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Pumpkin Fest returning to Grove Center in October

Posted at 11:07 am September 22, 2019
By Sheri Hartzog Leave a Comment

Pumpkin Fest is returning to Grove Center in October, a press release said.

The free festival is scheduled from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 26. It will include kid and pet costume contests, a halloween parade, pie eating contest, trick-or-treating for children, craft vendors, music, a scavenger hunt, pumpkin carving contest, and more, the press release said.

The Grove Center Festival Association is looking for local businesses to help sponsor the return of the festival, the press release said.

“Company sponsors will be helping bring a family-oriented and free community event back to Oak Ridge,” the release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Festivals, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: festival, Grove Center, Grove Center Festival Association, Oak Ridge, Pumpkin Fest

Buddy Westcott’s Open Mic at the Grove on Thursday

Posted at 11:52 pm January 24, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

BuddyOpenMic

There is an open mic for musicians, singers, poets, and comedians at the Grove Theater in Oak Ridge on Thursday.

It’s called Buddy Westcott’s Open Mic at the Grove. All ages are welcome.

The open mic is in the small theater from 7-11 p.m. Thursday, January 25. Sign-ups will be at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $3, and it will be passed on to High Places Community Church, which owns the Grove Theater. The theater is in Grove Center.

There will be a three-song limit or 15 minutes for each group or solo or act, organizers said.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Filed Under: Comedy, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: Buddy Westcott's Open Mic at the Grove, comedians, Grove Center, Grove Theater, High Places Community Church, musicians, open mic, poets, singers

City, Chamber kick off holidays with ‘Shop Oak Ridge’ at Main Street on Tuesday

Posted at 12:45 am November 21, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A sign showing some of the stores at Main Street Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

A sign showing some of the stores at Main Street Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The City of Oak Ridge and the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will kick off the holiday shopping season with a special event called “Shop Oak Ridge” at Main Street Oak Ridge on Tuesday.

The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 21, under the tent at Main Street Oak Ridge, the 58-acre mixed use retail development that replaced the Oak Ridge Mall, a press release said. The property was sold to RealtyLink in June 2016, and demolition of the former mall began in July 2016. Less than a year later, it had been replaced with a new concept and new stores, the press release said.

Businesses that have opened locations in Main Street Oak Ridge include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Belk, City of Oak Ridge, Dick's Sporting Goods, Electronic Express, Grove Center, holiday shopping, Jackson Square, JCPenney, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Maurice's, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, PetSmart, Rack Room Shoes, RealtyLink, Rue 21, Shop Oak Ridge, T.J. Maxx, Ulta, Warren Gooch

Police capture suspect quickly after armed robbery at restaurant

Posted at 10:10 pm January 10, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

An armed robbery suspect is in custody after holding employees of a Grove Center business at gunpoint and leading Oak Ridge police on a brief foot pursuit Tuesday evening, a press release said.

The Oak Ridge Police Department got a call at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 10, that an armed robbery had just occurred at the Hibachi Burger restaurant at 138 Randolph Road in Grove Center.

The person calling 911 said a man armed with a pistol and a bandana covering his face had demanded money from the business. The caller said the suspect took an undetermined amount of cash and then ran out of the restaurant. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Police and Fire Tagged With: armed robbery, City of Oak Ridge, Grove Center, Hibachi Burger, Oak Ridge Police Department, robbery

Today: Harlem Ambassadors for Habitat, former NASA chief astronomer, Smith on Three Bend

Posted at 11:28 am March 24, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

A reminder—There are three events happening this evening: the Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show in a benefit for Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, a former chief astronomer at NASA who is referred to as the “mother of the Hubble Telescope” discussing the evolution of the universe from the Big Bang to black holes, and local historian and writer Ray Smith discussing the Three Bend Scenic and Wildlife Management Refuge Area of the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show starts at 6 p.m. today (Thursday, March 24) at Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School. This show is not only entertaining, organizers said, it also brings an important message to kids: “Stay off drugs, stay in school, don’t be a bully!”

Individuals have sponsored tickets so that student-athletes in Anderson County can come to the game for free.

The “opposing” team, the Habi-bats, is made up of local coaches and other local basketball standouts.

“We hope to fill the arena and sell lots of hotdogs, all in an effort to raise money to build and repair homes in Anderson County,” a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: AAUW, Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation, AFORR, Alyssa Bryant, American Association of University Women, American Museum of Science and Energy, Charlotte Bowers, Clark Center Park, Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series, FORNL, Freels Cabin, Friends of ORNL, Grove Center, Habi-bats, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, Harlem Ambassadors, Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show, Hubble Space Telescope, Hubble Telescope, Manhattan Project, Nancy Grace Roman, NASA, NASA Astronomy and Relativity Programs, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Reservation, Office of Space Science, ReStore, Roane State Community College, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Three Bend Scenic and Wildlife Management Refuge Area, TNBank, U.S. Department of Energy, Wildcat Arena, wildlife management area

Pumpkin Festival is Saturday in Grove Center

Posted at 12:59 pm October 25, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Pumpkin Fest 2015

By Jim Widener

The 13th Annual Pumpkin Festival in the Historic Grove Center on Halloween will feature live music, family-friendly activities, and food vendors. The Pumpkin Festival is from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday, October 31, at Oak Ridge’s Historic Grove Center. The community is invited to enjoy Halloween with us!

Dress up and get in the spirit. Kids are especially encouraged to enter the costume contest. Our celebrity judges will present prizes for the best costumes. Pets and their people are encouraged to dress in outrageous, fanciful costumes and join in the fun! Pets are allowed to come in on a foot-powered float, like a wagon or decorated bicycle. And don’t forget the pumpkin chunkin’ contest! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Music, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: costume contest, Danny Whitson, food, Grove Center, Halloween, High Places Community Church, Jada Blade, Jim Widener, magic, music, Pumpkin Festival, The Barber Shop, Third Degree, Tradewinds

Shop the Historic Grove Center Day is Saturday

Posted at 10:35 am April 16, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The shop keepers of the Historic Grove Center would like to announce “Shop The Historic Grove Center Day” on Saturday, April 18, from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The day will include live music, karaoke, and more, organizers said.

“This event is to bring awareness to people that Historic Grove Center is here, and we have some awesome shops,” organizers said. “Shop small and help the small businesses.”

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Oak Ridge Tagged With: Grove Center, Historic Grove Center, Shop the Historic Grove Center Day, small business

Sponsored: Gift Sale extended to benefit Habitat for Humanity

Posted at 5:24 pm December 9, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County Gift Sale

A Gift Sale in Grove Center this month benefits Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County.

The Gift Sale has been extended through 3 p.m. Christmas Eve. The sale will also be open today (December 23) until 6 p.m. at Habitat for Humanity at 105 Randolph Road in the Historic Grove Center.

The sale features exquisite jewelry, accessories, exotic beads, apparel, linen, handicrafts, and tribal art designed and crafted by banjaras (gypsies) and artisans in India. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Business, Community, Entertainment, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Sponsored Posts Tagged With: Apparel, art, beads, gift sale, Grove Center, Habitat for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, jewelry, linen

Sound Co. has Sparkly Jolly Twinkle Holly holiday concert this weekend

Posted at 10:22 am December 3, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 1 Comment

Sound Company Children's Choir

Sound Company Children’s Choir of Oak Ridge

The much-anticipated Sparkly Jolly Twinkle Holly holiday concert by Sound Company is set for the first weekend in December. “Don’t miss the festive costumes and seasonal stylings of Sound Company Children’s Choir of Oak Ridge,” a press release said.

Performances will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 6, and 6 p.m. Sunday, December 7, at the High Places Church at Grove Center, in Oak Ridge’s historic Grove Theater.

The press release said more than 100 talented young vocalists in grades one through 12 will present everything from classical holiday carols to Louis Armstrong jazz (“Zat You Santa Claus?”), an Elvis Christmas medley, and pop ballad “Peppermint Winter” by Owl City. Sound Company is polishing a range of holiday tunes, including “Hanukkah Shalom,” a traditional Spanish carol, and spirited “Mele Kalikimaka” from Hawaii.

“Of course, you won’t want to miss the new holiday classic popularized in the show ‘Elf,’ ‘Sparklejollytwinklejingley,’ complete with kick line,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Dancing, Entertainment, Music, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: choir, Grove Center, Grove Theater, High Places Church, holiday concert, holiday tunes, Kathy Gillenwaters, Katy Wolfe-Zahn, Linda Ripley, Mariana Garciagodoy, music education, Sound Company, Sound Company Children’s Choir of Oak Ridge, Sparkly Jolly Twinkle Holly, Terry Silver-Alford

2014 Election: Interest in mayor position, mall redevelopment, better ties with BOE

Posted at 1:06 am November 3, 2014
By John Huotari 7 Comments

Oak Ridge City Council Candidate Forum

Nine of the 10 Oak Ridge City Council candidates are pictured above. From right, they are Kelly Callison, Rick Chinn, incumbent Anne Garcia Garland, Warren Gooch, Gary Love, incumbent David Mosby, Pedro Otaduy, former Council member Ellen Smith, and Eric Tobler. Not pictured is Aditya “Doc” Savara.

 

A majority of the Oak Ridge City Council candidates said they would consider running for mayor or vice mayor if elected on Tuesday, and almost all supported the incentives recommended for the proposed redevelopers of the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The candidates were mixed on whether to bring back red-light cameras, and most seemed to think the city’s property tax rate is about right, in light of current budget needs.

Asked to grade the current Council as leaders, the candidates handed out grades ranging from “A” to “F.”

In a series of recent forums, the candidates generally advocated for better communication between the City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education and, for the most part, seemed to be in favor of taking over Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge, although their approvals would hinge on factors such as cost and property restrictions.

There are 10 candidates running for four seats on the seven-member Council in Tuesday’s election. Two of the incumbents—Anne Garcia Garland and David Mosby—are seeking re-election—and two others—Mayor Tom Beehan and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller—are not.

Many consider it a critical election, with a business boom under way and major projects on the horizon, including the proposed redevelopment of the mall and the planned $6.5 billion Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 National Security Complex.

The new Council is expected to elect a new mayor and mayor pro tem (like a vice mayor) during its next meeting after Tuesday’s election.

Here is a look at some of what the candidates said during the recent forums. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Aditya "Doc" Savara, Anne Garcia Garland, BOE, candidates, City Council, Clark Center Park, commercial development, David Mosby, DOE, Ellen Smith, Eric Tobler, festivals, Gary Love, Grove Center, growth, housing, Jackson Square, Jane Miller, Kelly Callison, mayor, mayor pro tem, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, Oak Ridge Schools, Pedro Otaduy, property tax rate, recreational events, red light cameras, residents, retail, Rick Chinn, sales tax revenue, schools, tax increment financing, tax revenues, TIF, Tom Beehan, U.S. Department of Energy, UPF, uranium processing facility, vice mayor, vision, Warren Gooch, Y-12 National Security Complex

Habitat for Humanity selling building, plans to relocate

Posted at 11:04 pm August 19, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County ReStore

The Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County ReStore is located in Grove Center.

 

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County is selling its building in Grove Center, and officials said they want to move into a more economical facility.

“We have a 70-year-old building, and the cost to maintain the property hinders us in fulfilling the Habitat mission,” the nonprofit organization’s board of directors said in a statement. “Habitat for Humanity International recommends not owning real estate, with the exception of properties on which to build houses.”

The board said many customers have been concerned because they have seen the “For Sale” sign on the Habitat ReStore and office in Grove Center.

“We are not going out of business!” the board said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Community, Community, Nonprofits, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: building, for sale, Grove Center, habitat, Habitat for Humanity International, Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County, Habitat ReStore, HFHAC

Comedy show at Back 2 Brewski’s on Friday

Posted at 11:29 pm December 19, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Laughs on Taps Comedy Show at Brewski's

A free comedy show at a Grove Center bar on Friday will feature a half-dozen comedians.

The Laughs on Tap Comedy Show starts at 9:30 p.m. Friday at Back 2 Brewski’s. It’s hosted by Danny Whitson.

The comedians include Dallas Delaney, Gail Ann Grantham-Moore, Sam Donnelly, and Leo Russell. The show features Trae Crowder, and the headliner is John Upton.

You must be 21 years old or older to enter. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Front Page News Tagged With: Back 2 Brewski's, comedy show, Dallas Delaney, Danny Whitson, Gail Ann Grantham-Moore, Grove Center, John Upton, Laugh on Taps, Leo Russell, Sam Donnelly, Trae Crowder

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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...]

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