Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s more of what’s going around, including a candlelight vigil tonight at Asheville Middle School honoring the school family that lost two children in a tragic car wreck earlier this week.
-Asheville Middle School will host a candlelight vigil tonight on the school track to honor a school family. Earlier this week, two of teacher Jo Landreth’s children were killed in a car wreck on Long Shoals Road. One child was a middle school student, while the other attended Asheville Catholic School.
-The Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity’s annual ReStore fall customer appreciation sale will be held Oct. 7. In addition to the 25 percent-off storewide sale and free hotdogs and soft drinks that mid-day that shoppers are accustomed to, there will also be a display with information about a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Guatemala and free coffee samples, according to a press release.
-The N.C. Utilities Commission hosted a public hearing on a proposed rate hike of nearly 17 percent by Duke Energy earlier this week. Speakers urged the commission not to approve the increase. Prior to the hearing inside the Buncombe County Courthouse, protesters staged a demonstration that explained their opposition through story and song. Protesters also unfurled a giant sign from the top of the county parking deck across the street from the courthouse.
-Speaking of Duke Energy, the Sierra Club has a beautiful new video calling attention to what it calls Duke Energy’s “dirty energy of the past.”
-A new restaurant will open soon in the former Jackson Underground space in the basement of the Jackson Building in downtown Asheville. The Underground Café with DoughP Doughnuts is the latest culinary creation of Jay Medford, formerly of Bone & Broth. The restaurant plans to offer breakfast and lunch seven days a week, and will serve wine and beer. Here’s more:
Medford, who is a savory chef by training likes experimenting with flavor combinations. There will be sweet doughnuts, but customers can also expect innovative combinations like miso molasses, mango and chili flake, and beet with ricotta glaze. Add to that full coffee service all day long, and customers can have fresh doughnuts and coffee any hour of the day.
If doughnuts aren’t your thing, there is still a good reason to stop by The Underground Café. The lunch menu will feature a signature Smash Burger, hot dogs from The Chop Shop, a pork belly Cuban sandwich, brisket torta, and Vietnamese Bahn-Mi for vegetarians, along with daily specials.
Medford, who spent six years working in New York City, was enticed back to Asheville to become chef at Bone & Broth. “I’ve always wanted to have my own place. Thanks to family, friends and Mountain Biz Works, now I do.”
