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Medicare Informational Session at Oak Ridge Senior Center on Oct. 22

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Enrolling in or changing your Medicare program can be a daunting task. For those seeking more information, be sure to join the Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at the Oak Ridge Senior Center on Monday, October 22, at 10 a.m.

The SHIP program offers free and objective assistance for Medicare participants. Counselors will begin with a presentation on basic Medicare benefits, including Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Part D drug plans, and Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies, a press release said.

If you need more individualized counseling after the presentation, SHIP counselors will be available to review your current coverage with the 2019 information and make sure you are on the best plan for your needs, the press release said.

Additional questions about the program can be directed to the Oak Ridge Senior Center at (865) 425-3999.


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Meet candidates for public office at Chamber on Tuesday

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You can meet candidates for public office in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The event, called “Popcorn and Politics,” will be at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, October 16. It’s hosted by the Chamber’s Advocacy Committee. It will give the community the opportunity to meet candidates running for office in the November 6 election, a press release said.

All local candidates, as well as candidates running for state legislative offices and federal offices, have been invited to participate, the press release said. The event will be held in the Joyce Conference Room at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce at 1400 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“The public is invited to come meet the candidates,” the press release said. [Read more…]

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Forum for Oak Ridge City Council, Board of Education candidates is Tuesday

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The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge will sponsor a candidate forum on Tuesday, October 16, at 7 p.m. in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater. Candidates running for Oak Ridge City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education have been invited to participate, a press release said.

The five candidates for a four-year term on City Council are Kelly Callison, R.G. “Rick” Chinn Jr., Warren Gooch, Ellen D. Smith, and Timothy L. Stallings. Four council members will be elected. Derrick M. Hammond is the only candidate running to fill the unexpired two-year term left by Council member Hans Vogel when he resigned earlier this year.

The three candidates for a four-year term on the Oak Ridge Board of Education are Laura McLean, Benjamin J. Stephens, and Erin S. Webb. Three board members will be elected. [Read more…]

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Public Works director to discuss water, wastewater systems on Tuesday

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Oak Ridge Public Works Director Shira McWaters will discuss the needs and costs of the city’s water and wastewater systems at Lunch with the League on Tuesday. McWaters will also discuss the status of upgrades to the systems, a press release said.

Lunch with the League is scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

McWaters was in the private consulting field for more than 22 years before she accepted the position with the City of Oak Ridge, the press release said. She helped municipal clients in the areas of water, wastewater, and storm water. McWaters has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Worchester Polytechnic Institute and holds professional engineering licenses for the states of Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Arizona. [Read more…]

Council approves construction contracts for Preschool, Senior Center

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A rendering of the new Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

A rendering of the new Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council has approved two construction contracts worth $11.1 million total for two projects that have been discussed for years: a new Oak Ridge Preschool and new Oak Ridge Senior Center. The Preschool contract includes improvements at Scarboro Park, where the Preschool will be built.

Both contracts were awarded to Jenkins and Stiles LLC of Knoxville. Council approved them in two 7-0 votes during a special meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Both projects will be funded through general obligation bonds, a type of debt. The bonds could go to market in November and close in December.

The first contract awarded Thursday is for the construction of the Preschool and improvements to Scarboro Park. It is worth up to about $8.4 million. The Preschool is expected to be complete by November 30, 2019.  [Read more…]

Council to consider $11.1 million in construction contracts for Preschool, Senior Center

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A rendering of the new Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

A rendering of the new Oak Ridge Preschool at Scarboro Park. (Image courtesy City of Oak Ridge/Studio Four Design)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council in a special meeting on Thursday will consider $11.1 million in construction contracts for the new Oak Ridge Preschool, Oak Ridge Senior Center, and Scarboro Park improvements.

The contracts could both be awarded to Jenkins and Stiles LLC of Knoxville.

There were four bidders for the Senior Center project and three for the Preschool and Scarboro Park improvements, according to Jacene Phillips, senior project manager for Studio Four Design. Her company recommended both contracts be awarded to Jenkins and Stiles because of cost, but also because the Senior Center could be operating two months earlier under that contract than under any other bid and the Preschool would be complete three days before it would be under the other bids, Phillips said.

Both projects would be funded through general obligation bonds, a type of debt that could be issued in November.

The first contract that could be awarded Thursday is for the construction of the Preschool and improvements to Scarboro Park. The contract would be worth up to about $8.4 million. The Preschool would be built at Scarboro Park. [Read more…]

Library closures announced for rooftop HVAC work

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The Oak Ridge Public Library expects to be closed on five separate occasions between October 15 and November 23 to allow for planned work to the rooftop air conditioning and heating system as well as staff work days, a press release said.

“During this six-week time period, patrons should expect increased noise and a high level of construction activity in and around the library,” the press release said.

The planned library closure dates are as follows: [Read more…]

Signal timing project would be eligible for 100 percent federal funds

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Oak-Ridge-Turnpike-South-Tulane-Dec-10-2015

The intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike and Tulane Avenue is pictured above in this file photo from December 2015. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A $2.8 milion signal timing project that could affect traffic lights on Oak Ridge Turnpike would be eligible for 100 percent federal funding, according to a resolution to be considered by Oak Ridge City Council members on Monday.

The project, the second phase of a project to improve the city’s traffic signal system, could cost $2.86 million, and it would focus on 14 locations along a 2.7-mile section of Oak Ridge Turnpike between Illinois Avenue and Florida Avenue. It would include:

  • the installation of advanced traffic controllers at 11 intersections,
  • the installation of aerial and underground fiber optic cables to connect all 14 signals within the city’s existing fiber network,
  • the replacement of loop detectors with radar vehicle detection at stop lights, and
  • the establishment of a traffic operations center that would be located in the Oak Ridge Central Services Complex on Woodbury Lane to manage the signals.

In addition, the city would replace older existing traffic signal heads with LED signals that operate more efficiently, more reliably, and provide better visibility, according to a memo that accompanies the resolution and was written by Oak Ridge Public Works Director Shira McWaters. She said new pedestrian-accessible signals would be installed at appropriate locations along with new signing and pavement marking upgrades. And two signals would also be reconstructed to receive new mast arms. [Read more…]

Julie Forkner named director of Oak Ridge Public Library

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Julie Forkner

Julie Forkner

 

The City of Oak Ridge has named Julie Forkner as director of the Oak Ridge Public Library. Forkner was hired in 2016 as manager of library operations. She has served as acting library director for the last six months.

“Please join us in congratulating Julie on her new position,” a press release said.

Forkner is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, receiving her master’s degree in library and information science in 2012. Prior to this, she obtained a master’s degree in English rhetoric and composition from UT-Chattanooga and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Warren Wilson College in North Carolina. [Read more…]

Explore Oak Ridge appoints Kendall as interim president

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Lisa Kendall

Lisa Kendall

 

Explore Oak Ridge, the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, announced Friday that it will appoint Lisa Kendall to the position of interim president.

Marc DeRose, the former president of Explore Oak Ridge, announced in late August that he planned to resign from the position in September to pursue other career goals after four years, but he would remain in the position until September 30 (this past Sunday) to assist in the search and transition to a new president.

Kendall currently serves as vice president of Explore Oak Ridge, and she oversees visitor event development and support, a press release said. Since joining Explore Oak Ridge in 2015, Kendall has led many initiatives to enhance the economic impact of visitors on Oak Ridge, the press release said. [Read more…]

Children’s Halloween Party set for Oct. 26; game booth sponsors, volunteers needed

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Halloween Party 2017 Star Wars Family Costume (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

Halloween Party 2017 Star Wars Family Costume (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the 2018 Children’s Halloween Party on Friday, October 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This annual event is now in its 36th year and will be attended by hundreds of local children and their families, a press release said.

Activities will be planned for every room in the Oak Ridge Civic Center, and a hay ride will be offered in Bissell Park, weather permitting, the press release said. 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…]

Oak Ridge voters invited to meet election candidates

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Voters are invited to a Meet the Candidates event on Thursday, October 18, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

Democracy for East Tennessee is sponsoring this event so residents of Oak Ridge can become better acquainted with the candidates for offices in the upcoming November city, state, and federal general elections, a press release said. Early voting begins October 17, and the election is Tuesday, November 6. [Read more…]

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