Average hurricane season now consists of more storms, NOAA says.

As we all know Atlantic hurricane season is upon us! Starting June 1^st through November 30^th. The NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Experts expect a

• 60% chance of an above-normal season

• 30% chance of a near-normal season

• 10% chance of a below-normal season

NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% certainty.

It is predicted that 13 to 20 small storms in the Atlantic;

6-10 of which could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher)

Including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected.

Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get ready for the threats that hurricanes can bring!

FUEL CONSERVATION TIPS DUE TO COLONIAL PIPELINE CYBER ATTACK

Fuel stations in the southeastern United States faced major outages Wednesday as one of the largest US fuel pipelines forced a shutdown of all operations after a ransomware cyberattack. Brunswick county and neighboring areas continue to see decreased fuel supplies. As gas becomes more and more scarce try to remain patient and conserve your fuel as much as possible.

HERE ARE TIPS FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ON WAYS YOU CAN CONSERVE FUEL:

•  Minimize idling your car by turning off your engine when your vehicle is parked for more than 10 seconds. Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use, adding up to three cents of wasted fuel a minute.

•   Drive sensibly and avoid aggressive driving, such as speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking. Aggressive driving  can lower your highway gas mileage by up to 33% and your city mileage by 5%.

•   Avoid high speeds. Above 50 mph, gas mileage drops rapidly. For every 5 mph above 50 mph, it’s like paying an additional $0.19 per gallon of gasoline.

•   Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks, which can decrease your fuel economy by up to 8% in city driving and up to 25% at Interstate speeds.

•    Avoid keeping heavy items in your car; an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could increase your gas costs by up to $.03 cents per gallon.

•    Combine errands. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

•       Check into telecommuting, carpooling, public transit and active transportation like bicycling or walking to save on fuel and car maintenance costs

Lets Get Organized!

Does it “Spark Joy”?

When people lead busy lives, their homes sometimes become cluttered with things piling up over time. It happens to the best of us! In order to take the first step in organization first find what “sparks joy.” if that item doesn’t spark joy then it’s time to let it go! Not only does this method work great for your home but for your storage unit as well! As Marie Kondo put it in her book, “The Art of Tidying Up,” you look at the object in question and if that object does nothing for you emotionally, bid a grateful farewell. So lets clear out the clutter and start choosing joy!

Tips for a Smooth Senior Move

1. Recognize when it is the right time to downsize. The age-old adage that life speeds up the older you get can make it even more difficult to determine when it is time to downsize your home. One minute your house seems too small, and then your kids leave for college and begin careers of their own, and suddenly the thought of walking from one end of the house to the other feels exhausting.
2. Sort through belongings. Perhaps the most daunting task after making the decision to downsize is sorting through years’ worth of stuff. Maybe you have rooms (and an attic) full of old clothes, books, toys, and appliances that need to be dealt with. One thing is clear: You cannot bring everything with you. Sorting through your possessions to decide what stays and what goes is not only a critical first step in downsizing. One helpful method could be to separate items into one of four categories: keep, sell/give away, storage, and trash.
3. Pack your remaining possessions for the move. Apart from sorting through mountains of accumulated “stuff,” this can be the second most time-consuming task when it comes to downsizing. Fortunately, this does not necessarily have to be the case. There are highly trained professionals who will do the heavy lifting for you, and you will never have to lift a finger. Let East Coast Moving handle that for you.
4. Plan for a safe and efficient moving day. When the big day rolls around, you can only prepare so much for the emotions you may experience when saying good-bye to a house full of fond memories. However, you can ensure that your move is completed safely and efficiently by planning.

Brunswick County Las Vegas Night!

Due to the current pandemic a drawing will be held January 30th   to raffle off a 2020 Chevy Spark, in place of Las Vegas Night.

Our East Coast family has sponsored and attended this event annually. For this special adapted event, we will be purchasing tickets for the drawing for all our employees.  What fun!!!

Do not miss your chance to get entered in the drawing. Tickets are available from Shallotte Rotary Club $25.00 for 1 ticket, $50.00 for 3 tickets, or a $100 for eight.

These tickets can be purchased online at the http://www.shallotterotaryclub.com or by calling 910-755-7557.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Pearl Harbor is a U.S. naval base near Honolulu, Hawaii, that was the scene of a devastating surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. Just before 8 a.m. on that Sunday morning, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes descended on the base, where they managed to destroy or damage nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight battleships, and over 300 airplanes. More than 2,400 Americans died in the attack, including civilians, and another 1,000 people were wounded. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan.

The Japanese failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessel: Aircraft carriers were, and it happened, all the Pacific Fleet’s carriers were away from the base on December 7. (Some had returned to the mainland and others were delivering planes to troops on Midway and Wake Islands). Pearl harbor assault had left the base’s most vital onshore facilities- oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards, and submarine docks. As a result, U.S Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack.

Thanksgiving History

Thanksgiving is the time of year to practice gratitude, spend time with family. Eat way more than you thought possible, and of course enjoy some football. When people think of Thanksgiving, most remember the story of the Pilgrims and the Indians at Plymouth Rock. The Pilgrims first arrived in America on December 11,1620. Not prepared for the winter they were to face. Out of the 102 who arrived on the Mayflower, forty-six of the people who died during the first few months. Despite the devastation, they had a good harvest, partly in thanks to the Indians who lived nearby.

They had a traditional British Feast in thanks to God for surviving and the blessings of provisions that would see them through the winter. Thanksgiving menu, they had more meat than vegetables, including venison, fish, and wild foul. They probably did not have much in the way of deserts, as they did not have a lot of flour or sugar on hand. They probably had some fruits and corn. Instead of pumpkin pie they had boiled pumpkin.

It was not until 1863 that what we know as Thanksgiving now. That is when the last Thursday in November was proclaimed the National Thanksgiving Holiday this was done by Abraham Lincoln. It was celebrated on this date for 75 years until President Roosevelt set the day one week earlier to lengthen the shopping period between Thanksgiving and Christmas to help businesses. So now Thanksgiving is observed on the 4^th Thursday of every November. Thanksgiving Day is a day that is set aside for people to give thanks with feasting and prayers for the blessings that they have received during the year. We want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from our East Coast family to yours! Our main office is closed on Thursday Nov. 26^th,2020. In observance of our holiday season!

Welcome Coastal Walk Marketplace!

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We are so excited to see more businesses opening up on Main Street in Shallotte! Coastal Walk Marketplace is the new shopping center going up right across the street from Shallotte Crossing at the main intersection.

Some of the new stores that have already opened are Hobby Lobby, Ross, Burkes Outlet and PetSmart! Please go support these new businesses in town if you get the chance! A few more businesses are going to open up there next year, like Rack Room Shoes, Starbucks, Marshall’s, Ulta and an AspenDental.

Also to open up in Shallotte next year are a Chick-fil-A and Cook Out! We look forward to these businesses becoming a part of our growing town!

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Thank you, Veterans!

Hello November!!

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

We are looking forward to a wonderful month! As Thanksgiving approaches, the weather is getting chilly again. We hope you all stay nice and warm despite the cold!

The holidays can sometimes sneak up on us. Make sure you make your plans ahead of time to avoid that last-minute rush!

Our business will be closed for Thanksgiving Day, so if you need us, feel free to give us a call before then! A smooth move with us, it’s a “shore” thing!