Oak Ridge Today

High achievement: Wildbots alliance finishes second in robotics competition finals

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An alliance that included the Secret City Wildbots of Oak Ridge High School finished second in the final championship round at the FIRST Robotics Competition in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday.

Maddie Buckner, a member of Team 4265 of Oak Ridge High School, is pictured above with Professor Woodie Flowers at the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday, April 25, 2015. (Photos by Angi Agle)

 

An alliance that included the Secret City Wildbots of Oak Ridge High School finished second in the final championship round at the FIRST Robotics Competition in St. Louis, Missouri, on Saturday.

It’s the highest achievement in the five-year history of Team 4265, Oak Ridge Board of Education member Angi Agle said.

The Secret City Wildbots were picked to join a four-team alliance with the first- and second-place ranked teams and made it into the elimination rounds on Saturday. That alliance won the Hopper Subdivision and advanced to the finals, the Einstein round, which was also on Saturday.

The alliance included: [Read more…]

Food, music at Taste of Oak Ridge to benefit Free Medical Clinic

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Taste of Oak Ridge

 

The format will be the same, but this year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held at the new Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Oak Ridge Turnpike—instead of in Jackson Square. It was moved because organizers weren’t sure when construction work might start on a revitalization project at Jackson Square.

Taste of Oak Ridge features food from Oak Ridge restaurants and performances by local musicians.

The sixth annual festival, scheduled from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, will raise money to benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. The Free Medical Clinic provides free medical care to residents of Anderson, Roane, and Morgan counties who don’t have insurance and can’t afford to pay for care.

Area restaurants will showcase some of their finest food in small portions. The price range for the “tastes” from each vendor will be $1 to $4 per item. Tickets will be available for purchase at entrances to the event. Attendees can buy as many tickets as they want for $1 each. In addition, beer and wine will be available to buy.

This year’s Taste of Oak Ridge will be held in the parking lot of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at its new address at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, north of the Joe L. Evins Federal Building. [Read more…]

Youth Showcase to benefit Child Advocacy Center on Nov. 2

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Taylor Kress

Singer/songwriter Taylor Kress will be one of the featured performers at the first Youth Showcase on Nov. 2, a benefit for the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County. (Submitted photos)

Singing, dancing, and comedy—coupled with great food and celebrity entertainment—will kick off the first Youth Showcase on Nov. 2, a benefit for the Child Advocacy Center of Anderson County.

The fundraiser for CACACT will feature some of the area’s most talented youth, a press release said. It starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the High Places Community Church in Historic Grove Center in Oak Ridge.

The young performers include ballet dancer Taylor Gober and singer/songwriters Nic Cagle, Taylor Kress (who has also appeared on WDVX), and Lara Manning. Two voice majors from UT, Breyon Lattrell Wess and Taylor Stone, and other local singers Maddie and Sydney Buckner will also perform. [Read more…]

Musicians to perform as coffeehouse opens second season Friday

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Sumner Byrne

Sumner Byrne

Guitars have been tuned, harmonies rehearsed and dance steps practiced in preparation for Friday’s opening of the second season of the Coffeehouse at First Presbyterian Church. The coffeehouse was started by college students last summer as a musical venue to enjoy together while raising funds for the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.

“We had no idea how much fun the coffeehouse events were going to be when we started last year,” said organizer Sumner Byrne, a college student at George Washington University. “It became clear that the young adult crowd needed a place to hang out, listen to some great music, and reconnect with friends who are normally away at school. [Read more…]