Buncombe County eGov Weekly eZine - Vol. 8 Issue 21May 21 - 28, 2012

BC Pools Open Memorial Day Weekend!

Buncombe County Pools will open to the public beginning on Memorial Day Weekend. The pools will be open for the season when schools are out for summer break and will remain open daily until school begins in August.

Pool hours:

• Monday – Friday (Noon – 5:45 p.m.)
• Saturday (11 a.m. – 6:45 p.m.)
• Sunday (1 – 6:45 p.m.)

The cost to swim is $3 per person. Discount passes are available at all pools.

• 10 visits for $25
• 25 visits for $40

Pool Contact Information:

Cane Creek – Fletcher (828) 628-4494
Erwin – Asheville (828) 251-4992
Hominy Valley – Candler (828) 667-9937
North Buncombe – Weaverville (828) 645-1080
Owen – Swannanoa (828) 686-1629

Sponsored by Buncombe County Parks, Greenways and Recreation Services.

Memorial Day Ceremony - May 28

Buncombe County, in conjunction with the City of Asheville Mayor’s Committee on Veterans Affairs, will host the annual Asheville-Buncombe Memorial Day ceremony on the Roger McGuire Green of Pack Square Park at 3 p.m. on May 28, 2012.

Fly Your Flag for Memorial Day - May 28

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day is Monday, May 28.  Here are some pointers on how to fly your flag properly.

Important Do’s

• It is the universal custom to display the national flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. The U.S. flag may be displayed at night upon special occasions when it is desired to produce a patriotic effect.
• The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed.
• Display the U.S. flag on all days that weather permits but especially on national and state holidays and other days that may be proclaimed by the President of the United States. On Memorial Day, the U.S. flag should be half-staffed until noon.
• The U.S. flag should be displayed on or near the main building of every public institution during school days in or near every schoolhouse and in or near every polling place on election days.
• Always hoist the U.S. flag briskly. Lower it ceremoniously.

Important Don’ts

• Never in any way should any disrespect be shown the U.S. flag.
• The U.S. flag should never be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags and organization or institutional flags are dipped as a mark of honor.
• The U.S. flag should never be displayed with the union down except as a signal of dire distress.
• The U.S. flag should never touch anything beneath it – ground, floor, water or merchandise.
• The U.S. flag should never be carried horizontally, but always aloft and free.
• Always allow the U.S. flag to fall free – never use the U.S. flag as drapery, festooned, drawn back, or up in folds. For draping platforms and decoration in general, use blue, white and red bunting. Always arrange the bunting with the blue above, the white in the middle and the red below.
• The U.S. flag should never be fastened, displayed, used or stored in a manner which will permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged in any way. Never use the U.S. flag as a covering or drape for a ceiling.
• Never place anything on the U.S. flag. The U.S. flag should never have placed upon it, or on any part of it, or attached to it, any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture or drawing of any nature.
• Never use the U.S. flag for receiving, holding, carrying or delivering anything. The U.S. flag should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions, handkerchiefs, and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard; or used as any portion of a costume or athletic uniform. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

Strive Not To Drive Week May 21 - 25

Strive Not To Drive Week (May 21-25) takes place in Buncombe County annually. The event is designed to promote active and sustainable transportation in Asheville and Buncombe County. During this week, the community is encouraged to walk, bike, or take a local transit line such as ART or one of the Mountain Mobility Trailblazers.

Mountain Mobility is offering a "take one ride, get one free" on the Trailblazers (regular fare is 50 cents per ride). Passengers can board the bus and receive a free ticket that entitles them to take their next ride for free! Trailblazer tickets can be redeemed on any Buncombe County Trailblazer through June 30. Limit one free ticket/day.

For more information on Mountain Mobility Trailblazer Routes, call 250-6750, Ext. 5.

For more information on Strive Not to Drive events, visit strivenottodrive.com.

Fight Summer Bites!

As weather gets warmer, many people take their activities outdoors to enjoy the beauty of Western North Carolina. Health risks from biting bugs make that harder to enjoy. A few easy steps can protect us from disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks:

Guarding against Mosquito Bites

The best thing to do is stop the mosquito cycle before they can lay eggs. Eliminate any standing water around your home. Even very small amounts of standing water can be a breeding ground. If you have tires, flowerpots, pet bowls, toys, bird baths, tarps, containers, etc., make sure water doesn't sit in them longer than three days.

Once mosquitoes are already buzzing around, avoid bites to reduce your risk. Install or repair window and door screens to keep them from coming into your home. Mosquitoes are most active during the early morning or evening hours. If you plan to be outdoors, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. And don’t forget the mosquito repellent. Those that contain DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus are effective in fighting off bites.

Mosquito Diseases:

La Cross Encephalitis is the most commonly diagnosed mosquito disease in North Carolina. In fact, 75% of cases reported in North Carolina during the past decade were from people living right here in Western North Carolina! They also carry West Nile virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, body aches; skin rash and swollen lymph glands – although many people infected have no symptoms at all.

Protection from Tick Bites

Ticks are around all year long, but are more active in warm, summer months. Avoiding ticks can be tricky since they are very small and often hard to spot in wooded areas and fields, which are places they are typically found. Follow some easy guidelines to prevent bites:

• When possible, avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• If those areas cannot be avoided, wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and socks. Tuck your shirt in, pull your socks over your pants, and walk in open areas, away from brush.
• Use an insect repellent that contains DEET.

Finally, check yourself and children at least twice a day. The sooner you find a tick on you, the less chance it will have to bite. Check for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair.

When you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible. Pull slowly and steadily until the tick releases. Do not twist or jerk the tick. Wash the bite and your hands with rubbing alcohol, or soap and water once the tick has been disposed of.

Tick Diseases:

Ticks carry many different diseases including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the most common tick borne disease reported in North Carolina. It can be a severe or even life threatening illness if not treated in the first few days of symptoms. Common symptoms from a tick bite include fever, chills, headache, body aches, pains in the joints or muscles, and a red rash.

If you have questions or concerns about mosquitoes or ticks, contact the Environmental Health Division at Buncombe County Department of Health at 250-5016.

3 New Reasons to Worry About Toxic BPA (and 6 Ways to Avoid It)

You know bisphenol A (BPA) is nasty stuff. Unfortunately, the bad news about this toxin just keeps on coming. A pair of just-released studies links BPA with heart disease, obesity, and diabetes risk.

BPA is an organic compound that's in used plastics, such as water bottles, the lining of canned goods, and thermal receipts. Problem is, BPA mimics estrogen in your body and is thought to disrupt hormone function. BPA is linked to a host of potential health problems, from fertility trouble to developmental delays in kids to cancer. Learn more about the link between breast cancer, BPA, and other toxins.

More Bad News on BPA

A new study from Britain links high urinary concentrations of BPA in healthy men and women to a higher risk of heart disease 10 years later. In another new study, Chinese researchers linked high concentrations of BPA to obesity – especially belly fat – and insulin resistance (a forerunner of diabetes) in middle-aged and elderly people. American researchers have found a similar connection between BPA and type 2 diabetes. Lower your risk of diabetes with these 9 simple steps.

With that kind of news, you certainly don't want a side order of BPA every time you eat or drink. Simple changes can limit your exposure to BPA and other toxins:

• Opt for fresh food. One study found that a diet of organic fresh food can reduce urinary levels of BPA and DEHP (a type of phthalate chemical that's also a hormone disruptor) by more than 50% in just 3 days. Check out EatingWell's list of 12 foods you should buy organic.
• Look for BPA-free containers. When you do buy packaged foods, choose those in glass jars, aseptic packaging, and BPA-free cans.
• Store food in glass, ceramic, or stainless-steel containers. You can find BPA-free plastic containers, but some researchers have found traces of BPA in those, too.
• Shop for dry goods at the bulk bins. Pick up flour, rice, beans, dried fruit, cereal, and pasta at the bulk bins at health-food stores. Sure, you'll put bulk-bin finds into plastic bags, but you can transfer them to BPA-free containers as soon as you get home. Whip up a batch of Easy, Whole-Grain Crepes from EatingWell.
• Avoid microwaving food in plastic containers. The heat causes BPA and other chemicals to leach into food. Similarly, don't put plastic containers (if you have 'em) in the dishwasher.
• Don't handle thermal receipts. These are those carbonless receipts you collect everywhere you go, from the grocery store to the gas station to the ATM. Yep, they have BPA. Refuse receipts if you have the option. If you don't, wash your hands after handling them. BPA in thermal receipts can be absorbed through your skin, as well as ingested with food.

Source: RealAge.com

Scammers Claim to Work for the Government

North Carolinians are getting calls from people who claim to be government agents, using threats of legal action or arrest to try to get them to pay money. The “Caller ID” information on your telephone may even appear to confirm their claim, and the caller may even give the correct address or department for a real state agency. These scammers work for themselves, not the government.

In some cases, the callers contact consumers who have fallen behind on a payday loan they took out via the Internet. In other instances, the caller tells the consumer they’ve been caught committing financial fraud. In either case, the caller claims to represent a state agency and threatens that legal papers will be served on the consumer or that they will be arrested within hours if they don’t make a payment. The caller urges the consumer to send the payment by wire service or by purchasing a prepaid debit card and providing the account number.

These scammers are not really from the government. They typically have heavy foreign accents and may work jointly with payday loan websites based in India.

Be very skeptical if someone calls you threatening legal action by the state and demands that you wire money or send money via a prepaid debit card right away. The best way to deal with this or any other high-pressure tactic: simply hang up the phone.

If you spot a scam, report it to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or filing a complaint online at www.ncdoj.gov.

This message brought to you on behalf of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.

Could You Act FAST?

Ever think "That could never happen to me?"  So did Teri, until it did.  Take a few minutes and listen as Teri Giordano, Buncombe County Paramedic, tells her story...

Remember, if you think you or someone you know is having a stroke, act FAST. Remember this acronym and check for these stroke signs:

Face = droopy or uneven smile

Arm = arm numbness or weakness

Speech = slurred speech, difficulty speaking or understanding

Time = CALL 911 immediately go to the nearest certified stroke center

To learn more about stroke, check out stroke.org.  

Ride ART for Free for Three Weeks

To help kick off the new system, fares are free for all riders for the first three weeks = May 21 - June 8

Monday, May 21 marks the opening of a new chapter for Asheville’s public transportation: Asheville Redefines Transit (ART) is the implementation of the first phase of the city’s Transit Master Plan. The reconfiguring of the City of Asheville transit system into 16 new routes provides increased service along major corridors, consolidated day and evening schedules and streamlined routes that improve on-time performance. To help kick off the new system, fares are free for all riders for the first three weeks.

“A lot of work and public interaction went into making this a reality,” said Mariate Echeverry, the City’s transportation planning manager. “Now that we are here, we are making sure that customers have the information they need to get the best results from this transition.”

The City of Asheville has provided several ways to access information about the ART system. Maps, timetables and an FAQ page are available online at ridetheart.com, including a Google Maps trip planner that will chart your route. Physical maps are available at the ART Station (formerly the Transit Center) at 49 Coxe Avenue.

Volunteers will be on hand throughout the week of May 21 -26 to assist riders in becoming familiar with the new routes and bus drivers are equipped with handouts that explain how to get information about the changes.

The transit feature of Google Maps allows riders to enter their starting point and destination, then displays the best route, including any required transfers, where and when to catch the bus, and even the distance to the closest stop. Google Maps also supports over 40 languages, is compatible with screen readers for the visually impaired, and compares the cost of bus fares to the amount of money it would cost to drive the same distance.

“This is pretty detailed information,” said Yuri Koslen, Transit Projects Coordinator for the City of Asheville. “Riders will have a comprehensive picture of the service ART provides and how they can best utilize it.”

Users can plan a trip at ridetheart.com or by visiting maps.google.com on their desktop or mobile phone’s browser. Google Maps is offered free to users and comes at no operational costs for the City of Asheville.

For more information about Asheville Transit, contact 253-5691, e-mail iride@ashevillenc.gov or visit  ashevillenc.gov/transit or ridetheart.com.

Live in Oakley? Want Local Food?

Come join the neighborhood and support the 2012 Oakley Farmers Market - 607 Fairview Road & Merchant Street in the parking lot behind Oakley United Methodist Church. The market will be held on Thursdays from 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., May 24 thru October 25.

Here's your chance to buy local organic fruits & veggies, breads, cheeses, eggs, meats, crafts, wools, sweets, and more!

For more information including a vendor list, visit www.oakleyfarmersmarket.com or see attached.

Spotlight: Kousa Dogwood

The last couple of springs, the Kousa dogwoods have really put on a show. Perhaps the trees planted in the landscape in the last decade have gotten large enough for folks to really take notice.

Kousa dogwood, Cornus kousa, also called Asian dogwood, blooms 3 to 4 weeks later than our native flowering dogwood, after the leaves have emerged. The flower size and shape is similar except that the white bracts are pointed rather than heart shaped. There are quite a few varieties of Cornus kousa available, including a few pink forms.

In the fall, most varieties will produce red fruit, rather like a one inch raspberry, that has a very decorative effect. Fruit is edible, though I would not call it tasty. The leaves of some varieties turn red in the fall.

Kousa dogwood is considered a small to medium sized tree, quite similar in size and form to the native dogwood. As the tree ages, the bark begins to exfoliate, developing multi-colored brown and tan patches. This appealing bark combines with the horizontal branch structure to give good winter interest. The tree will bloom best with plenty of sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Try to give it well drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.

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

Recipe of the Week - Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Barbecue

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

• 6 frozen skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
• 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the barbecue sauce, Italian salad dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
2. Cover, and cook 3 to 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.
   Nutrition Information per serving:

Calories: 300
Total Fat: 8.1g
Cholesterol: 61mg
Sodium: 1058mg
Total Carbs: 32.4g
Dietary Fiber: 0.3g
Protein: 23g

Did You Know?

BC Offices to Close for Memorial Day

Buncombe County Government offices and libraries will be closed on Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day.

Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Day at the BC Landfill will be cancelled on Friday, May 25.

The Landfill and Transfer Station will be open regular hours on Friday, May 25 and Monday, May 28.

Safe Boating Week - May 19-25

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is joining with the National Safe Boating Council to promote National Safe Boating Week and the importance of wearing a life vest. Gov. Beverly Perdue has proclaimed May 19-25 as “Safe Boating Week in North Carolina.”

Both state and federal regulations require that a Type I, II or III personal flotation device in good condition and of appropriate size be accessible for each person onboard a recreational vessel, including canoes, kayaks, rowboats and other non-motorized craft. Sailboards and, when in competition, racing shells, rowing sculls, racing canoes and racing kayaks are exempt from this requirement. Read more...

• Life Vest Safety Brochure

The Garden Hotline is Open

The Extension Master Gardener Hotline is open for the season. Volunteers are available to answer your gardening questions on the phone, or you may bring problem samples into the our office for diagnosis.

Call 255-5522 or visit 94 Coxe Avenue in Asheville. Phone and office hours are:

• Monday -Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Patrol Cars Run on Propane

Did you know that the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office has patrol cars that run on propane?

Watch this and find out more.

Classes Provide Simple Solutions For Eating Smart and Moving More

Come join our classes and learn how to save money at the grocery store, prepare quick and easy meals, keep food safe and become more physically active. Classes will be held on Thursdays from May 24 - June 21 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Buncombe County Cooperative Extension, 94 Coxe Avenue.

Each participant who attends will receive skill builders which include a cutting board, useful kitchen tools, a grocery list pad and a physical activity DVD.

Complete the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) series of 5 classes and receive a Certificate of Completion and a EFNEP Cookbook.

For more information, contact Margaret Ruff at 828-255-5522 or margaret_ruff@ncsu.edu.

Answer to this week's Trivia Question:

Question: What was the Green Hornet's theme?

Answer:

The theme played at the beginning of the "Green Hornet" series was the "Flight of the Bumble Bee" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Source: ArcaMax.com