Don't Forget to VOTE!

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7! If you haven't joined the thousands that have already taken advantage of early voting, you may not realize that Buncombe County has new voting machines.

Woodfin To Get a "Downtown"

At their regular meeting on November 7, County Commissioners will hear a report from developers and Woodfin Town officials regarding plans to construct a "downtown" for Woodfin.

Mental Health Help Available

Now that New Vistas/Mountain Laurel has closed, providers have stepped forward to assist Buncombe County consumers with their needs.

Flu Shots at Biltmore Square Mall

The Buncombe County Health Center has scheduled another walk-in Flu Shot Clinic at the Biltmore Square Mall on Tuesday, Election Day, November 7th, and Wednesday, November 8th between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.

Saving On Your Utility Bills – You Can Do It!

Looking for ways to reduce your monthly utility bills? Let this free energy saving workshop show you how.

Gardening in the Mountains: Caring For Houseplants

To retain their beauty, houseplants need proper care, including the right amount of sunlight, correct watering, repotting, pruning, fertilizing and pest control.

Stories Comin’ Round the Mountain

Come to the Asheville-Buncombe Library System’s storytelling celebration for children grades K-5.

Pet Picture of the Week

Congratulations to Trisha Moser of Leicester for the picture of her dog, Maggie.

Recipe of the Week

Congratulations to Laura Meadows of Candler for her Taco Soup recipe!

November 13 - December 31

The holiday season is here! And while ‘tis the season to be jolly, for many of us it is also a season of unhealthy eating habits and added pounds come January. With a series of feasts and celebrations just around the corner, now is the time to challenge yourself to maintain your weight this holiday season. Join others across the state in the Eat Smart Move More Holiday Challenge. You can register at their website, http://www.myeatsmartmovemore.com/.

The challenge: no weight gain during the holiday season!

Registration is free! And they will not give your email address to anyone, or use it for any other purpose! It will give you the opportunity to:

• Chat with your fellow Holiday Challengers across the state to get moral support every step of the way!
• Ask the experts your questions on our Holiday Challenge message board. 
• Receive a free weekly newsletter chock full of tips, recipes, and more. 
• Download tools to monitor your progress.

So take the Challenge and sign up today!!! Look for other messages through the Buncombe County eZine, BCTV-2 and other media channels.

Buncombe County Department of Social Services will host the annual Foster/Adopt Fall Festival at the Asheville Civic Center on November 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. This is an opportunity for the community to learn more about how they can help “at risk” kids – including foster care, adoption, therapeutic respite, mentoring, etc.

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Inspect plants periodically so you can tackle pest problems before they get out of hand. Pesticides should never be applied randomly "just in case" there might be some insects in the garden. You may end up killing off more beneficial insects than pests.

• Ornamentals:  Check evergreens for bagworms. Half of those bags contain eggs which will hatch in the spring, so remove and destroy them. Spruce mites are cool weather mites that become active now. Shake a branch vigorously over white paper to check for them.
  
  
• Vegetables:  Aphids and several species of caterpillars can be a problem on broccoli, cabbage, collards and other cabbage family plants.

DSS Emergency Assistance works to keep children from being deprived of basic necessities, like housing and water, during a time of financial crisis.

• Helps with up to $300 within a 12 month period.
• Pays past due rent, past due water bills, deposits for those who are homeless or at risk of losing their home and other needs.

Eligibility Requirements:

• A child under 18 years of age living in the home.
• Have an eviction or shut-off notice.
• Income and the value of resources must fall below certain guidelines.
• Head of the household must be a legal resident of the United States and all school aged children must be enrolled in school.
• Contact DSS for other eligibility requirements.

Emergency Assistance does not pay for telephone bills, prescriptions, court costs, or rent when the landlord is a relative.

Applications are taken at:

Buncombe County Dept. of Social Services
40 Coxe Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 250-5500

Buncombe County offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day, Friday, November 10, 2006.