Oak Ridge Today

Lunch with the League features Marc DeRose of Explore Oak Ridge on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Marc DeRose

Marc DeRose

Marc DeRose of Explore Oak Ridge will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, October 17. His presentation will center on Explore Oak Ridge’s responsibility for maximizing the economic impact of visitors to Oak Ridge, a press release said.

Explore Oak Ridge was formerly known as the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Lunch with the League 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, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

DeRose, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, has a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science from Trent University, Peterborough, Canada, and a master’s degree in biology and quantitative genetics from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, the press release said. He spent more than 15 years as a professional rowing coach at the junior, NCAA, national, and international levels. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Chamber’s Christmas Parade to be held Saturday, Dec. 9

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce's annual Christmas Parade was Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (Photo by Eli Welton)

The last Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade was Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016. (File photo by Eli Welton)

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will have its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 9.

This year’s theme is “A Toyland Christmas: Past 75 Years/Future 75 Years,” a press release said. It promises to provide spectators with plenty of music, lights, and beautiful floats, the release said.

The parade will be a part of Oak Ridge’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. Sponsor of this year’s parade is The Cowperwood Company. There is no cost to participate.

The Chamber will be accepting entries online through Monday, December 4. Register by visiting the Chamber’s website at www.oakridgechamber.org.

According to Greta Ownby, executive vice president of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce: “People began signing up for the parade in August, as soon as we announced our theme. The second Saturday in December is always the date for our Christmas parade, and it’s nice to know that people start planning early make the parade a special part of their holiday tradition. We also wanted to incorporate the 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge into the event this year.” [Read more…]

Roane State Internship Fair connects students to valuable opportunities

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Representatives of 15 area employers participated in Roane State Community College’s first Internship Fair, held Sept. 27, 2017, in the Coffey-McNally Building on the Oak Ridge campus. (Photo by Roane State)

Representatives of 15 area employers participated in Roane State Community College’s first Internship Fair, held Sept. 27, 2017, in the Coffey-McNally Building on the Oak Ridge campus. (Photo by Roane State)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

There are numerous job internship opportunities available in the area, Roane State students learned during the college’s first Internship Fair.

Representatives of 15 employers answered students’ questions, took down contact information, and even conducted some interviews during the event, held last month in the atrium of the Coffey-McNally Building on the Oak Ridge campus.

“We want to match students with part-time, skill-building opportunities,” said Kim Harris, Roane State’s workforce training and placement director.

Too many graduates in the college’s non-healthcare fields come out of Roane State with a degree but no job experience, she said. Internships offer employers a chance to “test drive them (potential employees) before you hire them.” [Read more…]

More than 400 attended Taste of Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Chamber’s Primetime networking event is Thursday, open to public

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Chamber members at last spring's Primetime networking event. Members will be exhibiting at the upcoming Primetime Tailgate Party, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. The public is invited. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Chamber members at last spring’s Primetime networking event. Members will be exhibiting at the upcoming Primetime Tailgate Party, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. The public is invited. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Fall Primetime networking event will be held on Thursday, October 19.

More than 40 Chamber-member organizations have already reserved exhibit space for the event, titled “Primetime Tailgate Party,” a press release said. The event will be held from 4-6 p.m. under the tent in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Primetime is one of the Chamber’s biggest networking events of the year. Anyone—Chamber member or not—is encouraged to attend.

The Oak Ridge High School Wildband will once again participate and will play the fight song as well as other football game “stand tunes.” Complimentary fresh-off-the-grill hot dogs will be available for attendees. [Read more…]

Clinch River Fall Antique Festival is this weekend

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Support local, independent media. Subscribe to Oak Ridge Today.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

If you appreciate our reporting, please consider becoming a voluntary subscriber to Oak Ridge Today.

You don’t have to subscribe to read our stories, but your contribution will help us cover local news for you. We are a local independently owned small business.

We currently offer three subscription levels: $5, $10, or $25 per month. We accept payments through PayPal. You can also send check payments to our P.O. box. Please visit our subscription page for information on these options.

There isn’t currently a difference between the three monthly subscription levels. It’s mostly a matter of what you can contribute or want to contribute. We believe that most of our subscribers support us because they like what we’re doing and want to see us succeed. We like to think of the voluntary subscriptions as like a tip jar. So, if you appreciate our service, please consider subscribing. [Read more…]

IDB approves tax abatement as MCLinc plans to build at Horizon Center

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Barry Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of MCLinc, discusses the analytical testing laboratory's plan to build a 29,000-square-foot building at Horizon Center during an Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board meeting on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Barry Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of MCLinc, discusses the analytical testing laboratory’s plan to build a 29,000-square-foot building at Horizon Center during an Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board meeting on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A city board on Monday approved a six-year, 50 percent property tax abatement for a company that plans to move from Heritage Center, the former K-25 site, to Horizon Center, a few miles northeast.

MCLinc is now in Building K-1006 at Heritage Center, which is also known as East Tennessee Technology Park. A conference center at ETTP’s main entrance is leased for special events, and MCLinc has the next building on the right. It’s been home to a laboratory since 1965. MCLinc (Materials and Chemistry Laboratory) has been there since 1998, when the company started.

But the building is owned by the U.S. Department of Energy, and it is slated for demolition, said Barry Stephenson, MCLinc president and chief executive officer. Attempts to acquire the building have not panned out, Stephenson told the Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board on Monday.

Three years ago, the company, an analytical testing laboratory, received notice that they have to move, Stephenson said. He told the IDB that MCLinc has to be out of the building by September 2018. [Read more…]

Jeff Smith of ORNL nominated to serve on TVA Board

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith

 

Note: This story was updated at 1:30 p.m.

Jeff Smith, deputy director for operations at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been nominated to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors, officials said Thursday.

The nomination by President Donald Trump was announced by the White House.

U.S. senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, both Tennessee Republicans, supported Smith’s nomination in statements on Thursday. [Read more…]

‘Magnificent Gemstones of the World’ show at Karen’s Jewelers Sept. 21-23

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Gary Bowersox displays his book, "Gemstones of Afghanistan." (Submitted photo)

Gary Bowersox displays his book, “Gemstones of Afghanistan.” (Submitted photo)

 

A leading expert on gemstones of the world, Gary Bowersox will bring his exhibit of more than 10,000 gems to Karen’s Jewelers in Oak Ridge. The gem show, “Magnificent Gemstones of the World” from September 21-23, will include more than 100 different types of gemstones, many collected by Bowersox on his travels throughout the world.

Bowersox, an explorer, gem hunter, and author, has searched for emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, among other gemstones, in central Asia, riding on horseback to remote caves in Afghanistan where dynamite and grenades have been used by local miners to uncover precious gems. He has hiked through the Hindu Kush and ridden camels, mules, sheep trucks, and tanks to explore remote mines in Asia, a press release said.

The stars of the gem show include a 70-carat Afghanistan emerald pendant and a 51-carat Tajikistan ruby with matching earrings. The show, featuring rough and cut gemstones and jewelry, will include aquamarine, garnet, tourmaline, lapis lazuli, amethyst, topaz, and kunzite, as well as emerald, ruby, and sapphire. The Smithsonian-style exhibit features gems often seen only in museums.

The gem show and sale will be from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, September 21 and 22, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, September 23 at Karen’s Jewelers, 1120 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Oak Ridge is one of 11 U.S. cities where his show is being presented this year. [Read more…]

Safety Fest TN opens with Community Safety Forum on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

On September 12, Safety Fest TN will hold a Community Safety Forum, an annual event that officially kicks off Safety Fest TN and its Safety Expo.

Safety Fest TN offers free safety classes to residents and companies September 11-15.

This year’s Community Safety Forum will be held in the Wamp Auditorium at 9 a.m. Tuesday, September 12, at the New Hope Center at Y-12 National Security Complex. More than 900 people have registered for the event.

Headlining the Community Safety Forum are Burns Phillips, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce; Steve Hawkins, administrator of the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration; David Purkey, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security; and Patrick Sheehan, the director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

“We wanted to offer our audience a statewide perspective on workplace safety and emergency preparedness, and who best to deliver that message than the commissioners and their administrators?” said Tom Wantland, a Safety Fest TN organizer. [Read more…]