Live Life. Love Life. Buncombe Life. April 11!

Where do my tax dollars go? Who do I call about a junk car? Find the answers to these tantalizing questions and more in Buncombe Life - available in the Asheville Citizen-Times on April 11.

Why Drinking Water Really is the Key to Weight Loss

If you eat right and exercise at the intensity, frequency and duration proper for you, but still can't get rid of a little paunch here and there, you're probably just not drinking enough water.

How to Navigate the Justice System

Do you understand the court system in Buncombe County? Ever wondered how it works? Here's your chance to learn for free.

Enka-Candler Library Book Sale

Get a great bargain and support the Friends of the Library at the same time!

Wood Products Workshop for Home Owners & Builders

This hands-on workshop targets homebuilders, designers, architects, and homeowners to discuss the typical wood products needed for a home's exterior and interior.

Harper Lee's Birthday at Pack Library

Celebrate Harper Lee's birthday with us by watching "To Kill A Mockingbird", and listening to a reading by Atticus Finch.

Pet Picture of the Week

Congratulations to Terry Peek of Woodfin for the pictures of his cats Tory and Katie.

Recipe of the Week - Perfectly Pecan Pie

Congratulations to Raymond Cormier of Arden for his Perfectly Pecan Pie recipe!

You've heard of ditching salt to help lower your blood pressure. But what about bumping up your tomato intake?

Seems it may be a cherry tomato of an idea. People with hypertension who consumed tomato extract daily for 8 weeks experienced a 10-point drop in systolic blood pressure and a 4-point drop in diastolic pressure. The reason?

Researchers credit the lycopene in tomato extract for the potential blood-pressure-lowering effects experienced by participants in a recent study, but further research is needed to confirm the findings. And it's not clear how eating whole tomatoes would compare to taking tomato extract. In the study, people took 250 milligrams of commercial tomato extract daily -- containing about 15 milligrams of lycopene. That would be equivalent to the lycopene in about 3 or 4 tablespoons of tomato paste. Wouldn't be a difficult amount to add to your daily diet.

Regardless of the blood pressure benefits, we already know that lycopene has anticancer and heart-protective effects.

Not a fan of tomatoes? You have other options for getting your lycopene fix, including watermelon, red grapefruit, and canned baked beans. Find more lycopene sources with this tool.

Lycopene is just one trendy new way to possibly clamp down on high blood pressure. Here are the tried and true diet rules for hitting blood pressure below the belt.

Source:  Realage.com

Celebrate National Library Week!

Come together with your librarian this week to get trained professional assistance to help you find what you’re looking for.

Whether you’re looking to connect with a new job or a DVD for family movie night, your library has what you need and the librarians on staff to help you find it. Come together with the information you need @ your library.

Buncombe County Public Libraries

Tuesday, April 17 - 7pm
Fairview Library
1 Taylor Road
628-5837

Certified Master Gardener Gail Banner will present a program on container gardening at the Fairview Library on Tuesday, April 17 at 7pm. The program is free and the public is invited.

The Asheville Humane Society in conjunction with Environmental Health is offering a low-cost rabies shot clinic - just five dollars per pet.

Pets will be given a 1-Year rabies vaccination certificate unless the owner brings signed paperwork proving that a rabies vaccination was given within 15 months prior to your appointment. If so, your pet will be given a 3-Year rabies certificate.

The next clinic is:

• April 14 -- 8am - 12pm at 72 Lee's Creek Road, Asheville 28806, by appointment (call 236-3885).

It will save time if you print out and complete our Vaccination Service Request form prior to arriving at the clinic.