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DECEMBEr Quick Hits

Fun Festivities Celebrate the holidays with your community. Check local town calendars to find light festivals, Christmas markets and more.

Merry & Bright As you put up your holiday lights, remember not to overload one outlet or extension cord with plugs.

Blanket your Home Winter officially starts on Dec. 21. Make sure your house is well-insulated to keep the warm air in and cold air out.

Safe Trees Always place live Christmas trees away from heat sources and keep the base filled with water.

Co-op Members in Need Benefit From Energy Efficiency Partnership

Several of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have partnered with Advanced Energy, the Raleigh-based nonprofit energy consulting firm, to establish a program that provides energy efficiency upgrades to reduce home heating and cooling costs for members in need. Supported by federal funding, selected members use the program to connect with energy experts and resources to make upgrades that result in long-term energy savings.

Called the Enhancing Electric Cooperative Rebate Program (EECRP), participating cooperatives were selected based on a variety of factors, including existing home energy rebate programs. While the program may expand in the future, cooperatives participating in the initial wave included Brunswick Electric, Pee Dee Electric, Piedmont Electric Cooperative, Randolph EMC, Roanoke Electric Cooperative and South River EMC.

“Brunswick Electric aims to be more than just an energy provider; we want to be part of the community,” said Brookes Versaggi, communications and member engagement manager at Brunswick Electric. “We’re always proud when we can make a difference in our members’ lives, and we hope for the opportunity to do similar initiatives in the future.”

Since the program’s inception in 2021, 71 cooperative members and their families have received new or upgraded HVAC systems. Heating and air conditioning typically accounts for more than half of total annual energy use in homes, so inefficient systems can lead to higher costs for homeowners.

Beyond HVAC system installations and upgrades, some electric cooperatives were able to fund other efficiency projects using their existing programs. For example, Piedmont Electric’s Helping Hand Foundation funded plumbing and weatherization improvements for participating

Aire Serve Heating & Air Conditioning

A new HVAC system is installed for a Brunswick Electric member. members. Pee Dee Electric gave eligible members a one-time bill credit for the installation of high efficiency heat pumps. Additionally, many homeowners who participated in the program received new smart thermostats “By increasing energy and upgraded insuefficiency in eligible homes, lation from their cooperative. we can help reduce energy Advanced Energy burden and provide safer, worked with the healthier environments for cooperatives to identify members residents who need it most.” with inefficient HVAC systems living in counties classified as economically distressed. “This program expands Advanced Energy’s service to the local community and makes a positive impact through partnerships with electric cooperatives and local HVAC installers,” said Onté Johnson, project manager at Advanced Energy. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) State Energy Office provides the grants for the energy efficiency upgrades, with funding from the CARES Act in 2021 and the American Rescue Plan in 2022. “This project is an extension of DEQ’s commitment to addressing equity and energy affordability for low-income North Carolinians,” said Beth Schrader, director of the NCDEQ State Energy Office. “By increasing energy efficiency in eligible homes, we can help reduce energy burden and provide safer, healthier environments for residents who need it most.” —Chris Nault, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

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Electric Co-ops Support NC State Fair’s ‘Field of Dreams’

In October, approximately 20,000 children from across the state visited the Field of Dreams exhibit at the NC State Fair, where they learned about the positive impacts of agriculture in North Carolina. Field of Dreams, a partnership between North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives and the NC Department of Agriculture, highlights the role of the state’s agriculture industry in our everyday lives. The exhibit featured gardens full of dozens of NC-grown crops, helping kids make the connection between the food they see growing and the food they see on their plates.

“There are few organizations out there that have had as big of an impact on rural North Carolina as the network of North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives,” said North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Without their foresight, rural electrification would have been a long time coming, and the progress we have made would have been even more hard wrought. I can’t stress enough the importance of what they have done to help make agriculture a $92.9 billion industry in North Carolina, and we are proud to have them partner with us to educate the next generation on how much agriculture means to this state.”

Field of Dreams, which marked its 18th year in 2022, is staffed by local FFA chapters and 4-H clubs as well as employees from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Sarah Ray, public information officer for the NC State Fair, noted that “since its inception, Field of Dreams has helped educate almost half a million kids on the importance of knowing where their food comes from and the positive impact buying local has on our state.”

It’s beginning to look a lot like Santa

Wayne Lanning exudes Christmas cheer year-round

By Leah Chester-Davis

veryone can sense that jolly ol’ Saint Nick is near. Wayne Lanning never considered playing Santa until about 20 years ago. At the time, he was enjoying holiday festivities in his hometown of Lexington with his wife, Jeanie, and young granddaughter, Haley, when she spotted Santa Claus and started calling her grandpa, Santa. His wife looked at Wayne and acknowledged that he, indeed, looked like Santa and encouraged him to grow out his beard.

As his beard grew, his boss, North Carolina’s renowned artist Bob Timberlake, and co-workers at Bob Timberlake Gallery began saying, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Santa.”

When Wayne’s birthday rolled around, Bob, who Wayne considers not only his employer but a dear friend, gifted Wayne a trip to the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, Michigan.

“Bob sent me to Santa school, paid for my flight there and back, my hotel room, my tuition fee, and bought my first suit,” Wayne says. The school stresses the importance of being Santa and helping contribute to the magic of childhood and special memories, the traditions and customs, and how to interact with children and parents. The weeklong school started an adventure that both men seem to relish and share, and they have collected many stories through the years. Wayne, who has worked with Bob Timberlake for 30 years, makes an appearance as Santa every

year at the Timberlake Gallery Open House in Lexington, and the two often enjoy portions of the season together in Blowing Rock.

“He is the epitome of Santa,” Bob says. “He is jovial, happy, outgoing, friendly. He brings joy wherever he goes. We can be in a restaurant in the mountains in July, and little kids can sense his joy and his realism. They can sense he is really Santa Claus. He exudes Christmas to anybody that’s around him — and he does it year-round.”

Wayne loves people and acknowledges he receives comments throughout the year that he looks like Santa but it’s when he dons the Santa suit (he now owns seven) that he feels a transformation take place.

“My whole attitude, everything about me, changes when I put my suit on,” he says. “It seems like a miracle, something happening to you, where you’ll be able to talk to these children and love them. It’s just hard to describe.”

Wayne makes appearances at numerous places every holiday season—working from just before Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve, where you’ll find him at Mt. Zion Wesleyan Church in Thomasville.

But it’s the Brenner Children’s Hospital in Winston-Salem that also holds a special place in his heart. He acknowledges it is his toughest assignment, but the most touching. He tears up thinking about valiant little fighters, who may be quite ill, getting delight out of Santa’s visit. Not only does he take time to visit with children and families, he takes time for photographs with them all.

He often reads the children the classic poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (more commonly called “The Night Before Christmas”), and joy is added to his appearance when his wife appears by his side as Mrs. Claus.

R evi val C reat i v e

He exudes Christmas to anybody that’s around him—and he does it year-round.”

Revival Creatives

Wayne Lanning (left) with Bob Timberlake

When Wayne walks away from interacting with children, his heart swells when he inevitably hears a young voice declare: “That IS the real Santa Claus!”

Revival Creatives

Carolina Country Contributing Editor Leah Chester-Davis loves to explore North Carolina. Her business, Chester-Davis Communications (chester-davis.com), specializes in food, farm, gardening and lifestyle brands and organizations.

A Carolina Christmas

By Lori Grossman

Red Bird candy puffs. Thin, crunchy, Moravian cookies. And of course — Santa rappelling down Chimney Rock. Here are a few local sights, sounds and shops to make the holidays special. Call or check websites for the latest times and admission requirements.

Speedway Christmas

Concord | charlottemotorspeedway.com 800-455-FANS This is one of the largest drive-through holiday lights displays in the Southeast. And don’t miss the drive-in Christmas movies shown on the Speedway’s 16,000-square-foot TV!

25th Annual Santa on the Chimney

Chimney Rock State Park chimneyrockpark.com | 828-625-9611 This 315-foot-tall rock formation draws over a quarter million visitors each year — including Santa Claus! Watch Santa rappel down Chimney Rock on the first two Saturdays in December.

Christmas Town USA

McAdenville mcAdenville-christmastown.com 704-824-3190 Throughout December, this small town glows with red, green, and white lights and resounds with seasonal music. Drive through or walk.

National Gingerbread House Competition

Asheville | bit.ly/omni-gbread 800-438-5800 No, these aren’t your Nana’s gingerbread houses — they’re amazingly detailed works of art at the annual contest hosted at the Omni Grove Park Inn.

Don McKenzie

House of Morgan Pewter

Kinston | houseofmorganpewter.net 252-526-1605 Stuck for gift ideas? This family-owned company offers over 800 handcrafted pewter items. They have something for everyone, with free shipping on all U.S. orders.

Weaver’s Department Store

weaversdepartmentstore.com 256-650-5999 Weaver’s is based in Alabama, but this store’s website is bliss for any fan of the Andy Griffith Show. Collectibles, food items, clothing and more can all be purchased online.

Mrs. Hanes’ Hand-Made Moravian Cookies

Clemmons | hanescookies.com 888-764-1402 Everyone loves them — even Oprah! Indulge your cookie craving with your choice of six flavors: sugar, chocolate, ginger, lemon, butterscotch and black walnut.

O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store

Brevard | optaylors.com | 828-883-2309 John Taylor is the big kid who owns this store, plus locations in Hendersonville and Greenville, South Carolina. No video games here. Show your kids the toys you loved.

Red Bird Peppermints

Lexington | piedmontcandy.com 336-248-2477 It wouldn’t be an NC Christmas without these yummy candies from Piedmont Candy Company. They’re allergen-free, kosher, non-GMO, and 100% cane sugar.

Freelance writer Lori Grossman currently lives in Texas, but carries memories of North Carolina in her heart.

Digital Extra Visit carolinacountry.com/extras for more details about each listing.

‘Are the stairs becoming too much for you or a loved one?

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WHY LIMIT YOURSELF?

Stairlifts were introduced in the 1920s, and not much has changed since. A stairlift has one use: to move you (and only you) between floors, slowly. And it fits in only one place: your staircase. Finally, a stairlift won’t keep up with you as your mobility needs change over time. For example, a stairlift can’t carry a walker or wheelchair.

THE MODERN SOLUTION

A Stiltz Homelift, on the other hand, is an affordable, modern home elevator that is so compact, it fits just about anywhere in your house. It requires no special machine room, no supporting walls, and runs off a standard home electrical outlet. One look at our unique freestanding rail system, and you can tell right away why we’re called “Stiltz”!

A Stiltz Homelift is 100%

safe. The elevator will not operate when the door is open, and sensors stop the lift cab if something is in the way. A battery backup lowers the lift cab in a power outage. The floor lid is safe to walk on, and a key lock prevents unauthorized use.

A Stiltz Homelift is versatile.

Our elevators carry two people, or even a wheelchair. And the small footprint means they fit just about anywhere. Install your homelift through the floor, in a stairwell, up to a landing — even inside a closet!

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and quiet. Our self-contained electric drive system is very quiet. No messy hydraulics, no noisy vacuum systems, no basement or attic machine rooms required.

A Stiltz Homelift is an extra

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IT’S NEVER TOO SOON

Some Stiltz customers need a homelift immediately. But others want to “future-proof” their homes for the day when the stairs become a challenge.

This is a time of year that many families gather

and a good time to make sure your aging loved ones are safe in their homes. If you or a loved one would like to learn about how owning and installing a home elevator is easier and more affordable than ever, please contact Stiltz today.

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“Can’t imagine what we’d do without it. I wish we had installed our Stiltz Homelift several years ago!”

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For members of Wake Electric Membership Corporation

How the WE Care Foundation is Making a Difference 13

Wake Electric Returns Over $2 Million to Members in 2022

Wake Electric has returned more than $27.5 million to members since 1951

It’s time for you to get the credit—capital credits, that is—for helping build, sustain and grow your local electric cooperative. In mid-December 2022, Wake Electric will return $2 million to members across the seven counties served by the co-op.

When you signed up to receive electric service from Wake Electric, you became a member of an electric cooperative. While investor-owned utilities like Duke Energy return a portion of any profits back to their shareholders, electric co-ops operate on an at-cost basis. So instead of returning margins to folks who might not live in the same region or even the same state as you do, Wake Electric allocates and periodically returns capital credits to its members, which is based on how much electricity you purchased during a year.

This year, capital credits earned in the year 1997 will be fully retired as well as a small portion of the capital credits earned from 1998 through 2021. Capital credits earned prior to 1995 have previously been fully retired. If your capital credit retirement equals or exceeds our minimum check amount of $25, then you will receive capital credit retirement through a check in the mail reflecting your contribution of capital to, and ownership of, the cooperative during those years. That span of time may seem like a long time ago. However, those funds helped us keep rates low by reducing the amount of money we needed to borrow from outside lenders to build and expand a reliable electric distribution system.

Offices Closed

Wake Electric wishes our members a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year’s! Call to report outages: 855.280.1147 Regular office hours: M–F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Telephone hours: M–F, 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 919.863.6300 or 800.474.6300 Underground locating service: Call 811 For around-the-clock automated access to account balance or to make a payment: 855.280.1147

2022 Bright Ideas Teacher Grant Winners

Wake Electric recently awarded 22 teachers in Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Nash and Wake counties with Bright Ideas grants totaling $51,652. The grants will be used for a variety of classroom programs throughout the school year. Thank you to the following grant winners for going above and beyond for your students:

GRANT WINNER SCHOOL

Laura Aldridge

Kathie Brown

Edwin Davis

Jeff Holland

Jennifer Hulsey Carol Jemiolo Durant Road Middle

Rocky Mount Preparatory

Needham Broughton High Centennial Campus Magnet Middle

Athens Drive High

Apex Friendship Middle

Esta Lampkin

Carolyn Kay Zebulon Middle

Swift Creek Middle

Heather Kinnebrew Rolesville High Shelby Levisky Butner-Stem Elementary Cynthia Linton Stough Elementary Abigail Mckenzie Butner-Stem Elementary Sara Michaelsen C.G. Credle Elementary Kathryn Moore East Clayton Elementary Angelica Smith North Wake College & Career Academy Cheryl Smith Heritage High Jennifer Sonstroem Apex Friendship Elementary Melissa Taylor Archer Lodge Middle Abigail Thompson Granville Central High Carolyn Vickers Butner-Stem Elementary Karen Waller Timber Drive Elementary

Anica Weeks GR Edwards Middle The funds for the Bright Ideas grants come from Wake Electric members who agree to round up their light bill to the nearest whole dollar and donate it to the WE Care Foundation. For example, if the bill is $190.91—the bill will be rounded up 9 cents to $191.00 and these pennies add up to major dollars! Partial funding also comes from the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC) located in Raleigh.

2022 Classroom Technology Grant Winners

Wake Electric awarded $21,459 in Classroom Technology grants to nine local educators for the 2022-2023 school year. This program awards up to $3,000 grants for specific technology such as computers, tablets, 3D printers, Chromebooks, SMART boards, software and more. The technology must benefit the students in the classroom or virtually. Funds for the Classroom Technology grants are made possible by Wake Electric members who agree to round up their light bill to the nearest whole dollar through the WE Care Program.

Congratulations to the following educators:

Kerissa Armstead Franklin County Early College High School Sharon Cuffe Davis Drive Middle Carole Griffin J.F. Webb High Melissa Gupton Franklin County Early College High School Michele Oates North Garner Middle Katarzyna Poleszak Franklin County Early College High School Helen Sharma Longview School Angelica Smith North Wake College & Career Academy Melissa Zeches Davis Drive Middle

WE Care Foundation: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Wake Electric is known for its tradition of community involvement and support, and we are committed to strengthening the areas we serve while also building a brighter energy future for our members.

One of the ways we fulfill this commitment is through the Wake Electric Foundation, also known as WE Care Foundation. WE Care is a not-for-profit designed to enhance economic infrastructure and job creation; promote service or charitable organizations; and meet emergency needs of individuals within the service area of Wake Electric. Funding for WE Care is made possible through voluntary contributions made by members who round up their monthly bill. These extra pennies help provide funding for quarterly grants to non-profit organizations within Wake Electric’s service territory as well as college scholarships, teacher grants and other youth opportunities.

Join WE Care Today

When you round up your bill for WE Care, your contributions help provide funding to local organizations like Meals on Wheels Wake County, Bright Ideas education grant program or the Special Olympics North Carolina that will benefit people in need throughout our service area. As a WE Care contributor, if your bill is $91.85, your bill would be rounded up to $92.00 and the extra 15 cents would be donated to WE Care. Contributing members give an average of 50 cents per month or $6.00 per year. The maximum amount that a member would contribute in a year’s time would be $11.88. Each quarter, the WE Care Foundation board meets to determine who will be awarded funds.

If you are interested in signing up to contribute to the WE Care Foundation, please call 800.474.6300 or email information@wemc.com.

Four Ways Santa Saves Energy in His Workshop

The holiday season is finally upon us, and Santa and his elves have been especially busy as they gear up for their biggest night of the year. It’s no secret that Santa is known for running an efficient workshop, how else could he make all those toys in time for Christmas Eve? Let’s take a page from Santa’s book and remember to save energy when possible with these four tips:

1Santa leaves his decorations up year-round, so by using LED holiday light strands, he’s able to save on his monthly energy bills. LED holiday strands can last up to 40 seasons, which make them a great option for any festive home. 2 Santa requires several power tools to make a year’s worth of new toys. That’s why he insists on using cordless power tools with the ENERGY STAR® rating. According to energystar.gov, if all power tools in the U.S. used ENERGY STAR®-rated battery chargers, 2 billion kWh hours of electricity could be saved—that’s equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1.7 million tons! 3 Mrs. Claus loves to keep warm by the fire in the evenings, and Santa knows one of the best tricks to ensure fireplace efficiency. While a fireplace can keep a small area of your home cozy and warm, it can also pull heated air from the room through the chimney. That’s why Santa always closes the fireplace flue when a fire isn’t burning. 4 Santa also saves energy by using power strips. Power strips are ideal for workshops, craft nooks, game rooms and other spaces in your home. With one simple switch, you can conveniently control several devices and electronics that are plugged into the power strip.

Published monthly by Wake Electric

PO Box 1229 100 S. Franklin Street Wake Forest, NC 27588 wemc.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Suzy Morgan President Mike Dickerson Vice President Joe Eddins Secretary Bob Hill Treasurer Greg Fuller Joe Hilburn Reuben Matthews Allen Nelson

PERSONNEL Jim Mangum General Manager & CEO Kirk Metcalf Manager of Member Services Don Bowman Assistant General Manager/ VP of Engineering & Operations Scott Poole Vice President of Customer Service

Your co-op membership gives you the power to

ACHIEVE

As a member of an electric cooperative, you’re part of something bigger. Beyond powering the everyday, we’re committed to building a brighter future through impactful support for education, economic development and energy innovation – always in service to you.

Connect with your local electric cooperative to learn more.

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