Spring Fever fundraiser set for Tuesday
Members of First Presbyterian Church are getting ready for the Spring Fever fundraising event set for 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in the church fellowship hall, 2101 N. Herritage St.
The event will include a homemade lasagna dinner with salad, bread and dessert, eat in or take out. Drive-through pick-up for take-out is on Parrott Avenue next to Walgreen’s. Tickets for the dinner are $8 for adults and $4 for children younger than 10. Stock your freezer at the baked goods/frozen foods sale. All proceeds will go to missions and church projects.
Call 252-522-1921 or stop by the church office.
Home Solutions: Termites ready to swarm
Spring rain in many parts of the state and warmer temperatures are likely to trigger some termite swarms.
“Termite swarms that occur outdoors are just nature’s way of reminding you that termites are all around you,” said Michael Waldvogel, N.C. State University Extension entomologist. “It does not mean that you should spray your yard (which wouldn’t really help anyway) or even have your house treated. However, if you haven’t had your house treated or inspected in recent years, having it inspected might be a good idea.”
You can do the inspection yourself if you’re confident and careful about checking the foundation (crawlspace and exterior). This could require pushing back fiberglass insulation to check wood framing that rests on the foundation. Check “critical areas” around plumbing also.
Calling a professional has its obvious advantages. A treatment isn’t needed unless you find evidence of termite activity. Some homeowners may feel more comfortable treating their homes proactively.
If termites swarm indoors, there most likely is an infestation that should be addressed within a few weeks. Even if you find swarmers, you don’t need to rush a decision. Depending on the size and nature of your home’s construction, termite treatments can cost $500 or exceed $2,000.
Take time to make a well-founded decision about the type of treatment and warranty being offered. Repair warranties sound great, but read the contract and understand that excluding “existing damage” means it excludes damage identified as already present at the time of their initial inspection or damage that wasn’t visible (e.g., inside a wall) and there are no live termites present when the damage is discovered.
That may sound unfair, but the company can’t be accountable for damage that wasn’t visible when they initiated the warranty, so there’s no way to know when it occurred.
Serious termite damage takes years to occur. If there is significant structural termite damage, consider repairing before treating in case the repairs require soil excavation (which could also disrupt any termite treatment in the process). NCSU provides information about termites at insects.ncsu.edu/wood.htm.
Source: Mike Waldvogel, NCSU Entomology
Trudy W. Pickett is extension family and consumer agent at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office, 1791 N.C. 11/55. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or trudy_pickett@ncsu.edu.