Oak Ridge Today

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…]

Today: Outback, other restaurants, support ADFAC through Dine & Donate

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A sampling of menu items from Outback Steakhouse. (Submitted photo)

A sampling of menu items from Outback Steakhouse. (Submitted photo)

 

If you have a craving for that Bloomin’ Onion or a juicy steak, Outback Steakhouse may be the place for you.

Outback, located at 402 South Illinois Avenue, will be helping Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, on Monday, August 14 through the Dine & Donate Program.  On the second Monday of each month, Outback and fourteen other restaurants donate a portion of their sales to support ADFAC.

“Dine and Donate is a very important fundraiser for ADFAC,” said Cande Seay, Dine & Donate chair. “It’s good to see families and friends enjoying a delicious meal at a local restaurant while contributing to our organization.” [Read more…]

Rezoning could allow commercial development on former AMSE property

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The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

The 7.44-acre parcel outlined in red above could be rezoned and allow commercial development south of the American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue. The DoubleTree Hotel is at center-left, and the U.S. Post Office is at upper right. (Image courtesy State of Tennessee)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. Aug. 12.

A rezoning being considered by Oak Ridge municipal officials could allow commercial development on property that is now mostly a grass field south of the American Museum of Science and Energy. The 7.44-acre site could be used by retailers, restaurants, or groceries, or for office space or multi-family developments, according to a zoning change request filed by the owner.

The Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission will consider the rezoning request on Thursday. The request was filed by TN Oak Ridge Illinois LLC of Greenville, South Carolina. That company was set up by RealtyLink, the developer of Main Street Oak Ridge at the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The property includes a grass field along South Illinois Avenue between South Tulane Avenue and Badger Avenue. The northern portion of the property includes part of the AMSE parking lot.

The parcel, appraised at $908,300, is located within the city’s central commercial core, the Oak Ridge city staff said in a review of the rezoning request. There are commercial properties on the opposite side of South Tulane Avenue, including the Main Street Oak Ridge redevelopment, the staff said. There is also commercial development on the other side of South Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

‘Race to Space’ photos focus on Manhattan Project scientists who later joined U.S. space program

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Edward Teller

Edward Teller

 

A photo exhibition that opens next week at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will focus on Manhattan Project scientists who went on to join the United States space program.

The “Race to Space” photo exhibition is hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and Explore Oak Ridge. The month-long exhibit will open Tuesday, August 15, with a reception from 8 to 9 a.m. The photo exhibit is sponsored by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Explore Oak Ridge.

It is part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park’s activities that highlight this month’s once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce is located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike. It is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. [Read more…]

T.J.Maxx now open in Oak Ridge

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The new T.J. Maxx store in Oak Ridge is pictured above on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The new T.J. Maxx store in Oak Ridge is pictured above on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new T.J.Maxx store is open in Oak Ridge.

The new store opened Sunday, August 6, at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

T.J.Maxx is one of the nation’s leading off-price retailers with more than 1,000 stores currently operating in 49 states and Puerto Rico, a press release said.

T.J.Maxx stores have something for the entire family, the press release said, from fashion and accessories to jewelry, home, beauty, pet products, kids, toys, and more.

“Our newest store in Oak Ridge will offer an ever-changing selection of high-quality, on-trend, and brand-name merchandise at the amazing prices that T.J.Maxx is known for,” said Tim Miner, president of T.J.Maxx. “Our buyers search the globe to discover the best in every department, and we’re excited to bring those finds to a new neighborhood. With thousands of new items delivered to our stores every day, we know our shoppers will find something surprising and unexpected every time they shop.” [Read more…]

INVO PEO donates more than $8,500 in school supplies to Boys & Girls Clubs of Clinch Valley

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INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

 

INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said.

Employees at both INVO PEO’s Clinton and Oak Ridge offices collected more than $2,600 in monetary donations, 116 pairs of shoes, 85 backpacks, 416 packs of paper and notebooks, 1,130 writing utensils, 274 pocket folders, 550 glue sticks, and 919 other miscellaneous items, the press release said.

All the supplies collected will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs so they can distribute to students as needed. The total dollar amount of all items collected is estimated to be more than $8,500. [Read more…]

Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September

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Nuclear Suppliers Workshop Oak Ridge September 6-7 2017 Oak Ridge

The East Tennessee Economic Council and the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council are having a Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September.

The workshop is September 6-7 at the Pollard Technology Conference Center in Oak Ridge.

The focus of the event will be on manufacturing opportunities arising in the southeastern United States around small modular reactors, next generation nuclear technology, nuclear medicine, and national security programs, a press release said.

Invited speakers include senior executives from the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NuScale Power, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Terrestrial Energy, University of Tennessee, Duke Energy, and others. The final agenda is still under development, the press release said. [Read more…]

CH2M, part of UCOR, being acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

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CH2M, which is based in Colorado, is a partner in UCOR, or URS | CH2M Oak Ridge LLC. UCOR is the U.S. Department of Energy's cleanup contractor for the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation, and it is primarily focused on cleanup of East Tennessee Technology Park (the former Oak Ridge K-25 Site), which is pictured above. (Photo by UCOR)

CH2M, which is based in Colorado, is a partner in UCOR, or URS | CH2M Oak Ridge LLC. UCOR is the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor for the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation, and it is primarily focused on cleanup of East Tennessee Technology Park (the former Oak Ridge K-25 Site), which is pictured above. (Photo by UCOR)

 

CH2M, which is part of UCOR, the federal cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, is being acquired by Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

The acquisition was announced Wednesday. It’s a a cash-and-stock transaction of about $3.27 billion, including a $2.85 billion purchase and roughly $416 million of CH2M net debt. It’s expected to close in the first quarter of Jacobs’ fiscal year 2018, which ends at the end of 2017.

The two companies are separate until then.

It’s too early to say whether the acquisition would have any effect on the federal contract with UCOR, but the companies said the transaction is about growth, acquiring the expertise of CH2M, and expanding the presence of the combined company.

CH2M, which is based in Colorado, is a partner in UCOR, or URS | CH2M Oak Ridge LLC. UCOR is the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor for the DOE Oak Ridge Reservation, and it is primarily focused on cleanup of East Tennessee Technology Park (the former Oak Ridge K-25 Site). But UCOR also works on cleanup and waste management activities at other Oak Ridge Reservation sites. [Read more…]

Rack Room Shoes now open in Oak Ridge

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Rack Room Shoes Interior July 27 2017

The interior of the new Rack Room Shoes store is pictured above at Main Street Oak Ridge. The store opened Thursday, July 27, 2017. (Photo courtesy Rack Room Shoes)

 

The new Rack Room Shoes store opened at Main Street Oak Ridge on Thursday.

The new store is 5,000 square feet. It is near Belk and between two other new stores at Main Street Oak Ridge: rue21 and Ulta.

Rack Room Shoes is a family footwear retailer.

It’s the fifth new store to open at Main Street Oak Ridge since mid-June. Main Street Oak Ridge is the 58-acre project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The other four stores that have also opened are rue21, maurices, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and PetSmart. The other three stores expected to open soon are Electronic Express, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta. [Read more…]

Baldwin joins planning, design company in Knoxville

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Kathryn Baldwin

Kathryn Baldwin

 

Former Oak Ridge Community Development Director Kathryn Baldwin has joined Lose & Associates, a planning and design company that once developed a master plan for the Oak Ridge City Center.

Lose & Associates is a landscape architecture, architecture, civil engineering, and planning firm with offices in Nashville and Atlanta, a press release said. The company recently announced its expansion to the Knoxville area, in Franklin Square on Kingston Pike.

Baldwin, office manager and senior planner, will lead the Knoxville office, the press release said. She has a master’s degree in geography from East Tennessee State University, and she “brings a wealth of geographic knowledge, management skills, and technical knowledge to her new position,” the press release said.

Baldwin retired after 16 years with the City of Oak Ridge, and her last day was July 28. Wayne Blasius, who had been executive director of the nonprofit East Tennessee Community Design Center, has been hired to replace her, starting August 28. [Read more…]

New exercise class at Oak Ridge Senior Center started this month

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Pierce Physical Therapy

The Oak Ridge Senior Center has partnered with Pierce Physical Therapy to sponsor a free exercise class for anyone age 50 and over. The class is being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. It started Thursday, July 6.

The Pierce Therapy Exercise Program, or P.E.P. for short, will concentrate on strength, balance, and mobility and will incorporate therapeutic exercise, functional training, and individual exercise modifications, a press release said.

Physical Therapist Assistant Chelsea Ferrell will be leading the class at the senior center with assistance from Physical Therapist Ray Pierce. Pierce has operated Pierce Physical Therapy in Oak Ridge for more than 30 years, and Ferrell works full time as a PTA in the practice.

There is no cost for the class, but space is limited. Please call the Oak Ridge Senior Center at (865) 425-3999 to register.

Government contractor expands, hires first East Tennessee employee

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Bedrock Federal Services, a government contractor based in Maryland, has expanded and hired its first East Tennessee employee, a press release said.

Shelley Kimel, the first East Tennessee employee, will serve as public affairs specialist for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board under a contract awarded to Bedrock earlier this year, a press release said. Kimel was previously brand director at Aries Clean Energy in Knoxville.

Bedrock Federal Services has headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland, and the company provides management and information technology services.