2020-01-BRE

January 2020

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12/10/19 1:31 PM

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January 2020

Carolina Country

Scenes page 11

Published by

Co-op member receives honor page 6

Gifted a ‘smart speaker’?

Here’s how to use it. page 26

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Volume 52, No. 1

18

11

Favorites 4 Viewpoints 6 More Power 26 On the House 30 Tar Heel Tidbits 32 NC Outdoors 34 Carolina Compass 36 Adventures 38 Marketplace 39 Classifieds 40 Carolina Kitchen 42 Where is This?

42 Carolina Music

40

11 18 28

Carolina Country Scenes A gallery of your best photos, submitted through our annual photo contest

Growing Health & Growing Leaders

The Rev. Richard Joyner is nurturing a healthier community

Get Great Photos in the Field Reflections on making the most of nature’s canvas

On the Cover “This is our one-year-old daughter Lettie on our NC farm. Lettie loves the outdoors!” Photographed by Elizabeth Cooke, Rockingham, a member of Pee Dee Electric. Our gallery of your best photos starts on page 11.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:

Why I Love My Community What makes your community special?

We want to know, and soon! (The deadline is January 3.)

See page 39 for details.

January 2020 | 3

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Viewpoints

Tech-Driven Cooperation

By Jake Joplin

We sometimes get asked how we compare to much larger utilities. To answer the question, we like to explain how our unique business model allows us to excel.

We are local, member-owned electric cooperatives that North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are unified under follow the principle of “Autonomy and Independence.” an effort to create a brighter energy future through three That local independence gives us the opportunity to take core values: low-carbon power; beneficial electrification the pulse of our communities, react quickly and develop (using electricity to make traditionally fossil-fuel power solutions to improve the lives of our members. applications more efficient); and creating a more flexible For example, natural disasters come with their share of grid. Technology like the EV charging network exemplifies issues and lessons learned. Hurricane Florence impacted these core values, as do other innovative projects like electric cooperatives across the state in 2018, and one co-op microgrids around the state, battery storage, unexpected problem that Carteret-Craven Electric community solar gardens, and energy efficient smart Cooperative (CCEC) crews faced was a fuel shortage for thermostats and water heater controls. vehicles involved in power restoration. To solve this, our Smart thermostats and water heater controls, in board of directors approved construction of a fleet fueling particular, are two examples of old concepts with new station at our cooperative headquarters. The station will opportunities thanks to technology. In the case of water keep our operations rolling both day-toheater controls, some electric cooperatives day and after a disaster. Our speed and are working with members to install flexibility as a locally owned cooperative “New technology controls that can be activated remotely, gave us the ability to move quickly to cellular or Wi-Fi technology. During is taking our spirit though approve, design and build the fueling a period of high demand, such as a hot system, and we had it in service for the 2019 of cooperation summer afternoon, the controls allow the hurricane season. electric co-op to switch off those water to new levels” To complement our local independence, heaters for a brief period of time, reducing electric cooperatives are made strong by the amount of electricity purchased during another core principle: “Cooperation among Cooperatives.” peak periods, when prices are more expensive. The new This is invaluable following major storms, as I’ve discussed controls have a built-in override feature to ensure hot before in this column (“Achieving the Impossible through water continues to be available, but the grid as a whole the Cooperative Spirit,” November 2018, page 4). But new is made more efficient due to this technology and the technology is taking our spirit of cooperation to new levels, opportunity it presents for cooperation. Switching off opening up new opportunities for North Carolina’s electric one water heater during a period of high demand won’t cooperatives and our members. make much of a difference, but when hundreds — even Leaders from each co-op meet frequently at our statewide thousands — can be switched off simultaneously, real association headquarters in Raleigh to discuss new efficiencies and cost savings start to add up. technology and how we can work together to leverage its CCEC is very appreciative of the opportunity to learn benefits. This group combines personnel from all 26 co-ops from fellow cooperatives that have been on the forefront to study and discuss energy saving programs and services of these new technologies and services. We look forward for our membership. An electric vehicle (EV) charging to a productive 2020, where we can continue to study network is one project that is being coordinated through innovation and technology, moving to implement energy these meetings, and $1 million in investments are being service programs that make sense for our members. used to fund 21 charging stations across the state, including Jake Joplin is CEO and general manager for Carteret-Craven 10 DC fast chargers. Electric co-ops are pursuing additional Electric Cooperative in Newport. funding resources to grow this network even further.

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Viewpoints

THIS MONTH:

The Best of Reader Photos Our annual photo contest continues to prove two things. One: North Carolina has unmatched natural beauty and vibrant communities full of amazing people. Two: Carolina Country readers have a particular knack for capturing all of this with their cameras. Enjoy a few of our favorite photos in this issue from more than 600 entries.

—Scott Gates, editor

Washington Counterpoint The letter in the October issue about the name Little Washington (“An Historic Original,” page 5) stating that natives of Washington called it “Original Washington” does not go for all natives. This argument has been going on for a long time. I was born here 71 years ago. My parents, grandparents, great- and great-great-grandparents were born in Beaufort County around Washington.

To my family, it has always been and will always be “Little Washington.” I know this will not settle this argument because we see it in the newspaper regularly.

This is just my two cents worth.

Tommy Upton, Washington, A member of Tideland EMC

A Tradition Shared I am always impressed with the articles, information and recipes that I find in your magazine. In reading the articles in the [November 2019] issue, I was drawn to the article “Carrying on a Carolina Tradition” by Wendy Perry (page 28).

Within the first paragraph I was mesmerized and drawn back to my farm rearing in rural Halifax County. My family farm roots go back to a land grant by King Charles II, well before the Revolutionary War. Your article, with crystal accuracy, described the hog killing. It was always a special day in the first frosts of fall that became a small community of farmers gathering for the annual harvest and preservation of the pork bounty from the participants’ farms. From the lighting of the scalding fires at dawn; expert shot dispatching; hanging to bleed; scalding and scraping; the surgical accuracy of gutting and portioning the meats; grinding, seasoning, casing or bulk packing of the sausage; cleaning and washing in cornmeal of the chitterlings; putting the hams, shoulders and side meat into salt pack; dividing up the “fresh meat”; then finally rendering and stand canning of the lard. I was present at the circus (school holiday extended by my parents), right down to the participants packing up their shares of the fresh meat and going home late in the afternoon.

What a pleasant trip back to my youth your article provided me.

Brad Windley, Tullahoma, Tennessee, A member of Roanoke Electric Cooperative Editor’s note: Brad shared his memories through letters to both Wendy and Carolina Country; this is an excerpt from one of those letters. Thank you, Brad!

Contact us Phone: 919-875-3091 Fax: 919-878-3970 Mail: 3400 Sumner Blvd.

Raleigh, NC 27616

Web: carolinacountry.com Email: editor@carolinacountry.com

Change of Address: carolinacountry.com/address Experiencing a power outage? Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service. Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800)

Read monthly in more than 700,000 homes Published monthly by

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616 919-875-3091 carolinacountry.com Warren Kessler Publications Director Scott Gates, CCC Editor Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor Karen Olson House Contributing Editor Tara Verna Creative Director Erin Binkley Digital Media Tom Siebrasse Advertising tom@carolinacountry.com Joseph P. Brannan Executive Vice President & CEO Nelle Hotchkiss Senior Vice President & COO North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, not-for-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership.

Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine?

Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year.

Has your address changed?

Carolina Country magazine is available monthly to members of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. If you are a member of one of these cooperatives but do not receive Carolina Country, you may request a subscription by calling Member Services at the office of your cooperative. If your address has changed, please inform your cooperative.

Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. $20 outside U.S.A. Schools, libraries, $6.

Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, N.C. 888-388-2460.

Advertising published in Carolina Country is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to customers at the advertised price. The magazine, North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc., and the member cooperatives do not necessarily endorse the products or services advertised. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted.

Should you encounter advertising that does not comply with these standards, please inform Carolina Country at P.O. Box 27306, Raleigh, NC 27611. 919-875-3091.

Carolina Country magazine is a member of American MainStreet Publications that collectively reach more than 27 million readers every month.

Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, N.C., and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, N.C. 27616. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Carolina Country, P.O. Box 27306, Raleigh, NC 27611.

All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

January 2020 | 5

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More Power

Mary Ann LeRay with a sign significant to The Filling Station, housed in an old propane company building. “There is only one book in the Bible that has this many chapters,” she said. “We looked up Psalm 107:5, which reads all those who are hungry and thirsty, their lives were slipping away.”

Linda Mathiasen

Jones-Onslow EMC Member Receives National Honor for Leadership

M

ary Ann LeRay, board chairman of The Filling Station in Pollocksville, was recently honored as the second-place prizewinner of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives 2019 #WhoPowersYou Contest.

“We offer our sincere appreciation, gratitude, and congratulations to Mary Ann,” said Jones-Onslow EMC CEO Jeff Clark. “We are very proud to serve her and her family as co-op members

and grateful for everything she does to serve our local community.”

LeRay was honored for her nonprofit organization’s work seeking to meet the nutritional, educational and spiritual needs of the residents of Jones County. The Filling Station opened its food pantry on September 6, 2018, but a week later was forced to temporarily close as Hurricane Florence’s heavy rains flooded the

streets of Pollocksville and much of Jones County. On September 14, one week after the hurricane left most of the area underwater, the food pantry reopened its doors and operated as a disaster relief site. For the next 14 weeks, more than 75 volunteers served over 10,000 people.

LeRay and The Filling Station were honored along with three other #WhoPowersYou Contest winners from across the United States.

Winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges, using criteria based on nominees’ positive impact on their local communities.

“I believe that Mary Ann’s value of commitment and hard work at The Filling Station played a vital role in the emotional recovery for the residents of Jones County,” said Jones-Onslow EMC Director of Graphic Services Linda Mathiasen.

“Her service continues today, as The Filling Station Food Pantry has reopened to the community and now also serves meals several times a week.”

Real World Lessons for the Classroom Last summer, Pamela Johnson, a math teacher of academically or intellectually gifted students at Parkwood Middle School in the Union County Public Schools system, spent three weeks at Monroe-based Union Power Cooperative as a 2019–20 Kenan Fellow (see “Local Teacher Gets Hands-On Experience at Union Power,” November 2019, page 6).

carolinacountry.com/extras A video shows some of Pam’s work with the co-op (as well as her math tattoo).

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More Power

NC Electric Cooperatives Nominated for CleanTech Innovation Award A partnership between North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives and Athens Drive Magnet High School’s STEM Academy was recently nominated for the first-ever Cleantech Talent Initiative Award from the Research Triangle CleanTech Cluster. The award is meant to recognize and honor individuals and organizations driving cleantech innovation in the Triangle region.

North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives established the ongoing partnership with the Raleigh academy in fall 2018 as a long-term workforce development initiative to build student awareness of career opportunities in the energy industry and at electric co-ops.

About 50 seniors from the academy visited the Raleigh office of North

Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives in 2019 to learn firsthand about technology concepts applied at electric co-ops, including solar arrays, electric vehicle charging and microgrids. Employees of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives have also visited classrooms to give an overview of electric cooperatives and their work to provide power to communities throughout the state.

“By partnering with the academy, we are preparing students for successful careers and making an investment in the future of our industry,” said Lauren Liles, human resource specialist for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, who also serves as a member of the STEM academy’s advisory board and RTCC’s Talent Action Committee.

Students study a model house to see how air flow impacts energy efficiency.

“We’re honored to receive this recognition and proud to continue supporting STEM education, clean tech and our local community.” carolinacountry.com/extras Watch students from Athens Drive Magnet High School STEM Academy during their visit to North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Electric Vehicles and the Grid What will power all those new cars?

Q:

A:

Brandon Parrott, Timberlake, A member of Piedmont Electric

Brandon Reed, manager of Member Services & Public Relations for Piedmont Electric

An article about electric vehicles in my co-op’s news section of the August 2019 issue caused me to wonder about how [electric co-ops] and the electric grid are going to support the addition of electric cars, especially if the industry is attempting to move away from gas to electric vehicles. I get emails and messages from Piedmont Electric requesting that I conserve energy, especially on hot days. If I have to conserve energy now, what will it be like with hundreds of thousands of electric cars added to the grid? Wouldn’t this result in increased energy consumption and the utility having to upgrade its infrastructure, which would result in added costs for the utility and its members?

I must not be the only one that wonders about this.

Great question! First off, while we encourage members to save during peak times, this is to hold the cost down for all members — Piedmont Electric and electric co-ops across the state are fully capable of meeting our members’ energy needs during peak times. We encourage members to shift energy from on-peak to off-peak to better utilize our resources and thus save money all around.

Electric vehicles (EVs) present an interesting opportunity, in that most EV owners charge their cars at night.

Some utilities, including Piedmont Electric, even offer incentivized rates to do so. This is when power use overall is very low, so making more use of the grid at this time is a more efficient use of the infrastructure that’s already in place.

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More Power

Allie Mullin Photography

Retired Chaplain Embodies the Spirit of the NC Jaycee Burn Center

By Ashley Peterson

When someone has an open heart in a hospital, it usually means they’re having a life-changing surgery. But for Shirley Massey, an open heart was something she brought with her every day as a chaplain for the adult aftercare program at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center.

For 32 years, Massey met with burn survivors at the Burn Center to provide spiritual support. She made the difficult decision to retire on May 31, 2019, but the impact she made at the center will live on. Beyond meeting with survivors daily, Massey started the center’s adult aftercare program in 1987, which includes Camp Celebrate, Peer Support and the Burn Survivor Reunion.

Massey was recently awarded with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper for her contributions to the state and community through her service at the Burn Center.

“Normal hospitals are not equipped to handle burn injuries. Having [a burn center] here in eastern North Carolina is incredible.”

“We’re all spiritual creatures. It’s not about religion,” said Massey. “It’s really hard for patients to readjust to life outside the burn center after a burn injury, so how do we help them be born again? We’re always trying to transform ourselves, and the adult aftercare programs help burn survivors to do that.”

At the 2019 Burn Survivor Reunion held this past November, Massey was recognized for her commitment to helping burn survivors overcome their circumstances.

The annual reunion provides an opportunity for survivors to continue both psychological and spiritual healing.

Survivors from all over the country were able to thank Massey for her work over the years. For one survivor, Massey’s support made all the difference in recovering.

Blake Tedder was 16 years old when a plane crash in Colorado changed his life. He was life flighted back to the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center and spent

Shirley Massey (center) receives The Order of the Longleaf Pine, joined by burn survivor Blake Tedder and Program Manager for Aftercare Anita Maready Fields.

three months in treatment, where he received 12 skin graft surgeries.

At the time of Tedder’s injury, Massey was just starting the peer support program at the center. Modeled after a national program, it allows burn survivors who have adjusted to life after their injury to spend time with burn survivors being treated at the center. While he was in treatment, Tedder was able to sit with one peer supporter to hear how he was transitioning to life after surviving a burn injury.

“A burn injury is not just a shock, it’s all-encompassing.

To see someone living and thriving after a burn injury is such a big deal,” Tedder said.

The adult aftercare program and the development and growth of the Burn Center is made possible by financial support and partnership with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, which have donated nearly $2 million to the center over the years.

“The Burn Center has been an important part of the cooperatives’ commitment to the community for nearly 50 years since we first pledged funding in 1972 to help create it,” said Dale Lambert, CEO of Randolph EMC and a Burn Center Advisory Board Member. “It’s an honor to continue supporting this comprehensive facility, which has made a lasting impact in countless lives around the world through efforts to advance burn prevention education, innovative treatment, research, rehabilitation and life-long after care.”

With community support and a passionate team of caretakers, the center will continue to provide hope in the midst of tragedy for many years to come.”

“Most people don’t realize the importance of having a burn center, but it’s incomprehensible to think about not having one,” said Tedder. “Normal hospitals are not equipped to handle burn injuries. Having one here in eastern North Carolina is incredible.”

Ashley Peterson is a corporate communications intern with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

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12/10/19 12:58 PM

Carolina Country Scenes A gallery of your

best photos

Thanks to everyone who submitted pictures to our annual photo contest.

The judges chose from more than 600 photos of people and places throughout North Carolina. In addition to these images, we’ll run more in our “Photo of the Month” magazine feature. And even more selections will appear as the “Photo of the Week” on our website (carolinacountry.com), where there’s a collection of all pictures that have Facebook appeared there. Our and Instagram pages also routinely showcase reader photos.

—The editors

Buttercup the Ham Buttercup was a ham that day on Stevens Farm in Bear Creek. Pun intended.

Angela Hinkle, Goldston, Randolph EMC

January 2020 | 11

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12/10/19 11:41 AM

Peaceful Pony A few weekends ago, we took our daughter to ride a horse for the first time. That day, I faced my own fear of horses and discovered how peaceful they are. I created this image to showcase this beautiful animal.

Jimmy Keziah, Indian Trail, Union Power Cooperative

Early Bird Gets the Shot During the winter months, I will make the three-hour drive from Chapel Hill to Carolina Beach just for sunrise pictures, only to turn right around and drive straight back. This picture made getting up at 2 a.m. totally worth it!

Alan Trammel, Chapel Hill

12  |  carolinacountry.com

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12/10/19 11:42 AM

WarBirds Smoke Trail This segment of the WarBirds Over Monroe Air Show presented exciting aerial acrobatics with biplanes and wing walkers. The smoke trail added a nice visual element, revealing the path of the maneuver just performed.

Scott Ferreira, Mint Hill, Union Power Cooperative

“Age 58”—Just a State of Mind Taken at Surfing USA at Carolina Lakes in Harnett County.

Loving and living life one day at a time!

Lorie Robertson (Photo taken by Krystallynn Robertson), Sanford, Central Electric

Frigid Fingers Find Shutter While my best friend was busy exploring, and the high winds were busy pushing me back, my frigid hands somehow managed to hit the shutter at Max Patch.

Hadiqa Hassan, Wake Forest, Wake Electric

January 2020 | 13

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12/10/19 11:42 AM

Linville Gorge Overlook

Noth

At the beach near Fort Fisher, my daughter jumped through the air, mimicking the beautiful seagulls in the sky above.

From the highest peaks of Hawksbill Mountain,overlooking the Linville Gorge wilderness.

Devang Upadhyay, Pembroke

Joseph Nitti, Banner Elk

Kathry

Fly Like A Seagull

Took a in the m

Prett Pollen Bathing Beauty

Surfing Dory

This bumblebee was collecting pollen at The Ridges swimming pool in Hayesville. The bee looked to be bathing herself in the flower petals.

Look closely to see the pollen on her legs and body.

At the beach on Hatteras Island, I came upon a group of seasoned commercial fishermen orchestrating their entry into the rolling surf. An amazing sight of skill, experience and heritage.

Our ph Moore wagon a variet

Michael Henson, Hayesville, Blue Ridge Mountain EMC

Kenneth Newman, Frisco, Cape Hatteras Electric

Hanna

14  |  carolinacountry.com

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12/10/19 11:42 AM

Old Railroad Trestle Nothing Like Mud Puddle Playtime Took a walk down our dirt road and enjoyed playing in the mud puddles after all of the rain we had had.

Kathryn Saylors, Roseboro, South River EMC

My boyfriend grew up fishing the multiple lakes in this area.

Taken at the Whitney Railroad Bridge over Badin Lake in Stanly County.

Jessenia Zody, Troy, Randolph EMC

Pretty Peacock at the Lazy 5 Ranch Our photography club visited the Lazy 5 Ranch in Mooresville on a field trip in the spring. This zoo offers wagon rides and exhibits where you can get up close to a variety of animals. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Flower Power

Hannah Vagnozzi, Kings Mountain, Rutherford EMC

Steven Goins, Charlotte

I was on the Blue Ridge Parkway heading into Sparta. These yellow flowers on the mountain kept catching my eye all day and I noticed this one floating in a puddle on the top of one of the summits.

January 2020 | 15

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12/10/19 11:42 AM

Carolina Contemplates Cotton After a long day of fun and play, Carolina rests on her favorite swing to watch the sun set over the cotton fields of Waxhaw on a perfect fall evening.

Andrea Robson, Waxhaw, Union Power Cooperative

Zinnia Nectar Feast While taking photographs around my yard, I noticed how the butterflies were attracted to the zinnias.

J.H. Kanipe, Dallas, Rutherford EMC

16  |  carolinacountry.com

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12/11/19 2:37 PM

Bromeliad Beauty A bromeliad in a container at Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham.

William Alberti, Hillsborough, Piedmont Electric

Crabby Crown of Bubbles Walking Sunset Beach, I spotted this little guy scurrying along the sand.

He was blowing bubbles and posed for me in the glow of the rising sun.

Donna Sullivan, Calabash, Brunswick Electric

January 2020  | 17

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12/10/19 11:42 AM

Carolina People

Growing Health & Growing Leaders

The Rev. Richard Joyner is nurturing a healthier community in Edgecombe County

By Margaret Buranen

As a child, the Reverend Richard Joyner toiled long hours under the hot North Carolina sun. He and his 12 brothers and sisters worked hard to help their sharecropping parents grow food for the family. Rev. Joyner vowed that when he grew up, he would never work in the fields again.

carolinacountry.com/extras

The Rev. Joyner was featured as a Top 10 CNN Hero in 2015 — watch this short video about his inspiring work.

The Rev. Richard Joyner with local youth on their community farm in Conetoe

his congregation — and ultimately his community — toward healthier, more productive lives.

Cultivating young leaders The first project for Conetoe’s Family Life Center was a produce garden for church members. Rev. Joyner invited young people to show up at 5 a.m. to create it. Wondering if anybody would bother to be there, he found 35 eager teenagers waiting for him.

What’s different about Conetoe’s Family Life Center program is that the teenagers and kids are leading it.

Older members offer advice and teach skills, but the young people make the decisions — when you involve the kids first, they share at home what they’ve learned. Youth can serve on the board of directors starting at age 12.

It was the kids who got the idea for Conetoe’s Bee Bus. This brightly painted old school bus provides a home the bees find easily. The bees pollinate community gardens and the church’s. The honey is sold (along with produce) to provide college scholarships for the young people.

Tyler Stableford/BYUtv

He became a hospital chaplain and the minister of Conetoe Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in rural Edgecombe County. There, he learned firsthand how rural poverty, poor diet and serious health problems are intertwined.

As with residents in other parts of the rural South, many Conetoe Chapel members had developed obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

They didn’t exercise, and they often ate unhealthy foods.

“People couldn’t just go to a store and buy fresh produce, even if they could afford it,” Rev. Joyner explains.

The congregation’s young people were dropping out of school and repeating the cycle of poverty.

Teenage pregnancy rates were high.

Worst of all, Rev. Joyner found himself conducting funerals for people who were dying far too young.

He searched for ways to improve the lives of his congregation and community, but resources were scarce or nonexistent. Desperate, he parked along a country road one day and begged God for help.

Rev. Joyner says that the answer to his prayer was: “Open your eyes. Look around you.”

“I did not accept this invitation very happily,” he admits. “I heard it, but I didn’t like the answer.”

The answer, it seemed, was agriculture. The pain of watching his parents and other families work so hard but have nothing to show for it was sharp, yet no other solution seemed even a possibility. Reluctantly, Rev. Joyner turned to agriculture to try to turn

“The young people are the leaders,” Rev. Joyner explains. “This is their garden. These are their bees.”

School attendance and graduation rates among Conetoe’s younger members have improved. The teenage pregnancy rate has declined. The fresh vegetables, exercise routines and health habits the young people take home to their older relatives have had a positive effect, too. Hospital visits among older congregants have decreased 75 percent in the last few years. Best of all, Rev. Joyner isn’t conducting funerals for people whose lives were cut far short by ill health.

Rev. Joyner says Conetoe’s Family Life Center will grow, with more outreach efforts involving the hospital, the school system, and anyone who needs healthy food but can’t afford to buy it.

“We want to build a community wealth [of services and opportunities] that will benefit everyone in the community,” Rev. Joyner says.

Margaret Buranen writes from her home in Kentucky.

18 | carolinacountry.com

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12/10/19 12:58 PM

A powerful network.

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matters MEMBERSHIP

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FROM BLUE RIDGE ENERGY

January 2020

Save on energy costs with Usage Tracker This time of year can bring good times with family and guests enjoying the warmth of your home, cooking and all the things that make this time of year special!

But it also means your household is using more energy, which increases energy bills. You can get a handle on energy usage and costs with a FREE tool from Blue Ridge Energy called “Usage Tracker.”

weather temperatures to help you understand the effect weather can have on your electric bill.

Knowledge is power - and knowing the amount of electricity you and your family use on a daily basis is a powerful tool when it comes to controlling your costs.

While Usage Tracker doesn’t know “how” you use electricity, it does show patterns. And surveys show that when people monitor their daily usage, they tend to take steps to reduce usage by 5 to 15 percent.

Did you know...you can set up alerts to send yourself an email, text or voice mail if your daily electricity usage goes above an amount that you set?

Sign up for Usage Tracker by logging into “My Account” on our website or through our mobile app and see your daily electricity usage. You can also see the daily

Blue Ridge-0120.indd 21

Let us help you manage your electricity costs — any time of the year! Sign up for Usage Tracker today for powerful information that can help you understand and control your usage before winter takes a toll on your pocketbook. Sign up at BlueRidgeEnergy.com > MyAccount or through our Blue Ridge mobile app.

12/10/19 1:50 PM

the

perspective From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson

What's ahead in 2020 Making life better for members and the communities your cooperative serves is why we’re excited about what’s ahead in 2020!

Before we look ahead, first let me say that I’m very excited your cooperative was able to pass along about $7 million in savings on members’ November and December bills as a result of lower-than-expected wholesale power costs and one-time settlements with our power supplier. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we’re pleased to pass along savings to our members, especially during winter months!

Also timely to winter is our new outage texting now available to members.

We listened to your requests for this service so that you can easily text us when you have an outage and receive updates until your power is restored.

Find full details on the cover of this magazine on how to sign up today!

Another of our new popular texting services is our Propane and Fuels delivery and payment notification service. Plus, when you sign up for this service, you’ll also be among the first to know about showroom sales and specials! Just text FUEL to 70216 to sign up.

For members with rooftop solar systems, you’ll be pleased to know we’ve enhanced the net metering rate to follow a national best practice standard. The cooperative will now annually purchase the excess kilowatt hours produced by your rooftop solar system each year during the May billing cycle.

Page 22

Blue Ridge-0120.indd 22

In 2020, your cooperative will move into its new corporate headquarters in Lenoir. This facility will house critical systems for all three Blue Ridge Energy companies: the electric cooperative, our Propane and Fuels subsidiary, and our RidgeLink telecommunications business-to-business subsidiary.

Among the staff and systems it will house include the technology, security and communications connecting our power grid, substations and powerlines, as well as a 24/7 system operators station and a member/customer contact center, all of which connects to four district offices to support our line crew operations, propane and fuels operations, member/customer service staff, and showrooms.

Joining a long list of previously funded emergency response initiatives, Blue Ridge Energy is applying for funds through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program for new fire trucks for the following volunteer fire departments: Warrensville (Ashe), Zionville and Beaver Dam (Watauga County), and a new fire station for Piney Creek (Alleghany County).

Within this article I’ve shared just a few of the member benefits coming in 2020! I look forward to sharing more with you in the coming months, and I wish all of our members a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

MEMBERSHIP matters

12/10/19 1:50 PM

THROUGH SNOW, ICE OR GLOOM Mother Nature can present all kinds of challenges to the power delivery system.

Be prepared by downloading our app and keeping basic necessities on hand.

Remember that through it all, Blue Ridge is on call for you.

outage reporting options •

Call PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383

p werline to report an outage. 1-800-448-2383

•

Use the Blue Ridge mobile app

Search for “Blue Ridge Mobile App” in your app store and download it for free on your smartphone or tablet!

•

.

Sign up for Outage Texting - Text “START” to 70216

- Text “OUT” to 70216 to report an outage and receive updates until final restoration * Your mobile number must be listed on your Blue Ridge Energy account to enroll for Outage Texting.

Go to BlueRidgeEnergy.com/ outagetexting to learn more.

A new cooperative conversation As Blue Ridge Energy begins 2020, we are pleased to announce a new communications tool — podcasts. cooperative conversations

Blue Ridge Energy’s new podcast, Unplugged, gives listeners a chance to hear stories about Blue Ridge Energy, told by the people working to serve its members and communities across northwest North Carolina.

Monthly episodes of Unplugged are

MEMBERSHIP matters

Blue Ridge-0120.indd 23

around 15 minutes long with topics ranging from renewable energy and the future of the electric grid to storm stories and energy efficiency tips to help you save money on your electric bill.

Subscribing to Unplugged is easy!

Simply go to the Apple Podcast or Spotify application on your smart device and search for “Unplugged Blue Ridge Energy.” You can also listen by going to BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Unplugged.

Page 23

12/10/19 1:50 PM

Vegetation management helps ensure reliable, safe electricity

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Doug Johnson

EDITOR

Renée R. Whitener

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Susan Simmons

Severe weather that involves ice, wind and lightning, which can result in damage to trees and power lines, is the major cause of outages.

With more than 8,000 miles of power lines to protect, and because over half of our outages are caused by trees, limbs and other plant life, your electric cooperative works year-round on our vegetation management program to ensure members enjoy the most reliable electricity possible. This effort has also placed Blue Ridge Energy among the best performing utilities in the nation for reliability.

Vegetation management occurs in our rights-ofway. What is a right-ofway? It’s a corridor or strip of land along either

side of power lines that allows our linemen a safety zone while building and maintaining the power system to ensure you receive reliable electricity. The majority of our system is made up of distribution lines, which carry power from substations to homes and businesses. The right-ofway for this type of line is a total of 30 feet (15 feet on each side).

250 feet, depending on the voltage of the line.

Blue Ridge Energy is a unique cooperative in that we must also build and maintain our own transmission system.

Many people don’t know that power lines carrying electricity can energize anything or anyone that gets too close to the line, including a tree or tree limb, ladder, or even a wet kite string. Maintained rights-of-way help ensure that trees don’t get close enough to power lines to energize them.

While this helps keep electricity reliable, it also helps keep people and even animals from being electrocuted or severely injured.

These high-voltage power lines deliver electricity from our supplier in the foothills to reach our mountain district members. The right-ofway for these lines ranges from a total of 100 to

Our vegetation management program combines several methods to control growth — all with the goal of balancing the beauty of our area while ensuring safe, reliable electricity.

DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany Wilkes PowerLine®

(828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 451-5474 (800) 448-2383

2020 director candidate nominee options

(800) 451-5474

Members wishing to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors have two application options: the Nominating Committee process or the nomination by petition process. Interested members must complete and submit a director application packet by contacting Julie O’Dell, chief administrative officer, at jodell@blueridgeenergy.com or 1-800-451-5474, ext. 3202.

(PowerLine® is an automated account information and outage reporting system.)

Toll Free

(for members outside of the service area.)

To report an outage at any time, call PowerLine at (800) 448-2383.

OFFICE HOURS: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday Kiosk available 24/7 Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com +

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Page 24

MEMBERSHIP matters

Blue Ridge-0120.indd 24

All application information is due by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2020 when going through the Nominating Committee process and by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 for those seeking nomination by petition.

Nominations by petition must include signatures of 20 or more members with a minimum of five from each of the four directorate districts with a requirement that each signature is the name that appears on their electric service bill.

For a complete list of qualifications to serve as a director of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, please refer to the cooperative’s Bylaws available at any district office or online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

MEMBERSHIP matters

12/11/19 Page 24

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11/21/19 3:22 PM 12/10/19 12:58 PM

On the House

Convenience & Energy Savings with Smart Speakers The gift that keeps on giving

By Jonathan Susser

Q:

We received a smart speaker as a gift during the holidays but aren’t sure where to get started. What can we do with the device, and can we use it to help us save energy?

A:

Smart speakers are definitely popular holiday gifts, and they continue to pop up in homes across the country. The Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple HomePod — there is no shortage of options these days.

At their most basic level, smart speakers are speakers. But thanks to their voice control and brandspecific assistants (like Alexa or Siri), they can do a whole lot more, from telling you the weather and sports scores, to providing appointment or grocery list reminders, to answering trivia questions. You can even string together a bunch of tasks into a larger routine.

While the exact setup instructions for your smart speaker will depend on what kind you have, all typically have the same basic requirements: a power source, a Wi-Fi connection, a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, and the smart speaker’s dedicated app.

After that, you can ask it questions or give it commands and get going.

The main benefit of smart speakers is certainly their convenience, as they give you a hands-free way to perform and customize a variety of actions. But they also have the potential to help you save energy and money.

By connecting them to other smart home devices in your mobile app — think smart thermostats, lights and plugs — smart speakers give you more control over your energyconsuming appliances, helping you use them only when needed. One thing to research before diving in, though, is compatibility. Some smart home technologies pair more seamlessly with certain smart speakers than others.

Here are a few of the more common options: ■ Smart lighting comes in a

few forms. Basic smart bulbs, color-changing bulbs and smart light switches give you additional flexibility in your lighting options (switches may require a licensed electrician for installation). For added security, many smart lights can be set up on a vacation mode to make it seem like someone’s at home when you’re out of town.

■ Smart plugs easily connect to a

traditional outlet and can then be used to power a device. From there, you can use the plugs’ dedicated app or sync them up to your smart speaker for voice control. These can also be set on a schedule or timer.

■ Smart thermostats like the Nest

and Ecobee make it easier to adjust

your home’s temperature for different times of day, schedules or occupancy levels, and connecting them to your smart speaker adds another level of versatility.

■ Smart speaker features can be a

particularly big perk for an aging population. For example, they can be used to get reminders for medication or to shut off lights or change the temperature via voice command, which is especially helpful for those with mobility, dexterity, memory or vision issues.

And at a more basic level, they can offer companionship and a great way to keep in touch with friends and family.

A common concern people have about smart speakers is privacy, specifically through eavesdropping or recording.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to enhance your confidentiality and limit what data your speaker can obtain, including muting your device and updating settings in your app.

Smart speakers provide many exciting ways to make your everyday life a little bit easier and potentially cheaper, so have fun setting yours up and enjoy what it has to offer!

Jonathan Susser is a writer and editor for Advanced Energy in Raleigh.

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Introducing

the future of personal transportation.

Also available in Black

It’s not a Wheelchair...

It’s not a Power Chair...

It’s a Zinger Chair!

10”

The Zinger folds to a mere 10 inches.

More and more Americans are reaching the age where mobility is an everyday concern. Whether from an injury or from the aches and pains that come from getting older– getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. You may have tried a power chair or a scooter. The Zinger is NOT a power chair or a scooter! The Zinger is quick and nimble, yet it is not prone to tipping like many scooters. Best of all, it weighs only 47.2 pounds and folds and unfolds with ease. You can take it almost anywhere, providing you with independence and freedom.

Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a personal electric vehicle that’s truly unique. They created a battery that provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. The Zinger features two steering levers, one on either side of the seat. The user pushes both levers down to go forward, pulls them both up to brake, and pushes one while pulling the other to turn to either side. This enables great mobility, the ability to turn on a dime and to pull right up to tables or desks. The controls are right on the

steering lever so it’s simple to operate, and its exclusive footrest swings out of the way when you stand up or sit down. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the Zinger is sturdy and durable yet convenient and comfortable! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat or trunk– you can even gate-check it at the airport like a stroller. Think about it, you can take your Zinger almost anywhere, so you don’t have to let mobility issues rule your life. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. It holds up to 275 pounds, and it goes up to 6 mph and operates for up to 8 miles on a single charge.

Why spend another day letting mobility issues hamper your independence and quality of life

Zinger Chair® Call now and receive a utility basket absolutely FREE with your order.

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The Zinger Chair is a personal electric vehicle and is not a medical device nor a wheelchair. Zinger is not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. It is not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2019 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

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83983

Just think of the places you can go: • Shopping • Air Travel • Bus Tours • Restaurants– ride right up to the table! • Around town or just around your house

12/10/19 12:58 PM

How to Get Great Photos in the Field

Reflections on making the most of nature’s canvas Story and photos by Robin Conover

My work as editor of a magazine similar to Carolina Country gives me plenty of opportunities to practice one of my true passions: photography. Although I have had the pleasure of taking photos of countless inspiring subjects for the magazine, I also find inspiration wandering down the trails of both national and state parks, and driving the winding backroads of our country, waiting for the perfect photo to present itself..

When on such trips, I feel like I can’t miss any photographic opportunity.

That means being up before sunrise and out until after sunset.

That made for a few long days one summer when I was in West Glacier, Montana. I began my last day there at the Apgar Visitor Center just before sunrise. I had scouted the area the day before and thought the rental boats moored at the southern end of Lake McDonald might make an interesting subject with the golden light of a brilliant sunrise filtering in from the east (the right side of the image).

I set up my tripod on the dock, composed the shot with a boat at the lower left third of the frame and waited for the light. As it turned out, the sun didn’t break through the haze in the distance until quite a while after sunrise. This meant the streams of sunlight I had hoped to capture as they raked across this landscape just

There is no magic tool to fix bad compositions or uninteresting subjects.

Interesting light and strong compositions will win out over poorly executed photos any day —n o matter how much they are processed.

weren’t going to happen. Instead, a light cloud cover and a smoky haze from a nearby fire in Glacier National Park had filled the sky, obscuring the sunrise and the mountains in the background.

As I took this image, I was a bit disappointed that I had missed my last chance to capture what I had seen in my head. So, instead, I framed the most interesting composition I could find with the boat as the central subject. As my shot transformed into a monochromatic palette, the bright red mooring buoy added a glimmer of color that took on a central position in this composition. You might say it creates an anchoring point for your eye as you move through the image.

It wasn’t until months later, when I revisited my edit on the images I captured that day, that I took notice of this one again. Because it hadn’t turned out to be what I wanted that morning, I had largely ignored it. In hindsight, it tells its own story.

After the shot The creative process doesn’t end once a photo is taken. In my humble

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s

Left: A seemingly missed opportunity: “Quiet Morning at Lake McDonald.”

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, EF 100-400 mm ƒ4.5-5.6 L USM lens at 100mm, ISO 100, ƒ11 at 1/125 sec, Gitzo tripod

opinion, Ansel Adams would have loved digital photography and Photoshop. As one of the most important American photographers, he always pushed his equipment, darkroom techniques and vision to produce his masterful prints.

He is famously quoted as describing his process by saying, “The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score and the print the performance.”

This concept is as true today as it was the day he said it — though the terminology may have changed a bit in our digital world. His physical negative, most often glass, only came to life after it was painstakingly processed in a darkroom to reveal the latent image, which was then printed onto a piece of photographic paper via an enlarger. Each step bore his trademark specificity and love for the craft.

He utilized every tool available to create masterworks with pure whites and blacks and every tone of his zone system in between.

Today we talk about capturing images as raw files, importing them into a digital photo-editing software and outputting the final files to myriad devices. Each step of this process requires a skillset that can be a lifelong learning curve.

On occasion, I overhear comments at a gallery or a show that go something like this: “That’s not real; it must be Photoshopped.” So, in the commenter’s mind, this particular photograph is worthless because of the computer’s role.

After taking a deep breath, my slightly irritated answer follows something like, “Yes, it is real, and, yes, it is Photoshopped.”

Then I try to provide a little education by describing my technique. To create successful photographs, it all begins with strong compositions and great light. Then the raw file is

brought to life with minimal processing in Photoshop. The steps usually involve setting my black and white points for highlights and shadows, tweaking the color balance if needed, using a curve to set contrast and then sharpening the image.

These steps reveal the subject’s details, tones and subtleties I saw with my eye when I photographed it.

Properly using the tools available to us today is both a blessing and a curse.

I choose to use these tools to show the best example of what I actually saw. Some may take artistic license

too far in this realm and rely on digital darkroom tools to attempt to make mediocre photos more successful.

There is no magic tool to fix bad compositions or uninteresting subjects. Interesting light and strong compositions will win out over poorly executed photos any day — no matter how much they are processed.

In the end, it’s really about the light and how you see the world.

Robin Conover is editor of The Tennessee Magazine, a publication of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.

A little Photoshop work revealed the subtleties of “Foothills Parkway Sunrise.”

Canon EOS 6D, 70-200 mm, 2.8 L-series lens, Gitzo tripod, ISO 100, ƒ32 at 1/10 sec

An unexpected opportunity at the end of a hike led to “Roosting Turkeys at Radnor Lake.”

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 100-400 mm, 4.55.6 L IS USM lens with circular polarizer ISO 6400, ƒ5.6 at 1/125 sec, Gitzo tripod

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12/10/19 11:43 AM

Tar Heel Tidbits For the young (and young at heart)

All Hands on Deck

At the time of her commissioning in 1941, she was considered the world’s greatest sea weapon. Today, moored on the Cape Fear River across from downtown Wilmington, the Battleship North Carolina is an authentically restored memorial and a stimulating place to visit.

Through a self-guided tour, visitors learn about shipboard life and are encouraged to explore nine levels of the massive World War II ship, including berthing areas, the engine room, sick bay and combat information center.

Children love climbing the ladders, trying on helmets, “texting” using flags and playing with “the big guns.”

All photos: Battleship North Carolina

The ship is open daily, including all holidays. Admission: adults, age 12 & over, $14; seniors, age 65 & over, $10; Active or retired military, military spouses & dependents, with ID cards, $10; children, age 6 through 11, $6, age 5 & under, free; Friends of the Battleship members, free. Hours vary by season. To learn more, call 910-399-9100 or visit battleshipnc.com.

One Pawsome Travel Agent Meet Mo, North Carolina’s first dog travel agent! Mo, a rescue dog, was recently selected among 500 canine candidates to fill a new tourism position. Using her 39 (dog) years of life experience, Mo sniffs out dog-friendly places, including hotels, campgrounds, parks and trails, breweries, restaurants and bakeries.

Visit NC

You can catch her and her fellow dog travelers fetching reports on dogtravelagent.com, and also on Visit NC’s Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube accounts.

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A GOOD READ

Beyond the Frozen Forest Sweet & Salty Popcorn Party Mix This yummy recipe makes plenty for a family or group of kids to munch. Find additional recipes at popcorn.org.

All photos: Battleship North Carolina

10 cups popped popcorn 2 cups miniature pretzel twists 1 cup pecans 1 cup peanuts 2 cups rice, wheat or corn cereal squares 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup corn syrup 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Heat oven to 300 degrees.

In large bowl, combine popcorn, pretzels, pecans, peanuts and cereal squares; set aside.

In medium saucepan over medium heat, heat butter, brown sugar and corn syrup.

Stir mixture until it begins to boil. Boil 3 minutes without stirring. Carefully remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Note:

Mixture will foam.

Pour syrup over popcorn mixture and stir until evenly coated. Pour mixture onto large, rimmed baking sheet or roasting pan. Bake 30 minutes, stirring twice during baking. Stir mixture several times as it cools. Store in airtight container.

Yield: 14 cups

DO YOU KNOW…

That NC’s Oldest Newspaper was Printed in 1751?

The North-Carolina Gazette first came off the press 268 years ago — that’s some old news! James Davis issued the paper from New Bern using the North Carolina colony’s first printing press.

“The newspaper, unlike modern print papers, did not have headlines or much local news,” explains the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. “It focused mostly on international news and the arrivals and departures of ships.”

In this faith-based children’s book about decisions, all of the snow children enjoy their days in the cold forest with the boy who made them. But when an old troll promises that a magnificent meadow is a much better place to live, their choice to follow him places them in peril. As the meadow’s sunshine begins melting them, the boy’s love for the snow children he created prompts an amazing rescue plan.

But will they realize what’s at stake before it’s too late?

Author Sandy Broome lives in Mount Holly and illustrator Alan Capps resides in Indian Trail. Learn more about Alan at alancappsart.com, and to learn more about the author or to purchase the book, visit sandybroome.com. Paperback, 42 pages, $9.99.

Ha ve a lau gh!

Q: What is a corn farmer’s favorite holiday?

A: New Ear’s Day

Davis served as the colony’s public printer until 1782, and aside from difficulties issuing the Gazette following a storm in 1769 and during the Revolutionary War, he kept issuing the newspaper until just before his death in 1785. The paper appeared in another form between 1786 and 1798, when it was used by another printer to promote the Bill of Rights and other causes.

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NC Outdoors

Becoming a Hunter

Success in the field starts with a support system

By Mike Zlotnicki

A gun shot thundered from across the cutover on my hunting lease in Halifax County.

Hoping it was my friend Thomas Harvey, I texted him, simply: “you?” (And yes, texting has become an integral part of deer hunting, at least in my circles.)

He promptly replied “buck on the ground,” and I quickly climbed out of my stand and drove to his. A small 6-point was his harvest — it looked like a deer I passed on the week before in the same area. (I can’t be sure, of course, but it does make for a better story.)

I asked him how he felt after pulling the trigger, an act no hunter takes lightly.

“It was a clean and quick kill,” he said. “I felt relief that it was a humane kill and excited because I accomplished it after a two-year journey.”

Thomas, 31, wasn’t new to hunting. Eight years ago he started with doves, then waterfowl, then turkeys. He went to a gun show and came home with a Brittany puppy for upland hunting. But this was his first deer, and he could not contain his excitement while recalling the events of the morning that lead us here. A week later, he and his wife, Danielle, were in my kitchen, where we processed and vacuum-packed his harvest for the freezer. I asked him why he was drawn to deer hunting after eight years.

“One more thing to learn,” he said.

“It’s a kind of solitary, passive thing.

It’s also a lot of bang for your buck. I

don’t think I’d do it if it didn’t yield so much meat.”

Thomas and I train and hunt versatile dogs, so we had an established friendship. Helping him get started deer hunting was easy and fun. He did his research, purchased quality equipment (including his Kimber Hunter rifle in .308) and didn’t “overcomplicate it,” as he put it. Thomas had a friend and mentor in me to help get him started.

But not everyone does who would like to try hunting.

Finding support If you know a hunter, ask him or her to mentor you. If you don’t know a hunter, perhaps join your local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (nwtf.org), Delta Waterfowl (deltawaterfowl.org), Ducks Unlimited (ducks.org) or the Quality Deer Management Association (qdma.com). Sporting dog breed clubs are another avenue (The American Kennel Club lists 44 sporting breed clubs in North Carolina at akc.org). Social media like Facebook have an abundance of hunting groups, some open and some you have to join.

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission holds seminars across the

state for novice hunters to learn more about squirrel, waterfowl, turkey and deer hunters (bit.ly/wildlifecourses).

It also has the relatively new Getting Started Outdoors (GSO) program, which is designed for people who have never hunted and lack the social support, such as family or friends who are hunters. The GSOs cover hunting skills, equipment and strategies, and wild game processing and cooking. In some cases, mentored hunts for those participants who complete a GSO are carried out.

I don’t believe that there’s a “hunter-gatherer gene” in everyone, but I do believe there is a latent gene in a lot of people. My father took me out enough as a child to make me want to learn more. I was lucky he did. Some people don’t have that mentor.

Mike Zlotnicki is associate editor at Wildlife in North Carolina magazine. He lives in Garner with his wife, three daughters and two German shorthaired pointers.

First steps for new hunters To learn more about Getting Started Outdoors, go to bit.ly/newhunter. There are more resources now than ever for folks who want to learn.

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Infrared Heat Penetrates Deep Into Joint, Helping To Reduce Inflammation Knee sleeve offers superior support and graduated compression to help stimulate blood flow, promoting healing and easing aches and pains. Hundreds of infraredemitting “dots” above and below the knee surround the patella & help to retain body heat. Heat penetrates deep into the joint, helping to increase the blood flow, reduce inflammation and decrease pain.

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12/10/19 12:59 PM

Carolina Compass

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WinterFest Polar bear plunge, chili contest Jan. 23–26, Blowing Rock

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January Events MOUNTAINS Winter Holiday Lights Show Games, displays at arboretum Through Jan. 4, Asheville 828-665-2492 ncarboretum.org/winter-lights

Indoor Soccer Camps Dec. 16–Jan. 10, Boone 828-386-1215 hcsoccer.com

Leanne Morgan

Mary Poppins

Dreamfest

Story-telling mom Jan. 17, Morganton 828-433-7469 commaonline.org

Classic film about a British nanny Jan. 3, Roxboro 336-597-1709 bit.ly/kirby0120

Celebrating MLK’s vision Jan. 18–20, Cary bit.ly/dreamfest2020 robbie.stone@townofcary.org

The Greatest Love of All

Tree Toss

Tribute to Whitney Houston Jan. 30, Wilkesboro 336-838-6260 walkercenteronline.org

Animals enjoy greenery Jan. 4 & 18, Burlington 336-421-0883 animalparknc.org

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

PIEDMONT

WinterFest Polar bear plunge, chili contest Jan. 23–26, Blowing Rock 828-295-7828 blowingrockwinterfest.com

First Footin’ Hike, stone soup Jan. 1, Huntersville 704-875-3113 ruralhill.net carolyn@ruralhill.net

Holiday Skating Iceless rink, hot chocolate Dec. 18–Jan. 1, Hendersonville 800-828-4244 visithendersonvillenc.org/ home-for-the-holidays

Resolutions 2020 2D & 3D exhibit Jan. 6–26, Hillsborough 919-732-5001 hillsboroughgallery.com

The Simon & Garfunkel Story Tribute to folk-rock duo Jan. 8, Durham 919-680-2787 dpacnc.com

Singer performs hits Jan. 26, Durham 919-680-2787 dpacnc.com

COAST Kwanzaa—Making A Difference African dance, kids village Jan. 1, Durham 919-560-2750 aadekwanzaafest.wixsite.com/ kwanzaafest

carolinacountry.com/calendar

See more events online with photos, descriptions, maps and directions.

MOUNTAINS

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PIEDMONT

Listing Deadlines: Submit Listings Online: For March: Jan. 25 For April: Feb. 25

95

carolina­country.com/calendar (No email or U.S. Mail.)

COAST

The Simon & Garfunkel Story Tribute to folk-rock duo Jan. 8, Durham

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Carolina Compass

Traveling Snowman

Lifeboat

Sensory Saturday Series Jan. 4, Southport 910-477-5150 katy.menne@ncdcr.gov

Hitchcock thriller film Jan. 21, Southport 910-477-5150 ncmaritimemuseumsouthport.com

Boar’s Head & Yule Log Festival

The Black Market Trust

Performance, banquet Jan. 5, Kinston 252-523-6146 stmaryskinston.com

Stylish pop and jazz Jan. 23, Oriental 252-617-2125 pamlicomusic.org

Coastal Culture, Waterfowl

Pickin’ On The Pungo

Overnight nature tour Jan. 15–16, Beaufort 252-504-7740 ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com

Bands, youth showcase Jan. 25, Belhaven 252-717-5387 peter@machatours.com

Clam Chowder Cook-Off

Southern Spies

Include cornbread contest Jan. 17, Beaufort 252-728-1638 maritimefriends.org

Homeschool Friday Series Jan. 31, Southport 910-477-5150 katy.menne@ncdcr.gov

Battleship 101 Behind the scenes tour Jan 18, Wilmington 910-399-9100 battleshipnc.com

Pickin’ On The Pungo Bands, youth showcase Jan. 25, Belhaven

Know Before You Go

In case something changes after Carolina Country goes to press, check information from the contact listed.

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Clogged, Backed—up Septic System…Can anything Restore It? Dear Darryl DEAR DARRYL: My home is about 10 years old, and so is my septic system.

I have always taken pride in keeping my home and property in top shape. In fact, my neighbors and I are always kidding each other about who keeps their home and yard nicest. Lately, however, I have had a horrible smell in my yard, and also in one of my bathrooms, coming from the shower drain. My grass is muddy and all the drains in my home are very slow.

My wife is on my back to make the bathroom stop smelling and as you can imagine, my neighbors are having a field day, kidding me about the mud pit and sewage stench in my yard. It’s humiliating. I called a plumber buddy of mine, who recommended pumping (and maybe even replacing) my septic system. But at the potential cost of thousands of dollars, I hate to explore that option.

I tried the store bought, so called, Septic treatments out there, and they did Nothing to clear up my problem. Is there anything on the market I can pour or flush into my system that will restore it to normal, and keep it maintained?

Clogged and Smelly –

, NC

DEAR CLOGGED AND SMELLY: As a reader of my column, I am sure you are aware that I have a great deal of experience in this particular field. You will be glad to know that there IS a septic solution that will solve your back-up and effectively restore your entire system from interior piping throughout the septic system and even unclog the drain field as well. SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs deliver your system the fast active bacteria and enzymes needed to liquefy solid waste and free the clogs causing your back-up.

This fast-acting bacteria multiplies within minutes of application and is specifically designed to withstand many of today’s anti-bacterial cleaners, soaps and detergents. It comes in dissolvable plastic packs, that you just flush down your toilets. It’s so cool. Plus, they actually Guarantee that it restores ANY system, no matter how bad the problem is.

SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs are designed to work on any septic system regardless of design or age. From modern day systems to sand mounds, and systems installed generations ago, I have personally seen SeptiCleanse unclog and restore these systems in a matter of weeks. I highly recommend that you try it before spending any money on repairs. SeptiCleanse products are available online at www.septicleanse.com or you can order or learn more by calling toll free at 1-888-899-8345. If you use the promo code “NCS9”, you can get a free shock treatment, added to your order, which normally costs $169.

Make sure to use that code when you call or buy online.

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CAROLINA COUNTRY

adventures

Hit the High Country Slopes Boone is the gateway to the ‘Ski Capital of the South’

By Renee Gannon | Photos courtesy of Appalachian Ski Mountain unless otherwise noted

rental for folks who would rather rent gloves, bibs, jackets and helmets. For non-skiers, a refrigerated outdoor ice arena awaits. The 46,000-square-foot, Bavarian-style base lodge offers a slopeside restaurant, panoramic observation deck and free Wi-Fi internet service.

Appalachian Ski Mountain

Sugar Mountain

Beech Mountain Ski

M

any winter sports enthusiasts head to the “mile high” ski towns in Colorado, surrounded by the epic peaks of the Rocky Mountains. While the High Country of western North Carolina may not be Colorado, the region holds its own considerable charm. Elevations of up to 6,000 feet provide the winter weather needed to satisfy a range of skiing capabilities, as well as activities such as snowtubing, snowshoeing, ice skating and shopping — all within a few hours from most parts of NC to less than a day’s drive from the farthest eastern points of the state.

Boone anchors the High Country, and is within 45 minutes of ski areas and snowtubing. From the many locally owned cabins, inns, motels and chain hotels to the new downtown boutique hotel, The Horton (thehorton.com), visitors to the area use this Watauga County town as a jumping off point to winter adventure. With high-tech snowmaking capabilities to help Mother Nature, the ski areas stay white from November to March.

Beech Mountain beechmountainresort.com

For more than 50 years, Beech Mountain Ski Resort has provided ski trails for both beginners and experts. At 5,506 feet in elevation, Beech Mountain is the highest ski resort in eastern North America and boasts 16 slopes and 7 lifts; the longest vertical drop is 830 feet and the longest run travels one mile, plenty of room for skiers and snowboarders. Take time to enjoy a little “après-ski” at SkyBar at the top of lifts 5 and 6 (elevation 5,506 feet).

Beech Mountain also rents snowshoes to venture onto the 20 miles of trails the town maintains. Other non-ski activities include snowtubing and ice skating, and sledding on the hill near town hall. A restaurant and brewery are also on-site (beechmountainbrewingco.com).

appskimtn.com

skisugar.com

This family-owned-and-operated ski resort opened in 1962, the first ski area in the High Country. The French Swiss Ski College prepares beginners and even experienced skiers with tips and techniques for tackling the 10 slopes and 2 terrain parks. ASM offers apparel

The 2019/2020 season marks the 50th year that Sugar Mountain has provided winter fun at 5,300 feet. The resort offers 21 slopes (from beginner green to double black diamond) and a terrain park, accessible by multiple ski lifts, including a high-speed, six-passenger

lift. The lift capacity reaches 11,270 people per hour, giving everyone plenty of time to ski along the total 5 miles of trails. Sugar Mountain also offers snowshoe rentals as well as onsite snowtubing and ice skating, and has an on-site restaurant that overlooks the ski area.

Hawksnest Resort hawksnest-resort.com

Originally opened in 1966 as a ski resort, Hawksnest converted to all snow tubing in 2008, and added a 20-stop zipline course that’s open yearround. The abandoned ski lift towers and chairs watch from behind the base lodge as children and adults climb onto large tubes and zip, twirl and spin down more than 30 snow-covered tubing lanes, located in four separate areas and ranging from 400 to 1,000 feet in length. Above the tubers, ziplines carry those brave enough to bear the cold wind along cables reaching up to 2,000 feet long.

Boone & the High Country exploreboone.com | 800-852-9506

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Connect with Carolina Country Don’t miss out on your favorite content as well as online-only digital extras — sign up for email updates on our website!

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The N.C. Association of Electric Cooperatives and its member cooperatives do not endorse the services and products advertised. Readers are advised to understand fully any agreement or purchase they make. To place a classified ad: carolinacountry.com/classifieds

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Why I Love My Community Electric cooperatives love the communities we serve. That’s why for our February issue — when love is in the air and Cupid is working overtime —w e’re asking readers what makes their community special. Why do you love where you live? Is it the people? The food? The history? Maybe all of the above or something different altogether? Let us know!

We will pay $50 for each story or photo that is printed in our February 2020 issue.

Rules Deadline: January 3, 2020 One entry per household Limit text to 200 words or less.

Include your name, electric co-op, mailing address and email address or phone number with your entry.

If submitting a photo, digital photos should be a minimum of 1200 x 1800 pixels; prints a minimum of 4 x 6 inches.

If you would like us to return a photo print, include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope (we will not return others).

We retain reprint and online rights.

Payment will be limited to those entries appearing in print only, not entries featured solely on carolinacountry.com.

Send to Online: carolinacountry.com/lovemycommunity No emails, please.

Mail: Carolina Country I Love my Community 3400 Sumner Blvd.

Raleigh, NC 27616

January 2020 | 39

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Carolina Kitchen

Eastern NC BBQ Gravy As a little girl, I would often run errands in Smithfield with my grandma. I always looked forward to stopping at the local BBQ hot spots for some dark meat barbecue chicken. One place had a whitish, thick sauce that I’ve replicated below. How to make eastern NC BBQ sauce better? Turn it into gravy …

Winter White Velvet Cake With coconut and nuts

Ice, snow, whipped cream — January has me thinking “winter whites.” So I tweaked my Grandma Perry’s red velvet cake into this white velvet version and served it on my mama’s cake stand. Make it a day ahead and chill to let the flavors “ripen.”

Cake ½ cup solid coconut oil 1½ cups sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon salt 2½ cups cake flour 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon vinegar 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 tablespoons butter, melted Frosting 5 tablespoons flour 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 cup sugar 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup flaked coconut ½ cup chopped pecans 1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped (toss with ½ teaspoon salt)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line three 8- or 9-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.* With mixer, cream oil with sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in salt and flour.

Add vanilla and buttermilk to batter.

In a small bowl, pour vinegar over baking soda. After it fizzes, stir and add to batter.

Divide batter into 3 prepared pans. Bake 10–15 minutes until done and the cake separates from sides of pan (time will depend on pan size.) Brush one side of each layer with melted butter.

For frosting, cook flour, milk and vanilla in a double boiler, stirring constantly until thick. Cool. In another bowl, whip sugar and butter at high speed until fluffy. Add cooled, cooked mixture and blend into fluffy icing.

Frost cake and scatter each layer and over top with coconut and nuts. *Either size pan will work. I prefer a 9-inch pan for thinner layers.

2 cups apple cider vinegar ½ cup water 8 tablespoons white sugar 2 tablespoons ketchup 1–2 tablespoons hot sauce (We used Texas Pete.)

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons flour 1 can (12-ounce) evaporated milk Combine all ingredients, except flour and milk, in a saucepan. Heat on medium until sugar melts.

In a bowl, whisk flour into milk to make a slurry. Add to vinegar mixture and whisk until thickened into gravy.

Serve over grilled or store-bought rotisserie chicken. Lip smacking good on sliced pork and mashed potatoes, too!

Yield: Makes about 3 cups

Unless otherwise noted, recipes on these pages are from Wendy Perry, a culinary adventurist and blogger, who chats about goodness around NC on her blog at WendysHomeEconomics.com.

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Carolina Kitchen

From Your Kitchen

Buttermilk Bisque

Ruby’s Spiced Bundt Cake

With roasted turnips, pears and leeks

Reminiscent of spice cake, this Bundt might not be the prettiest confection in the bakery, but its moist interior and smack-your-lips sweetness will win you over. What’s more, there’s a “secret” ingredient (prunes) that kicks its nutrition profile up a few notches.

Ninety-four-year-old Ruby says: “It is a huge family favorite!”

Warm up from the inside out with this creamy, “winter white” soup.

Or serve it chilled! Roasting the produce adds another layer of flavor, and even turnip-haters will find those root veggies tasty. Serve with cornbread and cracklins. ¼ cup olive oil 3 large turnips (about 4 cups), peeled and cubed 5–6 ripe, firm pears, peeled, quartered and cored 3–4 leeks, white parts only, washed and roughly chopped 4 heads garlic

8 ounces extra virgin olive oil 3 stalks celery, chopped ¼ cup fresh rosemary leaves 3 cups whole buttermilk 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon white pepper 4 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Toss turnips, pears and leeks with ¼ cup olive oil. Scatter on parchment-lined baking pan.

Cut top off of whole heads of garlic to expose cloves. Place into a small baking dish and pour 8 ounces of olive oil over heads of garlic.

Roast alongside vegetables. Remove garlic from oven after 25–30 minutes and separate garlic from oil to cool, reserving oil. Roast vegetables for a total of 35–40 minutes, tossing after first 20 minutes.

Squeeze cooled garlic cloves into a food processor, along with roasted vegetables, celery and rosemary. Add 1–2 cups each of buttermilk and broth (depending on size of processor). Purée until smooth. Pour into pot with remaining buttermilk and broth and heat gently. Add seasonings and butter.

Garnish with a drizzle of the roasted garlic oil, plus a sprinkle of cracklins and cornbread crumbs (optional).

Yield: Makes about 2 quarts

Send Us Your Recipes

Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25. We retain reprint rights for all submissions. Recipes submitted are not necessarily entirely original. Include your name, address, phone number (for questions), and the name of your electric cooperative. Mail to: Carolina Country Kitchen, P.O. Box 27306, Raleigh, NC, 27611. Or submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe.

2 cups self-rising flour 2 cups sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon nutmeg 3 eggs

Glaze 1 cup sugar ½ teaspoon soda ¼ stick butter

1 cup vegetable oil 8 ounces baby food prunes 1 cup chopped pecans Powdered sugar, for dusting ½ cup buttermilk 2 teaspoons vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a Bundt cake pan.

Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add the eggs, oil and prunes. Mix well. Then stir in the pecans. Pour into the Bundt cake pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Just before the cake is done, make the glaze by combining all ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 2–3 minutes.

Remove the cake from the oven and prep for glaze by using a skewer or fork to poke holes in the cake. Pour half of the glaze over the hot cake. Let cake cool briefly for 5–10 minutes, then remove from pan. Poke holes in the top of the cake, and slowly pour the remainder of the glaze on its surface. Once cool, dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

Yield: 12 servings

Recipe courtesy of Ruby McCurdy of Taylorsville, a member of EnergyUnited

carolinacountry.com/recipes We take food seriously. Search more than 800 recipes by name or ingredient, with a new recipe featured every week!

January 2020 | 41

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where

N w

in Carolina Country is this ?

Send your answer by January 6, with your name, address and the name of your electric cooperative.

Online:

carolinacountry.com/where

By mail: Where in Carolina Country?

P.O. Box 27306

Raleigh, NC 27611 Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified.

The winner, chosen at random and announced in our February issue, will receive $25.

December winner

The December “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Senior Associate Editor Renee Gannon features a mural depicting a giant sewing machine, which even integrates the building’s window as a spool of thread. The mural is painted on the side of the Broken Needle Quilt Shop and Sewing Center, along Highway 98 outside of Bunn in Franklin County. Many readers recognize the mural from road trips headed east to Rocky Mount and other parts of northeastern North Carolina. Readers also include quite a few happy Broken Needle admirers. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from James Shriver of Sneads Ferry, a Jones-Onslow EMC member.

Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where.

Carolina

MUSIC

Michael Bowen Photography

carolinacountry.com/music Learn more about Jordan and listen to this featured track, as well as others from NC musicians.

NEW-CC01_wk.indd 42

JANUARY’S FEATURED TRACK

“Dance by the Riverside”

By Jordan Okrend

Tired of adulting? Sometimes you just want to feel free, and this infectious pop-rock song can help you cut loose. It’s the title track on Jordan’s album, “Dance by the Riverside.” Other great tracks include “Unknown Love,” “Tomorrow” and “Unity.”

This singer-songwriter infuses his songs with vibrant jazz, soul, blues and funk. He plays energetic guitar and four of the eight tracks have soaring horns that echo his catchy hooks. He has a rare gift of blending earthy, fun melodies with contemplative, socially conscious messages, too. You may detect shades of influential artists such as Marvin Gaye, Lenny Kravitz and Bob Marley, but you’ll hear Jordan’s distinctive sound first and foremost.

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month

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Four simple ways to keep winter outside Winter’s freezing temps can hit electric bills like ice on your windshield. Use these simple tips to cost-effectively help keep the cold outside, where it belongs:

Use child safety outlet covers, in addition to foam gaskets, to help keep the cold air out.

Install foam gaskets behind switch plates and outlets on exterior walls to keep cold air from sneaking in.

Attach exterior door sweeps to help keep warm air inside.

Add weatherstripping around exterior doors and windows.

Budget Billing can also help you manage winter electric bills. With it, you pay the same amount each month. Learn more and sign up at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Budget-Billing.

Warm up with other tips to improve comfort and manage your bills at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/101 today.

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Dig here to see where your energy dollars are going Sniff out where your energy dollars are going, with Usage Tracker. This free online tool helps you track your daily power use and the weather’s pawprint on your bill. You can use that information to reduce your energy use!

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