Oak Ridge Today

Lunch with League to feature chancellor candidates

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Lunch with the League on Tuesday will feature candidates for Anderson County chancellor.

It’s scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Anderson County will have its primary election on March 5. The four candidates for chancellor in the Republican primary will be James W. Brooks Jr. (the incumbent), Daniel Forrester, Evan Hauser, and Roger Miller, a press release said.

Brooks was appointed chancellor in April 2023 by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee after former Chancery Court Judge M. Nichole “Nicki” Cantrell resigned.

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ORNL employees, contractor give about $1 million to nonprofits

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory materials clerk Julie Givens talks to ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer at the drop-off for Angel Tree gifts. ){Photo credit: ORNL/U.S. Department of Energy)

Employees of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory donated more than $828,000 to local nonprofits through the lab’s employee giving programs in 2023, a press release said.

ORNL’s managing contractor, UT-Battelle, provided an additional $139,600 in support of employee efforts, bringing the total to more than $967,000.

In addition, ORNL employees recorded more than 1,497 volunteer hours while serving 56 nonprofits, the press release said. With the value of these volunteer hours estimated at $36,232, total employee-led contributions for 2023 were valued at more than $1 million.

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ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal; More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares

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Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations.
ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign.

A total of $121,030 was pledged during the 2023 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both.

“ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.”

ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.
Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org.

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Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau

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ORAU launches STEM Accelerator to address challenges in STEM education, training, research and innovation

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Oak Ridge, Tenn. — America’s nuclear energy industry faces a critical problem that ORAU’s newly launched STEM Accelerator hopes to solve.

The drive toward a carbon neutral clean energy future is anticipated to spur the growth of advanced nuclear reactors that are smaller, simpler to construct, more cost-effective to operate than existing facilities and offer high-quality career opportunities. However, there is a critical shortage of the skilled professionals needed to oversee manufacturing, construction and operation of these facilities.

The ORAU STEM Accelerator (OSA) was created to help bridge this gap by convening a diverse network of two- and four-year academic institutions, industry, non-profit, professional organizations, labor unions and government partners with the aim of addressing the toughest challenges in STEM education, training, research and innovation.

“OSA will focus its work in three sectors: nuclear science and technology, space manufacturing and critical national infrastructure,” Olivia Blackmon, OSA director said. “We’re focusing on nuclear science and technology first, because the current need is so great, with a piloted program in nuclear energy.”
The U.S. nuclear energy industry faces significant challenges in attracting and retaining qualified talent.

“Retirements, retention issues, inflation, shifting demographics, etc. This is all documented from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and projections are suggesting worsening labor market conditions over the next decade extending into 2060,” Blackmon said, adding that something needs to be done and quickly to reverse this trend.

To that end, OSA is already plugged into some major national efforts in collaboration with the NEI and other partners to help solve these critical challenges, including:
– Establishing a Nuclear Energy Coalition
– Analyzing data for decision-making
– Implementing strategic talent planning
– Strengthening career awareness and retention
– Establishing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility best practices
– Emphasizing training and certification
– Building a sustainable pipeline

“Our goal is to drive research and development, advocate for innovative training and education solutions, shape policy, and deliver tangible outcomes to strengthen the United States STEM workforce,” Blackmon said.

To learn more about OSA, visit https://orau.org/partnerships/stem-accelerator.
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Artificial intelligence to be discussed Tuesday

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Lynne E. Parker

Artificial intelligence policy and its societal implications will be discussed during a lunch in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The featured speaker at Lunch with the League will be Lynne E. Parker, associate vice chancellor and director of the AI Tennessee Initiative at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Lunch with the League is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It has been organized by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, and it is open to the public.

You are welcome to bring a lunch or purchase a boxed lunch. Coffee and tea will be served. The presentation will begin at noon.

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Community Thanksgiving is Thursday

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Volunteers have organized a free community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday.

The dinner is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the Historic Grove Theater at 123 Randolph Road in Oak Ridge. Reservations are not required.

“Everyone should have someone to give thanks with on Thanksgiving!” a press release said.

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ORHS Masquers Showcase is Saturday

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The Oak Ridge High School Masquers Fall Showcase is Saturday.

The performances will start at 7 p.m. Saturday in the ORHS Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $5 at the door or online at https://orhsmasquers.booktix.com/.

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Minor traffic delays possible due to Secret City Half Marathon, 5K

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Minor traffic delays are possible Saturday morning in Oak Ridge during the Secret City Half Marathon and 5K.

Race Director Hannah Fatheree expects nearly 1,000 runners and walkers on city streets and greenways during the family-friendly events.

“Motorists should also be aware of the early morning course preparations,” a press release said. “While the races start at 9 a.m., there will be volunteers setting out cones along the course as early as 6 a.m. The Oak Ridge Police Department will be out in force directing and stopping traffic where and when needed. While no roads will be shut down due to the race traffic, motorists should expect some minor delays due to runners crossing streets on Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road. Motorists are asked to take it slow in these areas and be mindful of the race participants.”

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Burn ban in effect in Oak Ridge, restrictions in OS

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The City of Oak Ridge remains under a burn ban, and there are fire restrictions in Oliver Springs.

Oak Ridge Fire Chief Travis Solomon issued a burn ban on November 5.

“Due to the dry conditions in our region, no burn permits will be issued until further notice,” the City of Oak Ridge said. “Outdoor burning without a permit is banned by city ordinance.”

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NNSA Notice of Availability

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AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE Y-12 NATIONAL SECURITY COMPLEX MATERIALS MANUFACTURING MISSION (DOE/EA-2218)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the availability of this Draft Environmental Assessment (EA), which analyzes the potential impacts associated with materials manufacturing at Oak Ridge, Tennessee. NNSA invites the public to review and submit comments on the Draft EA. Copies of the document are available for public review on the NNSA NEPA web page (https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room) and/or the DOE NEPA web page (https://www.energy.gov/nepa/public-comment-opportunities). Public comments on the Draft EA should be submitted no later than November 30, 2023. Comments may be submitted via regular mail to NNSA NEPA Document Manager, Attn: MM Draft EA, P.O. Box 2050, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; or by email: NEPA.Comments@npo.doe.gov. Comments will not be accepted over the telephone.

Oak Ridge Senior Center to hold drop-in Veterans Day Recognition

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The Oak Ridge Senior Center will be honoring the men and women who have served the United States both present and past with a Drop-in Recognition on Friday, November 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All veterans who pre-register by Monday, November 6, will receive a special goodie bag. You are urged to call the Senior Center to register if you plan to attend so staff can have an accurate head count of veterans attending.

Music will be provided by the Golden Eagles along with light refreshments and door prizes, a press release said.

Come out and enjoy this program and many others offered at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. Like them on Facebook, check out their website at oakridgeseniorcenter.com, or give them a call at (865) 425-3999 for more information about this or other programs offered at the Oak Ridge Senior Center and by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

Links between religion, violence, gender to be discussed at Lunch with League

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Rosalind Hackett

Links between religion, violence, and gender will be discussed during Lunch with the League on Tuesday, November 7.

Lunch with the League is hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge.

The November 7 talk is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“All are welcome to bring their lunch or purchase a boxed lunch for a nominal fee,” a press release said. “Coffee and tea will be served. The presentation will begin at noon.”

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