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Oak Ridge wins two tourism awards

Posted at 1:47 pm December 20, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Pictured above are, from left, Rebecca Williams and Barbara Ferrell of the Lavender Festival; Katy Watt, president of Explore Oak Ridge; and Mark Ezell, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourism at a recent awards ceremony. (Photo courtesy Explore Oak Ridge/City of Oak Ridge)

Oak Ridge has won two awards for promoting tourism in middle East Tennessee, an area that includes the Knoxville metropolitan area.

The Oak Ridge Lavender Festival was awarded the 2022 Best Annual Festival or Event Award, a press release said.

Explore Oak Ridge was awarded the Excellence in Tourism Award for Best Advertising or Marketing Campaign for the “Katie the Calutron Girl” marketing promotion.

The 2022 awards were presented by the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council in a December 1 ceremony. The METTC promotes tourism activities and represents a 16-county region including Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cooke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union counties.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Barbara Ferrell, best annual festival, Explore Oak Ridge, Katie the Calutron Girl, Katy Watt, Lavender Festival, marketing promotion, Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council, Oak Ridge, Rebecca Williams, tourism, tourism awards

Four qualifiers win at songwriters competition

Posted at 2:26 pm February 12, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Locals, visitors, and music industry leaders came together for a lively celebration and songwriting competition for East Tennessee songsmiths at Tennessee Songwriters Week’s qualifying round in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. (Submitted photo)

Locals, visitors, and music industry leaders met for a celebration and songwriting competition for East Tennessee songsmiths at Tennessee Songwriters Week’s qualifying round in Oak Ridge on Wednesday.

“A slew of songwriters provided one of the most engaging and exciting songwriting competitions to date,” a press release said.

The competition was at Oakey’s Sports Bar in Oak Ridge. Each competitor was judged based on their overall performance, originality, and connection to the audience, the press release said. Out of the 20 applicants, only four were part of the winners from Oak Ridge’s qualifying round to advance to the next round at the Bijou Theater in Knoxville.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Front Page News, Music Tagged With: Corey Clifton, Explore Oak Ridge, Hazi Thomas, Katy Watt, Oak Ridge, qualifying round, Shandy Glover, songwriting competition, Tennessee Songwriters Week, Travis Tench

Oak Ridge will host songwriter competition qualifier

Posted at 1:08 pm December 22, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge has been selected to host a qualifying round in February for Tennessee Songwriters Week, and applications are now open for the competition.

It’s the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development’s fourth annual Tennessee Songwriters Week. The Knoxville area’s qualifying round will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 9, at Oakey’s Sports Bar in Oak Ridge.

“The Tennessee Department of Tourism Development created this week to celebrate the foundation of the craft for which Tennessee is known: music,” a press release said. “Oak Ridge was among 30 locations statewide selected as a qualifying round host.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development as we host a 2022 Tennesseee Songwriter’s Week qualifying round at our signature Oakey’s Sports Bar,” said Katy Watt, president of Explore Oak Ridge. “Positioned perfectly in a valley along Knoxville’s trending city scene and the Great Smoky Mountains, Oak Ridge is the ideal destination for a musical experience unlike any other.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: Explore Oak Ridge, Katy Watt, Oak Ridge, Oakey's Sports Bar, songwriters, Tennessee Department of Tourism Development, Tennessee Songwriters Week

Cars for Canines is Saturday

Posted at 10:30 am August 20, 2021
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Explore Oak Ridge will host the second annual Cars for Canines event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, at Melton Lake Park. (Photo submitted by Explore Oak Ridge)

Explore Oak Ridge will host the second annual Cars for Canines event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, August 21, at Melton Lake Park.

The event will consist of a car show sponsored by Summer Knights Cruisers, food trucks, live music, vendors, demonstrations, and pet-friendly fun all to benefit the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter and Anderson County Humane Society, a press release said.

This event is free, and everyone is welcome, including your four-legged friends, the press release said.

Car show registration is $20 and begins at 10 am. All classic cars, hot rods, and motorcycles are welcome to enter. Awards will be given to the top 25 vehicles and door prizes will be given during the event for registered vehicles, the release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, Front Page News, Pets, Slider Tagged With: Anderson County Humane Society, Cars for Canines, classic cars, Dock Dogs, Explore Oak Ridge, Hannah Fatheree, hot rods, Matt Jinks, Melton Lake Park, Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, Sit Means Sit

Murals celebrate Oak Ridge recreation, history

Posted at 2:35 am May 22, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A mural is being painted on an ORNL Federal Credit Union building on West Tennessee Avenue by artist Megan Lingerfelt, pictured above on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

Murals celebrating nature, diversity, history, and outdoor activities have been painted on or near several Oak Ridge buildings, including at the boathouse and at ORNL Federal Credit Union.

Three murals have been painted near the ORNL Federal Credit Union headquarters on Rutgers Avenue. Another mural has been painted on the Oak Ridge Rowing Association boathouse at Melton Lake Park.

A fifth mural is being painted on an ORNL Federal Credit Union building on West Tennessee Avenue.

The first three murals painted at the credit union headquarters building on Rutgers Avenue were designed by students at Oak Ridge High School, Jefferson Middle School, and Willow Brook Elementary School, according to JMS art teacher Jim Dodson, who is also an Oak Ridge City Council member. The murals were created by Bryan Wilkerson, art professor at Roane State Community College. For their work, each of the schools received a $500 contribution to their art departments, and the students received a cash award, Dodson said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Arts, Business, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: Bryan Wilkerson, Dogwood Arts, Explore Oak Ridge, Jessica Emert, Jim Dodson, Jim Rogers, Jon Hetrick, Katy Watt, Megan Lingerfelt, murals, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge boathouse, Oak Ridge Rowing Association, ORNL Federal Credit Union, Tom Wright

Regatta season starts next week

Posted at 3:06 pm March 3, 2021
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

SIRA-Regatta-April-17-2016-6
The 2016 SIRA Championship Regatta is pictured above in Oak Ridge on Sunday, April 17, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

This year’s regatta season will start next week with the Cardinal Invitational in Oak Ridge. That rowing competition with the University of Louisville is scheduled from March 13-14 at Melton Lake Park.

Other rowing events will begin in late April and run almost every weekend through May, a press release said.

This year, the Oak Ridge Rowing Association will host, for the first time, the NCAA Division I American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship, the press release said.

The races this year follow the cancellation of six regattas in 2020, including the NCAA Division I, II, and III Championships, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, College, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Rowing, Slider, Sports, Sports Tagged With: American Athletic Conference Championship, Cardinal Invitational, COVID-19, Explore Oak Ridge, Melton hill lake, NCAA, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Rowing Association, ORRA, regatta, rowing, Warren Gooch

Restaurants changing hours, types of service

Posted at 1:13 pm March 19, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Panera-Aubreys-March-17-2020
The parking lot at Panera Bread and Aubrey’s late in the lunch hour Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. March 20.

Many restaurants in Oak Ridge are changing hours or the types of services they offer to help try to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Explore Oak Ridge, which helps promote tourism, is tracking some of the changes at restaurants and businesses.

Many restaurants are offering carry-out or curbside service or delivery service. Some are still offering dine-in service. Some are closing earlier than normal.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, COVID-19, Entertainment, Food, Front Page News, Health, Oak Ridge, Slider Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Explore Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, restaurants

Museums, national park center closed

Posted at 11:34 am March 18, 2020
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The American Museum of Science and Energy is pictured above on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Museums and the national park welcome center in Oak Ridge are closed because of COVID-19, the respiratory illness that has infected more than 200,000 people in at least 144 countries around the world and killed more than 8,000 people.

The museums closed in Oak Ridge are the American Museum of Science and Energy, Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, K-25 History Center, Oak Ridge History Museum at Midtown Community Center (Wildcat Den), and Y-12 History Museum at New Hope Center.

Also closed is the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Welcome Center at the Children’s Museum.

The AMSE bus tours are also not operating now.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, COVID-19, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Health, History, Museums, Museums, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE bus tours, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, coronavirus, COVID-19, Explore Oak Ridge, K-25 History Center, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, museum, Oak Ridge History Museum, Y-12 History Museum

Manhattan Project Park: Commemorate tennis court dances in Jackson Square

Posted at 10:36 am September 23, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Tennis Court Dance NPS
This undated photo shows a tennis court dance in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy National Park Service)

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will commemorate the tennis court dances that occurred in Jackson Square 75 years ago with a dance and costume contest in October.

The Tennis Court Dance and Costume Contest is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, October 11, in the Jackson Square tennis courts. The free event will feature swing dancing music from the 1940s World War II era.

The National Park Service is partnering with Explore Oak Ridge to host the dance, a press release said.

“All ages are welcome to attend and everyone is encouraged to participate in the costume contest with their best 1940s costume,” the press release said. “One winner will be announced for best individual costume and one for group costumes.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Dancing, Entertainment, Farragut, Front Page News, Government, History, History, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: costume contest, Explore Oak Ridge, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Park Service, tennis court dance

Explore Oak Ridge plans citywide scavenger hunt on Saturday

Posted at 12:38 pm May 6, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Explore Oak Ridge ​has planned a citywide scavenger hunt on Saturday, May 11.

The scavenger hunt is scheduled from 12-2 p.m. Saturday, a press release said.

“We encourage all to participate,” it said.

The scavenger hunt will take participants to eight different locations within Oak Ridge, with a prize at each site and an opportunity to win a grand prize valued at $500. All clues for the hunt will be issued via Instagram and Facebook, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Explore Oak Ridge, National Travel and Tourism Week, scavenger hunt

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…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Community, Festivals, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, barrel race, Barrels of Fun Charity Race, Brick Oven Bus, Burchfield's Restaurant, Carolina Story, Celebrate Oak Ridge, ciders, Cruisin' Cuisin, David Slack Trio, Explore Oak Ridge, Grand Tasting, human-powered wine barrel race, James R. Riddle, Josh Cottrell, Mark Gillerand, Melton Lake Park, music, Nine Lakes Wine Festival, Penne For Your Thoughts, Rebecca Williams, Tennessee wine, Tennessee wines, The Depot Printhouse, winemakers, wines

‘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

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…]

Filed Under: Community, Federal, Front Page News, Government, History, Oak Ridge Office, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: African-American life, Atomic Integration, Black History Month, Explore Oak Ridge, James Edward Westcott, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Park Service, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge History Museum, photography exhibition, U.S. Department of Energy

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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