Oak Ridge Today

CVMR still hopes to build $300M metal refinery, but R&D center on hold

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Michael Hargett and Kamran Khoza of CVMR USA

CVMR President Michael Hargett, left, and Kamran Khozan, chairman and chief executive officer, joined local, state, and federal officials on Friday, March 13, 2015, to announce they’re moving company headquarters from Toronto to Oak Ridge, investing $313 million and adding 620 jobs.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:05 p.m.

Seeking to clarify its plans, CVMR on Friday said it still hopes to build a metal refining facility in Oak Ridge to produce metal powders and “nano materials.” That investment, to be completed in three phases, could cost more than $300 million in the first phase and eventually employ 1,200 to 1,500 engineers and technicians, the company said Friday.

But they will not establish a Center of Excellence focused on research and development of the application of vapor metallurgy technology to an expanding group of elements, CVMR said in a Friday letter to Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.

The company sought to publicly clarify its position after news stories this week suggested that the CVMR deal was dead. Some officials and developers had pushed back after those stories appeared in several Knoxville media outlets, saying they remained “cautiously optimistic” that the company could still come to Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Land Bank ‘ahead of curve’ in repairing, redeveloping blighted homes

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Matt Widner and Charlie Jernigan Nov. 6, 2015

Matt Widner, Oak Ridge Community Development housing specialist, left, and Charlie Jernigan, board chair for the Oak Ridge Land Bank Corp., are pictured above during a housing work session on Friday, Nov. 6, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A two-year-old effort to repair or redevelop blighted and abandoned homes in Oak Ridge is making above-average progress, an official said in November.

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation, the first of its kind in Tennessee, has sold two homes and donated two and has more listed, board chair Charlie Jernigan said.

Other land banks around the country haven’t had any sales until their third year.

“We’re ahead of that curve,” Jernigan said after a November 6 work session on housing at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the second this year. [Read more…]

VanderSteeg to be president, CEO of Covenant Health, which includes MMC

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Jim VanderSteeg

Jim VanderSteeg (Photo by Covenant Health)

Covenant Health, the major health system headquartered in Knoxville and the region’s largest employer, has announced plans for a leadership transition. Effective April 1, 2016, Anthony L. “Tony” Spezia, Covenant’s long-time president and chief executive officer, will become CEO emeritus and Jim VanderSteeg, executive vice-president of operations, will assume the role of president and CEO of the health system.

“This announcement is a culmination of several years of succession planning by Covenant’s board and our CEO,” said Larry Mauldin, chairman of Covenant Health’s board of directors. “Tony Spezia has been Covenant’s CEO for over 15 years and has led a remarkable business turnaround which has made Covenant Health one of the leading health systems in the country.

“The Covenant board wants to assure that the organization continues the successful strategies and commitment to quality that has led to the health system’s success,” he said. “Jim VanderSteeg has worked closely with Tony for the past eight years and has demonstrated that he is well qualified to lead Covenant Health.” [Read more…]

Small business seminars offered in December

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Here is a schedule of small business seminars offered in December by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center at Roane State Community College: [Read more…]

Holiday festival at revamped Jackson Square to benefit ADFAC

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Buying local could help neighborhood families this holiday season. The Jackson Square Holiday Festival and Market will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 5. Visitors can buy artisan and handmade gifts, sample local cuisine, see live entertainment, and even snap photos with Santa. Best of all, this family-friendly event will raise funds for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

“The winter months can be especially difficult financially for families,” ADFAC Executive Director Annie Cacheiro said. “The Jackson Square Festival and Market will be a fun event that raises funds, awareness, and holiday spirit during this crucial time. We’re excited to be involved.”

The event planning committee is seeking vendors and offering a special inaugural event rate for space. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 12

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Oak Ridge Christmas Parade Train

A float at the Oak Ridge Christmas Parade is pictured above in December 2014. (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

 

The annual Christmas Parade organized by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is Saturday, December 12. This year’s theme is “Winter Wonderland,” and it promises to provide spectators with plenty of music, lights, and beautiful floats, a press release said.

Almost 80 businesses and community organizations have already registered their entries for the parade. Sponsor of this year’s parade is The Cowperwood Company. There is no cost to participate.

The parade will start at 6 p.m. December 12, and it will begin at Corporate Center, on the corner of Lafayette and Laboratory Road. From there, the parade will travel down Lafayette to the Oak Ridge Turnpike. It will continue west on the Turnpike to Oak Ridge High School. The judge’s stand will be located in front of the Chamber. [Read more…]

No hazardous, radioactive materials released in small fire at Manufacturing Sciences

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Manufacturing-Sciences-Fire-Nov-16-2015

There were no injuries, and no hazardous or radioactive material was released in a small fire in a dust collection system at Manufacturing Sciences Corp. on South Illinois Avenue on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 11:33 a.m.

There were no injuries, and no hazardous or radioactive material was released in a small fire at Manufacturing Sciences Corporation on South Illinois Avenue on Monday morning, officials said.

The was reported in a dust collection system of an oxide processing area at Manufacturing Sciences at about 9:30 a.m. Monday.

“All non-essential personnel were evacuated from the building, and the fire was quickly contained,” said Jeff Jansen, Manufacturing Sciences vice president and general manager. “During this time, the facility maintained negative ventilation, and no hazardous or radioactive material was released to the public.”

About 40 people were evacuated, said Tim Waddell, Manufacturing Sciences business and facilities operations manager. [Read more…]

Photos: Alexander Guest House ribbon-cutting, open house

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Tom-Beehan-Mark-Dover-Mark-Watson-Alexander-Guest-House-Nov-5-2015

Pictured above during a ribbon-cutting and open house at the Alexander Guest House on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015, are former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, left; Rick Dover of Dover Development, the East Tennessee company that converted the historic two-story hotel into an assisted living center; and Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, November 5, celebrated the conversion of the former Alexander Inn, a historic two-story hotel in central Oak Ridge, into an assisted living center called Alexander Guest House.

The ceremony, which was organized by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, included an open house. Guests toured the new 64-apartment assisted living center, which is located at 210 East Madison Road in Jackson Square.

Preserving the former Alexander Inn had been a dream for years, and those who have toured the two-year, $8 million conversion, completed by Dover Development of East Tennessee, have described it as “lovely” and “absolutely tremendous,” among other superlatives. [Read more…]

Thursday ribbon-cutting for historic hotel converted into assisted living center

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Alexander Guest House Front Entrance Sept. 23, 2015

The front entrance is pictured above at the Alexander Guest House, which converted the beloved but long-vacant Alexander Inn into an assisted living center. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been scheduled for Thursday evening at The Alexander Guest House, a historic hotel converted into an assisted living center.

The ceremony is scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, November 5. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 5:45 p.m., according to the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

“Following this ribbon-cutting, please plan to attend an open house,” organizers said. “We hope you’ll join us to celebrate.”

The Alexander Guest House, which has 64 apartments, is located at 210 East Madison Road in Oak Ridge.

Preserving the former Alexander Inn had been a dream for years. In September, Rick Dover of Dover Development of East Tennessee, said the two-year, $8 million construction and renovation project was almost finished. [Read more…]

New developer plans to close on former mall on Dec. 15

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Neil Wilson of RealtyLink at Rise and Shine on Nov. 3, 2015

Neil Wilson, left, principal of RealtyLink, gives an update on the redevelopment of the former Oak Ridge Mall at an Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Rise and Shine at TNBank on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:15 a.m.

The new company leading the project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall plans to close on the property on December 15, an executive said Tuesday. It’s the first time a closing date has been announced by one of the developers associated with the project.

The new developer, RealtyLink, plans to have a minimum of seven stores open by Christmas 2016, Principal Neil Wilson said. That would include four stores adjacent to Belk and two adjacent to Walmart.

Wilson declined to name the stores but said the new mixed-use development, called Main Street Oak Ridge, could include a sporting goods store, a cosmetics retailer, one or two apparel merchants, and a 20,000-square-foot electronics shop that has signed a letter of intent. There could be a total of about 150,000 square feet of retail in those stores. There are roughly 130,000 square feet of retail at JCPenney and Belk, which will have a new facade and entrance.

Wilson said his company, which is based in Greenville, South Carolina, wants to start demolition on the enclosed spaces between the two remaining anchors, Belk and JCPenney, the day after it closes on the purchase of the roughly 60-acre property in the center of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Land Bank hosting neighborhood strategy work session

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Partnership Strategy Agenda Flyer Nov. 6, 2015

The Oak Ridge Land Bank Corporation is hosting a strategy work session November 6 to focus on partnerships and “collaborative efforts to improve and promote our Oak Ridge neighborhoods,” a press release said. The work session is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday, November 6, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Agenda items include demonstrated successes, a small group exercise, and a group discussion.

For reservations, contact Alicia Bailey at the City of Oak Ridge at (865) 425-3531 or by email at abailey@oakridgetn.gov by Wednesday, November 4.

Pumpkin Festival is Saturday in Grove Center

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Pumpkin Fest 2015

By Jim Widener

The 13th Annual Pumpkin Festival in the Historic Grove Center on Halloween will feature live music, family-friendly activities, and food vendors. The Pumpkin Festival is from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday, October 31, at Oak Ridge’s Historic Grove Center. The community is invited to enjoy Halloween with us!

Dress up and get in the spirit. Kids are especially encouraged to enter the costume contest. Our celebrity judges will present prizes for the best costumes. Pets and their people are encouraged to dress in outrageous, fanciful costumes and join in the fun! Pets are allowed to come in on a foot-powered float, like a wagon or decorated bicycle. And don’t forget the pumpkin chunkin’ contest! [Read more…]