The following closures, postponements and changes have been announced. Keep checking back as this list will be updated regularly.
If you have a closure to add to the list, please email freepressnews@kinston.com.
Education
All N.C. public K-12 schools closed until March 30
Bethel Christian Academy moved to online learning for March 16-March 27
Lenoir Community College until March 30
James Sprunt Community College will remain open for faculty and staff only March 16-22, all classes, activities, and events have been canceled.
The national ACT test date scheduled for April 4 has been moved to June 13, 2020 in response to concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). ACT will communicate directly with all students currently registered for the April 4, 2020 ACT test. All students registered for the April 4 test date will receive an email from ACT in the next few days informing them of the postponement and instructions for next steps. To access up-to-date information, additional national test dates options, and other frequently asked questions, please visit: www.ACT.org.
Neuse Regional Libraries – All public libraries in the Neuse Regional Library System will be closed until further notice. Library reference staff will be available from 9-5 each weekday by phone (252-527-7066, Ext. 134) and email (nrl@neuselibrary.org). Please consider using the library’s digital services.
State
NC Aquariums – Closed indefinitely
All local Social Security offices are closed to the public for in-person service as of March 17
Local Government
City of Kinston – City Hall is closed to the public indefinitely. Staff will be available online and by phone for assistance – 252-939-3282
City of Kinston/Lenoir County Parks & Recreation – All centers (Holloway, Georgia K. Mock, Kinston Community, Teachers, and Fairfield) will be closed indefinitely.
Frost Park in Maysville will be closed until at least Monday, April 6.
Store hours
Lazy Gator’s Hemp Farm – your local seed to shelf full-spectrum hemp farm and producer, has modified its store hours and services to help customers during these stressful times. The Farm Store 3376 Hwy 55W will now be open Mondays and Fridays 2 to 6 p.m. The Warehouse Store, located at 4168 Berkley Ave. (next to Lions Industries for the Blind and Lowes) will be open Monday through Friday 10 am until 6 pm, and Saturday 10 am until 2 pm. A 20% discount is being offered on all products until April 1. Orders can be placed on-line and will be shipped for free, or orders can be called in and picked up curbside at the warehouse location. To place an order or for more information, please call 252-286-7396.
Self Help Credit Union – Effective immediately and for an indefinite period of time, we are announcing our decision to close our lobby. We will continue to provide teller services via our drive-thru, and members can use our ATM. Members interested in applying for loans and who have pending applications will be served by phone and electronically through emails and faxes.
Walmart – 7 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Stores that normally open later than 7 a.m. will open at their regular starting hours) – From March 24 through April 28, stores will host an hour-long senior shopping event every Tuesday for customers 60 and older, which will start one hour before stores open.
Harris Teeter – Stores will close at 9 p.m. each night until further notice. Stores will open at their regular times.
Publix – All stores will close at 8 p.m. until further notice.
Sam’s Club – All stores open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. starting March 17.
Belk department stores will be closed March 17-30.
JCPenny – Stores closed through April 2
Advanced Office Solutions – Orders will be shipped directly and service-related issues will be resolved over the phone to the great extent possible. Please contact directly at 1-888-553-4208 or support@advosi.com for assistance.
Lenox – All non-critical production at the Kinston plant has been suspended through March 29. Retail Outlet Store is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Saturday.
Health
Kinston Community Health Center
Dental – As of March 18, 2020, the Dental Department is only accepting emergencies, which will be evaluated at the time of the visit. Will be closed on Friday’s beginning March 20.
Family Medicine – If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, such as fever or cough, please stay home and self-quarantine. If you would like to speak with a nurse or feel that you are in need of medical evaluation, please call KCHC at 252-522-9800 BEFORE coming to the center. Certain visits may be eligible for a telephone consultation or a telemedicine visit with your provider versus coming into the clinic. If your ALREADY SCHEDULED visit qualifies, you will be contacted by the center about making this change. If you are interested in a telephone consultation with a provider, please notify the staff when you call the center, and they will check to see if you qualify.
Behavioral Health – All appointments will be telephonic. There will be telephonic services available at the Behavioral Health Center for patients that are scheduled to come in the office to speak with their provider. Patients will be contacted by the Behavioral Health Patient Relations Specialist regarding the time to come in the office to speak with their provider. Medication Assisted Treatment services will continue to be provided to patients. Until the national COVID-19 pandemic is stable, all prescriptions will be completed weekly and electronically.
Food
Mother Earth – Stop By And Get Beer To-Go! Our Tap Room is closed for regular business in accordance with the governor’s executive order mandating bars and restaurants closed, but you can still get your Mother Earth beer with our curbside pickup! Just place an online order through our website shop.motherearthbrewing.com, pull up to the curb in front of our Tap Room, show us your confirmation, and we’ll have your order ready to go! We’re implementing contactless delivery to protect our employees and to protect you, and we’re also offering 15% discount on all full case purchases! We’ll be offering this from 12pm-8pm, seven days a week, as long as it’s feasible for us to do so.
Chick-Fil-A – Drive-thru only (walk-in orders may be accepted depending on location)
McDonald’s – Seating closed (walk-in orders may be accepted depending on individual franchises)
Arby’s – Seating closed (walk-in orders may be accepted depending on individual franchises)
Starbucks – Seating closed; To-go orders only
Dollar General Corporation announced plans to dedicate the first hour of each shopping day to senior shoppers. Additionally, all stores plan to close one hour earlier than current close times to allow employees to clean and restock store shelves. Normal hours of operation is 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
King’s Restaurant in Kinston – North Queen St. and Vernon Ave. locations are drive-thru only, selling only what is on the drive-thru menu. Highway 70 location is offering curb servce in the front parking lot only.
Denny’s restaurants in all of North Carolina will offer carryout and delivery only in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. All delivery fees will be waived until April 12. For both carryout and delivery, guests can order online at Dennys.com.
Entertainment
AMC Theatres – Closed until further notice.
Regal Cinemas – Closed until further notice.
Events
Downeast Wood Ducks – All activities suspended indefinitely.
Lenoir/Greene United Way Inaugural Garden Patty – Postponed
Kinston-Lenoir County Chamber of Commerce – Wake-Up Lenoir Breakfast scheduled for March 25 will be rescheduled for a later date.
ENC Media Live shows – rescheduled for May 30 & 31 (New Bern) and June 6 & 7 (Jacksonville)
All AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites are suspending operations until further notice
Frost parks in Maysville will be closed until at least Monday, April 6.
Down East Spring Walk to Defeat ALS event to be held on May 2 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville has been postponed.
Little Union Academy of Martial Arts – The Women’s Self Defense class Part 1, scheduled for Saturday, March 28, has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This class along with the Seventeenth Annual Karate Madness Open Championship previously scheduled for March 14, will be rescheduled as soon as possible pending the outcome of the current health crisis. If you have questions, call Little Union Academy at 252-523-5862 or email Littleunionkarate@gmail.com. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook for current updates
