sized investments to other cities in the past.

The proposed investment would last between five and ten years and leave an enhanced PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) following the investment period. The investment would bring new residents into Oak Ridge, boost Oak Ridge’s key retail sector, enhance city schools, and address the urgent federal contractor pension problem.

Beyond its impact on Oak Ridge, this proposal would also benefit the six surrounding counties and the general east Tennessee economy.

For almost sixty years, the City of Oak Ridge has sought the magical state of economic “self-sufficiency.” For years, our federal partners have encouraged it. And we, as city residents, greatly desire it.

Oak Ridge is a beautiful city with award-winning schools. It has many thousands of well-paying jobs. It is a very “green” city that features a rich variety of cultural and recreational activities. It has all this and it lacks the urban-blight problems which plague many older American cities.

So, why haven’t sixty years plus millions upon millions of dollars of “economic development” brought self-sufficient prosperity to Oak Ridge? What’s the problem, here?

The answer involves a difficult reality. Despite bringing many benefits to the city, the large Oak Ridge federal presence has also brought several key economic constraints.

This is not a criticism of the Department of Energy nor its federal predecessors. The feds have been (and continue to be) very good friends to Oak Ridge.

Yet, the federal partnership has acted like a giant wet-blanket on the Oak Ridge economy. This leaves self-sufficiency as more of a dream, rather than an attainable goal.

The federal constraints on Oak Ridge include: (1) a federal reservation whose size and proximity fences the city in, severely limiting Oak Ridge business, retail, and residential growth and consuming a large proportion of Oak Ridge’s tax base; (2) a large stock of federally-built “temporary” World War II housing; (3) the city’s isolated location (an essential factor for World War II secrecy;) (4) federally-built city utilities which need expensive upgrading; (5) a federally-generated reputation for radioactive waste storage and environmental legacy; and (6) a large city population of retired federal contractor workers who live on very limited, fixed pensions.

Together, these constraints significantly depress the Oak Ridge economy and drive Oak Ridge tax rates far beyond those of its neighbors. Currently, the Oak Ridge sales tax is maxed out. The city carries a very large debt-load and Oak Ridge’s combined (city and county) property tax rate is amongst the highest in Tennessee.

A recently-proposed Anderson County tax increase, if implemented, will likely push Oak Ridge tax rates past Knoxville’s, leaving only the Tennessee cities of Memphis, Bartlett, and Germantown with higher combined property rates---according to figures from the Tennessee Comptroller General.

For comparison, Oak Ridge’s chief economic competitor, Farragut, has a property tax rate less than half that of Oak Ridge. Property tax rates are very key factors in business and real estate decisions. Although Knox County has other taxes and fees, Oak Ridge loses ground economically because its property taxes are so much higher than its competition.

Does all this mean that one should give-up on the Oak Ridge economy? Absolutely not!

Oak Ridge is a great place to live. The city needs to continue its efforts to stimulate the retail and housing sectors. Oak Ridge also needs to support excellence in its schools and significantly improve government efficiency and effectiveness.

Yet beyond this,

the city also needs to address its fundamental federal constraints. The good news is that the federal government has as much at stake in Oak Ridge’s future as city residents do. If the Oak Ridge economy continues to sag, Congress and federal taxpayers will be the ultimate “big losers.”

Oak Ridge is on the eve of a major demographics shift. Over the last sixty years, Oak Ridge seniors (and their families) have furnished strong and enduring political support for Oak Ridge’s many nuclear enterprises, including activities at Y-12 and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Most Oak Ridge residents are quite comfortable with nuclear work because they either worked in the plants themselves or had close family members who did. This contrasts with almost all other American communities, who lack both the requisite nuclear experience and comfort level. How many other communities would welcome a nuclear weapons plant, an aging reactor, a variety of rad waste, and a toxic waste incinerator? Not many!

Unfortunately, the Oak Ridge economy and its very-high tax rates prevent the city from recruiting many new residents from its plants. This means that a large number of seniors (with strong historical ties to the plants) are going to be replaced with individuals with no ties to nuclear work.

In a relatively short time, this will create a difficult political problem for the federal government.

If Oak Ridge political support erodes and fails---the future of Y-12 and significant portions of ORNL can (and will) become jeopardized. Y-12 and ORNL are vitally important assets for our nation and their loss would have serious consequences to this country’s future.

And it would have significant effects here, too. Such a loss could cut billions in local spending and eliminate thousands of Tennessee jobs. This would send a shockwave throughout the Tennessee economy.

In the 1990’s, DOE lost local community support for its Rocky Flats site in Colorado and the High Flux Beam Reactor at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. This translated into the forced shutdown of these valuable facilities and it cost federal taxpayers billions.

The entire Tennessee delegation and the Tennessee Governor have an important stake in this matter. This Congressional investment is modest in size. It levels the economic playing field and allows the city to recruit effectively from its plants. In doing so, it helps ensure political support for important future activities on the Oak Ridge reservation.

If Congress chooses to make no investment, Oak Ridge will continue to have difficulty recruiting nuclear workers to replace its departing seniors. This will place the future of Y-12 and significant portions of ORNL in serious doubt.

Of course, some might say that such an eventuality should not really bother the federal government. If Oak Ridge becomes unavailable for future nuclear work, those missions could simply be shifted elsewhere, right? Wrong!

Think of the implications for the country’s expanding nuclear energy, medicine, and defense needs. It would be foolhardy in the extreme to allow Congressional inaction to cause the number one nuclear site in this nation to fail.

And there is another important reason to protect the Oak Ridge nuclear mission. If the federal government over-consolidates its nuclear research and defense activities at too few sites, it will make those sites more-attractive targets for the threat of nuclear terrorism.

The stage was set for the Pearl Harbor disaster when the nation placed too many eggs in one basket. Will Congress repeat the same mistake with the DOE nuclear complex? I doubt it.

Oak Ridge has always been a key center for nuclear activity. For the good of the nation (and Tennessee’s economy) Oak Ridge needs to stay that way. A relatively-modest Congressional investment will help protect this vitally important future. It is the reasonable and cost-effective thing to do.

Martin McBride is a retired DOE Engineering Division Director, who has been an active participant in the nuclear industry for over 30 years. He has been involved with activities ranging from nuclear medicine research to the Three Mile Island cleanup to nuclear factory upgrades and restarts. Dr. McBride has lived in Oak Ridge since the late 1980’s.

Members of the Sallie McCaskill Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee recently announced their scholarship winners for 2008-2009. Eleven scholarships, each worth $1500, will be awarded to Oak Ridge High School graduates to attend the college of their choice.

The Sallie McCaskill Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1993 to honor a long-time resident of Oak Ridge who worked to secure educational opportunities for children and adults in the Scarboro Community. This year’s eleven students bring the total number of awarded scholarships to 115.

Advanced Placement courses, team and individual sports, performances in the arts, and supportive teachers, employers, parents or guardians, and grandparents have prepared these young scholars for college. In addition, most recipients have held part-time jobs and volunteered with community organizations.

Of particular importance to several students has been SECME (Science, Engineering, Communication, Mathematics, and Enrichment), a high school program to develop leadership skills, promote academic excellence, and provide access to summer jobs. The SECME advisor is Cassandra Osborne, in the ORHS Social Studies Department.

Four scholars benefited from the ORBIT Academy Co-operative, a combination of classroom instruction at ORHS and on-the-job training, which leads to jobs and further education in business administration and related fields.

· Meagan Dowdell, daughter of Ivory and Scottie Dowdell, says that high school was fun while it lasted but is now ready for the college experience. She was an all-star and MVP track and field athlete and a varsity basketball player.

Dowdell was an ORHS honor student, Best of SECME, and enjoyed art classes. She was a member of her church youth choir and an Alpha Kappa Alpha debutante. After attending a business summer camp at Tennessee Technological University, participating in Future Business Leaders of America, and working as an ORBIT-sponsored employee at ORAU, Dowdell has decided to major in business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Dowdell was inspired to academic achievement by her parents and sister.

· Liliane Ernst, daughter of Marisa Ernst and Robert Washington-Allen, is a commended National Merit Student, a member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society, a National Achievement Scholarship semifinalist, and an Advanced Placement scholar receiving college credits

through Carnegie Mellon. She was a member of the International Relations Committee, attended the Tennessee Governor’s School, was a delegate to the North American Invitational Model United Nations, and represented ORHS at the Tennessee Leadership Seminar. Ernst volunteered as a teacher’s aide at Linden Elementary and assisted at UT Veterinary Hospital. The rigor of academics, the dedication of her teachers at ORHS, and an introduction to genetics have prepared her for college and inspired her to a career in neonatal surgery. Ernst will major in biology, with a minor in Chinese and mathematics, at Vanderbilt.

· Cedricka Harris, daughter of Ursula Henderson and Cedric Harris, stepdaughter of Harvey Henderson, and mother of Jaylin, enjoys dance and working with children. Harris was a member of the Dance Academy and was a freshman and junior varsity cheerleader. She has worked for JC Penney

and McDonalds and traveled extensively with her family and SECME. Harris was president of Family Career and Community Leaders of America and active with the Volunteer Neighborhood Health Care, Comprehensive Development Classes, Extended Childcare Program, and Delta Gamma service projects. Due to her interest in children and her mother’s insistence that “obstacles are opportunities”, she has decided to attend college and to major in Early Childhood Education at TTU beginning her studies at Pellissippi State Technical Community College this summer.

· Krisana Holt, daughter of Krisana Donaldson, is a member of the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society, received the Director’s Award from the National Achievers Society, and took many AP and honors

classes at ORHS. Holt is interested in cultures and languages and was an exchange student in Naka, Japan. As a violist, she participated in orchestral competitions in various USA cities. She attended Upward Bound at UT and the Math and Science Regional Center programs. In addition, Holt was a member of the Student Council and President of the Spanish Club, played soccer, and helped with Knoxville River Rescue. Encouraged by her mother, she will attend the University of Chicago, majoring in biology with plans for a career in biomedicine.

· Jasmine Irons, daughter of Gregory and the late Minnie Irons, an ORBIT

student, was an administrative assistance at Caldwell Banker during her high school years. She also was a runner on the relay track team and a cheerleader.
Inspired by her business teacher and her mother, she will major in business administration and accounting at South College in Knoxville.

· Andrew Kirkpatrick, nephew of Becky and Kevin Davis, is a member of the National Honor Society and National Achiever Society of the Urban League. His academic and athletic experiences at ORHS

have given him an outstanding background for his many interests Kirkpatrick took AP classes and was a member of the football and track varsity teams. He enjoys reading, researching physics and astronomy on-line, and checking out on-line stores and video games. In addition, Kirkpatrick has worked in landscaping and at Ruby Tuesdays and volunteered with the Festival of Trees and the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade. His aunt and uncle and his friend Robert Kennedy have guided him through good and bad times and inspired him to make a difference by pursuing a career in the area he loves - engineering research and development. Kirkpatrick will begin his studies at UT-Knoxville in Chemical Engineering.

· Arienne Lee, daughter of Belinda and Carl Freeman, enjoys

fashion and is inspired by her aunt.. Lee wants to be a fashion buyer for a department store and, eventually, to have her own business.
She was a member of SECME and had a “great time” in high school.
She will study business at East Tennessee State University.

· Jared Stephens, son of Sherry Jefferson and Kevin Stephens, credits his coaches for teaching him “in the classroom and on the court” about the value of a college education. Stephens was on the football, softball,

and basketball varsity teams and was selected for all-state and all-region basketball. His community and its children are very important to him; he has volunteered with the Boys Club football program and as a student aide, and worked on the Neighborhood Clean-up. His mother and grandmother have guided him spiritually and he is a member of his church youth mission and of Men of Tomorrow. Stephens will attend Carson Newman on a 4-year basketball scholarship to major in physical therapy with a minor in sports medicine.

· Chelsea Stewart, daughter of Wilma Stewart states that ORHS gave her many experiences and opportunities for growth. She has been inspired by her teachers and her cousin Kim to work hard in

order to achieve her goals. Stewart was active in SECME (Challenge Award), AKA, Delta Gamma, Delta Theta Sigma (Gems), student council, Junior Team League, and Helping African Americans Succeed. She volunteered for Community Watch and Neighborhood Clean-up and has worked at Red Lobster and as an office clerk at Enrichment Federal Credit Union through ORBIT. Stewart is interested in forensic science and the judicial system and plans to begin her studies as a paralegal at Roane State Community College and then to transfer to Tennessee Tech.

· Brittany Wells, daughter of Hope and Jimmie Wells, has enjoyed making friends with fellow students and with teachers at ORHS. English literature was her favorite subject and dance is her passion. She is an instructor

with the Oak Ridge Academy of Dance and an office assistant at ORNL, a job sponsored by ORBIT. Wells ran track at ORHS, danced, and played flag football and softball with Girls, Inc. She is an AKA debutante and volunteered for the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade. Wells hopes to work with mentally challenged children or to teach first grade. She will attend Pellissippi State and then hopes to transfer to Middle Tennessee State University.

· Julia Yette, daughter of Mira Yette and Fred Lowery, is an active dancer and is interested in accounting. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Capstone Business Academy for the Urban

League and was one of two students who represented Tennessee in the Merrill Lynch Global Business Challenge. Yette was SECME president, elected Best of SECME, and on the student council. She was secretary for FBLA and for her church youth team and was an AKA debutante. In addition, she was on the track and field and the basketball varsity teams and was a basketball statistician. Yette is a member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble and teaches Kids in Motion and aerobics at the National Fitness Center and is a childcare employee. Her mother and grandmother are her role models and mentors. Yette plans to attend the University of Alabama majoring in business with a concentration in accounting.

Scholarship committee members include three of Ms. McCaskill’s children, Yvonne Mims, Emma McCaskill, and Ronnie Griffin, as well as Aase Brynestad, David Flitcroft, Jenny Freeman, Teresa and Tim Myrick, Cassandra Osborne, Diantha Paré, and Melissa Weaver.

Gifts for the fund may be sent c/o Diantha Paré, 117 Wendover Circle, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37830.

Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge will offer a Safe Sitter class for 11- to 13-year-olds, Fathers Matter for new or expectant fathers, and infant massage and infant CPR classes for parents, grandparents, and childcare providers in August. Numerous other classes and activities also are planned during the month.

The medical center is located at 990 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Unless otherwise noted, please call (865) 835-4662 or 1-800-468-6767 to register or obtain more information.

Ready Again (childbirth refresher), Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6-9 p.m. Expectant moms and families who want to refresh their memories about various aspects of childbirth, delivery and newborn care are invited to participate in this one-time class. It meets in the Ridge Conference Room at Methodist Medical Center. The cost is $20, and assistance with the fee is available. Pat Steimer, RN, is the instructor.

Great Expectations (childbirth), Mondays, Aug. 11, 18 and 25 at 6-9 p.m. This three-class series takes expectant mothers and their families through topics related to childbirth, delivery and newborn care. Participants learn about the signs of impending labor, managing active labor and pain, delivery, c-sections and post-delivery care. All classes in this series meet in the Ridge Conference Room at Methodist. The instructor is Pat Steimer, RN, IBCLC. The cost is $30 per family, and assistance with the fee is available.

Mommy2Mommy lunches, Fridays, Aug. 8 and 22 at 12-1 p.m. Get together with other new moms to make friends, learn about various aspects of motherhood, and enjoy a free lunch. Children are welcome. We meet in the Cheyenne Ambulatory Center conference room, 944 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Safe Sitter, Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Methodist Medical Center invites young people ages 11 to 13 who want to babysit safely to attend this class. Instructors are members of the Methodist nursing staff. The class fee is $30, and some financial assistance with the cost is available, based on financial need. Call (865) 835-2268 for more information and (865) 835-4662 or 1-800-468-6767 to register.

Breastfeeding, Thursday, Aug. 14, at 7-9 p.m. New moms learn effective breastfeeding techniques during this one-time class, which meets at Methodist Medical Center. It is limited to 10 participants. Handouts are provided, and other suggested resources are reviewed. The cost is $25, and financial assistance with the fee is available. The instructor is Pat Steimer, RN, IBCLC, a breastfeeding consultant is on the birthing center’s staff. For more information about this service, call (865) 835-2250 or (865) 835-2279.

Mommy & Me Movies, Friday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. Methodist Medical Center and Cinemark Tinseltown USA in Oak Ridge invite young moms to kick back, relax with their young kids, and have a great time at this month’s Mommy & Me Movie matinee. Cinemark is located at Oak Ridge Mall, 755 West Main Street, Oak Ridge. The cost is $4.25, but there’s no charge for children age three and under. For more information, call (865) 835-2268.

Fathers Matter, Thursday, Aug. 21 at 7-8:30 p.m. A father’s involvement in his children’s lives is important, and Methodist Medical Center encourages new fathers to learn more about infant health, safety and parenting. This one-time class meets in Methodist’s Ridge Conference Room. There is no charge, and the class limit is 12.

Infant Massage, Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 7-8:30 p.m. New and expectant mothers, their partners, and childcare providers discover an innovative way to ease common problems such as colic, gas, and teething. The class will be held in the Ridge Conference Room at Methodist, and the cost is $15 per family.

Infant CPR, Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 7-9 p.m. New parents, grandparents and others who provide care for newborns are invited to learn infant CPR. The class, developed by the American Hospital Association, costs $10 and scholarships are available. There is no charge for handouts. Instructors are Cheryl Stallings, RN, and members of the Family Birthing Center’s nursing staff.

Mommy & Co. Exercise, Wednesdays at 10:30-11:30 a.m. New moms and their babies/toddlers are invited to this adventure in exercise. Classes are held at the Kern United Methodist Church Family Life Center, 451 E. Tennessee Ave., in Oak Ridge, and the cost is $2 per class. There is no charge for your first class.

Mommy Walk, Thursdays at 8:30-9:30 a.m. Methodist invites new moms to put on their good walking shoes and bring their child and a stroller to the Oak Ridge Marina. We’ll warm up, walk, and cool down. There is no charge.

Before Baby, One-to-One Childbirth Class, and a maternity visit are offered by appointment.

Before Baby (pre-pregnancy planning): Methodist Medical Center encourages prospective parents and community groups that work with young adults to schedule a pre-planning pregnancy class. The class helps young people make informed decisions about pregnancy and provides community organizations with valuable information. Instructors are members of the Family Birthing Center staff. There is no charge. To make an appointment, call (865) 835-2268.

One-to-One Childbirth Class: When transportation problems, language issues, and other special situations make it make it impossible for expectant couples to attend regular childbirth classes, the Family Birthing Center staff may see those couples by appointment. The class fee is $30. For more information, call (865) 835-2268.

Maternity Visit: A maternity visit with a member of Methodist Medical Center’s specially trained Family Birthing staff is important for expectant parents. They will provide information about pregnancy, Methodist’s family classes, and pediatric care, and give a tour of the Family Birthing Center. Appointments may be made through doctors’ offices or by calling (865) 835-2268.

Fourteen outstanding graduate research students from Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) member universities attended the 58^th Annual Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates and Students in Lindau, Germany, from June 29 through July 4. The students’ attendance at the event, which featured lectures and discussions on physics, was sponsored by ORAU.

Continuing a tradition established in 1951 by the late Count Lennart Bernadotte, Nobel Laureates in chemistry, physics or medicine/physiology convene annually in Lindau to conduct open and informal meetings with more than 500 graduate students and junior researchers from around the world. Lindau is also the location for an annual meeting in economic sciences. The third of such gatherings, which will involve 14 Laureates in economic sciences, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and more than 300 of the world’s best young economists, will take place August 20–23.

During this year’s meeting, the Laureates lectured in the mornings on the topics of their choice related to physics and later participated in less-formal small-group discussions with the students in the afternoons and some evenings. The primary purpose of the meeting is to allow participants—most of whom are students—to benefit from informal interaction with the Nobel Prize winners. During lunches and dinners, Laureates joined participants at local restaurants for informal discussions. Various social events also allowed participants to meet other attendees from around the world.

In addition, the participants were able to experience the picturesque island city of Lindau, which is located at the eastern end of Lake Constance, just north of the Swiss Alps. Situated at the common border of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, Lindau is a city with a medieval history and a rich central European culture.

Photos of events are available on the meeting’s Web site located at http://www.orau.org/lindau/.

ORAU is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 99 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies, and private industry.

Birds of prey cared for by the Clinch River Raptor Center will be special guests at the Wonderful Wednesday program July 23 at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge. Wonderful Wednesday programs take place from 11 a.m.-noon each Wednesday during summer camp at the museum. Programs are free to the public with admission.

The Clinch River Raptor Center rehabilitates injured birds of prey, using the talents and support of student and community volunteers. The center has treated more than 1,100 since it opened in 1984, releasing more than half of them back into the wild.

The center’s non-releasable birds will visit campers and the public during the educational program that focuses on the natural history of raptors, where they hunt and what they eat.

Those attending the program will learn what to do if they encounter an injured raptor or songbird.

The Raptor Center is located at Clinton Middle School and is designed to involve area students in all aspects of raptor rehabilitation. Volunteers receive training in animal behavior, medical techniques and natural history. The center is an arm of the Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization.

Among the most common raptors the center cares for are great horned owls, barred owls, screech owls, red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, Cooper’s hawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and American kestrels. Some cannot be released into the wild because of the extent of their injuries, and those are used for educational purposes.

General admission to the Children’s Museum is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors ages 62 and older, and $4 for children ages 3-18. Admission is free for children under 3 and museum members. For more information, call the museum at (865) 482-1074 or see the Children’s Museum web site at www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org

Observer editorial opinion piece:
Our goals for Oak Ridge's future

City Council members will hold their goal planning session on Saturday, July 19. The planned all day session is an important one, and will help set this city’s path forward for at least a year (until next year’s election), if not several.

We at The Observer believe the following five issues should be set as goals for City Council to focus on.

1. Fixing older housing.

2. Bringing in new retail.

3. Improving the city’s waterfront.

4. Setting at least one BHAG, or Big Hairy Audacious Goal. This must be incredibly challenging and must require multiple meetings per month and a serious timeline. Think "going to the moon" as an example. Some possible suggestions:

• Maybe get the Alexander Inn purchased, renovated and up and running as a tourist destination.

• Maybe cut the tax rate 30 cents in three years, or on the flip side, add 30 cents and fund several big projects, including some of the capital maintenance needs such as a new Pre-School. Whichever is chosen would be a vast improvement over the current status quo situation the city faces, which is 10+cent tax increases for the next six years without any added services or direction on what will differentiate us from other similar cities.

• Maybe look at reducing crime to a rate substantially lower than any of the other surrounding communities. Maybe hire five extra officers? This needs to be a substantial change, which would include lots of PR.

• Regardless of the BHAG chosen, dream big and aim really high.

5. Ignore all other issues that serve as distractions. Examples include red light cameras, a senior center (unless at Roane State), discussions about sustain-ability as a city, etc.

We think Council members should set these five goals and set specific timelines for achieving these goals.

Unfortunately, here’s what we think will happen. The seven Council members will not be able to agree on what to do, and will create a huge list of between 10 and 15 things to do – none of which will be accomplished. And none of which will be a surprise.

It’s our hope that whether the things we’ve listed are picked or not, we hope Council will pick just three to five things to really focus on, and set specific timelines for achieving these goals. Council members need direction, and having agreed upon goals should help make this happen.

Find the latest, in depth local news by picking up a copy at one of these locations.