Kathie Creasy, owner of Granny’s Attic antiques, stands in front of the sign marking America’s 250th birthday along Market Street during last weekend’s 21st-annual Clinch River Spring Antique Festival.
Last weekend’s 21th-annual Clinch River Spring Antique Festival may have signaled a new beginning for downtown Clinton as thousands of people turned out to shop the street vendors and stores.
They seemed eager to take advantage of the improvements to the sidewalks, which have been the focus of more than 15 months of construction.
“I felt like the festival was a huge sign of things to come for downtown,” said Katherine Birkbeck, executive director of Historic Downtown Clinton. “Just like that, Market Street came back to life.
“I think it signals that people are ready to be downtown again.”
She said that usually the spring festival doesn’t draw as many visitors as the fall festival does, but that this year, “The crowds were much bigger than I expected. I was really, really thankful at how many people came.
“We went big, and we had each business in mind when we planned the festival,” she said.
Visitors seemed to be impressed with the festival, which featured more than 100 street vendors, along with special events, including craft demonstrations and artistic performances.
Norris Little Theatre presents “The Red Velvet Cake War” this Friday through Sunday at the Anderson County High School theater. Tickets are available at the door.
For some weekend fun, the Norris Little Theatre invites people to come out to see its spring play, “The Red Velvet Cake War,” which is playing for three days in the Anderson County High School theater.
There are performances scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday (May 8, 9), and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday (May 10).
Tickets are available at the door for $15 each (age 5 and under free), with only cash or check accepted.
The play is described as a Southern-themed comedy.
It premiered at the Johnson City Community Theatre in Johnson City, Tennessee, on Oct. 8, 2010.
The play’s own website gives this description of it:
“In this riotously funny comedy, the three Verdeen cousins could not have picked a worse time to throw their family reunion, their outrageous antics delighting local gossips in the small town of Sweetgum.
Wendy and Johnathan Maness of Clinton make up the duo Westwend which has performed both locally and overseas. - Submitted
The Summer Sessions concerts in Oak Ridge’s A.K. Bissell Park have hosted musicians from around the country, but on Saturday, May 2, an Anderson County duo took the stage.
Wendy and Johnathan Maness perform in the neotraditional country duo Westwend, which Wendy said they named after their love of traveling west to Nashville and her first name.
Wendy sings, writes songs, and plays guitar and mandolin, while Johnathan plays guitar and dobro.
“We both realized early on that you have to love music to do it,” she said. “It is not an easy road when you try to do it for a living, so the love of music kept us in it.”
Wendy Maness said their “little bit bluegrass and a little bit country” style is best compared to Alison Krauss.
“I like the songwriting, but I also like how the music can either be complex or simple but reach a broad audience,” Maness said.
She said she likes to write songs that relate to her life experiences.
Arnold J. Wallace, a longtime Anderson County resident, will celebrate his 100th birthday May 9. Wallace, who served in the U.S. Navy beginning in May 1944 through World War II, later worked for Union Carbide’s X-10 facility before retiring Dec. 31, 1987. He married the late Ila Wier Hillon on April 30, 1948, and is the father of two sons, the late Charles and Kenneth, who lives in Chuckey, Tennessee. Over the years, Wallace has pursued a wide range of interests, including farming, cattle raising, beekeeping, woodworking, and service to his church, Sinking Springs United Methodist. A covered-dish lunch in his honor will be held at noon May 17 at the church, 108 Bland Road in Clinton. - Submitted
A crowd cheered the unveiling of this statue of World War II Oak Ridge photographer Ed Westcott at Oak Ridge History Museum, shown here with Westcott’s son-in-law Don Hunnicutt. The museum is at 102 Robertsville Road in Oak Ridge and focuses on everyday life in the city’s early years. It hosts many of Westcott’s photos. - Ben Pounds
Pictured is the Rev. William Ward Sr. He served in World War II during the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, and was a Pearl Harbor veteran. Ward passed away in November 2022, but his legacy lives on through the monthly veterans appreciation breakfast inspired by his efforts to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans. - Submitted
Military veterans from Anderson County are invited to come together Saturday, May 9, for the monthly Veterans Breakfast at the Clinton Community Center, 101 S. Hicks St.
The chow line opens at 8:30 a.m. and there will be a brief program at 9 a.m. honoring veterans.
This month’s breakfast, hosted by Anderson County citizens, is sponsored by Norris First Baptist Church, and the doughnuts are provided by County Commissioner Anthony Allen.
These breakfasts are held to recognize and honor veterans and their families for their service to the United States.
Many generous donors are also recognized for providing door prizes, including a monthly gift card donated by the East Tennessee Foundation for Women Veterans.
The following events will be held at the Clinton Public Library, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 118 South Hicks St. It will be closed for Memorial Day.
All ages
Computer Class will be on May 8 at noon. Join to learn about the cloud and what it can do for you.
Lego Club will be on Thursdays at 4 p.m. Free Legos are available for all to build.
Board Game Club will be on May 9 at 11 a.m. Join for casual board games. This month’s game will be Hex.
United Community Bank was the sponsor of the Chamber’s second Derby Day at the Pearl event at Aspire. Enjoying the evening are (front row from left): Ray and Lisa Dalton, Kelly and Kenny Vittatoe. Back row: Mike and Jennifer Thomas, Amy Pangelinan, Ron Nesbitt and Anderson County Chamber of Commerce President Rick Meredith. - Tony Cox
