BUTLER COUNTY, OH (FOX19) - Butler County residents now have more opportunities to recycle household hazardous waste (HHW) and Freon appliances.

The Butler County Recycling and Solid Waste District has extended its long-term HHW and Freon appliance programs and is hosting a one-day event for HHW in October. In addition, the District is holding its annual one-day tire recycling event in November.

The Freon appliance collection program, which began in April, has been extended until Nov. 30, 2012. Residents can contact Unwanted Appliances at 1-888-886-9268 to schedule a curbside pick-up of their Freon appliance(s). Accepted items include refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. There is a limit of two “like” appliances per household.

WEST CHESTER, OH (FOX19) - Some of the coldest temperatures of the winter are still ahead, which means that many people will start using their fireplaces for the first time this season. But as more people start to use their fireplaces more, the risk of house fires increases.

According to the West Chester Fire Department, winter is the most common time of year for residential fires, and 40 percent of all fires that occurred in the United States between 2007 and 2009 were fireplace related.

Fire officials say that in many cases, the sources of these fires are hot embers or ashes. To avoid a house fire this season, here are some important things to keep in mind before using your fireplace:

• Overbuilt fires can ignite creosote (a build-up that can result from the burning of wood) inside the chimney, so don’t use too much paper to build fires.

• Never burn charcoal indoors, as it can give off lethal amounts of carbon monoxide.

By Tiffany Teasley - bio | email

WEST CHESTER, OH (FOX19) -- The models are open at the Villages of the Streets of West Chester, a long awaited project that officials say will bring new housing options to Butler County.

"This is a dynamic location, this is in the heart of everything here in West Chester," said developer Joe Schwarz, co-owner of the project.

 After a slow start, the Villages of the Streets of West Chester has hit the ground running, this week residents can walk through the model three bedroom, 2.5 bath Wexford townhomes, located a few blocks away from