Tag Archive for: #thelocalskinny

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!

 

Cooperative Extension: Recycle Christmas Trees To Provide Refuge For Birds, More

/by

That live Christmas tree that has sheltered gifts under its needled boughs can have a second life once it’s served its purpose for the holidays.

N.C. Cooperative Extension Agent Paul McKenzie said those live trees – many of them probably Fraser Firs raised right here in North Carolina – can create useful habitats for birds and other woodland animals right in your landscape.

You’ll want to make sure all the decorations are removed, of course, but once that’s done, the tree can be placed out of the way in your yard – if it’s big enough – or in or near a wooded area.

The trees provide a wonderful refuge for birds and other furry mammals who may be looking for a safe spot to hide from predators, McKenzie noted.

For years, discarded trees have been used along the state’s beaches to add stability to the sand dunes along the coast.

And pond owners also know the benefit of submerging discarded trees to create a protective spot for fish and other water-dwelling creatures.

If none of those options work for you, McKenzie said the trees are considered yard waste, so they can be collected and then sent through the chipper to become compost.

 

 

The Local Skinny! Fire Safety During The Holidays

/by

It’s easy to get distracted during the holiday season when we’re off our regular routines – children are out of school and family or friends are visiting. We’re in and out of the house, juggling errands, cooking meals and still hoping to get a couple more days’ enjoyment out of the Christmas decorations. This time of year, it’s especially important to think safety first to avoid potential problems.

Perhaps the biggest safety post-Christmas household safety hazard are those live Christmas trees that have been decorated with strings of lights and other ornaments. In some cases, the trees have been inside – drying out – since Thanksgiving Day, for those of us who like to enjoy holiday decorating for a while before Dec. 25. Most likely, the tree that you bought in early December was cut in late November, so it’s been drying out now for a few weeks, despite your best watering efforts.

Take care to make sure those strands of lights are in good working order, and the extension cords that snake around from the tree to the nearest outlet.

Did you know that unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires?

Check – and double-check if you’re that type of person – to make sure that the stove and oven are turned off before you head off to run errands!

This time of year, folks like to use candles to add a festive aroma. That Balsam Cedar sure smells good, and so does the Holiday Peppermint.

Christmas is the peak day for candle fires – did you know? On Dec. 25 each year, there’s an average of 35 fires – about 2.5 times the daily average. Second highest day? Christmas Eve.

Over the course of a year, the NFPA said 33 percent of fires are caused by candles. In December, however, that number jumps to 46 percent.

In three of every five candle fires, the candle was too close to something that could catch fire.

Falling asleep without extinguishing the flame was a factor in 10 percent of home candle fires and 12 percent of the associated deaths.

Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires (49 percent) and home fire injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.
Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.

Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

CLICK PLAY!

 

Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Consequences Overview

/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!

 

Home And Garden Show

/by

On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Clean your greenhouse! Ex seedling trays
  • Begin bed prep for cool season vegetables.
  • Extend your holiday plants by keeping them watered.
  • Consider creating a snag for woodpeckers and other birds.
  • Order new varieties of seed released for 2024
  • When purchasing vegetable seed, look for disease resistant options if available.
  • Store garden equipment according to the manufacturer recommendations
  • Anytime you fill up a gas can, write the date on it with a permanent marker. Next time, cross out the old date and write in the new one.

Click Play!

 

The Local Skinny! “Shop With A Cop And Friends” A Success This Holiday Season

/by

Early-morning shoppers in the vicinity of Walmart Tuesday morning may have noticed a large presence of law enforcement officers, but there was nothing amiss – in fact, Police Chief Marcus Barrow said it was a great day for Shop With A Cop And Friends.

There were plenty of uniformed officers on hand from Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, State Highway Patrol and other agencies to help children choose some toys, clothing items and more, Barrow told WIZS News Tuesday. One of the PD’s lieutenants shucked his uniform and put on a Grinch costume, he added.

“We shopped for 52 kids and nine elderly adults,” Barrow said. In addition to the generous fundraising efforts of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce that netted about $15000, Barrow said some additional donations brought the grand total to just about $20,000.

City Manager Terrell Blackmon, District Attorney Mike Waters, Henderson Fire Chief Tim Twisdale and Battalion Chief Lee Edmonds were just a few of the local leaders who took part in the event.

Newly elected Henderson City Council member Sam Seifert said he helped a 5-year-old named Donna fill up a couple of carts.

“The toy section was a popular one today,” Seifert told WIZS News Tuesday. “We went there first – we had to dodge others on the aisle,” he said, but everyone was good-spirited about it.

“I pointed out things that she might be interested in,” he said. “We filled up two carts and (got) This was his first experience with Shop With A Cop, but he said he heard others remark that they were impressed with the turnout.

Barrow said it was important to add the two words “And Friends” to the “Shop With A Cop” moniker.
“We’ve always had more kids than the police department and sheriff’s office could handle,” he said. “We’ve always done the law enforcement side, and the fire department came along (over) the last couple of years.” Having representatives from the District Attorney’s office, state parks, Parks and Rec and Animal Services has strengthened the community support for the program.

Barrow recalled a special moment from the morning’s activities: “I talked to one of our brand new officers,” Barrow said. “This is his first experience” with Shop With A Cop. “I actually saw him tearing up a little bit.”

CLICK PLAY!

 

Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie What Works In The Garden

/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!

 

Families Living Violence Free

The Local Skinny! Families Living Violence Free Seeks New Executive Director

/by

Families Living Violence Free is in a search process to identify a new executive director to succeed Executive Director Peggy Roark, who is retiring.

Like many directors at many agencies, the FLVF director will report to the board of directors and will oversee planning and directing the operations of the agency. This role, however, also requires having extensive knowledge about crimes of domestic violence, assaults and how to help victims in crisis.

An ideal candidate will have a four-year degree and will have a combination of credentials and experience to be an effective leader for the agency who demonstrates the ability to manage complex, sensitive matters creatively, effectively and confidentially. The new executive director should have a commitment to philanthropic causes and will have held leadership roles in other non-profit agencies for at least two years.

Visit flvf.org to learn more about this position.

CLICK PLAY!