County Social Work Services Has Moved

All County Social Work Services are now located @ 35 Woodfin St.

Job Opportunities at the Register of Deeds Office

The Buncombe County Register of Deeds office is excited to announce that they will be hiring four new employees.

West Asheville License Tag Agency Moving

The license tag agency located at 153 Smokey Park Highway in Asheville is moving to 780 Hendersonville Road.

Have You Checked Your Credit Report?

Your credit report is very important. What's on yours???

Award-Winning Poet ALLAN WOLF at West Branch Library

Allan Wolf presents a high-energy multi-media family-friendly show to kick off a celebration of National Poetry Month.

Tips for Boosting Personal Wellness with Kindness, Compassion, & Volunteering

Here's a new tool you might want to add to your health and wellness regimen: random acts of kindness.

Rabies Vaccination Clinics Offered

Rabies vaccines available on March 26 & April 30.

2011 Perennial Plant of the Year

The Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial of the Year for 2011 is Arkansas Blue Star.

Got a Leaky Toilet? Moisture Problems?

Prevent larger maintenance problems in the future by fixing some of these things now.

Pets of the Week - We Have a Cat for You!

Adopt any cat 1 year old or older through the end of March for only $35.

Recipe of the Week - Cobb Pasta Salad

Congratulations to Morgan Stanford for his Cobb Pasta Salad recipe!

The 6th Annual Different Strokes Miniature Golf Tournament is on Saturday, April 9. The Tournament will be held at Tropical Gardens Mini Golf located at 956 Patton Avenue and is open to teams consisting of one adult and one child.

The Tournament is from 1 - 3 p.m. Trophies will be awarded to the 3 top scoring teams.

The cost is $15 per team and includes 36 holes of golf. Children ages 5 to 15 are eligible to be partnered with an adult to compete for some splendid trophies. Teams can register from March 1 - April 4 and the Tournament is limited to the first 12 teams to register.

For more information or to register, call Jay Nelson of Buncombe County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Services at 250-4269 or email him at jay.nelson@buncombecounty.org 

One of the best ways Asheville Humane keeps their dogs and puppies healthy and happy is by keeping them mentally stimulated while they await their new families.

When they aren't visiting with a prospective adopter or romping with a playmate in the play yards, they are encouraged to play and self-entertain while they are alone in their kennel runs. Dogs and puppies need toys that are appropriate and safe for chewing. Several affordable chew toys are available for purchase at pet supply retailers or grocery stores.

Please consider donating some dog and puppy toys to Asheville Humane's toy chest. The best kind would be the Nylabone "Puppy Starter Kit" or "Puppy Teething Rings." Nylabone products are very durable and they can also be washed and re-used.

Donations can be dropped off at the Adoption & Education Center located at 14 Forever Friend Lane. The animals thank you! For more information, call (828) 761-2001.

Approximately 1,100 miles of hatchery-supported trout waters will open to harvest at 7 a.m. on April 2. The season will run until one-half hour after sunset on Feb. 28, 2012. Anglers fishing on hatchery-supported trout waters can harvest up to seven trout per day, with no minimize size limits or bait restrictions.

See the “2010-11 North Carolina Fishing Regulations” for a list of hatchery-supported trout waters, regulation information and trout maps.

This is a fine time to replenish the mulch in landscape beds. Mulch is the first line of defense against annual weeds. Mulch prevents weed seed from germinating by excluding light. Since many weeds (like crabgrass) germinate in April, the goal is to spread the mulch before weeds germinate.

Organic mulches do break down and need to be “top dressed” every year or two. When adding mulch overtop of existing mulch, make sure the total depth does not accumulate to more than 3 to 4 inches as too much is detrimental to your plants.

What kind of mulch you use is pretty much a matter of preference – what look you like. Pine bark lasts longest, but hardwood and pine needles stay put better on a slope. 

Remember, you can get Free Mulch in March at the Landfill!

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