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Jason Sandford

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

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More of what’s going around:

-Raise a glass to Wicked Weed and celebrate its recent acquisition by Anheuser-Busch. That’s the message from Josh Dorfman, who leads the entrepreneurship arm of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce known as Venture Asheville. Here’s more from Dorfman’s recent newsletter:

Exits – that is, when a venture is bought for loads of $$$ by a larger, established company, is the fuel that powers successful startup communities the world over, from San Francisco to Shanghai to Tel Aviv.

Without exits, you do not have a startup community. You have a small business community.

With exits come high-salary jobs, wealthy startup founders and early employees who then fund the next generation of entrepreneurs, more appetite for risk-taking on the part of local angel investors, even more angel investors entering the startup community, more dollars flowing to local entrepreneurs, and more investors outside your community eager to discover other startups within your community to fund.

Exits are fuel. They are lifeblood. They matter a great deal to the future of Asheville and to our city’s potential to create high-salary jobs for those who live here.

If you like high salaries, then celebrate exits.

So it is incredibly awesome that Wicked Weed was acquired last week by brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev. That the largest brewer in the world believes that a five-year-old company in Asheville is strategic to its future growth speaks volumes about the credibility of our city to launch and scale world-class companies.

Wicked Weed’s exit immediately casts a golden halo of credibility over other Asheville companies across every industry that are eager to expand nationally and internationally. It is a very big deal.

Raise a glass of sour beer to Wicked Weed. They’ve just made your job prospects and career plans in Asheville much much brighter.

-A new brewery is opening on Asheville’s South Slope. It’s called Eurisko Beer Co., and Mountain Xpress has the details.

-Several WLOS-TV news reporters and photographers have been nominated for Emmy’s in the 2017 Southeast Emmy Awards category, including former anchor Larry Blunt, who was unceremoniously laid off a couple of months ago.

-The City of Asheville has issued a request for qualifications outlining the scope of a project to add a new piece of public artwork on Lexington Avenue. The project is intended to reflect the neighborhood identity of Lexington Avenue and to celebrate the community’s century-old storefronts and architectural treasures, according to the city. The deadline for application is midnight June 9.

-There’s a new tour in Asheville that combines running and sightseeing.

The 17th Annual Irene Wortham Center Benefit Golf Tournament is set for June 16 at Broadmoor Golf Links in Fletcher. All proceeds will go toward providing scholarships for needy children at the Early Learning Center, according to a press release. The Early Learning Center serves children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old, about half of whom have developmental delays, and almost all of whom come from families in need. Organizers hope to raise $30,000 this year. Blue Ridge Pharmacy is leading the way with a $5000 contribution. There are opportunities for players and non-players to show their support. Help children with disabilities in your community by registering today!

Fhiit Life, a new fitness studio at 51 Thompson St. near Biltmore Village, will hold a grand-opening party from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. There will be healthy snacks and treats, info on the studio’s classes, demonstrations of some of the exercises, class signups, and a drawing for a chance to win a free month of classes.

Blue Ridge Honor Flight will host a welcome home celebration for its May 13 flight at the Asheville Regional Airport beginning at 7 pm on May 13, according to a press release. Community, family and friends are invited and encouraged to be present upon the return of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans from their visit to their memorials in Washington, D.C. that day. Established in 2006, Blue Ridge Honor Flight’s mission is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the sacrifices of themselves and their comrades. Anyone planning to attend are asked to park at Gate 7 of the WNC Agriculture Center on Highway 280 beginning at 6:30 pm. Parking is free and a complimentary shuttle will be transporting attendees to and from the airport. No parking is available in the regular airport parking lot.

Asheville artist Jonas Gerard will celebrate 10 years in Asheville with a ribbon cutting and party at 4 p.m. at his gallery at 240 Clingman Ave. There will be refreshments served and everyone present will receive a free signed art print, according to a press release. More:

Known for abstract expressionism, Gerard thrives in the world of large, vibrant, acrylic paintings on canvas. After moving his art business from Miami and establishing himself in Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD), Jonas Gerard is celebrating ten years as a gallery owner in Asheville.

With a passion for adding color to the community, Jonas has installed multiple sculptures and murals in public places within the city. Throughout Asheville his paintings can be found in multiple hotels, a performing arts theatre, the Asheville Airport, Chamber of Commerce, doctors’ offices and a physical therapy facility.

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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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