Oak Ridge Today

ORION astronomy club to feature talk on origin of universe, life on Earth

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Bob Compton

Bob Compton

The ORION astronomy club will have a discussion of the origin of the universe and life on Earth during a talk next week.

The talk will be presented by Robert N. Compton, senior corporate fellow emeritus, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and professor emeritus (physics and chemistry), University of Tennessee.

His talk is titled “On the Origin of the Universe and Life on Earth.”

Humans have long desired to understand our origin and place in the grand cosmos, a press release said. [Read more…]

Specialist to discuss the importance of sleep to good mental health

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Gurecki Sleep

Paul Gurecki

Everyone knows that not getting enough sleep at night can impact your energy level the next day, but do you know how much a lack of sleep can impact your mental well-being?

Dr. Paul Gurecki, certified sleep specialist, will discuss the role of sleep in good mental health on Saturday, April 23. The presentation will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the fellowship hall at Grace Lutheran Church, which is at 131 West Gettysburg Avenue in Oak Ridge.

Gurecki said he will also address the value of sleep hygiene and the difficulties that mental health issues, such as medications and depression, can add to sleep habits. A neurologist also specializing in psychiatry and sleep laboratory medicine, Gurecki holds certification in both neurology and sleep medicine from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has had a successful practice in Oak Ridge for more than 20 years. [Read more…]

All lanes of I-75 reopen in Campbell County

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I-75 Northbound Lanes Campbell County April 13 2016

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, reopened a second lane of travel on Interstate 75 North near mile marker 142 in Campbell County after cleaning up a February 26 rockslide that initially shut down both the northbound and southbound lanes. (Photo courtesy Mark Nagi of TDOT via Twitter)

 

Tennessee Department of Transportation contract crews on Wednesday reopened a second lane of travel on Interstate 75 North near mile marker 142 in Campbell County. All lanes, both northbound and southbound, are now open.

The opening is ahead of schedule, following a rockslide on February 26 that initially forced the closure of the entire interstate. An emergency contract set a schedule for the repairs and allowed all southbound lanes to be reopened on March 9. A single northbound lane was reopened two weeks later on March 24.

While all lanes of travel are now open, a work zone remains off the roadway as crews continue to remove debris and stabilize the existing slope. This work is anticipated to last until the end of May. Motorists are encouraged to use extra caution, especially while workers are present. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge students experience success at Southern Appalachian Science, Engineering Fair

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Gabe Vacliuc with Poster and Trophy

Oak Ridge High School student Gabe Vacaliuc earned first place for his project titled “dQCuts: Simplifying Molecular Dynamics Datasets Using Higher Order Statistical Signatures” under the mentorship of Arvind Ramanathan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Vacaliuc is pictured above with his poster and trophy at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Tennessee earlier this month. (Submitted photo)

 

Seventeen research students from Oak Ridge High School competed in the 64th Annual Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair hosted at the University of Tennessee. The competition was held April 4-7 with the awards ceremony on Thursday evening. There were 52 Senior Division projects in competition.

All 17 students are a part of either the Experimental Scientific Research, or ESR, course or Math, Science, and Computer Science Thesis course at ORHS. The ESR course is led by Sharon Thomas and Thesis is led by Tammy Carneim and Jessica Williams.

Gabe Vacaliuc earned first place for his project titled “dQCuts: Simplifying Molecular Dynamics Datasets Using Higher Order Statistical Signatures” under the mentorship of Arvind Ramanathan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Along with a $1,000 scholarship and trophy, Vacaliuc will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, in May to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

“SASEF was a great experience because I was able to get substantial feedback in a professional setting,” Vacaliuc said. “I’m so grateful to SASEF for the opportunity to represent my school at ISEF in May.” [Read more…]

Secret City Spirits could make bourbon, rum in Oak Ridge

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Secret City Spirits

The Secret City Spirits distillery proposed in west Oak Ridge could be the first of its kind in the city, and it could make bourbon and rum, and flavored unaged liquor.

Secret City Spirits would be located at 1990B Oak Ridge Turnpike, next to United Grocery Outlet.

The co-owners are brothers Eric and Nathan Edmonds of Roane County, Tom Price of Knox County, and Michael Schrage of Chattanooga.

The liquor would be aged on the property. The Oak Ridge Board of Zoning Appeals approved a property exception on Tuesday to allow for light manufacturing, aging, and bottling of liquor for eventual distribution at the property.

The owners said they won’t have a storefront for now. Some liquors have to age for two years. But rums can be produced in less time than that and so can flavored unaged liquors. [Read more…]

Small modular nuclear reactors not likely before mid-2020s

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TVA-SMRs-at-NRC-Meeting-April-12-2016

The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to apply by May 12 for an early site permit that could allow small modular nuclear reactors at the Clinch River Site in west Oak Ridge, possibly as soon as the mid-2020s. Pictured above at a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission meeting to discuss the early site permit on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, is Dan Stout, TVA senior manager for small modular reactors. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The small modular nuclear reactors being evaluated for the Clinch River Site in west Oak Ridge could provide an emissions-free fuel source, but it could be a decade or so before they start operating. And that’s assuming all goes according to plan, officials said Tuesday.

The Tennessee Valley Authority is evaluating the possibility of building the small modular reactors, or SMRs, at the 1,200-acre Clinch River Site. To help prepare for the project, TVA plans to apply for what is known as an early site permit, or ESP, for the Oak Ridge project from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by May 12.

The NRC had two public meetings at Oak Ridge Associated Universities on Tuesday to discuss the safety and environmental review process related to the TVA permit application.

The early site permit application will allow the NRC to evaluate site safety, the environment, and emergency preparedness for future SMRs at the Clinch River Site. That site is in west Oak Ridge just north of the Clinch River and Interstate 40, south of Heritage Center (the former K-25 site), and between Highway 95 and Highway 58 in a bend of the Clinch River.

The review of TVA’s application for an early site permit could take about three years, and maybe longer if any groups raise legal challenges, said Scott Burnell, NRC public affairs officer. [Read more…]

Methodist’s In It to Win It fundraiser earns more than $45,000 for Hospitality Houses

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Dr. Adam Shrewsberry- Junk in the Trunk Champ

Hospitality House Manager Kim Maes presents urologist Adam Shrewsberry, MD, with the “Junk in the Trunk” trophy after he won the special physician challenge, which required him to shake ping pong balls out of a tissue box attached to his waist. (Submitted photo)

 

Second annual fundraiser offered evening of fun and games

The Methodist Medical Center Foundation hosted its second annual “In It to Win It” fundraiser benefiting the Hospitality Houses on Saturday, April 2. Community members, hospital staff, and physicians turned out for the event, which gave guests the opportunity to compete in a series of 60-second party games. Cups, ping pong balls, and pencils were flying as game participants battled to be the first to complete the challenges.

The winners of the six preliminary games had the opportunity to compete for the grand prize: a two-night stay at the Riverside Tower hotel in Pigeon Forge and two tickets to Dollywood. The evening’s big winner was Joey Dembek.

Competing with Dembek for the grand prize were Susan Kuhling, Matt Meslsendori, and Jamie Lesko. These finalists put their hand-eye coordination to the test with the “Tilt-a-Cup” challenge, which required contestants to build a wobbling, hand-held tower of plastic cups separated by ping pong balls. Dembek completed the challenge first to earn the title of “In It to Win It” Champion. [Read more…]

Kickoff meeting for home energy-saving program is April 26

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City of Oak Ridge Seal

The “Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient (MORE2)” Program will be hosting a kickoff event for Oak Ridge residents on Tuesday, April 26, from 4-6 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Civic Center Social Room. The event is an opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about this new program for qualified, low-income residents in the community, a press release said.

Information on other energy-saving programs will also be available for those who do not qualify for the MORE2 program.

The City of Oak Ridge is kicking off the MORE2 program to perform “whole-home, deep energy retrofits” for 229 qualified residents in homes that are at least 20 years old. The project goal is to reduce electrical energy usage in all-electric homes to improve the quality of life for lower income residents and homeowners by significantly increasing the efficiency and comfort of their homes.

Attendees at this event will receive energy-saving items and informant about low- to no-expense energy-saving practices that can immediately improve energy savings in homes. [Read more…]

Roane County executive to speak at Lunch with the League

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Ron Woody, Roane County

Ron Woody

Ron Woody, Roane County executive, will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, April 19. The program will begin at noon in the Social Hall at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Woody will address issues of importance to the county such as where your tax dollars go, problems the county has solved, and problems it is still facing, according to information provided by his office. Among the topics he will address or update in his presentation, “The State of Roane County,” are education, property appraisal, business recruitment, and development of tourism and funding of public services.

What happens in Roane County is of importance to Oak Ridge since a significant portion of Oak Ridge is located in Roane County, and present and future planning affect the lives and wellbeing of these residents and, consequently, all of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Agape House hosts Chocolate Evening, Dessert Contest on May 7

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Chocolate Dessert

Chocolate bakers and candy makers are invited to enter their sweet concoctions in a chocolate dessert contest on Saturday, May 7. (Submitted photo)

 

Chocolate bakers and candy makers are invited to enter their sweet concoctions in a chocolate dessert contest on Saturday, May 7. Agape House of Oak Ridge is hosting the contest during “An Evening of Everything Chocolate,” an event supporting the nonprofit and all-volunteer organization that provides transitional housing for the homeless.

“An Evening of Everything Chocolate,” a Mother’s Day weekend event, will feature tables filled with chocolate desserts from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Truffles, fudge, cookies, brownies, and other treats will be offered, with coffee, sipping chocolate, and water also being served.

For the chocolate dessert contest, the chocolate grand prize winner will receive a $50 gift certificate and a gold medal. A silver medal will be awarded for the best use of chocolate. To enter, bring your dessert to the Social Hall of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church by 6 p.m. May 7. [Read more…]

Legal Aid Society hires two new support staff members

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Mary Burney

Mary Burney

Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, Tennessee’s largest nonprofit law firm, announced Monday that two new support staff members have been added to the firm.

Mary Burney has returned to Legal Aid Society’s Oak Ridge office as the receptionist/intake worker. Burney previously worked for Legal Aid Society in the same capacity from 2008-2014 and was the office manager/legal assistant for Rural Legal Services of Tennessee (predecessor to Legal Aid Society) from 1979-2003. Prior to this return, Burney was a bailiff for the Roane County Sheriff’s Department.

“We are thrilled to have Mary back in the office,” said Janet Mynatt, managing attorney of Legal Aid Society’s office in Oak Ridge. “Except for our new database, things have remained pretty much the same, so Mary has been able to jump right back in. Her past experience with this office will be an asset to our staff and clients alike.” [Read more…]

Reminder: NRC has public meetings on small nuclear reactors today

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Clinch-River-Site-Bear-Creek-Road-Entrance-March-27-2016

The small nuclear reactors that could be built along the Clinch River could provide enough electricity to power several cities the size of Oak Ridge. The Bear Creek Road entrance to the Clinch River Site, where the reactors could be built by the Tennessee Valley Authority, is pictured above on Sunday, March 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Reminder: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will have two public meetings in Oak Ridge today (Tuesday, April 12). The meetings are to discuss the safety and environmental review process related to a Tennessee Valley Authority permit application for small modular reactors at the Clinch River Nuclear Site in west Oak Ridge.

TVA expects to submit what is known as an early site permit, or ESP, application by May 12.

One of the topics to be discussed today is how and when the public may participate in the NRC review process, if desired, a NRC meeting notice said. “The public is encouraged to ask questions about the NRC review process for this ESP Application,”

Two sessions are scheduled in the auditorium of the Pollard Technology Conference Center at 210 Badger Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The first is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, and the second is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Prior to each formal session, there will be an informal one-hour open house to give the public an opportunity to speak informally with the NRC staff. [Read more…]