Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
More of what’s going around:
Hannah Randall has been hired as MANNA Food Bank’s new CEO, according to a press release. She’ll take over one of the most high-profile nonprofits in Asheville. Here’s more from a press release:
“Hannah Randall emerged as an excellent choice to lead us into the future,” said Jim Mathews, President of MANNA’s Board of Directors and member of the CEO transition committee. “She demonstrated strong leadership skills early in her career, working her way from operations and engineering positions to become the youngest plant manager at Duke Energy.”
“I was immediately drawn to MANNA’s mission,” said Hannah Randall, who began her tenure at MANNA on May 2, one day after staff, board, volunteers, and supporters celebrated the dedication of MANNA’s recent expansion to warehouse more nutrient-dense perishable foods. “MANNA is a very special organization, with an amazing network of dedicated support from the WNC community. I am looking forward to doing what the board of directors chose me to do, and build on the strong foundation set by the organization’s past leadership.”
-On Thursday evening, Asheville Regional Airport officials and local tourism officials will welcome passengers arriving to Asheville on the inaugural Allegiant nonstop flight from Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport. Local tourism and airport officials want to emphasize the new non-stop air service between Asheville and the Baltimore/Washington D.C. area.
-The Asheville-area Internet provide Skyrunner remains out of service. A message from the business reports that employees are battling “a malicious worm,” a “self-replicating virus” that has infected hundreds of the IP’s radios. The message notes that Skyrunner is working hard to address the outage.
-The filming of a television remake of Dirty Dancing in Western North Carolina is wrapping up. Filming at High Hampton Inn in Cashiers, a key location, ended last week, and a couple of stars report on Twitter that they’ve had their last days on set.
-There’s a new escape room planned for downtown Asheville, according to a sign up at the former Sherwood’s Music location on Patton Avenue, right across the street from Echo Mountain Studio. The sign says Raleigh Room Escapes is bringing “room escape, team builder and theatrical fun” to the location in June. This will be the third downtown escape room in Asheville: Conundrum is now open in the basement of the Battery Park Apartments building, while another escape room is in the works on Patton Avenue across from Pritchard Park.
-The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Buncombe County Commissioner Miranda DeBruhl, a Republican who is also running for chairman of the board, is resigning her seat. The local Republican Party will select a person to fill her unexpired term.
–Echo Mountain Studio will celebrate its 10th anniversary party Saturday at the Salvage Station with music. DJ Molli Party, Posh Hammer and Kat Williams are just a few of the acts scheduled to play. The party starts at 3 p.m. at 468 Riverside Dr.
–Dog Tag Art, the Asheville-based maker of awesome, custom tags for your pet, has posted a profile of the work that the Asheville Police Department’s K-9 Unit. Check out the awesome video trailer, and read the post, which introduces you to the officers of both the four-legged and two-legged variety.
-In case you missed it, dozens of protesters and supporters of North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory came out Saturday to make their stances known on a variety of topics, including the controversial HB2. Here’s the Asheville Citizen-Times story (pay wall), and here’s the blog post by Leslie Boyd, a health care activist and former reporter, for dailykos.com.
–Comedian Shane Mauss brings his unique stand-up comedy show about psychedelics to Asheville’s Funny Business at The Millroom on Saturday, May 21st at 8 p.m., according to a press release. Here’s more:
Shane Mauss has too many credits to name. Since winning HBO’s Comedy Arts Festival “Best Stand up Comic” Award, he’s gone on to be a favorite on Conan, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central, Netflix, and Showtime. His latest album, ‘My Big Break’, debuted at #1 on the iTunes comedy chart and now he’s diving into a brand new hour about one of his admittedly controversial lifelong passions: psychedelics.
A self-described insane teenager, Shane seems to have done every drug he could get his hands on while constantly in trouble with the law. Since then, however, he’s gone from barely getting a high school diploma to interviewing the top scientists in the world about the meaning of life on his hit podcast ‘Here We Are’ while headlining comedy clubs all over the world. Throughout all of this there appears to have been only one constant in Shane’s life: TRIPPING BALLS.
Take a journey down the rabbit hole for some deep, authentic laughs about mushrooms, LSD, DMT and more. Shane will question our fickle perceptions, share personal experiences, explore the history of psychedelics and modern scientific research. All with a lot of laughs and a whole lot of weird in one of the most unique and thought-provoking shows you will ever see.
This actually answered my issue, thank you!
Thank you for the plug on the Shane Mauss show!
Miranda DeBruhl, flakier than a handmade biscuit.