The Oak Ridge Electric Department is advising customers in far west Oak Ridge of two planned power outages set for Saturday, December 7.
The first outage is scheduled to take place close to 7 a.m., with the second outage set for 2 p.m. Each outage is expected to be brief, lasting approximately 15 minutes.
Customers likely to be affected by the planned outages include the far west end of Oak Ridge at or near The Preserve.
[Read more…]The City of Oak Ridge’s leaf pickup program for 2019 began on Monday, November 25. It is coordinated by Waste Connections of Tennessee. Collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible, a press release said.
“Please note that the proposed schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably from the actual schedule due to weather, resident participation, and the amount of leaves collected,” the press release said.
The following guidelines will help make the leaf pickup process easier for Waste Connections crews and homeowners, the press release said:
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The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board is hosting a “Breakfast with Santa” on Saturday, December 7. The event will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center, which is located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.
The cost for the breakfast is $7 per participant ages 3 and up. Activities will include a kid-friendly breakfast buffet, Christmas crafts, and photos with Santa.
Reservations are required as spots for the event are limited, a press release said. Digital photos will be available online for free, but participants may opt to pay $5 for a 4×6 photo at the event.
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The City of Oak Ridge has received an award for the intergovernmental partnership that led to the American Museum of Science and Energy opening in a new centrally located space in Main Street Oak Ridge.
The 2019 Community Partnership Award was presented to the city by the International City/County Management Association, or ICMA.
“The award recognizes innovative programs or processes between and/or among a local government and other governmental entities, private sector businesses, individuals, or nonprofit agencies to improve the quality of life for residents or provide more efficient and effective services,” a press release said.
The City of Oak Ridge was formally honored during a Celebration of Service to the Profession as part of ICMA’s Annual Conference on Wednesday, October 23. Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, Government Affairs and Information Services Director Amy Fitzgerald, and Administrative Services Director Bruce Applegate accepted the award in Nashville.
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Trees fell and power outages were reported after a thunderstorm in Oak Ridge on Thursday.
The fallen trees and power outages were because of strong winds and heavy rain that lasted a few hours starting at about 11 a.m. Thursday, the City of Oak Ridge said.
The Oak Ridge Public Works Department and Electric Department are responding to the damage reports and making repairs, the city said.
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The Oak Ridge Public Library will host a program by the East Valley Paranormal Society on Saturday, October 26, beginning at 1 p.m.
The program, called “Ghost Hunting 101,” will provide an overview of paranormal investigations and the types of equipment used during a case. East Valley Paranormal Society presenters will also share photos, videos and electronic voice phenomena, or EVP, they have captured, a press release said.
East Valley Paranormal Society team members will be on hand to answer any questions. The program is sponsored by Friends of the Oak Ridge Public Library.
Questions can be directed to the library’s front desk by calling (865) 425-3455.
The City of Oak Ridge closed on a $20.7 million federal loan on Thursday for a new water treatment plant in south Oak Ridge.
It’s a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, or WIFIA, loan. The funds provided by the federal loan program will be used to design and build the new water plant, which will replace an aging facility on Pine Ridge that has served the community since the 1940s.
The total cost for replacement of the water treatment plant is estimated to be $42.2 million, the city said in a press release on Friday. WIFIA will provide about 49 percent of that cost, with the city using the Tennessee State Revolving Fund Loan Program to cover the balance, the press release said.
“After three years of application and planning, the City of Oak Ridge has reached a significant milestone in the funding needed for a new replacement water plant,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in the press release. “WIFIA has helped Oak Ridge with a low-interest federal loan, allowing us to avoid potential failures in a system originally designed for a different Oak Ridge. The financial terms will allow Oak Ridge to afford these much-needed improvements to serve not only our residents, but the national security and U.S. Department of Energy facilities located here.”
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The City of Oak Ridge and its Community Development Department will present possibilities for the mixed-use redevelopment of the Wilson Street corridor at a public meeting on Wednesday, October 23.
The meeting will be held at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, located at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., a press release said. The community is invited to view the presentation, which uses data compiled over several years of study and public engagement focused on the needs of Oak Ridge residents, business owners, and visitors, the release said.
The City of Oak Ridge secured grant funding for this project under an agreement with the State of Tennessee Department of Transportation and coordinated through the regional Transportation Planning Organization for the purposes of envisioning a new “Downtown Oak Ridge,” the press release said. The goal of the study is to explore what could be along the Wilson Street corridor, including multi-story, mixed-use development adjacent to the ongoing retail redevelopment of Main Street Oak Ridge.
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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the annual Children’s Halloween Party on Thursday, October 24, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event is now in its 37th year and will be attended by hundreds of local children and their families, a press release said.
Activities will be held inside the Oak Ridge Civic Center, located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike, and a hay ride will be offered outside in A.K. Bissell Park, weather permitting. There is no admission fee for the event, but participation in most activities requires one or more tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the Civic Center. The cost is 25 cents per ticket or $5 for a pack of 20.
[Read more…]The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has scheduled two scout days and three quota hunts on the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area this fall.
During the scout and quota hunt days, these greenways and this park will be closed: Gallaher Bend Greenway, North Boundary Greenway, Haw Ridge Park, and the section of Melton Lake Greenway adjacent to Haw Ridge Park.
The hunts, which are open only to those with a valid TWRA quota permit, will take place on the following weekends:
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The Oak Ridge Youth Advisory Board, in partnership with the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department and Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson, will host a free Movie Night in the Park event tonight (Friday, October 11).
The event will be held in Alvin K. Bissell Park beginning at 7 p.m. The movie shown will be Disney’s “The Haunted Mansion” (rated PG) from 2003 starring Eddie Murphy. Free popcorn and drinks will be available while supplies last, a press release said.
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The Oak Ridge Public Library will host a lunchtime concert with cellist Alicia Randisi-Hooker on Wednesday, October 16, from noon until 1 p.m. as part of the World Wise Wednesdays program.
An engaging speaker and performer, Alicia Randisi-Hooker is a well-known member of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and the Trillium Piano Trio, a press release said. She has performed extensively in a rich variety of settings, from the Knoxville Symphony to the Philly Pops orchestras, and in many chamber ensembles.
She studied in Germany with members of the renowned Alban Berg Quartet, and performed concerts in Italy, France, Germany, and across the United States. As a noted Suzuki cello teacher, her private cello students have won awards and scholarships both nationally and internationally, the press release said.
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