19 minute read
Fun on a Nickel
from 2022-06-CEMC
5
simple yet meaningful activities for grandchildren
By Cynthia Drake
Iwas a child during the 1950s — a time when my brothers and I were mostly spared the troubles of the adult world. Our parents let us play in the mud, climb trees or read books while lying on an old quilt in the backyard. My Halloween costume was an old sheet with two holes cut out for ghost eyes. A piece of chalk and a sidewalk would be enough to keep me and my neighborhood girlfriends hopscotching all morning. After a bowl of cereal for breakfast, my mother sent us out to play with the instruction to be back for supper.
When my grandchildren began to arrive 17 years ago, those carefree memories of days gone by resurfaced, and I experienced a “second childhood” with my children’s children. I taught young children in elementary school for many years, and that prepared me for the delight of playing and learning with my grandchildren. Now that the grandchildren are older, we love remembering those early days spent cooking together, doing science experiments in the kitchen, producing simple plays in the summer, reading books using flashlights during overnight visits.
That joy inspired me to write “A Grandmother’s Sourcebook,” filled with activities and ideas for grandparents and their grandchildren to share. Below are five entries from the book for your own “fun on a nickel.” 1. Make a concentration game. Choose a dozen or more favorite 4x6 photos of family events. At the copy shop, reduce photo size by 50%, print two of each, then glue to the “suit” side of regular playing cards. Set out all the cards with photo sides down. Play! 2. Teach the children how to offer a strong firm handshake and clearly state their name (as if they are meeting a new person). “Hi, my name is ______.” Then have them help you bake some chocolate chip cookies. Drive to the neighborhood firehouse, meet the firefighters, shake hands and thank them for their service. Finally, offer a tin of homemade cookies. 3. Help the children paint a Van Gogh-style painting. Find “The Usborne Art Treasury” by Rosie Dickens at the library. Directions are given about using forks and dabs of white paint to recreate Van Gogh’s swirly clouds! 4. A really fun science experiment is creating a crystal. Directions are provided in “Geology Lab for Kids” by Garret Romaine. Bend a pipe cleaner into a cube shape. Tie 2 feet of string to the middle of a pencil and to a corner of the pipe cleaner cube. Pour 3 cups of boiling water into a wide-mouth jar. Stir in 9 tablespoons of Borax. Lower the pipe cleaner down into the jar. In the morning there will be a crystal-covered pipe cleaner floating in the jar! If you add food coloring, you’ll create a beautifully colored crystal. 5. On a sunny day, take the children to your local cemetery. Walk through the lanes and stop to read names, dates and quotes. Talk about how these folks were loved by many people. Talk about the circle of life. Your ease will be appreciated by the children. Then read them the wonderful storybook, “City Dog, Country Frog” by Mo Willems. It is a perfect tale of friendship, loss and hope.
Cynthia Drake, author of “A Grandmother’s Sourcebook,” lives in Durham and is a member of Piedmont Electric Cooperative.
Visit agrandmotherssourcebook.com to learn more about “A Grandmother’s Sourcebook,” 10 chapters covering resources and activities to get grandchildren engaged in art, story, poetry, science, service, music, cooking, plays and games.
NEWSCentral JUNE 2022
Cameron selected to fill Board vacancy
Monthly newsletter from Central Electric Membership Corp. The Central Electric Board of Directors have appointed Charles E. Cameron, Sr. to serve the unexpired term of Director Edith Cox, who recently passed away unexpectedly. Cameron will fill the Director seat that represents members in District 3, Harnett County. Apostle/Bishop Cameron is currently Senior Pastor at Covenant Christian Church in Vass, as well as a professor and instructor at Grace Theological Seminary in Dillon, S.C. Cameron grew up in Western Harnett County where he attended Johnsonville High School. He furthered his education by attending N.C. A&T State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. He then attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Social Work Administration. After completing his Master’s degree, he returned to Durham, N.C., where he worked for the Lincoln Community Health Center as a Psychiatric Social Worker and later with the N.C. Department of Corrections serving adjudicated juvenile delinquents. After spending 10 years working with the training schools, he began serving with the Division of Services for the Blind where he worked for nearly 36 years until his retirement on April 1, 2011. He has served as a Social Worker for the Blind; a Program Planner/Evaluator; a Children’s Consultant and an Area Social Services Supervisor. Cameron and his wife, Zandra, currently reside in the Johnsonville community. “We are beyond excited to be adding Charles as a member of the co-op’s Board of Directors,” said Board President Rebecca Cogan. “While we are certainly remembering Edith for her years of dedicated work on behalf of our membership and miss her dearly, we could not have found a better person to fill the void she left. Mr. Cameron will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to the board and the members of this cooperative.”
JUNE 24 is the deadline to submit fourth-quarter report cards for the Give Us an “A” drawing. Four times each school year, Central Electric will award a $25 Visa gift card to four winners with at least one “A” and a $50 Visa gift card to one winner with all “A’s.” Enter at CEMCPower.com.
Ready to respond to storms
From the desk of CEO & General Manager Eddie Oldham
Summer is here, school is letting out and families are gearing up for a few months of fun and relaxation. While summer brings fun in the sun, it can also bring the occasional severe storm. In the event of a power outage, you can trust that your cooperative is ready to respond. The major cause of most power outages is from damage to power lines due to falling trees and branches. We work year round through our right-ofway clearing program to ensure power lines in our service territory stand little risk of being damaged by trees, branches or other types of vegetation. However, during storms damage can occur to transmission equipment, substations and power lines, despite our best efforts. When this happens, our first priority is to safely restore power to as many members as possible in the shortest amount of time.
We start by mobilizing our line crews and other critical staff. The biggest outages affecting the largest number of members are handled first, such as damage to transmission lines, which serve thousands of people. These problems must be corrected before we can focus on other areas where more localized damage may have occurred. Our line crews inspect substations to determine if the problem starts there, or if there could be an issue down the line. If the root of the problem is at the substation, power can be restored to thousands of members. Next, line crews check the service lines that deliver power into neighborhoods and communities. Line crews repair the damaged equipment, restoring power to hundreds of people. If you continue to experience an outage, there may be damage to a tap line outside of your home or business. The beauty of our advanced metering infrastructure is that we are aware of power outages prior to reports from members. However, it is always a good idea to make sure you report an outage by either calling our 24-hour reporting line, 877-7666769, or texting “OUT” to 800-446-7752. That way, you can ensure we are fully aware of your outage and you can also receive outage updates by texting “STATUS.” When thunderstorms inevitably illuminate our warm, summer nights, we are here for you. Our dedicated crews are ready and prepared to respond to whatever Mother Nature may send our way. We will continue to do our best to avoid power disruptions, but as you know, the weather sometimes presents challenges beyond our control. In the event of a power outage, be sure to visit the “Outage Center” at CEMCPower.com to track outages in our area and to receive the latest outage restoration updates. Until next time,
When a major outage occurs, our crews restore service to the greatest number of people in the shortest time possible – until all members have power.
1. High-voltage transmission lines
These lines carry large amounts of electricity. They rarely fail but must be repaired first.
2. Distribution substations
Crews inspect substations, which can serve hundreds or thousands of people.
3. Main distribution lines
Main lines serve essential facilities like hospitals and larger communities.
4. Individual homes and businesses
After main line repairs are complete, we repair lines that serve individual homes and businesses.
In accordance with Section 4.06 of the Cooperative’s bylaws, the Central Electric Board of Directors has appointed a group The committee will meet June 6 of members to prepare a slate of nominees for election and during the meeting, they will during the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Members on Oct. 7. consider three-year terms for the Those appointed to the Nominating Committee include: following incumbents: Frank Comer £ Ronnie Lambert, Siler City; William Stone, Cameron; III, District 1; James Brooks,
Zelda Howington, Sanford; Michael V. Perry, Sanford; Carolyn Cameron, Sanford; Scott Norton, Bear Creek; C. Richard Williams, Siler City; John S. Blue, Carthage; District 2; Charles E. Cameron, Sr., District 3.
Bradley Wadsworth, Carthage; Jonathan Gardner,
Sanford; Janet Brower, Cameron. Once the slate of nominees has been determined, the list will be posted at the cooperative’s office at 128 Wilson Road, Sanford, N.C. The deadline for additional nominations is June 28. Any 100 or more members of the cooperative, acting together over their signatures not less than 100 days prior to the meeting, may make additional nominations in like manner listing the nominees separately with respect to the Directorate Districts.
Students rewarded for classroom efforts
Five outstanding students earned a Visa® gift card for receiving at least one “A” on their recent report cards. The reward is in connection with Central Electric’s “Give us an A” program.
Bree Thomas Bonlee Elem.
Avery Perkins Benhaven Elem. Gunnar Bullard Tramway Elem. Reagan Sandel Chatham Middle
Sawyer Manning New Century Middle
128 Wilson Road P.O. Box 1107 Sanford, NC 27331
OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CONTACT
Phone: (919) 774-4900 Bill Payment: (866) 488-5011 Eddie Oldham CEO & General Manager
DIRECTORS
Rebecca G. Cogan, President Tommy Dalrymple, Vice President James B. Brooks, Secretary-Treasurer W. Phillip Thompson, Asst. Secretary Charles E. Cameron, Sr., Frank Comer III, Dr. Nancy G. Holmes, Henry Outz, Tim Priest and Henry Randolph. James Taylor, Editor This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
OUTAGE REPORTING
(877) 766-6769 24-hours a day
(800) 446-7752 Text ‘PWR’ to opt-in and ‘OUT’ to report an outage
FOLLOW US
CEMCPower.com
What You Need to Know Before Going Solar
Work with your co-op to make the right choice
By Miranda Boutelle
When I tell people I work in energy efficiency, one of the first responses I hear is, “Oh, I’m thinking about getting solar installed on my house.” I hear it around campfires, meeting other parents at the park and on the ride to the airport.
Most people don’t realize solar is not energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is finding ways to use less energy. Solar is generating energy. I can see the association because both are thought of as beneficial to the environment and a way to save money.
My follow-up question is, “What are your motivations for installing solar?”
In my experience, people are motivated by saving money, concern for the environment or both. Focusing first on energy efficiency addresses both motivations.
Here are some considerations if you are interested in installing solar.
Energy consumption Solar systems are sized based on a home’s energy needs. The larger the system, the higher the cost. Before installing solar, make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible. That means it will use less energy and allow you to install a smaller solar system — which will save money and reduce your home’s environmental impact.
Verify the efficiency of your lighting, HVAC systems and insulation. A fully insulated and air-sealed home uses less energy, and those measures are less expensive than solar panels. Finish these energy efficiency projects before installing solar.
Affordability Consider your overall out-of-pocket expenses. The expected lifespan of a heating and cooling system is 15 to 25 years. Check the age and condition of your HVAC equipment and consider the expenses of replacement. If something happens, will you be able to afford to fix or replace it?
Roofing Consider the age, orientation and shade of your roof. It is more difficult — and expensive — to reroof a home with solar panels. Will the roof need to be replaced before the solar panels need to be replaced?
The best orientation for solar panels is south facing to receive direct light throughout the day. A shaded roof helps keep your home cool in the summertime but reduces solar energy production.
Maintenance and reliability A solar system doesn’t last forever. Lifespans range from 25 to 30 years. As systems degrade over time, they produce less energy. Maintenance and repairs may be needed.
Solar panels only produce power when the sun is shining. If you want solar to power your home at other times, like after dark, you’ll need to invest in battery storage system, which comes at an additional cost.
Contact your electric co-op As with any other system for your home, I recommend getting bids from three contractors to compare equipment and pricing. Solar contractors often work in several utility service territories and may not be familiar with your co-op’s offerings, rate structures and interconnection agreements. So before signing an agreement, check with your electric co-op for local information rather than relying on what the contractor says.
Another option may be community-owned solar. Many electric co-ops offer community solar programs. You may have an option to enjoy the benefits of solar without the responsibilities of ownership and maintenance.
Understanding these considerations before installing solar will ensure you meet your money-saving and environmental goals.
This column was written by Miranda Boutelle of the Efficiency Services Group. Visit carolinacountry.com/your-energy for more ideas on energy efficiency.
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Helping Students Learn and Grow
Principal Laurie Strope is inspiring students in Onslow County
By Jacob Brooks
Howdy, Carolina Country readers. Jacob Brooks again. Leadership has been on my mind, so I went lookin’ for some. But this time, I traded the Blue Ridge Mountains for the Outer Banks.
Meet my new friend and 2021–2022 Onslow County Principal of the Year, Mrs. Laurie Strope.
Laurie is no stranger to electric co-ops. In high school, she represented Jones-Onslow EMC on the NC Youth Tour, and like most rising juniors and seniors in rural America, that was the first time Laurie visited Washington, D.C.
It was also around that time that her journey as an educator began. A graduate of Southwest Onslow High School, she recalls a specific role model from her high school years. “Dr. Lesly Eason was one of my favorite high school teachers. She taught English & Psychology. She was also the cheerleading coach. I wanted to be like her.”
Equipped with a bachelor’s degree in education from NC State, Laurie’s career began in Johnston County. And, like every educator ever, her servant heart drove her ambition, “I taught for three years and realized my 8th graders had extreme deficits in reading and math. They were behind, and I realized I needed more training.”
Laurie’s commitment to North Carolina’s youth took her back to NC State, where she earned a Master’s in Education with a focus in reading. “I had to craft my skillset in teaching reading skills at the middle school level. The training was necessary.”
Johnston County was a great start for Laurie, but something was missing. “My sister, Sherri, was having her first baby.” When asked about her relationship with Sherri, love fills Laurie’s voice, “Oh, we’re so close. We’re best friends. I missed my family and wanted to go home. I couldn’t stand not being there and my sister having a baby.”
And who do we think Laurie called for advice? That’s right, Dr. Lesley Eason. Laurie’s light shines when discussing her mentor: “I called her and said, ‘I’m ready to move back home.’ That very same day a teacher resigned from her school, Dixon Middle. And the rest is history. I followed her from Dixon Middle to Dixon High.” She didn’t stop there. Laurie sought an Administrative
Principal Strope at Richlands Elementary
Degree, went back to Dixon Middle as an assistant principal, journeyed down the road to Drexler Middle as an assistant principal, made a stop at Hunter’s Creek Middle as an assistant principal, and in 2016 became principal at Richlands Elementary.
Laurie is steadfast in her beliefs. “One thing I do believe is you have to look at the whole child. Each student comes from a different place. Everyone has experienced some sort of trauma: family issues, through COVID, loss of loved ones, etc. There has been a ‘something.’ So, educators take on the responsibility of doing all we can to help each student learn and grow.”
Principal Strope also knows learning must happen outside the classroom. With the motto, “Learn. Serve. Lead.,” as their guide, students engage in community service projects, such as canned food drives and writing cards for nursing homes, all in the name of citizenship. “We just want to grow good people, good citizens, good stewards of our larger community.” (Amen to that).
Laurie is gearing up for a new adventure. She’s heading to Southwest Elementary where she’ll be taking over as principal. They’ll be blessed to have her.
Principal Strope, thank you for your leadership and commitment to the youth of NC. Our rural communities thrive with leaders like you.
Oh, and the baby mentioned above, her name is Caroline. And Caroline is now studying for a degree in Elementary Education at East Carolina University.
