First, how long will you need the vehicle and what size would be most appropriate for your needs? Where will you pick up the car? If at the airport, consider the cost of driving to and from the facility and the additional cost of airport parking fees, if leaving your vehicle there. Easy cost comparisons can be done quickly online or by phone. Major travel service providers like Orbitz, Kayak and Expedia compare rental rates side by side online. Most reservations do not even require a credit card number to hold the car.

Second, once the rental car reservation has been secured, most companies will send an email confirmation. Be sure to read the email immediately and confirm that the price and terms agree with what you were quoted by phone or online. Also, if the reservation was made several days prior to the pick-up date, it is wise to call the rental company a day or so ahead to confirm your quoted rate and type of vehicle. I have found it is advantageous for me to request the smallest economy model available unless I absolutely require a larger vehicle. Often I am upgraded to a larger car, at the economy price, because smaller vehicles often go first because of better gas mileage.

Third, when picking up your car, you will be asked to purchase rental insurance. Agents will often try to pressure you into purchasing their insurance, suggesting that you are going to be liable for huge repair costs if the car is damaged, even if you are not at fault. While it is never a bad idea to have the extra insurance, it is a very expensive add-on cost. It is a much better idea to call your automobile insurance company first and find out EXACTLY what coverage your policy offers while you are driving a rental vehicle. One type of insurance not routinely included in many policies is something called “Loss of Use” coverage. “Loss of Use” fees will be charged to you for every day a damaged rental car is out of service while being repaired. I have found that only a select few auto insurance companies offer this coverage at all, one of the companies being Farm Bureau of N.C. It is available as a rider on your auto policy for a very nominal fee.

Fourth, before you ever set foot in the car, you should perform a complete walk-around of the vehicle. Often, at airport rental counters, you are on your own and it is your responsibility to inspect the car for damages. If you find ANY damage, you should immediately report it to the rental agent and get it fully documented on the rental agreement. If you take the car, planning to report the damage when you return, you will be held liable for the damage at that time. I always take my digital camera with the date/time stamp feature activated and take pictures of the exterior and interior of the car from every angle. Additionally, be sure to check out the trunk or cargo hold for damages. If you are returning the car when there is no agent on duty at an airport parking lot, you should repeat the process of taking photos. Agents have told me that any dent, mark, scratch or other damage that is 2 inches long, wide or deep, including door dings, are chargeable to the customer. At local Enterprise offices, NEVER drop the rental car keys in their night drop unless you have purchased Enterprise’s full-coverage insurance. Otherwise, according to their agents, if the vehicle is damaged between when you drop it off and when the office opens, you and your insurance company are 100% responsible.

Fifth, if renting from Enterprise, you are offered the option of being picked up. The catch is that it is only offered within approximately a 10-mile radius of their offices and is not readily available if there is only one agent on duty. It is never good to count too heavily on free-standing Enterprise offices for scheduling a pick-up because their agents wear many hats, including washing and vacuuming the vehicles, picking up customers, and running the desk, among other duties. Enterprise also has one of the highest number of damage claims charged to their customers, according to the following website: http://www.rentalcarcomplaints.com/complaints. There is a bit of consumer outcry on the internet against rental companies back-charging customers for damages, even two or three months after the car has been returned. When personally renting from Enterprise recently, I questioned two different agents about the high number of complaints against the company and they explained that it was due to the fact that Enterprise furnishes so many long term rentals to insurance companies.

Finally, if you decide to go with a local Enterprise location for convenience, the agent is required to escort you to the vehicle and do a walk-around inspection with you. They are often in a hurry and it may appear they don’t take the walk-around too seriously but you should absolutely take it seriously. The same 2-inch damage rules apply and the agent is responsible for recording each and every mark, scratch, scuff, ding, etc., on the inspection sheet. Do not accept the “difficult to read” customer copy you are given until you see that every bit of damage inside and outside the car has been thoroughly documented. If you return the car when a different agent is on duty, that agent may be much more stringent when checking in the vehicle. The agent who checks in the car can be held personally responsible for any damages they do not detect and report.

Remember, when renting a vehicle, you and your insurance company are ultimately responsible for any damages. If you purchase the rental company insurance, you will pay a hefty additional fee per day.

Renting a vehicle is definitely a “renter beware” proposition. Do plenty of research, ask lots of questions and document thoroughly. So far, I have had very good experiences with the various rental car companies but I never take anything for granted.

My name is Sandra Green and I enjoy reading and writing articles relating to various consumer issues. Sharing helpful tips and knowledge of consumer affairs seems like a natural extension of my lifelong interest in customer relations. Having been involved in some form of customer service throughout my work career with the United States Postal Service, Rockingham County Schools, the U.S. Census and various other personal endeavors, I have seen firsthand the impact of consumer education. Personally, I have occasionally experienced the negative consequences of not being fully informed before making a consumer decision. I find it fun and rewarding to do my homework prior to making purchases and financially prudent to ask plenty of questions. My hope is that some of the suggestions I share in my writing will inform and help others in their decision-making. Obviously, my experience is subjective and it is written merely to provoke thought rather than be a guide. I welcome readers’ comments at my email address: sgp2525@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: The Views and Opinions Expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of RCENO.com, It’s Staff, or Contractors.

 

“These numbers show our dedication to making our roads safer by removing drivers under the influence from our roadways,” Secretary Conti said.

During the Governor’s Highway Safety Program campaign, officers statewide conducted 10,643 sobriety checkpoints and dedicated patrols. Counties with the highest number of DWI citations were Wake (303), Mecklenburg (292) and Guilford (144).

Officers also issued 7,041 safety belt and 1,423 child passenger safety violations, 38,662 speeding violations and 3,994 drug charges. In addition, they apprehended 2,247 fugitives from justice and recovered 228 stolen vehicles.

In Rockingham County  8 checkpoints were conducted during the campaign along with 27 Saturation Patrols, which netted the following offesnses: 21 and Over DWI Charges (6), Safety Belt Violations (19), Child Passenfer Safety Violations ( 3), Drug Violations (3), Other Criminal Violations (4), Speeding (102), Driving With License Revoked (15), Other Traffic Violations (124), Uninsured Motorists (4), Reckless Driving (2) for a total number of (282) offenses.

For more information regarding county-by-county citation totals or other “Booze It & Lose It” activities, visit the GHSP website.

Reposted from: ***NCDOT***

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Nov 17, 2011

From glistening gardens and festive neighborhoods to floating parades and a brightly streaked sky, these dazzling light shows are a sure-fire delight.

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Meadow Lights

Nov. 18-Dec. 31, Meadow

This farming community near Benson celebrates the season with the area’s largest fantasy of Christmas lights. Enjoy an authentic live manger scene, a carousel ride and lights all along a country trail. Visit the old-fashioned candy store, ride the Santa train and even visit with Santa himself. www.meadowlights.com

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Tanglewood Festival of Lights

Nov. 19-Jan. 1, Clemmons

Tanglewood Park spreads 180 displays — 70 of them animated — along a four-mile stretch. This year’s display uses more LED lights (which are brighter and eco-friendlier) to create giant snowflakes, holiday scenes, storybook tableaux and the signature Driving Golfer. The Holiday Gift Village features a gift shop and concessions; hayrides and carriage rides are available by reservation. www.tanglewoodpark.org

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Trail of Lights

Nov. 22-Dec. 24, Valdese

The foothills town illuminates its heritage with 100,000 lights. The display showcases the traditional Christmas theme and also features displays that are intertwined with the culture of the pilgrims who left Italy in the 1890s in search of religious freedom. waldensiantrailoffaith.org

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Carolina Christmas

Nov. 23-Dec. 31, Concord

One of the largest holiday light shows in the United States expands to 4.5 miles of LED displays. Beyond a drive on the 1.5-mile superspeedway, the experience includes a Bethlehem-themed village, carriage rides, ice skating, marshmallow roasting, and areas for children with food, music, rides and photos with Santa. www.visitcarolinachristmas.com

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Festival of Lights

Nov. 24-Dec. 23, Beulahville

Yes, Mike’s Farm is a farm, but it’s also a restaurant, a country store and more, and during the holiday season, it becomes a light park with hayrides through the festive scenery. Visit on a Friday or Saturday to catch the Christmas Dinner Show or come on a Thursday in December to dine with Santa. www.mikesfarm.com

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Holiday Lights at the Garden

Nov. 25-Dec. 31, Belmont

Remember to look at the plants and trees at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden as you enjoy the dazzle of 600,000 lights, the old-fashioned trains, visits from Santa Claus, carriage rides and carols. More awe-inducing than all the lights, perhaps, is the 16-foot-tall orchid tree, featuring more than 300 orchids. www.dsbg.org

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Holiday Lighting of the Battleship

Nov. 25-Jan. 1, Wilmington

As part of Wilmington’s holiday celebration and naval tradition, the Battleship North Carolina is strung in lights from the bow up to the masts and down to the stern. Enjoy free viewing nightly from downtown. www.battleshipnc.com

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Enchanted Airlie

Nov. 25-Dec. 21, Wilmington

Visitors are invited to tour the 67 acres of walking trails, formal gardens and sculptures at Airlie Gardens. Stroll the historic gardens at your own pace, enjoying the holiday flowers, festive lights and live music — plus the largest display of model trains running in the Southeast. Open Friday-Saturday; advance tickets are required. www.airliegardens.org

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Island of Lights

Nov. 25-Jan. 1, Carolina Beach

Park the car and stroll around Carolina Beach Lake, where the scenery will come alive with lights: Santa and his reindeer, a huge Christmas tree, a lighthouse, a giant arch with a dangling fish and more. www.islandoflights.org

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Chetola Festival of Lights

Nov. 25-Jan. 29, Blowing Rock

A holiday tradition in Blowing Rock, Chetola Resort’s Festival of Lights features more than 50,000 illuminations attracting thousands of visitors each year. Drive around Chetola Lake and view glittering ice skaters, a Nativity scene, Rudolph catching a “big fish” and more. chetola.com

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Lights on the Neuse

Nov. 25-Dec. 24, Clayton

Boyette Farms creates old-fashioned family fun with its holiday light park, which visitors experience by tractor-pulled hayride. The merriment continues at the Christmas Barn, where Rudolph, Santa and a winter wonderland await. Candy, cocoa and s’mores from Santa’s Sweet Shoppe round out a festive evening. www.lightsontheneuse.com

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North Carolina Holiday Flotilla

Nov. 26, Wrightsville Beach

Everybody loves a parade, and a floating parade is all but impossible to resist. In its 28th year, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla will feature sailboats, motorboats and yachts decorated and lighted for the holidays. A fireworks display will cap the evening. www.ncholidayflotilla.org If you want more flotillas, you’ve got them. Boat parades are planned for Nov. 25 in Swansboro (www.onslowcountytourism.com); Nov. 26 at Ocean Isle (ncbrunswick.com); Dec. 3 at New Bern (www.downtownnewbern.blogspot.com), Beaufort and Morehead City (www.crystalcoastnc.org), Elizabeth City (www.discoverelizabethcity.com), Jacksonville (www.onslowcountytourism.com), Carolina Beach and Kure Beach (www.islandoflights.org); and Dec. 10 at Southport (ncbrunswick.com).

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Kites With Lights

Nov. 26, Nags Head

As soon as the sun starts to set on the Outer Banks, the crowd at Kitty Hawk Kites heads to Jockeys Ridge to watch as 19-foot delta kites soar above the dunes. The magic happens when the lights turn bright against the darkening sky. Those on the dunes can borrow flashlights, glow sticks and other light-up toys from the store, which will also serve hot cider and cookies inside. www.kittyhawk.com

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Christmas Town USA

Dec. 1-Dec. 26, McAdenville

The small Gaston County town transforms into Christmas Town U.S.A. on Dec 1 in a true community celebration. Light displays lead to the community lake, which reflects the festive glow. This year organizers add performances and visits from Santa to the Dec. 3, 10 and 17 illumination. www.mcadenville-christmastown.com

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Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries

Dec. 2-3 and 9-10, Dillsboro

Beginning at dusk, the Smoky Mountains town will be aglow with thousands of luminaries and twinkling lights adorning every business. The stores serve goodies, Santa sets up shop, and the streets are filled with music, entertainment and Christmas cheer. www.visitdillsboro.org

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WinterLights

Dec. 6-30, Manteo

Peacocks, butterflies, deer and other enchanting creatures take up temporary residence at the Elizabethan Gardens. Created with flowers, seeds and other natural elements, the lighted displays join the permanent art elements — which include the world’s largest bronze statue of Elizabeth I. elizabethangardens.org

Re-posted from: VisitNC.com

“It is the law to wear your seat belt, no matter where you are seated in a vehicle,” said Secretary Conti. “I remind all citizens to buckle up; it could save your life.”

GHSP Assistant Director Don Nail, along with N.C. State Highway Patrol Col. Michael Gilchrist, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Sgt. David Sloan and state and local law enforcement kicked off the campaign at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum in Charlotte this morning.

“In 2010, 425 unbuckled motorists died in crashes on North Carolina roads,” said GHSP Director Becky Wallace. “The single most effective way to protect yourself and your loved ones this holiday season is with the simple action of buckling your seat belt.”

In 2011, the Research Triangle Institute reported that North Carolina’s seat belt usage rate was 89.5 percent. The state’s usage rate was 65 percent when the program started in 1993.

“Click It or Ticket” is administered by the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

For more information regarding “Click It or Ticket” activities, contact Don Nail (919) 733-3083, or visit the GHSP website.

Re-posted from: NCDOT

Most construction projects along interstate, N.C. and U.S. routes will be suspended beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, until 9 a.m., Monday, Nov. 28, with two exceptions:

 • U.S. 17 Business in Jacksonville (Onslow County) is reduced to two-lane, two-way traffic on the Buddy Phillips Bridge over the New River for construction of a new bridge; and

• U.S. 17 in Windsor (Bertie County) is reduced to one lane on the Cashie River Bridge due to construction. Traffic is controlled by signals; however, commercial trucks are restricted on this route and detour signs are in place. All motorists are encouraged to use the U.S. 17 Bypass around Windsor to avoid possible delays.

For real-time travel information at any time, call 511, visit the NCDOT website or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

Another option is NCDOT Mobile, a phone-friendly version of the NCDOT website. The site has a number of features to help travelers. For example, users can easily locate North Carolina Rest Areas where they can take a break from their drive by selecting which road they are traveling on from a list of 17 interstates and U.S. routes. They can then view the location of all rest areas on a road by mile marker. Clicking on a specific rest area pulls up more information about amenities at the location, as well as the option to view the facility on a map and get directions.

To access it, type “m.ncdot.gov” into the browser of your smartphone. Then, bookmark it to save for future reference. NCDOT Mobile is compatible with the iPhone, Android and some newer Blackberry phones. Here are some additional tips to stay safe on the highways:

• Buckle Up

• Don’t drink and drive

• Stay alert

• Obey the speed limit

• Minimize distractions

To help reduce fuel consumption:

• Don’t rush. “Jack-rabbit” starts and hard braking alone can increase fuel consumption by 40 percent, but reduce travel time by only four percent.

• Observe the speed limit. Not exceeding 60 miles per hour (where legally allowed) can improve mileage by 7-23 percent.

• Use cruise control. Using cruise control on 10,000 miles driven in a year could save you nearly $200 and save more than 60 gallons of fuel, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

• Remove unnecessary items. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle can reduce your miles per gallon by up to two percent. Wind resistance can also reduce mileage so avoid using luggage racks, rooftop carriers and ski racks when they are not needed.

• Maintain your vehicle. Keeping your tires properly inflated, changing your oil and replacing air filters can all help improve fuel economy.

Visit “Drive Green, Save Green,” to learn more tips.

Re-posted from: NCDOT

The home of James and Lynda Burnette at 531 Glovenia Streeet, built in the 1940’s by James Smith, is a handsome neo-colonial brick structure which they have occupied about seven years. The house strongly shows the stylish yet comfortable taste of the owners. Lynda says, “I’ve always liked things that have a connection with the past. Growing up, my family life was centered around roots and tradition.”

The front entrance opens into an unusually spacious double area, one side beautifully furnished and decorated as the living room, with a family Christmas tree, and the other as a den, with a small bar to the side. The dining room is particularly striking, with a unique chandelier of bronze tracery festooned with tiny crystals like dewdrops among foliage. The top of the buffet shows an unusually fine example of faux marbling, and decorative floral painting on the front. The kitchen has been opened up to make a sunny breakfast room with space for family gatherings, and there is a pleasant breezeway leading from the back door around to the front, with a view of the large back garden.

Upstairs the bedrooms are elegantly decorated with family pieces, mostly with a feminine flair, except for the businesslike office retreat used by busy City Councilman Jim. Lynda says “Most of my collectibles are from family, flea markets, or auction. I do love a great find. When I leave the house, I often return with some bit of junk I consider a treasure.” Visitors will agree that there is no junk, only many delightful treasures on display.

The J.R. Amburn home at 638 Prospect Street, known as the Smith-Patterson House, dates from 1859, and is one of the authentic historic homes in Eden. It is distinguished by its simple classic form, and is set back at an odd angle to the street, an indication it was there long before the street was put through. Inside it has architectural features, a newel post and crown molding, reputed to be by Thomas Day, famous black furniture maker.

For the season it has Christmas decorations guaranteed to blow visitors away. There is so much to see one can hardly take it all in. The entry hall is stuffed with a lavish Christmas tree and a life-sized Christmas Grinch figure, not to mention lights and ribbons and garlands and colorful hanging objects everywhere. To the left in the parlor is a breathtaking display including an upside-down Christmas tree, a small tree with perpetual snow falling, many nutcracker figures, a big Father Christmas, and much more. The tour continues with more displays in the dining room and kitchen area. Mr Amburn plans outdoor decorations as well.

The Stevenson-Aiken house at 700 Riverside Drive is a contributing property in the Spray National Register Historic District. It was built in 1918 to house the manager of the nearby Spray Woolen Mill, Mr. William Stevenson, and his family. Various other managers occupied it until the 1930s, when it was bought as a rectory by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and occupied for a time by the Rev. William Jones Gordon and his family, and then several other rectors, including the Rev. Warwick Aiken, Jr., who bought it in 1974 after having occupied it most of the years after 1955.The house reflects the comfortable yet stylish craftsman bungalow fashion of its time, with many arts-and-crafts features inside and out.

The Aikens have filled the home with art and family antiques, notably a bedroom suite with a massive four poster bed that belonged to Maria Polk Walker, an ancestor of Mr. Aiken and sister of President James K. Polk. There are several mahogany tables from the 1830s and 1840s, a rosewood melodeon from the 1860s and a lady’s and a gentleman’s chair from the same period, all family pieces, as well as an 1840 marble top pier table from Mrs. Aiken’s family. There is a grandfather clock that belonged to Mr. Aiken’s grandfather in New Orleans, and several French mantel clocks, one a wedding gift from Governor Gayle of Alabama to his daughter about 1840.

A portrait of Governor Gayle dominates the living room, and in the front hall there is also a portrait of Hannah Fairfax Throckmorton, George Washington’s cousin, and one of John Warwick, from whom Mr. Aiken gets his first name. Other paintings throughout the house include a collection of oil paintings fired on tile of the French Quarter in New Orleans done by Mary Green Hardwick, Mrs. Aiken’s great-aunt; also several colorful paintings from Haiti, where the Aikens’ daughter was a missionary .A collection of English watercolors from about 1850, done by Fanny White, whose real name was Lady Ramsay-Gibson-Maitland, can be seen in folio, and two are framed and hang in the hall. Also in the hall are two watercolors showing the village in England where the Aikens served in a clergy exchange in 1963.

Christmas decorations of natural greens and holly are planned throughout the house.

Visitors to the spacious home of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Southern at 750 Morgan Road will see a wonderful example of careful and sensitive restoration of a generously proportioned old house. It was built in 1917 by Mr. A. B. Land and has withstood the passing years gracefully. The Southerns have preserved the main features of the interior, including the original dark woodwork that distinguishes the doorways, the handsome staircase, and the striking huge columns in the entry hall.

There are nine fireplaces in the house, each different with its own style—the one in the dining room, for example, is in the Eastlake style with Italian marble tiles and a mirrored superstructure. The mantle in the living room is graced with a clock passed down from Crystal Southern’s great grandmother, who, by the way was a Webster, a descendant of Noah Webster, the dictionary publisher.

The present owners have enlarged the back end of the house so that they now have a roomy kitchen with a huge granite topped island and a magnificent restaurant style gas stove. The cabinets are all handmade with glass fronts, and one functions as a pass-through to the dining room, with shelves holding a collection of pottery pieces from Crystal’s grandmother and great grandmother. The kitchen opens into a comfortable den that is floored with wood from the old Eden bowling alley.

The upstairs of the house did not even have electricity, but now each of the three daughters has her own room, with many dolls in evidence, and each decorated to suit the girls’ taste. The youngest child has a room semi-detached from her parents’ master bedroom, which is roomy and airy, furnished chiefly with an unusual four-poster bed. The master bath departs entirely from the period décor in the rest of the house, as it is completely modern, with a large Jacuzzi garden tub and a glass-enclosed shower. There is a guest bedroom on the ground floor that also has an adjacent modern bathroom.

Lauren Talley’s 1920 arts-and-crafts style bungalow at 514 Highland Drive nestles at the streetside surrounded by a charming garden. One surprising feature, barely visible at the side, a tall, ornate metalwork gate imported from Egypt, gives a hint of the unusual trove of treasures within. Lauren says her love of collecting beautiful antiques comes from the tragic loss of so many precious family things when her grandparents’ 1800s farmhouse in Wentworth burned.

The front door opens on a scene of Christmas glitter and elegance, dominated by a special tree for her son decorated with wooden toys. The room is furnished with ample seating, a baby grand piano, and other pieces, such as the lady’s chair in the corner with an exquisite Italian glass lamp nearby for reading. Several handsome beveled-glass mirrors that adorn the walls throughout the house are found here, each with a unique frame.

The owner refinished the floors herself, and has been gradually and laboriously restoring the house to its original charming condition.

In the dining room the visitor begins to realize that Lauren is an unrepentant “chinaholic.” The massive glass door china cabinet is loaded with flow blue, Willow ware and full sets of Mason and Noritake china. Smaller china cabinets hold many cups and saucers and other smaller pieces, some set out in the Christmas theme. A sparkling crystal chandelier hangs over the round dining table and chairs. Lauren bought the 1860s mirrored sideboard and refinished it herself. It displays a set of sterling mounted etched crystal sherbet cups.

In the kitchen the glass front cabinets again are loaded with china, and to cap it off, the walk-in pantry has multiple shelves holding delicate antique crystal as well as more china. Unique objects such as a tiny wood-burning kitchen stove– a salesman’s sample, and a set of baroque silver measuring spoons are noteworthy.

More mirrors are to be seen in the main bedroom, especially an unusual three panel cheval type mirror that came from a fashion boutique. In this room also are an antique rocking chair and dresser. The adjacent bathroom is furnished to blend with the antique features of the home.

The annual Christmas Tour of the Eden Preservation Society is intended to increase public interest in the historical and architectural heritage of the city, celebrate the Christmas season, and raise funds for the projects of the Society, among them Governor Morehead Park, the Eden Historical Museum, and the restoration of the Superintendant’s House.

Talented local musicians will be playing at several of the homes to add to the festive atmosphere, including Debbie Galloway, Anna Carter, and others.

Tickets for the whole tour are $10, and are available at the Eden Historical Museum, the Eden Chamber of Commerce, and at each of the tour locations on the day of the tour. For further information call 623-1043 or check www.edenpreservation.org .