Oak Ridge Today

New restaurant, bar could open at former Lincoln’s site in April

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Lincoln's Sports Grille

Swifty’s Atomic Bar and Grill could open in April 2016 at the former Lincoln’s Sports Grille, pictured above on South Illinois Avenue in October 2014. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A new restaurant and bar could open in April at the former Lincoln’s Sports Grille on South Illinois Avenue.

Swifty’s Atomic Bar and Grill could open April 1, general manager Matthew Swift said Monday. The hours and menu haven’t been set yet, but Swift said the restaurant will have fresh food and a full kitchen. Menu items will include wings and bar food, he said.

The goal is to create a place where a family can come and have a good time, Swift said. After about 9-10 p.m., Swifty’s will become a bar, Swift said. The family-owned and family-operated restaurant hopes to offer bands, music, comedy, and karaoke, as well as antique car shows.

The family is still hiring servers and kitchen staff. [Read more…]

Photo: Vendors at Oak Ridge Farmers Market

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There were four vendors at the Oak Ridge Farmers Market at Jackson Square on January 30 and three on February 27. (Photo by Ray Evans)

 

The Oak Ridge Farmers Market officially opens in April, but a few vendors have already been at the market and set up on Saturday mornings.

There were four vendors at the Farmers Market on Saturday, January 30, and three on Saturday, February 27, said Ray Evans, Oak Ridge retail consultant.

Last year, the Farmers Market opened for its 39th season in mid-April. During the season, it’s generally open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Wednesday markets started in May last year. [Read more…]

Clearance sale on clothing, toys, household items at former YWCA on Saturday

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YWCA-Sale-March-5-2016

There will be a clearance sale on clothing, toys, and household items at the former YWCA building on Oak Ridge Turnpike on Saturday.

The sale started Friday, March 4, and continues from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, March 5.

The former YWCA building is located at 1660 Oak Ridge Turnpike. [Read more…]

Workshop on lawn, garden tool maintenance is Saturday

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A workshop on lawn and garden tool maintenance is being offered at the University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The workshop is sponsored by UT Arboretum Society and Downtown Hardware of Oak Ridge. It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Roger Clary of Downtown Hardware and the store’s Husqvarna representative, David Waugh, are working with the UT Arboretum Society to put on the workshop, organizers said.

Door prizes will be given away along with store coupons. The UT Arboretum Society will accept donations for its program.

“Last year’s workshop was a great success!” organizers said.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Coal Creek Miners Museum has grand opening on March 11

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Coal-Creek-Miners-Museum

The Coal Creek Miners Museum in Rocky Top will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting on March 11.

The museum tells the story of the miners that lived, worked, and died in Coal Creek, Fraterville, and Briceville, and it also tells about the historically significant events that changed the mining industry, a press release said.

The grand opening is scheduled from 2-5 p.m. March 11 at the new museum, which is at 201 South Main Street in Rocky Top (formerly known as Lake City). The ribbon-cutting with the Rocky Top Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Here is more information from a press release:

The story starts in the late 1800s when the “free” miners fought against the convict lease system, a struggle that ultimately ended the system in the southern states. [Read more…]

Covenant Health has leadership changes, new president at MMC

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Jeremy Biggs

Jeremy Biggs

Mike Belbeck, the current president of Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, will become the executive vice president of operations for Covenant Health, and a new president and chief administrative officer will succeed Belbeck at MMC on April 1.

The leadership changes were announced by Covenant Health on Tuesday.

Covenant Health, which is headquartered in Knoxville and the region’s largest employer, had previously announced its current president and chief executive officer, Anthony L. Spezia, will become CEO emeritus, and Jim VanderSteeg, current executive vice president of operations, will become president and CEO.

Belbeck, who is also chief administrative officer, or CAO, at Methodist Medical Center, will succeed VanderSteeg as the health system’s executive vice president of operations.

Jeremy Biggs, president and chief administrative officer of Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville, will succeed Belbeck as president and CAO of Methodist Medical Center. [Read more…]

Close to 2,000 bowlers competing in state tournament in Oak Ridge, Knoxville

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State-Bowling-Tournament-Oak-Ridge-Bowling-Center-Feb-27-2016-2

A state bowling tournament is bringing a few thousand people to Oak Ridge and Knoxville for two weekends in February and one weekend in March. Above, teams bowl in the Tennessee State USBC Bowling Association 69th Annual Handicap Tournament at the Oak Ridge Bowling Center on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A state bowling tournament is bringing close to 2,000 bowlers to Oak Ridge and Knoxville for the last two weekends in February and the first weekend in March.

It’s the Tennessee State USBC Bowling Association 69th Annual Handicap Tournament.

The team events are at Oak Ridge Bowling Center on South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge, and the singles and doubles events are at Strike and Spare on Western Avenue in Knoxville.

Officials estimated there are between 1,400 and 1,800 bowlers participating. Add in local bowlers on sub lists, and the total is probably close to 2,000, they said. Plus, many bowlers bring others with them, including family members, and they’re staying in area hotels, eating at local restaurants, and taking children to see tourist attractions like the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge and American Museum of Science and Energy.

“This is phenomenal for Oak Ridge,” said Craig Porter, general manager at the Oak Ridge Bowling Center. It also helps Knoxville, he said. [Read more…]

Like what we’re doing? Subscribe to Oak Ridge Today

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Centrus completes centrifuge demonstration, reducing Ohio workforce, continuing Oak Ridge work

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American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center

The American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center in south Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo courtesy USEC/Centrus Energy Corp.)

 

A centrifuge demonstration is complete in Piketon, Ohio, and the workforce there will be reduced, but  research, engineering, and testing work will continue in Oak Ridge, Centrus Energy Corporation announced Friday.

The company, which is based in Bethesda, Maryland, said it has completed operations of its three-year demonstration cascade of American Centrifuge machines at its facility in Piketon, Ohio. Now, it will demobilize the demonstration cascade and reduce its workforce at Piketon starting with the layoff of about 60 employees during the week of February 29, Centrus said.

Centrus currently has more than 120 employees working at two dedicated facilities in the Oak Ridge area to engineer, design, and test improvements in full-size machines operating in individual test stands, a press release said. The company’s scientists and engineers will continue to improve the reliability and manufacturability of centrifuge machines for potential future applications, the release said. [Read more…]

Photo: Fast Pace Urgent Care has ribbon-cutting

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The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Feb. 15, 2016, at Fast Pace Urgent Care on South Illinois Avenue. (Photo submitted by Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce)

 

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, February 15, at Fast Pace Urgent Care. The new business is located at 441 South Illinois Avenue.

ORNL Federal Credit Union opens new Oak Ridge branch

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Local officials and executives celebrate the new Oak Ridge branch of ORNL Federal Credit Union with a ribbon-cutting on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new Oak Ridge branch of ORNL Federal Credit Union opened Tuesday. Officials and executives celebrated with a ribbon-cutting on Monday.

It’s the new main Oak Ridge branch, and it’s at 215 South Rutgers Avenue. That’s where ORNL Federal Credit Union had its original headquarters, right next to where the current headquarters are.

The main Oak Ridge branch was in the current headquarters building until this week.

The new branch building has extended drive-through hours: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (lobby will close at noon).

“This is a great addition to our community,” Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said at Monday’s ribbon-cutting. [Read more…]

Consolidated Nuclear Security has more leadership changes

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Michelle Reichert

Michelle Reichert

The company that manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, has announced two more leadership changes.

Effective Monday, Michelle Reichert became the deputy enterprise manager for Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS. She will report directly to CNS President and Chief Executive Officer Morgan Smith.

Todd Ailes is succeeding Reichert as the Pantex site manager.

Operating primarily out of CNS offices at Pantex, Reichert will share leadership responsibilities with Smith, focusing on communications with employees, customers, and other key stakeholders, a press release said. Reichert will also coordinate integration activities between the two sites to ensure they are aligned in the best interest of CNS and the NNSA. [Read more…]