Are Rebates Really a Good Deal?

Wow! A $100 rebate on a computer! What a deal! But is it really worth it? Will you REALLY remember to send that rebate in?

Are You Heating with a Fireplace or Wood Stove?

If you are heating with wood to try to save money on the cost of heating your home, keep in mind that there are some safety precautions that need to be followed to insure a safe heating season.

Remember these Safety Tips When You Are Shopping!

Ensure that you and your family stay safe throughout the holiday season with these tips from the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.

Caring for the Cut Christmas Tree

If you've decided to purchase a cut tree this year, here are some tips that will help you select the best tree and keep it in good condition through the holidays.

Pet Safety for the Holidays

The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with family and loved ones, but it can be a stressful and dangerous time for your family pet.

Winter Is Not A Wonderland For Pets

Asheville Humane Society would like to remind families with pets to take a few precautions during the cold weather months to ensure the safety and well-being of your furry companion.

Soma Beverage Recalls Metromint Flavor Water

Soma Beverage recalls Metromint flavor water in 16.9 fluid ounce bottles.

Pet Picture of the Week - Take Me Home for the Holidays (& Forever)!

This week we are featuring some animals available for adoption from FurEver Friends. Please consider making one of these animals your "FurEver" friend by giving it a loving home.

Recipe of the Week - Caramel Popcorn

Congratulations to Travena Miller of Asheville for her Caramel Popcorn recipe!

Around October, children and children-at-heart begin making their wish list of items they hope to receive during the holiday season. Friends and family begin scurrying around after Thanksgiving looking for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. While video games, complete series of TV programs and new computer gadgets will be more popular than ever this year, consider giving gifts that encourage health.

Not sure where to start? There are many ideas out there that will help your loved ones eat smarter and move more.

For the children on your list, sports equipment is always a fun gift. Bats, gloves, soccer balls, tennis rackets and balls, and basketballs are great ideas for the budding athlete in your family. If you want to splurge, a new bike, roller skates, or roller blades are a great way to get kids to be more active. For a less expensive gift, a new Frisbee, jump rope or a Hula Hoop are fun toys. Many old games are making a comeback. Sets of croquet, bocce, and even badminton are showing up on the shelves.

To help your children eat smarter, fun lunch boxes and colorful child-sized plastic containers make taking lunch to school a treat. For the budding chef in your family, some specialty food stores offer kids’ cooking classes.

Adults who are trying to be more active will appreciate new work out gear. Jump ropes, hand weights, resistance bands or workout videos are also good ideas. An introductory session for an exercise class, dance class or an appointment with a personal trainer might be what they need to get moving. Help you loved ones carry their gear to the gym in a new gym bag or give them a reusable water bottle to help them stay hydrated. If there is someone you want to splurge on, give them in iPod or other MP3 player so they can listen to their favorite tunes while they are being active.

Cooking classes, kitchen gadgets, cookware, and pretty serving dishes are all nice gifts for the adults in your life who are trying to eat smarter. Cookbooks or a subscription to a healthy lifestyle magazine will be enjoyed year round.

And for all of those people you usually remember during the season with containers of cookies and fudge, try giving mugs with gourmet teabags, an assortment of nuts, bottles of special cooking oils like walnut or a flavorful olive oil or a basket of fruit instead.

Remember that saying, “It’s the thought that counts”? Instead of trying to give the biggest, most expensive gift this year, give ones that say you are thinking about your loved ones and their health.

The City of Asheville is adding two new materials to their curbside recycling collection program. All plastic bottles and empty aerosol cans will now be accepted for recycling.

Complete Story

If your home was built prior to March of 2002, you can see an aerial view of it on the county website. It’s easy!

• Go to Buncombe County GIS
• Hit "I agree" at the bottom page
• Hit the blue “Search By” icon at the top of the page
• A box will appear. Select “street” in the left window. Enter your street name in the right window.
• Hit the “Execute” button
• A box will appear. Scroll down until you find your information and then hit the number on the far left.
• Then on the far right see a column called “Layers”. Select the “2002 Aerial Imagery 100 Scale, 200 Scale and 400 Scale buttons.
• Then hit the “Clear” icon at the top of the page.