Flu Shots at Buncombe County Health Center Start December 4

Flu shots available Monday – Friday between 8:30 am – 3:30 pm at the Buncombe County Health Center starting Monday, December 4.

Mental Health Help Available

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

Holiday Challenge: Healthy Gift Giving Guide

Here are some great ideas for gifts that will improve the health of those on your shopping list.

Nationally Renowned Photographer Norman Seider

Photographer Norman Seider will lecture December 8 at Pack Memorial Library.

Energy Efficient Ways to Light Up the Holidays

Children and adults alike look forward to the glow of holiday lights – on the tree, around the house, or lining each roof ridge and gable outside.

Got a Gardener In Your House?

Gift giving ideas for the garden-lovers on your shopping list.

Garden Chores for December

December is a busy time, but keep in mind that there are still garden chores that need to be done.

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.

Pet Picture of the Week

Congratulations to Ronnie Presley of Asheville for the pictures of his dog, Coley.

Recipe of the Week

Congratulations to Karen Case of Enka for her Tomato-Basil Zucchini recipe!

Are you an overachiever when it comes to toothbrushing?

Brushing too long or too hard can damage both tooth enamel and gums -- and it isn't any better at removing plaque than gentler, shorter bouts. The best advice: Brush for 2-3 minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush, using short, gentle strokes. Be sure to brush along the gum line, and give your tongue a quick once-over, too, for fresh breath.

If you're not sure of your toothbrushing technique, ask your dentist or dental hygienist for pointers at your next visit. The classic approach is to divide your mouth into four sections -- upper left and right, lower left and right -- and spend about 30 seconds on the teeth in each area, then lightly brush along the gum line and over the tongue.

No sense of time? Suspect you're overdoing it? Try an electric toothbrush. Many now have built-in timers, and some also come with sensors that automatically turn the brush off when too much pressure is applied.

Source: www.realage.com

Enjoy beautiful light displays while sipping on warm apple cider at the "Lake Julian Festival of Lights" on December 8 - 10 & 14 - 16 at Lake Julian Park in Skyland, each night from 6 - 9pm.

The cost is only $5 per car, $15 per van or $25 per bus. A portion of the proceeds goes to Special Olympics Buncombe County.

For more information, call Buncombe County Parks & Recreation Services at 250-4260.

Monday, December 11 -- 7:30pm
Black Mountain Library

The Friends of the Black Mountain Library will present the Lyric Opera Singers, who will perform A Victorian Christmas.

The program is free and open to the public. Call 669-2652 for more information.

Saturday, December 9 -- 3pm
Weaverville Library
41 N. Main Street
645-3592

The Friends of the Weaverville Library present a program of holiday music by local acapella singing group The Wondertones on Saturday, December 9th at 3pm. The program is free and the public is invited.

Here are some tips on how to keep your holiday spending from getting out of control.

1. Make a gift list and stick to it. Make a list of people you plan to give gifts. Then, with hobbies and interests in mind, assign a maximum dollar value for a gift. The next step is very important – stick to the dollar limit.
2. Keep track of the purchased gifts. Once you have a gift for someone, cross the person off your gift list. Resist the temptation to buy a second or third gift during sales events.
3. Get a head start on next year’s giving plan. Save your gift list and use it for advance planning for next year. Write the amount spent next to each person’s name and then calculate the total amount spent on gifts. Now you can open a holiday-giving account at your local financial institution, such as a credit union. Next year you can make most or all of your purchases with cash.

Dr. Carolyn Bird
Assistant Professor, Family Resource Management
North Carolina State University