Canvassing Officials in Neighborhoods This Week

Beginning April 6, 2009, employees of the US Census will begin canvassing Buncombe County neighborhoods to get address information.

Whatever your reason for taking a trip, it is important to be proactive, prepared, and protected when it comes to your health.

If you have information on the recent home invasion in Alexander, please read this and contact Crimestoppers.

Businesses cautioned to watch out for the hand washing poster scam.

Taxes are complicated. Do you need help? Tax Assistance begins the first week of February and will go right up to April 15th.

Get out and get moving -- it's time for those April garden chores!

Beginning April 12, The Asheville Humane Society will be open late on Wednesdays & closed on Sundays in order to accommodate people who would like to reclaim a lost pet or adopt an animal during the work week.

Walking is a great way to get exercise. It doesn’t require any extra equipment or commitment other than the appropriate clothing and finding the right time and place to walk.

Please consider giving a home to one of these wonderful pets! The shelter is okay, but I would love to have a home of my own!

Congratulations to Angela Helms of Haw Creek for her Shrimp Corn Chowder recipe!

Easter Closings:

• Buncombe County Government Offices  -- Friday, April 10
• All Buncombe County Public Libraries -- Friday, April 10 - Sunday, April 12.

Springtime weather in April is an invitation to start planting. But remember that most of our vegetable and flower plants are sensitive to frost. The “average” last frost date for most of Buncombe County is April 25. But it can vary by a couple of weeks around Buncombe County, and the “average” still means there is a 50% chance of frost.

The “safe planting date” would be when there is only about a 10% chance of frost. For most of the county the safe date does not arrive until the second week in May.

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

Through the summer, Extension Master Gardener volunteers will be available to look at plant problems and answer gardening questions the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. The Master Gardener Plant Clinics will be set up at the Western North Carolina Farmers’ Market, in the breezeway between the retail buildings from 11am until 2pm. Stop by for a visit.

Of course, you are always welcome to visit the Master Gardener Office at the Extension Center at 94 Coxe Avenue in Asheville. You may also call them on the Garden Hotline (255-5522), Monday - Thursday, 8:30am - 4:30pm and Friday, 8:30am -12:30pm.

The April dates for the Plant Problem Clinics are:

• April 11 from 11am to 2pm
• April 25 11am to 2pm

Wondering about the little numbers on your milk container? They identify what the container is made of — and what it will be in its next life.

• 1 PET (polyethylene terephthalate): Soda bottles; recycled into pillow fill.
• 2 HDPE (high-density polyethylene): Plastic milk bottles, detergent bottles; recycled into new detergent bottles.
• 3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride): Take-out boxes, shampoo; recycled into drainage and irrigation pipes.
• 4 LDPE (low-density polyethylene): Grocery bags, shrink wrap; recycled into new bags.
• 5 PP (polypropylene): Yogurt containers, bottle caps; recycled into plastic lumber.
• 6 PS (polystyrene): Packing peanuts; recycled into plastic lumber, cassette-tape boxes.
• 7 Other: Includes squeezable ketchup bottles and microwavable dishes; these items can’t be recycled.

Source: www.realsimple.com