Oak Ridge Today

Explore Oak Ridge appoints Kendall as interim president

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Lisa Kendall

Lisa Kendall

 

Explore Oak Ridge, the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, announced Friday that it will appoint Lisa Kendall to the position of interim president.

Marc DeRose, the former president of Explore Oak Ridge, announced in late August that he planned to resign from the position in September to pursue other career goals after four years, but he would remain in the position until September 30 (this past Sunday) to assist in the search and transition to a new president.

Kendall currently serves as vice president of Explore Oak Ridge, and she oversees visitor event development and support, a press release said. Since joining Explore Oak Ridge in 2015, Kendall has led many initiatives to enhance the economic impact of visitors on Oak Ridge, the press release said. [Read more…]

Blossom Center wins $10,000 grant from ORNL FCU

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Photos by Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

Photos by Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

 

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence of Oak Ridge is one of seven nonprofit organizations to receive $10,000 grants from ORNL Federal Credit Union.

Here is a press release announcing the grants:

Since August 6, 1948, ORNL Federal Credit Union has been a trusted financial cooperative for members, and the East Tennessee community. To celebrate its 70 year history, the Credit Union recently offered its members the opportunity to nominate worthy nonprofit organizations to receive one of seven $10,000 grants through a $70,000 Community Giveback and Investment opportunity.

The following organizations were selected to each receive a $10,000 grant:

Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence

By providing a sliding tuition scale based on income, the Oak Ridge-based Blossom Center for Childhood Excellence provides day care, after school care, and pre-school programs for low-income families for children from ages 12 months to 13 years old. Their programs include healthy meals, educational activities including STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs, and play time. The center is open each day from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. to accommodate parents with varying work schedules. [Read more…]

DOE award recognizes UCOR safety performance

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UCOR President and Project Manager Ken Rueter is pictured above at the K-25 History Center on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

UCOR President and Project Manager Ken Rueter is pictured above at the K-25 History Center on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

URS|CH2M Oak Ridge LLC (UCOR) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for outstanding safety performance in its role as lead cleanup contractor for the East Tennessee Technology Park in Oak Ridge, a press release said.

UCOR received the DOE Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star of Excellence at the VPP Participants Association national conference in Nashville. This is the second consecutive year UCOR has won the award, the press release said.

The Star of Excellence recognizes UCOR’s outstanding level of performance in meeting established safety and health goals, actively conducting outreach to others, and in achieving an injury and illness rate significantly below the average of similar businesses and operations, the release said.

“The work we perform every day is some of the most hazardous and challenging in the nation,” said Ken Rueter, UCOR president and chief executive officer. “As our work continues expanding to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex, we have continued our high level of safety performance despite having to tackle new challenges.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber to host information session on changing retail market

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Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce building is pictured above.

 

Retail Strategies, a national retail real estate consulting firm that partners with cities across the nation to expand retail opportunities, will have representatives in Oak Ridge on September 25, a press release said.

Retail Strategies will offer brief on-site consulting services for retail property owners/managers during the day on a first-come, first-served basis.

From 4-5:30 p.m., representatives of the firm will be on hand for an information session detailing Oak Ridge’s changing retail market, trade area, trends, and targets, the press release said. The session will take place at TownePlace by Marriott, which is 300 South Rutgers Avenue. The session will be hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Ridge Economic Development Initiative. [Read more…]

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opens in Oak Ridge

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Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opened Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. It's the fifth Hwy 55 restaurant in Tennessee, and it will add 35 jobs to the Oak Ridge community, the company said in a press release.

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opened Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge. It’s the fifth Hwy 55 restaurant in Tennessee, and it will add 35 jobs to the Oak Ridge community, the company said in a press release.

 

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries opened Monday on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

It’s the fifth Hwy 55 restaurant in Tennessee, and it will add 35 jobs to the Oak Ridge community, the company said in a press release.

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries is an All-American, retro-themed diner, the press release said.

“Located at 441 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, Hwy 55 will provide residents and visitors with an inviting dining experience featuring fresh, never-frozen burgers, premium sliced cheesesteaks piled high on steamed hoagies, and frozen custard made in-house every day,” the press release said. “With its open-grill design, the kitchen’s dedication and care when handcrafting meals is front and center.” [Read more…]

Today: State of city housing to be discussed

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The speaker for Lunch with the League on Tuesday, September 18, will be Anne Dunthorn, commissioner of the Oak Ridge Housing Authority. Her discussion will include current initiatives for middle class families and new initiatives for permanent and rental housing, a press release said.

The meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said.

A longtime citizen of Oak Ridge and Anderson County, Dunthorn has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in economics from the University of Tennessee. She has served as business manager and consultant with C F Systems, technical consulting services, since 1977.  In the Housing and Urban Development arena, her work has included serving as grant writer, team leader, and developer of multi-family properties for nonprofit organizations that target people with special needs, the press release said. [Read more…]

Anderson County ‘visioning’ workshop is next week

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Gary Human

Gary Human

 

Submitted

Anderson County has a rich history, from coal mining to pearling, and the rise from agricultural infancy to become a world-leading technological powerhouse.

But what about Anderson County’s future? What is your vision—as a citizen, business leader, or elected official—for Anderson County?

Come share your ideas at a “Visioning Workshop” from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 20, in the Club Room at the Clinton Community Center, 101 Hicks Street. Sandwiches will be provided during the event, which was originally scheduled to be at the Anderson Courthouse, a press release said. [Read more…]

Gemstones of the World featured at Karen’s Jewelers on Thursday

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These loose gemstones will be among those on display at Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Submitted photo)

These loose gemstones will be among those on display at Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

Karen’s Jewelers will host a one-day gemstone show featuring loose colored gemstones from around the world from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, September 13, at the store, which is at 1120 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge.

Thousands of loose stones, from aquamarine to zircon, will be presented at Karen’s Jewelers by Artinian Gems, a California company that searches for fine gemstone materials all over the world. The firm’s gemstones have come from Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Nigeria, and other remote mining areas, a press release said.

“All the stones are handpicked for their brilliance and color saturation,” said Jonathan Hart of Karen’s Jewelers. “We invited Artinian Gems to Oak Ridge not only for the company’s fair-trade practices and support for international causes, but also because of how well Artinian curated its collection.”

Included in the show, besides aquamarine and zircon, will be garnet, opal, ruby, sapphire, morganite, beryl, peridot, sphene, tanzanite, and tourmaline. Prices will range from a $20 citrine to a $50,000 sapphire, along with some at more than $100,000, all faceted to the highest standards in Artinian’s gemstone cutting facility, Hart said. [Read more…]

AC Chamber to show animated video of new Clinton bridge, downtown vision

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Visual of the location of the new bridge over the Clinch River connecting downtown Clinton to South Clinton. (Image via Clinton Mayor Scott Burton/Facebook)

Visual of the location of the new bridge over the Clinch River connecting downtown Clinton to South Clinton. (Image via Clinton Mayor Scott Burton/Facebook)

 

The Anderson County Chamber of Commerce will show a video this month that will include 3D animations of the new bridge over the Clinch River in downtown Clinton and other images highlighting a new downtown vision.

The video, titled “Clinton: The Downtown Vision,” will be shown from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, September 25, at Faith Promise’s Anderson County campus, which is at 96 Mariner Point Drive, a press release said.

“The Chamber has partnered with QK4 Inc. to create a video that showcases 3D animations of the new ‘green bridge,’ streetscapes, and more of what the vision holds,” the press release said. “This will be the first time that the video has been shown publicly.” [Read more…]

K-25 overlook to re-open in October

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The Visitor's Overlook, part of the Happy Valley property purchased in November, is pictured above across from East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Visitor’s Overlook, part of the Happy Valley property purchased in November 2016, is pictured above across from East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

K-25 Overlook will be ‘bigger and better,’ provide Manhattan Project and recreational information

The K-25 Overlook next to State Route 58 in west Oak Ridge will soon be re-opening as a much larger and nicer visitor center that will also have a new purpose, a press release said.

Owner John McCormick, vice president of Bionomics, purchased the 160-acre property known as Happy Valley through an auction at the end of 2016. The overlook on SR 58 across from the East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, was part of the purchase.

But the overlook needed building repairs and updates to the historical information inside, the press release said. In 2017, McCormick partnered with Pam May, vice president of the Roane Alliance, who reached out to local historians, the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, and Explore Oak Ridge to discuss the future of the overlook.

“The idea to expand the overlook into a visitor center and recreational hub came from the National Park Service in one of the early meetings,” May said. “That aligned perfectly with what John had envisioned—to create trails and open spaces that people could enjoy while also learning Happy Valley’s history through its landmarks still evident on the property.” [Read more…]

Safety Fest TN is next week in Oak Ridge

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Safety Fest TN

Safety Fest TN is next week in Oak Ridge. Safety Fest TN is an annual community event that offers more than 90 free safety classes and demonstrations to residents and companies, a press release said.

Safety Fest TN is scheduled from September 10-14. This year’s training classes will be offered at Y-12’s New Hope Center, ORAU’s Pollard Technical Center, and other local venues.

Registration and a complete list of classes can be found at www.safetyfesttn.org. [Read more…]

Cyber security: Company will use ORNL random number generator for encryption

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Development of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s quantum random number generator began with basic components including an LED light, the source from which a field of quadrillions of photons are produced. The device can detect and measure the quantum statistics of photons present in the field and use each one as the basis for creating truly unique encryption keys that are impossible to decipher or predict. (Photo credit: Brian Williams/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy)

Development of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s quantum random number generator began with basic components including an LED light, the source from which a field of quadrillions of photons are produced. The device can detect and measure the quantum statistics of photons present in the field and use each one as the basis for creating truly unique encryption keys that are impossible to decipher or predict. (Photo credit: Brian Williams/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy)

 

A company called Qrypt Inc. will incorporate a quantum random number generator developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory into existing encryption techniques, strengthening cyber security, a press release said.

Qrypt has exclusively licensed the technology from ORNL, a U.S. Department of Energy laboratory. It’s intended to help defend against cyber attacks, including those posed by quantum computing.

Encryption uses codes or mathematical algorithms to make information such as messages or stored data unintelligible to unauthorized readers. Quantum computers make use of the quantum states of electrons or other particles to store and process information as quantum bits.

The press release said Qrypt will incorporate ORNL’s quantum random number generator into the company’s existing encryption platform. It will use inherent quantum randomness to create unique and unpredictable encryption keys enabling virtually impenetrable communications, the press release said. [Read more…]