Banquet to honor ‘unsung heroes’
The Community Excelsior Club of Kinston will honor two Lenoir County “unsung heroes” at is annual recognition banquet set for 5 p.m. Oct. 12 at St. Augustus AME Zion Church, 318 E. North St.
This year’s honorees are Iris Persons Jacobs and Robert Brown. Both are examples of residents helping others in the city and county. The guest speaker will be Kinston native Dr. Janzelean Laughinghouse of Greensboro.
The public is invited. For tickets and other information, call Lemuel E. Jones at 252-527-6552 or Palmer Dixon, Banquet chairwoman, at 252-527-1441.
Library to sponsor iPad drawing
The Kinston-Lenoir County Friends of the Library is sponsoring a drawing to give library patrons the chance to win an iPad.
The contest will take place during September, with the drawing taking place at 3 p.m. Sept. 30 in the library’s Brody Conference Room. It will be open to the public.
Tickets are available at the Circulation Desk of the Kinston, Pink Hill or Greene County libraries, and from Friends of the Library Board members. Elizabeth Hartford of Kinston bought the first ticket.
Tickets cost $2 each or $10 for six. All proceeds will go to the Kinston-Lenoir County Friends of the Library to support children’s programming and literacy.
Home Solutions: Pre-fall home maintenance checklist
To make sure your home is in tiptop shape before cooler weather returns, follow this checklist for pre-fall home maintenance.
Check, clean and vacuum lint and dust from your dryer vent, air-conditioner, stove hood, room fans, baseboard heaters and cold-air returns. Keep your heating and cooling vents free from obstructions, such as furniture and draperies.
Check your crawlspace for standing water, mold — and wildlife.
Secure, replace and/or repaint any siding or trim that needs it. Replace or repair damaged bricks and mortar. Also, make sure your outdoor electrical receptacles are watertight.
Have your heating system inspected and/or serviced — whether it’s a furnace, fireplace or space heater — and change the filters. Check pilot lights and burners, look for gas leaks, and make sure there is adequate ventilation.
Have your fireplace flue and liners cleaned to prevent creosote buildup.
Clean your gutters and downspouts, and make sure they’re securely attached. Your roof should be watertight, too. Look for missing, cracked or loose shingles; gaps in the flashing where the roofing and siding meet; and damaged mortar around the chimney.
Paint inside while you can still leave the windows open for ventilation. Do the same for shampooing or replacing carpets.
Insulate, weatherstrip and caulk before cold weather comes. Replace or add to existing insulation. Caulk exterior joints around windows, doors, utility-line entrances and vents.
Readying your home for cooler weather now will free up your weekends for fall fun later.
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.