Oak Ridge Today

Sponsored: Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame inducts two retired CEOs from local credit unions

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Tom Hilton and Wayne Hope

Tom Hilton, left, retired CEO of Y-12 FCU, and Wayne Hope, retired CEO of Enrichment Federal Credit Union, were inducted into the TN Credit Union Hall of Fame. (Submitted photo)

 

Created jointly by Volunteer Corporate Credit Union and the Tennessee Credit Union League, the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame recognizes the valuable leadership and contributions of credit union people in the state of Tennessee. Beginning in 2010, the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame has recognized the commitment, leadership, and service deserving individuals have made to the credit union movement.

The judges considered the following criteria when making their selection:

  • Years of service to the credit union system;
  • Positions of leadership on the state, local, or national level;
  • Demonstrated commitment to the credit union philosophy and services; and
  • Credit union system educational accomplishments and support.

The two 2016 inductees into the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame both reside in the East Tennessee region. This year’s awards were given to Tom Hilton, retired chief executive officer of Y-12 Federal Credit Union, and M. Wayne Hope, retired CEO of Enrichment Federal Credit Union. Both recipients have lived their lives and modeled to others the credit union difference of “People Helping People.” [Read more…]

Main Street: Ready to close by end of June, AMSE property the one remaining hurdle

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The American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above in central Oak Ridge.

The American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above in central Oak Ridge. The wide road running vertically at center-right through the aerial photo is South Tulane Avenue. The proposed Main Street Oak Ridge would be on the right side of South Tulane Avenue at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The road running horizontally at bottom is South Illinois Avenue. AMSE is the brown-roofed building at top-center.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8 p.m. June 13.

RealtyLink, the developer that has proposed redeveloping the former Oak Ridge Mall, says it is ready to close on the roughly 60-acre site by the end of June and start construction immediately, but there is one last hurdle: The company is concerned about any redevelopment of the property across the street at the American Museum of Science and Energy that could compete with its proposed project, known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

So, RealtyLink has asked that, if the federal government wants to dispose of the AMSE property at some point in the future, the city would negotiate with the U.S. Department of Energy through the General Services Administration to either have the property transferred to the city, or allow RealtyLink to negotiate directly with DOE and GSA for a property transfer.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider a resolution allowing the city manager to start the negotiations, should they become necessary, during a meeting on Monday, June 13.

So far, DOE and GSA have not publicly announced plans to dispose of the 17.12 acres in and around AMSE. But there have been public discussions about what to do with the property during the past 15 years or so. DOE has said it is not in the museum business. [Read more…]

Centrus becomes benefactor sponsor for ADFAC

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Centrus Energy Corporation’s Jeff Cooper, left, presents the 2016 Corporate Membership contribution to ADFAC’s Executive Director Annie Cacheiro. (Submitted photo)

Centrus Energy Corporation’s Jeff Cooper, left, presents the 2016 Corporate Membership contribution to ADFAC’s Executive Director Annie Cacheiro. (Submitted photo)

 

ADFAC’s Corporate Committee is excited to announce Centrus Energy Corporation as the first 2016 Grand Benefactor Corporate Member. The generous donation was recently presented by Jeff Cooper, Centrus’s lead cascade project manager to ADFAC’s executive director, Annie Cacheiro, a press release said.

“This corporate contribution is going to help lead the way for other corporate contributions for ADFAC,” said Ray Smith of ADFAC’s Board of Directors. “It’s so appreciated and will truly help AFDAC fulfill their mission of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.'” [Read more…]

Lavender Festival on June 18 celebrates herbs, crafts, food, music

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2015_LavenderFestival 33

Several thousand people visit Jackson Square Lavender Festival each year, now in a newly renovated Jackson Square. (Photo by Shawn Millsaps)

 

The 18th annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 18, will celebrate herbs, crafts, food, and music.

It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 in the renovated Jackson Square, which now features a fountain and pleasant sitting area in the center, a press release said.

The festival will celebrate the “Herb of the Year,” Capsicum, or hot peppers.

New this year, “A Taste of Tennessee Wines” brings wine tasting to Lavender Festival, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tasting is hosted by Great Valley Wine Trail, which is made up of five independent wineries in East Tennessee. Many of these Tennessee wines earned silver, gold, and concordance gold medals in the Wines of the South Regional Wine Competition in October 2015 at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. Adults over 21 may purchase a $10 tasting ticket, and will receive a free glass and wine tote, and the opportunity to buy bottles of Tennessee wine and meet the winemakers. Customers may enjoy the wine at seating areas at the festival, with lunch served all day by several food trucks, caterers, and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds of the wine tasting will benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge resident proposes craft beer market

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Oak Ridge resident Christopher D. Keever has proposed a craft beer market that could open in July in central Oak Ridge.

The business would be called Crafter’s Brew Market and Social. It would be located at 856 Oak Ridge Turnpike, which was a demonstration site for Waterworks Pool and Spa.

With approval, the site would be remodeled with a building and bathrooms, according to a beer permit application filed with the city.

It would be a craft beer market with on-site and off-site consumption of craft beer and international bottled beer. To enter after 9 p.m., customers would have to be 21 years old or older. [Read more…]

June 2 seminar: How to win friends, influence people in digital age

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce has again teamed up with Dale Carnegie of Tennessee to offer a workshop series on leadership essentials. The June 2 session is titled “How to Win Friends and Influence People in the Digital Age.”

“The digital age is changing how we work, play, communicate, and think,” a seminar description said. “It is an exciting frontier that rewards those who leverage the power that it presents. This workshop provides and introduction to the tools needed to develop the attitudes of success necessary to move to new levels of effectiveness in the digital age.”

A discount is available for members of the Chamber. The June 2 session is scheduled from 8-10 a.m. at the Chamber, which is located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Genesis Brain Health Institute to open in September

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Mike Mursten, left, and Andrew Dougherty are co-founders of the Genesis Brain Health Institute. (Submitted photo)

Mike Mursten, left, and Andrew Dougherty are co-founders of the Genesis Brain Health Institute. (Submitted photo)

 

Andrew Dougherty and Mike Mursten, two men who share a passion to combat Alzheimer’s Disease, or AD, have founded the Genesis Brain Health Institute to offer a medically based program aimed at baby boomers that has been shown to delay, and in some cases even reverse, cognitive decline.

“Current medical studies have conclusively shown that a lifestyle of exercise, proper nutrition, brain utilization, and stress management can delay the onset of cognitive decline,” said Andrew Dougherty, co-founder and president of Genesis.

With current science on the brain and memory loss as their guide, they are offering a multi-faceted program beginning in September in the Provision Wellness building in Knoxville, the first such program in East Tennessee. Beginning with a complete medical assessment, the program includes an educational series on topics critical to brain health.

“What we have found is that baby boomers do have general knowledge about health and wellness, but lack the specific knowledge and tools to implement it into their daily lives,” said Mike Mursten, co-founder and chief executive officer. “The Genesis program is a practical, medically based program to give you the tools to fill your tool box.” [Read more…]

Running for Office Workshop on Thursday at Oak Ridge Chamber

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is offering a free workshop for anyone interested in running for local office on Thursday, May 19. The workshop is scheduled from 7-8:30 p.m. May 19 in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. It’s open to the public.

The workshop will be conducted by Bob Eby, who has successfully run four campaigns over four decades and currently serves on the Oak Ridge Board of Education. He will share advice that he has received from elected officials over the years as well as his own observations and experiences during the past 30 years. Eby will share his list of things you must do, the things to avoid, and things to consider in order to run a successful campaign. There will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss issues. [Read more…]

Explore Oak Ridge to co-locate with Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

Explore Oak Ridge (the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau) will be moving its operations from its current location at 102 Robertsville Road to co-locate with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce in July, according to an agreement reached by the two organizations earlier this week.

The Chamber building is located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike, near Oak Ridge High School and across from the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The initial lease is for three years, with two additional one-year extension options. It will position the Chamber, Explore Oak Ridge, the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, and the Roane State Tennessee Small Business Development Center in one facility, a press release said. [Read more…]

Sears Hometown Store opening this fall in Oak Ridge

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A new Sears Hometown Store will open in Oak Ridge this fall, a press release said. The store will be located at 142 Fairbanks Road.

“We are delighted to have local business owner and resident Leslie Agron and his team serving customers in Oak Ridge and the surrounding communities,” said Mike Jones, Region Development Manager—Sears Hometown Stores. “We are especially excited to be a part of the Oak Ridge retail community and to be able to bring back the Sears name and products to this area. We also appreciate the partnership with R&R Properties and others in the community who have worked diligently to get this project going.”

Rick Chinn of R&R Properties said he is excited about the project.

“We worked very closely with Leslie and the corporate folks from Sears to find just the right location in this market that would fit the needs of the required store layout,” Chinn said in the press release. [Read more…]

Emory Valley Center breaks ground on new building

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EVC_Shovelers_grndbreak-15April16

Pictured above during a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, April 15, 2016, are Tennessee Representative John Ragan, Calvin with Emory Valley Center, Mike with EVC, state Senator Ken Yager, EVC Board President John Eschenberg, Gaye with EVC, EVC President Jennifer Enderson, state Senator Randy McNally, Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, Michael with EVC, and EVC Board member Alan Icenhour. (Photo by Rob Welton)

 

Emory Valley Center held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new building on Friday, April 15. The ceremony included people that Emory Valley Center supports, EVC staff and board members, Capital Campaign co-chairs Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, Tennessee Senator Randy McNally, Representative John Ragan, Senator Ken Yager, and representatives of Michael Brady Inc. and Hickory Construction Inc.

Emory Valley Center launched a Capital Campaign for a new building six years ago, when plans for probable demolition of the building the organization uses for some of its services to people with disabilities was discussed by the owners. Through the efforts of Thompson and Caldwell, business and individual donors, and grant awards for the project, the campaign is at a point where construction can begin.

“We are very excited to break ground on our new building and for construction to begin,” said EVC President Jennifer Enderson. “So many individual supporters, businesses, families, staff, and other community partners have worked very hard to make our new building a reality, and we are very grateful for their efforts and continuing support.” [Read more…]

Dick’s Sporting Goods, PetSmart, T.J. Maxx, Ulta to locate at Main Street Oak Ridge

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Main-Street-Oak-Ridge-Sign-Dec-21-2015

Workers from Masstar Signs of Greenville, S.C., install a new shopping center pylon sign at South Illinois Avenue and East Tulsa Road that announces Main Street Oak Ridge, the planned $80 million redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall. Pictured above on Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, is Will Biggs of Masstar Signs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:57 p.m.

Dick’s Sporting Goods, PetSmart, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta will have new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge, Mayor Warren Gooch said Tuesday.

Also, Belk and JCPenney are renewing their leases at the 58-acre site, Gooch said during a State of the City speech to the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

“Negotiations with other major retailers are ongoing,” Gooch said.

The mayor got an update from Neil Wilson of RealtyLink, which took over as master developer in September, on Monday. Wilson told Gooch that RealtyLink has come to terms with both its senior construction lender and the tax increment financing construction lender.

“We are closer to the closing on the sale of the mall property and the start of construction,” Gooch said. [Read more…]