Today's To Dos

The Lenoir County Red Cross will host the following blood drives: n noon-4 p.m. Friday, State Employees Credit Union, 2501 N. Herritage St.;

n 4-8 p.m. Aug. 14, Faith Fellowship Church, 2278 Paul’s Path Road;

n 4-8 p.m. Aug. 14, Southwood Memorial Christian Church, 1027 N.C. 58 S.;

n 4-8 p.m. Aug. 21, Lighthouse Mennonite Church, 1281 Honolulu Road, Grifton;

n 1-4 p.m. Aug. 22, Crouse-Hinds Molded Products, 4758 Washington St., La Grange;

n 8 -11 a.m. Aug. 22, Howell’s Bear Creek, 5841 Greenwood Ave., La Grange;

n noon-6 p.m. Aug. 23, Greene County Office Complex, 229 Kingold Blvd., Snow Hill;

n 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 23, Lenoir Memorial Hospital, 100 Airport Road.

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The Eastern North Carolina Bluegrass Association will hold a concert Saturday, in the Lenoir Community College gym. Bands scheduled to play will be Good Tyme Bluegrass, Boys from Carolina and Carolina Junction. Doors open at 6 p.m. The show will start at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at the door. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free. For more information, call Barbara at (252) 447-3838.

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The Community Council for the Arts will sponsor the Bearfoot Bluegrass outdoor concert at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17, on the farmland of Jack and Kay Harrell. Tickets are $8 in advance for adults, $5 for children ages 13-18 and children under 12 are free. Tickets at the gate will be $10 in advance for adults; $7 ages 13-18; and children 12 and under have free admittance. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and have an awesome evening in the country. Children participating in the music camp will also perform. Beverages and snacks will be available. For more information, call (252) 527-2517.

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The Lenoir County 4-H Club has booked a trip to Shackelford Banks. Participants will leave the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension office at 7 a.m. Aug. 21 and will return to the office by 2 p.m. Activities include fishing, clamming, sorting of nets, and searching for marine life in tidal pools. Bring a bag lunch, money, dry clothes and a wind jacket. Swim suits can be worn under clothes, and shoes to wear in the water will be needed. Fees are $18.50 per person. Children 10 and older are allowed without a parent (adults are welcome to come along). Children 5-9 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, or to sign up, call Tara Taylor at (252) 527-2191.

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Events hosted at the Kinston Lenoir County Public Library for August are:

N An afternoon of reading, fun and ice cream, 7 p.m. Aug. 21. For reservations, call (252) 527-7066 Ext. 133.

N La Grange Branch Library, 3 p.m. Aug. 22, (252) 566-3722

N Pink Hill Branch Library, 2 p.m. Aug. 23, (252) 568-3631

N Greene County Public Library, 11 a.m. Aug. 24, (252) 747-3437

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.