DATE: February 10 - 14, 2012	Valentine’s Day Dinner Train at Secret City Scenic Excursion Train
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum has announced two additional departures to its very popular Valentine dinner train schedule, due to unusually high demand for reservations. Trains have been added for a 6 p.m. departure on Friday, February 10 and a 1 p.m. departure on Sunday, February 12. This event gives couples the opportunity to experience the romantic setting enjoyed by travelers during the golden age of rail travel in the 1930's and 40's. Passengers will begin their journey back in time abroad Southern Railway coach Fort Oglethorpe, built in 1947. A delicious dinner, prepared by Chef Andras, will be served. Tickets are $140 per couple and advance reservations are required as seating is limited. Call for departure times and more information, 865-241-2140.

DATE: February 14, 2012	Free Partner Yoga Class
Come join us at Take Charge Fitness Program on Tuesday, 2/14/12 at 6:00 PM for a Partner Yoga class!! What a healthy way to spend Valentine's day. Partner Yoga is a newly popularized practice. In traditional yoga practice, a person places his or her body into specific postures, while focusing on breath and body alignment. Designed for two or more people, Partner Yoga postures utilize the forms and principles of individual postures while incorporating the presence of another to deepen the impact of the pose. In Partner Yoga, there is no giver or receiver in a posture, so all partners are fully engaged in their own experience. Some of the benefits of partner yoga include: 1) Working with a partner helps you to open your body more deeply than you could alone, for optimal benefits. 2) In poses and exercises, partners rely on each other's support to keep correct body alignment, balance, and concentration This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so please call Take Charge Fitness Program to register: 865-457-8237 Take Charge Fitness is located at 1921 N. Charles Seivers Blvd. in Clinton.

DATE: February 18, 2012	International Festival at Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge
International Festival will be February 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge This annual festival showcases the world’s cultures through international performances, food, crafts, children’s activities and more than two dozen booths highlighting countries and regions of the world. The featured performers will be Coyote Run with additional entertainment provided by Brandon Beavers and Kukuly Uriarte, Tenpenny Rappers Sword Dancers, Chinese dancers and classical Indian folk dancers. For more information, call 865-482-1074 or visit www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.

DATE: February 21, 2012	Mayoral Candidate Forum presented by Anderson County Chamber of Commerce
The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Council will host a public Anderson County Mayoral Candidate Forum at the Ritz Theatre, 119 N. Main St., Clinton on Tuesday afternoon, February 21, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. All three mayoral candidates, Terry Frank, Warren Gooch and Tim Isbel, will be in attendance. Candidates will have an opportunity to express their goals for Anderson County and their approach to county government. "We are pleased to provide this opportunity for the citizens of Anderson County", said Council Co-Chair Whitey Hitchcock, and encourage everyone to attend. "The Forum will be a non-debate format and each candidate will respond to questions submitted prior to forum." Questions may be submitted by mail to Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, 245 N. Main St., Ste. 200, Clinton, TN 37716 or by email to accc@andersoncountychamber.org by February 15, 2012.

DATE: March 10 and 24, 2012	Kite Flying Days at River Ridge Farm
Come fly a kite in River Ridge Farm’s hay field on top of River Ridge from 12 noon to 6 p.m. each day. Picnic tables are available for bring-your-own lunch or snack. Don’t forget to bring your own kite(s). Wagon rides available for a small fee. For more information, call 865-457-6774 or visit www.riverridgefarmtn.com

DATE: March 24, 2012	Spring Wildflower Tours at River Ridge Farm
Come along for a spring flower tour through several wildflower habitats, upland oak forests, a meadow and the moist Clinch River bluff. A two hour horse drawn wagon ride to the river is included. The wagon holds 8 people but the group may be of any size. The 4-hour ride with lunch or afternoon snack covers the same area but allows time for the snack and for a stroll along the river and bluff. For more information, call 865-457-6774 or visit www.riverridgefarmtn.com

DATE: March 29 - 31, 2012	"Write this minute!" theme of 24th annual writers' conference
The 24th annual conference of the Tennessee Mountain Writers, Inc. will be held March 29-31, 2012 in the DoubleTree Hotel, 215 S. Illinois, Ave., Oak Ridge, Tennessee with the theme: "Write This Minute!." The conference will begin with a reception on Thursday evening, March 29, at 6:00 p.m., with a light buffet and presenters' previews. It continues the next morning with a coffee and welcome followed by two days of workshops and special sessions. Friday's events run from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday events begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude that evening with a writing awards banquet and guest speaker. Established writers with numerous books and magazine articles to their credit will conduct the writing workshops and present the special sessions. Attendees will have the option to participate at various levels ranging from a single class to the full conference. The workshops will consist of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, editing, and writing for young people genres. Special sessions will be presented about songwriting, book publishing and marketing. A bookstore will be open in the hotel during the conference with books for sale by faculty authors and TMW members as well as literature on every aspect of writing. Also, the conference provides attendees an abundance of networking opportunities. For conference details including the schedule, registration, fees, writing contest rules, and more visit the Web site www.tmwi.org or call 865-671-6046 for a brochure or write to TMWI, P. O. Box 5435, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-5435. E-mail: mail@tmwi.org Registration and payment may be made online.

DATE: March 31 and April 7, 2012	Spring Wildflower Tours at Norris Dam State Park
Guided wildflower hikes are available at Norris Dam State Park. This program will acquaint participants with the identification, natural history and folklore of over 30 different kinds of spring wildflowers. At 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., join the park staff on the River Bluff Trail, for a three mile hike and at 2 p.m. at the Lower Clear Creek Trail. For more information, call 865-426-7461 or visit www.norrisdamstatepark.org

DATE: April 7, 2012	Egg Hunt Ride at Coal Creek OHV Area
The guided Egg Hunt ride is open to all OHV’s. Eggs will be hidden along route! This event is fun for all ages. Meet at the trailhead at 9:00 a.m. For more information, call 865-435-1251 or visit www.coalcreekohv.com

DATE: April 4, 2012	Appalachian Arts Craft Center Spring Benefit at Norris Community Building
This annual fundraiser for the Appalachian Arts Craft Center will be held at the Norris Community Building. Everyone is welcome! There will be music by the swing band, The Little Big Band, scrumptious food and drink, and a silent auction of handmade crafts and services. For more information, please call 865-494-9854 or visit www.appalachianarts.net

DATE: April 19-22, 2012	Coal Creek OHV Spring Jamboree
Guided ATV rides, mud bog, drag races, poker run, kids scavenger hunt, pole bending and barrel racing are just a few activities for ATVers. You don’t have to be a rider to enjoy. Spectators can watch the competitions then jump in the Dash for Cash. The event takes place at the Coal Creek OHV Area which consists of over 72,000 acres of off-road adventure for the entire family with many picturesque views of East Tennessee’s mountains and valleys. Explore over 250 miles of trails for riding ATV’s, Motorcycles, Mountain Bikes, in addition to four wheeling in Jeeps and Rail buggies and Hiking. The Coal Creek OHV Area is the perfect place to see the Tennessee Valley Authority’s windmill farm, which consist of eighteen 392 foot windmills on 210 acres. Camping facilities are available at Windrock Park. For more information about the event or the area, visit www.coalcreekohv.com

DATE: April 27, 2012	Sheep Shearing Day at Museum of Appalachia
For more information, call 865-494-7680 or visit www.museumofappalachia.org

DATE: April 27, 2012	Celebration of the Young Child at Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge
This year there will be a special emphasis on healthy living. Emmy Award winner Farmer Jason is tentatively scheduled to appear and outdoor activities in the new garden are being planned. May

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