South Carolina Living November / December 2015

LOCAL

Change out

HEROES

When the alarm sounds, S.C. volunteer firefighters are ready to respond

NOV/DEC 2015

SC R E C I PE

Pies for the holidays SC G A R D E N E R

An amaryllis encore

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THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 69 • No. 11 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240) Read in more than 559,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033

Nov/Dec 2015 • Volume 69, Number 11

FEATURE

Tel: (803) 926-3 1 75 Fax: (803) 796-6064 Email: letters@scliving.coop

1 4 In the line of fire

EDITOR

When the alarm sounds, South Carolina’s volunteer firefighters are ready to respond.

Keith Phillips ASSISTANT EDITOR

Diane Veto Parham FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Pam Martin

ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

Susan Collins PRODUCTION

Mic Smith

Andrew Chapman WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Susan Scott Soyars Becky Billingsley, Mike Couick, Jim Dulley, Hastings Hensel, Jan A. Igoe, Charles Joyner, Cele & Lynn Seldon, Belinda Smith-Sullivan, S. Cory Tanner Publisher

Lou Green Advertising

Mary Watts Tel: (803) 739-5074 Email: ads@scliving.coop National Representation

Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

If you encounter a difficulty with an advertisement, inform the Editor.

ADDRESS CHANGES: Please send

Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, S.C., and additional mailing offices. © COPYRIGHT 201 5. The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING is brought to you by your member-owned, taxpaying, not-for-profit electric cooperative to inform you about your cooperative, wise energy use and the faces and places that identify the Palmetto State. Electric cooperatives are South Carolina’s — and America’s — largest utility network.

6 ON THE AGENDA

Downtown Columbia prepares for another famously hot New Year’s Eve. Plus: Meet the candidates for the 2015 Mr. Football award, and vote for your favorite player in our reader poll.

POWER USER DIALOGUE

10 The value of independence Independence is a defining core value of our country and South Carolina’s not-forprofit electric cooperatives.

SMART CHOICE

12 Hearty holidays

Put a little fun into your holiday meal prep with these clever kitchen gadgets.

For Dale and Trish Parris, playing the parts of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus is a year-round passion.

TR AVELS

22 Way back on the farm

Horry County’s L.W. Paul Living History Farm grows interest in S.C. agriculture.

22

GARDENER

28 Amaryllis: Holiday flower,

garden showpiece

With some basic care, this popular holiday bloom can decorate your landscape for years to come.

RECIPE

30 Holiday pies

28

Four easy recipes to make this holiday season the tastiest one yet.

CHEF’S CHOICE

LOCAL

HEROES

NOV/DEC 2015

SC R E C I PE

Member of the NCM network of publications, reaching more than 7 million homes and businesses

STORIES

21 ’Tis always the season

32 South Carolina on a plate

When the alarm sounds, S.C. volunteer firefighters are ready to respond

Printed on recycled paper

SC LIFE

Pies for the holidays SC G A R D E N E R

An amaryllis encore

Danny Gaskins, a district chief with South Lynches Fire Department, douses the last embers of a house fire. Photo by Mike Eaddy.

For Chef Brandon Velie, locally sourced ingredients are the key to great Southern cuisine.

HUMOR ME

38 The dogs made me do it Four legs and a tail add up to animal attraction for humor columnist Jan Igoe.

34 MARKETPLACE 36 SC EVENTS

30

Marian St. Clair

to your local co-op. Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Address Change, c/o the address above.

Cooperative news

Milton Morris

National Country Market Tel: (800) NCM-1181

4 CO-OP CONNECTION

Michael phillips

Contributors

On the Agenda For a listing p m co lete s, see of Event 6 page 3

TOP PICK FOR KIDS

Highlights

NOVEMBER 13–JANUARY 3

NOVEMBER 28

Holiday Festival of Lights

50th Annual Chitlin Strut

Fifty years of chitlins is a lot of pig innards, and not to be taken lightly. The state legislature has even saluted Salley’s festival this year as Chitlin Strut Day. Formalities aside, the Saturdayafter-Thanksgiving feast will, as always, include plenty of fried and boiled chitterlings. As a bonus, Lizard Lick Towing reality show stars Ron and Amy Shirley (above) and Cousin Johnny will be on hand to meet and greet fans.

For details, visit chitlinstrut.com or call (803) 258-3485.

A merry and bright start to the holidays awaits at this shimmering Lowcountry event, with more than two million lights decorating a three-mile loop through James Island County Park. Take a driving tour of more than 750 light displays, many reflected colorfully in ponds and lagoons, or park and enjoy marshmallow roasts, train and carousel rides, and visits with Santa.

For details, visit holidayfestivaloflights.com or call (843) 795-4386.

NOVEMBER 6–JANUARY 10

Christmas at Biltmore The Biltmore Company

Get inspiration for Christmas decorating on a grand scale at Biltmore House in Asheville. Dozens of elegant, hand-decorated trees, including one 34 feet high in the banquet hall, will grace the former Vanderbilt estate home. Along with spectacular holiday displays, visitors can enjoy decorating seminars, poinsettia and tropical plant exhibits, roving carolers, visits with Santa, Candlelight Christmas Evenings, and a gingerbread house tea party.

For details, visit biltmore.com/christmasdaytime or biltmore.com/candlelight, or call (800) 411-3812.

DECEMBER 31

Famously Hot New Year 2016 Looking for somewhere to ring in 2016?

How about smack downtown in the capital city? Columbia will host a huge, free, outdoor New Year’s Eve party, with Grammy-winning R&B/pop singer Lauryn Hill headlining on the music stage. Familyfriendly fun includes ice skating, rides, karaoke, big-screen TVs showing football games, and food and drink up and down Main Street. Cap it off with a midnight fireworks show over the State House.

Jeff Blake

For details, visit famouslyhotnewyear.com or facebook.com/FamouslyHotNewYear.

6

JANUARY 13–14

S.C. AgriBiz & Farm Expo

This showcase for the state’s agricultural community is themed “Efficiency and Effectiveness on the Farm,” with displays of farm equipment and products, plus classes on small farms, the cattle industry, and farming technology, all at Florence Civic Center.

New this year is a lunchtime S.C. Food Truck Rodeo, featuring the Department of Agriculture’s new “It’s a Matter of Taste” food truck, among others. S.C. food products will also be spotlighted at the Taste of South Carolina event on Wednesday evening.

For details, visit scagribizexpo.com or call (864) 237-3648.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

Email COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND Story suggestions TO LETTERS@SCLIVING.COOP

S.C. cooperatives recognized as national Solar Power Player

Season’s greetings from South Carolina Living We hope you enjoy this combined November/

December issue of South Carolina Living throughout the holiday season. We’ll be back in January with our next regular issue full of energy-saving tips, d ­ elicious recipes, eye-catching photos and stories about the people, places and experiences that make life in South Carolina so enjoyable.

Stay in touch over the holidays with these bonus features scheduled to be released Dec. 1 on SCLiving.coop and the South Carolina Living email ­newsletter.

Not a newsletter subscriber? Sign up today at SCLiving.coop/newsletter.

D e c e mb e r b o n u s sto ri e s

O n ly o n

SCLiving.coop

Bonus video

Pie making 101. Chef Belinda has her finger on the pulse of making perfect pie dough. See how it’s done at SCLiving.coop/food/chefbelinda.

Bonus Article

Energy Q&A: Insulated shades save energy. Installing insulated window shades is an easy and attractive way to boost your home’s comfort and energy savings this winter.

Country Curtains

Cooking up energy savings. u Use these tips to save energy while still enjoying all your ­favorite holiday foods.

Improve indoor air quality.

Follow these tips to filter and refresh the air in your home.

Hot holiday items. u Celebrate the holiday season in style with this roundup of games and toys.

Humor Me. Get your December dose of laughs c­ ourtesy of humor c­ olumnist Jan Igoe. t New Year’s hors d’oeuvres.

Chef Belinda’s shrimp taco bites will make your New Year’s Eve party one to remember.

Recognizing the leadership role that electric cooperatives took in crafting South Carolina’s first solar legislation, the Solar Electric Power Asso­ciation (SEPA) has named The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina and Central Electric Power Cooperative a 2015 Solar Power Player.

The national award recognizes the ­collaborative efforts made by cooperative leaders to create the Distributed Energy ­Resources Act of 2014 in partnership with other utilities, solar companies and conservation groups. That law has led to new utility incentives and solar leasing and will result in 300 megawatts of solar power over the next five years.

Interactive feature

Get our free email newsletter. Get everything you love about South Carolina Living delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for our free email newsletter at SCLiving.coop/newsletter.

Like us on Facebook

Join us as we celebrate all that’s great about life in South Carolina. Add to the conversation and share your photos at facebook.com/SouthCarolinaLiving.

scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

7

On the Agenda Letter to the editor

SPIRIT

Battle of Eutaw Springs

FA & WINLL TER TRAVEL ISSUE

OF ’76

Thank you for the excellent

Exploring South Carolina’s role in the Revolution

article on the American Revolution in South Carolina (“Reliving the Solving a slippery slope Tailgating treats American Revolution,” SCL, September 2015). As a member and a past state president (2009) of the South Carolina Society Sons of the American Revolution (SCSSAR), I appreciate any and all publications that promote patriotism by telling the stories of our ancestors who sacrificed so much to give us the freedoms and liberties we enjoy today. The article by Dik Daso and Keith Phillips with photos by Mic Smith was presented beautifully in the magazine.

I must point out one overlooked—but very important—battle missing from the sidebar “Key moments in the American Revolution.”

A little more than a month before Cornwallis’ surrender in October 1781, the Battle of Eutaw Springs was fought in what is now eastern Orangeburg County. The date was Sept. 8, 1781. Gen. Nathanael Greene led a group of Patriots south to try to break up the British occupation of S.C. The battle, one of the bloodiest of the war, was fought for most of that morning. The conflict ended with Greene’s troops retreating, but it was a hollow victory for the British, as they lost many troops and limped back to Charleston.

Our local SAR chapter celebrates the anniversary of this very important Revolutionary War battle every September. A patriotic service is held in Eutawville followed by an honor wreath ceremony at the battle monument site in the Eutaw Springs community.

This past September, we observed the 234th anniversary of the battle. Dr. Christine Swager, author of The Valiant Died: The Battle of Eutaw Springs, was our speaker.

Just making sure this battle is remembered in the spirit of ’76.

SC G A R D E N E R

SEPTEMBER 2015

SC R E C I PE

Douglas Doster, secretary/treasurer, Battle of Eutaw Springs Chapter, SCSSAR

Write us We love hearing from our readers. Tell us what you think

about this issue, send us story suggestions or just let us know what’s on your mind by clicking on the Contact Us link at SCLiving.coop. You can also email us at letters@scliving.coop, or mail to Letters, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033. All letters received are subject to editing before publication.

S.C.RAMBLE!

By Charles Joyner, See Answer ON Page 35

_ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _

c b m a d r l e s b l on the walls of the state Capitol building in Columbia mark where Union artillery struck in 1865 as Gen. William T. Sherman burned a swath across the state.

Use the capital letters in the code key below to fill in the blanks above.

A B E N O R S T Z means s c r a m b l ed

8

GONE FISHIN’ The Vektor Fish & Game Forecast provides feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour. Minor peaks, ½ hour before and after.

Minor

AM Major

November

17 11:31 3:16 18 — 4:31 19 — 6:01 20 1:16 7:16 21 2:46 8:31 22 9:16 4:01 23 10:16 4:46 24 11:01 5:46 25 11:46 6:31 26 7:16 12:01 27 8:01 12:46 28 8:46 1:31 29 9:31 2:01 30 10:31 2:46

Minor

5:16 9:01 11:01 12:31 8:01 1:16 2:01 8:46 2:46 9:31 3:16 10:01 3:46 10:46 4:31 11:31 — 5:01 12:16 5:31 1:01 6:01 1:46 6:31 2:46 7:16 4:01 7:46

December

1 11:16 2 — 3 — 4 1:46 5 3:16 6 8:46 7 9:31 8 10:16 9 11:01 10 11:31 11 — 12 7:46 13 8:16 14 9:01 15 9:46 16 10:31

PM Major

3:31 6:01 8:46 4:16 7:46 12:01 5:16 8:16 12:46 6:31 1:31 8:46 7:46 2:01 9:16 4:01 2:31 9:46 4:46 3:01 10:16 5:31 3:31 10:46 6:01 4:01 11:16 6:31 4:31 11:46 7:01 12:16 5:16 12:16 12:46 5:46 1:01 1:31 6:16 1:31 2:16 7:01 2:16 3:16 8:01 3:01 4:31 9:16

Minor

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

4:01 11:01 5:01 7:16 6:31 1:01 3:01 1:46 4:16 2:31 5:01 3:16 5:46 4:01 6:31 — 12:01 12:16 12:31 12:46 1:01 1:31 1:46 2:16 2:16 3:16 2:46 8:46 3:16 10:16

6:01 12:16 8:16 9:16 10:01 10:31 11:16 4:46 5:16 6:01 6:31 7:01 7:46 4:16 5:31

December

17 11:31 18 — 19 1:16 20 7:46 21 9:01 22 10:01 23 10:46 24 11:31 25 7:16 26 7:46 27 8:16 28 8:46 29 9:31 30 10:01 31 10:31

January

1 4:01 11:31 — 2 12:46 4:46 12:01 3 3:01 6:16 12:46 4 8:01 4:01 1:31 5 9:01 4:46 2:16 6 10:01 5:16 3:01 7 10:46 5:46 3:46 8 11:31 6:16 4:16 9 — 6:46 12:01 10 7:31 12:16 12:46 11 8:01 12:46 1:16 12 8:31 1:31 2:01 13 9:16 2:01 3:01 14 9:46 2:46 9:16 15 10:31 3:31 11:01 16 4:31 11:16 —

7:16 8:01 8:46 9:16 10:01 10:31 11:01 11:31 5:01 5:46 6:31 7:16 8:16 4:01 5:16 6:31

And the winners are

Congratulations to South Carolina Living readers Darlene Langenburg of Leesville and Billie Coleman of Mauldin. They are the winners of $100 gift cards in our Reader Reply Travel Sweepstakes.

Correction and clarification Some information provided in our October 2015 Energy Q&A column about companies that offer duct booster fans, register booster fans and air-register deflectors was incomplete or incorrect. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

To clarify, companies that offer duct booster fans include Aero-Flo Industries (aero-flo.com; 219-393-3555) and Field Controls (fieldcontrols.com; 252-522-3031).

Companies that offer register booster fans include Air Flow Technology (aftproducts.com; 800-458-5540), Suncourt, Inc. (suncourt.com; 800-999-3267) and Tjernlund (tjernlund.com; 800-255-4208).

Air-register deflectors are available from Deflecto Corporation (deflecto.com; 800-428-4328). Ameriflow no longer offers this product.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

WHEN: Dec. 12, 2015. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium,

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TICKETS: Advance-purchase tickets

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Search for Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl.

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South Carolina’s top high school football players clash on Dec. 12

Colburn of Dutch Fork High School, is now a freshman running back at Wake Forest.

“It means a great deal to me,” Colburn said after being named Mr. Football. “It makes all that hard work, blood, sweat and tears all the more memorable.” —Van O’Cain

SCLiving.coop Reader Poll

Who has what it takes to be the next Mr. Football?

Visit SCLiving.coop/mrfootball2015 to meet the five finalists for the 2015 S.C. Mr. Football title. Check out player stats, watch highlight-reel videos and vote in our exclusive reader poll. Who do you think deserves the 2015 award?

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The game is a showcase for South Carolina’s top graduating seniors. The South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association has run the project since 1947.

Proceeds are directed to a scholarship fund that assists the children of coaches.

The week prior to the game, on Dec. 3, the association also will announce the winner of South Carolina’s 2015 Mr. Football award—the highest honor for a state player.

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scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

9

Dialogue

The value of independence never separate from who we are and from where we came. last several months, you know that I have Historically, when cooperatives have stepped focused on a different cooperative principle away from their members’ interests, they’ve each issue. The topic for this month is the gotten into trouble. There’s a certain wisdom fourth ­principle—cooperative autonomy and that comes from knowing you have a memberindependence.

The 1,000-year flood brought to me a ship that has democratic control and being able renewed sense that autonomy and indepento go back there from time to time to get a reinfusion of wisdom and dence are an essential, enthusiasm. but certainly not a standThe Seven My favorite businesses, alone, principle for coopCo o p e r at iv e pri n cipl e s my favorite stores or reseratives. But for all of the seven cooperative printaurants, are all locally 1. Voluntary and open membership owned. Such places are ciples working in concert, 2. Democratic member control South Carolina’s rural ones that have grown up 3. Members’ economic participation in the community and families in the 1930s 4. Autonomy and independence both understand and and 1940s might have 5. Education, training and information reflect it in their quality retained their autonomy 6. Cooperation among cooperatives of goods and services. and independence but They keep us satisfied and would have continued to 7. Concern for community coming back because they live and work in darkness. are us.

Only by banding together The character of a cooperative’s democratic did neighbors become a cooperative, stringcontrol is identical. Cooperatives, by virtue of ing wires to poles and delivering power to the independence and autonomy, are local. What’s countryside. good for the Pee Dee, the Lowcountry, the Independence is a defining core value of Upstate or the Midlands is not the same as the our country. It’s as American as apple pie and needs of the island of Kauai or native villages in is fundamental to how we view ourselves and Alaska, and yet co-ops serve them all. our place in the world. As self-help organizaThe strength of community is in its undertions controlled by members, co-ops maintain an independence that ensures that local issues, standing of its unique identity and needs and its interests and capital stay local and benefit commitment to serving both. Cooperatives do members. Local control is key. this as well as any business in America, which is Cooperatives have run into trouble by thinkwhy they have been so successful for seven-anda-half decades. ing they had to be big to be relevant or by being We are communities of South Carolinians tempted to sell their independence in order to who will always be best served through the survive. In effect, they mortgaged their birthdemocratic control of our cooperatives, by right and their biggest asset—their connection exercising autonomy and independence in to the members. our affairs, and by adhering to all seven of the How? Maybe by entering into entangling cooperative principles. relationships with financial institutions or other utilities. We also must be mindful that we’re not government. We can partner with government, we can partner with banks and we can partner with investor-owned utilities, but we should If you have followed this column for the

Mike Couick

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

10

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

SmartChoice

By Becky Billingsley

Hearty holidays

Treat yourself to these clever kitche n gadgets to make holiday mea fun, or give th l prep more em as the chefs in yo gifts to ur life.

COUNTER CULTURE

PALATE PLEASERS

FLAVOR EXTRACTION It’s almost as much fun to watch the KitchenAid Siphon Coffee Brewer work as it is to drink its flavorful coffee. Rich tastes emerge as vapor pressure pushes water into a globe and filtered coffee cascades down into a chic carafe. $200. (877) 812-6235; williams-sonoma.com.

BREAKFAST CLUB Hamilton Beach calls it a Breakfast Burrito Maker, but this handy, two-layer tool can also keep houseguests happy with a ready supply of omelets, stuffed pancakes or crepes. $45. (800) 851-8900; hamiltonbeach.com.

SIDE BY SIDE Keep a couple of extra side dishes hot and ready for holiday guests with an easy-to-clean Waring Pro Portable Double Burner. Its cast-iron plates—one large, one small—heat quickly with independent, adjustable thermostats. $80. (800) 322-1189; jcpenney.com.

HOT OFF THE GRILL Host a tabletop grilling party where guests cook up meat and veggie morsels and drizzle them with melted cheese using a Longi 19-piece Reversible Party Grill Raclette. It has flat and ribbed sides for sandwiches, omelets, meats, veggies, fruits and delicious toasted cheeses. $140.

(888) 280-4331; amazon.com.

QUICK FIXES

A-PEELING OPTION No sous chef? No worries. Let the Dash Go Rapid Peeler peel fruits, make curly potato fries or strip zucchini into ribbons for you.

Great for hands that tire easily in the kitchen. $20. (800) 462-3966; bedbathandbeyond.com.

MEATY ISSUES

GOBBLE IT UP Designed for indoor cooking, the Butterball XL Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer cooks birds up to 20 pounds at 3.5 to 4 minutes per pound. You can also fry up fish or French fries or fill with water to cook Lowcountry boils and steamed veggies. A drain spout makes for easy cleanup. $129. (800) 466-3337; homedepot.com.

HOME GROUND Game hunters and cooks who create food gifts will find the Kitchener ½-horsepower No. 12 Electric Meat Grinder handy in the kitchen. It efficiently grinds meats for sausages, meatloaf mixes, jerky and more. $100. (800) 221-0516; northerntool.com.

SLOW AND STEADY The Crock-Pot Programmable Casserole Crock Slow Cooker serves not only as an extra, digitally controlled “oven” in busy kitchens, it’s also perfect for carrying a hot casserole or lasagna to a gathering while safely maintaining its temperature. $50.

(800) 323-9519; crock-pot.com.

12

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

SMOOTHIE POWER Every ounce of juicy goodness from fruits and vegetables blends into a quick and refreshing smoothie with the Nutri Ninja 8-Piece Extractor Blender Set with Auto-iQ. For holiday menus, it also whips up lush eggnog, lump-free gravies and smooth dips.

Preprogrammed settings help time the blending process. $120, includes 3 cups with lids. (800) 462-3966; bedbathandbeyond.com.

TEMP SERVICES Whether roasting meats, crafting home brews or making candy, busy chefs can call on Supermechanical’s Range smart thermometer to guarantee perfect cooking temperatures and track results over time. It works with iOS devices to sound alerts when temps are spot on. $130 for two different tips.

(512) 814-7186; supermechanical.com.

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scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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14

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

Dark smoke is seeping out

from tiny gaps around the Doors, windows and eaves. It is silent, sinister,

hinting at the flames burning somewhere inside.

An upstairs window bursts open, unleashing a gray cloud that wraps the scene in a murky haze, scratching at the eyes and throats of onlookers.

Fire hose in hands, three volunteers with South Lynches Fire Department push through the front door. They plow through thick smoke and searing heat in tight formation, their right hands grazing walls as they feel their way in the dark.

Bundled head to toe in bulky protective gear, a limited air supply strapped to their backs, they know the clock is ticking. Hands and eyes sweep each room, searching for anyone who may be trapped, waiting for rescue.

Find the victim, fight the fire, get out safely—that’s their mission, even when it’s just another Tuesday-night drill.

The South Lynches volunteers are among more than 11,000 unpaid firefighters who serve across South Carolina.

By day, you’ll find them at their regular jobs or in school.

On training nights, like this live-burn drill, they give up time with families and friends to sweat through strenuous maneuvers so they’ll be ready when the emergency is real.

And when the alarm sounds, they come—at all hours, well trained and willing to help. For free.

“They get nothing,” says South Lynches Fire Chief Robbie Steele, a Santee Electric Cooperative member and a 40-year volunteer.

“They’re putting their lives on the line to save somebody else.” l l

Most people run from burning buildings.

Volunteer firefighters run in—for free.

BY DIANE VETO PARHAM | Photos by Mic Smith

scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

15

In the line of fire

P r a c t ic e m a k e s p e rf e c t

DRILL TEAM James Epps (in blue cap, above) readies volunteers for a liveburn drill, assigning firefighters to one of three crews—fire attack, search and rescue, or rapid intervention team, which moves in to rescue any downed firefighters. Inside the smoke-filled burn building, crews rely on coordinated teamwork and constant communication to battle the fire and search for victims. After the drill, volunteers efficiently stack the hose in sections and load it back on the truck, ready to deploy quickly when needed.

When they ’re needed the most

It was the real deal last June, when South Lynches firefighters responded to a warehouse fire at East Coast Erosion Blankets in Lake City, where millions of pounds of stored straw bales caught fire. The alarm sounded shortly before 9 a.m. on a Friday. Within five minutes, the first volunteers were on the scene, Steele says.

Over the next 34 hours, more than 100 firefighters— South Lynches crews, plus others from neighboring departments and across the state—battled the huge blaze even as outside temperatures soared to 103 F. Steele rotated his volunteers in and out of the warehouse frequently, giving them time to cool down and grab fresh air tanks.

By Saturday evening, the exhausted volunteers had quenched the fire and minimized property damage, with no injuries other than a few cases of heat exhaustion.

Steele can recite multiple stories of how South Lynches volunteers have saved lives and property because they were trained and ready to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice. But not all calls have happy endings.

Firefighter Tim Watson, a volunteer with Edgefield Fire Department, doesn’t like to talk about it, but he has vivid memories of responding at the scene of a head-on ­collision between a semi-trailer truck and a family car carrying a father and his two children. The kids survived; the father did not.

“It was a gruesome thing to have to deal with,” says Watson, a first-class lineman with Aiken Electric Cooperative. “You bring it home with you, but you don’t dwell on it. That separates the people who can do the job from those who can’t handle it.”

A routine call to a fire or accident often turns out to be the moment you made a critical difference in someone’s life, says Greg Tisdale, a volunteer for both Williamsburg County Fire Department and Kingstree Fire Department.

“When somebody’s life is falling apart, you’re there to save what you can,” says Tisdale, project manager for safety and training at Santee Electric Cooperative. “You’re there when they need you the most.”

T h e h e a rt o f a v o l u n t e e r

Being willing and able to help their neighbors is why volunteers like Watson and Tisdale—along with many other co-op employees and members statewide—join volunteer fire departments.

“It’s something you don’t do on a whim,” Watson says.

“You have to have a calling to want to help the community.”

The job demands a hefty time commitment. That’s the biggest challenge in recruiting and keeping volunteers, who make up nearly two-thirds of South Carolina’s firefighting forces. Over the past 30 years, the number of volunteers across the U.S. has dropped 13 percent, creating a shortage in South Carolina and other states, according to Bryan Riebe, recruitment and retention coordinator for the S.C. State Firefighters Association.

16

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

‘ It’s something you don’t do on a whim. You have to have a calling to want to help the community.’

— Tim Watson, Edgefield Fire Department volunteer and Aiken Electric Cooperative First-class Lineman

TEAM LEADERS Officers who lead the South Lynches Fire Department in emergency response operations and regular drills include (left to right) Capt. James Epps, a paid staff member in charge of personnel and training; and longtime volunteers David Malone, assistant chief, and Robbie Steele, chief. The SLFD crew of about 130 volunteer firefighters at nine stations serves south-central Florence County and northwestern Williamsburg County.

Mike Eaddy/SLFD

Forward-looking departments, like South Lynches, are recruiting young volunteers still in high school, beginning their extensive training before jobs and families start competing for their time, Riebe says.

“We try to get recruits in as junior members,” says James Epps, captain and personnel coordinator for South Lynches, which serves parts of Florence and Williamsburg counties.

“By the time they turn 18, they’ve already completed their training, and they can start fighting fires.”

Volunteers complete all the same training that paid firefighters do, Epps says. Fires pose the same dangers whether you’re paid to fight them or not. And many calls also demand skills for handling vehicle accidents, medical emergencies and hazardous waste incidents.

The basic course is 113 hours and covers firefighting essentials, including rescues, ladder and rope skills, water supply, ventilation, and live-fire training. Paid firefighters can knock that out in four weeks of full-day training, but it takes about three months for volunteers in part-time classes, Epps says.

Add in mandatory training on hazardous materials, plus learning first aid and CPR, which South Lynches requires, and more coursework to achieve Firefighter 1 or 2 status— all told, it’s nearly 200 hours. Once certified, all firefighters attend regular drills to keep skills fresh.

“It’s a real challenge. There’s what life requires of you, then you throw in what we require—it’s tough,” Epps says.

There’s more training if you want to be allowed to drive the fire truck. (Doesn’t everybody want to drive the truck?

ON THE SCENE On a rainy night last January, SLFD volunteers responded to a mobile home fire on First Oxtown Road, just northeast of Lake City.

SLFD volunteer Mike Eaddy photographed his fellow firefighters battling the blaze around 10 p.m.

“Yeah,” Epps admits with a grin, “some people just want to drive the truck!”) Drivers pick up an added responsibility, he says: “Somebody has to come and get the truck when the call comes in at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning.”

Then there’s the challenge of learning how to suit up in 60 pounds of bunker gear in less than two minutes, from the feet up—boots, pants, suspenders, jacket, flash hood (covers the head and tucks into the coat collar), air pack with body straps, face mask, helmet and gloves.

To give me a feel for it all, Steele let me suit up in his bunker gear and walk through a smoke-filled live-burn drill.

It took five helpful firefighters about seven minutes to get me fitted and tucked safely into all the gear (see page 20).

And, yes, it’s very heavy—even heavier when it gets wet.

scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

17

In the line of fire

‘ W h a t if n o b o dy a n sw e rs i t ? ’

Balancing department duties with jobs and families is an ongoing challenge for volunteers.

Calls for help are almost always “not good timing— usually you’re not just sitting around,” says Josh Strickland, a married father of two young children who volunteers with Grove Fire Department in Anderson County. On a recent evening, after being up late with his kids, he got called out to a house fire at 1:30 a.m., came home exhausted three hours later, and had to get ready for work as a Little River Electric Cooperative lineman at 5 a.m.

But when that tell-tale tone sounds on the pager, v­olunteers feel a deep sense of obligation to respond.

“If you’re a paid firefighter, you work your shift, and

Calls for help are almost always ‘not good timing—usually you’re not just sitting around.’

— Josh Strickland, Grove Fire Department Volunteer and Little River Electric cooperative lineman

you go home, but if you’re a volunteer, whenever that tone goes off, you go,” Watson says. “What if nobody answers it?”

Employers vary in the freedom they give volunteers to leave work to respond to emergency calls, Epps says.

Smaller, family-owned businesses may be more willing to let an employee leave to fight a fire. Corporate bosses may be less flexible.

Concern for Across the state, electric cooperative employees and others affiliated with the co-ops serve as emergency responders.

Here are some of the people who live the cooperative principle of “concern for community” as volunteers: Jason Floyd, lineman, Santee Electric Cooperative; Station 13 lieutenant, Clarendon County Fire Department Watching firefighters rescue his parents’ burning house when he was just 15 inspired Floyd’s wish to be just like them. “When I saw it, I said, ‘I’ve got to do this,’ ” he says. “It’s not really about being a hero; I just want to be a help to people.”

Jeremy Courtney, lineman, Aiken

Electric Cooperative; firefighter, Johnston Fire Department Courtney decided to volunteer after the Johnston Fire Department came to the rescue of his brother, who was injured in a bad vehicle accident during an evening thunderstorm. Courtney was out working a power outage for the co-op when the accident happened.

Lindsi Schofield, daughter of Aiken

Electric Cooperative member services representative Lisa Lucas; former firefighter with Couchton Fire Rescue, Aiken; now a professional EMT in Murrells Inlet Couchton’s 2013 Volunteer of the Year, Schofield remembers, “We kind of lived at

18

Chris Frye, line crew supervisor, Santee

Electric Cooperative; firefighter, Clarendon County Fire Department Frye knows he faces dangers routinely in his roles as both a lineman and a firefighter. But he enjoys the camaraderie of both jobs and “trying to help save people’s property, and their memories.”

the department” during South Carolina’s big ice storm in 2014. She and a paramedic drove Schofield’s four-wheel-drive truck down a remote dirt road to rescue a pregnant woman in premature labor during the storm, because the ambulance couldn’t handle the rough, icy terrain.

Benji Brown, warehouse/staker, Aiken

Electric Cooperative; firefighter, Center Fire Department, Aiken Brown describes his fellow firefighters as “a brotherhood” that works and trains together. “You learn to trust the people you work with.”

Billy House, construction planner, Blue

Ridge Electric Cooperative; firefighter, Holly Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Inman “I’m always making sure the guys are doing stuff safely on the scene. I want to make sure at the end of the day they go home to their families and enjoy life.”

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

Trina Adams, field representative, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative; volunteer, Oconee County Special Rescue and Oconee County Dive Team Adams volunteers alongside her husband, Steven, who serves as chief of Fair Play Fire Department. “It’s a calling,” she says. “You have to care. It has to be a passion.”

Stacey Tisdale, line

crew supervisor, Santee Electric Cooperative; captain, Williamsburg County Fire Department and Kingstree Fire Department As a co-op lineman, Tisdale was often called out to structure fires in his Kingstree community, cutting power to a house or business to keep the scene safe for emergency responders and bystanders. The department’s firefighters encouraged him to join up, since he was usually on hand anyway.

Now, when he’s on call at a fire for the co-op, he’ll suit up to help fight the fire after he’s completed his co-op duties.

Chris Cady, manager of supply chain and facilities for Aiken Electric Cooperative, knows linemen aren’t always able to leave a job site to respond to emergencies. In his office role, Cady, who volunteers as a firefighter with Couchton Fire Rescue and chairs its board of trustees, has a little more freedom.

“You find a lot of firemen at co-ops, even on the line crew where it’s not as easy to get away. Sometimes it’s easier [for me] to say, ‘Hey, nothing’s happening right this minute, I can run down to this medical call and be back in an hour or two,’ ” Cady says. “Not many companies would let their employees do that.”

Aiken Electric, located in Couchton’s service district, has a “symbiotic relationship” with the department, Cady says,

supporting volunteers’ service and providing extra equipment to the fire department when needed.

“There’s a real connection between the co-op and the fire department,” Cady says. “The co-op has that commitment to community, and the service I give to the fire department is part of serving the community.”

B a ckb o n e o f t h e n a t i o n

Unlike so many S.C. fire departments that are struggling to keep enough volunteers trained and ready to help in an emergency, South Lynches is “comfortable” right now, Steele says, with 130 firefighters on its roster, answering 800 to 1,000 calls a year.

But recruiting goes on constantly, because the numbers

c o mm u n i t y Oliver Dowdle, safety and job training

coordinator, York Electric Cooperative; chief, Sharon Fire and Rescue A 31-year volunteer, Dowdle has watched Sharon’s roster dwindle through the years, with fewer recruits to replace those who age out. Still, somebody has to answer the calls, he says. “People expect somebody to be there when they need help, but they don’t want to be the ones to have to do it.”

If you want to volunteer home fire that was started accidentally by a toddler playing with a lighter. Though volunteers were on the scene quickly, “there was nothing we could do to get to her in time,” he recalls. “I think about that all the time. It still hurts my heart.”

Berton Taylor at Providence Baptist Church

Bret Timmerman, lineman, Little River Electric Cooperative; firefighter, Cold Spring Fire and Rescue, Abbeville There was fleeting moment, once, as Timmerman rushed into a huge fire at an Abbeville mill, that he asked himself: Why am I doing this? “You need to have your heart in it to do the job,” he says. “Don’t do it for the glory. Do it because you want to help people.

Not because you want to get in the big truck with the big lights and the sirens on.”

Arthur Bays, chairman, Lynches River

Electric Cooperative Operation Round Up board; volunteer, Teal’s Mill Volunteer Fire Department, Chesterfield Now 70, Bays still carries the memory of an infant who died, many years ago, in a mobile

Roger Smith, Lynches River Electric

Cooperative Operation Round Up board; safety officer, Sandhill Volunteer Fire Department, Jefferson As both a grandfather and the safety officer at his department, Smith (pictured at a recent 9/11 memorial in Pageland) is mindful of the importance of teaching children about fire safety. It’s gratifying, he says, to be at the

No matter what first attracts someone to volunteering as a firefighter, eventually the service is its own reward, South Lynches Fire Department Capt. James Epps says.

“People may walk in the door for excitement. But two or three years down the road, they don’t care as much about that,” Epps says. “It’s more about helping people.”

Volunteers can serve as firefighters, EMTs, administrative helpers, chaplains, or other auxiliary supporters. Training requirements vary according to the position. Teens can start training as young as 15 through junior programs, but they cannot participate in active firefighting until they turn 18.

Requirements for serving as a volunteer firefighter vary by local fire department, but generally volunteers must: u be at least 18 years of age; u have a high school diploma or GED; u pass a SLED background check; and u be approved as medically fit for duty.

To volunteer, visit scvolunteerfire.org or call the National Volunteer Fire Council recruitment line at (800) 347-3546.

scene of a fire and know that the kids got out of the house safely because they learned their lessons about listening for smoke alarms and knowing escape routes. “Material things can be replaced,” Smith says. “People can’t.”

scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

19

In the line of fire

Suiting up

BY DIANE VETO PARHAM

As I lumber toward the burn building, and around my torso. “Do a little hop,” my Fire Department in Lake City uses for training assistant chief David Malone high fives coaches tell me, to shift the pack up higher is impressive—four stories high on one end, me—just like a hero. Suddenly, I catch the on my back, so it doesn’t drag me down so firefighters can practice rappelling down thrill of the moment, the sense of adventure. backwards. The air mask clamps over my the exterior; an interior maze of rooms of Firefighters love the battle, Steele tells me. face—a little claustrophobic. Suddenly, my varying shapes and heights; lots of stairs; com- air pack starts beeping. If a firefighter is “You’ll see them come out of a fire, soaking puterized sensors to monitor temperatures. wet, whip their masks off. They’ll high five motionless for 30 seconds, the air pack emits And, wow, does it smell smoky in there. each other and talk about, boy, that was hot, high-pitched beeps to alert his partners that I toured it in street clothes, with and what happened in there,” he says. doors and windows open to let “They like the challenge.” sunlight in, and no fire burning inside.

Stepping into the dark building, Then SLFD Chief Robbie Steele offered I check to make sure my firefighter to let me walk through a live-burn chaperones surround me. I jiggle that drill—an opportunity I couldn’t air regulator like crazy, although the pass up. beeps are kind of comforting.

First, I had to suit up. Firefighters do A wave of heat assaults me the this very quickly. I may have set a new moment I enter. This is just a small, record for slow. controlled fire; what must a real Bunker gear goes on from the feet structure fire feel like? Smoke blocks up. Boots start out tucked inside the my vision as we inch toward the pants legs, so you can climb into both fire—burning bales of straw, which in one motion. (Except it takes me are safely confined inside a cage. three tries to get it right.) The hefty With each step, the heat grows boots make my feet feel leaden. more intense.

Could I do this for real? Hours of Next, hike up the pants, pull training, the spur-of-the-moment suspenders over the shoulders, and response to emergency, the courage? tighten the straps. If this were my CAMARADERIE David Malone, SLFD’s assistant chief, high fives I don’t know if it’s in me. I am keenly own personal gear, I’d already have Parham as a vote of confidence as she makes her way toward the aware of all the safety measures the straps sized to fit my body, saving burn building. Jordan Morris (right), a lieutenant at SLFD’s Cades allowing me to be here—and how, precious seconds. But I’m borrowing station, is among the volunteers offering guidance and support. in a real fire, firefighters have so the chief’s gear, so a team of helpful little control over their environment, relying firefighters encircles me, tightening, tugging he may be in trouble. Jiggle the air regulator entirely on each other and their training to and straightening from every angle. every few seconds if you’re standing still, On goes the weighty overcoat, zipped and come out safely. they tell me.

My dressers help me pull my gloves on— Velcroed shut. A knit flash hood wraps over As we exit, a firefighter who was overcome how does anybody do this in two minutes? my head to protect my neck, ears and face. by heat is being tended by EMTs. Even in a Somebody tops me off with a helmet—the I feel like a 4-year-old being bundled to go drill, the dangers are real. chief’s helmet, no less. play in the snow. There’s a satisfying sense of They say you understand a man only protection inside these layers. On the other “Get ready to go,” Steele signals me. Walk after you’ve walked in his shoes. Wearing a hand, this is August, and it’s pretty toasty in all this stuff? I feel slow and awkward. firefighter’s boots and walking into a burning inside this outfit. And I’m nowhere near the If I had to, I could make a clunky escape. building gave me just a glimpse inside the fire yet.

Meanwhile, firefighters haul hoses, wield axes, world of emergency responders and a new Somebody hooks a 40-pound air pack lift victims, climb ladders and crawl through appreciation for the courage and commitment on my back. Straps wrap over my shoulders tight spaces dressed like this. of our state’s volunteer firefighters.

The burn building South Lynches

can change in an instant. A tragedy, like the heartbreaking small-plane crash that killed a father and his young son some years back, can result in volunteers quitting en masse, Steele says. “It was not good; I had 15 to 18 of them after that say, ‘I can’t take this.’ ” On the flip side, a public triumph can attract new volunteers, like the successful search through the woods South Lynches led for a missing toddler on a recent Christmas Eve. “After that, we had five or six adults join us. They said, 20

‘We want to be part of your department, because you didn’t give up; nobody went home until you found him,’ ” Steele recalls.

Watson says that kind of dedication is what makes volunteer firefighters “the backbone of the nation.” There’s no glory or glamour, he says, “not like what you see on TV.” “There’s no reward. You’re not getting anything for it,” Watson says. “Except you hope that somebody would do it for you.”

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

SC Life

Stories ’Tis always the season

There may not be a more identifiable character in the world—the red hat and suit, the portly belly, the long, white beard, the bellowing laugh. And for those who don the cheap suits and the fake, elastic-banded facial hair every Christmas? Well, they can take off everything afterwards and go about their merry lives.

Not so for Dale Parris, who for the past decade hasn’t shaved and who, with his wife, Trish, runs a “mom and pop” Santa business in which they act the parts of Mr. and Mrs. Claus at private parties, international airports, photo sessions, schools, senior centers, churches, even a Bass Pro Shop.

“For the guys who have the real beards,” Dale Parris says—and his beard is tremendously authentic, with perfectly curled mustache tips—“it’s basically a 365-days-a-year job.”

Everywhere they go in public, he’s recognized instantly, a kind of celebrity that might tire out most folks.

“Being Santa is not just putting on a red suit and sitting in a chair. You gotta smile all the time,” he says. “You have to want to do it. You’re not going to get rich. The money you make, you’ll just roll it back into buying outfits … hair and makeup and all that.”

Trish Parris chimes in: “He’s got more beauty products than I do.”

After her husband lets out a deep laugh—an utterly North Pole laugh—she adds: “It’s just what we love to do.

Some people might think it’s dorky to do it year-round or not to confine it to a season. But the way we look at it, there’s no better opportunity to …”

“To put a smile on a child’s face,” Dale Parris says.

—Hastings Hensel

Dale and Trish Parris 67 and 58, respectively

Ages:

Home turf:

Murrells Inlet Claim to fame:

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus Previous employer:

United States Marine Corps. Dale is a Vietnam veteran and former Parris Island drill instructor; Trish, a former recruiter

Tricks of the trade:

Dale never says he is or isn’t Santa. A kid will ask, “Are you Santa?”

Response: “What do you think?” And the kid might say, “I think you are!”

Answer? “Ho, ho, ho!”

Milton Morris

Get More Learn more

about living the life of Santa at santadale.com.

scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

21

SCTravels

BY HASTINGS HENSEL | Photos by Milton morris

Way back on the farm

Horry County’s L.W. Paul Living History Farm grows interest in S.C. agriculture It’s hot, it’s humid and the donated

Wayne Skipper, director of the L.W. Paul Living History Farm, isn’t afraid to get his hands (and boots) dirty on the job.

22

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

5-year-old plow mule is stubborn.

Every time Wayne Skipper pulls back on the reins and yells, “Ha, back!”— commanding the animal to turn left and start again down a furrow—she takes too wide of an arc.

“A mule’s like a child,” Skipper says, resting for a moment and pulling a handkerchief from his overalls pocket to wipe his brow. “They’ll try to outsmart you, so they don’t have to work.”

“It ain’t no different than trying to get a young’un up for school in the morning,” agrees farm assistant Dennis Ward, as he cuts open a bag of fertilizer and empties it into a pail.

A tractor, of course, would make things a lot easier. A tractor would mean less sweat, less time needed to fertilize the field, no frustration at things like the chain coming off the wooden distributor or the mule’s leg getting caught under the reins.

But Skipper’s not about comfort and ease. Here at the L.W. Paul Living History Farm—a working replica of an Horry County family farm, circa 1930—he’s about authenticity and understanding the past.

As the farm’s director and chief living historian, he’s about staying true to the mission of the Horry County Museum and the vision of Larry W. Paul, a private citizen and businessman who grew up on such a farm.

When the county agreed to pay for the land, Paul agreed to build a replica one-horse farm so that current and future generations wouldn’t forget their local agricultural heritage.

“At least three-fourths of this population back then would have lived on a farm like this right here,” Skipper says.

“That’s why it’s so important to the history of Horry County. Unless things

change and go backwards, this is the last era that the farmer and his family lived entirely off the farm.”

It’s not just for show. The 17-acre farm is fully functioning and operates using only the tools and techniques local farmers used between 1900 and 1950, Skipper says.

“We’re doing on a daily basis what’s necessary to operate the farm in that particular season,” Skipper says. “Whether it’s cultivating crops,

‘ Whole communities used to come over to see if someone could break the mule.’ whether it’s sawing wood, whether it’s harvesting vegetables for cooking, plowing in the field, playing music in the church.”

Today’s necessity is breaking in that mule so Skipper and Ward can fertilize a plot of recently planted tobacco.

“Back then, whole communities used to come over to see if someone could break the mule. There are stories about people getting dragged across an acre,” Skipper says. “But men got close to those animals. It’s a satisfying feeling, breaking in a horse.”

If it all seems quaint—a time before mechanization and electricity and indoor plumbing—think again.

It was a time of hard, back-breaking, endless labor.

“These farmers were highly inde

Farm assistant Dennis Ward hauls bags of fertilizer to spread in fields the old-fashioned way. All oper­ ations on the 17-acre farm use the tools and techniques of the early 1900s. From the Visitor’s Center (above), visitors can tour replica buildings, including the church (above, at right) and wood shop (right).

pendent within their own community, and they were do-it-yourselfers,” Skipper says. “One reason is that they had very little cash to spend. The other reason was it was just the mentality in Horry County. As they would say, ‘Hoe your own row.’ ” But even the purest individualist needed the community—a network of men, women and children working to sustain each other day by day, season by season.

That’s why the farm, in addition to having the basic features (farmhouse, outhouse, vegetable garden, livestock pens and a packhouse), also has the five essential community buildings— a grist mill, a blacksmith shop, a wood shop, a shack to make cane syrup and what Skipper calls the “last and true community building,” the church.

“It’s the only building we have that is an exact replica of a particular building,” he says of the chapel. “It’s a replica of the Pawley Swamp Primitive Baptist Church, where Mr. Paul grew up going to church. We even have the original pews.”

And then there is the climate-­ controlled Visitor’s Center, which has the feel of a general store—a place you can buy canned goods from the farm or use the modern restroom facilities.

But the rest, as they say, is history.

GetThere The L.W. Paul Living History Farm is located at 2279 Harris Short Cut Road in Conway.

Hours: Tuesdays–Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on government holidays.

Admission: Free. Guided tours can be scheduled for 10 or more people, and if you want to see anything special—running the grist mill, making lye soap, etc.—it’s best to call ahead.

Details: Call (843) 365-3596 or visit www.horrycountymuseum.org/farm.

Volunteer: You can get involved on the farm as a volunteer with Friends of the Horry County Museum by going to the farm and filling out an application.

Volunteers are trained in whatever they would like to do, such as demonstrate on special-event days or lead tours. For more information, call (843) 915-5320.

Upcoming events: All events are free and held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nov. 14: Syrup Day Dec. 5: Christmas at the Farm (Old Smokehouse Day) April 2016: Spring Planting Day

scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

23

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

27

SCGardener

BY S. CORY TANNER

Amaryllis: Holiday flower, garden showpiece Amaryllis plants are such popular holiday gifts,

Once the flowers fade, the show is over —but the bulb is not! the foliage for several months after the blooms wither.

If you’re given a bare bulb (and self-­gifting counts!), plant it before its bloom spike emerges, so its roots have time and space to grow. The large bulbs don’t need much room; a container 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than the base of the bulb will suffice.

Using a container with drainage holes and a high-quality, well-drained potting mix, plant the bulb with its “nose” dry— the top third of the bulb above the soil line—to help prevent disease.

Water the newly planted bulb to saturate the soil. Developing roots need moisture, but not a lot. Let the surface of the soil become dry to the touch before watering, then water about once a week when flowering begins. Temperatures around 65 F will prolong bloom time. Fertilizing before bloom can injure young roots, so wait until all flowers die and leaves are fully emerged.

Once the flowers fade, the show is over—but the bulb is not! This is the time to start prepping the plant for a spring move to the garden. Cut off the flower stalk just above the bulb, being careful not to damage the bulb or surrounding foliage. You’re 28

encouraging growth at this point—the green, strap-shaped leaves that remain are essential for recharging the bulb with the energy needed to bloom again.

Keep the soil slightly damp, and begin monthly applications of liquid houseplant fertilizer. Don’t let the plant dry out completely.

Provide as much light as This amaryllis bulb is ready to flower. It should be potted with possible—at least four hours of direct sunlight each day, prefer- its nose (top third of bulb) above the soil line. ably in a south-facing window.

A home temperature that’s comfortable for you also benefits amaryllis; bulbs prefer 70 to 75 F for root and foliage growth.

Once the weather warms in the spring and there is no more risk of frost, move your amaryllis plant outside, gradually transitioning it to a sunny spot. Now it can be planted in your landscape.

Select a sunny spot with afternoon shade. Amaryllis prefer rich, well-drained soil. Plant at the same depth as in the container, again with about a third of the bulb’s nose exposed. If you have more than one bulb, space them 1 foot apart.

You can help your plant develop stronger roots and larger blooms by applying a “bulb booster” fertilizer at planting and each year after flowering. A layer of mulch in the winter will protect the bulbs from cold, but remove the mulch in the spring to expose the nose.

In the landscape, amaryllis will return to their natural cycle of spring flowering, and the foliage will remain all summer. Year after year, your amaryllis bulb will be a gift that keeps on giving.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

S. CORY TANNER is an area horticulture agent for Clemson Extension based in Greenville County.

Contact him at shannt@clemson.edu.

Photos by Marian St. Clair

they’re even available for purchase as kits, complete with bulb, pot and soil. Not only are these large, tough bulbs easy to grow, they produce spectacular flowers in shades of red, pink, orange and white that last for weeks indoors, a dramatic addition to holiday decor.

Sadly, these showy plants are often treated as throwaways or suffer a slow death after blooming during the depths of the post-holiday winter. But, with some basic care, amaryllis (of the genus Hippeastrum) can be enjoyed for years. Transplanted into your landscape, they become spring-blooming garden bulbs. The secret is to preserve

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scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

29

Recipe

BY Belinda Smith-Sullivan

Pie is the at ial quintessent American dessert erings. gath ily fam y man at n itio trad a the holidays, r-popular eve the like , ir pies Southerners especially love the . An easy pies of rn the Sou st mo chess pie, sometimes called the es the cheese, it trac its roots variation on cheesecake, without rs in a back to the 1700s. Try baking you re mo a glass or ceramic dish for st. cru tender

Holiday Christel Lewis

PUMPKIN-GINGER CHEESECAKE SERVES 10–12

1 ½ cups finely ground gingersnap cookies 2 tablespoons sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 3 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature 1 ¾ cups sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 5 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground ginger 1 15-ounce can pumpkin

CHOCOLATE CHIP PECAN PIE SERVES 8–10

1 9-inch piecrust (homemade or store‑bought) 3 large eggs 1 cup light brown sugar 1 cup light corn syrup 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 2 tablespoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 ½ cups pecans, coarsely chopped ¾ cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

30

Michael Phillips

Preheat oven to 375 F. Place crust in a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie-baking dish. Layer parchment paper over crust, and weight it down with pie weights or dry beans. Bake in the oven for 6–7 minutes.

Remove pie shell from oven, and remove pie weights and parchment. Allow to cool.

In a medium-large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter, vanilla and salt. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour into pie shell, and bake 45 minutes or until sides are firm but center is still slightly shaky. Do not overcook. Allow to cool.

Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a medium bowl, combine ground cookies, 2 tablespoons sugar and butter. Press firmly into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan that is wrapped on the bottom and sides with foil.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese, remaining sugar and flour until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla and spices. Add pumpkin, and continue mixing until smooth. Pour filling into prepared pan. Set foilwrapped springform pan in a larger, shallow baking pan, and add 1 inch of water to the larger pan. Place in oven, and bake 60–70 minutes or until slightly firm in the center. Turn oven off; leave oven door ajar (4–5 inches) while it cools for 1 hour.

Remove pan from oven, and cool completely. Remove foil, and refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove sides of pan, and transfer cheesecake to a serving plate.

Gwénaël Le Vot

COCONUT CREAM PIE 1 ¾ cups ground graham crackers 2 tablespoons sugar 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ½ cup sugar 4 large egg yolks 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 13.5-ounce can coconut milk 1 cup whole milk 1 ½ cups sweetened flake coconut 1 teaspoon vanilla extract O cup sweetened flake coconut 1 ¼ cups chilled heavy whipping cream ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 F. In a medium bowl, combine ground graham crackers, 2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter.

Press firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie-baking dish.

In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining sugar, egg yolks and flour. In a medium saucepan, bring coconut milk, whole milk and 1½ cups flake coconut to a simmer over medium heat. Very gradually, add hot milk to egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return mixture to the saucepan and cook until it thickens and boils, stirring constantly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and mix in vanilla. Cover and chill overnight or at least 4 hours.

In a heavy skillet, toast the remaining coconut over low heat until lightly brown, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat cream, sugar and vanilla until peaks form. Spread whipped cream over the top of the chilled pie. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve cold.

Gina Moore

SERVES 8–10

CHESS PIE SERVES 8–10

1 9-inch piecrust (homemade or store-bought) 4 large eggs 2½ ounces whole milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups sugar 1 stick unsalted butter, melted ½ teaspoon kosher salt 2 tablespoons ground cornmeal 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Preheat oven to 375 F. Place crust in a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie-baking dish. Layer parchment paper over crust, and weight it down with pie weights or dry beans. Bake in the oven for 6–7 minutes. Remove pie shell from oven, and remove pie weights and parchment. Allow to cool.

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk and vanilla together until well combined.

Gradually add the sugar, whisking constantly. Add butter, salt, cornmeal and flour, and whisk until smooth. Pour mixture into the pie shell, and bake 50–55 minutes or until the filling has set but is slightly shaky in the middle. Allow to cool. Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.

W h at Õ s C oo k i n g at

SCLiving.coop

Chef Belinda has her finger on the pulse of making perfect pie dough. See how it’s done at

SCLiving.coop/food/chefbelinda scliving.coop | November/december 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

31

SCChefÕsChoice

BY CELE SELDON AND LYNN SELDON

South Carolina on a plate Sometimes recipes—and life— don’t

Milton Morris

32

Brian Gomsak

turn out like you plan.

That’s the case for Chef Brandon Velie, who always dreamed of being a police officer. Ever since he was a kid, he was fascinated by state troopers and their uniforms. But, after several years in the Marine Corps and a stint Juniper with the Department 640 E. Main St., Ridge Spring of Corrections at a an executive chef— (803) 685-7547 ­maximum-security Velie and his wife, Hours: prison, Velie knew Jeanne, finally settled Lunch: Monday, Tuesday and that life wasn’t for on Ridge Spring, 40 Thursday through Saturday, him. So he decided to miles southwest of 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. fall back on what he Columbia, where they Dinner: Thursday through knew best—cooking. opened Juniper in Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.

July of 2005.

After working in a Reservations required.

“We were captured variety of restaurants Brunch: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Closed on Wednesdays. by a tangible charm in high school and that Ridge Spring has completing an apprenas we crossed the train tracks into ticeship cooking program while he was in the Marine Corps, Velie heeded town,” recalls Velie. “We instantly saw the potential and believed that if we his wife’s suggestion that he leave could give people a delicious experilaw enforcement and try his hand at cooking for a living. Fast-forward ence, they would come back.” several years—through sous chef posiWith a committions in Raleigh, opening a new resChef Brandon’s taurant in Washington, D.C., and ment to Lowcountry seasoning ultimately finding his way to Aiken as local farm 1 tablespoon paprika

Brandon Velie opened Juniper in Ridge Spring in 2005.

The restaurant features local ingredients in its dishes.

to-table fare, Juniper, lo­cated along Main Street in a former hardware and auto parts store, focuses on signature South Carolina ingredients to produce simple, creative and elegant food served in an approachable and casual atmosphere.

“We want a place where people can enjoy their time relaxing with friends and family,” Velie says. “No worries, just yummy food, great service and good friends.”

From the ingredients sourced from local producers, like Trail Ridge Farm and Yon Family Farms, to dishes that utilize quintessential South Carolina products like peaches, collards and soft 1 tablespoon dried tarragon shell crabs, Velie is committed 2 teaspoons granulated garlic South Carolina to the state.

2 teaspoons kosher salt shrimp and grits Of his love of all things local, 2 teaspoons black pepper SERVES 4–6 Velie says, “My favorite South ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 3 tablespoons butter Carolina ingredient would have ½ cup sausage Mix all ingredients in small bowl. to be grits—specifically, Adluh ½ cup cut okra grits from Columbia.

To me, ½ cup diced tomatoes they are the unofficial state food.”

1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic South Carolina grits also play an 24 South Carolina shrimp, 21/25 count, peeled and deveined, important part in Velie’s signature tail off dish: “Barbecued Manchester Farms 3 tablespoons Lowcountry seasoning quail breast medallions with pimento Heat butter in skillet; add sausage, okra and tomatoes. Let cook about cheese, Adluh grits and flash-fried 4–5 minutes, moving around in pan often, then add garlic. Add shrimp, W.P. Rawl Farms collards. If you can and cook about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with Lowcountry seasoning, and get a dish more South Carolina than saute about 3–4 more minutes, until shrimp is cooked. Serve over grits. that, I haven’t seen it.”

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

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Calendar of Events UPSTATE

12 • Holiday Christmas Crafts, Collectibles & Antiques NOVEMBER Show, Historic Train Depot, 18 • Sparkle City Brass, Ninety Six. (864) 543-3396.

Spartanburg County Public 16 • SPO Brass Quintet, Library, downtown Spartanburg.

Spartanburg County Public (864) 948-9020.

Library, downtown Spartanburg.

20 • Espresso Shot #2: French (864) 948-9020.

Roast, Chapman Cultural Center 19 • Ed Harrison Memorial Theater, Spartanburg. (864) 542-2787. Celtic Christmas, Hagood 20–21 • Easy Bend IPRA Mill Historic Folklife Center, World Championship Pickens. (864) 898-2936.

Rodeo, T. Ed Garrison Arena, JANUARY Pendleton. (864) 646-2717.

3 • Wedding Festival, 20–22 • Holly Jolly Holiday Hyatt Regency Downtown, Fair, Anderson Civic Center, Greenville. (864) 235-5555.

Anderson. (864) 710-7393.

8–10 • South Carolina RV & 20–Jan. 18 • Ice on Main, Camping Show, TD Convention downtown, Greenville.

Center, Greenville. (864) 233-2562.

(864) 467-4355.

9 • Anderson Wedding 21 • Books for the Band and Festival, Anderson Civic Center, Really Cool Arts and Crafts Bazaar, Travelers Rest High School, Anderson. (864) 260-4800.

Travelers Rest. (864) 355-0000.

ONGOING 21 • An Evening of Talent Nightly, Nov. 15–Jan. 3 • Expressions: Tribute to Stevie Holiday Lights Safari Benefit, Wonder, Chapman Cultural Center, Hollywild Animal Park, Spartanburg. (864) 542-6177.

Wellford. (864) 472-2038.

21 • Native American Celebration, Mondays through Fridays, Hagood Mill Historic Folklife through Dec. 19 • Holiday Art Center, Pickens. (864) 898-2936.

Show & Sale, Arts Center of Clemson, Clemson. (864) 633-5051.

22 • Toy Run on Main, Main Street, Chesnee. (864) 461-2225.

Daily through Jan. 10 • Christmas at Biltmore, Biltmore House, 26–Dec. 25 • Christmas Gift Asheville. (877) 245-8667.

Light Festival, Anderson Civic Center, Anderson. (864) 437-8311.

MIDLANDS 26–Dec. 30 • Roper Mountain Holiday Lights, NOVEMBER Roper Mountain Science Center, 16 • U.S. Army Jazz Greenville. (864) 355-8900.

Ambassadors, Sumter Opera House, Sumter. (803) 436-2616.

DECEMBER 17 • John Love & the Doug Burns 1 • A Dickens of a Christmas, Big Band, Clover School District Main Street from Morgan Auditorium, Clover. (803) 810-8000.

Square to Richardson Park, Spartanburg. (864) 596-2976.

17 • See Lancaster’s Annual Ornament Release, USC-Lancaster 2 • John Akers classical Native American Studies Center, guitar, Spartanburg County Lancaster. (803) 289-1492.

Public Library, downtown Spartanburg. (864) 948-9020.

17–19 • Nature and Wildlife Photography Workshop, Santee 2–19 • Spirit of Christmas State Park, Santee. (803) 854-2408.

Past Festival, downtown, Fountain Inn. (864) 408-9755.

20 • Cypress Golf Classic, Wyboo Golf Club, Manning. (803) 435-5282.

3 • TRIO: Art, Food and Spirits, Holy Trinity Episcopal Parish 20 • Lorrie Morgan, Sumter Opera Hall, Clemson. (864) 633-5051.

House, Sumter. (803) 436-2616.

3–5 • Holiday Fair, TD Convention 20 • Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Center, Greenville. (864) 233-2562.

Colonial Life Arena, Columbia.

(803) 576-9200.

4 • Wintry Wreaths, Hanson Nature Learning Center, 20–22 • Gem, Mineral and Clemson. (864) 656-4602.

Jewelry Show, Jamil Shriners Temple, Columbia. (803) 772-0732.

4–5 • “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas” by the Spartanburg 20–22 • Palmetto Health Youth Theatre, Spartanburg Little Foundation Festival of Trees, Theatre, Spartanburg. (864) 542-2787. Columbia Metropolitan Convention 5 • “Home for the Holidays” with Center, Columbia. (803) 434-7275.

Zig Reichwald & Holt Andrews, 20–Dec. 30 (except Nov. 26 Twichell Auditorium, Converse & Dec. 24–25) • Lights Before College, Spartanburg. (864) 596-9724. Christmas, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

5 • Safari Santa, Greenville Zoo, Greenville. (864) 467-4300.

36

Go to SCLiving.coop for more information and for guidelines on submitting your event. Please confirm information before attending events.

21 • Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, Irmo. (803) 407-5011.

22 • South Carolina Oyster Festival, Robert Mills House and Garden/Hampton-Preston Mansion, Columbia. (803) 252-2128.

23–Dec. 26 • Children’s Garden Christmas & Kid’s Walk, Edisto Memorial Gardens, Orangeburg. (803) 533-6020.

26 • Blessing of the Hounds, Hitchcock Woods Memorial Gate, Aiken. (803) 642-0528.

27–Dec. 12 • “Fruitcakes,” Aiken Community Playhouse, Aiken. (803) 648-1438.

28 • B&B Craft Show, Springdale Recreation Center, Lancaster. (803) 287-2667.

28 • Winter Wonderland Craft Fair, Dairy Barn at Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill.

(803) 548-7252.

28–29 • Sportsters Craft Show, Jamil Temple, Columbia.

(803) 772-0732.

6 • Charlie Daniels Band, Newberry Opera House, Newberry. (803) 276-6264.

10 • Christmas with The Embers, Sumter Opera House, Sumter.

(803) 436-2616.

10 • December Artist Reception: Tom Supensky, Aiken Center for the Arts, Aiken. (803) 641-9094.

10 • Night of 1000 Lights, Laurens Street, downtown Aiken. (803) 649-2221.

11 • Madrigal Dinner: A Yuletide Feast, Houndslake Country Club Ballroom, Aiken. (803) 649-6570.

12 • Adult Garden Workshop: Natural Holiday Wreaths, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

12 & 19 • Christmas Crafts, Aiken County Farmers Market, Aiken. (803) 293-2214.

13 • Christmas with The Lettermen, Newberry Opera House, Newberry. (803) 276-6264.

13 • Crafty Feast, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia. craftyfeast.com.

DECEMBER 13 • S.C. Philharmonic: Holiday Pops, Harbison Theater at 1 • Ozark Jubilee Country Midlands Technical College, Christmas from Branson, Irmo. (803) 407-5011.

Newberry Opera House, Newberry. (803) 276-6264.

13–23 & 26–27 • Christmas in Hopelands, Hopelands 2 • Under the Stars Jumper Gardens, Aiken. (803) 642-7650.

Night, Stable View Farm, Aiken. (484) 356-3173.

19 • Christmas at the Depot, 3 • Steep Canyon Rangers, Sumter Visitors Center and Train Depot, Opera House, Sumter. (803) 436-2616. Aiken. (803) 293-7846.

3–6 • ChristmasVille, Historic Old 19 • Christmas in the Quarters, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Town, Rock Hill. (803) 329-8756.

Site, Beech Island. (803) 827-1473.

3–6 & 10–13 • “Miracle on 30 • “Frozen” Sing-a34th Street,” Sumter Little long, S.C. State Museum, Theatre, Sumter. (803) 775-2150.

Columbia. (803) 898-4999.

4 • Selecting and Caring for 31 • Famously Hot New Year, Christmas Trees, Glencairn downtown, Columbia. (803) 212-7118.

Garden, Rock Hill. (803) 329-5121.

4–5 • Christmas Craft Show, JANUARY Odell Weeks Activity Center, 7–9 • Grand American Coon Hunt, Aiken. (803) 642-7631.

Orangeburg County Fairgrounds, 4–20 • “The Nutcracker,” Koger Orangeburg. (803) 536-0837.

Center, Columbia. (803) 777-7500.

9 • S.C. Philharmonic: All About 5 • Artisans Holiday Market, 212 the Bass, Koger Center for the Main St., Lancaster. (803) 287-7853. Arts, Columbia. (803) 771-7937.

5 • Christmas at Kings Mountain, 14 • Palmetto Senior Kings Mountain State Park, Show, Goodman Building at Blacksburg. (803) 222-3209. the S.C. State Fairgrounds, Columbia. (803) 794-8373.

5 • Holiday Open House, Historic Springs House, ONGOING Lancaster. (803) 285-7451.

Nightly, Nov. 30–Dec. 31 • 5 • Saturnalia Festival, S.C. State Fantasy of Lights, Swan Lake Iris Museum, Columbia. (803) 898-4921. Gardens, Sumter. (803) 436-2640.

5 & 12 • Christmas Candlelight Weekends through Dec. 21 • “The Tours, Historic Brattonsville, Real Christmas Story,” NarroWay McConnells. (803) 684-2327.

Theatre, Fort Mill. (803) 802-2300.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

J. Stott Pottery is among the vendors selling wares at this year’s Crafty Feast on Dec. 13. The independent, juried craft fair showcases unique and funky handmade works at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

LOWCOUNTRY

5–6, 12–13 & 19–20 • Charleston Holiday Farmers Market, Marion NOVEMBER Square, Charleston. (843) 724-7305.

16 • Taste of Home Cooking 6 • Candlelight Tour of Historic School, Beach Church, Myrtle Lake City, multiple locations, Beach. (843) 626-0247.

Lake City. (843) 374-2770.

19–22 • Palmetto Bluff Music 6–9 • Grand Strand Gift & to Your Mouth Festival, Resort Merchandise Show, Myrtle multiple locations, Bluffton Beach Area Convention Center, area. (843) 706-6451.

Myrtle Beach. (678) 285-3976.

21 • Holiday Goodness Bazaar, 9–31 • “Mary Poppins,” Arts Wellness Center, Dillon.

Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton (843) 774-5115, ext. 3.

Head Island. (888) 860-2787.

21 • Ronnie Floyd: Native 10 & 17 • Rivertown Christmas American History, Horry County Celebration, downtown, Museum, Conway. (843) 915-5320.

Conway. (843) 248-6260.

26 • Turkey Day Run and Gobble 19 • Nexton Cocoa Cup Wobble, historic downtown, 5K, Nexton Town Center, Charleston. (843) 345-8206.

Summerville. (843) 606-2546.

26 • Turkey Trot, Ocean Boulevard, 26–31 • Beach Ball Classic, Myrtle Surfside Beach. (843) 267-7443.

Beach Area Convention Center, 26–28 • South Carolina Myrtle Beach. (843) 231-7913.

Bluegrass Festival, Myrtle 31 • Noon Year’s Eve Party, Beach Convention Center, Children’s Museum of South Myrtle Beach. (706) 864-7203.

Carolina, Myrtle Beach.

28 • Chitlin Strut, Civic Center and (843) 946-9469.

Fairgrounds, Salley. (803) 258-3485. 31 • Southern Times Square, 28 • Holiday Open House, Legare The Market Common, Myrtle Farms, Johns Island. (843) 559-0788. Beach. (843) 839-3500.

28 • Intracoastal Christmas 31 • USS Yorktown Countdown, Regatta, Intracoastal Waterway, Patriot’s Point, Mount Little River area. (843) 249-8888.

Pleasant. (843) 884-2727.

28–29 • Charleston Gun and JANUARY Knife Show, Exchange Park Fairgrounds, Ladson. (770) 630-7296. 9–10 & 15–17 • Charleston Build, Remodel and Landscape Expo, Exchange Park Fairgrounds, DECEMBER Ladson. (800) 374-6463.

3–5, 10–12 & 17–19 • Nights of a Thousand Candles, 13–14 • S.C. AgriBiz & Farm Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Expo, Florence Civic Center, Inlet. (843) 235-6000.

Florence. (864) 237-3648.

3–8 • Festival of Trees, Tabby ONGOING Place, Beaufort. (843) 525-6257.

Daily through Dec. 31 • Public 4–6 • Christmas Made in the Art Exhibition on Hilton Head South, Exchange Park Fairgrounds, Island, Coastal Discovery Museum, Ladson. (704) 847-9480.

Hilton Head Island. (843) 681-9100.

4–6 • Winter Craft Show, Nightly, Nov. 21–Jan. 2 • Dove Springmaid Beach Resort, Street Festival of Lights, Shelter Myrtle Beach. (843) 315-7182.

Cove Towne Centre, Hilton Head Island. (843) 686-3090.

5 • Christmas at the Farm, L.W. Paul Living History Farm, Nightly through Jan. 3 • Conway. (843) 365-3596.

Holiday Festival of Lights, James Island County Park, 5 • Santa at the Beach, Charleston. (843) 795-4386.

Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-0874.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

The dogs made me do it So, there I was, driving

down the road, minding my own business, when the gravitational pull of an animal shelter in the next county overtook my vehicle. I struggled to jam the transmission into reverse, frantically fighting to escape the powerful puppy beam that was dragging me closer and closer to the shelter parking lot. Next thing I knew, my car came to a halt mere feet from the kennels. It refused to budge until I agreed to go inside and “just look.”

Forty minutes later, my body left the building with yet another collectible dog. This time, the culprit was an irresistible vixen with magical powers. Hypnotically wagging her pendulum tail east to west with the precision of a metronome, she lured me into her crystal-blue gaze, zapping my last molecule of willpower. Despite decades as a professional communicator, my brain could only conjure up three words: “Wrap her up.”

Hello. My name is Jan, and I am a dog-aholic.

As a kid, I was deathly allergic to dogs. Not just sniffle-and-snort allergic, but throat-closing, dial 9-1-1, rush-tothe-hospital-and-make-your-motherscream, “Not again, you idiot!” allergic.

I wasn’t allowed to get near anything with fur, so most of my close, personal relationships involved reptiles and an occasional grasshopper. (Cue the violins.) As anyone who has had a love affair with an insect will tell you, it’s not the same.

38

About 6,832 allergy shots later, I cautiously began sniffing freshly washed, hopefully sneeze-proof poodles and gradually snuffled my way up to golden retrievers. Now, I’m making up for lost time, and all my closest friends bark.

After performing extensive research and numerous relationship tests on both canines and Homo sapiens, I regret to report the dogs are winning. How those wonderful creatures end up in shelters is beyond me, although leaving certain people there might be a plan.

Let’s say you have a teenager who doesn’t obey and snaps at everyone. He was so sweet when you got him at seven pounds. But now, he’s grown much bigger and harder to handle than you expected. Wouldn’t it be nice to just drop him off at a nice, safe shelter and let somebody else feed him? (Be honest; we’re all friends here.)

Suppose you are moving to a new

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | November/December 2015 | scliving.coop

place and don’t want to bring your mother-inlaw. She needs a special diet and won’t play fetch anymore. Lately, she’s a drag. Let’s drop her off, too.

If you jumped into marriage without realizing the true cost of husband ownership, this is your chance to start over. Tow that lug and his twin-engine fish chaser down to the shelter. And donate his golf clubs for chew toys. While you’re there, find out what’s available in a younger, low-­ maintenance version.

The only downside is when you’re the one being dropped off. I can just see the intake sheet on my cage now: XXOwner surrender XXSenior; needs medication XXNot spayed XXFood and toy aggressive XXNot good with children or cats XXMay nip XXWon’t stay in yard XXShoe fetish XXTemperament test ended when she bit the tester I guess the plan still needs some tweaking, but it will have to wait.

Right now, four carpet culprits need walking. We could go to the dog park, but there’s an animal shelter only 37 miles away.

Jan A. Igoe has taken the first step and admitted her habit. If any kindred canine spirits would like to start a support group, write to HumorMe@SCLiving.coop. Put “WOOF” in the subject line.

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