Oak Ridge Today

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Dine & Donate

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Friends from First Presbyterian Church recently gathered to support ADFAC’s Dine & Donate event by eating at Dean’s. Both First Presbyterian and Dean’s have been loyal supporters of ADFAC for years! (Submitted photo)

Friends from First Presbyterian Church recently gathered to support ADFAC’s Dine & Donate event by eating at Dean’s. Both First Presbyterian and Dean’s have been loyal supporters of ADFAC for years! (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, February 12, thirteen local restaurants will “share the love” by donating a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

“ADFAC’s February Dine & Donate event provides an early opportunity to treat loved ones to a special meal, all while supporting ADFAC’s charitable work and community restaurants,” a press release said.

Participating restaurants are: [Read more…]

Small businesses can learn about government procurements in Jan. 18 conference

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Small business owners can learn about local, state, and federal government procurement opportunities during a January 18 conference in Clinton.

The conference is the East Tennessee Business Growth Conference, which is co-hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce. It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Thursday, January 18, at the Hollingsworth Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at 2135 North Charles G. Seivers Boulevard in Clinton.

“The purpose of the conference is to connect small business owners to local, state, and federal procurement opportunities,” a press release said. “There will also be a variety of educational workshops.” [Read more…]

Sheriff’s Department has holiday crime prevention tips

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Anderson County Sheriff's Department Badge

The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department has offered holiday crime prevention tips.

“The busy holiday season is…upon us and many people can become victims of burglary, theft, and other crime,” a press release said. “Protecting yourself and your home from crime is the easiest way to have a safe, happy holiday season.”

To help ensure everyone has safe and fun holidays, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department would like to offer the following tips for holiday crime prevention.

Shopping:

  • Park in lighted areas at night.
  • Always lock your car.
  • Don’t try to cover items on your seats. Put shopping bags in your trunk or take your packages straight home after shopping and then go back out.
  • Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you, or else, keep it in your front pocket—not in your purse or wallet.
  • Be extra careful when carrying a purse—they are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas. If you must carry one, make sure it has a strap that can go over the shoulder and be held under the arm, making them more difficult for purse snatchers to grab.
  • Keep a record of all of your debit and credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
  • Beware of strangers approaching you. This is the time of year when thieves may try various methods to distract you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

[Read more…]

CNS Y-12 community fund announces $150,000 in grants to 16 nonprofits

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Anderson County EMS received a grant from the CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund. The grants were announced on Dec. 6, 2017. (Photo by CNS Y-12)

Anderson County EMS received a grant from the CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund. The grants were announced on Dec. 6, 2017. (Photo by CNS Y-12)

 

Sixteen nonprofit organizations in 11 East Tennessee counties received roughly $150,000 in grants from the Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC (CNS) Y-12 Community Investment Fund.

Anderson County EMS was among the grant recipients. The recipients were announced during a December 6 reception at Y-12’s New Hope Center.

Consolidated Nuclear Security manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. The CNS Y-12 Community Investment Fund is managed by the East Tennessee Foundation, and it was created in 2014 by CNS. A similar fund is managed by the Amarillo Area Foundation, a press release said. [Read more…]

Help local families through Dine & Donate on Monday

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Pictured above at The Soup Kitchen are Becca, Talia, and Theo Seay. (Photo courtesy ADFAC)

Pictured above at The Soup Kitchen are Becca, Talia, and Theo Seay. (Photo courtesy ADFAC)

 

On Monday, November 13, thirteen restaurant locations throughout the county will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).  The event, Dine & Donate, happens on the second Monday of each month.

November 13 is your time to enjoy a hot, delicious bowl of chili or soup compliments of The Soup Kitchen, 47 East Tennessee Avenue, as a featured part of the Dine and Donate program, a press release said.

The restaurant’s menu of soups and sandwiches changes daily, and it’s been said they make the best Philly Cheese Steak sandwich in the city. The restaurant also features fresh salads and homemade breads. Gail Dittmer, manager of the eatery, said the store does lots of catering to area businesses with the two Soup Kitchen trucks that deliver hot provisions. [Read more…]

Clinton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 9

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Ridgedale Baptist Church in Clinton Christmas Parade

Ridgedale Baptist Church placed second in the Christmas Parade in Clinton with a float featuring a large ark on Dec. 1, 2012. (File photo)

 

Clinton’s traditional Christmas Parade of bands, floats, and many other processional entries will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 9. This year’s theme is “Christmas From the Heart.”

Businesses, churches, schools, and other marching groups are encouraged to register and participate in the parade, a press release said. There is no parade entry fee. The deadline to register is Monday, December 4, at 4:30 p.m. There will be no late entries, the press release said.

Entry forms must be picked up at the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce office at 245 North Main Street, Suite 200, in Clinton, or you can call the Chamber at (865) 457-2559 to have a form emailed to you. No registrations will be accepted by fax this year, the press release said. [Read more…]

More than 400 attended Taste of Anderson County

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eighth-annual-taste-of-anderson-county

A file photo showing a previous Taste of Anderson County in Jackson Square. (Photo courtesy United Way of Anderson County/Taste of Anderson County)

 

More than 400 people attended the Ninth Annual Taste of Anderson County in Jackson Square the last week of September.

“Thanks to the volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and over 400 attendees, the event was a great success!” a press release said. “The whole evening was full of food, fun, and friends.”

This year, 11 restaurants from around Anderson County showcased some of their most delicious treats and eats, the press release said. Among them were Aubrey’s, Burchfield’s, Centennial Golf Course, Hot Bagel Company, Panda Express, Pizza Inn, Razzleberry’s Cafe, Riverview Grill, Smoothie Patch, and The Soup Kitchen.

McAlister’s, McDonald’s, Kroger Marketplace, and Panera donated the tea and lemonade at the event, the press release said. [Read more…]

Clinch River Fall Antique Festival is this weekend

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Handsome and the Humbles: “From the echoes of sadness to the heart of hope emerges the music of Knoxville's Handsome and the Humbles...Music made in a sheen of revelatory honesty, Handsome and the Humbles classify best as keepers." (Submitted photo)

Handsome and the Humbles: “From the echoes of sadness to the heart of hope emerges the music of Knoxville’s Handsome and the Humbles…Music made in a sheen of revelatory honesty, Handsome and the Humbles classify best as keepers.” (Submitted photo)

 

The 17th Annual Clinch River Fall Antique Festival this weekend will feature antiques, music, and food, a press release said. The festival is Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14, in Clinton. It’s hosted by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.

On Friday evening, October 13, from 6-9 p.m., there will be food vendors in the Hoskins/Lane Park, as well as a “Cruze-In” for muscle cars on Market Street. The antique shops, specialty shops, and eateries will be open late. This year’s entertainment will be provided by “The Tenos” playing in Hoskins/Lane Park from 7-9 p.m., the press release said.

“Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs!” organizers said.

Admission and parking for the evening’s festivities are free. Cars that participate in the “Cruze-In” are asked to donate $10 to the Education Foundation for Clinton City and Anderson County Schools. [Read more…]

Mediterranean Delight, others to support ADFAC on Monday, October 9

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Mediterranean Delight has an extensive menu of Middle-Eastern fare including chicken skewers with rice, hummus with pita, grape-leaf rolls, and a cucumber salad. Homemade pita chips sprinkled with spices and herbs are a customer favorite. (Submitted photo)

Mediterranean Delight has an extensive menu of Middle Eastern fare including chicken skewers with rice, hummus with pita, grape-leaf rolls, and a cucumber salad. Homemade pita chips sprinkled with spices and herbs are a customer favorite. (Submitted photo)

 

Tucked away in the end of Ridgeway Center, Mediterranean Delight offers a taste of Middle-Eastern fare from owners Najah and Riad Rejoub.

The little restaurant will be one of 10 participating eateries that will donate a portion of their sales to support Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) through the Dine and Donate program this coming Monday, October 9.

The Rejoubs are from Jordan and have owned the restaurant for 13 years. Some of the menu items include dips like hummus and baba ghanouj, with pita chips sprinkled with zaatar, a Jordanian mix of spices and herbs. Other culinary features include tabouli salads, kubeh, grape leave rolls, chicken skewers, and gyros, a press release said.

Additional restaurants in Oak Ridge and Clinton that will participate in Dine and Donate on Monday include: [Read more…]

Dine & Donate returns Monday

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It’s hard to not “squeal” with joy when you see Razzleberry’s “Pigmobile” around town! (Submitted photo)

It’s hard to not “squeal” with joy when you see Razzleberry’s “Pigmobile” around town! (Submitted photo)

 

If it’s the second Monday of the month, it must be Dine & Donate, a special day set aside by several local restaurants to donate a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

Razzleberry’s, a longtime supporter, is the spotlight restaurant for September.

Summer might be winding down, but the treats at Razzleberry’s are always in season, a press release said.

“Known for their delicious and innovative homemade ice cream, eclectic menus, and international marketplace, Razzleberry’s has something for everybody,” the press release said. “The business started as an ice cream parlor in a tiny space in Jackson Square, but owners Waldek and Ilona Kaczocha soon began operating a small kitchen, offering to-go orders and having weekly lunches for high school students. In 2010, it was clear the demand for their impressive eats meant moving to a new, larger location. Fortunately, it was only a few doors down, right on the corner of Jackson Square!” [Read more…]

Ribbon cut on TCAT facility in Andersonville

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Information from WYSH Radio

Wednesday morning, officials gathered at the new Tennessee College of Applied Technology–or TCAT—facility on Andersonville Highway for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The new but temporary TCAT facility is expected to be a boon to local industries and prospective employees alike by offering courses geared toward the industries operating in this area.

The owners of the former Hensley’s grocery store donated the vacant 20,000-square foot building to the state to renovate and use as a temporary training facility for a period of about two years. The temporary facility will be needed while the state builds a new, premanent TCAT on land donated by SL Tennessee in the I-75 Industrial Park. [Read more…]

Landlord summit for Anderson County landlords on Friday

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There will be a free landlord summit for all Anderson County landlords in Oak Ridge on Friday.

The landlord summit is being hosted by Tennessee Valley Continuum of Care. It is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, May 19, at the Scarboro Community Center, which is at 148 Carver Avenue in Oak Ridge. The event will include a free continental breakfast, which will begin at 8:30 a.m., a press release said. Reservations are not required.

The press release said landlords are encouraged to attend because many helpful topics will be offered, including:

  • MORE2 (Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient)—These are energy-saving upgrades available to Oak Ridge homes for lower income home owners and renters.
  • Housing Choice Voucher Program—Learn how landlords can secure rental payments by participating in this program.
  • Case Management—Learn how case management from various nonprofit organizations can help your tenant be successful in housing.
  • Free Legal Information—Learn about new housing laws, eviction requirements, fair housing, and other valuable topics.

[Read more…]