Ashvegas Hot Sheet: Asheville City Council candidate Wainscott jailed

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Ashvegas: The City You Love. The News You Want.Some of what’s going around:

Jonathan Wainscott, a declared candidate for Asheville City Council, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with violating his pre-trial release, according to an Asheville Police Department report. Wainscott was arrested earlier this year for violating a restraining order taken out against him by his estranged wife. Wainscott has a June 10 court appearance set in Wake County.

Lew Kraus, the long-time executive director of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, has announced that he’s retiring. The press release:

In 1988, Lew Kraus accepted a one-year position as Executive Director with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity (AAHH). That one year commitment extended into 28 years of working to provide decent, affordable housing for families in our community. Kraus is the longest serving Habitat for Humanity Executive Director in the nation!

After a career of wonderful and fulfilling Habitat experiences, Kraus has announced his forthcoming retirement. The target date for naming a new Executive Director is March 2016. With ample lead time and the oversight of our Governance Committee, the process of identifying a new Executive Director will be thorough to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

“As we continue to move forward to our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live, we will always remember that it was Lew’s vision and leadership that positioned us for our current and future success,” stated David Whilden, Chair of the AAHH Board of Directors. “He will be dearly missed and we wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Under Lew’s leadership, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity – the first Habitat affiliate in NC – has grown to be a “model” Habitat affiliate and today boasts the #2 ReStore in the country. Most importantly, more than 1,100 adults and children now have a safe and decent home, and thousands more have been impacted indirectly due to the generational impact of homeownership.

-Representatives from Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery were in Asheville earlier this week, once again scouting the Asheville area. Deschutes officials have said publicly that they are considering a location in Asheville for an East Coast brewing operation.

-Asheville food writer Stu Helm has launched a new podcast to talk about Asheville cuisine called AVL Food Fans. Helm, with co-host Joe Scully, the owner of Chestnut and Corner Kitchen restaurants, recorded their first audiocast on Tuesday.

-The film crew hired by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority to create a new commercial to advertise Asheville to visitors was spotted around town on Tuesday (French Broad Chocolate Lounge, Wicked Weed, Grey Eagle), and was scheduled to film at the Biltmore Estate and on Wall Street in downtown today.

Navitat Zipline Canopy Tours is opening a Knoxville location.

-The Blue Ridge Parkway will be commemorated with its own quarter. Watauga Democrat

Jean Ritchie, credited with helping preserve the traditional music of Appalachia, has died. New York Times.

Richard Watson, the grandson of Doc Watson, has died. Watauga Democrat

Two Guys Hoagies on Charlotte Street has closed, says an Ashvegas loyal reader.

Dough Market, which announced last week that it would close the market but continue to offer cooking classes at its Merrimon Avenue location, has announced that it has closed entirely.

-A meeting to discuss the new form-based code in Asheville’s River Arts District is set. Details from the city:

Recently in the District, the City and it’s federal partners have worked with the community to develop a plan for over $40 Million in multimodal infrastructure investments, the New Belgium Brewery is redeveloping a 14 acre brownfield site for its east coast expansion brewery, and all of the existing buildings that can be renovated are at or near completion. Additionally, the City’s economic development office created the Riverside Drive Development Plan, a re-use strategy for ten acres of publically owned land in the middle of the District. Current zoning does not support the urban and walkable development called for in the Plan.

A new, form-based code will help address known issues in the District, including housing affordability, maintaining an industrial and art-centered atmosphere, the presence of the flood plain, known and unknown contamination issues, and adjacency to the railroad right-of-way. The process will begin with an extensive public input process including a kick-off meeting and a multi-day charrette from July 25 – 29.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

5 Comments

  1. USS Smiley June 3, 2015

    Sad to see Two Guys go 🙁 We need more quick sub/wrap lunch places (that aren’t chains). People there said that Mamacita’s had bought the building. Anyone know wheat they will be doing with it?

    Reply
    1. ashevillain June 4, 2015

      I agree that it’s sad to see Two Guys go, but that place had not been good in recent years. The most recent owners did not keep it up to the standards of previous owners. Customer service and quality of preparation took a nosedive.

      The next best option for a local sub shop seems to be Old School Subs on Sweeten Creek. I’m not a huge fan of their bread though.

      I was not impressed at all with the Asheville Sandwich Company on Haywood even though they won the MtnX Best of WNC award for a sandwich shop. They’re more of a specialty sandwich shop than a true sub shop anyway…they don’t even have a club sub on the menu!

      Reply
      1. smytty June 4, 2015

        Their Italian sub is quite tasty. I highly recommend it.

        Reply
        1. ashevillain June 4, 2015

          From Asheville Sandwich Company? That’s the sandwich that I didn’t like. I love Italian subs but I could not finish theirs.

          I wanted to like ASC, but it was not meant to be. There are about 4-5 different places where I’d rather go…even some chains. The Italian at Old School is better IMO.

          Reply
  2. David June 3, 2015

    This is shocking news. Mr. Wainscott seemed like such an outstanding citizen. I just hope he remembers to keep his pants on while he is in jail.

    Reply

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