Community Corner

🌱 See what you missed at Oak Ridge’s 2025 Christmas Parade.

Coming up: Oak Ridge Housing Authority on the Oak Ridge Patch calendar

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Tuesday December 16th Patch AM
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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 what you missed at Oak Ridge’s 2025 Christmas Parade.
  • What does “authorized” really mean for reactors near Oak Ridge?
  • How new ORNL quantum research could shape Oak Ridge’s high-tech future

Also on today's calendar: Convention and Visitors Bureau/ Explore Oak Ridge and 5 more events.

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

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Oak Ridge? Post it to Oak Ridge photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

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Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 49 and low of 31 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Increasing cloudiness, temps: high: 49, low: 35.
  • Thursday: Cloudy with afternoon rain, with a high of 58 and low of 33 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Photos from the 2025 Oak Ridge Christmas Parade (oakridger.com) — Oak Ridge residents can relive the 2025 Oak Ridge Christmas Parade through a large gallery of photos captured during the festivities on Saturday night, Dec. 13. The images, shared with The Oak Ridger by photographer Yvonne Dalschen, highlight floats, lights, and community spirit from the city’s holiday celebration.
   

• Who Authorizes New Nuclear Reactors in the United States? (nationalinterest.org) — Oak Ridge is highlighted as one of the federal sites where new nuclear reactors may be “authorized,” but the piece explains that such moves differ from full commercial approval. It walks readers through how the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission now share distinct roles in funding, siting, and licensing reactors across the country.
   

• ORNL and National Labs Partner with University of Tennessee to Pioneer Quantum Materials Research Using Exascale Computing (hoodline.com) — Major new quantum materials research is launching at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, using the Frontier exascale supercomputer to study how advanced materials behave under changing conditions. Partnering with UT Knoxville and several national labs, the four-year CONNEQT project aims to deepen understanding that could eventually support future energy technologies and strengthen America’s scientific and security capabilities.
   

📸 Around Oak Ridge

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Ridge

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★ Featured events ★

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📣 Oak Ridge Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • A fire at Greenbrier Ridge Apartments in Knoxville destroyed over half the building, displaced 15 residents, and sent three people to the hospital.
    6:29PM on Dec 14: A commercial fire was reported at Greenbrier Ridge Apartments in Knoxville. (Nextdoor )
  • Healthcare Services Group posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Oak Ridge. Apply here.
  • UniFirst posted a job opening for Radioactive Material Shipper - UniTech in Oak Ridge. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Ridge here.

🗞 Nearby News

Kingston

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 don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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