The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Brake Fluid

/by

For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

 

Engine oil, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid – even the most novice vehicle owner can probably figure out where to look under the hood to check for proper levels of these key fluids, vital for proper functioning of any car or truck.

But do you know where to look to check your car’s brake fluid?

It’s another vital fluid that needs checking, just to make sure your vehicle’s braking system works when you call upon it to stop.

Sometimes, a dashboard light will illuminate to let a driver know something may be amiss – other times, it’s that soft, mushy, spongy feeling you feel when you apply the brakes. Whatever the sign, it’s important to get the brake system checked out

The brake fluid reservoir is located on top of the master cylinder, which is usually located in one of the back corners of the engine compartment. The reservoir will usually be marked to reflect maximum and minimum levels.

Still not sure where to look? No problem. Visit one of Henderson’s two Advance Auto Parts locations and the helpful staff can help you locate the brake fluid reservoir.

A few things to remember about topping off or changing brake fluid: it should always be done when the engine is cold. Brake fluid is flammable and corrosive, so extra care is needed to make sure it stays away from heat sources and painted surfaces.

There are different types of fluid on the market, so you should check your owners’ manual to determine which fluid is right for your vehicle, or you can get recommendations from the folks at Advance.

They can also tell you which types can be mixed together and which cannot.

Brake fluid should be a light golden brown color; darker fluids mean it’s time for a change, not just a topping off.

And because it’s considered a hydroscopic fluid – which means it draws fluid from the air – you shouldn’t save opened bottles of brake fluid for later use.

For the do-it-yourselfer there are videos on shop.advanceauto.com to view that can guide you to replace brake fluid.

Topping off brake fluid is not one of the curbside services offered at Advance, but remember that Advance Auto employees will happily test and install batteries, check those pesky engine light readings and replace wiper blades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o29lPbQYPog

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/r/car-projects/how-to-do-brake-fluid-change

The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value only and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

CLICK PLAY!

 

The Local Skinny! Assessing Your Shade Trees

/by

Shade trees are valuable additions to many yards and landscapes, but just because they’re big and strong, there are several maintenance tips that homeowners can perform – especially in the winter months – to ensure those trees remain healthy.

The roots of shade trees such as oak, poplar and maple extend out laterally well beyond the trunk, said Vance County N.C. Cooperative Extension Agent Paul McKenzie. A general rule of thumb is that the roots extend at least to the edge of the tree canopy. For large, mature trees that could mean a 50- to 75-foot circle around each tree.

“It’s important to protect the roots,” McKenzie said on Thursday’s segment of The Local Skinny!

And those roots are relatively shallow –  12 inches or so beneath the soil – since their main job is to take in nutrients and water for the tree.

Avoid trenching, grading or any kind of construction that could affect the roots of trees in the landscape. Placing excessive mulch on top of roots can also be detrimental, he said.

McKenzie said it’s often tough to grow grass in the shade – there’s simply not enough sunlight and grass doesn’t compete well against the extensive root system of shade trees.

He suggests letting nature take its course and let natural leaf litter build up under those trees. Now that most leaves have fallen, it’s a good time to walk around those trees to look for signs of damage.
“Make sure you don’t see anything unusual,” he said, including trunk damage from lightning strikes or isolated fungal growth.

And don’t forget to look up – “Look up at the canopy to see the branch structure for any broken or dead limbs,” McKenzie said.

The N.C. Cooperative Extension, the N.C. Forest Service or a professional certified arborist can help provide answers to questions about caring for shade trees in your landscape, McKenzie said.

Contact McKenzie at 252.438.8188 or paul_mckenzie@ncsu.edu for more information.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Cooperative Extension with Jamon Glover: Natural Consequences

/by

 

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

Click Play!

 

TownTalk: Family Creates VGCC Scholarship For Students In CDL Program In Memory Of Loved One

/by

– information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel

Family members of a local man have established scholarships for Vance-Granville Community College students in the commercial driver license program to honor his memory and acknowledge the positive effects the program had on his life.

David Lee Chavis, Jr. was a victim of gun violence who died in March 2023. His sister, Tameka Holden, and his mother, Carrie Cheek, both of Henderson, have established two need-based scholarships that will award $1,100 to students pursuing their CDL.

Chavis, affectionately called “DJ” by those who knew him, built a successful career as a commercial truck driver in recent years. A native of Vance County, Chavis had once lived a very different life—but hard work, renewed vision, and a commercial driver’s license provided him with a fresh start and an honest means of supporting his family.

Holden witnessed firsthand how her brother’s whole life transformed when he began his driving career and started his own business, TYM Trucking. From her perspective, creating a scholarship that can free others from a cycle of poverty and crime is the perfect way to honor his legacy and demonstrate her personal motto: Reach one, teach one.

If these scholarships prevent another family from experiencing the loss that hers did, Holden feels the effort it took to establish them will have been worth it. “The streets don’t love you,” she stressed. “They only take you away from the people that do.”

The VGCC Foundation anticipates awarding the two CDL scholarships in January 2024. The contribution represents grassroots fundraising efforts from family, friends, and neighbors; VGCCF has set up an ongoing fund for the David Lee Chavis Jr. Memorial CDL Annual Scholarship so that donors can continue to support the college’s future CDL students.

Vance-Granville Community College recently announced that the cost of completing its 9-week CDL program will decrease to $1,200 in 2024, meaning that tuition and related fees will be almost completely covered for recipients of the David Lee Chavis Jr. Memorial CDL Annual Scholarship.

In addition to providing scholarships to deserving students, the Vance-Granville Community College Foundation supports a broad range of special projects involving education, training, and economic development in our community. Tax-deductible donations to VGCCF have often been used to honor a person, group, business, or industry with a lasting gift to education. For more information about the VGCC Foundation, contact 252-738-3264 or https://www.vgcc.edu/foundation/.

CLICK PLAY!

 

TownTalk: People

/by

The passing of Dr. Daniel Bernstein, a missing Henderson woman and battery safety for youngsters were discussed.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Oxford Seeks Input On City Marketing Strategies Via Online Survey

/by

The City of Oxford and the Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation are working to create a brand identity and marketing strategy to promote Oxford as a place to live, visit and conduct business.

Part of the effort will include creation of a dedicated brand to promote Downtown Oxford as a unique destination, according to information from Sabrina Richards, communications specialist for the city of Oxford.

Richards stated that city leaders will hold public workshops in 2024 to gather input from the community as the strategies are developed.

Complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OxfordNC.

Henderson Police Searching For Woman Reported Missing On Christmas Day

/by

– information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

***LOCATED***

Henderson Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a woman who was reported missing on Christmas Day.

Cora Ayscue, 45, was last seen in the vicinity of Lincoln Street on Dec. 14, according to information from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Police are provided information about Ayscue’s vehicle, which Barrow described as a 2008 dark blue Nissan Sentra with North Carolina plate KFM 256.

Anyone who has seen Ayscue or the vehicle is asked to contact police at 252.492.0202.

City of Oxford

Oxford Official Completes REDI Training From N.C. Rural Center

/by

Alyssa Blair, Downtown Development director for the City of Oxford, is among the most recent class to complete the Rural Economic Development Institute.

REDI, the N.C. Rural Center’s flagship leadership development program, is a three-month training program that offers participants resources and tools they need to tackle economic and community development issues facing rural North Carolina, according to a press statement from Bill Holmes, senior director of communications for the Rural Center.

In a press statement, Sabrina Richards, communications specialist for the City of Oxford, said “Alyssa’s participation in REDI reflects her ongoing commitment to professional growth and her passion for promoting economic development. We have no doubt that the knowledge and skills she has gained through this program will be invaluable in her role as Downtown Development Director and will continue to benefit the City of Oxford.”

Now in its 32nd year, REDI has trained more than 1,100 leaders across the state. As a graduate of REDI, Blair now joins that extensive alumni network that spans all of North Carolina’s 100 counties and includes graduates from the Rural Center’s other leadership training program,  Homegrown Leaders. Many of the center’s leadership alumni are active in state and local government and in philanthropic, nonprofit and small-business sectors, as well as in faith- and  community-based organizations.

“We had an amazing REDI class this year made up of a diverse group of participants from various sectors representing 18 different North Carolina counties,” said Olaunda Green, director of leadership training for the N.C. Rural Center. “Something magical happens when you put individuals into a room, who seemingly have nothing in common, but after going through this program, relationships form, connections are made and lifelong partnerships are created.”

Rural Center President and CEO Patrick Woodie delivered the final remarks of the graduation ceremony and encouraged the new graduates to return home to build bridges.

“Congratulations to this year’s class of REDI graduates for investing in yourselves and your communities through this valuable training,” Woodie said. “Rural North Carolina needs leaders like you willing to look at challenges in a new way, and we know you have many successes  ahead of you.”

To learn more, visit https://www.ncruralcenter.org/.