Watch Out - Jury Duty Scam

The phone rings, you pick it up, and the caller identifies himself as an officer of the court. He says you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant is out for your arrest.

Get Your Veggies Locally

A Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a subscription to a local farm. Customers sign up for a share during the winter and get a weekly shipment of fresh produce during the spring, summer and fall.

Peanut Butter Product Recalls - UPDATE

Salmonella infection from peanut butter products continues to affect consumers across the United States. There have now been 529 confirmed cases reported in 43 states. The most recently confirmed and reported case began on January 16, 2009. Six deaths have been related to the outbreak, including one in North Carolina.

Give Your Unwanted Technology a New Life

Your old computer is entitled to a second opinion. Goodwill Industries and Dell has partnered to create RECONNECT, a free program for consumers to reuse and responsibly recycle unwanted electronics.

Get Rid of Mildew

If you have noticed black, gray or brown spots on painted surfaces or caulked areas there is a good chance it is mildew.

Portable Space Heaters - Are They Safe?

Need a little extra heat, but you are not sure what kind of heater would work best? Read on to make sure you pick the right space heater for your house.

You'll Need Help to Quit

Every New Year’s Eve millions of Americans resolve to quit smoking, but pick up their cigarettes again in a matter of weeks or even days. This year can be different for those who call the NC Tobacco Use Quitline.

Film at North Asheville Library: "Christo in Paris"

Winner of the Grand Prize at the Amsterdam Film Festival and Best Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, “Christo in Paris” explores Christo's escape from Bulgaria, his early years as a struggling artist, etc.

Transportation Planning Workshop - January 28

Help identify the transportation needs for our area by attending the planning workshop on January 28.

Black Mountain Gets New Town Hall

Black Mountain Town Hall is relocating.

Monday at the Movies: The Unforeseen - February 2

Movie critic Peter Loewer presents a timely documentary on the fight between people attempting to control the environment and others who work to protect it.

Pet Pictures of the Week - Do You Have Room for One of Us?

Please consider giving a home to one of these wonderful pets! The shelter is okay, but I would love to have a home of my own!

Recipe of the Week - Broccoli Cheese Soup

Congratulations to Jane Litzenburger for her Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe!

1. Don’t ignore your mortgage problem. If you are unable to pay or haven’t paid your mortgage, contact the lender as soon as possible. Mortgage lenders want to work with you to resolve the problem and you may have more options if you contact them early.
2. Do your homework before you talk to your lender or housing counselor. Find your original mortgage loan documents and review them. Review your income and budget in addition to gathering information on all your expenses, including food, utilities, car payments, insurance payments, etc. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your lender, contact a housing or credit counseling agency.
3. Know your options. Some options provide short-term solutions/help, while others provide long-term or permanent solutions. You may be able to work out a temporary plan for making up missed payments, or you may be able to modify the loan terms. Sometimes the best option is to sell the house.
4. Stick to your plan. Protect your credit score by making timely payments. Prioritize bills and pay those that are most necessary. Consider cutting optional expenses such as eating out and premium cable TV services.
5. Beware of foreclosure rescue scams. Con artists take advantage of people who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments and who face foreclosure. They may even call themselves “counselors”. Your mortgage lender or a legitimate housing counselor can best help you decide
   which option is best for you.

For more information, contact Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

February is Clean Streams month in western North Carolina. Here are some events of interest to homeowners:

• Water-Wise Landscaping, February 10 at The North Carolina Arboretum, 10:00-11:00am. This time we will talk mostly about conserving water in the garden and landscape. Tuesday is free admission and no pre-registration is required.
  
  
• Master Stream Stewards Course, Henderson County Extension Center, Feb 3-March 3. $15 for 5 classes. For more information, visit the Henderson County Cooperative Extension website or call 828-697-4891.
  
  
• Installing Your Home Raingarden, Feb. 27 and 28, two days include classroom and hands-on work. Henderson County. Visit the Henderson County Cooperative Extension website or call 828-697-4891.

For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

We all get tired of hearing, "Prepare, prepare, prepare." The fact is we really do need to be prepared. If you follow these simple tips, it can make a stressful situation a little more bearable:

• Don’t forget to store water. The suggested quantity is 1 gallon per person in the home per day with a 3 day supply available.
• Keep non-perishable foods on hand that do not need to be heated. Think of what you would eat if you have no power.
• If power does go off, have refrigerator thermometers to check if food is at a safe temperature.
• Have flashlights and batteries accessible.
• Keep necessary medications available.

For more information, contact Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you.

1. When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.
2. Some refrigerators, air conditioners and ice-makers are cooled with wasted flows of water. Consider upgrading with air-cooled appliances for significant water savings.
3. Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
4. Run your clothes washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
5. Choose shrubs and groundcovers instead of turf for hard-to-water areas such as steep slopes and isolated strips.
6. Install covers on pools and spas and check for leaks around your pumps.
7. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost vegetable food waste instead and save gallons every time.
8. Plant in the fall when conditions are cooler and rainfall is more plentiful.
9. For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap. This way, every drop goes down you and not the drain.
10. Monitor your water bill for unusually high use. Your bill and water meter are tools that can help you discover leaks.

Source: www.wateruseitwisely.com