What's Happening In Buncombe

Again this year, County employees will be collecting items for our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of around the world that will be sent to them for Christmas. We would like to invite you to join us and make it “Christmas in September.”

The County’s one-stop permitting center is now open. The center locates all permits and inspections under one roof with one-stop for citizens.

Sheriff Van Duncan is pleased to announce the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office 2nd Annual Sheriff’s Citizens' Academy starting October 14, 2008.

As thermometers drop and energy prices climb, local residents can learn no-cost and low-cost ways to save on energy bills by attending a free workshop on October 7.

The Buncombe County Transfer Station will be closed September 25 - 29 due to repairs.

You have a lot to consider when selecting a new water heater for your home. You should choose a water heating system that will not only provide enough hot water but also that will do so energy efficiently, saving you money.

By doing a little homework you can make your lunches go straight to the head of the class.

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

Just when much of the perennial garden has begun to fade, Japanese anemones will start to fill the garden with colorful blossoms.

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 Will Israel of Asheville for his Hot Fudge Pudding Cake recipe!

Many times, people hear that they can order the kids' meal at fast food restaurants to save calories. While it is true that the portions in kids' meals are more in line with what portions sizes should be, often kids' meals are still very high in calories and fat.

For example, a Happy Meal at McDonald's consisting of a cheeseburger, small fries and a low-fat chocolate milk totals 700 calories and 26 grams of fat. A Mighty-Kid's Meal which has a double cheeseburger, small fries and a low-fat chocolate milk tips the scales at 840 calories and 37 grams of fat. A Burger King kid's meal with a four-piece chicken nuggets, small fries and low-fat chocolate milk is 600 calories and 26.5 grams of fat.

An easy way to reduce the calories and fat in kids' meals is to forgo the fries. If there is an option for fruit or a small salad, choose that instead. Otherwise, either ask for the restaurant to hold the fries or don't eat them. 100% fruit juice is lower in calories than the chocolate milk. Water is an even better choice.

• McDonald's nutrition information.
• Burger King nutrition information.

Find out the answers to the following voter registration questions in the Registering to Vote Section of the website:

• Am I already registered in NC to vote?
• Who can or who needs to register to vote?
• What are the voter identification requirements?
• How do I and where can I register to vote?
• How do I change my voter registration?
• What are the deadlines to register to vote?
• When will I get my voter registration card?

For more information you can call the Board of Elections at 250-4200 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Find out at the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's website:

Toy Hazard Recalls

Need to know how much mulch, topsoil or pine straw you need to cover a given area? A few rules of thumb: 1 cubic yard of mulch will cover 100 square feet to a depth of 3 inches. That's enough to fill the bed of a midsize truck. Bagged, you'd need 13 of the 2-cubic-foot bags or nine 3-cubic-foot bags.

One cubic yard of topsoil will add a 2-inch layer over an area of 100 square feet. A bale of pine straw is enough to cover about 35 square feet. For a handy online calculator, visit www.gardenplace.com/content/calculator/mulch_calc.html.

Source: Carolina Country, published by NC Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc.