Oak Ridge Today

Taste of Anderson County on Sept. 19 helps United Way, Free Medical Clinic

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Taste of Oak Ridge 2013

The Taste of Oak Ridge, which has become the Taste of Anderson County, is pictured above in 2013. (File photo)

 

The Taste of Anderson County on September 19 will feature food and music and help two local organizations: United Way of Anderson County and the Free Medical Clinic.

The Taste of Anderson County, which has been expanded from the previous Taste of Oak Ridge, will be at Jackson Square starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, September 19.

“Flavors from some of the area’s favorite restaurants and the sounds of local musicians will fill the newly renovated parking lot at Jackson Square,” a press release said. “This year will be bigger and better than ever with vendors from all over the county. More importantly, this event brings a substantial amount of support for two local causes: United Way of Anderson County, and the Free Medical Clinic. Both of these nonprofits are working hard this year to make a big impact in the community. But they can’t do it without the community there to support them.”

The entertainment lineup includes comedian and magician Danny Whitson as the master of ceremonies. Whitson is a professional entertainer from Oak Ridge who specializes in magic and comedy. He has been performing for 15 years, the press release said. [Read more…]

Expanded Safety Fest 2015 set for September

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Safety Fest TN

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Safer workplaces result in safer communities. Why? Because workers who learn safe practices on the job take them home and into their communities. In Oak Ridge, once a year, an event is held to ensure safer communities by offering free safety classes to anyone who registers.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Oak Ridge Business Safety Partnership, partnering with numerous businesses and organizations will host Safety Fest TN, a week of safety classes, live demonstrations, a Safety Expo, and a community safety forum—all free of charge.  The event is scheduled for September 14-18 with classes at six locations in Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

“This year’s Safety Fest TN is popping at the seams with classes, demonstrations, seminars, a Safety Expo, and a community brunch that celebrates safety,” said Jenny Freeman, chair of the ORBSP planning committee, which is responsible for organizing the event. “We’ve got something for everyone.”

One of the main events is a community safety forum with Joe Estey, a national safety specialist, who brings innovative solutions to potential safety challenges facing some of the country’s highest hazard and complex industries. [Read more…]

Hank’s Market opened Tuesday

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Hank's Market Ribbon-cutting

Hank’s Market opened before this ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday morning. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Hank’s Market, the new grocery store in east Oak Ridge, opened Tuesday. It’s in the space formerly used by Food Lion on Emory Valley Road.

It’s the second Hank’s store. The original store is in Washington, Indiana.

Hank’s has been interested in the former Food Lion site since Food Lion closed its Oak Ridge store last summer, said Tony Malanga, an East Tennessee-based district manager for the parent company, Houchens Food Group in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

“We had an opportunity with the Food Lion closing here,” Malanga said at a Tuesday morning ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

The new store opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday, and it is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. [Read more…]

New Neurofeedback Clinic offers ‘brain training’ to Oak Ridge

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Jake Morrill

Jake Morrill

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Everyone knows that working out at the gym, over time, leads to a healthier, stronger body. In recent years, research on neuroplasticity has shown that training your brain can similarly lead to a healthier, stronger brain. Now, Oak Ridge has a “gym” for the brain: BrainAble Neurofeedback and Coaching.

Training with Neurofeedback, toward the state of calm focus, is like learning meditation with the benefit of real-time, ongoing feedback, letting you know when and how much you are “in the zone.” Our brains generate different frequencies of electricity. Often, we get stuck in the habit of producing too much slow, or “Theta” waves—so we’re sluggish and spacey. Or, we might produce too much fast, or “Beta” waves—so we’re anxious and stressed. Neurofeedback helps us regulate our brains, to achieve a more balanced mix of frequencies. Research has shown neurofeedback to help counter the effects of ADHD, depression, addiction, PTSD, and several other conditions. Some people turn to neurofeedback not to treat deficits, but to attain excellence. A well-tuned brain can lead to higher functioning, generally. [Read more…]

David A. Vudragovich, Anderson County HealthMarkets have ribbon-cutting Wednesday

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David Vudragovich

David A. Vudragovich and Anderson County HealthMarkets have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.

Vudragovich recently moved his office to 1970 Oak Ridge Highway, at the intersection of State Route 61 (Oliver Springs Highway) and State Route 95 (Oak Ridge Turnpike) east of Oak Ridge.

The ribbon-cutting is from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, with the ribbon-cutting at 4:15 p.m.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Pie Five Pizza, Aspen Dental under construction on South Illinois

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Pie Five Pizza and Aspen Dental

Pie Five Pizza and Aspen Dental are both under construction at a new shopping center on South Illinois Avenue next to the Aldi grocery store. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Pie Five Pizza Co. and Aspen Dental are both under construction at a new shopping center on South Illinois Avenue next to the Aldi grocery store.

They’re among a series of new businesses that have located in the past few years along a short stretch of South Illinois Avenue between Rutgers Avenue and Scarboro Road/Lafayette Drive. Others have included Aldi, Aubrey’s Restaurant, Bojangles’, Panera Bread, Ole Ben Franklin Motors, and Weigel’s.

A beer permit for Pie Five Pizza will be considered during a special meeting of the Oak Ridge Beer Permit Board at 5:15 p.m. Monday, August 24, in the Municipal Building Training Room. [Read more…]

Hanks’ Market has ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, Goodwill moving

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Hank's Market

The new Hank’s Market grocery store in east Oak Ridge has a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The new Hank’s Market grocery store in east Oak Ridge has a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, August 25.

Hank’s Market #45 will be in the space formerly used by the Food Lion grocery store at 691 Emory Valley Road.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, with the ribbon-cutting at 10:15.

Food Lion confirmed its plans to close its Oak Ridge store in June 2014. The company said it was not renewing its lease on the property.

The spaces where Curves and Briarcliff Realty used to be next to Food Lion have been under renovation also, and in July, Goodwill confirmed that it is moving to Emory Valley Road. [Read more…]

FBI asks for public’s help catching suspects in kidnappings, extortions at two banks

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Ed Reinhold

Edward Reinhold, special agent in charge for FBI Knoxville, asks for the public’s help catching two suspects involved in two alleged kidnapping and extortion plots at banks in Oak Ridge and Knoxville. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—The Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking for the public’s help in catching the suspects involved in the kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge and SmartBank in Knoxville. The FBI is also working with bank employees to ensure they know what to do in the future and to be aware of their surroundings.

On Wednesday, the FBI announced a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrests of the suspects. They’ve released descriptions of two white male suspects.

“The only way we can prevent this from happening is to catch these guys,” said Edward Reinhold, special agent in charge at the FBI Knoxville. The FBI had a Thursday afternoon press conference at its Knoxville office on Dowell Springs Road.

Agents are asking members of the public who might know anything to step forward. [Read more…]

ORAU recognized as top diversity employer

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Black EOE Journal Best of the Best 2015 Winner

Black Equal Opportunity Employment Journal has recognized ORAU as one of its top diversity employers for 2015.

The magazine is a compendium of career and employment opportunity information for African-Americans, other minority groups, and women, a press release said.

As part of the magazine’s “Best of the Best 2015” series, Black EOE Journal annually polls hundreds of companies to assess and disclose the companies who show excellence in diversity in areas such as: government and law enforcement agencies; insurance, finance and banking companies; utilities, energy, gas, and oil companies; STEM employers; and healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotech companies. [Read more…]

Expanded Safety Fest 2015 set for September

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Safety Fest TN

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Safer workplaces result in safer communities. Why? Because workers who learn safe practices on the job take them home and into their communities. In Oak Ridge, once a year, an event is held to ensure safer communities by offering free safety classes to anyone who registers.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Oak Ridge Business Safety Partnership, or ORBSP, partnering with numerous businesses and organizations will host Safety Fest TN, a week of safety classes, live demonstrations, a Safety Expo, and a community safety forum—all free of charge. The event is scheduled for September 14-18, with classes at six locations in Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

“This year’s Safety Fest TN is popping at the seams with classes, demonstrations, seminars, a Safety Expo, and a community brunch that celebrates safety,” said Jenny Freeman, chair of the ORBSP planning committee, which is responsible for organizing the event. “We’ve got something for everyone.”

One of the main events is a community safety forum with Joe Estey, a national safety specialist, who brings innovative solutions to potential safety challenges facing some of the country’s highest hazard and complex industries. [Read more…]

FBI offers reward up to $20,000 for info on kidnapping, extortion at Y-12 FCU, SmartBank

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Oak Ridge Police Department at Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Oak Ridge Police Department officers were at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union in Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning (April 28, 2015). The branch will remain closed Wednesday, although the credit union’s headquarters will be open. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrests of the suspects in the kidnappings and extortions involving Y-12 Federal Credit Union and SmartBank.

The FBI, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and Oak Ridge Police Department are asking the public to help identify and locate the people responsible for the kidnappings and extortions.

The FBI said that on April 28, at approximately 8:15 a.m., a Y-12 Federal Credit Union employee and his family were kidnapped from their residence and held hostage at gunpoint.

While the family was held hostage, the employee was coerced to attempt to remove money from the Y-12 Federal Credit Union at 501 Lafayette Drive in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

IDB to consider financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge on Monday

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Oak Ridge Mall

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will consider a financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge during a special meeting on Monday. Main Street Oak Ridge would redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall, the L-shaped structure pictured at center above. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board will consider a financing-related resolution for Main Street Oak Ridge during a special meeting on Monday.

The resolution would approve documentation related to the tax increment financing, or TIF, for Main Street Oak Ridge. The $13 million, 30-year TIF agreement would use new property tax revenues generated within the economic impact area to assist in the redevelopment.

The special IDB meeting starts at 4 p.m. Monday, August 24, in the Oak Ridge Municipal Building Training Room. [Read more…]