Oak Ridge Today

Anderson committee to consider tax agreement for OR mall redevelopment

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Oak Ridge Village Area Rendering

 

It’s already been approved by the Oak Ridge City Council, and a 10-year extension of the $13 million tax agreement that could be used to help redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall will next be considered by Anderson County officials.

The agreement will be considered by the Anderson County Operations Committee on Monday evening. It could then be considered by the full Anderson County Commission later this month.

Like Oak Ridge officials, Anderson County officials will consider extending the tax agreement for the 59-acre project by 10 years—from 20 years to 30.

Officials have described the proposed redevelopment, named Main Street Oak Ridge, as an $80 million project that could fill a “hole in the heart” of Oak Ridge, bring new retail life to the city’s downtown, and build a lasting legacy. [Read more…]

Dine and Donate, an ADFAC fundraiser, returns Monday

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ADFAC Dine and Donate at Salsarita's

Will and Leo Mauk-Olson help deliver supplies to Salsarita’s in Oak Ridge. Salsarita’s is a first-time Dine and Donate participant and one of five local restaurants participating year-round. (Submitted photo)

Dine and Donate, a fundraiser for ADFAC, begins its second year of food and fellowship on Monday, October 13.

On Dine and Donate Mondays (the second Monday of each month), seven to eight local restaurants donate a significant portion of their daily sales to ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties).

“Dine and Donate is a great way for local residents to try new restaurants or visit their favorites,” said ADFAC Board Member Cande Seay, who also chairs the Dine and Donate committee. “Last year, hundreds of local families and over a dozen restaurants came together to raise thousands of dollars to support ADFAC’s mission.”

Restaurants participating on Monday, October 13, are Hoskins and Riverview Grill in Clinton, and Mediterranean Delight, The Other One, Papa Murphy’s, Razzleberry’s, and Salsarita’s in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Fallen tree branch causes small electric line fire

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Electric Line Fire on North Seneca Road

A fallen tree limb knocked down a power line on Friday night, starting a small fire in a yard on North Seneca Road.

 

A fallen tree limb knocked down a power line from a utility pole on Friday night, starting a small electric fire in a yard at 150 North Seneca Road.

The Oak Ridge police and fire departments blocked the road until the Oak Ridge Electric Department was able to respond and shut off the power.

The fire was reported at about 11:30 p.m. Friday. It burned for about an hour but did not spread, and firefighters and police officers kept an eye on it while they waited for the power crew.

See another picture here:

[Read more…]

Habitat for Humanity celebrates special day with mortgage burning

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Sherrea Seiber

Sherrea Seiber

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will celebrate World Habitat Day with a special mortgage burning ceremony on Sunday morning at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge.

The ceremony will feature Sherrea Seiber, who has paid her mortgage in full after 20 years, a press release said.

World Habitat Day was Monday, October 6. The Sunday morning ceremony starts at 11 a.m. at St. Stephen’s at 212 North Tulane Avenue.

The press release said Seiber applied for a house in 1993. At that time, she had two children living at home. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge fire chief selected to serve on state commission

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Darryl Kerley

Darryl Kerley

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam has announced the appointment of Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley to the Commission on Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education as a representative of the Tennessee Fire Chief’s Association, the Tennessee Fire Safety Inspectors Association, and the Tennessee Fireman’s Association.

The appointment is effective immediately and runs through July 31, 2020, a press release said.

Kerley has more than 37 years’ experience in fire and emergency services, serving in various capacities for several East Tennessee agencies, including fire chief for the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department, rescue technician and diver for the Knoxville Rescue Squad, and fire chief for the U.S Department of Energy at the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion plant in Oak Ridge.

In a letter to Kerley, Haslam stated: “I consider it very important to ensure that Tennessee’s boards and commissions are filled with the most dedicated and qualified citizens. I believe your participation is certain to leave a positive impact on this board and the work it does.” [Read more…]

Reminder: National Night Out today features food, family-friendly activities

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Bucket Ride

The National Night Out celebration on Saturday, October 11, will feature bucket rides on an Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket truck. (Submitted photo)

 

This is a reminder: The National Night Out celebration at A.K. Bissell Park today will feature free food, family-friendly activities for children and adults, and crime prevention presentations and information.

The National Night Out is from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, October 11, at A.K. Bissell Park near the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The community is invited.

The Oak Ridge Police Community Resource Office and the Oak Ridge Neighborhood Watch Program will host the 2014 National Night Out celebration, a crime prevention program promoted by National Association of Town Watch. This year marks the 31st anniversary of this community-police partnership, a press release said.

Magician Danny Whitson will perform feats of magic during the celebration. Festivities will also include Oak Ridge Police K-9 demonstrations, the Mobile Meth Lab exhibit, safety and health exhibits, Oak Ridge Electric Department bucket rides, drug abuse prevention information, Doug LaVerne on steel drums, music, and games. Child fingerprinting and bike registration will be offered. In case of rain, the celebration will move into the Civic Center. [Read more…]

Clinch River Antiques Festival continues through Saturday

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Clinch River Antiques Festival

The Clinch River Antiques Festival in 2012 is pictured above. (Photo by Carl Warner)

 

The 14th Annual Clinch River Antiques Festival kicked off on Friday evening, October 10, from 6-9 p.m. in Historic Downtown Clinton with shops open late, food vendors, and live entertainment. It continues through Saturday evening.

Friday entertainment—Live entertainment on Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Hoskins Lane Park in Gazebo Park with the unique music of The Walker Boys. The Walker Boys are a gospel and traditional bluegrass band consisting of five brothers and their father. The family has performed for several years at churches, festivals and special events. They live locally in Clinton. [Read more…]

Schools notify parents of solicitation scam

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Christopher J. Marczak

Christopher J. Marczak

Oak Ridge school officials have notified parents of fraudulent school solicitations.

School officials have been told that unknown people are driving around town and soliciting donations for the Parent-Teacher Organization at the schools, Assistant Superintendent Chris Marczak told parents in a Skylert call on Thursday.

“We do not send parents or employees door-to-door to collect money,” Marczak said. “These people are not collecting for any of our schools. If you are asked for money, please do not donate and immediately contact the police department.”

UT Arboretum begins construction on auditorium

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University of Tennessee Arboretum Auditorium

Construction on the new auditorium for the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge is now under way. The building’s open design, wooden beams, and stone fireplace will complement the site’s woodland setting. The building is expected to be completed in June 2015. (Image courtesy UT Institute of Agriculture)

 

Construction work has started on the auditorium at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge.

The auditorium will complement the existing outdoor pavilion, but it will be a stand-alone facility capable of accommodating gatherings of up to 120 people, said Kevin Hoyt, director of the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center and UT Arboretum.

Hoyt described the facility, which will be more than 2,400 square feet, as a good fit for the Arboretum’s environment. It will have large windows that overlook the Arboretum’s hardwood forest, and the design includes a unique two-sided stone fireplace that can add ambiance to events that spill over from the indoor space to a large outside patio, a press release said. [Read more…]

Tech 20/20 hosting computer programming workshops for students

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Tennessee Code Academy has four computer programming workshops scheduled for students ages 12 to 18 this month, with two in Knoxville and two in Oak Ridge.

The first two workshops in Knoxville will be hosted at the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center on October 13 and 14.

Tech 20/20 will host two workshops in Oak Ridge on October 16 and 17.

These workshops will focus on web design and the Python programming language, a press release said. [Read more…]

Contractor, businessman seeking seat on City Council

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Rick Chinn

Rick Chinn

Rick Chinn, a lifetime resident of Oak Ridge, is seeking a seat on the Oak Ridge City Council in the upcoming November 4 election.

Chinn, who is a licensed contractor and local businessman, serves on a number of nonprofit boards and has been active as a civic leader in working to improve the quality of life for all Oak Ridge families, a press release said.

Chinn explained his reasons for seeking to serve on City Council.

“A lot of people in Oak Ridge have invested their time and energy over the years to help me better understand and appreciate how rewarding it is to live and work in Oak Ridge,” he said in the press release. “I have worked hard to continue that tradition of excellence by volunteering my time and resources over the past 20 years. I want to ensure that my children have the same opportunities in the future that have been provided to me. I am ready to work hard for the future of Oak Ridge.” [Read more…]

CASA’s Evening with the Arts is Friday

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CASA’s fifth annual Evening with the Arts is Friday, October 10.

It’s scheduled from 7-10 p.m. at Melton Lake Park.

“(The park) will be transformed from the Oak Ridge riverfront to New Orleans!” a press release said.

Tickets include wine and New Orleans-style food—including shrimp and grits. [Read more…]