The news was made public on August 29 in a  release from LeMond Composites . The company, founded earlier this year by three-time Tour de France champion Greg LeMond, focuses on making carbon fiber composites with global applications. The agreement with ORNL will make LeMond Composites the first company to offer these newly developed products to the transportation, renewable energy and infrastructure markets.

"Anything that moves, this carbon fiber will make better." -Greg LeMond

LeMond Composites plans to build their first carbon fiber production line at their recently purchased facility on Palladium Way in Oak Ridge. Their first commercially available product is expected to be ready in early 2018.

"I am ecstatic about this unique technological application for carbon fiber in our community," Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said. "We look forward to working with LeMond Composites to create jobs and further investment in Oak Ridge. We know that the innovation possibilities of this material are limitless and will be marked in the future with a 'Made in Oak Ridge, Tennessee' name."

"The City of Oak Ridge is proud to see the new, low-cost carbon fiber technology by ORNL be recognized and incorporated into products developed by LeMond Composites," Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. "We welcome LeMond to our community and are pleased they will be partnering with leading scientists bringing this next generation technology to the marketplace. We are excited about their new carbon fiber products, including bicycles, which will be available in the United States and around the world."

Connie Jackson and a team of researchers at ORNL's Carbon Fiber Technology Facility helped invent a new process that reduces the production cost of industrial grade carbon fiber by more than half. Jackson and several others joined LeMond Composites this year.

A line forms ahead of a special presentation and tour of LeMond Composites.

Work has officially started on the construction of the 8th lane on the Oak Ridge Rowing Course. Preparations were completed during the last week of October; now crews and heavy machinery are on site. 

The speed limit of a section of Melton Lake Drive will be temporarily reduced during construction. A partial greenway closure will also be enforced in the area as needed.

During the first week of September, Oak Ridge City Council voted to approve a contract for construction of an 8th rowing lane on Melton Hill Lake.  First Place Finish, Inc., was selected after submitting the lowest bid for the project.

The 7-lane course already attracts several regattas and rowing team training excursions every year, but this expansion means Oak Ridge will attract even more events in the future.  The USRowing Masters Nationals just announced last month that they would be returning to Oak Ridge to hold their championship event in August of 2017.

While the 8th lane project is ongoing, the speed limit is being reduced from 45 MPH to 25 MPH along Melton Lake Drive between Amanda Drive and Palisades Parkway. The change will remain in place for a minimum of three months (beginning October 31). Appropriate signage has been installed warning drivers of the reduced speed limit.

 

	Work begins on 8th rowing lane.

The project will also require approximately 500 feet of greenway to be removed and replaced at the end of construction. As a result, a section of Melton Lake Greenway between Amanda Drive and Palisades Parkway is temporarily closed.  Trail users are asked to be cautious and observe all trail closure barricades and signage.

 

The construction of the 8th rowing lane is funded by a combination of state appropriations, City Capital Improvement funds and a state tourism grant awarded to the Anderson County Tourism council specifically for the 8th lane project. 

In addition to the investment made by the City, the Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA), Explore Oak Ridge (the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau), the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Visit Knoxville are also contributing agencies. These entities have come together to fund a project that will allow the world-class Oak Ridge Rowing Course to attract more and larger events. The new lane also ensures that the Oak Ridge course will remain competitive as one of the top-ranked rowing venues in the United States.

 

Rowing has an annual economic impact of $2 million in Oak Ridge and the surrounding communities. The City would like to express its gratitude to State Senator Randy McNally, State Representative John Ragan and all those who have worked so hard to support this important project.

The new lane is expected to be complete by the 2017 spring rowing season. 

 

For more information, please contact the Recreation & Parks Department at (865) 425-3450.

The citywide leaf pick-up program will begin Monday, November 21, 2016. Collection efforts will follow the proposed schedule as closely as possible.

The schedule is a general guide and can vary considerably due to weather conditions and the amount of leaves. 

PLEASE NOTE: Streets will be swept approximately two weeks after leaves are picked up in each designated area.

The leaf pick-up schedule can be found online.  For more information, please contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656.

City offices will be closed on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 24), as well as the day after (Friday, November 25).

Also, Waste Connections WILL NOT be picking up on Thanksgiving Day.* Starting this year, Waste Connections only observes two holidays: Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

*If your pickup day falls on or after the holiday during the week, there will be a one day delay only. For example, Thanksgiving is on Thursday, so if your pickup is Thursday you will be pushed back to Friday and Friday will be picked up on Saturday. For more information, please contact Waste Connections of Tennessee at (865) 482-3656.

Due to the severe drought in our area, there is and has been a ban on open fires within the City of Oak Ridge. This also includes recreational fires. This ban will be in effect until further notice.

A number of wildfires are already burning in the area, creating a thick smoke that has settled over much of East Tennessee. It's especially heavy in valley areas, like Oak Ridge. An air quality alert was issued on Monday, November 7, due to unhealthy levels of particles in the air. Everyone, especially those with respiratory issues who are sensitive to smoke, should take precautions if they have to be outdoors for any amount of time.

On November 7, there were three active fires in Anderson County, 19 active fires in Campbell County, five fires in Morgan County, and two in Knox County. The Anderson County fires have burned more than 1500 acres so far. None of those fires are within Oak Ridge city limits, but heavy smoke can still be seen in the area as a result.

The burning practices of you and your neighbors can contribute to the risk of property loss from wildfire. The number one cause of wildfires in Tennessee is escaped debris fires.

You can protect your home from wildfires by being "fire wise," such as keeping decks free of leaves, pine needles and other debris. You should also clear leaves and other debris out from under any decking around your home. Tips and information on protecting your home from wildfire can be found at http://burnsafetn.org/ .

The Oak Ridge Fire Department would like to remind everyone that it is unlawful to have an open burn within the city without a burn permit or during a burning ban.

Bioenergy Day at the UT Arboretum was a fantastic experience for hundreds of local children.

It's the fourth year for the national event, but it was Oak Ridge National Lab's first-ever family outreach effort in conjunction with several other agencies, including UT's Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) and Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU).

The hands-on STEM focused activities included an active 3D printing display, a "foam gnome" chemical reaction exhibit and a demonstration of how to use the power of fire to recharge your cell phone.

Student touches a 3D printed object after watching the printer in action.

Students of all ages were enthralled by each activity table, learning about science in fun, interactive and interesting ways. Organizers are already planning new exhibits for next year.

See our favorite photos and videos from Bioenergy Day on Facebook.

Remember, Belk and JCPenney remain open during all the demolition and construction.  There's still no word on any restaurants confirmed for phase two of the project, but some of the buildings that will be constructed are specifically designed to house restaurants. Most will be located in an area between JCPenney and Belk.

Pedestrian safety improvements are currently being designed for Oak Ridge Turnpike (SR 95) at Tulane Avenue and East Division/Tennyson Roads. These upgrades are necessary to improve accessibility and provide a safe transportation link for people in the area.

The intersection improvements will include:

Members of the community are encouraged to attend a project overview and public input session on Thursday, November 10, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. It will be held in the City of Oak Ridge Central Services Complex located at 100 Woodbury Lane.

If you are unable to attend the meeting and wish to comment on the project, please email your comments to PubWorksDis@oakridgetn.gov .

The City Clerk's Office is currently accepting  applications from interested citizens to serve as a member of a board or commission as part of the city's end-of-year election. The submission deadline is December 9, 2016.

This year's process is similar to previous years in that interested residents must complete a Boards and Commissions application available on the City Clerk's departmental website . 

Applicants may also attach additional documents including cover letters, references and resumes. The application allows residents to choose and rank their top three board choices for membership consideration.

The city is recruiting membership for a total of 18 boards and commissions :

Paper editions of the online application are available in the City Clerk's Office located in Room 109 of the Municipal Building on S. Tulane Avenue. C ompleted applications must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office by 5 p.m. on Friday, December 9, 2016. Late applications or submissions will not be considered. 

The election for all boards will take place at the regular Oak Ridge City Council meeting on Monday, January 9, 2017.  Interested residents can also visit the City's website to learn about the different boards' composition , purpose, meeting schedules , and review the special qualifications for membership to certain boards.

For more information, contact Beth Hickman, City Clerk, at (865) 425-3411 or  bhickman@oakridgetn.gov .

Haw Ridge Park, North Boundary Greenway and Gallaher Bend Greenway will be closed periodically for Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area managed quota hunts this fall.

The closure on Haw Ridge includes the portion of Melton Lake Greenway adjacent to the park, from the lake to the parking lot on Edgemoor Road.

The remaining hunts, which are open only to those pre-selected in a Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) quota drawing, take place on the following dates:

Additionally, these areas will be closed for a final scout day on December 3. Anyone who does not possess a quota hunt permit is asked to stay out of these areas during the hunt dates and from 7am to 4:30pm on scout dates.

Signs will be posted in the affected areas to notify the public of the closure. Oak Ridge Police Department officers will also assist in keeping non-hunters off the greenways on the morning of each hunt.

 

For additional information, contact the Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450 or Aubrey Deck with TWRA at (865) 576-2380. 

Oak Ridge promotes sustainability in Vietnam, Singapore through Department of State Exchange 

The City of Oak Ridge is hosting Veerappan Swaminathan, Co-Founder and Director of the Sustainable Living Lab in Singapore, and Hong Phong Vu, Project Manager at the Vietnam Green Building Council in Hanoi, Vietnam, through the Department of State's Professional Fellows Program (PFP) under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). This two-way exchange embraces the power of individual citizens to find creative solutions to challenges they face in their home communities.

During their month-long fellowship, Mr. Swaminathan and Mr. Vu are getting the chance to see how municipal government operates, from public works recycling initiatives to community development energy efficiency efforts and Recreation and Parks activities. They will tour the Oak Ridge National Laboratory to see some of the scientific advances being spearheaded in East Tennessee. Through the exchange program, they are learning about the challenges small communities face and how they work to find solutions. Mr. Swaminathan and Mr. Vu have also been experiencing southern culture, attending a pig roast, visiting Dollywood and cheering on the Volunteers at a University of Tennessee football game. The fellows also toured the UT campus, sitting in on a political science course focused on the American presidency.

"Our city organization is pleased to once again host the Professional Management

	Veera and Phong on the UT campus.

Fellows program as coordinated through the International City/County Management Program and the United States State Department," City Manager Mark Watson said. "This is our third visitation team that is discovering the uniqueness of Oak Ridge and local government in the United States. Our guests, Veera and Phong, are super representatives of Singapore and Vietnam and have allowed our city organization and community organizations to become familiar with their countries while serving as ambassadors for ours."

The City of Oak Ridge is one of hundreds of U.S. organizations hosting Professional Fellows from more than 40 countries this fall. At the conclusion of the program, October 15 through November 12, all 260+ fellows will gather in Washington, D.C., for the Professional Fellows Congress, a three-day concluding event aimed at preparing fellows to implement follow-on projects upon their return home and network with other colleagues from around the world.

Oak Ridge High School named as recipient of funding from LEAP 2.0 grant

The East Tennessee Development District (ETDD) has partnered with Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Knoxville (TCAT-K); six regional school districts including Knox, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Blount, Anderson County, and Maryville; and eleven employer partners including ALCOA, Cherokee Millwright, DENSO Manufacturing, BHS Corrugated, Gerdau Steel, Interstate Mechanical, Shoffner Kalthoff, SL Tennessee, Aisin, Eagle Bend/Magna, and 3M; to be included in the most recent Tennessee Labor Education Alignment Program grant (LEAP 2.0).

 

Oak Ridge High School will receive $46,000 to purchase Amatrol tabletop trainers for electronic, pneumatic, and hydraulic systems. Successful students will demonstrate mastery of skills with these system components through Certified Production Technician certification. Dual enrollment courses with TCAT Knoxville will begin in Fall of 2017. The objective of LEAP is to "eliminate skills gaps across the state in a proactive, data-driven, and coordinated manner by encouraging collaboration across education and industry and by utilizing regional workforce data to identify and then fill skills gaps across the state."

 

The ETDD application brings together secondary partners, postsecondary partners, regional industry, and economic development representatives to address the ever-growing skills gap in East Tennessee. It takes a three-prong approach to expanding training capacity. Advanced manufacturing dual enrollment courses are started at the high schools; work-based learning provides internships and co-op experiences to get students into the skills pipeline earlier; and local industries support the work-based learning. The grant allows TCAT Knoxville to expand capacity by purchasing equipment to be installed at each of the high schools as well as at a brand new campus facility in Anderson County. This expansion will allow for more post-secondary students to enroll in TCAT courses sooner, thus entering the workforce earlier, prepared with needed skills.

Students at Oak Ridge High School now have an opportunity to learn the skills they need to begin yet another high-demand, high-wage occupation after graduating.

The newest course, Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair, started with the 2016 fall semester as part of Oak Ridge Schools' College, Career and Technical Education (CCTE) program. The class currently has 14 students enrolled for a fall and spring session.

Upon completing two full years of the class, each student will have worked with engine systems, transmissions, suspensions, steering, brakes, electrical, and HVAC. Students earn a full year's worth of credit hours in one semester. The credits are recognized by the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) as part of a dual enrollment program and will count toward further certifications with TCAT. Students can also obtain some Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications while still in high school.

Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair isn't the only CCTE program. Of 16 nationally recognized career clusters, Oak Ridge High School offers classes in advanced manufacturing, audio visual arts and communications, business, education, health science, information technology, and transportation distribution and logistics which also prepare students for high-demand occupations.

"As we've seen a need to increase hands-on learning for students, we have added programs that include dual enrollment opportunities in machining, mechatronics and nursing as well," said Holly Cross, Supervisor of Communications for Oak Ridge Schools. "All of the new courses have been packed to capacity with many students placed on waiting lists. We hope to continue increasing what we are able to offer going forward so they are fully prepared for success in multiple paths of entry and exit into workforce and education after graduation."

The Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair course is taught by Patrick LaDue, a master certified mechanic with 35 years of experience with the military and Department of Defense. During his career, Mr. LaDue has instructed aircraft maintenance workers as well as automotive mechanics during their on the job upgrade training.

Access Oak Ridge Device Rollout a Major Success

Oak Ridge Schools' digital initiative "Access Oak Ridge" continued with a new launch during the week of October 17th, with district-issued devices given out in order to increase opportunities for every 9th and 10th grade student at Oak Ridge High School.  

Through the Access Oak Ridge digital one-to-one initiative, Oak Ridge Schools hope to empower all students with equitable access to digital learning opportunities; to innovate, design, collaborate, and ultimately succeed in local and global communities of the future. 

This initiative is geared toward increasing opportunities for creativity and out-of-the-box problem solving. In a 1:1 environment, teachers can serve as collaborative facilitators in an atmosphere of timely information gathering and authentic problem-based learning.

The initiative also brings student-centered inquiry to classrooms through access to a vast array of learning content that is up-to-date and not attainable through the limitations of printed texts. Schools are working continuously to also add printed resources as soft copies on student devices, specifically adding as many as they can in downloaded file formats that are available even when students are not in a WiFi zone. 

For this purpose, the district has created textbook folders on the home screen of every issued device. The folder contains digital content for a wide variety of subject areas. As this collection grows, the files are automatically updated to student devices when individuals are logged into the school network.

Oak Ridge Schools believe putting the right tools for technology in the hands of students enables them to explore content with greater depth and breadth, and allows for new learning tasks that were previously inconceivable. Providing a digital device for every student levels the playing field and offers opportunities to access a wealth of global information that is not locally accessible.

Don't wait, check the date.

The City of Oak Ridge Environmental Quality Advisory Board, in partnership with the UT Forest Resources AgResearch and Education Center (UT FRREC), will present a Tree Workshop on Saturday, November 12, from 9 a.m. to Noon at the UT Arboretum Auditorium, 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge.

The workshop is dedicated to the memory of Pat Imperato, a tireless champion of environmental issues, evident in her long history of contributions to the Environmental Quality Advisory Board and Keep Anderson County Beautiful. She passed away in October, but spent the last several years spearheading work on a "Tree Plan" for Oak Ridge. Imperato was also an outspoken proponent for proper stewardship of city and private lands and was interested in community education and outreach.

The event planned in her memory is designed for homeowners and business owners interested in the selection, care and maintenance of landscaping. 

The gate will open at 8 a.m. and light refreshments will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., courtesy of the City of Oak Ridge. Directional signs will be posted along the one-way route up to the Arboretum Auditorium and UT FRREC staff will be onsite to direct and assist with parking.

Learn more about the event by clicking here. 

Keep watching our Facebook page for video from the special city council meeting on October 18, which was called to make a proclamation honoring Pat Imperato. The proclamation was read aloud before members of the community shared their fondest memories of Pat.

The  Make Oak Ridge Energy Efficient (MORE2) program is hosting classes aimed at educating homeowners on cost effective ways they can make energy-saving improvements to their homes.

You can also read success stories from some of the people who've received upgrades to their homes through the MORE2 program. Just visit the  website and click on the "Participant Stories" tab on the top right. 

Before

After

Classes are held in the Oak Ridge Civic Center Recreation Building from 5:30-6:30pm in the Craft Room.  Attendees get an overview of the MORE2 program and how to register as well as a look at ways to lower energy consumption at zero cost to the homeowner. It will also cover "invisible" areas of the home that may need energy efficiency upgrades.

Those interested in applying can bring the following

 items with them to the class:

The public meeting for November is scheduled for Tuesday the 15th at 4pm. It's being held at the First Presbyterian Church and is expected to last about 90 minutes.

A schedule of other upcoming MORE2 classes and public meetings can be found  online. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is also available on the website.

The City of Oak Ridge welcomes two new AmeriCorps members, Caitlin and Tina, as they serve with the Stormwater Department. Their service year runs from August 2016 through June 2017. The Stormwater Department developed the Healthy Waters Program last year and Caitlin and Tina are thrilled to be leading the program.

Throughout the year, these two are helping the department with their MS4 permit by walking the streams of the city and collecting GPS data points. If you see them around your neighborhood, feel free to say hello and welcome them to the community.

Caitlin and Tina, AmeriCorps members working in Oak Ridge.

 

Caitlin and Tina are teaching in four honors Biology classes at Oak Ridge High School and partnering with the Girls Inc. after school program to help students learn about water quality and stormwater. 

Throughout their service year, they will be holding community events including 50K Tree Day in February and the Great American Cleanup in May. 

Look out for events featuring the Healthy Waters Program throughout the year if you would like to get involved in your community!

For more information go to the City of Oak Ridge Stormwater website. 

You can also like them on Facebook !

Interested in finishing your college degree without leaving the Oak Ridge area? Informational meetings for the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies offered by Tennessee Tech University will take place on Thursday, November 17, on the Roane State Oak Ridge Campus at 6 p.m., in room H209.

Tennessee Tech University is offering a 2+2 BS in Interdisciplinary Studies on the Roane State Community College campuses in Oak Ridge, Scott County and Cumberland County that are geared towards the non-traditional student. This degree program is designed for students who have completed an Associate's degree or equivalent college credit. The BS in Interdisciplinary Studies is offered in an evening format for full time working adults at these three locations.

The Coffey/McNally building on Roane State's Oak Ridge campus.

The Oak Ridge campus also has a Friday cohort which was started at the request of Y-12 for workers who have Fridays off. This cohort has attracted a large number of more traditional students as well as the Y-12 employees.

Students at each campus are able to complete 12 hours per semester by taking a combination of accelerated and full term classes in a cohort environment. All cohorts have a 90% graduation completion rate or better.

The Interdisciplinary Studies major has two emphasis areas and students take both. One emphasis area is Workplace Leadership, which includes courses in Management and Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Business and Legal Environment and Ethics, Professional Communications, Leadership and Entrepreneurship in Appalachia.

The second emphasis area is Human Behavior and includes the soft skills courses in Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, People in Organizations, Personal and Professional Integrity, Personalities in the Workplace, and Adult Education. The remaining hours offered are upper division electives in communications, business etiquette and national security.

The program at Roane State in Oak Ridge was started in 2010. Since that time TTU has graduated 84 students from the Oak Ridge cohorts and currently has 55 students in progress on the Oak Ridge campus.

Employers who offer educational expense reimbursement may contact Patty Benton at pbenton@tntech.edu or call (865) 481-2028 to schedule a time for TTU to come to their place of business to host an Informational Meeting. This may be scheduled in conjunction with a representative from Roane State Community College.