Buncombe County eGov Weekly eZine - Volume: 6 Issue: 4

January 25, 2010 - May 20, 2013

Free Tax Assistance Through April 15

Do you have questions about your taxes? Would you like assistance in completing your income tax forms?

The AARP Tax-Aide Program, in cooperation with the IRS, N.C. Dept. of Revenue, the Buncombe County Council on Aging and Buncombe County Public Libraries will again offer free tax preparation for low- and middle-income taxpayers, as well as older adults (age 60+), from February 1 through April 15, 2010. Electronic filing (E-file) is available for safe and accurate preparation and fast refunds. The locations and times for tax assistance are:

Tax Assistance Sites

Taxpayers should bring the following documents:

• Social Security cards and Identifications for taxpayers and all dependents.
• Last year’s (2008) tax return. 
• W-2 forms from each employer. 
• 1099 for Social Security, Pension, Interest, Dividends, and Broker/ Mutual Fund and Miscellaneous Income.
• Detailed list for Medical Expenses, Charitable Contributions, Real Estate Taxes, Mortgage Interest, if claiming itemized deductions.
• Real Estate Tax invoice and invoice for a new car purchased after February 16, 2009, for special credit this year, even if not claiming itemized deductions.
• A blank check for direct deposit of any refund to your checking or savings account.

Limited homebound assistance is available for persons with disabilities; contact The Council on Aging at 277-8288 or email info@coabc.org; ‘homebound’ means no ability to travel to a tax aide site due to physical frailty.

Certain Zicam Cold Remedies Linked to Loss of Sense of Smell

FDA Advises Consumers Not To Use Certain Zicam Cold Remedies
Intranasal Zinc Product Linked to Loss of Sense of Smell

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to stop using three products marketed over-the-counter as cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell (anosmia). Anosmia may be long-lasting or permanent.

The products are:

• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs
• Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product)

The FDA has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of these three Zicam products. In these reports, many people who experienced a loss of smell said the condition occurred with the first dose; others reported a loss of the sense of smell after multiple uses of the products.

“Loss of sense of smell is a serious risk for people who use these products for relief from cold symptoms,” said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). “We are concerned that consumers may unknowingly use a product that could cause serious harm, and therefore we are advising them not to use these products for any reason.”

People who have experienced a loss of sense of smell or other problems after use of the affected Zicam products should contact their health care professional. The loss of sense of smell can adversely affect a person’s quality of life, and can limit the ability to detect the smell of gas or smoke or other signs of danger in the environment.

The FDA has issued Matrixx Initiatives, maker of these Zicam products, a warning letter telling it that these products cannot be marketed without FDA approval.

“Companies have an obligation to the public to demonstrate to the FDA that their products are safe, particularly when there is evidence they may be causing serious adverse events, and they are marketed for minor, self-limiting conditions like the common cold,” said Deborah M. Autor, director of CDER’s Office of Compliance.

Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events (side effects) that may be related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online, by regular mail, fax or phone.

• Online
• Regular Mail: use FDA postage paid form 3500 and mail to MedWatch, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
• Fax: 800-FDA-0178
• Phone: 800-FDA-1088

More information

Source: www.fda.gov

Woodstoves: Tax Credits, Safety, Efficiency and More

Many people in Western North Carolina prefer to heat their home with wood. For some heating with wood is the most economical, environmentally sustainable, and responsible way to heat a home. The benefits are numerous: It is renewable, a local fuel source, good exercise, and is often cheaper.

However, heating with wood also has some serious risks: home fires; poor indoor and outdoor air quality; finding high quality wood for burning; and the added responsibility of maintaining a fire and woodstove. These risks can be avoided by using up-to-date equipment, maintaining it well, and using the best combustion practices. Better equipment and techniques also increase the heating efficiency of your wood, saving time, work, and money.

Heating efficiently with wood requires three things: a good stove; a good source of dry, seasoned, wood cut to the right size for your stove; and a dedication to making it work.

To learn more about a federal tax credit for purchasing a new, more efficient wood-burning stove, woodstove efficiency, how to keep your stove safe and clean, what kind of wood burns best and more, see pdf attached below.

Backyard Composting

It won’t be long before many western North Carolina gardeners will be ready to get out and start working up that garden soil. When you shove your shovel into the ground, are you faced with sticky red clay, rather than the nice loamy soil you envision? That situation can be remedied with the addition of plenty of organic material.

Compost is high on the list for improving garden soil. You can purchase a pickup truck load of compost at some of the local mulch yards, but most gardeners like to make their own. You need a place to put yard waste and kitchen scraps anyway.

The process of making compost is not difficult or mysterious. Mother Nature has been doing it since the beginning of time. But there are some basic requirements that will help the process to work well.

Plant material is decomposed naturally by an assortment of microorganisms - mostly fungi and bacteria. These living organisms have some of the same needs as the rest of us. They need oxygen, adequate water (but not too much), and a high energy food supply.

Compost can be made by simply piling yard waste in an out-of-the-way place, or in a compost bin. Gardeners have used all sorts of creative methods for building compost bins. The primary considerations are size and available materials. The most efficient size for a bin is about 4 feet by 4 feet. Construction materials can be almost anything that will allow air flow to allow for that needed oxygen supply.

"Serious" composters prefer a covered bin so the amount of moisture in the bin can be controlled. In an uncovered bin, good drainage under the pile and good air flow are especially important to prevent the pile from staying too wet during rainy weather.

Materials added to the compost bin generally fall into the categories of "high carbon" or "high nitrogen." Anything dry and brown is high in carbon. Fresh green materials such as grass clippings or kitchen scraps are high in nitrogen. The nitrogen is the energy food needed for the microorganisms to work most effectively. A pile of leaves will break down eventually, but it may take a long time. If the leaves are chopped and mixed with green materials, composting will be much faster.

Yard waste usually contains adequate amounts of the needed microorganisms, especially if you pull spent plants up and leave some soil attached to the roots. To assure a good supply, one can also add several shovels if topsoil or finished compost. Manures are also a good source of both nitrogen and microorganisms.

Aerating the compost pile is the only labor intensive step; and it is not essential. The pile can be “turned” by literally shoveling the pile to an adjacent spot, essentially turning it upside down. Or if the pile is not too large it can be aerated by fluffing with a garden fork or a special aerating tool. The purpose of aerating is to re-mix the materials and infuse a fresh supply of oxygen to get the microbes reenergized and working again.

To learn more about backyard composting, visit the Extension Master Gardeners’ demonstration site at the WNC Farmers’ Market. Later in the spring volunteers will be available at the site for some Saturday morning workshops. You may also call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

Don't Forget to Order Your Rain Barrel by March 22!

If you believe the long range weather forecasts, 2010 is not expected to be an unusually wet year. More gardeners are preparing for the inevitable dry spells by installing rain barrels. To facilitate this need Buncombe County Cooperative Extension has arranged a one day rain barrel sale. 

Cost:  $110
Pay by:  March 22, 2010 (Make checks payable to Rain Barrel USA)
Pick Up:  Saturday, March 27, 2010 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. 
Location: WNC Farmers Market

• 80 gallon barrel measures 37 inches high and 28 inches wide.
• Made of 20% recycled high density polypropylene.
• Heavy concave lid channels water flow into the barrel.
• The screened entry blocks leaves, debris and insects.
• Dark green color discourages algae growth.
• Two overflow ports to move water away from your home.
• It comes complete with fittings and installation instructions. 

To order your barrel, mail your payment or drop it by:

• NC Cooperative Extension
  94 Coxe Ave
  Asheville, NC 28801

Rain Barrel Order Form

The deadline to order a rain barrel is March 22, 2010. If you have questions, contact Extension Master Gardeners of Buncombe County at 828-255-5522.

Easily Create a Home Recycling Center

Learning the local regulations for what and how to recycle is a good way to prepare for recycling. (Find out where and what you can recycle in the recycling section of the Buncombe County website.) But where in your home are you going to find space for storing recyclable items? You don’t need an extravagant recycling center. Instead, follow these three steps to create a recycling center in your home.

Step 1: Locate Your Center

It’s easier to keep the recycling habit if you make recycling as convenient as possible. Locate your center so you can make recycling part of your daily routine. If possible, choose a spot in or near the kitchen (where most of the solid waste is generated). It’s good if this spot also is convenient for hauling away items for disposal – whether loading your car for a trip to the recycling center or carrying items to the street for curbside pickup.

If you live a long distance from a recycling center, you may want to create both short-term storage inside your home, and long-term storage in a garage or outdoor storage shed. Study your situation to find some space for your recycling center.

Use your imagination. A storage unit in the family room, a corner of the laundry room, or a closet could become a recycling center. You could locate your recycling center in the:

• Kitchen. Empty an existing cabinet or drawer before building something new. Slide-out storage provides convenient access.
• Hallway. The path between kitchen and garage is a convenient location if it’s wide enough to hold storage containers.
• Basement. Although it’s not as convenient as a main floor location, the basement may have more storage space available. You may be able to make a trash chute from kitchen to basement to make dumping easier, but you would need to sort items later. Handle glass separately to prevent breakage.
• Garage. It’s a convenient location to remind you to haul things to the recycling center, and is ideal for larger storage containers such as garbage cans, barrels, or boxes.

Step 2: Select Storage Containers

The number and size of storage containers you’ll need depends on the number of categories into which you must sort solid waste, and how often you’ll be making trips to the recycling center. Some recycling programs allow various wastes to be commingled; others require wastes to be sorted. Check local recycling requirements to decide how complicated a storage system you’re going to need (City of Asheville; Waste Pro; Buncombe County). If you’re in doubt about who to contact for local regulations, call Buncombe County Solid Waste at 250-5460.

Select containers to fit the size of your storage space, whether drawers, cupboards, shelves, or the floor. Decide how much you’re willing to lift. Large containers may be too heavy when full. Small ones may not hold enough to be useful.

Commercially available “recycling centers” can be expensive and may not adapt to your needs. In the true spirit of recycling, try to use existing containers, rather than buying or building new ones.

• Use paper bags on shelves, in deep drawers, or stand them on the floor. A standard grocery bag is just the right size to hold newspapers.
• Ask local stores for cardboard boxes. Line with old plastic bags to keep the cardboard dry.
• Obtain moving cartons (boxes or barrels used for moving household goods).
• Get fiberboard barrels from bakeries or milk-processing plants.
• Hang a laundry bag on a hook and fill it with soft drink cans or plastic milk jugs. The bag will be easy to carry when full.
• Use old plastic bags for collecting recyclables.
• Coffee cans are convenient for holding small, plastic lids.
• A piece of furniture, such as a buffet or window seat, could become a recycling center.
• A basket, crock, or antique boiler could hold newspapers in the family room.
• A table or rolling cart in the basement or laundry room could be used for sorting recyclables.
• Laundry baskets or tubs, wooden fruit baskets, or old kitchen cabinets could have new life as recycling storage units.

Step 3: Make Recycling Easier

Make recycling a family affair. It’s easier to get people involved if they know what they’re supposed to do. Here’s how to help.

• Have a practice session for everyone in the family. Decide who will be responsible for what recycling jobs.
• Color code, label or put pictures on containers, so small children can help sort recyclables. Show them how to separate plastics by using the numbers on the bottoms of the containers.
• Post special instructions in or near the storage area (such as a list of items that can be recycled, or special handling instructions).
• Have necessary supplies at hand such as twine for bundling newspapers (check local regulations).
• Arrange storage containers at a convenient height for sorting recyclables, perhaps placing them on a table or bench. Put containers on carts or dollies to make moving easier.
• If containers will be “on display,” find ways to make them attractive. Use old paint or wallpaper to match the room decor. Hide open-topped containers behind folding doors, blinds, roller shades, or curtains.
• Keep storage areas free of insects and odors. Take materials to the recycling center frequently, or move them to a long-term storage area outside. Find a safe place for storing hazardous wastes until the items can be disposed of properly. (Contact Solid Waste for more information about hazardous wastes - 250-5462.)
• Make regular trips to the recycling center a part of your shopping routine.

Source: Prepared by Mary H. Yearns, extension housing specialist; Lois N. Warme, extension interior design specialist; and Laura Sternweis, extension communication specialist. Iowa State University, University Extension

How to Get Help in a Crisis

Many families and individuals are struggling to make ends meet and are facing increasingly hard times. The Buncombe County Department of Social Services and many other community organizations can provide assistance to help those people in crisis.

Eligible individuals may receive assistance with medical care, food, utilities, rent, clothing, transportation, and other needs. The following directory lists agencies that provide crisis assistance, their phone number, and the types of assistance they offer.

Directory of Human Services Crisis Assistance Programs in Buncombe County

• Call 2-1-1: A Free, 24 hour phone # for access to Community Services.
  
  
• Eblen Charities: 255-3066 – Regent Park Blvd: General Family Crisis Assistance, Rent, Utilities, Food & Prescriptions and many other services.
  
  
• ABCCM: 259-5300 – 30 Cumberland Avenue: General Family Crisis Assistance, Emergency Shelters, Rent, Utilities, Prescriptions, Food, Clothing, Household Items and Transportation.
  
  
• Salvation Army: 253-4723 – 204 Haywood Street: General Family Crisis Assistance, Rent, Medication, Shelter, Fuel and Transportation.
  
  
• Hearts with Hands: 667-1912 – 951 Sand Hill Road: General Family Crisis Assistance.
  
  
• Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry: 669-9404 – 101 N. Ridgeway Avenue, Black Mountain, NC 28711: General Family Crisis Assistance for residents of Black Mountain.
  
  
• Swannanoa Community Council: 686-4417 – Swannanoa, NC: General Family Crisis Assistance for residents of Swannanoa.
  
  
• Buncombe County Health Department: 250-5000 – 35 Woodfin: Adult and Child Primary Care, Community Health, Environmental Health, Dental Health, Disease Control.
  
  
• Three Streams Family Health Center: 285-9725 – 1710 Old Haywood Road: Primary Health Care for the uninsured.
  
  
• Western North Carolina Community Health Services: 285-0622 – 10 Ridge Lawn Road: Primary Care Services for the uninsured.
  
  
• ABCCM Medical Clinic: 259-5300 – 30 Cumberland Avenue:  Acute, episodic medical care for the uninsured.
  
  
• Asheville Housing Authority: 251-5054 – 135 Cherry Street: Affordable rental housing.
  
  
• Socialserve.com: Listings of affordable rental housing.
  
  
• On Track Financial Services: 255-5166 – 50 South French Broad Avenue, Suite 227: Financial Counseling.
  
  
• Self Help Credit Union: 253-5251 – 34 Wall Street: Self-Help makes competitive loans to minorities, women, rural residents, low-income families and others who cannot find traditional financing elsewhere.
  
  
• Pisgah Legal Services: 252-8927 – 89 Montford Avenue: Provides legal assistance and advocacy to help low-income people in Western North Carolina meet their basic needs and improve their lives.
  
  
• Buncombe County DSS: 250-5500 – 40 Coxe Avenue: Food Stamps, Medicaid/Health Choice, Work First, Cash Assistance, Child Day Care Assistance.

"I Refuse to Get Old!" - Essay Contest for Seniors

The Friends of the Black Mountain Library are sponsoring an essay contest for people over the age of 50. Contestants should write a 1-3 page essay entitled "I Refuse to Get Old!"

Entries must be received at the Black Mountain Library by 6 p.m. on February 8. Winners will be announced at the Friends program on Monday, February 22, at 6:30 p.m. The top prize is $50.

The special guest at the program will be Nancy Werking Poling, author of Out of the Pumpkin Shell.

For more information, please call the Black Mountain Library at 250-4756 or email blackmountain.library@buncombecounty.org.

When Is It Best to Prune Shrubs?

A nice winter day will send a lot of gardeners out with the pruners. But is it the best time to prune your shrubs? It depends on the plant. Most evergreens can be pruned now through spring. Severe, rejuvenation type pruning is best accomplished in February or March.

You can also prune shrubs that bloom in late summer. But spring blooming plants will already have flower buds formed, so pruning before they bloom will remove the flowers. You would want to wait until right after they have bloomed, unless it is a plant that is overgrown and in need of a severe pruning job.

For more information on pruning see “Pruning Trees and Shrubs."

Some Evergreens that can be pruned in late winter:

• Hollies
• Nandina
• Junipers
• Boxwoods

Shrubs to prune after bloom:

• Azaleas
• Rhododendrons
• Forsythia
• Spirea
• Viburnum
• Oakleaf Hydrangea
• Lilac

Some Flowering shrubs best pruned in late winter:

• Crape Myrtle
• Pee Gee Hydrangea
• Butterfly bush
• Abelia
• Hibiscus
• Roses

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

Pet Pictures of the Week - Do You Have Room for One of Us?

This week we are featuring some animals available for adoption from FurEver Friends. Please consider making one of these animals your "FurEver" friend by giving it a loving home.

Bonnie  Breed: Domestic Short Hair - gray and white, Tabby - Grey Sex: Female Age: Adult I'm gentle and affectionate. I love my foster dad, but there are just too many other cats here at the shelter!!! I can hardly hear myself purr. I tolerate other cats, but I'd really love a home with a single person, or nice retired couple where I could be the only animal companion.

	Bits Breed: Domestic Short Hair - Black [Mix] Sex: Male Age: Young I love it when you stroke my beautiful black, silky fur. I will love you for life if you will just give me a chance.

Midnight Breed: Domestic Short Hair-black, Siamese [Mix] Sex: Female Age: Adult I'm sweet, loving and playful, but I can't seem to find a home. Could you be the one to love me?

All of these cats have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and tested for FIV and FeLV and they are already house trained. If you are interested in adopting one of these pets, or would like to look at any of the other wonderful animals that need homes, FurEver Friends conducts a weekly adoption event every Sunday at the SuperPetz store located at 825 Brevard Road in Asheville (across from the Biltmore Square Mall) between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The volunteers can't transport all of animals to the adoption event every week, so if you would like to meet one, or you are looking for a certain kind, age, etc., call or email ahead to make sure that it will be there:  (828)-670-6723 / fureverfriends@att.net. Alternately, animals may be seen by special appointment as time and scheduling permit.

Visit the FurEver Friends website to see more animals available for adoption.

Recipe of the Week - Creamy Rigatoni with Spinach

Ingredients:

• 1 package (16 ounces) rigatoni or ziti pasta
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach
• 1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 10 oil-packed dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped (about 1/4 cup)

Directions:

1. In large saucepot, cook pasta in boiling salted water 5 minutes; add frozen spinach and cook 10 minutes longer or until spinach is tender and pasta is al dente. Drain well, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water. 
2. Return pasta, spinach, and reserved cooking water to saucepot. Add ricotta, Parmesan, dried tomatoes, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Heat over medium-low heat, tossing until pasta is evenly coated and heated through.
   

Please select the “Recipe of the Week” icon in the sidebar of the eZine if you are interested in entering the contest. If your recipe is selected you will receive a prize!

Did You Know?

Recycling on a Roll

The average person in the U.S. uses more than 20,805 sheets of toilet paper annually. Unfortunately, recycled-content paper makes up less than 2% of the toilet tissue used each year.

Recycled-content tissue products, including toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues, are readily available at grocers, pharmacies, and national retail chains. Not only does recycled-content tissue reduce the demand on forests and tree farms, but it also provides an essential market for our recyclable mixed paper. Next time you shop, give recycled-content tissue a try.

Photo Contest Submissions Still Being Accepted

Buncombe County will focus on recycling, reusing and reducing in 2010 with the theme of "Growing Greener Together." To help promote this theme, the County is looking for high quality photos of citizens enjoying the outdoors, participating in recycling, litter cleanup or just walking the dog.

The photos must be high quality (at least 300 dpi) and will become the property of Buncombe County.

The best photos could be featured on the County's website, in promotions and in the 2010 editions of Buncombe Life magazine. The grand prize winner could be featured on the cover. Prizes will be awarded for all photos chosen for use by the County.

Submit your photos here.

Has Your House Been Disinfected?

With family members getting ill from the cold or flu, it is all the more reason to keep the house disinfected. Since product labeling can sometimes be confusing, an explanation between a disinfectant and a disinfectant cleaner or antibacterial cleaner may be necessary.

Disinfectants contain antimicrobial ingredients that kill germs if surfaces are free from heavy soil. Disinfectant or antibacterial cleaners contain ingredients for removing soil, as well as antimicrobial ingredients that kill germs. Also remember - household bleach disinfects when used according to label directions.

Questions? Call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.

Library Storyline Number Has Changed

The library storyline phone number has changed.

Children wishing to hear a story read to them can call 250-KIDS (250-5437). It is accessible 24 hours a day, everyday.

The story selection changes every week. Each story is about five minutes long and some include a few songs.