Public Invited to Offer Suggestions on the TANF State Plan

The public is invited to comment on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan for the Work First program. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Social Services submits this plan to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) every three years. The plan outlines how North Carolina intends to administer the Work First program.

From December 22, 2011 – February 5, 2012, the written plan is available on the web at:

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dss/pub notice/ and a hard copy is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at:

NC Division of Social Services Central Office
Albemarle Building
325 North Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27699-2420

The plan is also available at all county department of social services in North Carolina during normal business hours.

Citizens interested in commenting on the plan must submit written comments no later than February 5, 2012. Comments may be emailed to www.work.first@dhhs.nc.gov, faxed to (919) 334-1266, or mailed to:

Sherry Bradsher, Director
Division of Social Services
2420 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2420

The North Carolina Temporary Assistance for Needy Families State Plan is submitted in accordance with Section 402 of the Social Security Act as revised by the Personal Responsibility and Work Responsibility Act of 1996 and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

The TANF block grant funds must be used for families on public assistance and working families whose income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Services may include child care, transportation, housing assistance, teen pregnancy prevention and services for non-custodial parents.

Lori Walston
Public Information Officer
Office of Public Affairs
NC DHHS
(919) 855-4841
919/733-7447

Free Blood Pressure Screening

2/8/2012 Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Time: 11:00 AM
A free blood pressure screening will be held at The Randolph Library on Wednesday, February 8 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Your blood pressure will be taken by the Public Health Nurse who will also be able to answer your questions. For more information, contact Ginny Maico, Supervisor of Nursing, at 973-537-7118. For adults 18 years and older. No registration necessary.

Randolph Township
28 Calais Road
Randolph, NJ 07869
Tel: 973.895.3556
Fax: 973.895.4946

Gov. Perdue Urges More Sponsors to Help Provide Summer Meals for Kids

RALEIGH – More than one in four children in North Carolina are not getting enough food to eat to lead healthy, active lives, according to the study, Food Hardship in America 2010. With the leadership of Governor Bev Perdue, a public- private partnership is working to connect more eligible low-income children to federally funded food and nutrition programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), administered by the N.C. Division of Public Health.

In summer 2011, the summer food program provided free meals to an average of 74,554 children each day. Another 16,561 were fed on average each day by a similar program administered by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. However, the combined numbers only represent 12 percent of the children in our state who are eligible for meals. According to public school data, more than 770,000 children received free or reduced price school meals during the last school year. Gov. Perdue is encouraging more community organizations to to join the fight against childhood hunger by joining No Kid Hungry North Carolina.

“More than 30 counties either serve less than 5 percent of their needy children during the summer or do not offer a summer food program,” said Alice Lenihan, head of the N.C. Division of Public Health’s Nutrition Services Branch. “The program provides sponsors with full federal reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each meal they serve, so there is no reason that children should go hungry during the summer.”

Schools, local government agencies, private nonprofits, and locations where children congregate during the summer, such as parks, swimming pools, and low-income housing complexes can participate as either sponsors or feeding sites. To qualify, a site must either be located in a low-income area where 50 percent or more of the children in the area are eligible for free or reduced- price school meals, or it must serve primarily low- income children, at least half of whom are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Most sites can provide up two meals a day through the program.

Participating sponsors will receive free training during March. Summer food service applications should be submitted by May 15. More information is available at www.nutritionnc.com/snp/sfsp.h tm. For the training schedule or to find out how to apply to be a sponsor, contact the N.C. Division of Public Health’s Special Nutrition Programs office at (919) 707- 5799.

Father/Daughter Valentine's Dance

Friday, February 10
6 - 9 p.m.
AVS Banquet Center

Tickets are $25 for a father/daughter pair and $10 for each additional daughter. Tickets must be bought in person at the Cultural & Recreation Services Office. No phone reservations will be accepted. Only 140 tickets are available and this event sells out every year - get your tickets today!!
For more information contact the Cultural & Recreation Services office at 336-626-1240.

Business After Hours

Comfort Inn
825 West Dixie Drive,
Asheboro
cordially invites you and your staff to join us for Business After Hours Thursday, February 17, 2011 from 5:30-7 pm
Enjoy Hors D’oeuvres by Sagebrush Steakhouse
Beverages
Door Prizes

RSVP to 626-2626 or chamber@asheboro.com by February 15th.

Randolph County Bridal & Prom Show

February 18, 2012
2:00 to 6:00 pm
AVS Catering & Banquet Centre
2045 N Fayetteville Street
Asheboro, NC

A wedding and prom show providing attendees access to local resources and vendors, as well as offering overall helpful ideas, creative tips, and wedding planning tools to help you keep a level head through it all. Wedding show attendance will include a free copy of the Bridal & Prom Supplement to Asheboro & More Magazine with free wedding planning tools, including a checklist with timeline, a wedding budget calculator, guest list ideas and more.

Board of Directors

02.14.2012 12:00 - 1:30
Location:
Chamber of Commerce, Lower Level
The Board of Directors of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:00 noon.

Choosing the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin

Skin Moisturizers: Cream, Lotion, or Ointment?

No matter what your skin type, you should use a moisturizer. The thickness of the moisturizer you choose depends on your skin type.

If you've got itchy or dry skin, you'll probably want to lock in moisture with a thick ointment. Creams are thinner, help hydrate, and are good for normal skin. Lotions are the lightest (water is their main ingredient) and are a good match for oily skin.

You should also base the thickness of the moisturizer on when and where you use it on your body. "Choose a light moisturizer for day and a heavier one for nighttime," says Florida dermatologist Andrea Cambio, MD. Or choose a thicker cream for your body and a lightweight moisturizing lotion for your face. You'll also want to stick with lighter, hydrating moisturizers in the summer months.

Choosing a Moisturizer: What to Look For

Use these guidelines to pick the right type of moisturizer for your skin. Sun protection.No matter what skin type you have, just about every dermatologist recommends getting a moisturizer with a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. If you’re getting it for your face, Cambio suggests looking for one that is oil- and fragrance-free and has an SPF of 30.
Antioxidants.Moisturizers with antioxidants such as green tea, chamomile, pomegranate, or licorice root extract may help keep any skin type looking fresh and healthy. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals -- molecules that break down skin cells. For oily or acne-prone skin."I like alpha-hydroxy acids, which are also antiaging," says Chicago dermatologist Carolyn Jacob, MD. If you're prone to acne, you'll also want to look for a non-comedogenic facial moisturizer, which won't clog pores.
For dry skin. Aim for a heavier moisturizer and look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and dimethicone, which help keep skin hydrated. Glycerin, propylene glycol, proteins, and urea also help attract water to your skin, while lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum lock in moisture. For sensitive skin.Use a hypoallergenic and fragrance- free moisturizer. “In general, choose one that contains less than 10 ingredients," suggests California dermatologist Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD. Fewer ingredients mean fewer potential interactions with fragile skin.
For itchy skin.If a hypoallergenic moisturizing cream doesn’t relieve itching, try a 1% hydrocortisone steroid skin cream for one week, but no longer. If this doesn’t resolve the itch, talk to your doctor. You may have a more serious skin problem. If you have eczema. Use a thick moisturizing ointment containing petrolatum, or simply use petroleum jelly. Either of these will help sooth cracks and keep skin supple.

Choosing a Moisturizer: What to Avoid

More ingredients does not make a better moisturizer. Here are some to avoid. Colorings and perfumes.Whether you want to moisturize dry skin, sensitive skin, or something in between, most experts suggest avoiding unnecessary and potentially irritating ingredients, like added colors and perfumes. Antibacterial agents can also be unnecessarily harsh, stripping skin of essential oils.
To prevent facial acne. Cambio suggests avoiding facial moisturizers with lanolin, mineral oil, waxes, or shea butter. These “can clog pores and cause acne on the face, and are more appropriate for the body,” she tells WebMD.
For dry or sensitive skin. Avoid alpha-hydroxy acids, glycolic acid, retinoic acid, and salicylic acid. These ingredients may penetrate the skin too deeply and trouble delicate skin. Stay away from products with alcohols as well.
For itchy skin. Limit your use of steroid creams or ointment to one or two weeks only, unless recommended by your doctor. Overusing steroid creams can make skin very thin and lead to other skin problems.
If you have eczema or cracked skin.Stay away from moisturizers that contain urea or lactic acids. Though these ingredients are good for very dry skin, they can aggravate skin irritation.

3 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Skin Moisturizer

To get the best results from whichever body or facial moisturizer you choose, try these tips:
Use more than one moisturizer if you need to. Nobody needs a cabinet full of moisturizing products, but a thin lotion for your face and a thick cream for your body may be just right for your all-over skin care.
Apply your moisturizer while your skin is damp. Smooth on your favorite moisturizer a few minutes after a bath or shower.
Pat your skin dry. Make your moisturizer do double-duty. Be sure your moisturizer contains a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
Want an antiaging boost? The pros recommend vitamin A or alpha- hydroxy acid. Want to even out your skin tone, too? Look for a tinted moisturizer suitable for your complexion.

Volunteers Needed for Southern Conference in March

Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of the action when the Southern Conference Basketball Championships come to Asheville in March. We are seeking volunteers! Please consider being a part of this great event by volunteering with opportunities available from Friday, March 2 – Monday, March 5. Each shift is 3 ½ hours and we are asking that volunteers staff two shifts each. Every volunteer that works two shifts will receive a SoCon polartec fleece vest. While there are many opportunities available there is a significant need for volunteers at Kimmel Arena on the UNC Asheville campus during the women’s tournament on Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3. This promises to be a tremendous experience for everyone involved!

The Asheville Chamber's Convention & Visitors Bureau is one of the partners that has worked to bring the tournament to Asheville and is working alongside numerous entities to ensure its success.

For more information about volunteering visit the web site or contact Janet Dack, jdack@ashevillenc.gov or 828.232.4505.

North Carolina Potters Conference

The Randolph Arts Guild's
25th Annual North Carolina Potters Conference
March 2-4, 2012
Downtown Asheboro, NC
Registration:
Pre-Registration is Required!
Registration: $200.00 per person
Includes all meals
Registration is limited to 250 persons