The Veterans Healing Farm, in collaboration with LivingWorks is offering
safeTALK, a 4-hour training that equips people to be more alert to
persons thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with
further help.
What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about
suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.
 Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training.
 You will also be encouraged and empowered to talk openly with someone about
suicide through a 4-step model.
 Overcoming personal and community attitudes to seeking and providing help is a
key theme of this training.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 Over 800,000 people have attended this training since its inception.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice.
 Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how
you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed.
 Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training.
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide and connect them with further help.
Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 15+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks safeTALK.
 It will prepare you to raise and respond to concerns about suicide in relationships
with family, friends, and co-workers.
 It will equip you to build a culture of safety from suicide in your organization or
community.
 You can play a vital connector role in what LivingWorks has called a Networks of
Safety.

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

There is no instructional cost to attend this class but each participant is required to
purchase the ASIST participant kit, $43.25 each, plus $3.00 shipping costs.

What Will You Learn?
In LivingWorks ASIST you will learn how to help someone thinking about suicide develop
a personalized SafePlan to keep safe-for-now and connect with further help.
 You will learn to apply a Safety Framework to guide the development of this
SafePlan through a collaborative helping relationship.
 You will also consider how personal and community attitudes about suicide affect
someone’s openness to seek help and your ability to provide it.
 This workshop will increase your willingness, confidence, and capacity to provide
suicide first aid.
 A growing body of published research and evaluation supports the value of this
training to individuals and organizations while informing program improvements.
 More than one million people have attended LivingWorks ASIST globally over 35
years.
How Will You Learn?
We aim to provide a safe learning environment. The learning process includes:
 Trainer presentations and powerful videos to stimulate discussion and support
learning
 Extensive opportunities for skills practice
 Shared participant experiences that enrich learning
 Trainer-facilitated workgroups to optimize participation
 Direct and honest discussion about suicide is encouraged. While sometimes
challenging, this prepares helpers to openly approach people with thoughts of
suicide, and to help them keep safe.
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Who Should Attend?
 Anyone aged 16+ years is encouraged to take LivingWorks ASIST.
 It provides a suicide first-aid intervention model for relationships with family,
friends, and co-workers. It can also be incorporated into more formal helping roles
such as counseling, health care, crisis services, or chaplaincy.
 You can play a vital role in creating Networks of Safety from suicid

In celebration and honor of National Public Lands Day, Come to the 5th annual DuPont
Forest Festival, a family friendly event that includes yoga, group bike rides, group hikes, a group trail run, face painting, nature
walks, “meet the horses,” fly fishing demo, clinics and classes, kids rides, history tours, food trucks and more, Free, Hosted by the
Friends of DuPont Forest, Guion Farms Paring Area of DuPont State Forest, Hendersonville, DupontForest.com/9999-2

Come experience the national parks! On five days in 2022, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Mark your calendar for these entrance fee–free dates in 2022. Please check operating status at this park and others before traveling as there may be changes due to Covid-19.

Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, National Public Lands Day is traditionally the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits.

About National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day is organized annually by the National Environmental Education Foundation, in cooperation with Department of the Interior, Department of the Army, and Department of Agriculture. The National Park Service is one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. Other participating federal agencies include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

Get Involved

There are many ways to participate in National Public Lands Day. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to #RecreateResponsibly!

• Visit a national park for free.
• Take part in a volunteer work project. Certain in-park projects may provide a fee-free day coupon to be used on a future date. See the list of National Public Lands Day events below or check out all volunteer events at national parks.
• Have fun and enjoy the health benefits of being outdoors!
• Share your favorite outdoor activity on social media channels with the hashtag #NPLD, #NPSVolunteer, and #FindYourPark!

There will be 18 vendors selling crafts, jewelry, and food on field #5 beginning at 5pm. The
children’s Fun Zone will be held on field #2 with face painting, inflatables and Mills River
Dental activity tent. A Food truck alley will feature 5 different food vendors selling food from
5pm-8pm. The evening concert will begin at 6pm featuring the Irish bluegrass band, JIG JAM.
They are one of the top international blue grass groups in the world, and currently on tour in the
United States this fall.
The Title sponsor for the Festival this year is ADVENT HEALTH, the entertainment sponsor is
RINEHART RACING. MILLS RIVER DENTAL is the sponsor for the children’s Fun Zone,
5pm -7pm. No pets will be allowed in the Festival area.
This is a free community family event presented by the Fletcher Parks & Recreation Department
& the Town of Fletcher.

We are shamelessly drumming up attention for our exciting new program at Lake Julian Park. Starting Thursday, March 31, Buncombe County Recreation Services is hosting a drum circle on the last Thursday of every month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The only thing you need to bring is yourself and a drum, and then just let the rhythm and beautiful scenery do the work as you enjoy the beat and comradery of fellow percussionists.

All experience levels are welcome, and registration is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Park Ranger Zach Hickok at (828) 684-0376.

: Every Last Thursday until -Sept. 29 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Park shelter number 2, Lake Julian Park, 26 Lake Julian R

Some of our greatest art has come in response to the pain of this world: war, accident, crime and punishment, physical and mental illness, racial and class-based inequities. As Asheville resident Nancy Sehested has written, “The deeply human questions of forgiveness, redemption, and mercy emerge from the ruins of broken lives…Pain is not the last word.”

On eight evenings from September to December, the Wilma Dykeman Legacy and the West Asheville Library will celebrate four memoirs of resilience and hope from the mountains of Western North Carolina. All events are free and will be at the West Asheville Library, except for the digital event on December 8.

About the Wilma Dykeman Legacy

The Wilma Dykeman Legacy is a tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 2012 to sustain and promote Wilma Dykeman’s values by sponsoring diverse workshops, events, and other programs.  The core values of this extraordinary woman from Buncombe County included environmental integrity, social justice, and the power of the written and spoken word.  For more information, visit www.wilmadykemanlegacy.org.

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:

• Buncombe County Courthouse
• Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
• Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.

The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.

Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”

Veterans Services and Resources

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)

6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726

BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:

• Health Care
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
• Burial Benefits
• Dependent & Survivor Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Charles George VA Medical Center

1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519

The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Veterans Treatment Court

60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918

Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.

To show support for Veterans and shine a light on the support services that Buncombe County has to offer, Buncombe County will be shining the green light for Veterans November 7-13 in three locations in downtown Asheville:

• Buncombe County Courthouse
• Health and Human Services Tower- Home to Buncombe County Veterans Services
• Buncombe County Family Justice Center

Spearheaded by the National Association of Counties (NACo), Operation Green Light aims to let those who served know they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Residents are encouraged to participate in this community-wide initiative by shining a green light for Veterans at your home or place of business. Together, we can show support and encourage the Veterans in our lives and communities to seek the resources they need to thrive here at home.

The contributions and sacrifices of the people who served in the Armed Forces have been vital in maintaining the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by all Americans. Upon returning to civilian life, many Veterans report experiencing high levels of stress due to financial hardship, mental health struggles, physical ailments, and lack of connection and community support.

Buncombe County stands in solidarity with Veterans and is home to a host of essential resources that can provide opportunities for health, safety, stability, and connection for those returning from service. Grounded in a commitment to support our Veterans, Heath Smith, Director of Buncombe County Veterans Services, accepted a proclamation from the Buncombe County Commissioners, designating Buncombe County as a Green Light for Veterans County. “Becoming a Green Light for Veterans County is an essential step in uniting our community in the effort to support local Veterans with the comprehensive resources and services they are entitled to.”

Veterans Services and Resources

BUNCOMBE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES (BCVS)

6th Floor
40 Coxe Avenue in Downtown Asheville
Monday – Friday 8 AM – 5 PM
(828) 250-5726

BCVS offers essential benefits assistance to Veterans and their families. Services include:

• Health Care
• Home Loans
• Life Insurance
• Education & Training
• Vocational Rehabilitation & Training
• Burial Benefits
• Dependent & Survivor Benefits
• Disability Benefits

Charles George VA Medical Center

1110 Tunnel Road in Asheville
Open 24/7 for your convenience
Main phone: 828-298-7911
Mental health care: 828-298-7911 x2519

The Charles George VA Medical Center offers comprehensive medical care to Veterans and their families, including mental health care services, urgent care visits, and clinical care scheduling. Visit their website for a comprehensive list of medical services and support services offered at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Veterans Treatment Court

60 Court Plaza- 9th Floor
Buncombe County Courthouse
(703) 389-9918

Veterans Treatment Court is an alternative to the conventional criminal justice system in which Veterans who are struggling to acclimate back into civilian life and find themselves charged with an offense are met with the support, structure, and resources they need to settle into life after service.