Oak Ridge Today

Altrusa launches weekly meeting of international women on Sept. 12

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Around the World Hands and Globe

Altrusa International of Oak Ridge will launch a weekly gathering of international women called Women of the World, or WOW, on Thursday, Sept. 12. The gathering will welcome women from countries around the world who are interested in making friends, practicing English, and learning more about Oak Ridge and its resources.

The group will hold its first meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in Room 102 of the Activities Building of the First Presbyterian Church, 1051 Oak Ridge Turnpike at Lafayette Drive, for the beginning of a 12-week program this fall and winter. [Read more…]

Taste of Oak Ridge this month features food, music

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Jackson Square Merchants Association

Members of the Jackson Square Merchants Association are pictured above. From left to right standing are Myra Langley, Debbie Magill, Jeannie O’Brien, Nancy Cosgrove, Wendy Holloway, and Bob Bardoff. Seated are Manderley Swain, Jo Ann Hasty, and Barbara Ferrell. (Submitted photo)

The Fifth Annual Taste of Oak Ridge later this month will feature small portions of food from local restaurants and music by local musicians—and raise money for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

This year’s Taste of Oak Ridge is scheduled from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, in Jackson Square. The “tastes” from each food vendor will cost $1 or $2 per item. Attendees can buy as many tickets as they want for $1 each. In addition, beer and wine will be available for sale.

Taste of Oak Ridge is sponsored by the Jackson Square Merchants Association.

Funeral, community reception for city historian Bill Wilcox on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Bill Wilcox

Bill Wilcox

A funeral and community reception have been scheduled for Saturday for Bill Wilcox, a chemist who came to Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project in World War II and went on to become technical director for federal facilities K-25 and Y-12, was named Oak Ridge city historian, and led the fight to preserve the history of the former K-25 site, which was built during World War II to enrich uranium for atomic bombs.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 212 N. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge. The community reception is at 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the lobby at Pollard Auditorium at Oak Ridge Associated Universities at 120 Badger Ave. [Read more…]

Bill Wilcox, passionate advocate for preserving Oak Ridge’s history, dies at 90

Posted at
By 6 Comments

Bill Wilcox and Clifton Truman Daniel

Wearing his trademark bow tie, Bill Wilcox, left, is pictured at the New Hope Center earlier this year with Clifton Truman Daniel, oldest grandson of former U.S. President Harry S. Truman. (Photos by D. Ray Smith)

Bill Wilcox, a passionate advocate for preserving Oak Ridge’s history who was known for his bow ties and captivating storytelling, died Monday evening. He was 90.

Wilcox died at NHC, longtime friend Gordon Fee said. He had been moved there from Methodist Medical Center, where he had been hospitalized for almost three weeks with heart issues and shortness of breath, Fee said.

“We’ve lost a person who had more knowledge of our history than anyone else I’ve ever known,” said friend D. Ray Smith, Y-12 National Security Complex historian and newspaper columnist.

Wilcox was a chemist who started working at Y-12 during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal project to build the world’s first atomic bombs.

[Read more…]

Street painting festival seeks artists, sponsors

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Alligator Teeth Street Painting Festival

A winning chalk painting at the 11th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival, held in October 2010 at the Oak Ridge branch campus of Roane State Community College. (Submitted photo)

Do you enjoy drawing upon your artistic skills as you sketch a face, animal, or scene? Then you might like “painting” pictures in chalk on a sidewalk.

You are invited to sign up as an artist for the 14th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival. This popular event will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 (rain day on Sunday), on the sidewalks of the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College. Artists may start their chalk paintings on Friday afternoon, Oct. 4.

The art must be completed at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, so it can be judged before 6 p.m., when artist awards will be announced. If you win a first prize or the People’s Choice Award, you will receive a $50 cash award as well as recognition. [Read more…]

Norris Dam, Museum of Appalachia among Top 10 on USA Today’s I-75 Guide

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Norris Dam

A USA Today travel guide recommends the view from the west entrance overlook at Norris Dam, a cliffside perch off the left side of this picture. (Photo courtesy TVA)

Norris Dam and the Museum of Appalachia were among the Top 10 attractions published by USA Today in an I-75 guide to the best stops between Detroit and Atlanta.

Reporter Ellen Creager of the Detroit Free Press drove 890 miles between Detroit and Atlanta during a four-day period and stopped at 32 places suggested by readers. The stops had to be within 2.5 miles of the freeway, which eliminated some potential places to visit such as Chattanooga. [Read more…]

Lecture next week focuses on IAEA training program hosted at ORNL

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Michael Whitaker

Michael Whitaker

A lunchtime lecture next week will feature a discussion of a recent International Atomic Energy Agency training program that was hosted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Michael Whitaker, group leader of the ORNL International Safeguards Group in the Nuclear Security and Isotope Technology Division, will lead the presentation.

The IAEA training program was for more than 40 nuclear safeguards professionals and regulatory officials representing more than 30 nations. They spent two weeks at ORNL to expand their knowledge for conducting their vital work around the world, a press release said. [Read more…]

ORHPA meeting offers rare look inside historic church in west Oak Ridge

Posted at
By 2 Comments

George Jones Memorial Baptist Church

A Sept. 12 meeting at the George Jones Memorial Baptist Church, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, will provide a rare look inside the church and include an overview of the history of the former Wheat community. (Photos courtesy Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association)

Next week’s meeting of a historic preservation organization will feature a rare chance to see inside the George Jones Memorial Baptist Church in west Oak Ridge, a property listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association’s monthly membership and public meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12. It includes a field trip to the former Wheat community and the George Jones Memorial Baptist Church and cemetery, which is located off Blair Road, near the former K-25 site, which is now known as the Heritage Center. [Read more…]

Forum next week to focus on separation of church and state

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Paul Sharkey

Paul W. Sharkey

The separation of church and state will be the focus of a forum and panel discussion next week in Oak Ridge.

The forum starts at 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at Grace Covenant Church in the Trinity Center on Robertsville Road. It will be led by Paul W. Sharkey, a professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, a press release said.

Sharkey’s presentation is titled “Separation of Church and State: Protect Your Religious Freedom.” He will discuss the country’s founders and their position on the issue, the Constitution’s First Amendment, and the challenges to the amendment that have continued from colonial times to the present day, the release said. [Read more…]

Anderson County mayor to give update on first year in office

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank will discuss her first year in office during Lunch with the League on Tuesday.

The lunch starts at noon Tuesday in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.

Frank was elected in August 2012 to serve a two-year term as Anderson County Mayor, completing the unexpired term of former mayor Rex Lynch, who resigned in January 2011 after being indicted for sales tax fraud. She was sworn into office on Sept. 1, 2012. [Read more…]

New River Fall Festival scheduled for October

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Second Annual New River Fall Festival is scheduled for Oct. 5, and it will feature a variety of food and entertainment to help save a historical landmark. There will be children’s games, a bake sale, indoor flea market, and live music.

“We are raising money to restore the Rosedale School Building because it is part of our history, and we want to preserve this history for our children’s future,” said Karen Sue McKamey, vice president of the New River History and Community Advisory Board. [Read more…]

What’s happening in Oak Ridge Aug. 29-Sept. 4

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Here is a summary of events happening in Oak Ridge starting this evening, Aug. 29, and continuing through Sept. 4.

This weekly listing of events is compiled by the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau: [Read more…]