State of the County

The County Manager and County Commission Chairman have issued the State of the County report.

There is a new super hero in Buncombe County! “Major Mouse” was born out of Sheriff Van Duncan’s elementary school reading program.

Dr. Samuel Johnson is one of England's best known literary figures: a poet, essayist, biographer, lexicographer and a critic of English Literature.

Don't miss your chance to give input on the coordinated plan for improved transportation for the elderly and disabled.

Make sure your pet is up to date on its shots! Don't miss out on these low-cost shot clinics! Rabies is just $6!

Gwen McNeill Ashburn, PhD, Chair of UNC-A’s Literature and Language Department, highlights the achievements of the women of Asheville and our region.

Get out and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine by playing mini-golf!

This week we are featuring some Asheville Humane Society animals that need a loving home.

Congratulations to Melody Ray of Asheville for her Pineapple Chicken Stir-fry recipe!

Salad bars can be diet salvation or junk-food minefields. Here's how to get from one end to the other without detonating an explosion of bad fats, sodium, sugar, and refined carbs.

1. Go dark on greens: Build a vitamin- and fiber-packed foundation by starting with roughly 1 cup of spinach and romaine leaves (for more than half of your daily vitamin A and all of your vitamin K, plus some folate and vitamin C). Skip 'em: Lighter greens tend to offer less nutrition. Iceberg lettuce, for instance, delivers only about 7% of the A you need, some K, and not much else.
   
   
2. Go bright on veggies: Next, add about 1 cup of the most colorful crudités -- think broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, beets. Ounce for ounce, vibrant veggies give you more fiber, minerals, vitamins, and disease-fighting antioxidants than their paler companions, like celery and cucumbers. Skip 'em: Anything coated in mayo or an indefinable dressing, including carrot-and-raisin mixes, coleslaw, and potato salad.
   
   
3. Choose lean proteins: Aim for about 1/2 cup of these. Chickpeas and kidney beans are nifty sources of fat-free protein (6 grams each). Sliced hard-boiled eggs (8 grams) are another smart choice, just limit the yolk to limit the fat. Skip 'em: Chicken, tuna, or crab salads -- they're usually made with high-fat mayo; three-bean salad, which typically is afloat in a sea of oil; and cottage cheese, which is high in aging (read artery-clogging) saturated fat.
   
   
4. Sprinkle on extra flavor and crunch: Like cheese? Add 1 tablespoon of Parmesan (22 calories) to punch up the flavor, or 1 tablespoon of walnuts or sunflower seeds for some healthy crunch. Both have good-for-your-heart fats that help your body absorb the nutrients in all those veggies. Skip 'em: Cheddar cubes -- you'll quickly eat more than you need; croutons -- they may look harmless but at 100 calories per 1/4 cup, they're usually high-cal booby traps of refined carbs, sodium, and trans fats. Ditto for crunchy Asian noodles.
   
   
5. Dress for success: Now swirl on about 1 tablespoon of heart-healthy olive oil, a splash of vinegar, a grating of pepper, and toss, toss, toss. Ask any chef -- it's the secret to a perfect salad. Thorough tossing ensures that all the flavors and textures are evenly distributed and lets you use minimal dressing to maximum effect. Skip 'em: Walk right past those vats of ready-made salad dressings. Even the low-fat or fat-free versions are usually loaded with salt, sugar, and additives. And just 2 tablespoons of regular blue cheese or ranch have about 160 fat-packed calories.
   
   
6. Prefer a fruit salad? Easy. Go for whatever's fresh -- melons, berries, pineapple, kiwi -- and top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts or sunflower seeds for a sprinkling of good fats and crunchy flavor. Then buy a small container of low- or no-fat yogurt or cottage cheese for creamy protein minus the saturated fat in dairy foods. Skip 'em: Syrupy canned peaches, apricots, pears, etc. They have far more calories and fewer nutrients than fresh fruit.

Source: RealAge.com

Gardeners’ Almanacs are once again available at the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Center. This “Guide to Environmentally Friendly Gardening in Buncombe County” provides lists of garden chores for each month, a garden lesson each month, a guide to planting vegetables in western NC, a garden glossary, and references to lots of helpful leaflets.

Pick up your copy for only $5. For more information, call 255-5522.

Do you have questions about your taxes? Would you like assistance in completing your income tax forms?

The AARP Tax-Aide program, in cooperation with the IRS, the NC Department of Revenue and the Council on Aging of Buncombe County will offer free tax preparation for older adults, as well as low and middle income taxpayers through April 15, 2008.

Locations and times the assistance will be provided.

You compare car prices and food prices, so why not gas prices?

There is an easy way for you to shop for the best deal on gas in your area. Just visit the NC Gas Prices website. You can also view other gas prices in case you’re going on a trip to another part of North Carolina or out of state.

This site relies on user input. It allows you to contribute information about gas prices in your area so you can help others as well.