The doors are now open at the very first new store in Main Street Oak Ridge: rue21. An estimated 60-70 people were in line when the store opened at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, and business was booming for much of the day afterwards.

Maurice's will be next in line to hold a grand opening in Main Street. Their doors are scheduled to open the morning of Friday, June 23. After that, Dick's Sporting Goods will hold two preview days on June 28 and 29 before their three-day grand opening celebration from Friday, June 30, through Sunday, July 2. Former University of Tennessee football player and recent first round NFL draft pick Derek Barnett is scheduled to appear on the afternoon of July 1.*(Note: Wrist bands are required for the event!)

*An earlier version of this newsletter stated the date of the event as June 1, instead of July 1. We apologize for any confusion!

The only other business to announce an expected opening date so far is Rack Room Shoes. The 5,000 square foot store located between rue21 and Ulta is planning to open on Thursday, July 27.

The expected timeline of store openings for the remaining businesses in Main Street are:

• T.J.Maxx: early to mid-August
• Ulta: end of June to early July
• PetSmart: middle to end of July
• Electronics Express: middle to end of July

As a reminder, Belk and JCPenney are OPEN and have been throughout demolition and construction for the Main Street Oak Ridge project.

Vertical construction began earlier this year with the T.J.Maxx and Dick's Sporting Goods complex near Walmart. We've kept you updated all along the way as new milestones are met every few weeks.

A detailed map provided by RealtyLink (below) shows what the project is expected to look like once it's finished. More updates are expected as the project moves forward. Visit our City of Oak Ridge Facebook page to see updated photos and videos of the Main Street project, as well as many other events happening around town. 

"LOI" stands for Letter of Intent. For a larger and clearer image, visit RealtyLink's website.

The City of Oak Ridge is once again sponsoring a fireworks show to celebrate Independence Day. The display will be held in A.K. Bissell Park on July 4 and is scheduled to begin at dark, around 9:45 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Community Band, now in their 73rd year, will perform prior to the fireworks. The concert is free, but donations are accepted by the band to help cover the cost of equipment and other expenses. The music is expected to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Anyone planning to attend is advised to bring a lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating. A safety zone will be established by the Oak Ridge Fire Department. Please sit only in the designated areas.

WHAT:	Independence Day Concert & Fireworks Display
WHEN:	Tuesday, July 4, 2017 Music at 7:30 p.m., Fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
WHERE:	A.K. Bissell Park 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Parking will not be allowed along the Oak Ridge Turnpike right of way. Drivers should also not park on private property, unless they have obtained permission from the owner.

As a reminder, the discharge of fireworks within Oak Ridge city limits is prohibited without a permit.

For more details, visit our Facebook event page. You can also call the Oak Ridge Fire Department for additional information at (865) 425-3520.

REMINDER: CITY HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

All City of Oak Ridge offices will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, in observance of Independence Day. 

Household refuse and curbside recycling will be picked up as scheduled.

The Oak Ridge Outdoor Swimming Pool is now open to the public for normal summer season hours.

The spring-fed pool, located at 172 Providence Road, is considered one of the largest in the nation. Depths range from zero to 13.5 feet. There are 25-meter and 100-meter courses, as well as an offshore island, a shallow water pool with a fountain for younger children, and a large grassy beach area. Food and float rental concessions are also available.

If you have any questions about the outdoor pool or other aquatics facilities and programs, contact the City of Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department at (865) 425-3450.

As part of the ongoing dialogue with the community about the new Oak Ridge Preschool facility, City leaders will host a fourth and final public forum-style meeting  at the Scarboro Community Center on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at 6 p.m. Additional details on the meeting will be forthcoming, so watch the City's Facebook page and the City of Oak Ridge website under the "City News" section.

The most recent community meeting, held on May 25 at the same location, included members of City Council and the Oak Ridge Board of Education, along with City staff members and representatives from Studio Four Design, the architectural firm selected for the project.

Two potential site design concepts were presented to citizens at the meeting and they were able to vote for their favorite. The total vote count was 18 in favor of option one and 13 in favor of option two. Studio Four also presented a general concept for the preschool building's design. You can take a closer look at them below:

OAK RIDGE PRESCHOOL SITE CONCEPT #1

OAK RIDGE PRESCHOOL SITE CONCEPT #2

OAK RIDGE PRESCHOOL BUILDING DESIGN CONCEPT

We continue to encourage the community to ask questions and provide suggestions about what they'd like to see with regards to the preschool project and its impact. If you'd like to see some of the comments collected at the most recent community meeting, click the link below:

NEW: OAK RIDGE PRESCHOOL COMMUNITY INPUT COMMENTS

If you have been unable to attend the meetings, reviewing some of the news stories on the preschool plans may also help bring you up to date:

The Oak Ridger: Residents Vote on Preschool Plans

Oak Ridge Today: Council Postpones Vote on Preschool Site Until After Scarboro Meeting

The Oak Ridger: Scarboro Park Needs, Wants Discussed

BACKGROUND: Oak Ridge City Council voted during a special-called meeting on March 27, 2017, to select the Scarboro Park site as the location for a new Oak Ridge Preschool. The City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Schools have been working to choose a site for the new preschool for approximately two years. Once the building is complete, the preschool will relocate from the school administration building on New York Avenue. Members of a committee formed to recommend possible sites looked at city-owned properties and a multitude of factors that would impact future students, their families and the community as a whole. Scarboro Park, the site ultimately selected by City Council and the Board of Education, is across the street from the Scarboro Community Center on Carver Avenue.

The Oak Ridge Police Department, Oak Ridge Fire Department and East Tennessee Children's Hospital Safe Travels program are hosting Child Passenger Seat Checkpoints in 2017. The next checkpoint is scheduled for July 8.

These events are held for parents and caregivers to receive educational material about car seats, have their car seats checked for any manufacturer recalls and also have the seats examined for proper installation.  The Child Passenger Seat Checkpoint is open to the public and it is free to attend.

All events will be held at Oak Ridge Fire Station #2, 609 Oak Ridge Turnpike (near Home Depot), from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. 

Mark your calendars, the remaining dates are as follows:

• July 8th
• September 9th
• November 11th

East Tennessee Children's Hospital advises anyone planning to attend a car seat inspection to be sure to bring your child restraint seat instructions and vehicle owner's manual. Also, to make the process more efficient, please install your child restraint seat to the best of your ability before attending the inspection. 

You can find more child passenger safety information on the Safe Travels section of their website.

The first checkpoint of the year, on January 14, was a big success. Oak Ridge Police and Fire Department personnel, along with representatives from East Tennessee Children's Hospital, were able to check 24 car seats in just three hours. Of the 24 car seats they inspected, ten of them had to be replaced because of a defect, expiration or recall.

National non-profit KaBOOM! is honoring Oak Ridge with a 2017 Playful City USA designation for the 6th time. Playful City USA honors cities and towns across the country for putting the needs of families first so kids can learn, grow and develop important life skills. These communities are transforming ordinary places into playful spaces and using play as a solution to the challenges facing their residents.

The 2017 Playful City USA recognition includes 258 communities from Richmond, Virginia, to Richmond, California, that make it as easy as possible for kids to play. In total, these communities feature more than 14,000 safe and engaging playspaces that serve more than 4 million kids.

"The Playful City designation indicates that we in Oak Ridge take pride in the numerous activities that involve play," City Manager Mark Watson said. "Whether a hike through our natural wooded areas and greenbelts or taking a kayak ride on Melton Hill Lake or mountain biking on Haw Ridge, the varied activities that we have in this community make us a great place to live and a Playful City."

"This award is earned each year by our hard working staff and would not be possible without their can-do attitude," Director of the City's Recreation and Parks Department Jon Hetrick added. "The Recreation and Parks Department works tirelessly throughout the year to inspect and protect playgrounds, parks and trail areas enjoyed by everyone. Our crew also hosts regular special events, like the City's Halloween Party, the egg hunt in the park, Civic Center Family Day, Scarboro Family Share Day, and many other activities."

As cities are becoming hotbeds for innovation, communities across the country are creating inventive ways to attract and retain residents. Playful City USA honorees are taking bold action to ensure kids have great places to play - all with the ultimate goal of making play the easy choice for all kids, no matter where they live. In addition to the playground down the street, Playful City USA communities are turning grocery stores, vacant lots, crosswalks and sidewalks into opportunities for play.

"We are thrilled to recognize Oak Ridge for putting kids first," KaBOOM! CEO James Siegal said. "The well-being of our communities starts with the well-being of our kids, and play is critical for them to thrive. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all kids get the childhood they deserve filled with play."

Visit the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department website at orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov for more information on the City's parks, playgrounds and indoor spaces for play. To see the full list of Playful City USA communities and to learn more about making play the easy choice for kids, visit kaboom.org/playfulcityusa. You can also take part in the conversation with leaders across the country using #PLAYceforkids on Twitter and Facebook.

The Public Works Department and Public Works Employee Relations Committee (PwERC) invited the citizens of Oak Ridge to a Public Works Community Open House and Touch-the-Truck event at the Central Services Complex on May 25. The event was held in recognition of Public Works Week in the City of Oak Ridge and National Public Works Week (May 21-27).

The event allowed the community to learn more about all the different divisions that make up the Public Works Department. Public Works is much more than just water and sewer services. They are, in short, the people who maintain and improve the systems and services vital to the City's health, safety and comfort. Those systems and public services include, but are not limited to, water distribution, sewer collection, water and wastewater treatment, street, sidewalk, and storm drain repair and maintenance, stormwater management, public building maintenance and management, snow removal, and City fleet maintenance.

The open house featured fun and educational activities for all ages, including a Touch-the-Truck event that gave kids and their parents the opportunity to see the different types of vehicles used to keep the City safe and functioning smoothly. 

Two local food trucks, Untamed Kitchen and Awad-O-Food, helped feed the crowd. The open house also featured live local music, a bounce house, face painting, give-a-ways, and many other activities. Thank you to everyone who visited and helped us put on this fun and interactive event!

Long thought of as the silent arm of Public Safety, Public Works partnered with the Oak Ridge Police Department and the Oak Ridge Fire Department for this event. Sponsors for Public Works Week and the open house included: LDA Engineering, Y-12 Federal Credit Union, Stowers, Awad-O-Food, and Untamed Kitchen. For more information about the Public Works Department, call (865) 425-1875.

In an effort to increase safety and decrease crime, a new neighborhood watch program created by Waste Connections will be rolled out in Oak Ridge and surrounding communities this summer.

As part of the "Big Blue Looking Out for You" program, Waste Connections employees who work trash collection routes throughout the Anderson and Roane County service area will undergo training to help them be on the lookout for suspicious activity at homes, apartments and businesses. 

If they spot anything out of the ordinary, they will immediately contact the Waste Connections dispatch office to make a report. After collecting important information, dispatchers will then contact the appropriate law enforcement office to request a property or welfare check.

For more information on the neighborhood watch program, contact Waste Connections at (865) 482-3656.

The public should be aware they may get phone calls from local telephone numbers with a 425 prefix and title of "OAK RIDGE CITY" or "CITY OF OAK RIDGE." One of the numbers indicated as being called from is (865) 425-1892, with a recorded message stating the person has won a trip or something of value.

This call IS NOT from the City of Oak Ridge, rather it is a scam which utilizes "spoofing" software. Caller ID "spoofing" is technology that causes the telephone network to indicate to the receiver of the call that the originator of the call is a station other than the true originating station. In other words, the software allows the caller to program the caller ID to any message or originating title.

Again, (865) 425-1892 IS NOT a number associated with the City of Oak Ridge. Persons who receive these calls should hang up immediately and ignore any recorded message from the caller.

Ash trees in Oak Ridge are dead or dying due to a pest known as the Emerald Ash Borer. Once compromised by the beetle, the trees pose a significant hazard to people, property and the power lines in our community. In order to prevent incidents due to fallen trees and branches, the Oak Ridge Electric Department is identifying and, in some cases, removing ash trees found in the public rights of way adjacent to power lines.

"One of our responsibilities is to maintain proper clearance between the City's electric power lines and the area's abundant urban forest," City of Oak Ridge Electric Department Director Jack Suggs explained. "We remove trees on public property when they are identified as a high hazard to our system. Unfortunately, the Ash trees in Oak Ridge are presenting such a hazard. During an informal survey, it appeared that most, if not all, of the ash trees were experiencing some kind of distress and are in the process of dying."

Many ash trees in Oak Ridge are already dead or damaged beyond the point where they can be saved. The trees are being killed by an imported pest called the Emerald Ash Borer, or EAB. The beetle was accidentally introduced to the U.S. about 15 years ago. Since then, they have destroyed millions of trees on a scale not seen since the chestnut blight. In one study, the time period between discovery of the first infected ash trees and nearly 100 percent death of those trees was just six years. Infected trees were first found in Anderson County in 2012.

The Oak Ridge Electric Department is beginning a concerted effort to identify and deal with ash trees on public rights of way that could impact overhead power lines. If large ash trees affected by EAB are found on private property, Electric Department crews will contact the owners to discuss safety concerns and possible options. In the meantime, the Electric Department strongly encourages property owners to search their properties for ash trees.

If you find an ash tree in your yard, the Electric Department recommends consulting a tree professional to find out if your tree can be saved or if it has to be removed. After speaking with several experts in the field of forestry, Suggs said they all agreed on one thing: "Left untreated, every ash tree in Oak Ridge will die and die quickly." Suggs also strongly advises customers to request qualifications and insurance certificates of any professionals they hire.

To learn more about the EAB, visit www.emeraldashborer.info. The website is maintained by several universities and contains important up-to-date information regarding the EAB pest.

The City of Oak Ridge and the U.S. Department of Energy have reached agreement for a long-term extension of a contract in which the City provides potable water to DOE sites in Oak Ridge. The contract extension, adopted by the Oak Ridge City Council on June 15, 2017, provides for a continuous supply of potable water to DOE sites through June 2027.

"This represents the continuing commitment and partnership DOE has with the City of Oak Ridge," said DOE Oak Ridge Office Manager Dr. Ken Tarcza. DOE is the largest customer of the city's utility, representing 50 percent of the water treatment plant's annual production of potable water. "This was a team effort by the City and DOE to reach a long-term agreement that ensures a continuous supply of water to critical DOE missions at a proper and fair price," added Tarcza.

The City of Oak Ridge has maintained a water services contract with the DOE Oak Ridge Office since May 2000, when the ownership of the water treatment facility was transferred from DOE to the City of Oak Ridge. The facility provides potable water to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 National Security Complex. The two sites' annual water needs account for 50 percent of the total amount of potable water produced by the City, resulting in DOE paying for 50 percent of the costs incurred by the City to produce water. DOE owns, operates, and maintains its own distribution system for the DOE sites, independent of the City-owned distribution system, which is maintained by the City's Public Works Department.

"This agreement is the culmination of months of detailed analysis and discussion by the parties," said City Manager Mark Watson. "Both groups recognize that there are many potential capital needs in the future and this contract provides the flexibility to address those issues as they come forward. I also appreciate the outstanding effort of the City's team led by Finance Director Janice McGinnis and Public Works Director Shira McWaters. Their dedication, along with that of the DOE team, allowed both organizations to put forth an agreement that will serve us for years to come."

The City of Oak Ridge has once again been designated as a Green Power Community by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The City is collectively using more than 32 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 16 percent of the community's total electricity use.

"This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," City of Oak Ridge Electric Department Business Office Manager Marlene Bannon said. "Using green power helps our community become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the country that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk."

Green power is zero-emissions electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact hydro. Using green power helps accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and helps users reduce their carbon footprints.

Oak Ridge is also systematically changing street lights over to LED bulbs and promoting TVA's EnergyRight Solutions program to assist residential and commercial customers in decreasing their carbon footprint.

About EPA's Green Power Partnership:
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity use. The Partnership currently has more than 1,400 Partner organizations voluntarily using billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.

The City of Oak Ridge team is happy to announce that one of our own has been selected to fill the Personnel Director vacancy.

Bruce Applegate, former Assistant to the City Manager, has been leading the department since the retirement of long-time Personnel Director Penelope Sissom in the summer of 2016. Mr. Applegate was named interim department director while the City launched its search for a new Personnel Director.

After careful consideration of the future of the position and how it can best serve the needs of all departments, City Manager Mark Watson chose to re-title and re-tool the position as Director of Administrative Services. The new position will continue to oversee all Human Resources processes and personnel, but will also focus on strategic projects that have major impacts on the City.

"Bruce Applegate has shown a high degree of competence in the many assignments I've given him since he joined us in 2014," Mr. Watson said. "I look forward to his continued work as a key player within the City of Oak Ridge directors' team. Bruce relates well with our City employees, directors and City Council. I congratulate him on these new permanent responsibilities."

"It is a real honor to take on this position, and the responsibility to improve our city," Mr. Applegate said. "I look forward to the continued collaboration with directors, staff, city council, and community members to advance the goals of the great city that is Oak Ridge."

Mr. Applegate was officially named Director of Administrative Services in mid-May and has been active in the role since then. Please join us in welcoming Bruce Applegate into his new position with the City of Oak Ridge.

Don't forget to stop by the  Oak Ridge Farmers Market! The market has been open since April 15 in historic Jackson Square. They're open every Saturday and added their Wednesday hours on June 7.

Vendors will be set up between 8 a.m. and noon on Saturdays until later in the year. Wednesday hours are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The farmers market offers sustainably produced grass-fed meat, hand-picked produce, farm fresh eggs, artisan bread and cheese, local honey, flowers and farm-based crafts. The vendors are 100% local.

The market is put on by the East Tennessee Farmers Association for Retail Marketing (FARM).

The 21st annual Graduation Celebration event on June 1 welcomed more than 80 percent of the 2017 graduating class from Oak Ridge High School. The free party is an annual event for high school seniors where they can win cash and prizes, while making memories with their classmates in a safe environment. 

The event is held at the Oak Ridge Civic Center and requires dozens of volunteers. This year, an estimated 125 people volunteered to work the event, helping with tasks like decorations, games, food, clean-up, and more.

More than $13,000 in prizes, including eight $500 scholarships, were given away to students in attendance. At the "Let's Make A Deal" finale, three students chose box 1, 2, or 3 and took home an iPad, a MacBook computer, or $1,000 cash.

Donations are accepted to help make each year as successful as possible. To learn more about donating for the 2018 event, visit the  graduationcelebration.org website.

For more information about Graduation Celebration, contact Matt Reedy at (865) 425-3442 or via email at mreedy@oakridgetn.gov.

GREAT NEWS FROM OAK RIDGE SCHOOLS

HIGH SCHOOL SELECTED FOR SPRINT'S FREE INTERNET PROJECT

Oak Ridge High School is excited to announce their participation in the Sprint 1 Million Project, through which the school will be receiving free internet devices and service to help students complete their schoolwork from home. 

Sprint's mission with this project is to provide free wireless devices and service to 1 million students who are in need of reliable internet service. The 1 Million Project is the largest corporate initiative in U.S. history to bridge the digital divide and help close the "Homework Gap" for students lacking home internet access. Sprint plans to welcome approximately 200,000 eligible high school students into the program each year for five years, offering them devices and connectivity for up to four years while in high school. 

Oak Ridge High School is now a part of this 5-year program. For the 2017-2018 school year, ORHS will receive 300 devices. ORHS will continue to communicate with Sprint annually to determine the device quantities needed for the following program years.

Currently, ORHS plans to request up to 300 Wi-Fi hot spots for students who do not have reliable internet access at home. ORHS is sending out a survey to every rising high school student to ensure that students have the opportunity to communicate their needs and get permission from parents to participate. ORHS administrators hope that all students can have reliable internet access for their Access Oak Ridge devices next year.

"Education is the foundation for our society to prosper, and the internet is an incredibly powerful tool for learning," Sprint CEO  Marcelo Claure stated. "But it's a huge problem in America that we have 5 million households with children that lack internet connections. Those kids have a huge disadvantage and we are failing them. All of us at Sprint are committed to changing this by providing 1 million students in need with free devices and free wireless connections."

For more information about this project, visit Sprint's online newsroom.

WOODLAND WELCOMES NEW PRINCIPAL

Donald (D.T.) Hobby has been selected to serve as the Woodland Elementary School principal beginning July 1, 2017.  

Mr. Hobby has a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Technological University in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction and an Educational Specialist in Educational Administration and Supervision, both from Lincoln Memorial University.  

He has been employed with Oak Ridge Schools since August 2008, serving as both a teacher and administrator at Secret City Academy and most recently as Assistant Principal at Robertsville Middle School. Prior to his position with Oak Ridge Schools, Mr. Hobby was a science teacher in Knox County Schools during 2004-2008.

REGISTRATION AND ORIENTATION INFORMATION

All students new to Oak Ridge Schools need to register at their respective schools between Monday, July 10, and Wednesday, July 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.  Parents who pre-registered kindergartners in May also need to complete the registration process on those dates.

Registration for new students in grades 9-12 will be made by appointment ONLY. For more information regarding high school registration, please contact the registrar at (865) 425-9524. 

Information necessary for new student registration includes the following:

1. Child's Birth Certificate (a certified copy for school records, not the hospital copy or mother's copy)
2. Child's Social Security Number (optional)
3. Health Insurance Provider
4. Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization available from your doctor or Health Department consisting of two parts: 
   • Immunizations - A Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization form showing the complete dates (month, day, and year) immunizations were administered.
   • Health Examination - A physical examination is required for all children entering Tennessee Schools (K-12). Oak Ridge Schools require a physical examination current since January 1 of the year the student will enter kindergarten. Students entering the 7th grade will also need to provide proof of the T-dap immunization.
5. Grades 1-12 only - Provide the name, address, and phone number of the school(s) where your child previously attended or provide report cards or withdrawal forms.

For additional information, parents and/or students should contact their respective school or the Oak Ridge Schools Pupil Services Department at (865) 425-9009.

Elementary students who will be returning to the same schools they attended last year will not have to register at school. Students who have moved to another Oak Ridge school should contact the new school. All parents and pupils will be notified of room assignment by mail before Monday, July 31, the first day of school.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ORIENTATION

• Jefferson Middle School - An orientation program for incoming fifth grade students will be held in the Jefferson Little Theater on Friday, July 28, starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 10:30 a.m. Bus service will not be provided. A new student orientation for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students attending Jefferson Middle School will be held on Thursday, July 27, from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Students attending this orientation should report to the guidance department.
• Robertsville Middle School - An orientation program for incoming fifth graders and sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students new to Robertsville will be held on Friday, July 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the auditorium. No bus service will be provided.

The Oak Ridge Senior Center will be offering one more Lunch & Learn program during the month of June in support of Cancer Survivor Month.

On Wednesday, June 28, at 12 p.m., the United Cancer Support Fund will present a special educational program that contains information and resources on specific types of cancer as well as applications for free screenings. Lunch will be provided.

The program is free of charge and open to anyone age 50 and over. It's scheduled to take place in the B-Room. Space is limited, so please call the senior center to register at least 48 hours in advance.

If you would like to sign up or learn more about any other programs offered through the Oak Ridge Senior Center, contact them at (865) 425-3999.

About Oak Ridge Senior Center:

Oak Ridge senior citizens have had a facility dedicated to their needs since 1977. The Senior Center is now temporarily located at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike inside the Recreation Building of the Civic Center. You can learn more about them on Facebook, check out their website or give them a call for more information on programs offered by the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department.

"BIG SCIENCE" PHOTOS ON DISPLAY AT THE LIBRARY THIS MONTH

The art exhibit at Oak Ridge Public Library for the month of June is a display entitled Big Science, a collection of photographs from the library's Oak Ridger Collection.

These 8x10 images range in date from 1944 to the present and demonstrate a variety of research projects at Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the years.

As attendees will see, big machines are the norm in fusion reactor experiments and massive amounts of test tubes are needed for research in environmental science.

Several of the photographs show the early processing and shipment of isotopes during the late 1940s. The image of the ELMO (Electromagnetic Orbit) Bumpy Torus, a series of magnetic mirrors that are twisted and connected end-to-end to form a magnetic fusion device, reveals how it received its "Bumpy" name.

Everyone is invited to visit and enjoy this historic photo collection at Oak Ridge Public Library during the month of June.

We are currently accepting applications for Recreation Program Supervisor (Athletics).  Under the general supervision of the Recreation Program Manager for Athletics, this position performs work in planning, organizing and maintaining the City's recreational and athletic programs and facilities. Applications are due by noon on Friday, June 30, 2017.

The City is also hiring for Facilities Maintenance Specialist. This job has a variety of responsibilities, including maintenance on HVAC and plumbing systems, record keeping for labor and materials, and repairs to fixtures and other equipment. Applications for this position are due by noon on Wednesday, June 28, 2017.

View all current job openings and find out how to apply by visiting the Employment section of our website.

DEADLINE APPROACHING: YOUTH BOARD APPLICATIONS

The City Clerk's Office is currently accepting applications from Oak Ridge High School students interested in serving as a member of a board or commission. The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2017.

The city is recruiting youth membership for the following boards:

• Environmental Quality Advisory Board (one vacancy)
• Traffic Safety Advisory Board (one vacancy)

Mandatory qualifications include Oak Ridge residency and student enrollment at Oak Ridge High School as of the 2017-2018 academic year.

Applicants must also complete a Boards and Commissions application available on the City Clerk's departmental website or by visiting  www.oakridgetn.gov/online/cityclerk/bcelections. Those interested can choose to be considered for one or both board vacancies on their application.

Paper versions of the application are available in the City Clerk's Office located in Room 109 of the Municipal Building at 200 South Tulane Avenue. Applicants may attach additional documents including cover letters, references and resumes.

To be considered, completed applications must be submitted to the City Clerk's Office by the deadline listed above. Late applications or submissions will not be considered.

The election to fill boards and commissions vacancies will take place at the regular Oak Ridge City Council meeting on Monday, July 10, 2017.

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

WELCOME TO TENNESSEE'S INNOVATION CORRIDOR

You may have spotted a new sign on the west end of Oak Ridge Turnpike that says "Tennessee's Innovation Corridor." 

It was unveiled Friday, June 2, and is the first of nine signs that will go up around the area. 

Oak Ridge teamed up with Anderson and Roane Counties, as well as the cities of Clinton and Kingston, to recommend this special designation to the Tennessee General Assembly. They agreed, officially recognizing Hwy 58/95/61 between I-40 exit 356 in Kingston and I-75 exit 122 in Clinton as Tennessee's Innovation Corridor!

Check out some photos from the sign unveiling ceremony...

See more photos on our Facebook page by clicking here...

The Oak Ridge Land Bank demolished its first home under the state's Blight Elimination Program last month.

A demolition crew leveled the abandoned house at 768 W. Outer Drive in order to protect the safety of families in the neighborhood, as well as their property values.

"The families in this neighborhood have taken good care of their own homes, and it's through no fault of their own that they find themselves on the same street as an abandoned home that's hurting their property values and quality of life," said Ralph M. Perrey, executive director of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). "Those are the people this program was designed to protect."

THDA launched the Blight Elimination Program last year with $6 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund (HHF), which was created to stabilize neighborhoods and prevent foreclosures.

THDA says it is aggressively partnering with nonprofits and land banks to provide them with funding to tear down eyesores that are attracting crime and dragging down property values in otherwise strong neighborhoods. The Oak Ridge Land Bank has already acquired 15 properties that may qualify for the Blight Elimination Program.

Under the Blight Elimination Program, land banks and qualified nonprofits can apply for loans of up to $25,000 to cover the cost of acquiring an abandoned home, demolishing it, and greening and maintaining the property. The lot can then be transformed into new affordable housing or another use approved by THDA for the stabilization of the surrounding neighborhood. THDA monitors the completion of each project and forgives the loan after three years, or sooner for certain uses.

"I would like to express my appreciation to THDA on behalf of the City of Oak Ridge for their support of our City's housing initiatives," said Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch when the Blight Elimination Program was expanded to Anderson County last July. "The City is grateful for the opportunity to move further ahead in the revitalization of our historic homes and neighborhoods."

Read the full THDA Media Release...