Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Free Willie
Local Sylva radio station WRGC wants you to help save Willie the turkey from becoming a Thanksgiving Day dinner.
WRGC is raising canned goods and non-perishable items. If we raise enough, “Willie” the turkey will be spared from having to become someone’s Thanksgiving feast this year. Goods can be dropped off at the WRGC studios or at the following locations:
– United Community Bank on Highway 107 and the old Asheville Highway (Business Hwy 23)
– The Harris Regional Hospital Lobby
– Jake’s Mountain House on Main Street in Sylva
– Andy Shaw Ford on Highway 107 in Sylva
“Willie” will also be appearing at some of these locations over the coming days. Stay tuned to WRGC and check back here for more details.
Why Ashvegas is still a small town
This story says Ashvegas can’t even get enough people out to celebrate New Year’s. Damn.
Downtown Countdown, the city-sponsored family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, has been canceled. And the annual fireworks show is also in jeopardy, unless the city can find a sponsor to cover the $20,000 tab. The Dec. 31 event, produced by Asheville Parks and Recreation, is being dropped due to low attendance, the possibility of bad weather and ongoing downtown construction.
Event organizers will do research to decide the future of a city New Year’s Eve celebration. Meanwhile, the department is searching for a business sponsor for a fireworks show this year. Any business interested in the sponsorship should contact Asheville’s festivals director Melissa Porter before Nov. 20 at 259-5689.
David Pisha an applicant
This story says that David Pisha, former director of the Asheville Civic Center, has applied to manage the Civic Center in Bismark, N.D., although the story calls him civic center director.
Nine candidates are being asked to complete an accomplishment survey as the search continues for a Civic Center manager.
The city received 16 applications for the position which has been open with the retirement of Dick Petersen. Human resources director Charles Klein will be pulling together a search committee with intentions of screening the remaining candidates after the Thanksgiving holiday.
“I think we have potentially, some pretty well qualified people,” Klein said. “We must have gotten the word out, we’ve got applications from around the country along with local candidates.”
Plans are to have the search committee narrow the list to four or five candidates who will be interviewed by the city commission. Hopes are to have the new manager at work early in January.
