Sept. 8 - 14, 2017
Explore Historic Oak Ridge, Sept. 16 First-time event will offer rare glimpses into some of townâs oldest treasures For more details, a tour map and a description of the 17 properties on the Explore Historic Oak Ridge tour, view the EHOR publication at nwobserver.com or look for a printed copy of the publication inside next weekâs issue.
Contributions to this article by SANDRA SMITH and ANN SCHNEIDER OAK RIDGE â Regal, majestic or even humble or utilitarian, many of Oak Ridgeâs historic properties will soon open their doors and allow the public a peek inside for the first time. From noon to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16, as part of a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the townâs Historic District being formed and the 250th anniversary of the Old Mill of
...continued on p. 26
Local hikers to blaze a trail on Sept. 9
MST in a Day showcases efforts to expand trail system locally and throughout the state by JOE GAMM
OAK RIDGE/NW GUILFORD â Almost 700 miles of the Mountains to Sea Trail have been completed to date. Each year new segments of the almost 1,200-mile trail are built as volunteers work closely with municipalities to create a state treasure that will stretch from Clingmanâs Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockeyâs Ridge on the Outer Banks. The Town of Oak Ridgeâs five-year capital improvement budget, approved last
June, earmarks hundreds of thousands of dollars to get walkers off the road, according to Bill Bruce, Oak Ridgeâs planning director and interim co-manager. Tying into the MST is part of the plan. âThe MST route comes along roadway portions of Oak Ridge,â Bruce said. âWhat weâre trying to do is get off the roadway and get trails from one end of town to the other.â To do that, the town will incorporate miles of already-planned trails, he said. Oak Ridgeâs Pedestrian Plan, adopted in October 2013, calls for several miles of trails and sidewalks to be built over the next 18 years. To view the Pedestrian Plan, visit www.oakridgenc.com, then select âOrdinances and Plansâ on the lefthand side of the homepage.
Bruce describes the plan as ambitious. Some of the funds set aside in the townâs capital budget are intended to identify potential routes and obtain easements. âWeâve got some easements already,â Bruce said. âBut, we have a whole lot more analysis to do.â Even though $150,000 is earmarked for the MST this fiscal year, with $50,000 in each of the next two fiscal years, that money wonât be released until more specific costs are identi-
...continued on p. 8
bringing the local news home to northwest Guilford County since 1996 www.nwobserver.com
IN THIS ISSUE News in Brief ........................3 Your Questions ....................4 Youth / School news...........9 New name, same teacher 10 High School Sports ........... 13 Student Profiles ................. 14 Community Calendar ...... 19 Bits & Pieces .....................20 Grins & Gripes ............... 23 Crime/Incident Report 24 Classifieds ................. 27 Index of Advertisers 31 NWO on the Go! ..32