Early Voting Runs April 17 - May 3

Voting is important! Did you know that there are three ways to vote early?

Fill out this survey to help us determine whether there is adequate demand for locally produced milk to merit local packaging options.

The local tailgate market season is gearing up to begin and early season offerings typically include a variety of greens.

If you're a photographer, or someone who just likes to snap photos with a little digital camera, the Day in the Life of Asheville project wants you.

We can probably all find an opportunity to change the way we travel, even if it’s only once in a while. It only takes a small change to begin making a difference.

Here are 10 easy ways to make it a better Earth Day (April 22) and a better year for the Earth.

Do you know someone who plans on attending AB Tech in the Fall and needs some help? Scholarships are available.

Now is a great time to think about grasscycling your lawn clippings this year. These grass clippings can provide your lawn with moisture, as well as nitrogen, which is a food that your lawn needs.

Or maybe it’s under your kitchen sink or on a garage shelf or hiding in the basement?

This week we are featuring some animals available for adoption from FurEver Friends. Please consider making one of these animals your "FurEver" friend by giving it a loving home.

Congratulations to Joseph Dawson of Asheville for his Spinach Rice Pilaf recipe!

Here's a way to keep up with your favorite TV show and get healthy at the same time: Sit on an exercise ball while you watch the tube.

Research shows that lounging for long periods of time may actually switch off back muscles, setting people up for low-back pain down the road. But sitting on an exercise ball engages those muscles. Try it!

Muscle Meltdown

Couch potatoes beware: Prolonged sagging and slumping may be almost as bad for your back muscles as an injury. When muscles aren't used, they can actually waste away in much the same way as they do after a back pull or sprain. So make TV time toning time by plopping your butt on a ball. Bonus: It will help you stay awake, so you won't snooze through the cliffhanger ending.

Source: RealAge.com

If spring cleaning is also bringing with it spring painting of the interior walls, there are some points to remember.

• Flat paint is the best cover up for those uneven wall surfaces and bad drywall joints. However it is also difficult to remove dirt and stains from flat paint so the choice for its use is better suited in areas with less traffic.
• Satin paint will accentuate unevenness in wall surfaces and bad drywall joints. It has better resistance to dirt and stains so will be easier to clean than flat paint. Since satin paints reflect light they can brighten hallways and smaller rooms.
• Semi gloss and gloss have excellent resistance to dirt and stains so are often used for interior doors, trim, windows, etc. They are good for the areas that receive regular traffic and require washing. They can be used in some kitchens and baths.

When all is said and done, the paint color and the sheen that is used is all a matter of personal choice that only you can make. There is no right or wrong choice.

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

Researchers at NC State University have developed a new insect repellent that should be available in stores this year. In 2007 the US EPA approved BioUD™ as a safe active ingredient in insect repellent for direct skin application, with no child restrictions.

BioUD™ sold under the name BiteBlocker, is a naturally occurring compound found in wild tomato plants. Research demonstrated that the product was at least as effective as DEET in repelling a variety of insects. It was found to be 100% effective in repelling mosquitoes for up to three hours and 99% repellent after 4.5 hours. It also worked as well as DEET in repelling ticks.

Questions? Call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

One Stop voting for the 2008 Primary begins April 17 and runs through May 3. Find the location nearest you:

Locations

Questions? Call the Board of Elections at 250-4200.

Email Attack:

Watch out for an attack in the form of an email message with the subject line "Evacuation process has been started due to radiation leaks at San Clemente Nucklear Power Station." The message body states that the information is from a trusted news source and encourages users to follow a link to view a video. This link may direct users to a website hosting malicious code.

PayPal Phishing Attack: 

There is also a phishing attack going around that targets PayPal users. The attack arrives via an unsolicited email message containing an HTML attachment. The message indicates that the attachment is a verification form intended to offer the user protection from fraudulent activity. Users who open the attachment are instructed to enter their email address and PayPal password. This information is then sent to an attacker.

For more information, visit the US-CERT website.