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Jason Sandford

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

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Here’s more of what’s going around, including the announcement of the closure of Computer Mechanix in West Asheville. Here we go:

-Asheville restaurateur Meherwan Irani plans to open as many as 50 new Botiwalla restaurants, which feature Indian street food, around the U.S. in coming years, Eater.com reports. Irani also owns Chai Pani restaurant in Asheville and its sister cocktail bar, MG Road, and is a co-owner of Buxton Hall Barbecue with Chef Elliot Moss.

-Speaking of Meherwan Irani: the folks at Thrillist recently named his Chai Pani restaurant in Asheville one of the 23 best Indian restaurants in the country.

-The National Memorial for Peace and Justice is opening this week on a site in Montgomery, Ala., overlooking the Alabama State Capitol. It is dedicated to the victims of American white supremacy and demands a reckoning with the lynchings of thousands of black people, the New York Times reports. The nonprofit organization called the Equal Justice Initiative is behind the memorial and has documented racial terror lynchings across the South, including three in Buncombe County, and one each in Haywood, Polk and Macon counties.

-Quentin Miller, one of five Democrats vying for his party Buncombe County Sheriff, has racked up a series of endorsements worth noting. Miller’s campaign for sheriff has been endorsed by the following: Former North Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Patsy Keever, a former Buncombe County commissioner; former Asheville Mayor Leni Sitnick; Buncombe County Register of Deeds Drew Reisinger; and Asheville City Councilwoman Sheneika Smith.

-Woody Feffer, the owner of the computer shop called Computer Mechanix (which has changed its name to CMX Shield) on Vermont Avenue in West Asheville since 2002, has announced that he’s closing his shop. Feffer is holding a big store closing sale through May 9. Feffer says he’s closing for a couple of reasons, including increasing congestion on Haywood Road. Here’s his note:

I’ve owned and operated Computer Mechanix here in Asheville since 2002. The ever expanding Haywood road area though in recent years has started to take a major toll on my shop and its ability to provide parking for drop off and pickup as well as the increasing congestion on Haywood Road making it difficult for customers to simply get to my shop. Those issues combined with my new business model have pushed me to decide to close my location at 4 Vermont Ave in West Asheville and focus on our remote services and preventative maintenance subscriptions without the need for a physical shop. I will be open with a huge store closing sale for two more weeks till May 9th. Almost everything in the store is for sale, including quite a few desktop and laptop computers, parts, tools, and some beautiful mid century furniture.

I’d really appreciate the share both to help me clear out the shop and to bring some light to the huge changes here in West Asheville and how it’s affecting local businesses and residents.

-Asheville is researching the feasibility of a bike share system. More details to come.

-The local website tavernvoices.com recently reported details of the resolution of a lawsuit between the city of Asheville and residents Sidney Bach and Chris Peterson regarding the city’s bond referendum last year. Read it here.

-The Western Carolina Medical Society issued a statement on the recent enforcement actions on the part of federal immigration enforcement officers in and around Asheville. In a statement titled “ICE Raids in WNC Hurt Our Communities,” the organization states that it “stands with the immigrants in our area. These raids are hurting our community, especially Latinx members of our community.” Here’s more:

WCMS is deeply saddened by these raids, especially allegations of ICE agents in the parking lots of medical clinics. We want everyone to feel safe accessing care, regardless of immigration/citizenship status. When everyone feels safe accessing care, our entire community is healthier. To protect patients and their families while they are in your practice, you can put a sign on your door saying that your practice is a private area open only to patients and those accompanying patients. If ICE ever shows up to your building, you don’t have to let them in unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. You can ask them to wait outside for senior management and an attorney.

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Jason Sandford

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

  • 1

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