THE CITY OF OAK RIDGE
N E W S L E T T E R

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January marks the start of the New Year! Find out what is happening at the City of Oak Ridge in 2016!

CITY COUNCIL ELECTS NEW MEMBERS TO BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
City Council has conducted the annual appointments of new members to the boards and commissions of the city of Oak Ridge. Congratulations and welcome to these newly elected citizens!

Anderson County Economic Development Association
Leonard Abbatiello
Beer Permit Board
Wende Doolittle Theresa Scott Danny Whitson
Board of Building and Housing Code Appeals Joseph E. Lee Michael Marsh Leonard Vaughen
Board of Zoning Appeals Susan Donnelly
Convention and Visitors Bureau:
Heather Buck Gretchen A. Julius Troy Patel Owen Driskill Martin McBride Rebecca Williams Susan Frederick
Environmental Quality Advisory Board
Leon Baker Bryan Crable Kaela O'Dell
Health and Educational Facilities Board
Leon Baker Sue Anne Lewis William Mark Logan
Oak Ridge Housing Authority James Palmer
Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation Board of Directors
Annie Dunthorn Melinda K. Hillman Charlie Jernigan James Palmer
Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission Hans Vogel Sharon Kohler
Personnel Advisory Board Anne Garcia Garland Lisa Bollinger Bonnie Herbert
Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Kevin Hoyt B. Alan Tatum
Senior Advisory Board Patricia Gengozian Robert Smallridge
Trade Licensing Board F. Wayne Garber
Traffic Safety Advisory Board Jana F. Humphrey Ilona Kazocha Halfen Hoyt
Secret City Festival Board of Directors Cynthia Beatty James Dodson Don Hughes Bill Lawrence Emilee S. H. Smith John Stone Jeffery M. Thurston Andrew L. Howe




LONG TIME EMPLOYEES SAY FAREWELL
SUSIE STOOKSBURY

In the May of 1971, a 21 year old girl started her job as a clerk in the Children's Room at the Oak Ridge Public Library. The part-time clerical position would blossom into a bachelor's degree in English, a master's degree in library science, and a forty-four year career as an experienced librarian.

On January 15, 2016, Susie Stooksbury stepped down from behind the book return and said farewell to an incredible lifelong achievement and service as the City of Oak Ridge's librarian. She will be indubitably missed.

Susie plans to spend her time volunteering with the Heartland Golden Retriever Rescue and UT Vet School's Human Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT) group, which evaluates dogs for therapeutic use. She also intends to continue reading the fourteen-book 
Chief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny among other crime novels. She will attend classes of all subjects at the Oak Ridge Institute of Continued Learning (ORICL).

Tim Stooksbury, Susie's husband, "has a couple more years until retirement," she says with a growing grin. "We'll have fun. I'll have the house to myself during the week and he'll be home on the weekends!"

The City of Oak Ridge commends your service. 
Congratulations and good luck!

JANE GIBSON

Jane Gibson (left)  worked for the City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department for over 39 years, from November 1, 1976 to January 4, 2016. Jane spent 35 of those years as the Aquatics Manager, overseeing the operation of both indoor and outdoor pools for the City. 

E arly in her career Jane was also a fire specialist, serving in that role for ten years.  Jane also served as Chair of the Secret City Festival Executive Committee for over thirteen years and helped to run Mayfest and the Azalea Fest prior to the Secret City Festival. 

In 1993 Jane oversaw the renovation of the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool, one of the largest pools in the world at 2.1 million gallons. In 2008 she oversaw the construction of a new toddler pool at the outdoor pool site. Over the years Jane hired and trained many lifeguards, instilling in them her dedication and devotion the safe operation of the City's pools. She has also overseen a swim lesson program that has taught thousands of Oak Ridgers to swim over the years. 

Jane Gibson's career in public service has touched the lives of a large part of the Oak Ridge community; she will be very much missed. In her retirement, Jane plans to see the Northern lights in Norway, enjoy her summers on the lake and cheer for her nephew Jack at his ball games. 

NEXT STEPS WITH THE NATIONAL PARK

2016 marks the National Parks Service's centennial! Check out the many exciting events and programs in the coming months commemorating the  inauguration  of the NPS!

The nation's newest national park is currently staffing a desk located at the American Museum of Science and Energy. Niki Nicholas, the Superintendent of Big South Fork, will be the acting manager for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Visit  www.nps.gov/mapr/ or http://energy.gov/management/office-management/operational-management/history/manhattan-project/manhattan-project for more information and news updates.

On Thursday, Jan 26 at 10 AM the MPNHP is holding a Volunteer Opportunities Information Session at the Midtown Community Center located at 102 Robertsville Rd. Join the community in supporting the implementation of Oak Ridge's National Park.

Upcoming February Events:
  • Feb 1, 5:30-7:30 PM: Foundation Document Public Meeting. Oak Ridge High School Cafeteria
  • Feb 20, 1 PM: WWII National Parks Film Festival. American Museum of Science and Energy.
Other upcoming events:
  • National Girl Scout Day
  • National Park Week
MEET THE NEW CITY EMPLOYEES

Welcome to the City of Oak Ridge! We're happy to call you part of the team!


Top Row

Middle Row
Bottom Row
Andrea Kupfer Community Development James Jordain Fire Reps Arnhart
 Police
Barry Bunch Police Jason Robbins Police Richard McCann Public Works
Brittany Manning Police
 Jeremy Phillips Police Sherith Colverson Community Development
Bryan Mills Public Works
 Jerry Parker Police
 Stacey Kolopus Police
Christopher Dunn Information Services Josh Kerley Fire Steven Lewis Police
Crystal Wilson Police Matthew Reece Rec and Parks Thomas Luethke Public Works
Gage Whitman Fire
 Nick Sisco Information Services Vonda Wooten Rec and Parks
Greg Fisher Fire Rachel White Rec and Parks Whitney Willis Police


LEARN FANCY FOOTWORK WITH THE OAK RIDGE FOLK DANCERS

Paul Taylor and other members of The Oak Ridge Folk Dancers will offer a three-part workshop in the Library Auditorium to introduce participants to the joy of folk dancing and provide free lessons.

The classes will take place on the following Monday evenings: January 25th, February 1st, and February 8th from 7:00pm-8:00pm. Adults and supervised children (8 years of age and older) are welcome to attend. No fee, registration, experience, partner, or specialized equipment (other than comfortable shoes) is required.

The group started in Oak Ridge over sixty-five years ago, during World War II. The dancers meet throughout the year to learn about other countries and enjoy their local dances. Some of these countries include the following:  Romania, Bulgaria, England , Scotland , France , Hungary , Sweden , Norway , Ukraine , China , Israel , Germany , Ireland , Greece , Macedonia , Serbia, Russia , Mexico , Slovenia , Armenia , South Africa, and Japan.

To learn more about their group please visit their website: www.oakridgefolkdancers.org or on Facebook.
To learn more about the classes,  please contact the Library at (865) 425-3455 or CircLib@oakridgetn.gov. You do not have to be a Library member to participate and there is no fee for the class.

BIGGEST LOSER COMPETITION UNDER WAY
A competition between the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge School employees kicked off on Monday, January 4, 2016.  City employees can register in the Personnel Department and school employees may register with you Consolidated School Health Department.

You may also register at any point during the contest period, January 4 - March 20, 2016.  All COR employees, COR School System employees and their household members 18 years of age and above are eligible to participate. 

You may register by completing the attached form OR by contacting Cindi Gordon at 865-425-3559/cgordon@oakridgetn.org or Jenifer Laurendine 865-425-9028/ jllaurendine@ortn.edu.

200 South Tulane Ave
Oak Ridge, TN 37830