Sheep shearing, pioneer fun return to Museum of Appalachia
by G. Chambers Williams III
Visitors watch a sheep-shearing demonstration at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris during last year’s Sheep Shearing Days event. This year’s event will be held on two successive Fridays, May 2 and 9. - G. Chambers Williams III
This year’s Sheep Shearing Days at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris will be held on two consecutive Fridays, May 2 and 9.
Besides the sheep-shearing demonstrations, the event will include springtime pioneer activities for students and families.
More than two-dozen of the woolly beasts will be getting their spring trims for the visiting crowds, which will include school groups from all over East Tennessee.
The museum has been holding the annual event for more than 10 years, said Will Meyer, the museum’s marketing director.
“We have a few events that are big boosters for us and help us show some of the Appalachian traditions,” he said.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days.
Tickets are $20 for adults (18 and up); $18 for people 65 or older, military or first-responders; and $10 for ages 6-17. A family pass is $50, which includes two adults and up to six children. Kids under 6 are free with a parent. Museum members are also admitted free.
Visitors to last year’s Mosaic Arts Festival at the Clinton Community Center check out some of the artwork created by Clinton City Schools students. - G. Chambers Williams III
This Saturday’s fifth-annual Mosaic Arts Festival will include displays of original art in the Clinton Community Center, created by each student from the Clinton City Schools.
There will be arts and crafts booths in the parking lot next to the Clinton Public Library.
On South Hicks Street outside the Community Center, there will be public performances by various groups, including the Clinton High School Jazz Band, Knoxville Children’s Theatre, Dream Dance Studio and more, beginning at 10 a.m.
Inside the library, there will be free craft activities for kids, and in the parking lot outside, there will be a petting zoo with lambs from Chitwood Farm, an array of food trucks and kiosks, and the Townie Turtle art installation and storybook trail.
Also, because this is National Public Library Week, the library is featuring a “postcard party,” with blank postcards to draw on to help people share what they believe makes the library important to the community.
The Mosaic Color Run will kick off the event, beginning at 9 a.m. from Clinton’s Lakefront Park. The rest of the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Crafty Friday” participants work on paper lanterns together at the Clinton Public Library. Pictured are, from left, Kathy Breeden, Debra Miller, Dora Christman, Miria Webb, Nancy Reagan, Cindy Church and Betty Sawyer. - Ben Pounds
Guests at a table inflated balloons and covered tissue paper in glue in the back room of the Clinton Public Library during a recent Crafty Friday event.
The final product would be paper lanterns with artificial flowers, to be added later, and ready to put over tea lights.
While it may be famous for story time and crafts for children, Clinton’s library hosts this free craft activity with supplies ready for adults who want to attend.
Crafts have varied, including things like painted Christmas trees, pumpkins and collages featuring tree shapes. An upcoming one involves faux stained glass.
Library Director Miria Webb, who leads the crafts, said she likes to vary them. She supplies all the materials.
Pictured (left to right) are U.S. Army veteran Susan Wry, Marine Corps veteran Jessica Hodge, and Air Force veteran Leslie Phillips. They represent the East Tennessee Foundation for Women Veterans, who sponsored the doughnuts for March’s breakfast.
Military veterans from Anderson County are invited to come together at 8:30 a.m. Saturday (April 12) for this month’s Veterans Breakfast at the Clinton Community Center.
For April, the breakfast will be moved to the gymnasium in the Community Center because of a separate event in the Great Room, where the breakfast is normally held.
Organizers said the door at the rear of the gymnasium will be unlocked so that attendees parking in the lot behind the Community Center can enter there instead of having to walk around the building.
These breakfasts are hosted monthly by Anderson County citizens, and this month’s event is sponsored by the Alexander Guest House in Oak Ridge.
Anderson County Veterans Services Officer Scott Nation is April’s doughnut sponsor.
Many generous donors are also recognized for providing monthly door prizes.
Family Storytime will be Wednesdays at 10 a.m. this month, with stories and crafts for pre-kindergarten children and younger and older siblings. The themes will be kites on April 9, Easter on April 16 and elephants on April 23.
Music and Movement Tuesdays will be every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
All Ages
Legos will be available on Thursdays at 4 p.m.
Computer class will be at noon April 11 focusing on how to use the Tennessee Electronic Library.
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Saturday will be April 26 at 1:30 p.m. The event involves maps of the places people love to create poetry in time for National Poetry Month.
Library Postcard Party will be at 1 p.m. April 12. You can fill out postcards to show love for the library. All supplies, postage and refreshments are provided.
Teens
Teenspace Drop-in will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Teens can hang out, play games, eat snacks and more.
Adults
Regions Bank Finance Class will bet at 5:30 p.m. April 28. This month’s class will cover how to protect yourself from identity theft.
Clinch River Needleworkers will be on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m.
The group stays in the program room for a few hours working on projects and is open to new members.
Tennessee History Program will be Mondays at 10 a.m. Join as the group moves county by county through local Tennessee history.
Clinton City Council Member Wendy Maness enjoyed a visit to the American Museum of Science and Energy’s “Ich bin Ein Scientist” exhibit on its opening day. She got a chance to explore the compartments in the exhibit’s “Oval Office” desk. - Yvonne Rogers
A mock Oval Office with a desk with surprises in its drawers will greet visitors to the American Museum of Science and Energy through November.
It’s part of an exhibit, called “Ich bin ein Scientist,” allowing visitors to see the effects different presidents had on science and engineering.
Visitors can learn about the contributions that John F. Kennedy, who inspired the exhibit’s title, made to the space race, which his successors, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, carried out to lead to a moon landing.
But they can also learn about less-famous instances of presidents with a hand in science and engineering, like Abraham Lincoln’s patented device for lifting boats over sand bars.
“This is unveiling the influence presidents have had on the development of science and engineering since America began,” said Matt Mullins, director of marketing and communications for the museum.
The Oak Ridge Children’s Museum’s Imagination Station summer camp will be June 2-July 25, and sign-ups have begun.
“From art to science to gardening and more, our program is taught by caring staff who will help your child have a great experience,” the museum’s website stated.
Register online and get more information, including rates, discounts, programs and cancellation policy at childrensmuseumofoakridge.org/.
Those interested may also register in person at the museum at 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, or over the phone at 865-482-1074.
Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention encourages people to dispose of unused and expired medications April 26.
Shayla Wilson announced that event at the Clinton City Council’s March meeting.
She said drop box locations are at these police departments: 125 West Broad Street, Clinton; 104 Lawson Street, Rocky Top; and 200 S. Tulane Ave., Oak Ridge.
She said while there will be additional bins on Takeback Day, there are drop boxes at those police stations all the time.
Wilson also announced a new care coordinator funded by a state of Tennessee grant.
The care coordinator will work with emergency medical services to follow up on people who have made overdose calls, getting them into recovery support or treatment.
While she didn’t identify her by name, ASAP lists Cassidy Newman as care coordinator on its website.
