Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
More of what’s going around:
-The heat wave continues. High temperatures today are expected to hit 90, but the heat wave is expected to break this weekend.
-Word on the street is that the old Fisherman’s Quarters at 1441 Patton Avenue will be remade into a United Federal Credit Union location.
-A Thrillist poll names Craggy Gardens the most beautiful spot in North Carolina.
–Frostbite Ice Cream, a locally owned soft-serve ice cream shop, is planning to open on Patton Avenue in the former Papa John’s location in front of Sky Lanes bowling alley.
-The former Ron’s Pool Hall, across Patton Avenue from this new Frostbite Ice Cream location, will soon be home to a new woodworking shop.
-The Asheville Citizen-Times reports that Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is closing down its big building at its Enka campus
-There’s a new Masterminds trailer out. The comedy, starring Kristen Wiig, Zach Galifianakis and Owen Wilson, was shot in downtown Asheville and around Western North Carolina (as well as other locations) last summer. It’s set for release on August 19.
-Asheville Radio Group has launched a new radio station, 100.3 FM, that will play mostly music from the 1980s, though some ’70s and ’90s music
-The Asheville Food and Wine Festival event called Essence is set for Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the Morris Hellenic Cultural Center on Cumberland Avenue in the Montford neighborhood. Tickets are on sale for the event, which will feature four area chefs, including Chef Scott Ostrander from Red Stag Grill and Chef Michael Aanonsen from Farm Burger. Six mixologists from area bars will be on hand for a competition, as well, including Stephen Wheeler from Buffalo Nickel and Drew Hendrickson from Nightbell.
-Asheville police continue to investigate a case of vandalism Monday night in which someone spray painted the words “Black Lives Matter” on the Vance Monument in downtown Asheville. Zebulon Vance, of Weaverville, was an officer in the Confederate Army who sent one to become governor of North Carolina. His family were slave owners. The incident followed last week’s massacre of nine African-American members of a prayer group inside an historic Charleston, S.C., church.
-Next month, Reynolds Village will host the first movie in its “Movies on the Mountain” series in the grassy courtyard across from the fountain on North Merrimon Avenue. The July 17 movie, “The Princess Bride,” will be shown beginning at dusk. It’s free and sponsored by Thirsty Monk Reynolds Village.
–Hank West and the Smokin’ Hots will play from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, at the Aloft Hotel pool deck. The event is open to the public with a suggested $5 donation that will benefit the Asheville Area Arts Council. On July 26, Asheville musicians Ben Hovey and Kat Williams will perform, and the event will benefit the Asheville Humane Society.
North Carolina’s drone program is under new management. He is Air Force Major General James O. Poss (retired), Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. A couple of choice quotes:
“Gorgon Stare will be looking at a whole city, so there will be no way for the adversary to know what we’re looking at, and we can see everything.”
“I have spent much of my career working for or with the National Security Agency”
No red flags there, right? Read:
bit.ly/1HUEZhS (drag & drop)