Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
More of what’s going around:
–Dolly Parton’s telethon earlier this week raised more than $8 million for Gatlinburg relief.
-Barbara Hootman, a reporter for the Black Mountain News for more than 20 years, was recognized recently by the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen, which proclaimed Dec. 5 “Barbara Hootman Day.” Hootman’s job was eliminated in the latest round of Gannett layoffs, which also claimed several longtime Asheville Citizen-Times reporters and editors. Ironically, the Black Mountain News covered the honor.
-The city of Asheville has released a revised version of proposed new building regulations for the River Arts District, called the form-based code, and is asking the public to weigh in.
-The city of Asheville’s bus route hours are expanding in 2017, according to a press release.
-The ride-hailing service Lyft has entered the Asheville market, according to a press release. More:
Asheville residents and visitors will now be able to rely on Lyft as a convenient, affordable ride around town, whether they’re heading to work or need a safe ride home after a night out. The Lyft app matches you with local drivers at the tap of a button. Lyft will also be able to take passengers to and from the Asheville Regional Airport. Lyft drivers try their best to be careful on the roads, however, accidents do happen from time to time even in ride-sharing services. If you find yourself in such an accident, you might be interested in getting in touch with someone similar to this Lyft accident lawyer who might be able to help you with your case.
How Lyft Works:
Request: Whether you’re riding solo or with friends, you’ve got options. Tap to request Lyft or Lyft Plus (a larger vehicle to accommodate more).
Ride: Get picked up by the best. Our reliable drivers will get you where you need to go.
Pay: When the ride ends, just pay and rate your driver through your phone.
To celebrate the launch, new passengers will be able to use the code “NCLOVE” to receive $5 off their first Lyft ride.
–The Steady Collective, which describes itself on Facebook as a “non-judgmental, harm reduction based organization that serves people who use drugs,” reports the following information:
In November we had 32 overdose reversals reported to us by community members who obtained naloxone from our Overdose Prevention Program. This is significantly more than we are used to seeing. Thanks to our participants, we were able to get the word out quickly that folks should be more cautious than usual. We handed out over 100 naloxone kits to people who use drugs, their families and friends, and treatment providers.
Our Health Alert got a lot of shares on Facebook. You helped us to spread awareness and issue a warning, which surely helped save lives in our community. Thank you. We are just 12 “likes” away from 500. Can you help us to expand our reach within the community by inviting your friends to “like” our page?
