Oak Ridge Today

Farmers Market opens Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Farmers Market
The Oak Ridge Farmers Market opens for the season in Jackson Square at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2019. It will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays though November, and a Holiday Market is planned for December. (File photo)

The Historic Oak Ridge Farmers Market presented by East Tennessee FARM will open for the 2019 season on Saturday, April 13.

The market will be held 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday through November in Jackson Square. The markets operate rain or shine. A Holiday Market is planned again for December. The previously held Wednesday market in Jackson Square has been discontinued.

FARM is a historical agricultural co-op operating in Oak Ridge since 1976, making it one of the oldest farmers markets in the state of Tennessee, a press release said. Area farmers have been working together to bring locally grown food and other farm products to the Oak Ridge community for 43 years, the release said.

“The Saturday morning market in Jackson Square is a popular gathering place for Oak Ridgers and visitors,” the press release said.

[Read more…]

Planning Commission to discuss revised plan for Main Street Oak Ridge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A revised master plan for Main Street Oak Ridge. The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will discuss the proposed revisions during a work session on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will again consider revisions to the plan for Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The potential revisions will be discussed during a Planning Commission work session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Courtroom.

The most recent version of the revised plan is similar to what Oak Ridge officials have seen before with minor variations. Some things have been incorporated that were only discussed before, such as sidewalks.

After being discussed today, the potential changes could be considered by the Planning Commission for a recommendation to Oak Ridge City Council next week, during an April 18 meeting. The changes would be considered as an amendment to the planned unit development for Main Street Oak Ridge. Among other things, the revisions would replace proposed multifamily residential units near Rutgers Avenue with retailers, and they would propose mixed-use areas in a future phase along Wilson Street.

[Read more…]

Ribbon-cutting for renovated K-25 Visitor Center & Overlook is April 25

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

K25 Ribbon Cutting Invitation

A ribbon-cutting has been scheduled at the renovated K-25 Visitors Center and Overlook in west Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 25.

The ceremony has been scheduled from 4-6 p.m. April 25. The ribbon-cutting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

“This project has been a labor of love between Bionomics and Roane County Visitors Bureau/The Roane Alliance, and we are excited for you to see all the changes that have already taken place,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Injured CUB lineman recovering after electrical shock

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Clinton Utilities Board Logo

Information from WYSH Radio

A Clinton Utilities Board lineman was recovering in the hospital on Wednesday, one day after being injured while on the job in Clinton on Tuesday.

Shortly before noon Tuesday, a CUB employee identified by his daughter as Mike Bavousett was part of a crew working to replace old conductors with newer ones as part of an upgrade project. The crew was in the process of splicing a piece of wire into the conductor to get the wire down to the pulling equipment on the ground when the conductor came loose from the splice and slipped up into an energized conductor overhead where Bavousset was working. Officials are still working to identify exactly what went wrong. No one else was injured in the incident. [Read more…]

Company could invest $500 million at medical isotope production facility

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Pictured above is a rendering of the proposed Coquí Radio Pharmaceuticals Corporation medical isotope production facility at the Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge. (Image courtesy Coquí)

Pictured above is a rendering of the proposed Coquí Radio Pharmaceuticals Corporation medical isotope production facility at the Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge. (Image courtesy Coquí)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:45 p.m.

Coquí Radio Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced Wednesday that it could invest $500 million at a new medical isotope production facility at the Heritage Center in west Oak Ridge.

The facility could start production in late 2025, said Carmen Bigles, founder and chief executive officer of Coquí Radio Pharmaceuticals.

The U.S. Department of Energy has transferred land for the facility and provided research support through the national laboratories, the company said in a press release Wednesday morning.

Coquí’s facility will produce medical isotopes that diagnose and treat diseases, primarily molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), which is used in 18 million medical procedures a year in the U.S., the press release said.

The facility will provide more than 200 high-paying, permanent jobs, Coquí said. [Read more…]

NRC recommends early site permit for Clinch River Nuclear Site

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

TVA Clinch River Site

The Clinch River Site in west Oak Ridge is pictured above. The road running from bottom to top on the right (east) side of the Clinch River connects to Bear Creek Road in southwest Oak Ridge. Highway 58 is off to the top left of the photo and the Heritage Center is to the north. (Photo courtesy TVA)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:30 a.m.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a final environmental impact statement, and the staff has recommended, based upon the environmental review, issuing an early site permit for the Clinch River Nuclear Site in west Oak Ridge, where two or more small modular nuclear reactors could be built.

The final environmental impact statement, or EIS, was issued by the NRC on April 3. A notice of the EIS and the staff’s recommendation was published in the Federal Register on Monday, April 8.

The 935-acre Clinch River Nuclear Site is located in Roane County along the Clinch River. [Read more…]

Senior Center needs community’s help furnishing building

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

An image showing what the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at Alvin K. Bissell Park could look like. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

An image showing what the new Oak Ridge Senior Center at Alvin K. Bissell Park could look like. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

 

The new Oak Ridge Senior Center is scheduled to open later this year.

Area seniors will enjoy opportunites for recreation, physical fitness, education, health screenings, social activites, nutrition lunch program, and transportation assistance, a press release said.

At this time, the Senior Center needs the community’s help in furnishing the building, the press release said.

“Your donation of any of the pieces of furniture will greatly be appreciated,” the release said. “You can choose from the furniture on our list or assist with a cash donation.” [Read more…]

ADFAC’s Dine & Donate is Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Joey and Steve Sherman at the Mediterranean Delight (Submitted photo)

Joey and Steve Sherman at the Mediterranean Delight (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, April 8, several area restaurants are donating a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

“Enjoy a fantastic lunch or dinner out, and help a valuable organization at the same time,” a press release said. “It’s a win-win!”

The featured partner restaurant for April is Mediterranean Delight, located at 160 Bus Terminal Rd, #A, in Oak Ridge.

“This little restaurant is one of the Secret City’s best kept secrets!” the press release said. “Fresh treats that you just can’t get anywhere else in town!” [Read more…]

Burkes Outlet to open in Oak Ridge on Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Burkes Outlet will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 11, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Burkes Outlet will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 11, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Burkes Outlet will open its new store at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday, April 11.

Burkes Outlet has a changing assortment of name-brand fashion, beauty, and home items at up to 70 percent off other stores’ prices, a press release said.

“From clothing and shoes for the family to unique home items to handbags, accessories, beauty items, and more, Burkes Outlet is constantly bringing in new product,” the press release said.

“We shop the competition so you don’t have to,” says Dave Alves, president of Burkes Outlet. “Our buyers are constantly in market looking for one-of-a-kind buys and excess inventory. We negotiate deep discounts with manufacturers all over the world, which translates into huge savings for our customers. We love surprising our customers. It’s all about the treasure hunt. That’s why when you see something you love, you have to grab it fast.” [Read more…]

ORNL FCU has free Community Shred Day on April 13

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

ORNL Federal Credit Union will offer a free Community Shred Day on Saturday, April 13, at 9 a.m. at its Northshore and Oak Ridge branches.

ORNL FCU members, as well as the public, are invited to bring any unwanted documents, especially ones containing personal information, to one of the Community Shred Day locations and have it safely and securely destroyed at no charge by Shred-it, a press release said. A maximum of three boxes (24 inches by 12 inches by 10 inches or smaller) or 13-gallon trash bags per vehicle will be accepted.

ORNL FCU’s Northshore Branch is located at 2077 Town Center Boulevard. The Oak Ridge Branch is located at 215 South Rutgers Avenue.

Celebrity jewelry featured in show at Karen’s Jewelers

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Estate jewelry, including many pieces previously owned by celebrities, will be on display on Thursday, April 11, and on Friday, April 12, at Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

Estate jewelry, including many pieces previously owned by celebrities, will be on display on Thursday, April 11, and on Friday, April 12, at Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge. (Submitted photo)

A necklace that once belonged to Prince—the late singer, songwriter, and musician—and a money clip owned by actor and dancer Patrick Swayze, famed for his roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost,” will be among celebrity items featured at an Estate Jewelry Show and Sale on Thursday and Friday, April 11 and 12, at Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge.

The show and sale will offer hundreds of jewelry pieces priced from $500 to more than $50,000, including rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches, pendants, and necklaces. The event will take place from 1-7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, April 12, at Karen’s Jewelers, which is located at 1120 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

“The show will feature an array of precious and semi-precious gems, as well as platinum and a wide selection of colors and karats of gold, reflecting the beauty and craftmanship of bygone eras,” said Martha Hart, of Karen’s Jewelers. Jewelry is considered estate jewelry if it is previously owned, though not always from an estate, she said. Such jewelry is considered antique if it is more than 100 years old.

Among other celebrity jewelry featured at the show and sale will be pieces that belonged to actors Bette Midler, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Basinger, Bea Arthur, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Linda Gray, and child star Shirley Temple. Other famous names represented in the show and sale are Gene Autry, Elvis Presley, Hugh Hefner, Joan Rivers, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis. [Read more…]

Fiberology Lab has grand opening today

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Fiberology Lab

A new business in Jackson Square, The Fiberology Lab, has a grand opening today (Saturday, March 30).

The grand opening is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled at 9 a.m. with the Jackson Square Business Association.

Demonstrative activities will be available throughout the day for all ages, including spinning, sewing, scissor sharping, making a mini project, and more, a press release said.

“The Fiberology Lab is a locally owned business that will cater to all fiber enthusiasts,” the press release said. “There will be yarn and fabric in a variety of colors and textures. The Fiberology Lab will offer classes to learn techniques for all skill levels.” [Read more…]