2021-07-PEMC

INSIDE COVER RIVERSTREET NETWORKS UPDATE | CENTER PIEDMONT ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER

JULY 2021

Stepping Forward into the Digital Future

INSIDE COVER Affordable, reliable internet service is becoming a reality.

INSIDE BACK COVER Keep spreading the news!

BACK COVER

PERIODICAL

Affordable, reliable internet available now!

www.pemc.coop | 800.222.3107

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Affordable, reliable internet service is becoming a reality We’re happy to announce that affordable, reliable internet service is now available in Person County through RiverStreet Networks! This could not have been accomplished without Person County’s efforts to develop a network solution with the buildout of communication towers.

We recognize that many homes, businesses and farms in our service area do not have access to affordable, reliable internet, which is why your cooperative has joined forces with RiverStreet Networks on this broadband program.

While there is still more work to be done in other communities, we are excited to start seeing members in Person County take advantage of this service to connect with faraway relatives, learn and work from home, conduct telemedicine appointments, grow their businesses and more.

This progress brings us one step closer to our goal of closing the digital divide for our community. Keep reading to learn more about how to sign up and what to do if you are not in Person County.

How to sign up - no contracts, no commitment Check out the map on the back cover to see the areas within Person County that are potentially available for service. You can also visit join.buildpiedmont.com to enter your address within Person County to see if the service is currently available to you. There is no commitment on your part when entering in your address and information.

For all the latest updates on our program, be sure to check pemc.coop/rn regularly so you stay in the know.

Help bring service to new areas Interest is a large factor in determining whether RiverStreet will be able to serve parts of our community. If service is now available in your area, sign up and make sure to let your friends and family in other locations know about your experience so they can express interest for their own area.

As a result, they could help determine the next area to get access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service.

What if I am not in Person County?

Your area could be next! Turn to the back inside cover of this issue to learn more about how to show your interest in bringing high-speed internet to your neighborhood.

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July 2021

The magazine of

Internet interest needed. Visit join.buildpiedmont.com

today!

Crunch Time at the Demolition Derby page 10

Published by

White Rock Farms gets new tech page 8

Electric vehicle road trip! page 28

PERIODICAL

Piedmont Electric’s “bundle and save” initiative to save you money —p ages 17–20 July covers.indd 16

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NORTH CAROLINA

PARKS AND TRAILS FOR HEALTH

Get on the PATH to health and wellbeing at N.C. parks, museums and historic sites.

pathnc.com Sign-up to recieve our newsletter, full of great outdoor opportunies.

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Volume 53, No. 7

14

10

Favorites 4 From Our Readers 6 Viewpoints 8 More Power 22 On the House 26 NC Outdoors 28 Adventures 30 Carolina Calendar 31 Marketplace 32 Carolina Kitchen 34 Where is This?

34 Carolina Music

24

10 14 24

Crunch Time

Demolition derbies are back after a quiet year in arenas.

Taking a Lap Among the Pines The Occoneechee Speedway lives on through historic preservation.

Bringing Life to ‘The Carolina Kid’

Car enthusiast Wesley Furr recently realized a childhood dream.

On the Cover Ricky Kimmel of Forsyth County has been competing in demolition derbies since he was 16. Learn more about the allure of smashing cars into each other without “getting in trouble” on page 10. Photo by Randy Berger Photography.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

What’s Cooking in Your Kitchen?

We are always on the lookout for great recipes from our readers. And we put our money where our mouth is, offering $25 for those published. See page 33 for details.

July 2021 | 3

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THIS MONTH:

NC Motorsports When it comes to motorsports in North Carolina, most would think NASCAR, and rightfully so—stock car racing is our Official State Sport, with roots primarily in NC (we give a nod to an early dirt track on page 14).

But another motorsport draws fans to arenas across the state, often billed as main events at county fairs: demolition derbies. Learn more about derbies, and meet a few drivers, on page 10. Also, don’t miss the first in our electric vehicle adventures series on page 28.

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 53, No. 7

Published monthly by

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950 Warren Kessler Publications Director Scott Gates, CCC Editor Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor

—Scott Gates, editor

Tara Verna Creative Director

From Our Readers Back Issue Bonanza So glad to see recipes from the archives (“Kitchen Corner,” now in each issue’s Carolina Kitchen section). I would love it if the recipe for Black Walnut Jiffy Cake could be published again. The recipe was in one of the fall/winter 1970/1971 issues. I was a newlywed at the time and this cake became an instant hit at our home. However, over the years I lost the original recipe.

Brenda Baker, Carthage, A member of Randolph EMC

I am interested in getting some back issues of Carolina Country Magazine. I am looking for issues from 1992 and 1993. Do you have any issues this far back?

Bob Herring, Raleigh, A member of Wake Electric Editor’s Note: Good news for Brenda, Bob and any others interested in our

archives: All issues of Carolina Country and our predecessor, Carolina Farmer, are now online! We’re talking all the way back to 1946, thanks to the efforts of the Wilson Library at UNC Chapel Hill. You can access back issues here: carolinacountry.com/archives

Phyllis Melton, Thomasville A member of EnergyUnited

Glenn Poplin

Say it Like a Mountaineer Of all the wrong pronunciations I have heard (May 2021, “Say it Like a Tar Heel,” page 24), the one that bugs me the most is when people say Ap·pa·LAY·chian Mountains. It should be Ap·pa·LAT·CHians. I was born and raised in them.

Karen Olson House Contributing Editor

Let’s see some celebrations!

This Fourth of July holiday is shaping up a lot differently than last year, when the pandemic caused many public events to be canceled. We’d love to see what’s going on around the state, so share photos of your own celebrations on social media and tag them with #acarolinacountry4th.

Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@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 memberowned, 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.

Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year.

Schools, libraries, $6.

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

Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. 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, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950.

All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

Contact us Phone: 919-875-3091 Mail:

3400 Sumner Blvd.

Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Web:

carolinacountry.com

Email:

editor@carolinacountry.com

Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to 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.

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Viewpoints

Understanding and Preparing for Cyber Threats

By Brian Burnett

The cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline in May resulted in gasoline shortages that affected North Carolinians and others in our region in a very real way.

The incident brought high-profile attention to cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s energy infrastructure.

Cybersecurity has long been a top priority for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, including the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC), one of the largest generation and transmission electric co-ops in the nation. We take cybersecurity very seriously, and maintain a proactive philosophy in defense and response.

The technical environments used at NCEMC are divided into two different areas: Business Information Technology and Operational Technology. These two areas serve two very differThreats change every ent functions.

The Business IT area day, and a successful supports what most people program must be are familiar with for a normal business to function: the techmonitored, reviewed nology that supports areas and updated on like human resources, finance, training and email communicaan ongoing basis. tions. Each of these areas uses computers and networks that need to be protected from cyberattacks, such as threats from phishing attempts, ransomware and other malware.

An attack on the business environment — which is what happened in the case of the Colonial Pipeline — can impact day-to-day operations and delivery of service, both internally and externally.

The Operational Technology area is what manages, monitors and operates the power generation, distribution and overall management of the power we all rely on. The technology that covers this area is very specialized and is set up a lot differently than a Business IT environment.

However, this technology needs defense to ensure power service is not interrupted. Policymakers typically address the Operational Technology side when discussing cybersecurity — in fact, there is

currently a national 100-day initiative in place to improve cybersecurity across the U.S. power grid.

When it comes to looking at potential cyber­ attacks, NCEMC maintains the philosophy of “not if, but when” to be prepared for any scenario. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely secure any environment that is talking to the outside world via an internet connection, whether a personal connection at home or a business system. The approach must be that of robust, proactive defense, as well as a strong and regularly practiced response plan.

In following best practices, NCEMC has continued to build on the foundation of our cybersecurity program, focusing on improving response capabilities as well as updating policies and procedures, which also include considerations for any potential ransomware attack like the one that crippled the Colonial Pipeline. A critical part of developing a strong cybersecurity program is having the buy-in and support of senior leadership, which in many organizations is one of the biggest hurdles. Fortunately for NCEMC and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, senior leadership is truly invested in the support of cybersecurity programs and doing what is best to assure the best possible security for our organizations and our service to members.

Cybersecurity is not a one-and-done solution. It is not a matter of implementing tools and processes and then walking away. Threats change every day, and a successful program must be monitored, reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are committed to meeting that requirement, and dedicated to providing secure, reliable service to the communities we serve.

Brian Burnett is the manager of Cybersecurity for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

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More Power

White Rock Farms Receives Funds to Improve Efficiency, Reduce Emissions Pee Dee Electric partners to bring new tech to livestock farm Through a partnership with Wadesboro-based Pee Dee Electric and North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, White Rock Farms has received a $25,000 grant from the Beneficial Electrification League, an innovation-focused national collaborative. White Rock Farms, a livestock farm in Anson County, consists of hog facilities, chicken houses and a Jersey dairy.

“White Rock Farms will save on diesel fuel, have less downtime and more productivity.“ The grant will deploy industryleading electric technology to save money for the farm and reduce emissions, while also making the electric grid more robust and serving as a test case for future projects nationwide.

“It is very rewarding for Pee Dee Electric to assist White Rock Farms in obtaining this grant, which provides an affordable and environmentally friendly solution to a need they had at their farm,” said Pee Dee Electric CEO and Executive Vice President Donnie Spivey. “This project also stands to demonstrate how this emerging technology is not only viable but a winning solution for all involved.”

White Rock Farms will use the funds to convert an animal waste lagoon pumping system from a diesel engine to a large single-phase electric motor. The single-phase motor will provide a more affordable electrification option than the typical three-phase power used to manage livestock wastes. By utilizing a 60 horsepower single-phase motor and pump combination, the motor will operate more cleanly and efficiently and will require less maintenance.

“If you live in an area served by a single-phase distribution system and you need a big motor, you have limited options: Bring in three-phase power, which can be cost prohibitive, use a phase converter or bring in a diesel engine to do the work,” said Jim Musilek, director of Innovation and Business Development for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “This new option — using a large-horsepower single-phase electric motor — is a game changer, and in this case it’s a winner for everyone involved. White Rock Farms will save on diesel fuel, have less downtime and more productivity.

Local emissions will be virtually

eliminated, and Pee Dee Electric and North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives will be able to demonstrate that this technology is a viable option.”

White Rock Farms is one of five organizations across the country to receive part of $100,000 in funding offered through the Beneficial Electrification League (be-league.com), a nonprofit organization created by electric cooperatives that works to advance beneficial electrification through smart policies, best practices, technological education and business model innovation. Diane Huis, senior vice president, Innovation and Business Development for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, serves on its advisory board.

“Not only will the new pump allow for cost savings, but it will also be another step towards the goal of being carbon neutral or better,” said Roddy Purser of White Rock Farms.

“We want to utilize new technologies like this so our farm can be a model for future farmers who are looking to integrate similar practices.”

— Cathy Page, Pee Dee Electric

What is ‘beneficial electrification’?

Beneficial electrification is the transition to using electric power in place of fossil fuels, providing a wide range of benefits from improved energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions to cost savings and increased productivity. As technology advances, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, including Pee Dee Electric, are exploring opportunities to electrify devices, equipment and processes and make them more efficient, smarter and cheaper.

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Electric Vehicle Q&A Our recent coverage of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging options has generated a few questions from readers. Here are some answers, from industry experts.

Q: A:

How quickly are we adding EV charging stations?

The electric cooperative’s charging network across North Carolina has been steadily growing since 2016, with more than 100 charging ports available across the state. Last year, 20 charging stations (typically with one or two ports) were added, and this year we’re on track to install a similar number. Including co-op chargers and others in the state, there are currently more than 2,000 public charging ports in North Carolina, according to Advanced Energy. (Learn about chargers at hot spots on the coast on page 28.)

As for national numbers, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is tracking trends. During the first three months of 2020, individual EV charging outlets and charging stations grew 7.6%, according to NREL.

Q: A:

How many EVs are in North Carolina?

North Carolina is currently home to about 26,500 EVs, and that number is primed to take off as new models and vehicle types are introduced, according to Advanced Energy’s Jacob Bolin. In the pickup market, Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Tesla’s Cybertruck and newcomer Rivian’s R1T are all expected to arrive soon.

Q: A:

EV batteries contain minerals like cobalt and lithium. What is being done to ensure they’re sustainable?

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives often work with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in researching and developing new technology in our industry.

As EPRI puts it, “there is a push to take cost, complexity, and consequences out of the entire battery supply chain while maintaining the power, energy and lifespan (cost) required by an automotive-grade electric vehicle battery.”

EPRI is also researching strategies to address the removal, disposal and recycling of the type of lithium ion batteries used in EVs. July 2021 | 9

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Crunch e m i T

Demolition derbies are back after a quiet year in arenas

By Thomas Pope | Photos by Randy Berger Photography unless otherwise indicated

Ricky Kimmel says the most he’s ever put into a car is $1,500.“I drug one out of the field just the other day to start working on it.”

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e

The appeal of demolition derbies for racers is likely what inspired Ricky Kimmel to “probably a coupla hundred” victories over the past 40 years.

“You can run into somebody and not get in trouble for it,” says the racer from Stanleyville, an unincorporated community in Forsyth County.

The same primal pull is probably true for spectators who pack grandstands across North Carolina. From the mountains to the coast, watching cars being pounded to smithereens is a strong drawing card. The action is most prevalent in the fall, which coincides with dozens of county carnivals, as well as the North Carolina State Fair.

“When they drop the green flag, it’s hammer down,” says Jimmy Brown, a demo derby veteran from Clemmons.

“If you ain’t ever drove one, it’s the biggest rush a man will ever get.”

Derby-ready junkers

Drawing a crowd

A strong local contingent is key to making a show a success because friends and family are an incentive for the competitors, Billy explains, whose outfit is based in Cleveland County. Those folks, of course, are the ones buying tickets that help fund the purse.

Eric Hylton Photography.

There’s nothing very complicated about a demo-derby car. It often starts out as a high-mileage vehicle dragged out of a junkyard or purchased from a dealer who knows it won’t sell. They come in all shapes and sizes, from fourto eight-cylinder entries, to mini-vans and SUVs. Some competitors prefer big, durable junkers known as “old iron” — pre-1980s Cadillacs, Oldsmobiles, etc. — to the Detroit offerings that replaced them, or “80s-up” cars.

What does it take to convert a street-legal machine into a car that’ll withstand a lickin’ and keep on tickin’?

It depends on how much a competitor is willing to spend on something he or she is going to tear up. Ricky says the most he’s ever put into a car is $1,500.

All the glass is removed, as are the interior components (save the driver’s seat, obviously) and dashboard. Ricky prefers to install new timing chains, distributor caps, rotor buttons and spark-plug wires to ensure performance come showtime.

He and Jimmy Brown, both of whom are derby regulars at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, say they can have a car ready in just one week’s time.

“I drug one out of the field just the other day to start working on it,” says Ricky, whose daughters Kayla and Kelsey have also participated in derby action.

In many cases, the prize money is paltry enough that it discourages significant auto upgrades by the entrants.

But the rules differ depending on the promoter who has booked the show, and as is usually the case, the more money that’s at stake, the more racers are willing to spend — and tempted to stretch the rules. A hefty winner’s purse in the Carolinas can go as high as $5,000, according to Billy Monroe, the co-owner of Carolina Derby Promotions.

“You can take anything and do halfway decent,” said Lumberton’s Larry Allen, a member of Lumbee River EMC. Larry is a retired derby competitor who, with a dedicated group of friends, helped boost the count at his hometown county fair from four cars to 44. “You just need a smart head. Just go have fun and try not to kill somebody.”

“When they drop the green flag, it’s hammer down.”

—Jimmy Brown July 2021 | 11

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Get in on the action

Many demolition derbies were canceled or postponed during the peak of the pandemic, but venues are getting events on the calendar once more. Here are a few upcoming demolition derbies around the state. Check with each venue to confirm dates and times.

I started tearing into stuff.

I loved it.”

—Ricky Kimmel “I think just being in front of everybody is a kick for these guys,” Billy says.

His group holds events in Shelby; Gastonia; Statesville; Lancaster, South Carolina; Wytheville, Virginia; and other small towns. “It’s drawn big crowds in Shelby since the mid-80s. It’s one of those things that everybody’s just enjoyed going to year after year.”

“The biggest thing is to have a set of rules and go by them,” he continues. “If it’s wrong, it’s wrong, and you’ve got to make them fix it or not let them run.”

“If you’ve got to cheat to win,” Jimmy opines, “you ain’t won.”

Demolition derbies were virtually non-existent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on large public gatherings. That was only the second year the 58-year-old Ricky hasn’t raced; the other, 2009 when he underwent chemotherapy and surgery because of cancer.

“They took out 12 to 14 inches of my colon,” Ricky said. “I like to tell people I relate it to racing: They took out two curves and a straightaway.”

When Ricky made his derby debut at age 16, he was so nervous that he couldn’t steady himself to climb in the car. People “had to pick me up and put me in the window so I could slide in,” he remembers.

“I had chickened out three or four times before that, and my dad would end up driving the car I’d built. Finally, he’s like: ‘I’m not doing it anymore.

If you don’t run tonight, it’ll just sit here in the pits.’ As soon as the green flag dropped, all the nervousness went away and I started tearing into stuff. I loved it.”

The Farm at Uwharrie July 2, Troy bit.ly/fb-thefarm Bowman Gray Stadium July 17 & Aug. 7 (8 p.m.), Winston-Salem bowmangrayracing.com Alleghany County Demolition Derby Aug. 21, Sparta bit.ly/lasr-demo Iredell County Agricultural Fair Sept. 4 & 11 (7 p.m.), Troutman iredellcountyfair.org Carolina Classic Fair Oct. 1–2, 7–8 (7:30 p.m.), Winston-Salem carolinaclassicfair.com Hickory Motor Speedway Oct. 2 (7 p.m.), Newton hickorymotorspeedway.com Cleveland County Fair Oct. 2 & 9, Shelby clevelandcountyfair.com Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair Oct. 9 (1 p.m.), Goldsboro waynefair.com North Carolina State Fair Oct. 22–23 (7:30 p.m.), Oct. 24 (2:30 p.m.), Raleigh ncstatefair.org

Thomas Pope is former sports editor for The Fayetteville Observer, where he received several awards over more than 40 years covering motorsports. He is co-author of three NASCAR-related books and is currently a senior editor for Speedway Illustrated magazine.

Above left: Ricky won these trophies 19 years apart. The smaller one came from a demolition derby held at the end of May in which he took first place.

Ricky often gives his trophies away to kids watching in the stands.

carolinacountry.com/extras Get behind the wheel at the NC State Fair for a bird’s eye view of this action-packed hobby.

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On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise.

Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

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ng a Lap i k Ta

Among the Pines

The Occoneechee Speedway lives on through historic preservation Photos and story by Anne Puetzer

G

rowing up in North Carolina, I’ve seen my fair share of NASCAR tracks. But this one was different.

The secluded Occoneechee Speedway, tucked in a cedar and pine forest along the Eno River, was an unplanned stop during a family day trip to Hillsborough. When the shady, tranquil walk brought us to an opening in a tall, rusty fence originally intended to keep unticketed on-lookers from catching a glimpse of a race, what we saw completely surprised us all. As we stared down at the dirt track my family reacted: “Wow!” “That looks fun!”

And most unexpected, from my teenage son: “Hey, cool! I’m pretty sure this is the race track from [Disney/Pixar’s] ‘Cars 3’!”

A rowdy past

As we sat in the grandstands (well, the younger children happily ran up and down pretending to serve us snacks from the old concession stand nearby) it was easy to imagine the roar of 10,000 fans, and cars racing past at speeds up to 90 mph in large clouds of dust. A few old cars stationed along the track further enthused my children, and again the conversation turned to the movie,

“Cars 3” (I’ll come back to that).

Occoneechee Speedway is one of NASCAR’s original tracks — and the only surviving dirt track from its inaugural 1949 season. Drivers raced 100 laps at its first race in 1949, and the track went on to host 31 additional NASCAR races. Richard Petty won the final race at this location on September 15, 1968. He drove a ’68 Plymouth 167 laps with an average speed of 87.6 mph, winning $1,600.

The Eno River is located only a few yards off the far side of the track, opposite the grandstands. A curve at the bottom of the track closely

follows a bend in the river. Standing on the bank we had to wonder: could a car spinning out of control end up in the river? Apparently, they did.

From track to trail

Named for the Occaneechi, a tribe of Native American Indians who lived near the location 300 years ago, the 0.9-mile track is seamlessly incorporated into other trails that run along the Eno River in Hillsborough.

The speedway was untouched for many years, but in the 1990s, volunteers from the Historic Speedway Group restored several of the

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Richard Petty won the final race at this location on Sept. 15, 1968. He drove a ’68 Plymouth 167 laps with an average speed of 87.6 mph, winning $1,600.

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The Occoneechee Speedway, 1949

buildings on site. On September 1, 2002, the Occoneechee Speedway trail opened to the public. It is currently under the care of the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust.

While many abandoned race tracks remain just that — abandoned — Hillsborough certainly has not forgotten its past. This track is now on the National Register of Historic Places, an honor given to only a handful of other racing venues.

On the screen

After our outing, we watched several videos of races at the Occoneechee Speedway. We were amazed at the transformation — my youngest children had a hard time believing it was the same racetrack.

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And much to my teenage son’s delight, he was on the right track, as they say. The fictional Thomasville Speedway, a dirt track in “Cars 3,” was inspired by a combination of both the Occoneechee Speedway and the North Wilkesboro dirt track.

And in paying further homage to our state’s racing roots, Junior Johnson, who raced often at the Occoneechee Speedway, voiced one of the movie’s main characters.

Writer and photographer Anne Puetzer, a member of Wake Electric, lives with her husband and their five children in Wake County.

Find the track

The raceway, not visible from any road, is a short ¼-mile walk from the parking area located at 320 Elizabeth Brady Road in Hillsborough.

Visit bit.ly/track-trail for more information, including hours (the site is closed after sunset).

carolinacountry.com/extras Watch some Occoneechee Speedway highlights from 1951.

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Connection

PIEDMONT ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION MEMBER NEWSLETTER | JULY 2021

Meet our newest Piedmont Electric board member As a locally owned and operated co-op, our board of directors is made up of members just like you! Because we’re run by people who live and work in our communities and who understand our local values, you can be sure our members’ best interest is always our priority. We’d like to introduce the newest Piedmont Electric board director, V. Kay Scurlock-Ferguson.

Kay Ferguson is a member of the Saint Mary’s Community in Hillsborough. She is the associate pastor of Lipscomb Grove Church. She graduated from Orange High School, NC A&T State University (with a degree in business) and received a master’s degree from North Carolina Central University. Reverend Ferguson has been affiliated with Piedmont Electric for 30 years. Employment with Orange County, Durham City and Piedmont Community College provided 30 years of experience in budgeting, personnel management, oversight and policy enforcement. Kay served on the nominating committee of Piedmont Electric. She is married to John Ferguson.

IMPORTANT DATES

July

A peak demand month As temperatures rise, so does energy use.

Be mindful to conserve energy where you can during hot weekday hours from 1-6 p.m.

July 4 Independence Day Piedmont Electric offices will be closed on July 5 and employees will be on call.

18 New look 19 Better together 20 Update on new meters

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:

RiverStreet Networks broadband service is now available in Person County!

See the cover on this month’s Carolina Country magazine for more information or visit pemc.coop/RN.

Board members are elected by the membership each spring through an online and mail-in voting process. This past April, Kay was elected by the members to the District 8 director seat.

JULY 2021

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PIEDMONT ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

New look,

same member-first service Starting in August, you might notice things look a little different as you are browsing our website, receiving your bill or checking your email. We’re introducing an updated logo, but don’t worry; we’re still the same cooperative you know and love!

Why the change?

We wanted to make sure our name and logo aligned with how our members see their co-op. So, before we decided to make any changes, we conducted focus groups with cooperative members to get feedback about our current branding and logo. Our top priority is to provide you, our members, with the best service possible. That’s why your responses played such a large role in our decisionmaking process.

Based on your feedback, we decided to update our logo and overall branding so that it feels more up-to-date and in line with how our members view their electric cooperative.

We’re proud to bring our members

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JULY 2021

cutting-edge technology, programs and equipment to help you save energy and money and our new branding will allow us to reflect that. We hope you enjoy the new look!

What’s different?

Looking at our updated logo, you’ll notice that we’ve adopted a shorter name, Piedmont Electric Cooperative. With a new, more modern font, we’ve elevated our brand to a new level that matches our service standards. We’re also incorporating a slightly updated color palette in our branding that you’ll notice in our print materials and on our website.

This refresh brings our cooperative a new look while remaining a recognizable brand within the community.

Th

What’s the same?

Everything else! You’ll still get the same great member-first service that you expect from our cooperative. All of our programs are staying the same and our goal of providing our members with affordable and reliable energy remains.

When you contact our office, you’ll continue to be greeted by our same friendly team and we’ll still be here to support you in all the same ways.

We may have a new look, but we’ll always be the Piedmont Electric that has served our community for decades.

This refresh brings our cooperative a new look while remaining a recognizable brand within the community.

6/9/21 4:12 PM

PIEDMONT ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION PIEDMONT ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

Better together The “bundle and save” concept isn’t just for insurance; it’s for your energy bill too!

The best way to save money on your bill this summer is to bundle our programs.

How does it work?

Here’s an example to help explain how bundling can help you save. First, sign up for our smart thermostat savings program* and load management program which help you lower your energy use with no extra effort on your part. Then sign up for a time-of-day rate so you pay even less when you use your HVAC and water heater during off-peak hours.

Not only will you save energy, but you can also receive bill credits and rebates depending on which programs you join.

The more you bundle, the more you save! Learn more about how to maximize your savings by visiting pemc.coop/bundle-and-save.

a ble

*Must have WiFi to participate in this program.

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PIEDMONT ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION

Update on our new meter rollout Last year, we announced that we’d be installing and testing new meters for a portion of our members, which are designed to help you make more informed energy decisions based on usage data.

We’re excited to announce that our initial rollout with the new meters has been successful and the members who have been part of the pilot program are enjoying the benefits of having new enhanced meters.

If everything continues to go as planned, we anticipate installing the new meters in more of our service area starting in October. Here’s what you need to know as we continue the rollout.

Benefits of the new meters The new meters provide you with information about your energy use throughout each day so that you can better understand how changes in your home impact your electric bill.

The new meter can also help you decide if signing up for one of our programs, like a time-of-day rate, can help you save in new ways by providing information on how and when you use energy.

Additionally, the meters aid the cooperative as a whole because they can help identify potential issues and spot outages before members even have time to report them. Simply put, these new meters will help us better serve you and give you more control of managing your energy use.

What are the next steps?

There’s nothing you need to do on your end to be included in the rollout. When it’s time for you to get your new meter, we’ll contact you by email and postcard to let you know when you can expect it to be installed. A door hanger will be left after your new meter is installed.

You won’t need to be at home during the installation or do anything to prepare, as long as we can access your meter.

However, if you prefer to be home when it’s installed, you can make an appointment for us to come out when it works best with your schedule. During the installation, there will be a brief power outage for a few minutes, but then everything will be back up and running as normal.

If you have questions about the new meters, please contact us at 800.222.3107 or info@pemc.coop.

PIEDMONT ELECTRIC CONNECTION Published monthly for the members of Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation Piedmont Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Hillsborough and Roxboro Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Caswell Office Hours: Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Report outages, make payments and access account information by phone 24-hours-a-day by calling 800.222.3107.

Voice instructions will direct you through the system.

2500 NC Highway 86 South PO Drawer 1179 Hillsborough, NC 27278

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Stephen B. Hamlin President & General Manager DIRECTORS Bill R. Barber, Chair Randy Kinley, Vice Chair Sam T. Woods, Secretary Richal Vanhook, Treasurer Steven P. Bailey, Stephen C. Long, V. Kay Scurlock-Ferguson, David Poythress, Elizabeth Townsend & Cyrus Vernon

IF YOUR POWER GOES OUT, CALL OR TEXT 800.222.3107 Opt in for text alerts by texting “pemc” to 800.222.3107. Once you’ve opted in, report an outage by texting “#out” to 800.222.3107 or "#status" for an update on your outage.

Our automated outage reporting system uses your phone number to determine your service location. Update the number connected to your account online through SmartHub, by completing the form on your monthly bill or by calling 800.222.3107.

Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for our system to recognize new cell phone numbers in the text outage alert program.

JULY 2021

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On the House

The Perks of BatteryPowered Boating Electric outboard motors are growing in popularity

By Jonathan Susser

Torqeedo offers some of the lightest electric outboard motors in their power class.

Q:

With gas prices on the rise recently — and the stress of finding gas during the shortage a couple of months ago — my family is looking to electrify more of our home gear. In particular, we’ve been considering an electric-powered fishing boat. What are our options here?

A:

Well, you’re definitely looking in the right direction. Two big advantages of batterypowered equipment are price stability and convenience. Electricity prices fluctuate less than gasoline (and they’re lower overall), and you can usually use any ol’ electrical outlet to plug in and charge up!

On top of these benefits, there’s typically less maintenance to worry about (thanks to there being fewer moving parts) and no gas or oil — and the associated storage and transportation — to deal with.

Electric technology isn’t new to boating; it has been used in some form for more than a century. Over the last few decades in particular, though, battery-powered trolling motors (those used more for maneuvering and positioning) have become commonplace.

Even more recently, electric outboard motors (those that give you additional oomph and are designed to be the primary power source of a boat) have been growing in popularity, with expanding options for johnboats (see page 26 for some johnboat basics), bass boats, dinghies, pontoons and the

like. Popular manufacturers include Torqeedo, Pure Watercraft, Minn Kota, Elco and ePropulsion.

Given their more rapid advancement in the market, we’ll focus mainly on electric outboards in this article, but a trolling motor may be sufficient to meet your needs.

So, first off, why are outboard motors getting the battery treatment?

In addition to the perks noted above, there are certain performance benefits. For example, you’ll get better torque and a quieter ride, so you’re less likely to scare off fish.

You’ll also have more lakes and reservoirs to explore. Some bodies of water don’t allow gas-powered boats to launch.

Downsides to electric outboard motors tend to be price and runtime, but these drawbacks should wash away as the technology continues to develop and become more available.

The purchase price of electric outboard motors is generally higher than similar gas-powered models (and batteries may be a separate expense); however, the smaller the motor, the more cost-competitive it will be. Also, as mentioned earlier,

you will save money over time thanks to the reduced maintenance and increased reliability.

When it comes to runtime, just like with battery-powered trolling motors, a few factors play a role — namely your speed and power consumption.

Most outboard models include a digital display that provides key metrics to keep you informed. You’ll likely be fine all day when gliding along at a leisurely pace. Turn up the throttle, though, and you might have to return to the dock a bit sooner than you would like.

One more note about sizing terminology: Electric outboard motors are usually rated in watts (W) and kilowatts (kW), not horsepower like conventional gas-powered outboards.

Therefore, manufacturers will often provide a horsepower equivalent for their products.

If you’re not quite ready to make the switch to an electric outboard motor, definitely keep it in mind for the future, and be on the lookout for electric-only fishing tournaments near you!

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

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Energy Sense

Smart Home Tech for Your Budget

Step into the future without breaking the bank

By Maria Kanevsky

Smart home devices can add comfort and convenience to your life, but the price tag for some of these devices can be another story. Luckily, there are several inexpensive options for smart home devices that won’t break the bank, while still offering nearly all the same benefits.

Smart home speakers provide a wide range of features such as the ability to play music, call friends or family or even locate a misplaced smartphone, and entry-level models can cost as little as $30. One of the most useful aspects of smart home speakers is that they act as a smart home hub for your other smart devices. When choosing a smart

home speaker, make sure your other smart devices are compatible with the system.

Smart plugs are plugged directly into an outlet. Then any device plugged into the smart plug becomes “smart,” and can connect to your Wi-Fi. One of the best features of a smart plug is that they can help you reduce your monthly energy use by programming automatic shut-off times to prevent devices from drawing energy when they’re not in use. There are plenty of inexpensive and well-performing smart plugs available under $20.

Smart light bulbs are among the cheapest and the easiest smart devices to install in your home. They can be

controlled through your phone or by voice if connected to your smart home speaker. Some interesting features include the ability to choose different lighting colors and shades, dimness levels and the ability to turn them on or off entirely, with prices ranging from about $8 to $20 per bulb.

With any smart home device, access to a secure and stable Wi-Fi connection will be crucial to using the technology properly.

Maria Kanevsky writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Visit carolinacountry.com/your-energy for more ideas on saving energy around your home.

Love Carolina Country? Don’t miss an issue!

Subscribe and get Carolina Country in your mailbox every month for just $1 an issue!

Co-op Members, check with your electric cooperative to find out if they offer complimentary subscriptions as a benefit of membership.

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July 2021 | 23

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6/9/21 1:09 PM

Carolina People

Donna Furr

Bringing Life to ‘The Carolina Kid’ Car enthusiast Wesley Furr recently realized a childhood dream

By Leah Chester-Davis rr Donna Fu

I

n the summer of 1974, teenager Wesley Furr settled in one evening at his parent’s home in Concord to watch the ABC Movie of the Week. The opening scene of “The California Kid” with stars Martin Sheen, Vic Morrow, Michelle Phillips, and Nick Nolte created high drama and tension. But it was the car, for which the movie was named, that most captured Wesley’s attention.

In the distance the car is headed toward the viewer. It is moving slowly through a town, the driver attempting to get the sheriff’s attention. The car, a 1934 Ford 3-window coupe hot rod, not only captured the sheriff’s attention, it drove straight into Wesley’s psyche and parked there for the next 45 years.

“The black car, red flames, the chrome coming right at you, very slow; it was the most important thing in the whole movie,” says Wesley. “I just kept watching scenes to see that car.”

It sent Wesley on a quest that, while started when he was a teen and then set aside, resumed a couple of years ago. It ended up becoming a project extraordinaire for this Union Power Cooperative member during the past year’s pandemic. It also brought many people and things in Wesley’s life full circle, giving him a satisfying sense of accomplishment and nostalgia.

Despite rebuilding a 1936 Ford as a teen with the help of his cousin, Tommy Carter, and even winning car shows with it, Wesley sold the car because it wasn’t the car of his dreams.

As Wesley re-watched the movie in 2019, he lamented to his wife, Donna, that he hadn’t pursued obtaining the 1934 Ford. With her encouragement, he

e

The engin

set out to find one.

When he secured the winning bid on e-Bay for one in California, he considered it a good omen. He had the car transported to his home in Concord.

“When I saw the car rolling off the transporter, I thought: California to Carolina. This car should be The Carolina Kid,” says Wesley.

While Wesley had not done the mechanical work on his earlier car, that didn’t dissuade him. He turned to YouTube and studied video after video on every aspect, be it mechanical issues such as re-wiring most of the car, or designing side hoods to cover an exposed engine and provide the siding on which to apply those eye-catching flames. He also figured out how to disassemble the engine to paint it a color to match a black and red car, and then reassembled it so that it would run.

“Each step takes months when you have to educate yourself before attempting to do the work you know very little about,” he explains.

When it came to redoing the inside

of the car, Wesley couldn’t help but think of his dad, Bobby Furr, who had owned an upholstery business.

“It gave me a good feeling to use his old tools to upholster the car, remembering him upholstering my ‘36 Ford 45 years ago,” he says.

Wesley even tracked down the owner of The California Kid to seek permission to copy the flames for what would become “The Carolina Kid.” “He not only said yes, but had his son photograph the flames for me.”

Using graphics software, Wesley created full-scale images then worked with another Union Power member, Mark Dyer of National Graphics Installations, to print and install them.

“When he put the name ‘The Carolina Kid’ on the door of the car, I was as happy as a kid with a birthday cake,” Wesley says. “And it only took 45 years to get there.”

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

carolinacountry.com/extras Watch Wesley and Mark, of National Graphics Installations, installing the iconic flames on The Carolina Kid.

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Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field.

Until now. Recently, an innovative design engineer who’s developed one of the world’s most popular products created a completely new breakthrough... a personal electric vehicle. It’s called the Zinger, and there is nothing out there quite like it.

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. © 2021 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

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7, or

NC Outdoors

Spend a Day on the Water Without owning a boat

Olivia Zlotnicki of Garner

By Mike Zlotnicki

It’s been said that the two happiest days of a boat owner’s life are the day one buys a boat, and the day one sells the boat. There’s probably some truth to that, but you don’t have to find out the hard way. There are ways to get on the water without taking on the highs (and lows) of boat ownership.

Within a few miles of you (give or take), there’s probably a facility — municipal park, state park or utility company — that has watercraft for rent on a daily basis. Many have small johnboats, 12 to 14 feet in length, and some also offer deep-cycling batteries and electric motors as well. So, for less than the price of a round of golf, you can spend a day on the water.

For instance, Lake Benson Park in Garner has a boathouse with rentals including kayaks and johnboats. They’re open on weekends from April to October. The lake is about 650 acres and has a variety of fish. Boat rentals are $8 per hour or $40 for a day. Over in Orange County, University Lake and Cane Creek Reservoir are operated by Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA). They also have seasonal rentals. Rates vary slightly depending upon if you are an OWASA customer, but at most a boat is $8 an hour and a motor and battery are $22 for the day.

They usually open for weekends at the end of March.

Rental tips Equipment for electric boats-only lakes is both standard and specialized. Standard because you probably have some of it on hand; specialized because space in the craft and afloat is limited (but not necessarily limiting).

These smaller craft typically lack storage space, so leave the

triple-decker tackle box at home.

A couple of small bags or boxes of seasonal lures should suffice, and it adds to the fun of scaling down.

Ditto for rods and reels. I like to pack three outfits, at least two of them spinning rigs.

When renting a boat (or using your own), you’re required to have a throwable flotation device like a seat cushion. Go ahead and bring an extra if you are renting, and two if you’re using your own boat. The extra 2 or 3 inches are a huge difference in comfort when sitting on the bench seats in a johnboat. Veterans often use commercially available seats that clamp onto the bench and have firm back support. The best seats will swivel, which allows for easier casting.

Careful, though — they can also slip if you lean too far back.

One of the best tools for fishing any lake, hands down, is a portable fish finder unit. The model I use has a suction cup transducer and uses D-cell batteries for power. It costs about $100 and is worth every penny.

Just as on any larger reservoir, having an idea of bottom contour, structure and depth allows for optimal lure choices and presentations.

The water awaits!

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.

S y

S th ch

A y fl o

In Memoriam Eddie Bridges of Greensboro, former wildlife commissioner and founder of the NC Wildlife Habitat Foundation, passed away on May 18 at the age of 87.

Among his honors include being selected as the state’s Conservationist of the Year in 1993, the national Conservationist of the Year in 2004, and the Field & Stream Conservation Hero of the Year in 2012. For his contributions to NC sportsmen and sportswomen, Eddie was inducted into the NC Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 with a class that included former NC A&T football coach Rod Broadway, former ACC commissioner Gene Corrigan, PGA player Davis Love III and NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Eddie accomplished many things in his career. His idea of lifetime hunting and fishing license sales, and the subsequent creation of the Wildlife Endowment Fund, was perhaps his greatest vision. The fund works by spending the accrued interest, not the principal, on programs and projects that benefit fish and wildlife. Since the fund’s inception, the Wildlife Commission has spent more than $50 million in interest on programs and projects.

Photo of Eddie reprinted with permission from the News & Record of Greensboro

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W s y a

6/10/21 2:07 PM

F u n ex a

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o o ca

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Stairlifts were introduced in the 1920s, and not much has changed since.

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Finally, a stairlift won’t keep up with you as your mobility needs change over time. For example, a stairlift can’t carry a walker or wheelchair.

THE MODERN SOLUTION

A Stiltz Homelift, on the other hand, is an affordable, modern home elevator that is so compact, it fits just about anywhere in your house.

It requires no special machine room, no supporting walls, and runs off a standard home electrical outlet.

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6/8/21 1:28 PM

Four County EMC

Advanced Energy

Carolina Adventures

Feel confident driving your EV to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, knowing that there’s a ChargePoint DC fast charger nearby.

EV charger available at the Mad Boar Restaurant & Pub

EV Adventure: Charging Up Along the Coast

By Jacob Bolin and Jonathan Susser

A

s the weather gets warmer, many of us have the beach on our minds. For drivers of electric vehicles (EVs), escaping to the North Carolina coast is becoming more convenient. Whether you’re planning a brief getaway or a longer road trip, you’ll find plenty of options to plug in thanks to expanding charging infrastructure from your local electric cooperatives and other groups and businesses.

Quick bite, fast charge If you’re heading to Wilmington along I-40, how about a stop for lunch off Exit 385 at the Mad Boar Restaurant & Pub in Wallace? A fan favorite, Mad Boar (madboar.com) hosts several DC fast chargers that offer the perfect opportunity to charge up while you eat or listen to live music. For Teslas, you’ll find eight Supercharger stalls, and for other EVs, there’s a ChargePoint station provided by Four County EMC. “The electric vehicle charging stations located next to our Mad Boar restaurant have proven beneficial on so many levels,” says Mills Bryant, assistant director of hospitality. “Because we’re located right along Interstate-40, it’s the perfect stopping point for travelers headed to the nearby North and South Carolina beaches — or to any East Coast destination, for that matter.

It’s awesome to see the charging stations full, and many of our customers tell us they schedule their travel and electric vehicle charging around a stop at Mad Boar!”

Recharge and recover How would you like to wake up full of energy? With an EV, you can do just that (with a battery, of course). Level 2 charging is a great amenity for hotels and lodging establishments, letting your EV sip electrons overnight as you rest and dream about the day ahead.

When you’re journeying to North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, the Atlantis Lodge (atlantislodge.com) has you covered with two stations available for guests (your dog will love the venue, too). In North Topsail Beach, Hampton Inn Sneads Ferry (bit.ly/hilton-sf) has a publicly accessible charging station thanks to Jones-Onslow EMC. Catching waves, fish and a plug Halfway down Hatteras Island, you’ll find a ChargePoint DC fast charger.

Installed by Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative in 2019, this central location by the Avon Fishing Pier (bit.ly/avon-pier) puts you within walking distance of the water. You should have time to fit in a stroll or a round of mini-golf while your EV replenishes. Because it’s a fast charger, remember to move your car when it’s done to let others take advantage.

If you’re seeking more adventure, hop across the street to Hatteras Island Boardsports (hiboardsports.com), where you can rent a paddleboard, kayak or surfboard. And while you’re in the area, don’t miss Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (bit.ly/CHlighthouse), the tallest lighthouse in North America!

“We have drivers coming from all over the country,” says Laura Ertle, director of public relations and marketing at Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative. “We’ve also seen an increase in the variety of vehicles that are charging. When we first brought the chargers online, it was mostly Chevy Bolts and Teslas, but now we’re seeing everything from hybrid minivans to high-end, all-electric vehicles from Audi, Porsche and BMW.” Admirers of Ocean Isle, Holden Beach and Emerald Isle shouldn’t feel left out, either. Brunswick Electric and Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative have installed Level 2 stations just minutes from the beach. With so much to see and explore, the time will fly by while your EV picks up a full charge.

Jacob Bolin and Jonathan Susser work for Advanced Energy, the Raleigh-based nonprofit energy consulting firm.

More EV adventures Over the coming months, we’ll continue to explore the growing charging network from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives — stay tuned for EV-friendly destinations in central and western North Carolina. Visit ncdriveelectric.com to learn more about EVs.

28 | carolinacountry.com

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Carolina Calendar

Eric & Addie Variety of traditional music July 31, Spruce Pine Know Before You Go

ArtWalk Art demos, live music July 2, Elizabeth City

Check information from the contacts listed for the most up-todate information. We strive for accuracy, but postponements and cancellations are possible.

July Events MOUNTAINS Blue Ridge Craft Trails Showcasing artists in studios July 1–31, Hendersonville 800-828-4244 bit.ly/brct2021

Zach Williams Faith-inspired country rock July 1, Franklin 828-524-1598 smokymountainarts.com

Music on Main Activities, live music July 2, Sparta 336-372-5473 alleghanycountychamber.com

Parade & Fireworks July 3, Marion 828-652-2215 marionnc.org

Red, White & Brew Artisans, live music July 3, Murphy facebook.com wherencbegins.com

Art on the Greene Local, regional works July 3–4, Banner Elk 828-387-0581 bannerelk.com/events

Into the Woods Musical comedy July 9–10, 16–17, Franklin 828-524-1598 smokymountainarts.com

Don Pedi Innovative dulcimer music July 10, Spruce Pine 828-765-9531 altapassorchard.org

Fine Art & Master Crafts Festival Handcrafted wares July 16–18, Sugar Mountain 828-898-5605 averycounty.com

U.S. 21 Road Markets Over 100 miles of roadside sales July 23–25, north from Harmony 336-657-0463 takeabreakfromtheinterstate.org

Jerdon Mountain Challenge 30-mile bike race July 24, Old Fort 828-606-5107 blueridgeadventures.net

Fireworks Show

4th of July Festival

July 4, Aberdeen 910-944-7275 townofaberdeen.net

Activities, entertainment July 1–4, Oak Island, Southport 910-457-5578 nc4thofjuly.com

Gene Watson Country music July 23–24, Liberty 336-622-3844 thelibertyshowcase.com

Dragon Boat Festival Teams compete in races July 24, Salisbury 704-633-4221 rowanchamberdragonboat.org

Good Ol’ Boys Bluegrass, mountain music July 25, Spruce Pine 828-765-9531 altapassorchard.org

Eric & Addie Variety of traditional music July 31, Spruce Pine 828-765-9531 altapassorchard.org

PIEDMONT Branching Out NC artists explore nature Through July, Cary 919-447-4000 theumstead.com/art

COAST Cork & Craft Tastings, live music Wednesdays, Corolla 252-435-2947 visitcurrituck.com

The Lost Colony Outdoor drama about settlers Daily, except Sundays & July 4 252-473-6000 thelostcolony.org

Dragon Town Family fun finding dragons Through July, Oriental 252-249-3340 museum@dockline.net

ArtWalk Art demos, live music July 2, Elizabeth City 252-338-4104 visitelizabethcity.com

Yo, Ho, Ho and a Bottle of Run 5k and fun run July 3, Beaufort 336-707-8276 beaufortpirateinvasion.com

Fireworks Show July 4, White Lake 910-862-4368 elizabethtownwhitelake.com

Independence Day Celebration Fireworks, live music July 5, Corolla 252-435-2947 visitcurrituck.com

Crystal Coast Watermelon Festival Food trucks, crafts July 10, Cape Carteret 252-393-8483 townofcapecarteret.org

Bob Timberlake Art Exhibition 50th anniversary show Through July, Lexington 336-249-4428 bobtimberlake.com

The Lure of Southern Pines Vintage postcard exhibit Through July, Southern Pines 910-692-2051 moorehistory.com

Denton Antiques Festival Vintage wares July 1–5, Denton 336-859-4231 townofdenton.com

There are more than 250 farmers markets in North Carolina.

For one near you, visit ncfarmfresh.com/farmmarkets.asp.

carolinacountry.com/calendar See and submit more events online.

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6/10/21 2:01 PM

Marketplace Vacation Rental

Real Estate

OCEANLAKES CAMPGROUND MYRTLE BEACH SC 3Br 1ba $1200/week 336-242-3003

WANTED: SELF STORAGE FACILITIES under 100 units.

We pay cash and can close in 30 days or less. Text Sue: 704-221-1698.

CALABASH NC, Crow Creek, Rte 17, first floor condo, 3 Bedroom 2 Baths screened patio, pool and hot tub. jowob113@gmail.com, 732-681-2710 $105.00/day Beautiful Oceanfront Rentals...Best Value in Indian Beach N.C. Each 2bdrm/1 bath & sleeper sofa includes all the comforts of home. Large oceanfront deck and private steps to the beach. On the sound side, pier, dock, shelter, playground, picnic benches, and boat ramp facility. Visit our website to view our beachfront rentals: www.oceanfrontvaluerentals.com or call 1-800-553-SURF (7873) HATTERAS CABANAS –O ceanview –S urf Fishing –D ogs Allowed Call Manager office 1-800-338-4775 ask for info on #23 ATLANTIC BEACH OCEANFRONT CONDO, breathtaking view. 1/BD, 1½ /BA, $100.00. 816-931-3366.

Gold Maps FUN, HOW TO PAN. Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, California. 1-407-282-3594. WWW.GOLDMAPS.COM TRIANGLE DETECTORS. Large selection of metal detectors and gold prospecting equipment, SALES & RENTALS. Durham 919-949-4007

Business Opportunities “SOCIAL DISTANCE MARKETING!” Profit/Thrive In Today’s “New Normal” Economy! Text moreinfo To 41242 — www.41242.biz

Miscellaneous

Connect with Carolina Country Don’t miss out on your favorite content, including Carolina Music. Sign up for email updates on our website!

PAYING CASH FOR OLD COMIC BOOKS AND OLD TOYS. Call Alex 704-616-6567 CASH PAID FOR OLD FISHING LURES–Call Rick Hutton 704-695-4917 PLAY GOSPEL SONGS BY EAR—$12.95. “Learn Gospel Music.” Chording, runs, fills—$12.95. Both $24.

Davidsons, 6727C Metcalf, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66204. 913-262-4982.

NOW HIRING QUALIFIED DRIVERS—local and regional positions available, competitive pay, excellent benefits, Requirements—25 years old, minimum 2 years experience driving with class A CDL, clean driving record, inquire @ cmcct1@yahoo.com, 336-468-2856 or apply online at cmccommoditytransport.com To place a classified ad: carolinacountry.com/classifieds

For Sale ANTIQUE UPRIGHT PUMP ORGAN, original finish. $800 336-846-9159 or 336-869-2275 Text

Free FREE MATERIALS: SOON CHURCH/GOVERNMENT UNITING. Suppressing “Religious Liberty”, enforcing a “National Sunday Law”. Be informed! Need mailing address only. TBSM, Box 374, Ellijay, GA 30540. thebiblesaystruth@yahoo.com 1-888-211-1715.

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. All ads must adhere to Carolina Country’s advertising policy, which can be found in our media kit at carolinacountry.com/advertise/MediaKit. 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 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616. 919-875-3091.

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July 2021 | 31

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6/9/21 12:46 PM

Carolina Kitchen

Fluffy Lemon-Almond Custard

Hot oven + sultry summer day = no fun. Thankfully, this light dessert can be fixed in the evening to enjoy the next day, or thrown in the oven while fixing breakfast. Tasty warm or chilled.

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.

gluten free

²⁄ ₃ ¾ ½ 3 3

cup almond meal or flour* Zest of 3 lemons, reserve cup sugar some for garnish teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice large eggs, separated (about 2 lemons) tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon almond extract melted and cooled Sliced almonds for garnish 1 can (12-ounce) evaporated milk Whipped cream, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch pie pan.

Combine the meal, sugar and salt.

Whisk egg yolks with butter. Add in the milk, zest, juice and extract. Fold dry ingredients into milk mixture.

Whip the egg whites with mixer until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whites into the mixture until well combined. Pour into prepared pie dish.

Bake 25–30 minutes until about set. Turn off oven and let sit inside oven for 5–10 minutes. Scatter with sliced almonds. Serve warm or chilled with a dollop of whipped cream if you like and a bit of lemon zest.

I

W

T p f s

*Both work great. Flour will provide a more custard-like texture versus the meal.

Yield: One 9-inch custard, serves 6–8

Grilled Succotash Salsa

We Southerners surely do know how to fix succotash. For the summer, we’ve stirred up a version to enjoy chilled as part of supper on the patio.

1 cup butterbeans or other field peas 1½ cups fresh corn on the cob 1 cup chopped tomatoes ½ cup diced red onion ²⁄ ₃ cup sliced pickled peppers, chopped (we used Mt. Olive Sweet n’ Hot Pickled Peppers) 2–3 tablespoons oil (we used bacon drippings, but use your favorite)

3 tablespoons juice from pickled peppers Juice of 1 lime 2 tablespoons ketchup ¾ teaspoon ground cumin ¾ teaspoon oregano ¼ teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 cup thinly sliced fresh okra ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro Cook butterbeans until just done but not too soft. Drain.

For the corn, we roasted 3 cobs on the grill (can also be done on gas stove burner); if preferred, you can skip roasting and use all raw or a combination.

Combine cooked butterbeans and corn with tomatoes, onion and pickled peppers.

Stir in oil, juices, ketchup and seasonings. Chill. This can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.

At serving time, stir in okra and cilantro.

Serve with chips or pork skins or as a side dish.

Yield: About 5 cups

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I c

Y

Carolina Kitchen

From Your Kitchen

Italian Crab Salad Stuffed Peppers With basil butter

This month, we’re all about enjoying our time out on patios and porches. That means little to no cooking. This simple crab salad works for this theme (and for our taste buds too). If possible, find yourself some fresh NC crab and stir up a bowl of this good stuff! ½ cup pine nuts, toasted ½ cup grated parmesan cheese ½ cup fresh parsley, loosely packed 4 tablespoons butter, softened 1 tablespoon fresh basil, minced 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard ½ cup half and half 1 teaspoon garlic paste or 2–3 cloves, minced

1 dozen small mini sweet peppers ½ pound crabmeat ½ cup diced celery ½ cup diced radishes ½ cup thinly sliced green onions 3 tablespoons capers, drained ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning

In a food processor, quickly pulse nuts, cheese and parsley into coarse crumbs. Set aside.

Using a fork, combine butter and basil.

Whisk together the mustard with cream and garlic.

Slice peppers in half lengthwise and remove seeds.

Pick through the crab to remove any shell pieces.

Combine crab with remaining ingredients. Stir in mustard mixture.

Spread peppers with layer of basil butter. Top with crab mixture.

Dust with nut and cheese crumbs. Refrigerate until serving time.

Yield: 24 pieces

Peanut Butter Cookies

gluten Peanut butter stars in this simple, four-ingredient recipe. These soft cookies crumble into your mouth. free Combine their peanutbutteryness with a cold glass of milk. Who needs flour when flavors shine through so true?!

1 cup peanut butter 1 egg

1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet.

Mix all ingredients until well combined. Use a teaspoon to scoop small heaps of dough onto your cookie sheet.

With a fork, lightly crisscross each cookie, pressing the dough down a bit.

Bake for 6–8 minutes.

Yield: 25–30 cookies

Recipe courtesy of Katie Martin of Danbury

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, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27616. Or submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe.

Tater Dipped Chicken Each month, we’re taking a look back at some old favorites from our recipe archive. For July, check out “Tater Dipped Chicken” from 1970.

See this recipe and more at carolinacountry.com/kitchencorner.

carolinacountry.com/recipes We take food seriously. Search more than 1,000 recipes by name or ingredient, with a new recipe featured every week!

July 2021 | 33

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6/8/21 1:45 PM

where

in Carolina Country is this ?

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

Online:

carolinacountry.com/where

By mail: Where in Carolina Country?

3400 Sumner Blvd.

Raleigh, NC 27616 Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified.

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

June winner

The June “Where Is This” photo taken by South River EMC member Dale Jarvis features a mural located on the corner of South Main St. and East Allenton St. (NC 73 and NC 731) in downtown Mt. Gilead. Artist Scott Nurkin recently repainted the mural, which illustrates Town Creek Indian Mound State Historic Site. The arrow featured in the mural points the way to the area once inhabited by the Pee Dee tribe just outside of this Montgomery County town. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Robin Holt of Wanchese, a Tideland 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

July’S FEATURED TRACK

“Tu”

MUSIC

By Justin Castellano

Chris Charles

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

CC_07-wk.indd 34

Justin composed this piece and named it “Tu” in an oldworld reference to God. The single shimmers with adroit fingerpicking and helped him become a top five finalist in Guitar World’s Acoustic Guitarist of the Year 2020 contest. The previous year, he dropped “Cloud Fascination.” The EP’s five songs showcase his Spanish guitar stylings and include the playful “Head in the Clouds.”

He explained that scenes from outdoor venues he performed at had inspired him to enjoy nature.

“Although I understand what forms clouds and the science that surrounds them, they still hold such majestic wonder and beauty,” Justin says. He began plucking guitar strings seriously at age 12. Based in Swansboro and a member of CarteretCraven Electric Cooperative, he enjoys performing and creating music in his home studio.

6/9/21 12:46 PM

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SMART Turn your Lively Smart into a personal safety device with our Urgent Response Service and exclusive health apps.

AFFORDABLE Lively has a variety of plans with data starting as low as $1748 per month. Compared to other cell phone companies, you could save over $300 per year.

Powered by the nation’s most reliable wireless network.

NO LONG-TERM CONTRACTS No cancellation fees

No long-term Keep your current contracts phone number

100% U.S.-based live customer service and tech support

Available in-store or online at:

Buy now and get a FREE Car Charger, a $25 value!

To order or learn more, call

1.800.650.5578 No hidden monthly fees

Affordable, flexible plans

lively.com/smart

*Monthly fees do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges and are subject to change. Plans and services may require purchase of a Lively device and a one-time setup fee of $35. $300 savings calculation based on comparing the lowest monthly fees published for the nation’s top major wireless carriers. Urgent Response or 9-1-1 calls can be made only when cellular service is available. Urgent Response service tracks an approximate location of the device when the device is turned on and connected to the network. Lively does not guarantee an exact location. Urgent Response is only available with the purchase of a Health & Safety Package. Car charger will be mailed to customer after the device is activated. LIVELY and JITTERBUG are trademarks of Best Buy and its affiliated companies. ©2021 Best Buy. All rights reserved.

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Keep spreading the news!

Thank you to everyone who has expressed their interest in a better internet service so far.

It is because of you that RiverStreet Networks is able to serve large portions of Person County.

However, the work doesn’t stop now. We are currently working on extending service to more than 2,900 homes and business in Caswell County thanks to a NC GREAT Grant and matching funds from RiverStreet Networks. Through our foundation, Piedmont Electric is also supporting projects in Alamance County near Mebane and another project in Caswell County to improve broadband access in our communities.

We want to focus on other areas in our community too, but we need your help to make it happen. If you have not already, please take a moment to show your interest in having more affordable, reliable internet in your area by visiting join.buildpiedmont.com. Once you’ve done that, spread the word about the work we are doing with RiverStreet to your family and friends as well. There is no commitment on your part when entering in your address and information.

Person County is just one of our success stories and we’re looking forward to many more.

Other communities in our service area may be eligible if enough people show interest.

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AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE INTERNET AVAILABLE NOW If you live in Person County, you may be

eligible to sign up for affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service!

RiverStreet Networks is now offering service

to large portions of Person County. Thank you to everyone who expressed their interest in this service. It’s because

of you that it is now a reality for many of our members and others living in the area.

Visit join.buildpiedmont.com to enter your address to see if you are eligible for service. If you are, a RiverStreet representative will reach out to you to help sign you up for high-speed internet today.

A more affordable, reliable internet solution is just a click away!

Map of areas in Person and surrounding counties potentially available for service.

www.pemc.coop

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800.222.3107

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