Community Corner

🌱 See Oak Ridge’s Veterans Day celebration through a photographer’s lens

You won't want to miss Y-12 Winter Wonderland on the Oak Ridge Patch calendar

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Thursday December 11th Patch AM
Thursday December 11th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Morning Oak Ridge! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • See Oak Ridge’s Veterans Day celebration through a photographer’s lens
  • How an Oak Ridge teen tumbled his way onto Team USA
  • How Oak Ridge is shaping tomorrow’s nuclear security leaders with UT

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Oak Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Oak Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high of 40 and low of 33 degrees.
  • Friday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 54, low: 33.
  • Saturday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 50 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Through the lens. Knox News photographers share their best photos from November 2025 (knoxnews.com) — Oak Ridge gets a spotlight in this November photo roundup, featuring a joyful Veterans Day celebration at the Oak Ridge Senior Center. The gallery also showcases Knoxville-area holiday events, sports moments, and local personalities, offering a visual snapshot of life around East Tennessee last month.
   

2. Oak Ridge gymnast, now a Team USA member, shines on the world stage (oakridger.com) — An Oak Ridge High School senior, Xavier Harper, has helped Team USA win a silver medal at the world championships in power tumbling while maintaining a 4.5 GPA and dual-enrollment at Roane State. He’s also deeply involved in youth ministry at Faith Promise Church and coaches younger gymnasts at Premier Athletics, making him a standout role model for local kids.
   

3. UT Is Shaping the Next Generation of Nuclear Security Experts (utk.edu) — Oak Ridge’s high-tech training center and nearby national lab are central to how UT Knoxville is preparing the next generation of nuclear security and policy experts. Through hands-on exercises at the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center and partnerships with Y-12 and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, students gain real-world skills for nuclear security careers.
   

4. Launch TN's 32 SBIR/STTR Matching Fund companies surpass $1 billion in economic impact (teknovation.biz) — Oak Ridge residents may be interested that seven Innovation Crossroads companies at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are among 32 Tennessee firms whose SBIR/STTR Matching Fund-backed work has generated over $1 billion in economic impact. The program has helped double federal innovation funding in the state since 2017, creating more than 1,100 high-wage jobs and significantly boosting follow-on investment.
   

📸 Around Oak Ridge

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Ridge

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Saturday December 13
  • Y-12 Winter Wonderland
    New Hope Center (Y-12 History Center), 602 Scarboro Rd #602, Oak Ridge
    9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Oak Ridge Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday December 11
  • Toddler Takeover
    Farragut, TN Calendar Farragut, TN 37934
    10:00 am
  • CHAMBER HOSTED Ribbon Cutting with U Brew Coffee Co
    Farragut West Knox Chamber , 114 Carr St , Knoxville
    11:00 am
  • Member hosted: AI for Business Owners: A Practical Roundtable Lunch Discussion
    Calhoun's Turkey Creek , 625 Turkey Cove Ln , Knoxville
    12:00 pm
  • CANCELLED - Stormwater Advisory Committee Meeting
    Farragut, TN Calendar , Farragut Town Hall Hartford Room (Suite 210) , Farragut
    3:45 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • 🎄 Pop Up Holiday Gift-Wrapping Station 🎁
    Do you need help wrapping gifts this holiday season? Need to prep a present for someone in your house who might spot it? The Library can set you up… (Nextdoor )
  • Looking for recommendations as to where my friend could give ladies’ clothes, size 12.
    I know about KARM, Goodwill, and Brysonn’s Corner, all good places. But I’m looking for other places that truly NEED these, such shelters for… (Nextdoor Willow Place)
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory posted a job opening for Executive Director and Vice Provost of the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute in Oak Ridge. Apply here.
  • Tetra Tech, Inc. posted a job opening for Simulation Modeler - Oak Ridge, TN in Oak Ridge. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Ridge here.

Ok Oak Ridge! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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