Wally Decker
Monday News for July 01, 2024
Expect to pay more at the gas pump over the extended Fourth of July. AAA anticipates a record-setting travel week, with Wednesday (July 3) being the busiest on the roads. In North Carolina, the average price for gas is $3.29 a gallon…
Today is Zoo appreciation Day
50 wild years!! The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, the world’s largest natural habitat zoo, with over 2,800 acres, is celebrating its Golden Anniversary this year (1974-2024).
Sad news. ‘Moji Coffee and More’ in Winston-Salem has decided to CLOSE at the end of August ‘due to the lack of sustainable funding.’ Hours of operation at their downtown Trade Street location will be Tuesday – Saturday from 8:30am – 4pm.The closure will impact 25 employees with ‘differing abilities’.
https://www.facebook.com/mojicoffeeandmore
Summer Movie Season. Last weekend there were six new films in theaters, but one animation sequel (Inside Out 2) continues to dominate at the Box Office. Disney’s animated film “Inside Out 2” has earned $1 billion dollars at the global box office, making it the highest-grossing film of the year, so far.
Regional theme park giants Six Flags and Cedar Fair are expected to close their merger this week. Cedar Fair is the parent company of Carowinds. The proposed merger will form one of the largest theme park businesses in North America.
https://www.the-review.com/story/entertainment/2024/07/01/six-flags-cedar-point-merger/74266389007/
Update: Hurricane Beryl (like barrel), the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, made landfall earlier this morning in the southern Caribbean Sea. Beryl is a dangerous Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/01/weather/hurricane-beryl-caribbean-landfall-monday/index.html
Wesley Memorial and Burkhead UMC have merged to become Sherwood Forest UMC. The two church congregations will meet at the former Burkhead location on Silas Creek Parkway (near Robinhood) in Winston-Salem. https://sherwoodforestumc.org/
American Red Cross: Local blood drives Monday, July 1, 2024 Collide Church (E. Main Street) in Yadkinville = 1pm – 5:30pm
Schedule your blood donation appointment TODAY at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/
Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS
Traffic Alert in Greensboro. All northbound lanes of Battleground Avenue between West Bessemer Avenue and Mill Street are CLOSED due to a water main break. Crews are expected to be on-site through 5pm? NC DOT
Junk Mail dilemma. More than 100 billion pieces of junk mail are delivered in the US annually…adding up to about 300 pieces per person.
Each year, printing consumes more than 100 million trees and enough water to fill 160,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools; it produces as much CO2e as more than two million cars. Disposing of and recycling these materials costs governments and taxpayers more than $250 million annually. https://productstewardship.us/products/junk-mail/#
How can we reduce unwanted junk mail and save resources? Clark Howard has provided four ways to stop unsolicited mail from coming to your home or business.
#1 OptOutPreScreen.com (or call toll-free 888-5-OPT-OUT (888-567-8688).
The OptOutPreScreen website is a joint venture of the major credit bureaus that lets you tell them you don’t want their junk mail. It’s free, and signing up one time covers all three
#2 CatalogChoice helps you opt out of receiving catalogs…for free.
If you sign up with CatalogChoice (only your name and email address are required), the company will help you cancel catalogs you no longer want to receive.
#3 DMAChoice is a ‘fee based’ nonprofit organization that charges $5 for online and $6 for mail-in registration. It says it will stop mail marketing solicitations for 10 years.
#4 What about Spam email? https://clark.com/consumer-issues-id-theft/stop-junk-mail/?fbclid
10 new laws will take effect in North Carolina starting today (July 1)…
The new laws include updated criteria for child advocacy centers, voting, increased fees at the DMV, among other changes.
…involves child advocacy centers.
It says certain documents including medical evaluations and interviews can be shared with health care providers, attorneys and victim advocates.
…requires state and county boards of elections to keep a list of eligible voters and update it when the voter becomes ineligible through death or felony convictions.
DMV Fee Increase
Fee increases at the DMV (average 19%).
Example: A regular Class C driver’s license will cost $52 instead of $44
The DMV will also begin collecting up to a 2% processing fee on all transactions that are paid with a credit or debit card. This will include in-person, online and at a self-service kiosk.
State law requires a fee increase every 4 years due to inflation.
Fee increase for hunting, fishing, trapping and more
The North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission said fees have increased for outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, trapping and activity licenses, permits, stamps and certifications.
https://www.wxii12.com/article/new-laws-taking-effect-north-carolina-on-july-1/61464025
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/state/new-north-carolina-laws-starting-july-1/83
