Catch the greatest holiday decorations in Wilson!
More than 50 light displays have registered for the second annual Wilson Cheer Challenge. The question now is -- who do you think puts the most ho-ho-ho in the holidays? Which neighborhood has the most spirit? What's better -- warm white lights in the windows or a strobing rainbow of lights racing across the roofline?
Our judges are hitting the roads this week and we invite you to join us in evaluating five categories. You can see all the Christmas contenders in the link, but pictures don't do them all justice. We will announce winners next Monday.
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Train of Lights making final runs this weekend
The Wilson Train of Lights has a final weekend of delighting children and adults alike before it heads back to the North Pole.
The train will run 5:30-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday nights at the Recreation Park Miniature Train, 500 Sunset Rd NW. Tickets are $2 per rider (cash only, purchased on site) and bring a few extra dollars for hot chocolate and cookies. A portion of the proceeds benefit Special Olympics of Wilson County.
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Cold weather tips can spare January bill blues
We have had a few overnight lows in the teens this winter. Those cold temps can have you seeing red when you get your utility bills.
We will remind you of these energy-saving tips to avoid high bills:
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Reduce your thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. The smaller the difference between the inside and outside temperatures, the lower your energy usage and bills. We recommend a maximum of 68 degrees in the winter.
- If you heat your home with a heat pump, set it and forget it! Heat pumps work best with a consistent temperature. If you heat with natural gas, you can turn the thermostat down when no one is home and set to the lowest comfortable setting when you are home.
- One of the easiest things customers can do for heating efficiency is to change air filters regularly. A dirty air filter makes a heating system work harder, which uses more energy and can increase costs. Also, have heating systems checked regularly by a qualified heating and air conditioning contractor to maintain efficiency and peak performance.
- Leave drapes or blinds open during sunny winter days to allow the sun's rays to warm the house, but close them at night to help insulate your home.
- One of best energy-saving habits you can do each year is to check windows, doors and vents for air leaks. Caulking, sealing and weatherstripping leaks can save 10% to 20% in heating costs.
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Operate ceiling fans in a clockwise direction in the winter, which pushes warm air back down into the room. (Most fans have a switch that allows you to reverse the motor.) While fans move air and make people more comfortable, they do not provide heat, so remember to turn the fan off when you leave the room.
- Manage water heating. Set your water heater to 120 degrees or less. Water heating is typically the second biggest user of energy in your home.
We do have a tool to help you monitor usage so you won't be shocked by a high bill. MyWilson allows Wilson Energy customers to see your utility consumption (electric, gas and water) over the last year, month or day. The site also includes outdoor temperature data so customers can see how much their usage increases during cold snaps or falls once spring has arrived.
If you don’t have a MyWilson profile, setting up service is easy. Go to MyWilson at the link below. You will be able to locate your accounts with your last name and the last five digits of the Social Security number. Or you can contact customer service for assistance by calling 252-399-2200 or email customerservice@wilsonnc.org. Be sure to include your name and street address for the accounts. City staff will send an invitation via email to link your account and all you will have to do is create a password.
Schedule changes dramatic for Christmas week
We have been warning you about this for a while, and now the difficult week has arrived for our Environmental Services.
City offices will be closed Wednesday, Dec. 24-Friday, Dec. 26, which is an unusually long closure. Typically city offices are closed two days for Christmas. We are not scheduled to have this long a break again until 2029.
This is challenging for Environmental Services because they need to squeeze four routes into two days. Here's how it's supposed to work:
- Monday trash/recycling service is on schedule.
- Tuesday routes will be serviced Monday afternoon.
- Thursday and Friday routes will both be serviced Tuesday.
- There will be no special pickups Wednesday.
This is also challenging for all of us residents too because most of us have extra trash and recycling -- the boxes alone! -- during the holidays. So please help us by getting your containers out and to the curb early. Do not overpack the containers; the lids need to close. If you have bulky items, enter them in the Fix-It Wilson app. But most importantly, please be patient.
Offices, recreation centers close
While offices will be closed Dec. 24-26, you can still pay city bills over the telephone, online or using the kiosk in the drive-thru lane at the city's business office, 208 Nash St. NW. All payments are credited instantly to city or Greenlight accounts.
If you need to reach us, call the dispatch office, which is always staffed, 252-399-2424. We will always have utility and other workers ready to respond to service emergencies.
RIDE will be shut down on Christmas, but available other days. Use the app to book rides.
Of course, we will have first responders working around the clock. Thanks to everyone working holidays, we know Santa is giving you "nice" points, and we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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