Yadkin Valley Magazine March-April 2023

Family Owned Mulch & Stone Products too!

ENO Hammocks Burt’s Bees New Cornhole Boards Simply Southern Apparel Natural Life Apparel and Accessories Rainbow Sandals Lodge Cast Iron Grandma’s lye soap products Honey House Naturals­hand lotions and lip balms. Pottery (Blackwelder, Eldridge, Hankins & Jordan) Handmade furniture Gumball machines Candles Jelly and Jams Corn Meal Handcarved Walking Sticks

1932 W. Memorial Hwy, Union Grove, NC 28689 704­539­4643 • uniongrovegeneralstore.com

Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm Saturday 8:30 am – 3 pm

Platinum Dealer

foodsandflavors ™

Beginning on page 21, stories and recipes celebrating our Southern Food Heritage, including 17 recipes to enjoy!

For more information or to schedule a complimentary financial review, call or stop by today.

Anyone can provide advice. At Edward Jones, our goal is to provide advice and guidance tailored to your needs.

That’s why we live and work in your community.

When it comes to your financial needs and goals, we

face­to­face attention. You

you.

Dobson

Paul J. Bunke, Sr., AAMS™

Financial Advisor

124 W. Kapp Street, Suite C PO Box 407 Dobson, NC 27017 336­386­0846 paul.bunke@edwardjones.com

Audra Cox

Financial Advisor

124 W. Kapp Street, Suite C Dobson, NC 27017 336­386­0846 audra.cox@edwardjones.com

Frank H. Beals

Financial Advisor 965 North Bridge Street Elkin, NC 28621 336­835­4411 frank.beals@edwardjones.com

Barry Revis, AAMS™

Financial Advisor 116 E. Market St., Elkin, NC 28621 336­835­1124 barry.revis@edwardjones.com

Nathan Sturgill

Financial Advisor

116 E Market Street Elkin, NC 28621 336­835­1124

nathan.sturgill@edwardjones.com

Aaron L. Misenheimer

Financial Advisor 1530 NC Hwy 67, Suite A Jonesville, NC 28642 336­258­2821 aaron.misenheimer@edwardjones.com

Andi Draughn Schnuck

Financial Advisor 496 N. Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­1707 andi.schnuck@edwardjones.com

Dale Draughn, AAMS™

Financial Advisor 140 Franklin Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­0136 dale.draughn@edwardjones.com

Logan Draughn

Financial Advisor 492 N. Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­3323 logan.draughn@edwardjones.com

Kody Easter, AAMS™, CRPC™, CFP®

Financial Advisor 304 East Independence Blvd Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­2079 kody.easter@edwardjones.com

Randy D. Joyce

Financial Advisor 136 W. Lebanon Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­6238 randy.joyce@edwardjones.com

Tammy H. Joyce, AAMS™

Financial Advisor 136 W. Lebanon Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­6238 tammy.joyce@edwardjones.com

Tanner Joyce Financial Advisor 752 S. Andy Griffith Pky, Suite 400 Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­6238 tanner.joyce@edwardjones.com

Mike Russell Financial Advisor 106­B South Depot Street, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 336­368­2575 mike.t.russell@edwardjones.com

Michael Warren

Financial Advisor 101­D Shoals Road, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 336­368­0782 michael.warren@edwardjones.com

Christopher L. Funk

Financial Advisor 128 South State Street • PO Box 790 Yadkinville, NC 27055 • 336­679­2192 chris.funk@edwardjones.com

believe you deserve

talk, we listen, and we get to know

STORY IDEAS.

At Yadkin Valley Magazine

we value the concerns, ideas and interests of our readers. We welcome all story ideas and suggestions, always keeping an open file and working them in when possible. All story ideas should be submitted by mail to: 413 Cherry Street, East Bend, NC 27018.

WEEKENDS.

Please submit information regarding fundraisers, gallery show openings, plays, readings, concerts or other performances at least two months in advance of an issue’s cover date. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter yadkinvalleymagazine.com/weekends

DISTRIBUTION.

The magazine is available FREE at locations throughout the Yadkin Valley. You will find a highlight listing of pick­up locations on our web site at www.yadkinvalleymagazine.com. Not all locations will always have copies in stock.

ADVERTISING.

We view our advertisers as people providing a service who are genuinely interested in their customers. These businesses make it possible for you to enjoy the magazine for free. We hope that you’ll make them your first choice when you need the products and services they offer. Be sure to share that you read about them in Yadkin Valley Magazine

For advertising information, please call 336­699­2446.

Information about advertising is also available at:

yadkinvalleymagazine.com/advertising

Health and educational articles included in Yadkin Valley Magazine are for education purposes only. Be sure to consult your personal physician before you begin any diet, medicine or course of treatment.

Yadkin Valley Magazine is a publication of Cherry Street Media,LLC. 413 Cherry Street East Bend, NC 27018

336­699­2446

March­April 2023

Volume 23 Number 4

Publisher/ Editor

Barbara Krenzer Norman

Advertising Sales

John Norman Ken & Denise Knight

Contributing Writers

Mary Bohlen, John & Carrie Byrd, Jim Collins, Ryan Guthrie, Amanda Joyner, Delores Kincer, Carmen Long, Cindy Martin, David May, Judy Mitchell, Kellee Payne, J. Dwaine Phifer, Lisa Prince, June Rollins,

Phyllis B. Smith, Courtney Tevepaugh, Jessica Wall, Vicki Yount.

Photographs & Photographers

John & Barbara Norman, Cindy Martin, June Rollins, Amanda Joyner, Jim Collins, Lisa Prince, Mary Bohlen,

J. Dwaine Phifer, John & Carrie Byrd,

Mitchell’s Greenhouse & Nursery, Vicki Yount, Carmen Long, Ryan Guthrie

Distribution

Rebecca Cranfill

Ken & Denise Knight

Cindy & Wayne Martin

Michael Scott

Debbie & Andy Hennings

Test Kitchen Chef

Amanda Joyner

Manny J’s Bakery

To inquire about advertising in Yadkin Valley Magazine (336) 699­2446

john@yadkinvalleymagazine.com

Cow’s

Cow’s

Butter

Flavored

just a note from Barbara

Our telephone number is: 336-699-2446

web address: yadkinvalleymagazine.com

Email Directory:

Editor- Barbara Norman: barbara@yadkinvalleymagazine.com

Advertising- John Norman: john@yadkinvalleymagazine.com

Weekends/Events

Calendar submissions: weekends@yadkinvalleymagazine.com

BEST Yadkin Valley COOKS recipes: bestcooks@yadkinvalleymagazine.com

Share your pet photos: petpics@yadkinvalleymagazine.com

Spring, at last! So grateful to see the return of earth’s colors and longer days of more sunshine after a long, dreary and wet winter. This season revives interest in getting outdoors so you will enjoy the variety of articles written by the pros on planning your 2023 flower garden, protecting our water sources and much more.

There are lots of cooks in their kitchens whether they actually cook or simply enjoy a cup of coffee as they read a cookbook. For cookbook collectors we have three new Christmas titles,..from the "Downton Abbey” castle's unique recipes, a variety of recipes tied into favorite Christmas movies and thirdly, holiday traditions and recipes from FOX television celebrities. In addition, try a tasty lemon cookie, peanut butter balls and a chocolate trifle, just to tempt you! A hearty, economic stew for the last chilly days of spring will hit the spot and the Easter Egg hunt in D.C. is a longtime colorful tradition supported by egg farmers.

Wishing lots of jonquils and dogwood blossoms to you,

Yadkin Valley Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Entire contents copyright © 2022 All rights reserved. Reproduction of our created advertising materials and design work are strictly prohibited. Yadkin Valley Living, Yadkin Valley Magazine, Yadkin Valley Weekends, Best Yadkin Valley Cooks, 52 Pounds and then some!, are trademarks of Cherry Street Media LLC, 413 Cherry St., East Bend, North Carolina 27018.

Proudly printed in the USA. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the magazine. We assume no responsibility for changes in schedules, prices, hours or information.

Before traveling long distances, it is always wise to use the contact numbers included in the magazine to confirm that the events you wish to enjoy are still on schedule.

The contents of advertising and articles do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.

The publishers assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. In no event shall the publishers be liable for any consequential damage or any damages in excess of the cost of the advertisement.

s

I was horrified. I’d seen older women sporting primary streaks in their hair. “I don’t think so. I’m not that …bold.”

My tall slender twenty-something stylist with thick cascading ringlets and the most artistic tattoos I’d ever seen was unable to relate to my aging dilemma of thinning hair and deepening frown lines. She hadn’t read the articles pronouncing, short haircuts will make you look ten years younger.

I sighed. “Just the usual trim will be fine.”

But eight weeks later at the next appointment, when I presenting my photos of women with very short hair, she didn’t resist. Instead, with flourish, she wholeheartedly gave me the pixie I’d longed for.

I was in heaven as she clipped, cropped and sheared; imagining the towel dried easy care of my new look. Just a quick dollop of styling gel for a little texture and everyone would be admiring my twinkling eyes and stylish earrings just as I had admired the photos of models I wanted to be like. And best of all, my deepening frown lines and sagging skin would all but disappear.

It’ll Grow Back

A few years ago, I pleaded with my hairdresser for several months to give me a pixie. Upon arriving for every eight-week color and trim appointment, I’d show her my Pinterest curated photo collection of smiling models sporting adorable pixie cuts. And every time the conversation went like this:

“You don’t want that.”

“Lots of women my age have pixies.”

“Too many. You don’t want to look like everyone else.”

The older women in the photos with twinkling eyes and perfect ears stared back at me. “I wouldn’t mind looking like them.”

“Let me show you some new colors we just got in.” She held up a metal ring of multi-colored synthetic hair tassels reminding me of Skittles.

She dangled a hot pink tassel beside my cheek that was as bright as Revlon’s vintage Love That Pink lipstick. “You’d rock in this new fuchsia shade.”

My fantasy ended when I returned home and looked in my bathroom mirror. I had my pixie alright. But I didn’t have the diminutive face shape that went along with it. A short pixie on my oblong face didn’t work at all. Mr. Peanut was looking back at me. Maybe that’s why my stylist had been so reticent for so long.

Panic set in. I could wear hats or get a wig. Or, wear attention-demanding earrings. Or, have my hair dyed Love That Pink. People would be so shocked by the color, they wouldn’t notice my jowls.

But overnight I realized I was over reacting. No one would give my hair a second thought and I shouldn’t either. Besides, It’ll grow back. The beginning of the pandemic that next morning and sheltering in place for the next twelve months while my hair grew had nothing to do with my shift in maturity. Enjoying the journey!

It’ll Grow Back, 9x12, oil, ©June Rollins

Beef

Brunchy

Cranberry

Italian

Jim’s

a couple of favorites from our Best Yadkin Valley

This recipe makes plenty for a large gathering and works for any time of year especially those one or two surprizingly chilly days often left in March. Any leftovers can taste even better than the first day’s preparation.

The late R. Bruce was the wine expert contributing to Yadkin Valley Magazine and was a viticulture instructor at Salem College.

Cooks Cookbook

A retired nurse, Jessie Myers is busy with grandchildren but always takes time to prepare many of her signature pies for family and friends.

Jessie Myers’ Sliced Sweet Potato Pie

This recipe is for a 10-inch pie.

3 medium raw sweet potatoes, peeled, sliced

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

Dash of salt

1/4 cup self-rising flour

1 cup evaporated milk

1 stick margarine

1 1/2 pounds stew beef, cubed

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 medium onion diced finely

2 cans Campbell’s Double Beef Broth

2 cups rich red wine

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon thyme leaves

6 carrots, peeled, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 bag frozen peas

Salt and pepper to taste

Roll beef in flour.

Cook in oiled pot over medium heat.

Brown, remove, drain.

Add 1/2 onion; cook a few minutes.

R. Bruce Heye’s Beef Stew

Add together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Dot with 1/2 stick margarine. Place top crust on; seal by fluting crust. Brush top crust with 1/4 cup evaporated milk. Cut 3 slits in top crust; pour 1 cup evaporated milk over pie. Dot with remaining margarine. Bake at 375°F. 1 hour or until golden brown.

Have a favorite recipe to share?

Add 1/2 the broth; scrape brown bits from bottom of pot.

Add beef, juices, remaining broth and wine.

Check if more liquid is needed (broth, wine, water).

Add bay leaves and cook 20 minutes, reduce heat.

Simmer, add thyme and last of onion.

Simmer 2 to 3 hours, covered, stirring often.

Add carrots 60 minutes before serving.

Add peas 30 minutes before serving.

Serve over noodles or rice with a crusty bread.

If we print your submission we’ll pay you $30! It can be an old family recipe, your Dad’s favorite dish... just delicious home made foods that everyone loves to see on the dinner table.

Send your recipe to:

bestcooks

@yadkinvalleymagazine.com

R. Bruce Heye

Jessie Myers and her famous and so good to eat Sweet Potato Pie.

foodsandflavors ™ ~ Lisa Prince

White House Easter Egg Roll Tradition

Since 1878, American presidents and their families have celebrated Easter Monday by hosting an 'egg roll' party. Held on the South Lawn, it is one of the oldest annual events in White House history. Some historians note that First Lady Dolley Madison originally suggested the idea of a public egg roll, while others tell stories of informal egg-rolling parties at the White House dating back to President

Abraham Lincoln's administration. Beginning in the 1870s, Washingtonians from all social levels celebrated Easter Monday on the west grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Children rolled brilliantly dyed hard-boiled eggs down the terraced lawn.

That tradition continues today with the help of America’s Egg Farmers. Thousands of North Carolina eggs were the main attraction in 2022

supplied by Braswell Family Farms in Nash Country and they will be supplying over 18,000 farm dyed eggs again in 2023.

Enjoy these recipes for your Easter celebration and to learn about Easter ideas, crafts and activities visit our website: NCEGG.ORG

WRITER & PHOTOS

Lisa Prince, Director, NC Egg Association

7 eggs, divided

1/2 red bell pepper chopped

1/2 green bell pepper chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste

1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste

8 slices bacon, cooked as desired and crumbled

2 (8-ounce)packages Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls

1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. In a bowl beat 6 of the eggs. Mix in the chopped peppers, salt and pepper. Cook the egg mixture in a skillet, scrambling until they are fully cooked.

2. Open both packages of crescent rolls. Separate into rectangles (two triangles together.) On parchment paper, layout the 8 rectangles with short ends forming a 6-inch circle.

3. On each rectangle closest to the circle, spoon the bacon and cooked egg

BRUNCHY PASTRY RING

https://ncegg.org/recipes/ brunchy-pastry-ring/ Serves: 8

mixture. Top with shredded cheese.

4. Fold the long end of the rectangle completely over the egg mixture and press to bottom of pastry to seal. Using a fork, gently open the perforations. Beat the remaining egg and brush the pastry.

5. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the crescents are cooked and golden brown.

6. Garnish with parsley, if preferred. Serve warm.

BANANAS FOSTER

CREAM CHEESE PIE

https://ncegg.org/recipes/bananasfoster-cream-cheese-pie/ Yields: 8 servings

1 Graham Cracker Crust (9-inch)

BANANA LAYER:

2 Tablespoons butter

2 1/2 cups sliced bananas (1/4 inch)

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

CREAM CHEESE LAYER:

2 ( 8 ounce) boxes cream cheese, room temperature

6 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

BANANA LAYER: Heat butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bananas; cook, stirring gently, until soft, about 2 minutes. Do not mash. Add sugar, lemon juice and pie spice. Cook, stirring gently, until mixture thickens, 1 to 1 1/2minutes. Spread evenly on the bottom of crumb crust.

2. CREAM CHEESE LAYER: Combine cream cheese, eggs, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla in mixer bowl. Beat on high speed until well blended. Reduce speed to low. Beat in flour just until blended and no streaks of flour remain. Pour over banana mixture.

3. Carefully place pie on rack in center of 350°F oven. Bake until knife inserted midway between center and edge of pie comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.

4. Cool completely on wire rack. Refrigerate, loosely covered, until firm, several hours or overnight.

Pro Tips: A simple dessert with classic Bananas Foster flavors. Garnish this creamy pie with sliced bananas and caramel drizzle.

Graham Cracker Crust: HEAT oven to 350°F. MIX 1 1/2 cups (4 ounces)

graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar in medium bowl. ADD 1/3 cup room temperature butter; mix until thoroughly blended. PRESS crumb mixture evenly and firmly against bottom and sides of 9-inch pie plate. BAKE in 350°F. oven until center is firm to the touch and edge is lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.

COOL completely on wire rack.

Room temperature cheese: To avoid lumps in the batter, take cream cheese out of refrigerator ahead of time, allowing it time to come to room temperature. In a pinch you can soften it in the microwave for a few seconds, but don’t overheat it.

Room temperature eggs: Using eggs that aren’t refrigeratorcold prevents the fat in the cream cheese from re-hardening and making the batter look curdled or lumpy.

BOONVILLE FLOWER & DECOR

When is it done? Like other baked custards, cheesecake should be removed from the oven before the center is completely set. The center will jiggle slightly when the dish is gently shaken. Cheesecake will continue to “cook” after it’s removed, and center will firm up as it cools.

For easier slicing, use a thin-bladed knife. Wipe knife with clean damp towel, or rinse knife under warm water, after each cut. Refrigerate any leftover pie promptly.

Lisa Prince continues

WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Amanda Joyner

owner

Manny J’s Bakery

Speciality cakes, desserts, wedding cakes

Facebook: @mannyjsbakery

amanda9joyner@gmail.com

These four ingredient dessert treats couldn’t be easier to make. They take minimal skill and anyone can do it. They are the kind of treat that transcends any holiday and can be made at any time. I did several for Christmas but they are just as relevant for Easter, July 4th, or as a simple pick me up gift!

PEANUT BUTTER BALLS

1 cup creamy peanut butter

2 3/4 cup powdered sugar

6 Tablespoons softened butter

1 pack of chocolate almond bark

Cream together peanut butter and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar until combined-mixture should form one giant ball and not stick to the sides of the bowl.

Roll mixture into balls and lay on a lined sheet pan. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Melt almond bark according to package directions. Dip each peanut butter ball in chocolate and allow excess to drip off and return to the pan.

I have found toothpicks are the easiest tools for this! I usually get around 32 to 33 balls per batch.

Amanda Joyner

Cookbook Collector

If you have a cookbook collector in your life, you had no problem finding an appropriate gift for that favorite reader at Christmas. I received three super yet different Christmas cookbooks.

The Christmas Movie Cookbook by Julia Rutland. Love Christmas movies but there are so many now that it would take multiple volumes to match a recipe with each film. Rutland has written several cookbooks: Discover Dinnertime, The Campfire Foodie Cookbook, Foil Pack Dinners and 101 Lasagnas & Other Layered Casseroles.

QUINOA, KALE & SWEET POTATO SALAD

to honor movie “Last Christmas,” 2019

3 cups peeled, cubed large sweet potato

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed, drained

1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth

10 cups chopped curly kale

Tahini Dressing

1 large roasted red bell pepper (Sliced chopped)

1/4 red onion, finely sliced

3/4 cup chopped, toasted walnuts

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Combine sweet potatoes salt and olive oil, tossing to coat. Place potatoes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender and browned. Cool to room temp, cover, chill until ready to assemble.

In a saucepan, combine quinoa and broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low, simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until quinoa is tender. Set aside for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

Let cool to room temp; cover and chill until ready to assemble.

Place kale in a large bowl. Drizzle about 1/2 cup Tahini Dressing over kale.

Massage kale by hand in the bowl in a plastic storage bag for a few minutes until leaves soften and darken. Add quinoa, tossing to combine.

Stir in potatoes, roasted Bell pepper, onion, walnuts, cranberries. Toss gently. Transfer to a platter and sprinke with the cheese. Serve with additional dressing on the side.

TAHINI DRESSING

1 1/4 cups

1/3 cup tahini

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 Tablespoon honey

1 small garlic clove, minced

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In a blender, combine tahini, water, olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt and cayenne. Process until smooth and well blended.

If too thick, add a tablespoon more water to make it pourable.

In All American Christmas, , wife and husband Rachel and Sean Duffy published a collection of recollections, traditions and recipes from their co-workers. A perfect read to enjoy in a rocker with a steaming cup of tea and some friends. This recipe came from Dana Perino, dog-lover and ranch gal from Wyoming.

CRANBERRY NUT BISCOTTI

1 stick butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons orange zest

2 1/2 cups flour

Preheat oven to 325°F. Cream together butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, zest in a heavy-duty mixer. Mix dry ingredients with the nuts and cranberries then add to mixer. The mixture is very stiff and may need to be finished by hand. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Form 4 logs from dough. Flatten down logs until they are approximately 2 inches wide. Bake 35 minutes, rotating sheets and switching positions halfway through. Remove sheets from oven.

Reduce heat to 300°F.

Let logs cool for 15 minutes and are cool to touch.

Cut each log on the diagonal into slices and place biscotti slices upright on the cookie sheets. Bake an additional 30 minutes. Cool completely before packaging.

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

IF using unsalted butter

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1 cup chopped dried cranberries

The Official Downtown Abbey Christmas Cookbook helps feed the yearning soul for more of anything Downton Abbey-ish. Admittedly, some of the recipes are just too much for American tastebuds ie. Stewed Prunes and Chestnuts. And often the exact ingredients are not in our pantry and/or are difficult to find in our neighborhood grocery. More for our traditional tastes and no-fuss recipe, try APPLE AND CELERY SALAD. The books photography is excellent displaying vintage china, stemware, and well, just everything fit for a castle!

APPLE & CELERY SALAD

4 ribs celery; including tender young leaves

1 good eating apple: Granny Smith, Cox’s Orange Pippin, or Braeburn

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 Tablespoons mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon heavy cream

Black pepper

Fresh mint leaves for garnish, if wanted

Peel away tough outer strings from each celery rib. Thinly slice the ribs crosswise on the diagonal. Coursely chop the leaves. Peel the apple, quarter lengthwise, cut away core. Starting from the short side, slice each quarter as thinly as possible. Transfer the slices to a bowl and toss evenly with the lemon juice, coating to prevent browning. Add the celery slices to apple slices. Spoon in mayonnaise and cream. Stir gently. Transfer to serving bowl. Sprinkle with a few grinds of pepper. Garnish with fresh mint is optional and serve.

Veterans Thrift Stores

NOW 2 Locations!

all donated items, staffed by volunteers

ALL proceeds go directly to help Vets

Clothes 111 West Main • Boonville

Household & Furniture 109 E. Main St • Boonville

Accepting Donations

Store Hours: Monday­ Friday 9­5 Saturday 10­2 336-469-5665 • 336-469-6940

Our treated lumber makes for beautiful Spring... decking, porches, fencing!

We stock a full yard of treated products for every job. We pride ourselves in stocking #1 premium ground contact products which is the best in the industry at a fair price. Our treated lumber is perfect for decks, porches, outdoor structures and other projects and is the best protection against rot, fungal decay and termite attack. Plus we offer treated lattice, step stringers, pickets, post caps, and a range of other products.

in a Mombusy ’s Kitchen in a Mombusy Kitchen

WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER

Ryan Guthrie

Quick Slice-and-Bake Lemon Cookies

Add these cookies to your Spring and Easter plans if you need a semi-sweet treat that is quick and easy.

If you love lemon like I do, then prepare for this to be your new favorite cookie! This dough is not too sweet and it's packed with lemon flavor and rich shortbread texture. These feel so simple compared to the sugar cookies we were rolling out and cutting just a few months ago, yet still give the kids opportunities to help pour and mix.

Then, they are snacking in 15 minutes. These make a great gift for friends and neighbors and are great with hot tea.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup and 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into cubes

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

2 Tablespoons lemon zest, packed 1 large egg

Ryan Guthrie

In a busy household like ours, the perfect dinner involves minimal dirty dishes and food prep!

Put the lemon zest and sugar in your mixing bowl and mix them with a fork or rub them with your fingertips. Add butter and cream the mixture until it is light and fluffy with a hand-held mixer or with paddle attachment if using a stand-mixer. Mix in the egg. Add lemon juice and mix until combined. Finally, on the lowest speed, add in flour gradually and mix until incorporated.

Divide the dough in half and put each on the plastic wrap. Make approximately 6-inch long by 2-inch thick logs with each half of dough. Wrap them tightly and put them in the freezer to chill for at least 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside. Remove the dough logs from the freezer and cut them into 1/5-inch thick slices and bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until they

slightly change color. Turn off the oven and leave them in for an extra 5 to 6 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to completely cool. You can keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week and in the freezer for up to 3 months.

We have many first time customers that walk in and say “WOW I didn’t realize how big this place is!”

foodsandflavors ™ ~ Mary Bolen

Ramps

earliest green food in Spring

My mountain friend storyteller, Mike Campbell says about ramps, “They are green when nothing else is and back in the day the arrival of ramps was a cause for celebration. I suppose this was truly imminent for our ancestors as their diet was soon to be supplemented with all manner of fresh edibles. Folks simply cannot appreciate the challenges of our ancestors in Appalachia.”

Mike is referring to the fact that over a cold, sometimes bleak winter, meals mostly consisted of dried or salted foods, finding ramps and other fresh greens such as branch lettuce and creasy greens were more than welcomed at the table. “Ramps are akin to wild garlic but more like a scallion than

an onion.”mused Mike. “They look like the beautiful Lily of the Valley and are the earliest green food in Spring.”

Altitude and north/south location play a factor for harvest times. Usually there is a three-week window. Ramps can be found in shady places where there is rich moist soil, the kind of places you would find trillium and trout lilies. In our southern mountains ramps may appear in late March or early April. By the middle of May, or when the leaves on the hardwoods start breaking out, ramp time is over.

Ramps are part of a spring tradition in Mike’s family that has been passed down from one generation to another. When gathering them carefully dig them up in clumps. Plants will be thick matted at the roots. Gently separate them and wash well in cold water. “All parts of the ramp can be used,” Mike says.

Put them in a plastic bag and they will keep in the fridge a couple of days. Don’t seal the bag. Ramps do not keep well so using them right away is advisable.

Mike and wife, Jane, like ramps and scrambled eggs best. They can also be

chopped and fried with potatoes or added to soups.

Jane makes ramp butter, too. Dice ramps as fine as possible and mix with butter. Store in a jar in the fridge. Jane says that butter spread on grilled steaks is wonderful!

Hands on Ramps

Last spring as I wandered through the vendors at the Wilkesboro Cattle Sale, I was drawn to a faded red pickup truck, tailgate down with a propped up sign reading, “Ramps $5.” A box was filled with bright green ramps. Shawn Andrews had driven down from Alleghany to sell his prized spring edibles. We struck up a conversation and I soon was listening to ramp stories. Shawn’s ramp patch is on family property near the Virginia line. The family lore is that continues on page 45

Yadkin Valley Magazine contributor and renowned open-hearth cook, Mary Bohlen’s book Heritage Cooking Inspired by Rebecca Boone continues to garner great reviews!

The book is available in the gift shop at Wilkes Heritage Museum 100 East Main Street in Wilkesboro. Open Monday-Saturday 10-4.

Mary Bohlen

With Mill Creek Sweet Treats

Cake Rolls from Walnut Creek, every bite is deliciousdown to the last crumb! A great alternative to sheet cakes for family gatherings and birthday parties. Refrigerate or freeze until ready to enjoy!

What’s more yummy than apple pie?

Walnut

Current flavors are Red Velvet, Carrot, Lemon Creme, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Chocolate Creme.

foodsandflavors ™ ~ Carmen Long

Get Cooking with EFNEP Simple Solutions to Help Families EAT SMART & MOVE MORE

want to help you Eat Smart and Move More.

March is Nutrition Month and the perfect time to think about what we eat and health goals we may have for our future. The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) wants to help you Eat Smart and Move More. This hands-on program teaches new skills you can use at home every day. It provides simple solutions to help you make healthy choices in eating and physical activity to improve the health of you and your family.

Carmen Long

WRITER & PHOTOS

Carmen Long

Family and Consumer Agent

N.C. Cooperative Extension Surry & Alleghany county centers.

Amanda Royal and Seydel Cropps

Through EFNEP, participants will explore ways to:

Prepare and eat more meals and snacks at home, Eat more fruits and vegetables. Be more active, Improve your health for now and the future, Save money on food, Feel more energetic and Keep food safe.

In Surry County, we are fortunate to have two experienced EFNEP educators. Amanda Royal, Extension Program Assistant, EFNEP – Youth and Seydel Cropps, Extension Program Associate, EFNEP–Adult. Amanda goes into schools and childcare centers to provide education to children and teens. Seydel works with young adults and families with children in the community.

The multi-lesson series for each program is developed by food, nutrition, and physical activity professionals. The sessions will help you create your own personal plan to Eat Smart and Move More. 97% of families who have participated in EFNEP program have improved their eating habits and saved money on groceries. With the increasing cost of food, saving money at the grocery store is a skill we all can benefit from learning more about.

The goal of EFNEP is for participants to become more confident in planning, shopping, and preparing delicious, nutritious meals.

Amanda and Seydel recently prepared a meal for the Cooperative Extension Advisory Council in Surry County using these tasty, low-cost recipes from their programs. Try them with your family for a quick and easy meal.

For more information about EFNEP, contact the Surry County Center of Cooperative Extension at 336-401-8025.

EASY FRUIT SALAD

Makes 10 1/2 cup servings

2 cups of fresh pineapple cut into bite size chunks or 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained

1 (15-ounce) can fruit cocktail in juice, drained

2 small bananas, sliced

1 (8-ounce) low-fat yogurt Greek (more protein) Lemon or vanilla

Drain canned fruit. Wash, peel, and slice bananas. Mix fruits and yogurt together. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

15-MINUTE SOUP

Makes 4 servings of 1 1/2 cups

1 (16-ounce) can unsalted Great Northern Beans, drained

1 (14-ounce) can low-sodium chicken broth

1 (16-ounce) can chopped or diced tomatoes, undrained

1 small onion chopped

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 (10-ounce) bag frozen, chopped spinach

1/2 cup uncooked whole-wheat macaroni

In a 2-quart pot, combine all ingredients except spinach and macaroni. Heat until the liquid comes to a boil. Stir in and break up spinach, bring to a boil again. Stir in macaroni and simmer until pasta is tender, about 6 to 8 minutes.

CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

Makes 4 servings of 1 quesadilla

1 cup chopped, cooked chicken

2 Tablespoons salsa

1/4 cup chopped onion

Non-stick cooking spray

1/4 cup canned chopped green chili peppers (optional)

1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded other cheeses are acceptable)

4 whole-wheat 10-inch tortillas

Preheat electric skillet to 350°F. or medium-high heat. Sauté onions until tender. Mix chicken, salsa, onions and green chili peppers (optional). Place 1/4 chicken mixture on half a tortilla. Top with 1/4 cheese; fold over mixture and seal edges. Place in skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Brown on one side at medium heat for approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Turn tortilla over and brown. Cut each folded tortilla into 3 wedges.

BROCCOLI SALAD

8 servings of 1/2 cup

1 bunch broccoli or 1/2 bunch broccoli and 1/2 head cauliflower, washed and cut into pieces.

2 stalks bacon, cooked crisp, crumbled

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup low-fat mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 Tablespoons sugar

Combine broccoli, bacon, onion and raisins.Make a dressing of mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. Stir in dressing. Cover and refrigerate.

continued from page 40

his patch was planted long ago about the end of the Civil War. Shawn noted that it takes a long time to establish a patch. Ramps have a slow life cycle so he is very careful about gathering them. One way to help preserve an existing patch is to cut the stems and leaves but not disturb the bulb. Shawn explained the importance of protecting the plants because they are being over harvested

in some places due to demands from restaurants and grocers.

Shawn and his family are also especially fond of ramps mixed in with scrambled eggs noting that the stems and leaves are more mild than the bulbs which have a srong flavor.

Picking up a clump of the greens, Shawn showed me how to separate the bulbs and roots and mentioned they could be transplanted. With that information I quickly picked up another bunch to take home. the rams were planted in the best place I could find and breakfast next morning was ramp and eggs with bacon. Very tasty! I was proud of my first ramp meal.

Hopefully, this spring I will see some green shoots pop up from the brown leafy soil of last spring and maybe, just maybe I will see Shawn at the Cattle Sale in April to tell my story.

According to John Mariani, author of “The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink,” the word ramp comes from “rams,” or “ramson,” from Elizabethan dialect, referring to wild garlic. The word is first mentioned in English print in 1530, and was used by English immigrants of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, where ramps grow in abundance.

Dr. Mary Katherine Taylor, IAOMT

Dr. William

NMD

Mama’s Recipe Box

Forbush Friends Youth CAPTAIN’S CHOICE TOURNAMENT

(Shotgun start) April 22, 2023

Yadkin County Club

2501 Country Club Rd, Yadkinville, NC 27055

Who is this group?

They are three groups of youth ages 3­18 years of age, who gathers for the purposes of Worship, fellowship, enrichment, mutual encouragement and personal growth.

Please enter immediately we will play the first 18 teams to enter.

For additional information Call Mike Fulp at 336­469­1414 or email chickenhouse@yadtel.net

I came from a cooking family with one uncle. a chef at a Miami hotel and another with his own little grill in addition to an aunt who handled the restaurant part of an exclusive eatery/bar in New York and a mother as a nurse who commanded plates filled with specific nutritional and color

coordinated foods. Some how I did not inherit any of their cooking genes! That’s why I enjoy looking back at their hand written recipes in old recipe boxes. Thanks, Momma for this one.

SOUR CREAM/RAISIN PIE

1 (16-ounce) container sour cream

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 egg YOLKS

1 cup raisins

3 egg WHITES

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 baked 9-inch pie shell

In a heavy medium saucepan stir together the sour cream, 1 1/2 cups sugar, flour, egg yolks,and raisins. Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Keep warm.

For meringue, place the egg whites and cream of tartar in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips will curl). GRADUALLY add 3/4 cup sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed about 4 minutes more or until mixture forms stiff glossy peaks (tips will stand straight).

Pour warm filling into baked pie shell. Spread meringue over filling. Bake in a 350°F. oven for 15 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack for an hour.

Chill 3 to 6 hours before serving; cover for longer storage. Makes 8 servings.

WRITER Barbara Norman

foodsandflavors ™ ~

Vicki Yount

CHOCOLATE TRIFLES

I love making trifles. They are pretty as well as delicious. This is such a simple recipe and I thought that it would be perfect for springtime or anytime. I needed a dessert for my family Christmas and this is so easy and we all want something easy at the holidays especially with Easter as our next big holiday. A cake mix (or homemade) chocolate cake, instant chocolate pudding, cool whip or homemade whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup between the layers are all you need. If you do not have a trifle dish, any glass dish will do tho it is nice to see the layers. I added a few chopped chocolate thin mints to the top of the trifle, but you can leave them off if you choose. I think it would be good with caramel sauce between the layers as well.

1 Chocolate cake mix or homemade 9x13-inch pan ( baked and cooled)

2 boxes chocolate instant pudding or homemade chocolate pudding

1 (12-ounce) tub Cool Whip or 2 cups sweetened whipped cream

Hershey syrup for drizzle between layers

Layer cake pieces ( about 2 inches) in the bottom of your glass bowl. Add chocolate pudding in second layer and cool whip in the third layer. Drizzle chocolate syrup. Repeat the layers until your container is full. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to serve. I believe that a brownie mix with pecans would also be good.

OPENING DAY

Saturday, April 1, 10:30a to 4:30p.

Celebrate the official opening of the 2023 season of Bethabara Park by exploring the grounds, seeing the newly restored 1834 Log House, hear authentic Moravian music, view 18th century craftsmen, tour the 1788 Gemeinhaus/view an enjoyable video, then browse the gift shop!

Vicki Yount

WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER / Vicki Yount

Courtney Tevepaugh

Courtney Tevepaugh Family and Consumer Science Agent, Wilkes County North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Courtney_tevepaugh@ncsu.edu

Follow along on Facebook @wilkesFCS

The rising cost of food has many families wondering how to provide healthy meals while maintaining a tight budget. I'm here to tell you that it's possible to eat nutritious and tasty foods on a budget. First of all, you will need a food budget. Consider how many people are in your family and take a look at your current grocery bill. You may find that you're grocery shopping too often or spending too much on premade foods like snacks. Once you have decided on a budget goal, think through how many meals you need to prepare each week and create a meal plan. When planning meals it helps to shop your kitchen first and see what can be made out of the ingredients you already have. You may find your grocery list is much smaller when you plan in this way. Other ways to save are to buy in bulk if you have the space to store it and watch for weekly deals in grocery store ads. Remember to simple meals can still be delicious, every meal does not have to

Stretching your dollars in the Kitchen

be fit for a king! Let's break down some cost-saving ideas.

Canned Fish. Canned fish is a great inexpensive source of protein. Canned salmon and tuna are budget-friendly alternatives to fresh seafood and are full of nutrients. Look for fish packed in water. My preferred use is to make salmon patties or use tuna salad as a topper for salad greens.

Day-Old Bread. Often you can find discounts on day-old bread at the bakery section of the grocery store or simply have a loaf of bread that's turned stale on the counter. Unless it's growing mold there's no need to throw the bread away. Turn the bread into croutons or breadcrumbs. Make it into breakfast casserole, French toast, bread pudding, and more.

Dry Milk. Dry milk powder is not often seen in recipes, but nonfat dry milk has

the same nutrient content as skim milk. Once opened it also can store for a few months. Dry milk powder can be used to boost the protein and calcium in a recipe. For example, add ¼ to ½ cup per pound of meal to meatloaf or hamburger. Or add ¼ cup dry powder per cup of mashed potatoes, then add cooking liquid until you have the desired consistency. Reconstituted dry milk can be used in hot chocolate or white sauces to name a few.

DIY Spice Mixes. One of my favorite way to cut costs in the kitchen is to make my own spice mixes. Often store bought spice blends are full of unnecessary sodium. Creating your own at home allows you to be in control of the ingredients and saves costs in the long term. Homemade Italian seasoning mix goes great as a seasoning for baked chicken and vegetables and is a simple, wholesome meal.

WRITER

photo: Pixels On Paper Photography

Taco Seasoning Blend

Italian Seasoning Blend

2 Tablespoons dried basil

2 Tablespoons dried oregano

1 Tablespoon dried rosemary

2 Tablespoons dried parsley

1 Tablespoon dried thyme

1 Tablespoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix ingredients in a small bowl, transfer to an air-tight container. Alternatively, add all ingredients to a Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Shake well to mix.

Around 2 Tablespoons of this mix is equal to one seasoning packet.

Taco Seasoning Blend

2 Tablespoons chili powder

1 Tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Mix ingredients in a small bowl, transfer to an air-tight container. Alternatively, add all ingredients to a Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Shake well to mix.

Around 2 Tablespoons of this mix is equal to one seasoning packet.

Sew Blessed Quiltworks

is Moving and Becoming

Sew Blessed Studio Creations

Now our focus is on Custom Quilting using our Long Arm Machine.

Edge to Edge Quilting beginning at only 1.5¢ a square inch

Backing and Bindery Services Available

Everything you’ll need to make your custom quilt come to life!

Nomination forms for Quilts of Valor are available at Sew Blessed.

We love helping honor our nation’s veterans

Sew Blessed Studio Creations

For more details on our move or to make an appointment Call 336­902­0999

email: sewblessedquiltworks1@gmail.com

Coming Soon our NEW on­line store at: www.sewblessedquiltworks.weebly.com

Bobbin’s making the move too!

Libby Whittington, owner

Italian Seasoning Blend

foodsandflavors ™ ~ Jim Collins

JIM’S CHICKEN BITES

One evening while watching a shopping network on TV, they were selling frozen chicken bites. You could get three, one pound bags shipped to you for $59.99 plus shipping. That’s $20 a pound for chicken! They must be great at that price. I told my bride that I could do that for a lot less than $20 a pound. I’m going to make some tomorrow night for dinner. The next night I wiped up a mess of chicken bites and served them with some Blue Cheese and Buffalo sauces for dipping along with some buttered noodles and green peas. They turned out pretty darn good.

We had some left over, so the next night I tossed some chicken bites in melted butter with some garlic powder and reheated them in the oven. My wife was making spaghetti for dinner, so we had them along side the spaghetti. Another great meal.

You can make the chicken bites ahead of time and have them any time you want them. Just prepare the chicken bites according to the recipe. Quick freeze on paper plates in the freezer and then place them in zip-lock freezer bags and put back in the freezer. Kids will love this treat, when they get home from school.

Jim Chicken Bites

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Cooking oil (if frying)

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon milk

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups Panko bread crumbs

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 350°F. Rinse chicken in cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Cut chicken into 1-inch bite size pieces. Beat eggs and milk together in a separate bowl. Measure flour onto a pie plate.

Measure the panko bread crumbs into a pie plate or shallow bowl and mix in the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Dip the chicken bites into the flour, making sure to coat all sides. Dip the chicken bites in the beaten eggs and then dredge them through the seasoned panko bread crumbs.

Place the chicken bites on a non-stick baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

If frying: Fry in the hot 350°F. cooking oil for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces: Ranch, Blue Cheese, Buffalo, Honey Mustard, BBQ.

Jim Collins

Jim lives in Winston­Salem. He is a great cook who knows Yadkin Valley Wines and, his way around a kitchen!

The Wilkes County Library ...is one busy place

Librarian Suzanne Moore at the Wilkes County Public Library eagerly shared some ongoing FREE programs at her library. The Heritage Cooking classes are new with a six-lesson nutrition program—registration was so popular the staff had to create a waiting list in hopes of an additional program. Now the library can offer Saturday morning sessions that begin March 11, hurry to get registered!

Suzanne shared, “Each lesson is 1 hour and 45 minute long and covers a specific food group. The first class featured the African Heritage Diet Pyramid with an introduction, an historical and nutritional discussion, a cooking lesson and time to eat together and reflect.”

Imagination Café returns for the month of June. Kids who register will be able to stop by the Library for a free lunch with a story and activity. Call for registration information,dates and times of Imagination Café.

Additional programming beyond the traditional library programming include:

The Read & Seed Community Garden Project, Wilkes County Wellness with March focusing on Financial Wellness and April focusing on Environmental Wellness.

Keeping

it Reel is Wilkes County Public Library partnering with Two Rivers Cinema for its movie program: March 4 is “I, Worst of All,” April 1 is “The Year of the Hare,” May 6 is “Barabbas” and June 3 is “Arabian Sands.”

Films are based on the book, author interviews and documentaries. Join in every first Saturday at 1p in The Two Rivers Cinema, 132 Two Rivers Drive, Wilkesboro, Your contact is librarian

Suzanne Moore 336-838-2818, Ext. 241, SMoore@arlibrary.org

(At Trap Hill Library, second Thursday at 6p, 6938 Traphill Road, Traphill) Be sure to call ahead to verify dates and times.

The Reading Trap was organized to help us read, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die! Suzanne says, “It sounds like a lofty and ominous goal!” Titles for this program are selected by the author’s birth month. Participants gather for food, beverages and fun conversation.

Once again you have proof how busy, busy your public library planning and delivering FREE Programing just for YOU!

Brigett Adams and Nicole deBruijn at the Wilkes Library’s Heritage Cooking Classes

Librarian Suzanne Moore with one of the Library’s displays.

Fickle March & Breezy April: Perfect for Planning

Writer/Photographer Dwaine Phifer

ditional winter months. We expect—even grudgingly ac cept—dreary, cold, blustery, wet and/or icy days. Messy March weather, on the other hand, gets shrugged off as an unavoidable, insufferable part of the package we call life in the Yadkin Valley.

Spring will officially spring upon us on March 20, 2023, and definitely breeze in with April. When perky jonquils begin

appearing, swelling shrub buds appear, and migrating birds -

nitely ready for change. According to US Climate Data -

ville is usually 60°F. and 49°F. at night.Likewise, about one inch of precipitation is typical.Realistically, though, March can roar in with an artic blast and take its chilly time departing. March is always confusing—April a sigh of relief.

March,1960, a case in point, certainly arrived as an unprecedented weather event. Historically, March. 1960 is the coldest documented NC March on record. Average statewide daytime temperatures were around 37° from March 1 until almost April. Not only was biting cold a colossal problem, but on three consecutive Wednesdays huge snowstorms piled layers upon layers of snow across most of NC. Two harsh Friday sleet storms, adding an icy veneer over extraordinarily deep snow, further complicated life. From Murphy in the west and Manteo in the east, North Carolinians experienced anything but typical spring-like weather. Even school kids grew tired of being snowed-in and missing weeks of school! April’s slowly warming weather and clear roads were celebrated with just about Fourth-of-July enthusiasm.

Physicist Stephen Hawking once sensibly noted, “One can’t predict the weather more than a few days in advance.” Wisely put. Since the Yadkin Valley certainly has had its share of fickle, stormy and historic March weather, optimistic distraction is always in order. Planning a summer garden works wonders toward thwarting gray, dreary, blustery, chilly-day doldrums. The anticipation of longer amounts of sunlight, April showers, and summer flowers delight the imagination. Planning for future cheerful blooms is always an entertaining respite for Yadkin Valley folks. Too, April’s gentler weather offers time to prepare spaces and places for future blossoms while serving as a rejuvenating boost for the winter weary.

For 2023, consider planting two varieties of NC’s native summer lilies: The Turk’s Cap Lily (Aquilegia canadenis, an imposing plant with numerous dramatic, curled orange flowers, and the shorter Carolina Lily, Lilium michauxii, with tightly upward-curled, freckled cream and orange petals).The lovely Carolina Lily was chosen as the NC State Wildflower in 2003. (The dogwood has been the designated State Flower since 1941.) The Turk’s Cap grows tall while the Carolina will be much shorter with a different leaf pattern. When considering growing any native plant, leave wild plants in the

Above: Asiatic Lily.

Below: Turk’s Cap.

Page 60: Asiatic Purple Lily

wild. Obtain plants or seeds only from reputable sellers who follow the rules regarding protection of wild plants in their native habitats.

Native NC lilies easily start from seed. Afterall, wildflowers are genetically designed for survival. Native lily seeds, though, must go through at least 30-plus days of chilling before baby plants will sprout. Unless one has seeds from the previous year and have stored them in the refrigerator for a minimum of a month, it is best to purchase mature plants or bulbs. Asiatic lilies are another, and more typical, commercial lily choice for Yadkin Valley gardens. These plants are easy to grow. Like native lilies, they do require well-drained soil and lots of summer sun. They can be grown in sturdy big containers. Massing diverse heights and colors in the garden, though, makes for a delightful season-long display. Most Asiatic garden lilies grow tall and have large flowers at the top of a long stem. They require plenty of space, room to spread out a strong root system, and enough light and nourishment to develop staunch support for the flowers. Staking very tall plants is necessary to prevent weather damage.

March-April, 2023 is an excellent time to develop plans for brightening one’s summertime flower garden with lovely lilies. When hot, sweltering days have completely erased thoughts of erratic March and enchanting April, enjoy lily blooms. Given the gentlest of summer breezes, they will bob and nod in agreement with your appreciation.

Can you feel it in the air? That certain something that tells you that spring is just about to make its annual appearance? If you’re like me, you are itching to get out in the dirt and feel the earth. You are ready to have a reprieve from the gray cold that has been winter and to reconnect with nature on a more personal level.

The great news is, you can do plenty of things right now to prepare your yard and garden. March will start bringing a lot of plant life out of dormancy. So, catch it early, and plant any trees and shrubs you had planned for right now! Add freshness with a new layer of mulch or pine needles. Plant now so you can water less next summer.

Contemplating your flower beds? Take a look at what needs to be cleaned up. If you left some flower stalks and heads for the birds to feast on through the winter, they probably cleaned everything off by now that they could use. So, take down the spent remains and clear off the ground to allow the new growth to grow freely. Weed as you go. You will see how rewarding this can be when you look behind you and see the difference you just made with this chore completed.

Plan on adding some new perennials to the mix? March is a good time to start as they can take some frost. Please keep natives in mind. Also, plan for pollinators. Pollinators keep our natural food chain going. Sure, you can get genetically engineered produce, but just saying those words gives me the chills. I shudder to think about a world where the butterflies, bees, moths, and birds no longer exist! So, be mindful of how important your perennial plantings truly are. Choose your plants and start getting them in the ground now so they can bring you some magnificent color in the months ahead. I would ask you to be mindful of your use of pesticides. What kills a wasp also kills a honey bee. If you see that pests, such as aphids or white flies become a problem, please research your options and harm as few pollinators as possible. And, keep in mind that birds, other wildlife, and humans feast on the fruit of plants and trees. So, be careful what you are spraying around your yard, please.

Cool season veggies can go into the garden in March. There is nothing so rewarding as that first crop of lettuce, spinach, or broccoli. Annuals and other veggies can go in to the ground in mid-April to May. The average last frost date is April 15. If you are willing to cover the plants if there is a late frost or take your plants back inside, you can plant your delicate annuals and veggies. You can put your flower pots that have been tucked into the basement or garage, back outside to begin anew.

Let’s not forget the most important day in April, 2023; Easter is April 9, 2023. You will see Easter lilies, bright potted mums, azaleas, and potted hydrangea begin to hit the garden centers. This usually marks our first taste of color for spring, unless, of course, you have crocus or pansies or some other early bloomers that are not afraid of the cold.

If you planted pansies back last fall, you can clean them up and fertilize them to extend their life through spring into the early summer when it will begin to get too warm for them. Or, you can replace the fall pansies with new colors for spring. Either way, you can’t go wrong with these happy faces looking up at you.

So many things to do now to fill the gardening void that winter often leaves. So, get outside, carpe’ diam, bring your exercise into the garden. Start a brand-new journey with nature as you nurture your plants and they, in turn, nurture your soul. And, as always…Happy Gardening.

Protecting North Carolina from the Spotted Lanternfly

First, let’s state the obvious. As insects go, the spotted lanternfly (SLF; Lycorma delicatula) is strikingly beautiful. The upper half of the rounded grey forewings are adorned with black spots, giving way to a brick-like pattern as the wings widen towards the end. The semitransparent wings are typically held at rest in a cloak-like fashion, diffusing the bold colors below into a pinkish hue. The lower wings, revealed during short bursts of flight, unveil additional black spots against a crimson background and expose a stout black body bordered with yellow. If all this sounds picturesque, keep in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Imagine hordes of spotted lanternflies congregating in masses, sucking the life from Yadkin Valley grapevines, and the image becomes more akin to a trailer from a horror movie.

The SLF does not belong in Piedmont North Carolina, which is exactly where it showed up in June of 2022 in eastern Forsyth County. The story of how it arrived is typical of plants and animals that have entered North America from other countries over the years, often wreaking environmental havoc. Not all introduced

organisms become invasive. By definition, invasives spread rapidly and uncontrolled, displacing native species and disrupting local ecosystems. Farms, timber lots, parks, and recreational venues are often impacted, producing economic losses that can soar into the millions. A high reproduction rate and a lack of predators are just a few of the factors that drive this mechanism, and once the organism becomes established, eradication is difficult to impossible.

Unlike kudzu, introduced in 1876 as an ornamental, the arrival of SLF in the United States was accidental, with the first documented sighting in Pennsylvania in 2014. Originally native to China, scientists think SLF may have entered the US in 2012 on a stone shipment, remaining undetected for a few years and then making its presence known in a big way. Females lay sticky egg mass on both natural and man-made objects, providing a quick and easy means for spreading to new areas. After invading Pennsylvania, it quickly spread to surrounding states, initiating quarantines in a vain attempt to stop further expansion.

Based on its name and appearance,

the spotted lanternfly is often mistaken for a fly or, sometimes a moth. Actually, it’s neither. It belongs in a family of insects known as the planthoppers, a group of plant-feeding insects known for their ability to “hop” many times their own body length to escape danger, a process facilitated with a short burst of flight for winged adults. During routine activities, planthoppers walk or climb to locate suitable feeding sites on trees or shrubs, where they insert piercing mouthparts into bark or stems and consume a plant’s life-sustaining sap like drinking through a straw. Native planthoppers are seldom present in sufficient numbers to produce significant damage, but the non-native SLF is known to cluster in concentrations large enough to potentially deprive plants of the nourishment necessary for fruit or seed production. Ironically, not much of the sugary syrup consumed by sapsuckers is processed as food. Instead, small amounts of amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) are filtered out, with most of the sweet sap excreted through the anal opening as a waste product and deposited onto other plant parts, or any-

Extension Agent, Natural Resources and Environmental Systems N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center

WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHS Phyllis Baker Smith

thing sitting beneath the plant (such as parked cars) as a sticky liquid known as honeydew. Honeydew, in turn, attracts a fungus known as sooty mold, which produces an unsightly black powdery coating on affected plants.

So far, over 70 plant species have been identified as feeding hosts for the SLF, impacting native forest trees such as oak, maple and hickory, and orchard trees such as apple, cherry and pear. To heighten concern throughout the Yadkin Valley, the SLF is also a known pest of grapes and hops, two very important agricultural commodities necessary for the growing success of our local wineries and craft beer producers. According to NC State Extension, yield reductions as high as 90% have been documented among infested vineyards. In addition, fall mating swarms can disrupt agrotourism events such as outdoor weddings, inhibit recreational activities, and create a nuisance for homeowners, state and local parks, and businesses.

While these statistics seem to paint a grim picture, readers can take hope in a powerful and efficient means of minimizing the harmful impacts of SLF in N.C.—its own citizens! The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) has organized a highly efficient team to map, monitor, and treat the SLF infestation in Forsyth County, but it was a private citizen who detected and reported the first know presence of spotted lanternfly in our state. Since both the wingless nymph and winged adult stages can closely resemble other native insects, becoming a good “citizen scientist” involves the acquisition of knowledge; particularly identification skills for each of the four stages of the SLF life-

cycle (see Fig. 1). Identification photos and links are provided on the NCDA&CS Plant Protection page at www.ncagr.gov/SLF. After referring to these resources, suspected sightings should be photographed (preferably with an object such as a coin for size reference) and promptly reported by clicking on the link provided at the site.

In addition to being on the lookout for SLF, we can enhance our efforts by following the guidelines below: Do not move firewood to and from infested areas. Inspect vehicles, lawn equipment, camping equipment, etc. for spotted lanternfly “hitchhikers,” especially for egg masses that can be laid on almost surface and easily transported from one location to another. Remove egg masses from objects by scraping into a plastic bag and treating with hand sanitizer, or placing in the freezer. Do the same with adults and nymphs, or simply squish, after photographing and reporting. Stay updated on the current spotted lanternfly range by visiting the NCDA&CS website on a regular basis. When visiting or passing through infested areas, be particularly careful about checking vehicles and other outdoor equipment before entering non-infested areas.

One additional arsenal in the fight against SLF is management of the nonnative tree of heaven (TOH; Ailanthus altissima). TOH out-competes native trees by producing growth-inhibiting chemicals. Late nymph and adult stages of SLF show a strong feeding preference for TOH, which may give them protection from predators as they take up the same chemicals, a theory supported in a study led by Anne Johnson, at Pennsylvania State University. However, simply cutting down TOH is not the answer. Without killing the roots, TOH will send up prolific root suckers, making the problem worse. For advice on Integrated Pest Control of TOH contact your local Extension Center or the N.C. Forest Service.

Early detection and rapid response is crucial to slowing the spread of spotted lanternfly in N.C. Private citizens are the frontline of defense. Learn how to identify spotted lanternfly in every stage of development. Be on the lookout. Report. Squish. Repeat.

We offer solutions for:

tough industrial applications

commercial painting

water fountains • concrete steps

decks • car wash walls

office buildings • homes

concrete swimming pools

garage floors painted AND sealed to withstand heat and water Got a painting project— we can do it!

Before you replace the wood on your deck, talk to us about…DECK RESTORE™ or DECK REVIVE products. Both products revive and protect wood surfaces such as wood and composite decking, stairs, docks and more. They install at a fraction of the cost of total surface replacement while adding years of life to older wood decks!

Our Design Specialist can offer creative ideas on any painting project. Whether you’re just needing a little guidance… or the whole idea.

consultation visit and estimate are FREE. —Mark Diachenko. Mark@PaintandCoatingsLTD.com

A multi-faceted painting company…we’re

So You Want to Grow Medicinal Herbs?

What is a medicinal herb? Medicinal Herbs are plants used for medicinal purposes. Medicinal Herbs includes a wide range of plant species found in various habitats from annuals or perennials; woody or herbaceous; full sun or shade. When using the plants for medicinal purposes, you may use their leaves, flowers, roots, seeds or bark. Each medicinal herb has a story. For example, bloodroot is also called puccoon, a Native American word for red dye, as it was used to color clothes, baskets, and skin.

When selecting the correct medicinal herb for your area, you must first evaluate your interests, resources, and capabilities. When evaluating your interests, think about what you are looking to use the herbs for. Are you looking to make teas, medicines, soaps or candles? How do you want to market your products? Are you growing for just yourself or others? Evaluate the resources around you; your land, equipment, accessibility, length of the growing season in your area. What is the soil like? Think about personal considerations and capabilities; how much time, energy, physical strength, and other help do you have? Lastly, think about how you are going to finance your enterprise?

As there are various types of medicinal herbs, there is no “one way” to grow. Before planting a single seed, it is important to do research. Do you want to grow organically? There is a growing market for certified organic herbs, so plan in advance and educate yourself if you want to enter this market. Do you have a site

Kellee

suitable for growing medicinal herbs? Select a site that has good soil health, access to irrigation, and sufficient light for the herb you are growing. Next, obtain quality seed and planting stock material. You want to source your material from a reputable source. Herbs are susceptible to insects and diseases, so be sure to provide; healthy soil, quality water and air drainage.

Make sure to also keep your plants healthy by not over fertilizing or watering. Plan ahead of harvest time by considering how you will harvest the leaves, seeds, or roots. Annual herbs will be harvested the same season that they are planted and perennials can be cut to allow for regrowth year after year.

After harvest, it is important to know how to properly handle the harvested roots and herbs. Be sure to follow good agricultural practices to ensure your herb product is safe.

Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers

The Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers group was established Fall 2022 by Piedmont area NC Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agents. The inspiration for this group came from the established Western North Carolina Medicinal Herb Growers group. This group is made up of NC Cooperative Extension educators, herb farmers, and gardeners who are interested in gaining experience in growing medicinal herbs. The group is able to attend workshops to gain knowledge and hands-on experience with all aspects of medicinal herb growing, post-harvest handling, and marketing.

In August 2022, the group kicked off with a meet and greet along with informational workshops on the topics; growing medicinal herbs and marketing medicinal herbs. The group also got to enjoy a farm tour of Gentle Harmony Farms located in Davidson County to learn about the processes from growing to marketing herbs.

Wanting to get involved? There will be various opportunities this spring for participants to attend workshops and herb walks. The first session will be presented on the Production Process of Herbs highlighting comfrey and lavender crops which will be held on Monday, March 27, 1 to 4p at the Iredell County Cooperative Extension Office. Our first herbal walk will be held at the Greensboro Arboretum to allow for all accessibility on Friday, March 3, 3 to 5p.

The next herb walk will take place at Uwharrie River Trail on Friday, April 14, 2 to 4p. The last spring workshop will be a hands-on workshop where participants will learn about creating herbal vouchers. This last session will be held at the Davidson County Cooperative Extension Office on Tuesday, May 9, 10a to noon.

The March and May workshop will be $12 for all participants to be used for purchasing materials.

Interested in learning more about the Piedmont Medicinal Herb Growers group? Contact your local Cooperative Extension office.

Want to join the email list to stay in touch about events and information? Contact Yadkin County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent, Kellee Payne at kellee_payne@ncsu.edu.

ALTA/ACSM Survey

As-built/Construction/ Layout Survey

Avigation/

View Easement Survey

Boundary Survey

Condominium Plats

Deed Protraction

Floodplain Elevation Certificates

Forensic Survey/Expert Witness

Forestry Survey

Hydrographic Survey

Land Use/Development Design

Mortgage/Physical Survey

OPUS Management

Right of Way/Easement Survey

Subdivision Design

Topographic Survey

Scott Church Land Surveying is a proud member of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and the North Carolina Society of Surveyors (NCSS).

North Wilkesboro

For Four consecutive years!

Downtown North Wilkesboro

Screenings Can Help Lead the Way

WRITER Jessica O. Wall, MPH Director, Yadkin County Human Services Agency Medical Clinic and Wic jwall@yadkincountync.gov

336.849.7588

There are many factors that can have an effect on a person’s health, but there is only one way to determine a person’s health status: screenings. Health screenings are tests that are performed to help a medical professional determine if you are within normal ranges for your gender, race, and age. These tests can look for diseases or conditions you may have, before you even start to experience any of the symptoms. There are many routine health tests and screenings that can be done at your yearly physical to help you and your doctor learn more about you.

When you visit the doctor, they will take your blood pressure and weight, and in most cases, want to know your height. From your height and weight, your doctor can determine your Body Mass Index, (BMI). This is a tool your provider can use to determine if you are within your normal weight range for your height. This could help a doctor determine if you are overweight or obese, both of which can lead to cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Your blood pressure will let your doctor know the health of your heart and cardiovascular system. Blood pressure at or above 140/90 is considered high, and could lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney or eye problems.

continues on page 72

Love that healthy smile!

help keep your teeth happy with these tips

The most important dental work you have done is what you do yourself at home. No matter what dental work you have it will fail if you are not practicing exemplary dental hygiene at home…brushing AND flossing!

Is someone in your home about to lose a baby tooth? If the tooth fairy is about to visit, go ahead and wiggle that tooth. Just be sure not to pull a baby tooth unless it is loose.

Talk to your dentist before whitening your teeth. You may have front teeth with old restorations that may not whiten along with your natural teeth. You may end up with teeth that look “patchy.”

Do you love to chew gum? Be sure to use a sugarless gum. You will avoid the decay causing sugar as well as help stimulate salivary flow—your body’s natural defense against tooth decay.

Jessica and family

Dr. Andrew Rivers

WRITER Dr. Andrew Rivers

Understanding My Pain Symptoms

Are Your Pain Symptoms Hard to Describe?

If so, you are not alone. Many people with chronic pain conditions (pain lasting more than 3 month) struggle to accurately describe their pain to their doctors. It’s not easy. The pain may be simultaneously located in multiple areas:

• Pain above the waist such as neck, shoulder, chest and upper back pain

• Pain below the waist such as hip, buttock, leg and foot pain

• Pain on the right and left side

• And at every point in between

The pain may move around. Or it may seem like it is everywhere at once. The intensity of the pain may also change from day to day. Some chronic pain sufferers describe their pain as:

•Aching • Deep • Shooting • Radiating • Tender • Pins and Needles.

It can be frustrating for those who have chronic pain all over. This is especially true if they don’t know the source of the pain. Voices of undiagnosed pain condition, “Sometimes you can feel like a prisoner in your own body.”

If Your Pain Is Both Chronic and Widespread, You Might Want to Ask Your Doctor About Fibromyalgia—one of the most common types of chronic pain conditions. It affects over five million patients in the U.S. alone. The defining problem is chronic widespread muscle pain. Sufferers often have Fibromyalgia symptoms such as fatigue and concentration/memory problems. Awareness of Fibromyalgia has increased in just the last few years. Yet, for many, Fibromyalgia continues to be a hard-to-diagnose condition. Research shows 92% of Fibromyalgia sufferers have talked about their symptoms with a doctor. But this discussion leads to diagnosis only 24% of the time. Why does it tend to be so difficult to diagnose Fibromyalgia? One reason is your doctor can’t see it on an x-ray or do a blood test. Instead, he or she relies on your description of your symptoms and a physical exam. Also, many fibromyalgia symptoms occur together with other conditions. Your doctor may test you for these other conditions as well.

If you would like to try chiropractic care or discuss your health concerns, just call Dr. Jyll Downey, Yadkinville Chiropractic Center, 336-679-8500.

Screenings Can Help Lead the Way

You should also ask your doctor to run blood tests at your yearly physical, such as a complete blood count, a basic metabolic panel and a lipid panel. These can also act as screening tools and alert your doctor to issues you may have prior to any signs or symptoms presenting. From these tests, your doctor can pinpoint dehydration, low oxygen levels, anemia, kidney function, blood sugar, electrolyte levels, and more. A lipid panel will give levels of cholesterol, low and high-density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL) and triglycerides. Cholesterol levels should not be above 200. A cholesterol level of 200 to 240 is borderline and, in most cases, manageable with diet and exercise. It’s important to have your cholesterol checked especially if you smoke, are obese, or have diabetes, high blood pressure or a history of heart disease.

Cancer screenings are another way in which you can keep an eye on your health. Both men and women should be screened for colorectal and skin cancer. A colorectal cancer screening should start at or around age 45. If there is a family history of the cancer, the screenings may need to start earlier. Your doctor will help you determine the colorectal screening test that is best for you. Skin cancer screenings are performed by a medical professional. They conduct a visual assessment of your skin

and look for abnormal moles or areas. These can be biopsied to determine if they are cancerous or precancerous. You should also regularly check your skin for abnormal blemishes or changes in a mole’s shape, color, or size. Men should include testicular and prostate cancer screenings. Testicular cancer screenings can be done at home as a selfexam. It’s important to notice any changes in color, shape, size or any lumps. Prostate cancer screenings are done by a medical professional and your doctor will determine if that is a test that would benefit you. Women should begin breast and cervical cancer screenings early in life. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, screening should begin at age 21 years, and screening recommendations remain unchanged for average-risk individuals aged 21 to 29 years and those who are older than 65 years. The recommended options for cervical cancer screening in average-risk individuals aged 30 years and older to include screening every 5 years with primary high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing. It is recommended that women at average risk for breast cancer start annual screening with mammograms at age 45. In addition, the guideline says that women should transition to screening every 2 years starting at age

55, but can also choose to continue screening annually. The American Cancer Society no longer recommends a clinical breast exam (CBE) as a screening method for women in the U.S. Breast self-exam is also no longer recommended as an option for women of any age.

You may also want to include tests like bone density, body fat, or mental health screenings. Be sure to include regular dental check-ups as well as hearing and vision screenings on a regular basis. Use your doctor as a source of information about which health screenings may be best for you and when you should start. Of course, if you ever participate in any screenings, take the information you gather back to your doctor to let them be aware of the findings and to get more information. Knowledge is power. The sooner you know more about your health, the sooner you and your medical provider can stay ahead of any complications you may have. This can prevent chronic illness or premature death.

Saturday, May 6 • Noon to 5

This year’s festival will have wineries and craft breweries come from across the region. Budbreak is Noon to 5p for live music, wine and beer tastings, craft vendors, food vendors the likes of 13 Bones and the Main Street eateries. Many downtown merchants will be offering a 10% discount on your shopping.

You’ll enjoy wines, craft beer, good food in Downtown Mount Airy at this year’s Budbreak Festival.

presented by

photos from previous festivals

Tickets are just $20 ($25 day of show) giving you full access to the festival and activities including the entertainment that starts with B-Dazzle Productions, our Hometown DJ.

Headliner Tim Elliott performs from 2:30p to 5p. Tim is a genuine rising country star who has built his touring business from the ground up. An authentic and passionate blue collar guy, it wouldn’t be a shock for his crew to see Tim soiled in grease working on his own bus maintenance during a tour. Known as a powerhouse artist in the Southeastern United States, Tim was recently voted Carolina’s Male Country Artist of the Year.

You’ll receive a Commemorative Wine Glass for tastings. And those tastings are unlimited. Budbreak is the perfect place to visit wineries and brewers to learn what’s new from your favorite haunts and to discover new offerings.

An added bonus with your wrist band or ticket, participating downtown merchants will be offering a 10% discount on purchases.

Come hungry, 13 Bones will be serving and if that’s not enough there are multiple downtown eateries waiting to serve you.

It’s fun, it’s friends, it’s entertainment and the best part, all proceeds go to local Mount Airy Charities!

Want to know more before you go, head on over to BudbreakFestival.com. That is the place to purchase your advance tickets.

The festival is on rain or shine.

Rotary is 1.4 million people who are: People of Action, Problem Solvers and Community Builders.

These folks believe people can unite and take action to create lasting change, internationally, locally and in ourselves. More than 100 years old, Rotary continuously works to better our world and stay committed to the end. Today there are 46,000+ clubs working together.

The Club’s Mission Statement: To provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through its fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.

This year, we lost Bob Meinecke… a driving force behind the launch of the Budbreak Festival. Sue Brownfield recalls he once said, “It’s been an incredible run of 12 years as top organizer for the annual, well-attended gathering. It includes around 20 wine and craft beer vendors offering tastings and sales of their wares in a closed section of North Main Street on a Saturday afternoon.”

Sue also shared, during Meinecke’s tenure, around $200,000 has been raised to aid the causes of local charitable groups in keeping with the official Rotary mission of community betterment under the motto, “service above self.” The local charities that the Rotary Club of Mount Airy supports with the money raised during Budbreak are: The Shepherd’s House, Boy Scouts of America, Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Salvation Army, Surry Medical Ministries, Helping Hands, Surry Arts Council, Friends of the Mount Airy Police Department, United Fund, Yokefellow Food Pantry, Rise Against Hunger (Stop Hunger Now), Rotary Pup Dog Park and YES Surry High School Entrepreneurial Competition. Learn more at: budbreakfestival.com/sponsors/

generosity of these Sponsors and more:

The driving force behind so many good works. The Mount Airy Rotary Club

Yadkin Arts Council

Sponsors: Hugh Chatham Health • Shallowford Foundation • Workforce Unlimited Yadkin Vision Care • First National Bank • Yadkin Cooperative Extension Surry Community College • Unifi • Yadkin Nursing Care

Skyline National Bank • Allegacy Federal Credit Union

If you’ve wondered how Unifi takes plastic bottles and produces fibers that are made into incredible activewear products... well here’s your chance to find out!

Visit Showcase Yadkin and discover more than 25 local businesses as they show exactly what they make and the services they provide.

You’ll be surprized at the host of topics covered and the free information along with friendly conversation given. Talking about free, you’re going to come away loaded with samples and give aways.

Admission is a bargain, it’s Free! Be sure to register for door prizes. To be entered into the drawings for door prizes, each participant will get a card and have to visit with each booth to get a stamp.

Contact the Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce with general questions about the Expo at (336) 679-2200.

Unifi

Boonville Business

Yadkin Nursing Care and Rehab

(scenes from previous events)

The Agricultural Building, Banquet Facility, home to Showcase Yadkin.

Caring for Our Creeks

Phyllis B. Smith, Extension Agent, Natural Resources and Environmental Systems N.C. Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center

Each time it rains, stormwater enters thousands of creeks throughout our region. These creeks converge to form streams, which drain into the Yadkin River. With its headwaters in Blowing Rock, the Yadkin winds its way through central North Carolina all the way to South Carolina, where it continues as the Pee Dee River before meeting the Atlantic Ocean.

Throughout its 430-mile course, The Yadkin/Pee Dee serves as a source of drinking water for 21 counties, while providing water for crops and livestock and creating wildlife habitat. As the second largest river basin in the state, the importance of maintaining good water quality throughout the Yadkin Valley cannot be overstated.

The area of land that drains into the nearest creek is called a watershed. No matter where one lives, we are all part of a watershed and therefore responsible for keeping our creeks, streams, rivers, and ultimately the ocean, clean! Where can we start? Follow the six tips below to help care for our creeks:

Attend a Creek Week event! The 11th annual Forsyth Creek Week will be held March 18-26, 2023. Join in a creek clean-up, take a frog walk, or learn how to make a rain barrel. Activities are available for every age. Access the Calendar of Events at www.forsythcreekweek.org

Reduce stormwater runoff. Storm drains typically send untreated stormwater into creeks, carrying pet waste, litter, motor oil, pesticides, fertilizer, and eroded soil. Rain barrels, cisterns, and rain gardens are just a few options for reducing stormwater runoff. Go to http://www.forsythcreekweek.org/stormwater-solutions and click on Stormwater Solutions Self-Guided Tour for more ideas.

Scoop your dog poop. Dog waste contains bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can make humans and wildlife sick. It also contains nitrogen and phosphorus, which can contribute to harmful algal blooms, resulting in fish kills and harm to pets, livestock and humans. ALWAYS clean up after your pet. It’s the law. Watch a short video at http://www.forsythcreekweek.org/scoop-thepoop for advice on the best way to go about this simple task.

These photos show what happens when the trees and other native vegetation is stripped away from a streambank and replaced with grass. Grass has short roots and provides poor erosion control. As a result, the streambanks wash away during storms and sediment is deposited into the stream. Sediment is the number one source of water pollution in NC.

Preserve riparian buffers and stream components. A riparian buffer is strip of trees and vegetation next to a body of water that provides protection from adjacent suburban, urban, or agricultural land use. When trees are removed, the grass that often fills in the gaps provides very little soil-retaining capacity, resulting

SATURDAY MAY 6, 2023

HANDCRAFTED FESTIVAL 10 AM ­ 5 PM

DOWNTOWN MOCKSVILLE SQUARE

MUSIC ~ CRAFTERS ~ HISTORICAL TOUR ~ KIDS AREA

FREE CONCERT

DIRECT FROM NASHVILLE! TWO BANDS

MUSIC BEGINS AT 1:30 WITH HIS AND HERS

HEADLINER NEON UNION

PERFORMS FROM 6 TO 7:30 PM

Spring at Horne Creek Farm,

308 Horne Creek Farm Road, Pinnacle

March 18. Annual Arbor Day Apple Trees Sale. Southern Heritage Apple Orchard.10a to 5p. $22.50/ea. potted apple heirloom trees as well as peach and pear, ( $17.50), come early! Call early IF you want a specific variety.

March 25 Mate, Mother & Multi-Tasker: Farm Women of the Early 20th Century. Women were responsible for carrying out for the family’s survival and welfare. Tours at 11a, 12:15p and 1:15p to 2:30p, FREE, donations appreciated.

April 22 Sheep Shearing Day 10a to 11:15a and 1:15p to 12:30p. FREE, we welcome donations. Watch the site’s Gulf Coast Native sheep be sheared by the staff.

in sediment pollution from loss of streambanks. Leave riparian buffers in place for the well-being of the entire river basin. For advice on restoring riparian buffers and repairing streambanks, enter Small Scale Solutions to Eroding Streambanks@ncsu.edu into a search engine.

Never dump grease or oil down the sink or place non-flushable items in the toilet. Oils and grease solidify in pipes to create clogs and harm septic systems. When pipes are connected to a city sewer system, solidified fats trap non-flushable items such as dental floss, Q-tips, baby wipes, and even “flushable” wipes to form clogs, leading to sewer overflows that pollute streams.

Have your septic system inspected yearly. Nearly half the homes in North Carolina are on septic systems. Both the tank and drainfield must be maintained properly to prevent backups into households and/or overflows into the drainfield. Overflows can contaminate groundwater or send harmful coliform bacteria into creeks.

The NC State Extension publication Septic Systems and Their Maintenance includes everything a homeowner needs to know. Find it at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/septic-systemsand-their-maintenance.

For additional information on how to protect the Yadkin/Pee Dee River Basin, visit yadkinriverkeeper.org.

Trees in the nursery at Horne Creek’s Southern Heritage Apple Orchard.

Yadkin Valley Wines

To learn more about visiting Yadkin Valley Wineries: John & Carrie Byrd

Yadkin Valley

Wine Tours

yadkinwinetours.com 336-408-3394

Dobbins Creek Vineyards was established by Charles King in the spring of 2002. He planted the first vines, Merlot, using only one acre of his 50-acre property on Hemric Mountain in Hamptonville. He would later go on to plant four more acres of vines to include Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. He opened his tasting room five years later in the spring of 2007. Since that time, he has been a fixture in the vineyard and the tasting room. What started out as something to do after retirement grew to what Dobbins Creek is today. Last year, Charles began looking for a buyer for the vineyard and tasting room so he could fully retire. On November 1, 2022, his retirement wishes came true.

The new owners are business partners and long time friends Stephanie Rogol and Doreen Dugan. Stephanie owns four restaurants in Virginia and a hydroponic farm where she grows her own greens and tomatoes for use in the restaurants. Doreen grew up farming in Georgia and states she is happiest when she is farming. With their collective knowledge and experience, they decided they wanted to work together on a vineyard. They plan to do big things with Dobbins Creek.

This changing of the guard will not bring dramatic changes. Charles will

As One Chapter Ends, Another Begins for Dobbins Creek Vineyard

still be around and Tamara will still be pouring wine. Carlos will remain on board as the vineyard manager. The wines will still be excellent, as the quality of the fruit will be consistent as in previous years. But there will be positive things coming with the new ownership.

Stephanie and Doreen have a shared goal to bring more people to the Yadkin Valley wine region. Some of their goals for Dobbins Creek are to have regularly scheduled wine dinners (with Stephanie’s background in the restaurant industry, this promises to be a treat). They plan to build a pavilion in front of the tasting room

Charles planting the vineyard

and expand the porch with a deck to the side of the tasting room with seating not only on the deck but below as well.

These additions to the already beautiful property will make Dobbins Creek a destination, whether you go with friends to spend an afternoon on the property enjoying the views and wines or host a party or rehearsal dinner or wedding there. Also exciting, they plan to build out a larger tasting bar with seating on one end so you can enjoy your wine inside or out.

They are currently offering a dry Riesling, a Rose’, a stainless Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, sweet Riesling and a lovely blackberry infused red wine called Hemric Mountain Red and just released their 2020 RamCat Red (top selling red blend) and will soon be releasing their 2019 Merlot.

If you have not been, take a ride and do a wine tasting or enjoy a wine flight.

Tamara and Carrie

Dobbins Creek is located at 4430 Vineyard View Lane, Hamptonville, NC.

His and Her begins their show at 1:30p

Neon Union performs from 6p to 7:30p.

Craving some great Live Music? Then attend the Daniel Boone Family Festival on Saturday, May 6. Both concerts are FREE! Festival begins at 10a on the Downtown Square in Mocksville with crafters and kids’ area. Historical tours, too!

Alpha & Omega Helicopter EGG DROP

Alpha & Omega Corn maze will host their 8th annual Helicopter Easter Egg Drop. More than 30,000 plastic eggs will fall out of the sky on Friday, April 7th & Saturday, April 8th.

This will mark the eighth year that Alpha & Omega Corn Maze has coordinated the effort as a way to reach out to the local community and provide a fun family event. Hi tech helicopters will be offering helicopter rides between drop times at an additional fee of $25.

Our very own Thumper the Easter Bunny will join us for pictures with the children. Explore this 20-acre agritourism complex with the farm consisting of: Helicopter Egg Hunt, (3 drop times for your convenience ), Corn Cob Express, Corn Box, Picnic Pavilion, See Saws, Tug of War, Animal Acres, Pipe World, Bounce Pillow, Axe Throwing, Corn Hole, Hayride, Local Vendors, Photo Opportunities & much more.

Our on site restaurant Alpha & Omega Barn Grill will be serving a delicious lunch menu.

Remember the date is Friday, April 7th & Saturday, April 8th. The event is from 10am until 5pm.

There will be 3 egg drops each day: 11am, 1pm & 3pm.

Cost for the event is: $12.00 per person. Group rate of 20 or more is $10.00 a person.

Take advantage of our 2 day Special Easter Flash Sale! Get more bang for your buck and more out of your season passes. Save $5 off of Season Passes at Easter and can use your passes all year!

Regularly priced at $45. $40 with discount. Food is priced separately. Children 2 and under are free.

Check out our Facebook page or our website @ alphaomegacornmaze.com for posts & updates on special events. Feel free to contact us at 336-466-5402

The Forsyth County Extension Master Gardeners Volunteers will hold their annual spring plant sale at the Arboretum at Tanglewood Park from 8a to 2p on Friday, May 5th and Saturday, May 6th.

Enjoy the beauty of the gardens while making your way to one of Forsyth County’s premier plant sales. Selections include herbaceous perennials, flowering shrubs and trees, native plants, milkweed, annuals, herbs, and more. This event is one of the major fundraisers for the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program. Proceeds from your purchase help maintain The Arboretum at Tanglewood Park and fund the monthly Adult Education lecture series held at Tanglewood Park throughout the year.

Shop early for best selection. Sales are cash or check only. For additional information, call 336.703.2850.

The Arboretum at Tanglewood Park 4201 Manor House Circle Clemmons, NC 27012

About the Arboretum

The Arboretum at Tanglewood Park showcase plants that grow in Forsyth County, NC. The Arboretum is managed by North Carolina Extension, Forsyth County Center, in partnership with Forsyth County Parks and Recreation and Extension Master Gardeners Volunteers. The Arboretum is open to the public during the normal operating hours of Tanglewood Park.

Evva Foltz Hanes’ daughter, Mona shared her mother’s recent health issues and how while recovering, Eva decided to “write her life’s history” based upon diaries she kept her whole life. She titled the book, What More Could I Ask For? my story.

Evva had written cookbooks earlier that included family news: Supper's At Six & We’re Not Waiting! and Supper’s At Six & We’re Not Waiting, Second Seating. Evva is now 90 and she shares family memories she documented since a young girl in her new book.

In What More Could I Ask For? you meet Evva Hanes — her resilience and loyalty, her love of family ("I don’t know what I would do without my family”) and devotion to her mother, her strong faith and determination to keep her family together with humor and positivity.

She firmly believes she has been blessed with multiple guardian angels to be where she is today. Evva recalls helping her mother bake cookies to subsidize the family income and was actually baking the ginger cookies on her own when she was eight.

Known longtime for her bountiful weekly homemade meals for family and friends, Evva says, “I love to make folks happy and do things for them.” Very few diary entries didn’t record the meal Evva prepared for 15, 20, even 30 family, friends and church members.

Be prepared to recall your own family memories as you enjoy Evva Hanes’ memoir, “I have things to do, to read and to say."

After her last test results were clear, Evva said, “Thank you, God! I still have something here that needs to be done!”

Purchase your copy of What more Could I Ask? my story at Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies, 4643 Friedberg Church Rd., 336-764-1402 and 1-888-764-1402 as well as online: hanescookies.com

All The Little Hopes Reviewer: Cindy Martin

Southern by Grace author Leah Weiss spent the first ten years of her life in the flatlands of NC, where her mama’s people lived. After that, she and her family moved north to the mountains of Virginia, home to her daddy’s family. Weiss began her writing journey in her mid-fifties, finding the southern and lyrical voice reflected in her novels. Always she writes of humble folks who are self-sufficient and hardworking. Her dedication in her most recent novel, All the Little Hopes, reflects her love and adoration of those she holds most dear.

“Dedicated to the humble bloodline of my rich history: my mama, Lucy; her mama, Allie Bert; and her mama, Minnie Brown.”

In All the Little Hopes, Weiss transports us to a small tobacco town in NC living in the shadows of WWII. Thirteen-year-old Lucy Brown and her new-found friend Allie Bert Tucker fancy themselves detectives (just like Nancy Drew) and set out to solve the mystery of local men who go missing.

Many of the town’s husbands, brothers and sons have enlisted or been called to serve, leaving locals scrambling for enough workers to run the farms and other businesses. Much to the dismay and disapproval of their friends and families, area planters employ men housed at the nearby Nazi prisoner-of-war camp to take up the slack and keep things running smoothly.

This compelling coming-of-age story paints a portrait of friendship, while giving the reader an inside view of complicated family dynamics and heightening the fearful emotions wrought when outsiders come to town. Weiss’s poetic, lyrical descriptions of characters and place reel in the readers and leave them wanting more. This one is a must-read.

Josie Manter Earns Girl Scout Gold Award for Tackling Pressing Issues

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is pleased to announce that Josie Manter, Kernersville, has earned her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn.

Manter, a member of Girl Scout Troop 13035, created a website and YouTube channel to help kids with the transition from elementary to middle school. The website includes tips on the transition, different stress coping mechanisms, as well as how to manage anxiety. The YouTube channel has videos on how to make your own stress-relieving toys and fidgets and locker tutorial videos, such as how to open a locker and how to organize one.

“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award designation is truly a remarkable achievement. It is the culmination of so many things- from a girl’s self-discipline and leadership abilities to time management and the creativity, initiative and mastery of skills it takes to complete these kind of projects,” said Jennifer Wilcox, CEO for Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont. “Every girl who earns this prestigious award is making a difference not only in her community, but her own life as well. The skills gained through the Gold Award process- strategic thinking, communication, collaboration, problem solving- are ones that will be used often in her future endeavors.”

Thousands of Girl Scouts earn the Girl Scout Gold Award each year, which first began in 1916 as the Golden Eaglet. Earning the Gold Award opens doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks for college and amazing career opportunities.

King’s Girl Scout Sami Hunsucker Has Her Gold Award

The Town of King is proud of Sami Hunsucker, daughter of Greg Hunsucker and Janis Henderson-Hunsucker. Member of Troop 2335, Sami partnered with Pilot Mountain State Park to teach the community about state park safety and also to beauty the grounds.she made several videos and flyers on topics like packing for a hike, trail safety and how to stay hydrated while hiking for people to have access to. Sami worked with her troop and. other troops to plant wild plants around Pilot Mountain’s grounds, as well as organized a trail hike to pick up litter and garbage.

Yadkin • Valley PEOPLE

Yadkin • Valley PEOPLE

If you are a customer of Joe’s Landscaping and Nursery in Lewisville, you’ll recognize “Homey.” He’s is one cool cat!

Show Me Some puppie love

Four year old

(336) 699­6332 413 Cherry Street, East Bend Friday & Saturday 10­6 cherrystreetfarmhouse.com

In-Stock Sizes: Small to XL many more Tee Shirt styles too! Puppy Love Slippers & Caps

Think Summer & Plan for Your Horses’ Winter

You get a breather with new pasture growth for your horses. But before you know it, winter is stomping down on you with little or no pasture and the need for a constant supply of fresh water.

Start scouting now for good, clean hay for those upcoming winter months. Make contacts with reputable sellers who will honor their promise to keep hay for you and not leave you hayless when you need it, find hay you feel is a good buy AND meets your equine’s nutritional needs. If you have a place to store hay, buying it out of field locks in the sale and can sometimes save you money in the long run.

With summer comes beautiful weather as well as hot humid days. Our equine friends are mostly left to fend for themselves when they desire a drink of fresh water. Be sure to make preparations to provide your horses with shade, lots of cool, clean water and insect protection.

When horses are hot with no, little or dirty water as well as enduring irritation from a variety of flies, they become stressed and that tends to weaken the animal’s immunity, increasing the chances of illness and giving the horse a risky health condition.

A bond with a horse can change everything…in Lynn Marin’s The Horses Know along with her prequels and sequels, her fantasies are for readers with lots of imagination and a passion for equines.

In The Horses Know, Amarilla Nixon was chosen by a horse as a Bond-Partner. she looks forward to a lifetime of learning from her horse and of passing on the mare’s wisdom to those seeking help. Prequels to The Horses Know are a trilogy: In Search of Penn (Adam’s story), The Strength of Oak (Rowena’s story) and A Reason to Be Nobler (Queintn’s story).

Since this novel, The Horses Rejoice and The Horses Return were published. Sequels are Horses Forever, The Forgotten Horses and The Way of the Horse. Tales of the Horse-Bonded has companion stories.

Horse Owners Alert:

Equine Infectious has been detected in local counties AND High Path Avian Influenza has been detected in Rowan County. Contact your veterinarian with questions.

There, if you like horses, you have your summer reading all planned for you with lots of choices or you can challenge yourself and read all of Marin’s novels!

presents:

What IS That?

If your guess is the first correct entry drawn WIN $100

Enter by postcard, letter or email, be sure to include your: name, PHYSICAL MAILING ADDRESS and guess. And if you’d like, tell us about your experiences using or collecting this item. Entries must be received no later than 4/8/23, Winner will be drawn 4/10/23. The winners will be notified by mail and announced in the May-June 2023 issue. All entries become the property of Yadkin Valley Magazine.

Turn to page 104 to read about the Jan/Feb contest winner.

My mother and father used canned evaporated milk in their coffee in the 50s so these metal openers were everywhere in the kitchen and our garage. Multiple guessers agreed the metal end of the opener opened metal cans for human consumption or garage oil cans and more. It was pretty handy too for opening glass soda bottles. Nicknamed “Church Key’ and "Church Door Keys,” they were very useful advertising items!

The first correct entry drawn, Donna Ayers-McDonald, of Kernersville, wins $100.

The next two correct draws go to Jean Sands, Stoneville and Dean Francis, N. Wilkesboro: both win a YVM cookbook, One Last Sweet Bite

Look for your prizes coming soon in the US Mail.

with John Norman

If you enjoy vintage letterheads/bills here’s a great one from 1917. The full color is awesome, very rare and unusual.

Ever since I traveled to old country stores with my chewing tobacco salesman dad, when I was whopping ten years old, I’ve collected East Bend history with a passion for anything old general store.

It’s grown to a unique collection of tobacco boxes, store dairy clocks, bottles and things most people would have thrown away. But one of my greatest pleasures, is a collection of old invoices we discovered in the attic at Davis Bros. Store and in the Morse Wade building.

At first glance the stacks of invoices looked like something to be bagged and taken to the dump. But once you peeled away the top layers were sheets of paper a hundred years old, that looked as if they were written that morning.

From one collector to another, I hope you enjoy these samples.

We’re thinking the gentleman who wrote this bill, later became a doctor. We can make out the words stirrups and straps, but that’s about it.

Davis Bros Store was getting ready for Easter! Check out the prices for eggs, egg dyes and then there are those 30 pounds of Premium Chocolate drops for only $3.00. Hopefully later this year, we plan to release a book with many more illustrations of prices from days gone by, as well as businesses (and their beautiful letterheads) who only exist in memories. You’ll find more receipts and a calendar header on page 108.

Steven Howard, Chris

LIVE AND GIVE GENEROUSLY LIVE ON LESS THAN YOU MAKE AVOID UNNECCESSARY DEBT

Jack Taylor knew a little about adversity, but that didn’t stop him. In December 1941, Jack did like a lot young men and went down to the local recruiting station. America had been attacked and he wanted to jump in the fight. Jack dropped out of school and showed up to join the Army. They turned him down because of hay fever, so he joined the Navy!

Jack ended up flying Hellcats in the South Pacific earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses. When the war was over Jack ended up working at a Cadillac dealership as a salesman. He convinced his boss to go into business with him leasing cars. He started in 1957 with 7 cars.

He wanted to get to the airports, but the big rental car companies had it all sewed up. He made it up to 12 cars and started his rental car business in 1962.

The rest is a history of hard work and perseverance. You may have heard of Enterprise. So named because that is the name of the aircraft carrier Jack had flown those Hellcats off so many years ago. At the time of his death a few years ago, Jack was a billionaire. Enterprise is one of the largest, if not the largest rental car companies around.

Hard work, perseverance and a whole lot of common cents helped Jack to build his company and take care of many people along the way. What can we learn from Jack and people like him?

All the hard work allows the company to give back, be generous and sustain themselves as a market leader in their space.

We all can live and give generously too. You don’t have to be a billionaire to live and give generously. Who needs to hear from or see you today? Who’s waiting on that phone call or sitting on the couch waiting for you to knock on their front door? Who could use a hot cup of coffee and some conversation?

The Business Section

What goes into a retirement ‘paycheck’?

During your working years, you generally know how much money you’re bringing in, so you can budget accordingly. But once you’re retired, it’s a different story. However, with some diligence, you can put together a “paycheck” that can help you meet your income needs.

Where will this paycheck come from? Social Security benefits should replace about 40% of one’s pre-retirement earnings, according to the Social Security Administration, but this figure varies widely based on an individual’s circumstances. Typically, the higher your income before you retire, the lower the percentage will be replaced by Social Security. Private pensions have become much rarer in recent decades, though you might receive one if you worked for a government agency or a large company. But in any case, to fill out your retirement paycheck, you may need to draw heavily on your investment portfolio.

Your portfolio can provide you with income in these ways:

Dividends – When you were working, and you didn’t have to depend on your portfolio for income to the extent you will when you’re retired, you may have reinvested the dividends you received from stocks and stock-based mutual funds, increasing the number of shares you own in these investments. And that was a good move, because increased share ownership is a great way to help build wealth. But once you’re retired, you may need to start accepting the dividends to boost your cash flow.

Interest payments – The interest payments from bonds and other fixed-income investments, such as certificates of deposit (CDs), can also add to your retirement income. In the years immediately preceding their retirement, some investors increase the presence of these interest-paying investments in their portfolio. (But even during retirement, you’ll need some growth potential in your investments to help keep you ahead of inflation.)

Proceeds from selling investments – While you will likely need to begin selling investments once you’re retired, you’ll need to be careful not to liquidate your portfolio too quickly. How much can you sell each year? The answer depends on several factors — your age, the size of your portfolio, the amount of income you receive from other sources, your spouse’s income, your retirement lifestyle, and so on. A financial professional can help you determine the amount and type of investment sales that are appropriate for your needs while considering the needs of your portfolio over your lifetime.

When tapping into your investments as part of your retirement paycheck, you’ll also want to pay special attention to the amount of cash in your portfolio. It’s a good idea to have enough cash available to cover a year’s worth of your living expenses, even after accounting for other sources of income, such as Social Security or pensions. In addition, you may want to set aside sufficient cash for emergencies. Not only will these cash cushions help you with the cost of living and unexpected costs, but they might also enable you to avoid digging deeper into your long-term investments than you might like.

You may be retired for a long time — so take the steps necessary to build a consistent retirement paycheck.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

Dobson

Paul J. Bunke, Sr., AAMS™

Financial Advisor

124 W. Kapp Street, Suite C PO Box 407 Dobson, NC 27017 336­386­0846 paul.bunke@edwardjones.com

Audra Cox

Financial Advisor

124 W. Kapp Street, Suite C Dobson, NC 27017 336­386­0846 audra.cox@edwardjones.com

Elkin

Frank H. Beals

Financial Advisor

965 North Bridge Street Elkin, NC 28621 336­835­4411 frank.beals@edwardjones.com

Barry Revis, AAMS™

Financial Advisor 116 E. Market St., Elkin, NC 28621 336­835­1124 barry.revis@edwardjones.com

Nathan Sturgill

Financial Advisor

116 E Market Street Elkin, NC 28621 336­835­1124

nathan.sturgill@edwardjones.com

Jonesville

Aaron L. Misenheimer

Financial Advisor 1530 NC Hwy 67, Suite A Jonesville, NC 28642 336­258­2821 aaron.misenheimer@edwardjones.com

Mount Airy

Andi Draughn Schnuck

Financial Advisor 496 N. Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­1707

andi.schnuck@edwardjones.com

Dale Draughn, AAMS™

Financial Advisor 140 Franklin Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­0136 dale.draughn@edwardjones.com

Logan Draughn

Financial Advisor

492 N. Main Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­3323

logan.draughn@edwardjones.com

Kody Easter, AAMS™, CRPC™, CFP®

Financial Advisor

304 East Independence Blvd Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­2079

kody.easter@edwardjones.com

edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

Randy D. Joyce

Financial Advisor 136 W. Lebanon Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­6238 randy.joyce@edwardjones.com

Tammy H. Joyce, AAMS™

Financial Advisor 136 W. Lebanon Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­6238 tammy.joyce@edwardjones.com

Tanner Joyce

Financial Advisor 752 S. Andy Griffth Parkway, Suite 400 Mount Airy, NC 27030 336­789­6238

tanner.joyce@edwardjones.com

Pilot Mountain

Mike Russell

Financial Advisor 106­B South Depot Street, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 336­368­2575 mike.t.russell@edwardjones.com

Michael Warren Financial Advisor 101­D Shoals Road, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 336­368­0782

michael.warren@edwardjones.com

Yadkinville

Christopher L. Funk

Financial Advisor 128 South State Street • PO Box 790 Yadkinville, NC 27055 • 336­679­2192 chris.funk@edwardjones.com

Left to right: Tanner Joyce, Logan Draughn, Audra Cox, Paul Bunke, Aaron Misenheimer, Michael Warren, Andi Schnuck, Frank Beals, Barry Revis, Dale Draughn, Mike Russell, Kody Easter, Tammy Joyce, Christopher Funk Not pictured: Randy Joyce, Nathan Sturgill

photo by Cindy Martin photo by Cindy Martin

be thankful for the simple moments be thankful for the simple moments

Care South, Inc. is a locally owned and respected agency that has provided more than 20 years of In­Home Aide Care to individuals who require assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

To inquire about services for you or a family member or employment opportunities for:

In-Home Aides, Certified Nursing Assistants (C.N.A), and Personal Care Assistants (P.C.A), please contact us at:

512 N. Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621

Mission

To deliver exceptional Personal Care Services (PCS), allowing the client to live safely and comfortably in their own home and to provide leadership in which employees have faith and confidence.

What Programs are Provided through the Agency?

• Community Alternative Program for adults (CAP/DA)

• Personal Care Services (PCS)

• Veterans Administration (VA)

• Temporary or Long­term Care

• Chore Respite

• Private pay

Summary of the Service Provided:

• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) (i.e., eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, and grooming)

• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (iADLs) (i.e., light housekeeping, meal prep)

Practices and Staff:

• Licensed and bonded in North Carolina.

• RN Supervisor conducts quarterly visits to the home.

• CPR Instructor

• Staffing Coordinators provide 24/7 On­Call Services.

• Caregivers complete monthly in­services, maintain C.P.R., and perform skills competency verification by the R.N.

• Comprehensive background investigation of all caregivers (i.e., criminal background)

• Quality Assurance Program