Oak Ridge Today

Historic preservation awards to be presented to bank, school Thursday

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CapitalMark Bank and Trust

CapitalMark Bank and Trust Oak Ridge President David Bradshaw is pictured at the original Hamilton National Bank vault. (Submitted photo)

A nonprofit organization will present this year’s historic preservation awards on Thursday, Oak Ridge’s birthday.

Two awards will be presented this year, one to CapitalMark Bank and Trust in Jackson Square and the other to the Oak Ridge School Administration Building, formerly the Pine Valley School.

The awards will be presented by the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association in back-to-back ceremonies Thursday afternoon. The first ceremony at Pine Valley School starts at 3 p.m., and the second at CapitalMark Bank and Trust at 3:45 p.m. [Read more…]

Local food, music served at ‘Taste of Oak Ridge’ on Sept. 28

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Red Shoes and Rosin

Female string trio Red Shoes and Rosin is one of the music groups scheduled to appear at the Taste of Oak Ridge on Sept. 28. (Submitted photo)

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The flavors from some of Oak Ridge’s best restaurants and the sounds of local musicians will fill Jackson Square for the fifth annual “Taste of Oak Ridge” on Saturday, Sept. 28. The highly anticipated event will start at 4:30 p.m. and continue to 10 p.m.

While area restaurants will be able to showcase some of their finest food in small portions or ” tastes,” the community-focused event will raise money to benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. The “tastes” from each vendor will cost $1 or $2 per item. Tickets will be available for purchase. Attendees can buy as many tickets as they want for $1 each. In addition, beer and wine will be available for purchase. [Read more…]

Council approves pedestrian safety projects, Chamber contract

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Oak Ridge City Council

During a special meeting Monday, the Oak Ridge City Council approved pedestrian safety improvement projects on Oak Ridge Turnpike and at Jackson Square, and approved a contract worth up to $175,000 with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. (File photo)

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday agreed to use more than $500,000 in red light camera money to improve the city-owned parking lot on the north side of Jackson Square and make eight Oak Ridge Turnpike intersections safer for pedestrians.

Council also approved a $175,000 contract with the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, an amount that was down significantly from previous years but higher than what City Manager Mark Watson had originally proposed earlier this year. [Read more…]

Razzleberry’s picked for Small Business Counts cash mob on Wednesday

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John Schroer, Tom Beehan, and Mark Watson at Razzleberry's

Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer, left, Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, center, and City Manager Mark Watson outside Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen in October 2012.

ORNL Federal Credit Union has picked Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen for its second Small Business Counts “cash mob.”

Razzleberry’s was originally a small ice cream parlor, and it is owned by Waldek and Ilona Kaczocha, who moved their business from Pompano Beach to Jackson Square in Oak Ridge more than seven years ago, a press release said.

“Since then, the little neighborhood spot has slowly grown into a full restaurant serving lunch and desserts daily (and breakfast on Saturdays), while also featuring a number of homemade international food products and unique gift items,” the release said. [Read more…]

Three conceptual drawings for Jackson Square revitalization to be discussed tonight

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Jackson Square Revitalization Square Option

Pictured above is one of three conceptual drawings for the project to revitalize Jackson Square, the city’s original town center. The drawings will be on display during an open house at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce this evening. (Submitted image)

During a meeting this evening, residents will be able to view and comment on three conceptual drawings for the project to revitalize Jackson Square, the city’s original town center.

The open house meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The Community Development staff will record public comments and provide feedback to project team members Hedstrom Design LLC, Landscape Architects, and Vaughn and Melton Consulting Engineers Inc. The design will be finalized, and construction is anticipated to begin in January 2014. [Read more…]

Public meeting next month, construction next year on Jackson Square project

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Jackson Square Grant Ceremony

Gov. Bill Haslam, fourth from left, joins local residents re-creating a famous “War Ends” photograph in Jackson Square, but this time with an $800,000 state check for parking lots, sidewalks, benches, and bicycle racks. (File photo June 2012)

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam visited Oak Ridge about one year ago to announce that a state grant valued at roughly $800,000 had been awarded to the city to help revitalize Jackson Square, focusing on parking, lighting, landscaping, and benches.

Next month, Oak Ridge officials will have an open house to present three conceptual drawings for the project, which is in the city’s original town center. The public meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant awarded last year is to be used for the project’s first phase, which includes renovating the Jackson Square parking lot by adding handicapped parking and access, pedestrian lighting and circulation, landscaping and event enhancements, and bicycle racks and benches, a city press release said. [Read more…]

With renovations under way, hundreds shop at Alexander Inn estate sale

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Alexander Inn Estate Sale

Hundreds of people lined up at the Alexander Inn on Saturday for an estate sale, an unprecedented opportunity to buy items ranging from bed frames and Bibles to chairs and chandeliers, before the vacant, historic hotel is converted into an assisted living center. (Photo by Don Hunnicutt)

Renovations have started at the historic Alexander Inn, and on Saturday, hundreds of people shopped at an estate sale at the vacant, two-story hotel, taking advantage of an unprecedented opportunity to buy items from the 1940s to the 1980s, including bed frames and Bibles, chairs and chandeliers, and dishes and dressers.

Halfway through the three-hour sale, a project executive estimated that more than 500 people had attended. At one point, the line of people waiting to get in stretched from the hotel, located on East Madison Road, to Kentucky Avenue, said Rick Dover, general manager of Family Pride, which has proposed converting the dilapidated hotel into an assisted living center. [Read more…]

Continuous Threads has summer sewing camps

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Continuous Threads Sewing Studio in Oak Ridge will offer summer sewing camps beginning June 10 and ending the week of July 29.

Sewing camps will meet daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each week-long camp is designed for boys and girls ages nine and up who want to learn how to sew using hand sewing and machine techniques. During the course of a given camp week, students will make new friends and learn skills involving math, design, and even history, a press release said. [Read more…]

Farmer’s Market starts Saturday in Oak Ridge, opens new Knoxville location

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When the farmer’s market season begins this month, there will be another location for shoppers to find locally grown produce. The East Tennessee Association for Retail Marketing, or FARM, will operate two market locations in Knoxville this year, as well as continuing the Oak Ridge market.

FARM will launch this season on Friday, April 12, at 3 p.m. at the Laurel Church of Christ at 3457 Kingston Pike, across from Cherokee Boulevard. The Oak Ridge market will open Saturday, April 13, at 8 a.m., across from historic Jackson Square. On Tuesday, April 16, the new Knoxville location will open at 3 p.m. at Ebenezer United Methodist Church at 1001 Ebenezer Road. [Read more…]

Council unanimously approves $150,000 contract for Jackson Square work

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Jackson Square Revitalization

A concept plan by Benefield Richters of Knoxville for the $1 million revitalization of historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

After a brief discussion Monday, the Oak Ridge City Council unanimously agreed to award a $150,000 contract to a company that will help in the first phase of a $1 million project to redevelop Jackson Square, the city’s original town center.

The contract for design services was awarded to Vaughn and Melton Consulting Engineering Inc. of Knoxville. V&M will help with services ranging from deed research and field surveys to preliminary plans and construction estimates.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said V&M has helped with the redevelopment of Gay Street in Knoxville.

The work is part of a project funded with help from a Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was announced by Gov. Bill Haslam in Jackson Square in June 2012.

[Read more…]

Council considers first phase of $1 million Jackson Square redevelopment

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Jackson Square Revitalization

A concept plan by Benefield Richters of Knoxville for the $1 million revitalization of historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge City Council members on Monday will consider awarding a $150,000 contract to a company that could help in the first phase of a $1 million project to redevelop Jackson Square, the city’s original town center.

The contract for design services could be awarded to Vaughn and Melton Consulting Engineering Inc. of Knoxville. V&M could help with services ranging from deed research and field surveys to preliminary plans and construction estimates.

The work is part of a project funded with help from a Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was announced by Gov. Bill Haslam in Jackson Square in June 2012.

[Read more…]

Young Professionals ‘cash mob’ at Ferrell Shop on Saturday

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The Young Professionals of Oak Ridge will have its fourth quarterly “cash mob” on Saturday at The Ferrell Shop in Jackson Square.

A cash mob is an event designed to provide an economic boost to a deserving local business. Everyone in the community is encouraged to participate, a YPOR press release said.

Saturday’s cash mob is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Owner Barbara Ferrell is excited that her business, which is celebrating 30 years, was chosen.

“We plan to have hot spiced cider, and a sampling of some of the food items we sale,” Ferrell said.

The Ferrell Shop sells candles, greeting cards, toiletries and soap, tabletop items, as well as toys, kitchenware, calendars, and ornaments, an announcement said.

Past cash mobs have included The Epicurean, Downtown Hardware, Mickey’s Produce, and J&M Butcher shop. All of them have seen an increase in sales on the day of the cash mob as well as weeks and months after, the press release said.

One business owner said the cash mobs have helped reach new, younger customers.

The Ferrell Shop is located in the Historic Jackson Square. Earlier this year, Oak Ridge was awarded a $798,687 grant to be used in the revitalization efforts for the square. One goal of the grant is to stimulate economic diversification in the Jackson Square District, with an objective of increasing spending in Jackson Square by 25 percent during the next five years, the press release said.

“Our organization aims to encourage our members to eat, shop, play and live local,” it said.

For more information, call The Ferrell Shop at (865) 483-0961 or visit ypor.org.

The Ferrell Shop is located at 235 Jackson Square.