Was Your Credit Card Compromised?

There has been a security breach at the payment processor Heartland Payment Services (HPS).

The present economic times are unlike what most of us have seen in our lifetime. Everyday we hear about individuals losing their job and their financial security.

February is Heart Month. Increase the life of your ticker by following these simple tips.

Disease prevention is the key to public health. It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it. Vaccines prevent disease and save lives in the people who receive them.

If the availability of public transportation is of interest to you, your business, your employees and potential future workforce – please take the opportunity to voice your needs.

Want to learn how to do some basic repairs around the house? This course is for you!

Librarians are practicing animal noises and silly songs in preparation for the 23rd annual production of “Preschoolers We Love You!”

Time to start getting ready for spring! Be prepared by doing these garden chores for February.

Do you remember playing kickball as a child? Bring back those fun memories with Adult League Kickball!

This acclaimed PBS film documents a group of African-American artists from Gee's Bend, Alabama.

Can you give a dog a home? Maybe a cat? How about a kitten? These animals need your help.

Congratulations to Constance Trilling for her Onion Soup Gratinee recipe!

Heart disease and stroke are North Carolina's top killers accounting for half of the deaths in our state. Eating smart and moving more are the best weapons you can use to fight these killers.

Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your meals and snacks goes a long way to keeping your arteries healthy because these foods are naturally low in sodium and high in fiber. Regular physical activity keeps your weight and blood pressure in check and keeps your heart healthy and strong.

This year, celebrate American Heart Month by eating smart, moving more and urging others to do the same!

More information on American Heart Month

Wear red on February 6 to support the fight against heart disease in women!

Go Red for Women celebrates the energy, passion and power women have to band together to wipe out heart disease and stroke.

Thanks to the participation of millions of people across the country, the color red and the red dress now stand for the ability all women have to improve their heart health and live stronger, longer lives.

The goal is a 25% reduction in coronary heart disease and stroke risk by the year 2010.

Working to change the perception that heart disease is a "man's disease" is working. Teaching more and more women how to talk to their doctors about heart disease can save thousands of lives every year. The good news is that heart disease is often preventable. In case anyone still believes that heart disease is only a concern for older women, please read the Inspiring Stories that make the case plain and simple: the time for action is now!

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough is often thought of as being on a childhood disease, when in fact, adults and adolescents are capable of contracting and spreading this potentially deadly disease.

Pertussis is more common than you might think. While many childhood diseases have been nearly eliminated by vaccinations, pertussis is still a major problem. In recent years, the disease has made a significant comeback.

• Reports of pertussis have increased more than 100% during 2004-2007 compared to 2000-2003.
• An important study shows that about half of all reported cases of infant pertussis are passed from parents.
• With the increasing frequency of pertussis among adolescents and adults, a booster vaccine should be given to reduce transmission of the illness to small children who have not yet been immunized.

The Pertussis Booster:

You may have received pertussis-containing vaccines as a child, but this vaccination has lost its ability protect after 5-10 years. That's why the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends an adult or adolescent pertussis booster, also called tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap), for everyone 11 - 64 years of age.

For more information, contact the Buncombe County Health Center Immunization Clinic at 250-5096 or visit DoItForYourBaby.com.

With the ups and downs of our energy costs, it is important to review some of the habits that will help save money each month. Reducing your energy demands this winter is easy, and many times free:

• Set your thermostat to 68° F, or your lowest comfortable setting. In most homes, you can save about 2% of your heating bill for each degree you lower your thermostat, i.e.—turning down the thermostat from 70° to 65° saves about 10% ($100 on a $1,000 heating cost).
• Clean or replace HVAC unit filters every month.
• Keep air registers clean and opened in all rooms.
• Keep furniture away from the registers and air returns of your home. Placing furniture on top or against them will cause loss of air circulation.
• Use kitchen and bathroom ventilation fans wisely—use them for short periods to draw moisture and odor out of your home. Running them for extended periods can allow warm air to escape outside.
• Keep draperies and shades open during the day on windows that face the south side of the house. Close the draperies and shades at night in order to retain the heat that has built up in the house.

For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.