What's Happening In Buncombe

Researchers discovered a new variant of the Conficker Worm on April 9, 2009. This variant updates earlier infections via its peer to peer (P2P) network as well as resuming scan-and-infect activity against unpatched systems.

Buncombe County is actively pursuing funding opportunities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in order to meet the needs of our citizens, improve our infrastructure and enhance our overall economy.

Buncombe County receives five Excellence in Communication awards.

Buncombe County residents, like most Americans, are feeling the stress created by our nation's economic downturn.

With the rising costs of living and the changes occurring in our healthcare system, it is time to see about finding ways to save on our individual healthcare costs.

If you want to attract hummingbirds, coral honeysuckle is a good plant to add to your landscape. It is always in full bloom in mid-April when the first hummers arrive.

Buncombe County Special Olympics Spring Games open on April 21.

Celebrate the end of the winter doldrums by laughing your head off.

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

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

Congratulations to Cooperative Extension for submitting their Boston Cream Parfait recipe!

Join us for Scam Jam 2009! Scam Jams are programs designed to inform you about frauds and scams being conducted in your community. You’ll learn what to look and listen for, as well as who to contact with a complaint. This program will be held:

April 29th
Arden Woods
103 Appalachian Boulevard
Asheville, NC 28704
8:30 am – 12:30 pm

Registration is required due to limited seating. Arden Woods will be offering a light complimentary lunch. Contact Christina Giles (christina@landofsky.org) at 828-251-6622 or 1-800-727-0557 to register. The deadline for registration is Monday, April 27th.

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Can you remember the day you first learned to ride a bike? How about the first time you took your bike out on the road? It can be a scary event for adults to ride on the road, let alone a kid. Come out on April 18 to Healthy Kids Day at UNC-A and stop by the Bicycle Rodeo. Volunteers from the community will be helping youths of all ages with bicycle skill building and safety. The Rodeo will last from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. If you don’t have your bicycle, we will have one to use.

With all the wonderful places in our community accessible by bicycles, it is important that we teach our children how to ride safely and to feel more confident on the road. It also can ease your mind as a parent, to know that your child has been shown the safest ways to ride as well as the safe way to wear helmets and care for their bikes. Bicycling is an activity that they can keep with them for a lifetime.

If you can’t make it out on April 18, look for other dates in the community. We will be at Vance Elementary in West Asheville on May 9. For more information about the rodeos or to find out how to volunteer, visit Healthy Buncombe News.

Canning season is just around the corner and it’s time to get prepared. Check equipment to make sure it is ready for use. Buy new lids to replace the lids used last year. Call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension (255-5522) to set up an appointment to check your pressure gauge.

To learn more about canning or just to brush up on the newest information on food preservation, come to the Canning and Preserving Made Easy program on April 23 from 6pm to 9:30 p.m. This program will be an introduction to canning, pickling, making jams and jellies, freezing, drying and storage.

Pre-registration is required and a fee of $10 will cover costs for materials ($15 for couples). Call 255-5522 to register or for more information.

Donate Plastic Easter Eggs To Help Kitties

Now that the Easter holiday has come and gone, what are you gonna do with all those plastic Easter eggs? Collect them, bag 'em up and bring 'em to the Asheville Humane Society shelter!

Asheville Humane needs those plastic Easter eggs - yes, the ones that end up rolling under your couch or stuffed in between seat cushions after you've gobbled down the candy. We take half an egg, fill it with yummy food and place it in the cats' cages as part of our shelter enrichment program.

Please donate your plastic Easter eggs today at our shelter located at 72 Lee's Creek Road! For more information, call 253-6807.

Wednesday, April 15 -- 6pm
Swannanoa Library
101 West Charleston Street
250-6486

Join “The Wild Gardener,” Peter Loewer, for a program on local, native plants. This program is free and presented by the Friends of the Swannanoa Library.