It’s Easy & Free to Recycle Your Tree!

Give your cut holiday tree another life by recycling it.

Deadline to Pay Property Taxes - TODAY

January 5, 2011 is the LAST day to pay your Buncombe County Property Tax before the 2% interest is added on January 6, 2011.

Garden Chores for January

Garden chores in January? Of course! We have to start getting ready for spring!

Protecting Portable Devices: Physical Security

Computer users rely on laptops & PDAs because they're small & easily transported. While this makes them popular & convenient, it also makes them a target for thieves.

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.

Spotlight: Parsley

Grow some parsley! Plants are easily adaptable to the herb bed, vegetable garden or containers. It can even be used as greenery in the flower bed.

Pets of the Week - Dashing Dogs & Cute Kitties

Check out these adorable cats & dogs looking for a home!

Recipe of the Week - Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Congratulations to Will Litzenburger of Alexander for his Breakfast Sausage Casserole recipe!

Buncombe County Government Offices will be closed Friday, December 31 for New Year's Eve. 

Buncombe County Public Libraries will be closed:

• Friday, December 31 and Saturday, January 1 (Open again on Monday, January 3)

The Landfill & Transfer Station will be closed:

• Saturday, January 1
• The Landfill and Transfer Station will be open December 31.

Household Hazardous Waste Day and Electronics Recycling at the Buncombe County Landfill will be closed:

• Friday, December 31

Have a safe New Year's -- for you and your pets! Keep in mind that the following could be hazardous to your pet/s:

• Balloons and Confetti - These fun New Year’s party decorations can cause your pets to choke or obstruct their intestines if ingested. Keep an eye on your pets when they’re around these items or move them to an area that is not decorated.
• Loud noises - New Year’s is typically a noisy holiday. Unfortunately, loud noises frighten pets and can cause them to run off. Keep your pets in a separate room, away from noisemakers, music, and other loud sounds that may startle them.

Source: ASPCA.org

• Eating noodles at midnight is customary at Buddhist temples in Japan. 
• A German/Pennsylvania Dutch tradition is to eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day for good luck.
• It is the tradition of Bosnia & Croatia (both of former Yugoslavia) to eat what is called "Sarma" or beef wrapped tightly in cabbage to bring good luck in health and wealth for the upcoming year.
• It is a Cuban tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. The 12 grapes signify the last twelve months of the year.
• German folklore says that eating herring at the stroke of midnight will bring luck for the next year.
• Eating pickled herring as the first bite of the New Year brings good luck to those of Polish descent.
• In the southern United States, it is believed eating black eyed peas on New Year's Eve will bring luck for the coming year.
• Also from the south comes the custom of eating greens such as cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, kale or spinach to bring money.
• One more from the Southerners: eating cornbread will bring wealth.
• The Southern custom of eating greens can be found in other cultures as well, although the cabbage can take many forms, such as sauerkraut or even kimchee.
• Boiled Cod is a New Year's Eve must in Denmark.

It's easy to find out.  The FamilyWatchdog.us has made it very simple to find the offenders in your area. 

Simply go to their website and put in your address.  The offenders will be indicated.  You can select the red boxes to see their profile.