Explore Oak Ridge Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Nine Lakes Wine Festival is May 31-June 1

Posted at 11:42 am April 18, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival has been scheduled for May 31-June 1, 2019, in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. The festival, pictured above in 2018, celebrates Tennessee wines and ciders that are 100 percent locally made. (Photo by Keely Rountree/Courtesy Nine Lakes Wine Festival)

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival has been scheduled for May 31-June 1 in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. The festival celebrates Tennessee wines and ciders that are 100 percent locally made. Plus, the festival is home to the South’s only human-powered wine barrel race, benefitting 24 local charities, a press release said.

The Grand Tasting is Saturday, June 1, from 3 to 8 p.m., on the waterfront at Melton Lake Park, featuring 17 wineries sampling more than 100 Tennessee wines and ciders. Festival-goers can receive a complimentary tasting glass and a six-compartment wine tote, the press release said. They may purchase bottles of wine directly from the winemakers, and enjoy shopping with local artisans at the festival as well.

From 4 to 7 p.m., festival participants are invited to join in the Barrels of Fun Charity Race, in which pairs of rollers can earn cash for their chosen charity. “Winning teams will receive a bottle of Tennessee wine!” the press release said.

[Read more…]

‘Atomic Integration,’ photo exhibit on African-American life in Manhattan Project, opens Friday

Posted at 2:40 pm February 5, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Photo by Ed Westcott via National Park Service

In honor of Black History Month, the Oak Ridge History Museum will host “Atomic Integration,” a photography exhibition focusing on African-American life during the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a press release said.

The exhibit will open on Friday, February 8, and it will be open every Friday and Saturday during the month of February, the press release said.

The photo exhibit was developed under sponsorship by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Explore Oak Ridge.

The images that will be displayed in the photo exhibit illustrate the experiences and contributions of African-Americans during the Manhattan Project period during the 1940s in Oak Ridge, the press release said. [Read more…]

Holiday gift: ADFAC activity book about Oak Ridge history for children

Posted at 2:47 pm December 22, 2018
By Annie Cacheiro Leave a Comment

Left to right, ADFAC Committee member Ray Smith is joined by Barbara Ferrell, The Ferrell Shop; Denise Parten, Southern Bliss; Annie Cacheiro, ADFAC Executive Director; Becky Hook, ADFAC School Supply Coordinator and Activity Book Chairman; and Jim Dodson, ADFAC Board of Directors and Committee member. (Submitted photo)

“The Secret is Out: Discover Oak Ridge” activity book for sale with proceeds benefitting ADFAC.

Looking for a unique gift for a child? ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties) has the answer.

“The Secret is Out: Discover Oak Ridge” is an activity book designed to present the history of Oak Ridge through pictures and activities for children ages 5-13. Art work, poems, puzzles, and short stories created by students from Oak Ridge schools were submitted for publication, a press release said. Area adult artists and photographers also donated their services to benefit ADFAC.

Developed in conjunction with ADFAC’s 30th anniversary and Oak Ridge’s 75th anniversary, “The Secret is Out: Discover Oak Ridge” gives a pictorial history of the city and includes organizations of interest to children. Ariana Rector, graphic designer, created the cover which highlights Oak Ridge’s historically significant accomplishments in a timeline from black and white to color. She is also credited with illustrating many of the coloring pages and compiling the submitted works, the press release said. [Read more…]

Katy Jett named president of Explore Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:58 pm November 20, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Katy Jett

Katy Jett, a marketing executive with extensive Oak Ridge ties, has been named president of Explore Oak Ridge.

Jett has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Tennessee and served in business development and marketing for K-25 Federal Credit Union for seven years, a press release said. She was vice president of marketing for UT Federal Credit Union for 12 years before joining Enrichment Federal Credit Union, where she was VP of marketing for 10 years.

Jett’s marketing roles have included media relations, promotions, event management, community involvement, budget management, training, and leadership, the press release said. [Read more…]

Explore Oak Ridge appoints Kendall as interim president

Posted at 1:12 pm October 2, 2018
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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…]

K-25 overlook to re-open in October

Posted at 2:29 pm September 7, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Visitor's Overlook, part of the Happy Valley property purchased in November, is pictured above across from East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Visitor’s Overlook, part of the Happy Valley property purchased in November 2016, is pictured above across from East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

K-25 Overlook will be ‘bigger and better,’ provide Manhattan Project and recreational information

The K-25 Overlook next to State Route 58 in west Oak Ridge will soon be re-opening as a much larger and nicer visitor center that will also have a new purpose, a press release said.

Owner John McCormick, vice president of Bionomics, purchased the 160-acre property known as Happy Valley through an auction at the end of 2016. The overlook on SR 58 across from the East Tennessee Technology Park, the former K-25 site, was part of the purchase.

But the overlook needed building repairs and updates to the historical information inside, the press release said. In 2017, McCormick partnered with Pam May, vice president of the Roane Alliance, who reached out to local historians, the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy, and Explore Oak Ridge to discuss the future of the overlook.

“The idea to expand the overlook into a visitor center and recreational hub came from the National Park Service in one of the early meetings,” May said. “That aligned perfectly with what John had envisioned—to create trails and open spaces that people could enjoy while also learning Happy Valley’s history through its landmarks still evident on the property.” [Read more…]

State grant will help with national park signs, waterfront improvements

Posted at 7:08 pm August 1, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Pictured above during a state grant announcement at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building for national park signs and waterfront improvements on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, are, from left, Dave Jones, East Tennessee division manager of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development; Amy New, assistant commissioner of community and rural development for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch; Jody Sliger, community development director for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; and Marc DeRose, president of Explore Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

A state grant of more than $50,000 that was announced Tuesday will help create interpretive signs for historic sites in Oak Ridge that are related to the Manhattan Project National Historical Park and improve the waterfront for events such as rowing, cycling, and festivals, officials said.

The $56,250 Tourism Enhancement Grant, part of the third round of grants, was announced Tuesday at the Oak Ridge Municipal Building. A few Oak Ridge officials attended, and so did representatives of the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

“Through this grant, the City of Oak Ridge, in partnership with Explore Oak Ridge, will receive funds to support projects that improve some of the city’s key tourist attractions,” a press release said.

Marc DeRose, president of Explore Oak Ridge, said there are two parts to the grant. One is to enhance the city’s component of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The grant funding could be used to create interpretive signs at historic places like the Guest House and Chapel on the Hill. The interpretive signs will be accessible and include pictures and content, DeRose said. [Read more…]

USA Cycling selects Oak Ridge for individual time trial championships

Posted at 8:57 am June 7, 2018
By John Huotari 2 Comments

USA Cycling has selected Oak Ridge for one of three national championships in East Tennessee this month.

The USA Cycling Professional Road, Individual Time Trial (ITT), and Criterium National Championships will be in Knoxville and Oak Ridge from June 21-24.

The ITT National Championships will be on Melton Lake Drive on June 21, kicking off the championships, a press release said.

The City of Oak Ridge is hosting the ITT National Championships in partnership with Visit Knoxville, the press release said. [Read more…]

USA Cycling has Time Trial championship race in Oak Ridge in June

Posted at 2:50 pm April 24, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Image by USA Cycling

The USA Cycling Pro Road, Time Trial, and Criterium National Championships will be in Oak Ridge and Knoxville in June, and the first of those races, the Time Trial races, will be in Oak Ridge on Thursday, June 21.

The Oak Ridge races will kick off the championships, according to Explore Oak Ridge and Adventure Anderson County.

The Time Trial championships will be hosted by Visit Knoxville and the City of Oak Ridge, the two tourism organizations said.

They said the Time Trial course is a seven-mile section of roadway that will include part of Melton Lake Drive, which is along the Oak Ridge waterfront, and Union Valley Road. The professional and elite women will complete two laps for a total distance of 14.1 miles. The professional and elite men will complete three laps for a total distance of 21.25 miles.

The course allows spectators to see athletes pass multiple times from one viewing location, Explore Oak Ridge and Adventure Anderson County said. [Read more…]

‘HerStory:’ A special women’s history reception & celebration on March 22

Posted at 9:34 am March 14, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Kattie Lue Strickland

As part of Women’s History Month and the 75th Anniversary of Oak Ridge, there will be a special Manhattan Project event on Thursday, March 22. The program will start at 5:30 pm at the New Hope Visitor Center at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Scarboro Road in Oak Ridge.

During the event, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park will be presented with a biscuit pan secretly used by Kattie Strickland during the Manhattan Project. The biscuit pan is an important cultural artifact for the park that can help provide context of the story of a woman who worked on the Manhattan Project, a press release said.

Each person had a unique story of why they found themselves working in the Secret City, the press release said. [Read more…]

Secret City Half Marathon & 5K helps raise awareness of kidney, organ donation

Posted at 9:19 am November 18, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Kidney transplant recipient and Harry Connick Jr. show guest Steve Winfree and his wife Heather of Knoxville are walking in the Secret City Half Marathon & 5K in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, to support organ donation. (Submitted photo)

The Secret City Half Marathon & 5K in Oak Ridge today (Saturday, November 18) is helping to raise awareness of kidney donation and organ donation in general, a press release said.

Now in its ninth year, the marathon has grown into one of the largest athletic events in the region, the press release said. An estimated 1,000 participants will run and/or walk their way to the finish line.

Great things are happening at this year’s event, the press release said.

“We are excited to have been mentioned on the Harry Connick Jr. show as Knoxville residents Steve and Heather Winfree’s chosen event to help raise awareness for kidney donation and organ donations in general,” said Lisa Kendall, race director for the half marathon and 5K races and vice president of Explore Oak Ridge. “Steve’s wife, Heather, was a kidney match for Steve and the touching video of her sharing the news with him went viral with media attention worldwide.” [Read more…]

Lunch with the League features Marc DeRose of Explore Oak Ridge on Tuesday

Posted at 5:16 pm October 15, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Marc DeRose

Marc DeRose of Explore Oak Ridge will be the guest speaker at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, October 17. His presentation will center on Explore Oak Ridge’s responsibility for maximizing the economic impact of visitors to Oak Ridge, a press release said.

Explore Oak Ridge was formerly known as the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Lunch with the League meeting will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, which is located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

DeRose, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, has a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental science from Trent University, Peterborough, Canada, and a master’s degree in biology and quantitative genetics from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, the press release said. He spent more than 15 years as a professional rowing coach at the junior, NCAA, national, and international levels. [Read more…]