Do You Recycle Your Fluorescent Light Bulbs?

When one of your new energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs goes out, what do you do with it? If you trash it, read on.

Have You Heard About the New "Forever" Stamps?

If it could ring, it would resonate freedom and independence from using one or two-cent stamps to mail letters when stamp prices change in the future.

Celebrate Foster Care Month

Come to the 11th Annual Child Watch Tour "I am watching and I matter: a child's journey to permanence," on Friday, May 18 to celebrate Foster Care Month.

"The Gruffalo" Presented by the Penguin Players

During the week of May 21st, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library will be doing a series of free children's programs at Buncombe County Public Libraries.

Landscape Disease & Insect Identification Workshop Series

Cooperative Extension will be holding four classes this season on landscape disease & insect identification.

Washington DC/Virginia Garden Tour

Among the stops include National Arboretum, US Botanical Gardens, Museums on the Mall, and Lewis Ginter Arboretum.

Elliot Engel Presents DaVinci Before the Code

Popular lecturer Dr. Elliot Engel reveals DaVinci’s fascinating and moving life -- from his superhuman triumphs to his all too human tragedies.

Pet Picture of the Week

Congratulations to Mark Flowers of Alexander for the picture of his dogs, Gunther and Beans.

Recipe of the Week - Oven Baked Ravioli

Congratulations to Richard Walker of Asheville for his Oven Baked Ravioli recipe!

Did you know the obesity epidemic is also affecting our pets? Around 40% of U.S. dogs are overweight. And, as you can imagine, it’s for the same reason we see it happening with their owners…eating more and exercising less. Having an exercise partner has long been shown to help folks stay on track. A recent study paired pets and owners for a year-long weight-loss program. Pet owners found that walking or running with their dogs made exercise more enjoyable. They also found that seeing their dogs trim-down helped motivate them to stick with their weight loss program.

So if you need an exercise partner, consider getting a dog. If you are not ready for dog-ownership, do what one of my neighbor’s does, she borrows a dog. Busy or elderly neighbors may appreciate having someone exercise their pet. The Asheville Humane Society also welcomes volunteers to exercise rescued dogs. For more information, contact the volunteer coordinator at 236-3885 ext 307.

Source: Eating Well, March/April 2007

Pools Open:

Weekends — beginning May 26th
Open Weekdays & Weekends — beginning June 6th

• Admission: $3 per visit
• Passes: 10 visits for $20 or 25 visits for $40

Contact info:

• Cane Creek -- 628-4494
• Erwin -- 251-4992
• Owen -- 686-1629
• Hominy Valley -- 667-9937
• North Buncombe -- 645-1080

Call Pool or 684-5072 for hours and additional information.

If the summer turns dry, you may be glad to have a rain barrel or two to save up some of the free water for your gardens. You can find rain barrels sold at some local garden centers and hardware stores, or find them through online sources. You might also consider making your own.

A rain barrel can be made from recycled food grade plastic barrels, large trash containers or whiskey barrels. Besides the barrel, you will need a lid to keep out mosquitoes and other things, an overflow spout, and a spigot or hose connection. Some sources for instruction include:

http://www.unctv.org/gardener/rainbarrel.html
http://sarasota.extension.ufl.edu/Hort/Pubs/Rainbarrel.htm  
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/ed/rainbarrel.html

Is the air safe? You can check it daily at www.airnow.gov. 

While air quality is getting better, there are still days in many of our cities when pollution reaches unhealthy levels. Using air quality forecasts is an effective way to help you plan your day to limit your exposure to air pollution. Some of the tools available are:

AirCompare – A new tool that uses the AQI to explain air quality from a health perspective. A person with asthma, for example, can use AirCompare to find out how many days the air was unhealthy for asthmatics in a specific county last year. Or someone planning a trip can find out the best time of year to visit a particular area, based on concerns about asthma, heart disease, outdoor activity, or general interest.

EnviroFlash – Allows you to sign up for daily air quality information such as forecasts or action day notifications delivered right to your email or cell phone.

AIRNow – You can always access these resources and local air quality conditions on EPA’s recently enhanced AIRNow website at www.airnow.gov.

Come learn more about the County Farmland Preservation Program, Agricultural Use Property Taxes, Conservation Easements and the latest momentum for farmland preservation in North Carolina. The meeting will give everyone an opportunity to learn more about farmland preservation and conservation.

• Monday, May, 14
• 7 pm - doors open at 6:30 p.m.
• Big Ivy Community Center

For more information, contact William Hamilton at 253-0095 ext. 204.