#Resilience is reflecting on the stories of Women’s History Month!

This month, we highlighted the women who have paved the way and who continue to pave the way while embodying resilience. The women we have featured are perfect examples of women who not only have had resilience in their careers and lives, but also help others build resilience through their practices and examples.

Donna Volpitta has used the characters in her Pathways to Empower program for over 10 years. Characters like the ant, grasshopper, glowworm and dragonfly have helped her teach not only her own children, but now children across the country the importance of mental health and how to have a conversation about it.

And by children, we don’t mean elementary-school aged kids. Donna serves kids of all ages: K-12 and college. She launched Pathways to Empower in January of last year, right before the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide resources to help people learn how to build resilience and foster mental health.

“We tell toddlers all the time, ‘use your words.’ The truth is they don’t have them. They don’t know how to say the things we want them to so we need to descriptive, we need to give them language to be able to handle the challenges. That’s what resilience is, right? To be able to handle the challenges.”

Listen to Donna Volpitta’s interview now!

Jaguars need room to roam. Their territory covers expansive areas—which means that deforestation and other human interference hits them hard. From illegal logging to road development to retaliatory killings, these wide-ranging cats face extreme threat levels throughout Central and South America.

But we can change that if we work together to Keep the World Wild. With Earth Day coming up, there’s no better time to take a stand for the wildlife that keep our planet healthy and biodiverse. Today we’re honoring jaguars with a special one-day match: Make your gift now and see your donation doubled up to $5,000. Jaguars need you to take action today. There’s no time to lose.

#WNCFORTHEPLANET

April is Earth Month, and for all of you looking for ways to help our beautiful mother Earth, we’ve got you covered. This year 6 of the partnering environmental organizations have gathered various way for you to enjoy nature, learn new things about the environment, and help protect our local ecosystems. By participating in some of these activities, you can be entered to win a bundle of goodies. Here’s how it works:

1. Click on each bingo square to learn more about that activity.
2. Use this printable bingo card to track the activities you complete.
3. Once you’ve completed a row or column on the bingo card, email your filled out bingo card to [email protected]
4. For every row or column that you complete you’ll get one entry into the drawing for a swag bag prize bundle.

FABRICated presents an intergenerational look at new boundaries in art and craft through works that merge fiber-based processes with other media, like painting, sculpture, and blacksmithing. Each of the seven artists explores ideas of the body, identity, and their unique, personal stories by using a medium with a rich history of craft. Stitching, in and of itself, is slow and methodical and invites the audience to slow down and look carefully at the physicality of the thread, the textures of the fabric, and the paint and the found objects that are introduced into the mix. The result is an exhibition that questions the nature of what constitutes women’s work, the relationship of fine art and craft, and how these elements can come together to form a new kind of community conversation. FABRICated presents the work of two established artists, Virginia Derryberry (Asheville, NC) and Marcia Goldenstein (Knoxville, TN), along with five emerging artists who are exploring new boundaries in art and craft and, by so doing, open up an exploration between an older and a younger generation.

Gardening in the Mountains presents:
Creating Deer-Resistant Landscapes 

Presenter: Phil Roudebush, Extension Master Gardener^SM Volunteer

Deer can quickly devastate a landscape and cause many a headache for gardeners. This video covers the basic techniques used to discourage and cope with this nuisance wildlife. The speaker gives examples of these practices—cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical—and focuses on deer-resistant plants, ranging from rarely to frequently damaged. He also provides the viewer with several valuable resources to help manage deer in the garden. 

Now more than ever, access to broadband is critical to participate in online learning, access medical care via telehealth, search for jobs, or simply to stay in touch with family and friends. Buncombe County Public Libraries (BCPL), in partnership with Land of Sky Regional Council is pleased to announce the launch of the Library Laptop Loan Program on April 16, 2021, as many in our community rely on their local library for connectivity.

With grant funding provided by the State Library of North Carolina through the CARES Act, BCPL is responding to the needs of patrons during the coronavirus pandemic by bringing digital tools such as Wi-Fi and tablets into the community. “We are excited to launch this program and look forward to working with folks to let them know about this opportunity and how it can help bridge the digital divide, especially in rural and low-income communities,” says Library Director Jim Blanton.

Following the launch of the program BCPL will have laptops/hotspots or hotspots only, that patrons 18 and over, with a Buncombe County library card in good standing may check out for one month at a time. Call the Ask-a-Librarian line at (828) 250-4700 to request a device. There is no charge for the service but charges may be incurred for late returns or losses. This program is alignment with the 2025 Buncombe County Strategic Plan and supports an educated and capable community.

The fine print:

• One unit per household (unit defined as laptop/hotspot combo or hotspot only)
• Only patrons 18 and over with a Buncombe County library card in good standing may check out
• One month checkout limit
• $1/day that it is late
• $100 charge if laptop is not returned or lost
• $30 charge if hotspot is not returned, lost, or returned damaged
• $20 if laptop power cord is not returned or lost
• Patrons must call to request a device
• Devices can be sent to any Buncombe County Library for pick up
• Borrowers will sign a user agreement before borrowing the equipment
• Devices cannot be renewed and will be disabled when they are one week overdue
• Devices must be returned inside (no drop boxes)
• Borrowers will be asked to fill out a survey upon return of equipment
• If laptop is stolen or not returned after two weeks overdue, a police report will be filed
• All laptops include Microsoft Office Suite and will have basic computer skills training videos/information loaded on to its desktop

A BCPL technology troubleshoot team will be available to assist patrons over the phone with any issues that come up with this equipment. The operational hours of this team will be from 10 a.m. until the library closes each day.

Summer is around the corner and lifeguards are in high demand. Sign up to take our spring, Red Cross certified, lifeguard course today. Class is available to ages 15 and up.

Contact Kitty Schmidt, Director of Fitness and Aquatics to register.

A guided whitewater rafting trip is one of the best ways to experience the Nantahala Gorge. The crystal-clear Nantahala River is the perfect family-friendly river where experienced river guides will help you navigate through splashy Class II-III rapids and bouncy waves, with occasional calmer waters where you can enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery. The fully guided rafting trip the most popular adventure at NOC, with thousands of families returning year after year.

JOIN THE CELEBRATION

We invite you to join us and make a difference for the national parks and programs you love. Whether you give, share, join, or do all three, we’re grateful that you are part of the park community!

With over 400 national parks across the country, National Park Week is a great time to #FindYourPark (o major dicho, #EncuentraTuParque), #RecreateResponsibly, and show our treasured national parks that you care. The National Park Foundation is proud to protect wildlife and park lands, preserve history and culture, educate and engage youth, and connect people everywhere to the wonder of parks.

Canyonlands National Park

APRIL 17: PARK RX DAY

Being outdoors supports wellness in a number of ways, making you stronger, happier, healthier, and more productive.  Enjoy some fresh air and reflect on the ways you can take care of the parks as much as they take care of you. Discover NPF programs that are helping parks be more resilient and sustainable, as well as those that contribute to landscape and wildlife conservation.

APRIL 18: VOLUNTEERS IN PARKS (VIP) DAY

From clearing trails to planting trees to assisting archaeologists, volunteers are critical in providing support for NPS. Learn more about how you can volunteer in parks and give thanks to those who help our parks run year-round. NPF helps connect volunteers to organizations and parks that need help the most. Explore NPF communities and workforce programs that help grow the capacity of NPS and our partners.

APRIL 19: MILITARY MONDAY

For active-duty military and veterans, as well as their families, national parks can provide a place of solitude, beauty, reflection, and recreation. Discover the stories of veterans and military members that are preserved in parks across the country. NPF helps preserve our military history in national parks and connects veterans and military members to our parks through our work in outdoor exploration as well as communities and workforce.

APRIL 20: TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY

NPS has been protecting and preserving lands and historic structures for over 100 years! Explore the ways our parks have changed over the years, and the work NPS, NPF, and partners continue to do to transform the way we see our history and connections to the world. Discover NPF’s work in landscape and wildlife conservation, our commitment to preserving history and culture, and investments we’re making in parks of the future to ensure parks are enjoyed by future generations.

APRIL 21: WAYBACK WEDNESDAY

With hundreds of historical and cultural sites protected by NPS, there are always new stories to discover. Find a park connected to some of the most inspiring stories in our nation’s multifaceted history. NPF’s continued work in history and culture supports the preservation of historic sites, collections, and artifacts in parks that share these stories, and our support of parks of the future ensures such treasures will be accessible for centuries to come.

APRIL 22: EARTH DAY

Celebrate Earth Day by reflecting upon the natural wonders of our parks and supporting the work we’re doing to ensure the health and vibrancy of our parks. With innovative strategies that make our parks environmentally friendly and sustainable to our work in landscape and wildlife conservation, NPF and partners are dedicated to protecting the natural resources our parks contain.

APRIL 23: FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY

Protecting parks is a big job, and NPS relies on partners, groups, and communities to help accomplish their goals. Learn more about those who partner with NPS and NPF and the work that is being done together for our parks, from our park partner community to our corporate partners. Explore NPF’s work in communities and workforce that helps to expand the capacity of parks nationwide, leading to stronger, healthier parks.

APRIL 24: JUNIOR RANGER DAY

NPS’s Junior Ranger programs help young park visitors connect with our shared history, heritage, and national parks. Find a Junior Ranger program in a park near you or earn a digital Junior Ranger badge from home! NPF and our partners have supported the creation of Junior Ranger programs such as the Junior Ranger Angler and Junior Ranger Railroad Explorer and encourage all young visitors to establish meaningful connections in our parks through our work in youth education and engagement and outdoor exploration.

APRIL 25: B.A.R.K. RANGER DAY

National parks are fun to share with those we love – including man’s best friend. Learn the B.A.R.K. Ranger principles for when you bring Fido on a trip to a pet-friendly park and discover the many roles dogs play in parks. NPF is committed to support programs that help all people feel welcome in our parks, and our work in outdoor exploration encourages multicultural and multigenerational families to spend time outdoors – and maybe bring the family pet along too!

No matter how thorough and fair a reappraisal may be, there are still instances when only the property owner has all the information necessary for an accurate appraisal. Informal appeals for the tax year 2021 can be filed anytime between Jan. 1-April 28, 2021. Additionally, anyone receiving a change of value notice after April 1, 2021 has thirty days from that notice date to file an appeal.

The Montford Park Players announces open auditions for Grimm’s Fairy Tales, directed by Victoria Lamberth. Rehearsal will begin in late May, and the show will run Friday, June 25 to Saturday, July 31. The director is seeking actors, dancers, and singers ages 10 and up, all experience levels, ethnic backgrounds, and gender identities. Individuals/families/couples/friends who are quarantining together are encouraged to audition. Prospective actors and technicians should review the COVID-19 protocols which can be found at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/…/MPP-ACTOR-SAFETY…. Actors and technicians recruited for this production will be required to abide by all safety protocols as contained in the document. In addition, the following director-mandated safety protocols will be included for this production: – Masks will be used sometimes onstage in character. Mask use will be blocked and choreographed in a way that makes sense within the world of the play and keeps the performers as safe as possible – Actor call time will be staggered for performances and rehearsals. To audition: 1) fill out and submit the audition form located at https://forms.gle/36VBKUfD1vEfvF5w6. Headshots and resumes are appreciated, but not required. 2) Record an audition video (you can do so on your phone) using at least one of the sides located at https://www.montfordparkplayers.org/abou…/volunteers-page/. Upload the video here: https://driveuploader.com/upload/6XaW3rROQN/ (Be sure and name the video with your name and the word “Grimms”). 3) Audition materials MUST be submitted between April 1- 22. Callbacks will be held at the director’s discretion at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre. Callbacks will be appropriately socially-distanced. For more information email [email protected]

This beautiful spring weather makes it easy to get out and train for our virtual Run for Justice 5K which kicks off next month!  Register today to participate anytime between May 29th through June 12th on a route of your choice and then join us for our awards ceremony June 12th!  Everyone who registers by April 30 will receive a Run for Justice t-shirt.

Three ways to sign up

1. Register for $25 per participant  (you can add a donation to support Pisgah Legal if desired)
2. Peer to Peer Fundraising:  Invite your friends and family to donate $1,$5 or more for each kilometer you walk or run.
3. Be a Sponsor:  Sponsor as an individual, a couple, a group or a business. Sponsors receive race entries, t-shirts and recognition. (Find out more about sponsor benefits here)

Check out our registration page for more details, a fun explainer video and FAQs.

ACTION ITEM

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting input on its efforts to address climate change. Specifically, comments are being solicited on how the agency can expand its efforts for climate-smart agriculture and forestry systems. The feedback collected will be used to develop recommendations for how the USDA will increase its efforts to tackle climate change through its various programs and authorities. Comments are due by April 29.

SUPPORT THE MUSEUM We’re kicking off our Spring Annual Fund Campaign! With your help, we’ve been able to do some amazing things this past year, from hosting major traveling exhibitions like Across the Atlantic to delivering 1,600 Art Kits for Kids to local students and fostering in-depth conversations about art and artists through virtual programs. Your gift to the Annual Fund supports all of this and more.

Unique outdoor sculptural works by environmental artist Patrick Dougherty, known as “Stick Man,” will reside in Antler Hill Village. Renowned worldwide for his monumental creations, Dougherty weaves saplings and branches into intricate artworks, fashioning whimsical forms ranging from gigantic snares and cocoons to sculptural interpretations of notable buildings. The visual appeal of these large-scale artworks may be appreciated up close as guests are encouraged to walk through and around the creations, affording the opportunity to admire the artistry and technical skills required to make the sculptures.

Buncombe County will receive approximately $51 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding. City of Asheville will receive approximately $26 million. The dollars will have some strings attached, including that funds should be expended by 2024.

Without fully understanding the parameters for expending the funds (currently being clarified), how do you think they should be spent?

Both City and County have indicated a desire to hear from the public about their ideas on how funds should be used. At the Chamber, we feel that investments should be made in some of the areas most impacted, or most exposed, by the pandemic.

Please take a few minutes to give your opinions on how dollars should be prioritized. Responses will be shared with elected officials and City and County staff.