Sam Rosolina has kept his eye on the little things in life His work revolves around looking for beneficial microbes for Microbial Insights and he serves as the board chair for Discover Life in America a nonprofit focusing on biodiversity in the Great Smoky Mountains When he's not looking through a microscope Rosolina looks to the stars to change the world through science I’m proud of the work we did in East Palestine after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in 2023 we received grant funding from the National Science Foundation to travel to East Palestine and assess the long-term potential for toxin degradation by native microbes A good reminder of why we do the work that we do and that humans have a long way to go in terms of prioritizing human and environmental health What is the greatest professional obstacle you’ve had to overcome and how did you overcome it?My first role at Microbial Insights I jumped from teaching chemistry at the University of Tennessee to being asked to set up and run an analysis so unique that no one else in the U.S But thanks to the encouragement of my bosses and hours of research and testing we became globally recognized in environmental isotope analysis Microbial Insights has a lot of opportunities in 2025 that I’m so excited to pursue Some of those things include dedicated continuation of projects we’re already working on: identifying new biomarkers for predicting and preventing corrosion working with The Or Foundation in Ghana to help them clean up one of the most polluted lagoons in the world collaborating with a group of scientists to identify and tackle hurdles for not-so-distant deep space travel But we also have a number of (hopefully) world-changing projects and exciting collaborations that we’re looking forward to diving into in 2025 I feel so content with my current career trajectory that I think my biggest professional dream right now is to help Discover Life in America obtain the global recognition it deserves A nonprofit and Great Smoky Mountains National Park partner that’s demonstrated the value and impact of documenting biodiversity and has resulted in the discovery of over 1,000 species that are completely new to science in our own backyard I’ll still preach it: (Discover Life in America) is the best I don’t need to revisit specific mistakes − I have a lot of them − but the vast majority of those mistakes have been due to a lack of communication on my end and a lack of comfort in asking for help or delegating and I’ve learned the value of trusting others on my teams to get things done It’s also been a reminder for me to make sure that everyone else feels comfortable enough to speak up when necessary What motivates you?I feel passionate about having a positive impact on the environment I don't think I’ve intentionally listened to any bottled business advice I’ve just been extremely lucky in having incredible mentors my entire life and I’ve tried to emulate them the best I can What trait do you most want in a co-worker?I value communicative and direct co-workers who work hard and stay in their lanes I also value co-workers who don’t take themselves too seriously and are up for moments of humor and bad puns Knoxville needs a climate action plan as soon as possible It needs to not only address decreases in emissions but also preparedness for extreme weather events preparedness for an influx of people to the region And it needs to address how climate change will disproportionately impact different communities We also need affordable housing and more options for housing in general Knoxville is doing great work in this space (yesknoxville.org) every issue that Justice Knox has prioritized and continues to address (justiceknox.org) This interfaith organization is making real change in our community Many folks don’t know that I was homeschooled from first through 12th grade for spending so much time and energy ensuring that my sister and I had a good education sisterYears worked in current company: 8Degrees and certifications: Bachelor's in chemistry from Berea College; Ph.D in analytical chemistry from the University of Tennessee at KnoxvilleCommunity involvement: Board Chair at Discover Life in America; Youth Mentor at Church of the Savior; Member and USA Representative EUROMIC (European Network for Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion Management); ASTM Committee E50 Member (Environmental Assessment Risk Management and Corrective Action); American Society for Testing and Materials Member; Biological in Situ Resource Utilization Collaborative (Long-term Habitation on Lunar and Planetary Bodies)- Keenan Thomas — A $20,000 grant from AARP Kentucky will help rebuild damaged sidewalks install benches and create a mural in Jenkins as part of the recovery from the deadly 2022 flood that took the lives of 45 residents across Eastern Kentucky communications director for the nonprofit Appalshop explained because its headquarters was severely damaged by the flooding staff has temporarily moved to neighboring Jenkins where the grant will help improve walkability She noted the new walking trail and benches will begin at a local senior center and extend about a mile into downtown “Twenty-four percent of the county is over the age of 59 and the poverty rate is also like over 38 percent,” Rosolina pointed out “We want to be part of this community for as long as they will have us but we also want to work with the city and use our resources to make improvements and make things safer.” Other 2024 Community Challenge grants awardees include Hotel Inc. a Bowling Green organization providing training on home safety and aging in place for older adults; and Casey County Public Library to build a series of public displays and activities grandparents can do with their grandchildren it brought out the best in a close-knit community “Speaking as someone who was present during the recovery it was a special time where Eastern Kentucky really shined,” Sturdivant recounted “I feel like it shined its brightest because it brought out that deep-rooted togetherness and everybody was just pitching in.” will highlight residents’ perseverance “Art is one way to process trauma and I think the flood is going to be part of all of these communities for the rest of time,” Rosolina observed So having something beautiful come out of that She added the art display will be formally presented to the public during the Jenkins Homecoming Days Festival at the end of August FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase criminal penalties for… LEXINGTON, Ky. -- According to a new report, a significant number of the state's youths are institutionalized,… FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentuckians have less than a week to register to vote in next month's primary election.… A new $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will boost the resources and assistance… More than 100 workers at Coca-Cola plants in Logan and Charleston have returned to work after going… CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new West Virginia law requires magistrates and judges to set a hearing within… FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky households can still apply for assistance to help pay their water bills.… The flu, COVID and RSV are rapidly spreading in Kentucky, and health experts say that's a problem for… FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A statewide program in Kentucky aims to provide credentialing and pathways to a… WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kentucky’s… WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Mitch… WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senate Minority… WASHINGTON, D.C. — More bad new for… Pike County residents can visit the health… The group gathered for a roundabout walk… PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — A Magoffin County… BELFRY, Ky. — A Belfry man has been… Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Venice Venice might be the city break of all city breaks You should come to this beloved Italian city for its cobbled streets magnificent art galleries and gondoliers in stripey shirts it does beach holiday vibes just as well.  a very not-well-kept secret is that there’s a whole host of beautiful serene beaches just a short trip out of the city All of them can be reached via a quick ferry or train sand and a much-needed escape from the city here are the best beaches near Venice.  Photograph: Shutterstock.comVenice’s most popular nearby beach is It’s close to Venice and suits family vacations It’s also worth noting that the nightlife scene here is much more varied and exciting than Venice’s own – expect bars open until later at night with prices that will be more in your favour as well Photograph: Courtesy Tripadvisor/JW MarriottOne of the closest beaches to Venice is Isola delle Rose, a 25-minute ferry ride from San Marco freely accessible by island patrons. The JW Marriott rehabilitated the entire island a while back adding a Michelin-star restaurant and an outstanding spa to the local experience You can spend the day here indulging in some of the island’s posh services and enjoy the quiet of the private beach waterfront where very few tourists are found Photograph: Shutterstock.comYou have to pay to enter some of Lido’s beaches Alberoni is popular with beachcombers and naturalists who revel in the complete serenity of it all: the space is unencumbered by beach umbrellas and chairs the clear waters swell with moored boats and water sports enthusiasts We promise the scene becomes tolerably crowded Photograph: Shutterstock.comThis is a lively port on the west coast of Cavallino-Treporti filled with chill (and undeveloped) beaches and aided by frequent ferry traffic to and from Venice key attraction that adds character to the nearby ruins of historic Venetian forts that were vital in protecting the city the private island Santa Cristina is the ultimate beach experience for those seeking absolute privacy The former Swarovski family compound boasts private beach access and a stunning pool and outdoor lounge for those who prefer experiencing the beach from a distance The island is filled with vineyards and flowering gardens where wild peacocks and grouse scurry and roost Photograph: Shutterstock.comBibione is not as popular as other destinations near Venice The beaches here smell like heady pine from the nearby forests that cook in the sun all day there are umbrellas and chairs for rent and the option to escape the beach for a long which you can access by train from Venice.  Photograph: Shutterstock.comThe beach at Sottomarina di Chioggia is superb if you’re looking for clean sandy stretches filled with restaurants and bike rentals from the nearby Hotel Mediterraneo There is also an excellent sea-front bike path that leads to Chioggia (home to a delicious fish market and restaurants) also referred to as “little Venice” Photograph: Shutterstock.comJust south of Chioggia is Rosolina Mare one of the longest and widest beaches in the region rarely crowded except on summer holidays and most of August The bike paths here are flat and easy to navigate and the local seafront hotels are home to pools and tennis courts used by plenty of visitors daily Photograph: Shutterstock.comFrom Rosolina Mare you can cycle along the bike path to Albarella a stunning private island and nature reserve with vast groves of Poplar trees The island is virtually free of cars and boasts Europe’s largest saltwater pool Full disclosure: you must be a guest of the Albarella Golf Hotel to access the beaches The resort’s staff can also help you organize deep sea diving and sailing excursions Thanks for subscribing! 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About us Contact us Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWhen you think of Goodwill you think of donated clothes that are later sold Local 8 News Reporter Sarah Jane Cobb found out that it doesn't stop in the store The money sold from donated items goes to support Goodwill's job training programs which Marketing Director Erin Rosolina said is the easiest to highlight "We have an amazing pass rate for the NAT exam at the end where they are getting their state certification and almost each one of our students is offered a job at the end of their time in our class," said Rosolina Jillian Mantikow is enrolled in this session They are two weeks into the six week program "I'm actually looking to be an RN," said Mantikow "So I have some of my Associates Degree done and this is a good point of entry into the field Rosolina told Local 8 News this program was designed for adults "It's designed for people who haven't been in school for a long time you don't even have to have graduated high school to take it," she said The pass rate for the skills portion of the state certification exam is 87 percent The pass rate for the written portion of the test is 83 percent Rosalina said if students don't pass the exam educators will stick with them to make sure they do "We actually bring in employers who are seeking CNAs so that our students can kind of pick where they want to apply," said Rosolina "That helps us have a really good placement rate so most of our people end up getting jobs." the program didn't cost a dime because of Goodwill's partnerships "We try really hard to make our programs free for participants There are opportunities for private pay if someone wants to sign up right here most of our students don't pay for their services," said Rosolina Rosolina said their goal is to make sure the program makes a big difference in their students' lives "If you can go from minimum wage to something much higher that's going to support your family and change the way that you're living," she said Not so many years ago a restaurant aptly known as Veg-O-Rama came and went in Happy Holler a new produce and vegetarian baked goods market in South Knoxville had a grand opening and a quiet closing within months of each other the Three Rivers Market food bar all spring to mind—do a brisk trade with the local vegetarian foodies but as for establishments that are vegetarian all the way “We wonder that every single day,” quips Whitney Ross, the co-owner with Rebecca Clayman of the Dinner Bell Fresh food truck and any doubts are not keeping the pair from plowing right into action “We believe that healthy people are happy people and that Tennessee is a beautiful place to be enjoyed and explored While some may feel our focus may make us an underdog we embrace the opportunity to provide healthy options and comfort food minus the guilt.” Ross and Clayman bring rich and diverse life experience to this truck Clayman’s been a juice bartender and baker in other states and honed her skills with renowned plant-based chef Chad Sarno and the Rouxbe team Ross is a certified plant-based nutritionist who says he started working at age 12 as a shoe shiner and has held many administrative and educational posts in between The two met eight years ago working at the local Apple Store and both began a “vegan adventure” in January 2014 They share a frustration with Tennessee’s consistently poor national health rankings They’ve already met with some success at events like Barre3 in the Park at Sequoyah Hills Park and a Trunk or Treat event with the North Side YMCA “Both of these were community focused and sponsored by organizations that encourage healthy living,” Ross says The food truck also does a regular gig at lunch on Main Street and it’s here that I start thinking that these people might just be able to pull this off I dive into zucchini “pasta” with a lively marinara and “meatballs” made of quinoa As I realize the “noodles” are crispy and lightly flavored not carb-y or chewy like your typical white flour pasta I place my finger on it: These two are forging new ground With dishes as varied as vegan nachos and eggplant curry They are not trying to make sprouted grains taste like your mammaw’s meatloaf or even a vegan soup taste like a vegetarian one—their cashew-lime “cream” is smooth and tangy but not trying to take the place of sour cream and you can taste Clayman’s background at play in the simmered sauces “The food I was exposed to as a kid was rich with flavors and spices,” she says “My grandmother was constantly having us try new things rice were the comfort foods on my table when I was young.” a guy named Sam Rosolina who I met at a Knoxville Green Drinks Happy Hour unwittingly gives me further hope that Dinner Bell Fresh is on the right track He and a friend walk from the UT campus and their grad studies for lunch here regularly Rosolina seems to only remember that it is vegetarian food as an afterthought; he’s not a vegetarian Another fellow with a twice-pierced face and a happy grin confirms the opinion “It just makes me feel good to eat this stuff,” he says He was so thrilled with the choices on an earlier trip he was anxious to come back “I couldn’t decide so I ended up getting four.” A smattering of people in business suits and blue jeans completes the steady flow of customers calmly banter and serve and stir and take money and feed Because there is one more way I know that these two are all-in on this enterprise all set to be the ones who make food truck/vegetarian/Knoxville history It was Ross’ answer to my very first question for them: Do you have other jobs than this Rose Kennedy came to Knoxville to work as an editorial assistant on 13-30’s Retail Appliance Management Series and never saw a reason to leave Her “so uncool I’m cool” career among the alt weekly newspaper crowd has led to award-winning articles on Dr Bill Bass and the Body Farm and cyber-bullying at West High School and treasonous food columns about preferring unsweet tea and feeling ambivalent about biscuits The Knoxville Mercury was an independent weekly news magazine devoted to educating and connecting Knoxville’s many different communities not-for-profit company governed by the Knoxville History Project a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to exploring and celebrating Knoxville’s unique cultural heritage All content © 2015-2017The Knoxville History Project Oak Ridge Today Posted at 6:16 pm August 22, 2015By Leave a Comment The new Hank’s Market grocery store in east Oak Ridge has a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday The new Hank’s Market grocery store in east Oak Ridge has a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday Hank’s Market #45 will be in the space formerly used by the Food Lion grocery store at 691 Emory Valley Road The ribbon-cutting ceremony is from 10-11 a.m Food Lion confirmed its plans to close its Oak Ridge store in June 2014. The company said it was not renewing its lease on the property The spaces where Curves and Briarcliff Realty used to be next to Food Lion have been under renovation also Goodwill confirmed that it is moving to Emory Valley Road public relations and marketing coordinator for Goodwill Industries Knoxville said the company didn’t have a grand opening date scheduled but they hope to open at the new location this fall and we’re going to have a larger spot for our employment training program,” Rosolina said Goodwill is now located at a shopping center on the northwest side of the intersection of South Tulane and South Illinois avenues Rosolina said the new Emory Valley Road space will be smaller overall than Goodwill’s current location in Oak Ridge and rehabilitation area will increase drastically “We are moving from a 600-square-foot training area to over 1,500 square feet,” she said “This will allow us to serve more clients through our vocational training programs.” Rosolina said the current location provides lots of programming for clients and the store has computer labs and meeting space She said the new larger job training space will allow expanded programming to serve even more people in the community Goodwill’s mission is to provide vocational services and opportunities to people with employment barriers and sometimes it’s finding the right child care It’s not clear how long Goodwill has been at the current location but the company said it’s been in Oak Ridge since 1988 Rosolina said Goodwill Industries Knoxville serves 15 counties in East Tennessee the company served more than 4,000 people through job training programs which are primarily funded through retail stores Goodwill is moving next to the new Hank’s Market where Curves used to be in the former Food Lion shopping center on Emory Valley Road More information will be added as it becomes available Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" More Business Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today I encourage you to look around for groundwater monitoring wells − metal covers in the ground marked with a triangle These wells were installed to keep watch on the groundwater below: indicators of a nearby historical hazardous chemical release You’ll often see them at or near gas stations you’ll recognize just how many there are out there – in a sidewalk you use we’re surrounded by a history of hazardous chemical releases; most of the common contaminants (benzene in gasoline spills trichloroethene from old drycleaners and machine shops heavy metals from historic smelters) are carcinogens a federal organization has done the heavy lifting of researching these toxins The EPA has identified what levels are dangerous and developed groundbreaking ways to monitor The potential dismantling of the EPA’s Office of R&D is incomprehensible to me I mean that literally − I truly can’t imagine where environmental remediation would be without the people and research that the EPA science arm has delivered to this country and I worry about what could be missed in a future without it Many of us scientists still rely heavily on the experts and tools that have come out of that office to help protect human health This is science with action behind it − science that makes water and air safer for our communities and benefits our economy by decreasing cancer rates Cancer doesn’t care who you voted for or who’s in charge A decision to eliminate the EPA’s R&D program will not change that