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C.

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To show exquisite details, earrings shown are not exact size.

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Catawba Nuclear Station

Q: What type of U.S. power plants were the most productive in 2019?

A: Last year, nuclear plants were the most productive of the nation’s generation fleet: Nine of the 10 U.S. power plants that generated the most electricity in 2019 were nuclear plants, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. These top 10 plants accounted for 5.6 percent of all electricity generation in the country.

“Nuclear generation has been a reliable, safe and affordable energy resource for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives for 35 years,” said Scott Brame, manager of Compliance and Jointly Owned Resources for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “As an emissions-free resource accounting for more than half of the NC electric co-ops’ power, nuclear energy will also play a vital role in meeting co-ops’ net-zero carbon emissions goal as part of their shared Brighter Future vision.”

To learn more, visit: NCElectricCooperatives.com/Brighter Shivalee Patel

Alex Scruggs

NC Students Receive Youth Leadership Council Scholarships

Students representing Randolph EMC and Union Power Cooperative recently awarded two 2020 Youth Leadership Council (YLC) Scholarships to NC students: Shivalee Patel, a student at Piedmont High School in Monroe, representing Union Power Cooperative; and Alex Scruggs, a student at Southwestern Randolph High School in Asheboro, representing Randolph EMC.

“I’m thrilled that we were able to recognize these outstanding students for their achievements despite the challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Paul Mott, Youth Tour coordinator for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Both Patel and Scruggs will receive a $2,000 college scholarship. They will also join the ranks of previous delegates selected to represent North Carolina on the Youth Leadership Council, a national electric cooperative program that seeks to develop strong leadership, presentation and advocacy skills in young leaders. While this year’s council activities have been canceled at the national level, Patel and Scruggs will be invited to attend North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ annual meeting this spring, pending any COVID-19 cancellations or changes.

Earlier this year, both Patel and Scruggs were selected to represent their local electric cooperative on the 2020 NC Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., which was originally scheduled to be held this past June, but was later canceled due to the pandemic. The annual tour, which brings together close to 1,800 high schoolers from more than 40 states, gives exceptional students the chance to spend a week in our nation’s capital learning about government, U.S. history and the cooperative business model, while building leadership skills and making new friends from across the state and nation.

Typically, North Carolina’s YLC representative is selected on the first day of Youth Tour by a peer vote based on a live speech competition; this year, however, the speech competition was held virtually. Patel and Scruggs were both named as representatives after tying for the most votes received from their fellow Youth Tourists, the first YLC tie in recent memory.

“Thank you to our Youth Tourists for making this year’s competition a success,” Mott said. “Our Youth Tour delegates have been incredibly supportive and resilient during this time, and we appreciate their flexibility as we’ve worked to transition our tour activities to a virtual environment.”

Virtual Youth Tour In lieu of an in-person trip to Washington, D.C., the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association launched “YTO: ShineOnLine” for 2020 Youth Tour participants. The weekly series brings the vast national network of Youth Tour delegates together with engaging speakers, co-op leaders and elected officials.

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Cookie-Making For the Hanes family, Moravian baking traditions run deep Masters Masters By Pamela A. Keene Photos by Revival Creatives

Evva Hanes the woman behind Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies, started baking almost before she could reach the kitchen table. Today, Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies are shipped around the globe, and they are still hand-rolled and hand-cut in a kitchen on the same farm property where she was born.

Evva, a 7th generation Moravian, says “My mother allowed me to actually help take the cookies off the pans and stack them when I was 5 or 6, but I was much older before I was allowed to handle and roll the dough.” Her ancestors immigrated to North Carolina in the early 1700s, from an area east of what is now the Czech Republic. “Even before I was born, my mother Bertha Crouch Foltz baked Moravian cookies to sell as a way to help support our family that included her, my father and seven children, so baking just comes naturally for me.”

It was a big day when Davidson EMC (now EnergyUnited) electric cooperative brought electricity to Clemmons when Evva was 4 years old.

“Until then we had a wood-burning stove, and Mother was very skilled at getting the temperature right so that the cookies wouldn’t burn,” she says. “These days, things are a bit easier, but we still roll, cut and pack all our cookies by hand. Ours are the only Moravian cookies in the area that are still being made by hand.”

A GROWING FAMILY

In 1952, she married Travis Hanes. In the early days of their marriage, Travis attended college while Evva worked at Hanes Hosiery Mill (no relation) and continued to help her mother bake cookies.

“As she got older, Mother couldn’t roll the cookies, so I took on more of the responsibility, helping every day after work and on Saturdays. We were also raising our two children, Mona and Mike, so it was a very busy time.”

“Ours are the only Moravian cookies in the by hand. by hand.area that are still being made

Ten years later at the birth of her third child, Jonathan, Evva left Hanes Hosiery and turned to cookie making fulltime, shifted her baking kitchen to the family’s remodeled basement. They installed air conditioning and two ovens, making it possible to increase the capacity to bake thousands of Moravian sugar cookies to sell each day.

“At that time, I was only making sugar cookies, but I also developed a serious allergy to flour dust, so I had to ask two neighbors to help me,” she says. “Still, I kept baking and soon added molasses cookies to our choices. By the time Caroline, our fourth child, came along in 1968, we decided to hire two fulltime employees to do the work and get me out of the flour dust. Caroline literally saved my life.”

BUILDING A BRAND

It was time for a business decision. In 1970, she and Travis constructed a dedicated building on the family farm. After several additions, it has become the official home of Mrs. Hanes. By 1985, they incorporated and formally named the company Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies/Moravian Sugar Crisp Co. Inc.

The recipe is the exact same one that her great- great-grandmother brought to America more than 200 years ago, when they settled near Winston-Salem with others who founded the Friedberg Moravian Church and one of the two largest Moravian communities in the United States. Baking these special cookies 125,000 pounds of cookies baked annually

1pound of dough when rolled properly, makes 100 cookies

9,000people tour the Mrs. Hanes’ Kitchens each year*

“I’m so proud of our Moravian traditions we can share with others through ourfamily.

Travis and Evva Hanes

30 fulltime employees many of whom are family members, plus an additional 18 seasonal employees

100,000 cookie fans on the company’s mailing list is part of the tradition still honored today in Moravian communities.

Over the years, she expanded the flavors to include Sugar Crisps, Ginger Crisps, Butterscotch Crisps, Black Walnut Crisps, Lemon Crisps and Chocolate Crisps.

“Today, my children and grandchildren are running the business,” says Evva, who will celebrate her 88th birthday this November. “But Travis and I are very much involved in many ways. I’m so proud of our Moravian traditions we can share with others through our family.”

Their daughter, Mona Hanes Templin, who is president of the company, and her son, Jedidiah Templin, are the most actively involved, but others including cousins, nieces and nephews also work there.

Looking back over her memories of growing up on the farm where she and Travis live and where her family’s cookies are still baked, she smiles.

“Never in my wildest dreams as a young girl, did I imagine that I would be baking Moravian cookies and have such a wonderful husband, children and grandchildren,” she says. “I have been blessed beyond measure.”

Pamela A. Keene is a freelance journalist who writes for magazines and newspapers across the Southeast and nationally.

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Bringing Smiles to Others Katie Haynes is remarkable in more ways than one

p Picking up toys from owner Sue Lucey at a drive drop-off point at Page 158 Books in Wake Forest.

By Donna Campbell Smith | Photos courtesy of Tara and Jody Haynes

In addition to having Asperger syndrome, 20-year-old Katie Haynes has a long list of medical conditions, some very rare and serious — but that isn’t what is remarkable about Katie.

A talented, award-winning photographer, Katie also helps with the family business of rabbitry, raising and showing both pedigreed and pet rabbit varieties. Still not the most remarkable thing about Katie Haynes.

What may be most remarkable about Katie, a Wake Electric member in Wake Forest, is her attitude and her desire to lessen the physical and emotional pain of others like her.

“I was blessed to be given a condition called Asperger syndrome, which is like a mild form of autism,” she writes on her Facebook page. “It means I don’t interact properly in certain social situations. I may have been bullied a lot, but I see beauty in my Asperger’s.”

Five years ago, Katie launched an organization named Smiling While Sending Hope (facebook. com/SmilingWhileSendingHope). Her mission is to bring smiles to others who have Asperger’s or other big health challenges in their lives. Through the program, Katie organizes toy drives, distributes care packages for hospitalized children, and plans holiday parties and back-toschool bashes for them. Katie wants to provide hope and happiness to those she encounters and share her story, to show these children they are not alone.

Katie also uses social media to share articles and stories about scientific breakthroughs, businesses that make accommodations for those with autism and other cognitive disorders, and even articles about dealing with bullying, something Katie has experienced. In addition, she brings awareness to Asperger’s and other chronic children’s illnesses through workshops and presentations.

Katie shares her own medical story on her Facebook page, “Katie’s Brave Medical Journey.” She posts about going for tests and treatments for her many chronic illnesses that include postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The long list is mind-boggling to read. With an upbeat voice, she writes about her experiences as she deals with her medical conditions, shares her triumphs, and frankly educates her readers about her challenges.

Katie, through her programs, gives away hundreds of care packets including Vogmasks®, reusable face masks that come in fashionable colors and patterns. She has organized a prom dress donation drive for Joy Prom (a full-scale prom night for special needs individuals). In addition, Katie visits young patients in hospitals and in their homes to let them know, “there is someone else out there who cares.”

A patient ambassador for Duke Children’s Hospital, Katie is featured in its fundraising campaigns. You may have even seen the life-sized cardboard cutouts of Katie in your local Walmart store. There are 15 of the cutouts across the state used in Walmart’s campaign to help raise money for Duke Children’s Hospital.

In 2019, Katie was named a “Hero for Life” by the Me Fine Foundation in recognition of her volunteer work. This organization helps families with medical finances whose children are patients at Duke Children’s Medical Center, UNC Children’s Hospital, and WakeMed Children’s Hospital.

What does Katie see for her future? She hopes to make Smiling While Sending Hope a nonprofit and continue to grow that organization. While attending college, Katie is studying photography and after graduation, hopes to fulfill a dream of becoming a photographer for Disney or NASCAR.

Donna Campbell Smith is a Carolina Country contributing writer who lives in Franklin County.

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Upgrade Your Garage Transform it to make room for additional activities

By Kathy Ziprik

With so many people socially distancing by staying at home, a popular home improvement project is creating usable space in a garage for additional activities.

Once the garage and any mess are under control, your garage’s extra space can serve as a home office, work out area, child’s mini-classroom or even an “after five getaway.”

When you rethink your garage, focus on making this home space work harder for you and your family. Invest your time and efforts now and you’ll have extra space for years to come.

Fueling the transformation A top-to-bottom revamping of a garage begins with decluttering and discarding everything from old toys to broken tools. As an example, discard dirty, leaky fuel containers that are a safety risk to your family. Replace them with clean, durable containers. Ones available on the market include Scepter™ SmartControl™ gas, diesel and kerosene containers. Made of high-density polyethylene, the containers feature a push spout, designed for fast fills without spills, and include a child safety lock and flame mitigation device.

On the walls Once you’ve discarded items and approved others to stay, think about how best to store them to create additional floor space for non-garage activities. Look to your walls for help — you can add in all-purpose cabinets, slatwall and shelving to organize remaining items. Also, you can maximize space by adding heavyduty racks and lifts in the ceiling.

On the floor If your garage floor is stained and ugly, consider covering it with a durable coating. For example, the DaiHard® 100 Industrial Strength Epoxy Floor Coating Kit provides resistance to water, chemicals and oil stains. Add to the overall look of your finished floor and make it more slip-resistant by sprinkling decorative vinyl flakes onto the wet surface.

Closing it up The transformation may mean changing your garage door. Ask yourself: Is its functionality still good? Does it allow enough light into the garage while still retaining your privacy? Consider an all-glass option featuring privacy insulated glass or a carriage house style. You can see a variety of energy efficient garage doors and visually “try on” styles of garage doors on your home at several garage door websites, including haascreate.com.

As an added bonus, think about the return on investment a new garage door would bring. According to the 2020 Cost Versus Value Study (bit.ly/costvaluestudy), a garage door replacement returns a whopping 94.5 percent of the investment cost for a homeowner who lives in the South Atlantic region, which includes North Carolina.

Kathy Ziprik owns Ziprik Consulting in Henderson County, and specializes in the building products industry.

Haas Door

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Chambers Mountain

Fall Road Trip! 4 tips for taking a safe travel escape After months spent indoors at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s clear that many people want a vacation. As families continue to track developments of the pandemic, many are opting for regional travel experiences this fall.

If you feel uncomfortable going far from your home, traveling domestically in North Carolina or to a nearby state can be a step in the right direction. Here are a few tips to help ensure you have a safe experience.

DIY cleaning Major hotel chains have special cleaning protocols in light of the coronavirus. You can also seek out accommodations where you don’t have to worry about someone else coming into your space during your stay. For example, rent a vacation cabin, condo or house. Bring your own wipes and anti-bacterial soap and wipe down surfaces when you arrive, and as often as needed. Some folks prefer to bring their own bedding, including pillows, as well. At any rate, always check with your accommodation provider about their hygiene standards to make sure they meet your expectations. Beating the crowds From beach houses to Piedmont destinations to mountain cabins, look for a location away from densely populated cities. For some, a road trip to a state park or quaint, small town might provide just the right combination of taking in the fall scenery while limiting contact with others. You can also stay at one of North Carolina’s more remote beach towns or plan for a hike or two in the piedmont or off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Handling meals You may feel safest cooking your own food. If so, buy a few special treats in keeping with your “on vacation” spirit. Don’t want to cook? Order takeout and sanitize your hands, face and the credit or debit card you used after picking up your food. Also, you can order food delivery through websites such as Grubhub, ChowNow and DoorDash. If you want to dine out, check the current policies of restaurants you are considering regarding spacing and sanitation measures.

Ensure flexibility The world moves quickly, so ensure that your travel plans can move or change with it. When you are booking your accommodations, it’s important to compare deals with free cancellations. Websites such as trivago.com provide visibility into flexible choices, indicating whether each deal in the search findings allows for free cancellation.

As you make your plans, remember that states and jurisdictions are following different health guidelines and may be at different stages of reopening so do your research. Then, most importantly, have fun!

Energy Savings Plan for Your Family

There are several easy ways you and your family can save energy at home! Tear out this page, assign each task, and then place it on your fridge so your family can work together to save energy and money.

WAY TO SAVE ENERGY ASSIGNED TO

Turn off lights in empty rooms.

Replace any incandescent and/or CFL bulbs with LED bulbs.

Turn off electronics that aren’t in use (TVs, gaming consoles, etc.).

Unplug phone chargers that aren’t in use.

Turn off ceiling fans in empty rooms.

Set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.

Once a week, make a meal that doesn’t require cooking in the kitchen. (Make PB&Js or grill outside.)

Make sure all doors and windows are closed when the air conditioner or heater is running.

Bread, Pasta: They’re Back! Comfort food consumption is on the rise As families spend more time at home, Americans are finding pleasure in a surprising source: bread and pasta.

The avoidance of carbohydrates has eased and a 20-year specific trend of declining grain food consumption has reversed. A national study by the Grain Food Foundation suggests that the turnaround is more than a one-time sales blip due to pantry loading. The study revealed one-third of Americans named pasta and bread as foods that are comforting during a stressful time.

In addition to the comforting flavor, this trend provides valuable health benefits. Bread and pasta are nutritionist approved and provide nutrients for healthy aging such as B vitamins, magnesium, selenium, iron, folate and fiber.

“For years, we’ve been telling consumers that grain foods are the foods we love that love us back,” said Christine Cochran, executive director of the Grain Foods Foundation. The highest-ranking comfort foods were ice cream; baked goods like cakes, cookies and pastries; salty snacks; candy; and fast food.

However, when asked to identify comfort foods with nutritional advantages, consumers named bread and pasta as the top two. To learn more grain foods as part of a healthful diet, visit grainfoodsfoundation.org.

—FamilyFeatures.com

Cheesy Black Bean Toast With pico de gallo 6 Roma tomatoes, diced ½ medium onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, finely minced 2 serrano or jalapeno peppers, finely chopped 3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped 1 lime, juice only ¹/₈ teaspoon oregano, finely crushed ¹/₈ teaspoon salt (optional) ¹/₈ teaspoon pepper ½ Hass avocado, diced 4 bolillos (6 inches) or large Kaiser rolls, sliced in half lengthwise 1 can (16 ounces) seasoned low-fat refried black beans 2 cups shredded Chihuahua or mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In medium mixing bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, peppers, cilantro, lime juice, oregano, salt (if desired), pepper and avocado. Set aside. Rotini with Sausage and Mushrooms 1 box (13¼ ounces) whole-grain rotini 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil 1 pound chicken sausage, sliced 1 cup leeks, thinly sliced 1 cup green onions, thinly sliced 2 cups mushrooms, sliced 1 cup chicken stock ¼ cup parsley chopped 6 leaves from tarragon sprigs, chopped 1 cup Romano cheese grated

Parmesan-Romano cheese (optional)

Prepare rotini using package directions. Drain and transfer to large bowl.

In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook sausage 2–3 minutes, or until well browned. Add leeks, onions and mushrooms; cook until tender. Add chicken stock and simmer 3–5 minutes, or until hot. Fold sausage mixture into warm pasta. Add parsley, tarragon and Romano cheese; toss again. Top with Parmesan-Romano cheese, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings

On medium platter, split rolls. With medium spatula, spread refried beans onto each bread half; sprinkle cheese among bread.

Bake 5–8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and hot.

More Cooking, More Convenience (and Savings) Finding efficiencies in the kitchen

By Jonathan Susser Q:Like many others, I got caught in a bit of a baking binge during the Safer at Home order. And now with the holidays coming up, how can I avoid higher energy bills if I’m using my oven so much?

A:Cooking and baking have certainly had their moments in the spotlight this year, and that should only continue as the weather gets colder and holidays approach. Fortunately, there is a menu of options to help you save time and money while in the kitchen.

Do you have a convection setting on your oven? Unlike a conventional oven, convection ovens/settings use a fan and an exhaust system to move hot air around the interior of the appliance. This feature helps heat food more evenly and evaporate moisture more quickly. Not all foods benefit from convection, but it can be useful for roasting, toasting or dehydrating, baking pies or pastries and making trays of your family’s favorite cookies (yum).

Convection ovens are less energy intensive than conventional ovens and can produce energy savings for two reasons: 1) your food will cook faster (about 25 percent faster) and 2) you’ll be able to set the oven to a lower temperature (typically, you’ll want to subtract 25 degrees Fahrenheit from a recipe that calls for a conventional oven; your oven may even do this for you).

If you don’t have a convection setting and aren’t in the market for a new oven, do not fear. There are other steps you can take. One is to cook multiple meals/items in your oven at the same time, which will reduce how much it runs overall. While it may take 10 to 15 percent longer to bake several dishes at once, it will be far less time and hassle than baking them separately.

If using this technique with a convection oven, make sure there is enough space for the hot air to circulate and that the fan isn’t blocked. Trays and pans with lower sides are a safer bet for those browned and crispy finishes.

Smaller cooking appliances, such as toaster ovens, can also be swapped in to lend support where feasible. Nowadays these can do much more than just make toast; they can roast vegetables or meat, cook pizza, reheat leftovers and more. They also use less energy and may be easier on your back than your standard oven, and some have convection capabilities.

That reminds me: As tempting as it may be to open the oven door to heat your home or kitchen, let your wholehouse heating system do that job and minimize injuries, hazards and possible poor air quality.

And here’s one final thing to keep in mind, particularly for the holidays: food waste. We waste a lot of food over Thanksgiving — as a country, on the order of 170 million pounds of turkey, 30 million pounds of stuffing and 40 million pounds of mashed potatoes. All this waste hurts our wallets and the environment.

This year, aim to stay on top of your portions by gauging how much food you’ll need based on your guest count. And compost, share or freeze any extras when you can!

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