Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Some of what’s going around:
-Wilcox video: Check out this great video of a new David Wilcox tune called Ocean Soul. It is from his upcoming Feb. 25th CD release, blaze. The video was directed by Lynne Harty of Asheville a collection of her friends from around town. Sweet.
-Stu needs a new bike: Stu Helm, the creator and publish of Asheville Flyer for Kids (and also Asheville’s Facebook Food Critic), is asking the public for $1,500 to help him buy a new bike, which he uses to deliver AFK. Stu doesn’t have a car – he depends on two-wheeled transportation, and he’s asking for help:
Every month, Stu Helm, the creator and editor of the Asheville Flyer for Kids (AFK) hand delivers the free paper all over Downtown Asheville and The River Arts District on his bike. A bike that he calls Bikey.
Well, last November, a giant ladder fell on ol’ Bikey, and he was mortally wounded. He didn’t make it through the winter. R.I.P. Bikey. We miss ya, Man.
Now we need a new delivery bike for poor Stu, who has been very sad ever since Bikey died. So, we thought we’d turn to you, the readers, and supporters of AFK, to see if we could raise the funds!
$1,500 would buy us a super sweet road bike from Youngblood Bikes, our local bike shop, for Stu, plus it would cover the fees for this GoFundMe camapaign. Whaddaya think? Can we raise that much?
-Jackson Underground remodel: Have you been by the Jackson Underground Cafe on Pack Square? They recently completed a cool interior redecoration project that really warms up the space. Check ’em out. One of my fave sammich joints downtown.
-Asheville CodeAcross 2014: This looks like a great event. More:
Attention Urbanists, Civic Hackers, Government Staff, Developers, Designers… anyone with the passion to make their city better. Join us for a half day event to help promote transparency and innovation within our local government. On Saturday, February 22 we will be combining forces between community organizers and civic workers to brainstorm the next budget application to help better inform our citizens. Secondly, we will be drafting policy with insights from city representatives as we move towards being a model city for Open Data Policy.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Mojo Coworking
60 N Market St, Asheville, NC 28801
-Craft Room Growlers: A new growler filling station, Craft Room Growlers, has opened at 1987 Hendersonville Road. 24 taps. Check it.
-Whisper Mountain wedding venue: Here’s the press release:
Whisper Mountain, a community located 17 miles from downtown Asheville, announces its lodge and surrounding sky valley park as Asheville, North Carolina’s newest wedding venue.
The Sky Valley Lodge, crafted from 170 year old hemlock timbers, features decks accompanied with 30 mile views, providing a perfect backdrop for a mountain ceremony. The majestic lodge will provide an intimate indoor ceremony, family dinner or even dance floor, while expansive fields will offer space for larger groups outdoors.
The wedding industry in Asheville is estimated to have brought in over $75 million in 2013. Wedding planning for the 2014 season is in full swing. Many engagements take place between Christmas and Valentines, making wedding locations a hot item during springtime. The addition of this venue will offer couples a new location to consider while planning their 2014 wedding, especially if dates date have been reserved at other venues.
Off Season (December-May)venue rental rates start at $1,750, while Peak Season (June-November) rates start at $2,000. Whisper Mountain is conveniently located near Asheville, making it a great choice for locals tying the knot. Accommodations are available nightly from $350.
-Apex Brain Centers opens in Asheville: Here’s the press release:
Apex Brain Centers at Walden Ridge Professional Park will be hosting an open house event on February 27, 2014 from 4:30 – 8:00 pm, subsequent to a ribbon cutting ceremony presented by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. The public is invited to learn more about the center and its unique approach to a host of brain based concerns, have tours of the facility, and enter for a chance to win one of many great prizes; the most notable being one FREE 5 day Brain Intensive training program totaling 20 hours of services and valued at over $5000.00.
Are you looking to Build a Better Brain??? If so, APEX Brain Centers is helping folks from near and far do just that with their ground breaking intensive brain training programs. Serving those looking to improve vital aspects of brain function including memory, focus, attention, concentration, behavior and learning; APEX Brain Centers delivers high frequency, short duration brain training programs for both those with disability and those looking to elevate their level of human performance. From those with severe brain injury and learning and behavioral disorders, to CEO’s and peak performing athletes; anyone can benefit from the honing of critical brain skills that will allow them to reach their next level of human performance.
Although the concept of intensive health care programs is not a new one, the way in which APEX Brain Centers delivers multiple aspects of state-of-the-art neurological testing to guide research-based brain training protocols over 5, 10, or 15 day periods while adhering to the principles of brain plasticity is nothing short of revolutionary! Clients embark upon a one on one journey through various stages and levels of brain training several times per day based on their specific degree of performance and ability. Nutritional support and counseling specific for the individual’s metabolic needs is offered concurrently to ensure they achieve maximum benefit with their custom designed brain training program.
If you have any questions, please feel free to visit www.ApexBrainCenters.com, or call us at 828.708.5274.
Anyone have any experience with Apex Brain Center?
Stu’s request is low class. Ashevegas has WAY overplayed this “food critic”.
I’m over Stu. First blog was hilarious. He peaked early. Now he wants charity for a bike so he can ride to downtown and eat a $50 meal. No thanks!! You’ve left a bad taste in my mouth.
Have you not noticed that Stu’s posts garner far and away the most comments and clicks on this site? Even if you just click in order to be annoyed and then comment about how annoyed you are, you are driving traffic. For a blog like this, you vote numbers of clicks and comments, not with the content of them.
Smytyy,
I believe this information was found under the heading “Ashvegas Hot Sheet.” I read Stu’s first two posted blogs here and have not returned to them. I found them boring and uncreative. I too can use fuck, shit, and Jesus Christ slapstick humor to promote or chastise virtually anything.
Stu lost all credibility using his 15 minutes begging for money for a bike. Geez, give me a break. And while it’s nice it’s a kids publication, it’s a business with paid advertisers, not a generous and a benevolent children’s publication being done for charity. Lame.
How dare you, Stu!
In fact how dare all of you!
Big Head Stu
Katherine,
Well said. There are so many truly needy and hungry people in Asheville, we should be helping those desperately in need, not someone wanting to buy a fancy bike. $1,500 is crazy, he can skip a few restaurant meals and by something on Craigslist for a couple hundred bucks.
Ana,
Yes, the bike shop is a local shop, and a good one at that. Does it follow that you’d support raising $50,000 so he could buy a Mercedes at a local dealership? Sorry to appear a bit snarky, but while I support buying locally in many cases, I think we need to take a broader look at our devotion to all things local.
I’m not surprised that Stu can’t afford a bike, considering how much he eats out. Maybe he should try cooking once in a while?
Yeah, I’m charitable, but buying someone a bike who boasts about his extravagant eating habits rubs me the wrong way. Many a time, I’m on a day to day budget, with children, and I don’t ask for someone to ‘donate’ to my business, I make necessary cuts to make ends meet. I don’t mean to come off as grumpy about this, but it doesn’t seem right.
He’s asking if his readers, and parents of his readers, will help him buy a bike (from a local shop) so that he can deliver a free kids newspaper…that he makes and delivers for free every month. I think the idea is if you enjoy his free paper, maybe you can pitch in.
I think that the money that the advertisers are paying the AFK for adspace should pay for the delivery vehicle.
It is a nice thought that it all happens “for kids for free” out of the generosity of the publishers’ hearts, but that is not the reality of free publications.
I’m with you here Mike. Plus does anyone else think $1500 seems like a lot of money for a bike? I would think for that amount you could buy yourself a car – it might be a hoopty but it would still be a car.
I went through Craigslist and there are tons of bikes for sale for under $300.
Now, that being said, if I have things go wrong in my life and I can’t afford something. I’ll be damned if I will go on the internet and beg for money. I’d rather do with out than beg.