Be Alert for Signs of Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Health Officials report an increase in the number of cases of pertussis in Buncombe County.

On the Home Front: Holiday Turkey Tips

It’s holiday time and many of us are planning to prepare turkey for our family get-togethers. The key to a successful turkey is to prepare it properly.

A Tale of Two Turkeys

The juicy turkey that will grace many dining room tables this Thanksgiving is not the bird some may imagine it to be.

Help A Senior this Holiday Season

Help brighten the holiday season for a senior or disabled adult!

New Communication Tool Designed to Remind

Buncombe County Parks & Recreation staff doesn’t want you to miss any of the wonderful programs that they have planned for the coming months and they’ve designed a new program to help.

Basic Home Maintenance

If you are either a new homeowner or a long timer, this course could be for you.

Pet of the Week

Congratulations to Libby Cornett of Asheville for the picture of her and her dog, Winnie!

Recipe of the Week

Congratulations to Boyce Biddix for his German Chocolate Pie recipe!

All Buncombe County Government offices will be closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25.

Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Day will be cancelled for the following dates:

• November 25, 2005 -- Thanksgiving Holiday
• December 23, 2005 -- Christmas Holiday

HHW and Electronics will be taken all other Fridays at the Landfill between 9 am - 3 pm.

Part of the reason we feel drowsy and lethargic after a Thanksgiving meal is due to high levels of the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in turkey. Tryptophan increases the production of a brain chemical called serotonin that makes us sleepy.

Large amounts of carbohydrates in combination with tryptophan also increases serotonin levels, making us even drowsier.

If you live in the City of Asheville, you can find out your leaf disposal options on the City's website.

County Residents can either take their leaves out with the trash or burn them if they follow the open burning rules and regulations.  For a complete list of the rules on open burning, see the WNC Air Quality website.

Buncombe County Parks and Recreation has made an appointment with Santa and will be taking names of those folks who would like to have their child receive a personalized letter from Santa. 

Letters will be mailed on December 14.  Don’t miss an opportunity for your child to receive a special letter from “Santa” this holiday season.

To Sign Up: 

1. Fill out the sign up form and return it with $2 (proceeds go to Special Olympics) to Parks and Recreation, contact the Department at 250-4260 or e-mail parksalive@buncombecounty.org.
   
   
2. Make sure you register by returning the form before the deadline:  Wednesday, December 7 at 5 p.m.

Registration is limited and may be full before the deadline. 

• Asheville City Hall will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, Nov. 24 and Friday, Nov. 25. 
• The Asheville Police Department's Centralized Records Unit will be closed Nov. 24 - 26.
• Residential garbage will be collected on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, for normally scheduled Thursday collections. Please place your trash at the curb no later than 7 a.m.
• City buses will not run on Thursday, Nov. 24. Buses will operate according to their normal schedule on Friday, Nov. 25 and Saturday, Nov. 26. Visit http://www.ashevilletransit.com/ for route information.