2022-07-BEMC

July 2022

The magazine of

Pirates

of North Carolina page 8

Published by

New solar + storage in rural NC page 5

Find your next summer read page 24

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6/8/22 1:09 PM

Volume 54, No. 7

12

8

Favorites 2 From Our Readers 4 Viewpoints 5 More Power 20 On the House 24 Carolina Bookshelf 28 NC Outdoors 29 Marketplace 30 Carolina Kitchen 32 Where is This?

32 Carolina Creators

On the Cover Actor, author and director Joey Madia has joined past pillaging fun at the Beaufort Pirate Invasion— an annual three-day festival featuring pirate ship battles, living history displays, musicians and other pirate-themed performers.

Learn more about this year’s event and other Carolina pirate lore starting on page 8.

8 12 22 26

30

A Taste of the Pirate’s Life Legends live on at Beaufort Pirate Invasion.

Lady Pirates of the Carolina Coast The storied lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

Corn, Corn and More Corn And other memories from our readers.

An Island Frozen in Time

Portsmouth Island Village delivers scenes from yesteryear.

SWEEPSTAKES

Jammin’ at Preddyfest Carolina Country is partnering with the PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival to offer a random drawing for weekend passes to the August 5 and 6 festival in Franklin County. See page 27 for details.

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THIS MONTH:

Pirates of the Carolina Coast We couldn’t resist—what’s summer in Carolina Country without a healthy dose of pirates?

Our coast has a rich pirating history, with many infamous rogues from the Golden Age of Pirates having plundered off our shores. Learn more about how reenactors are keeping those legends alive, as well as a unique tale of two lady pirates, starting on page 8. Also, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are managing the grid in new ways to ensure power remains affordable, reliable and sustainable—learn more on page 4.

t

s s

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 54, 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 Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant Sarah Thompson Editorial Intern Tara Verna Creative Director

—Scott Gates, editor

Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com

From Our Readers Clean Beach, New Comics I’ve found so many pictures of me and mom from the ’60s when we’d come and stay in one of the cottages at Jennette’s Pier (see “New Life for an Old Pier” from our April 2017 issue at bit.ly/cc-jpier). I’d pick up soda bottles on the beach and take to the store next to the cottages and buy comics. Over the years I accumulated boxes and boxes of comics.

Susan Humbert, via carolinacountry.com

Solar Power Question We've received some good questions from readers about residential solar power ("Renewables on the Roof," May 2022, page 8). We'll be answering more in coming issues.

Q: What has to be done when the shingles have to be replaced?

Jerry Simmons, via facebook.com/carolinacountrymag

A: When shingles need to be

replaced, solar panels and their mounting system would need to be removed and replaced after the new roof is installed. For that reason it's recommended that solar installation be delayed if shingles are nearing the end of their life.

Reader Quiz Where would you rather vacation in North Carolina — the mountains or the beach?

It was a tight race, but beach wins! Follow us on Facebook (@carolinacountrymag) for more polls. (Such as: Do you call them fireflies or lightning bugs?)

41% Beach

Mountains

26% Can’t decide

33%

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

Smart, Deliberate Grid Management

By Amadou Fall

Our nation’s electric grid—the system of generation plants, transmission lines, substations and distribution lines that deliver power to your home—is a massive, complex machine. And with new, smaller distributed sources of electricity generation and innovative technologies being added to the grid, it’s becoming more complex every day. For many electric utilities, managing this new complexity is a growing challenge, leading to national headlines about cost and reliability concerns.

But in North Carolina, electric cooperatives are getting ahead of that change, working in new ways to ensure we do our job to deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable power to your home.

You can think about the work we’re doing on the grid in two categories: More than half of our there are the new technologies and resources being power is currently physically added, and there carbon-free, and we are new ways to manage those resources and keep have a target to reach them secure.

On the physical side, net zero carbon North Carolina’s electric cooperatives receive power emissions by 2050. from a diverse mix of energy resources, predominantly made up of nuclear generation, natural gas, renewable energy and purchased power. More than half of our power is currently carbon-free, and we have a target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Projects supporting this goal while enhancing resilience and reliability include new solar + storage sites across the state, which will generate more than 23 megawatts (MW) of energy (see article on page 5); the installation of cutting-edge battery technology in 10 rural communities; and co-op microgrids at five sites

that are connected to the grid, but can operate independently of it if need be to keep critical services online.

On the grid management side, we have developed a cutting-edge capability called the “distribution operator.” (see “A Brighter Future Through Grid Management,” August 2021, page 10). This new capability provides a big-picture view of more than 500 MW of distributed energy resources across all 26 of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, allowing us to coordinate the resources for improved reliability, affordability and sustainability.

The key to making all of this successful — to making it be a true benefit to you and electric co-op members across the state — is deploying these energy resources at a deliberate, measured pace. In making thoughtful decisions about the grid, we are making strides toward environmental and sustainability goals while keeping reliability our top priority.

This summer, as temperatures rise, rest assured that we will be managing the grid through times of high demand, ensuring that the electricity we provide remains a reliable, affordable and sustainable part of your life.

Amadou Fall is COO of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, which provides electricity to 25 member cooperatives in North Carolina.

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More Power

Electric Co-ops Adding Solar + Storage Across Rural NC Renewable energy resources will be added at 14 sites

N

orth Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives are bringing new energy innovation to rural North Carolina by coupling utility-scale solar with battery energy storage at 14 locations. The new solar + storage resources will be interconnected to electric cooperative grids and support the cooperatives’ Brighter Future efforts — an initiative to support co-op consumer-members and communities by building a more resilient, efficient grid, while upholding affordability and pursuing a long-term sustainability goal.

“Delivering value to co-op consumermembers and communities is a cornerstone of our cooperative purpose, and solar is a growing resource for us,” said Amadou Fall, COO of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “Pairing solar with battery energy storage enables us to gain the most benefit from an intermittent resource, advancing grid resilience and supporting our goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”

“Solar energy is most abundant during the middle of the day.

However, peak energy demand typically occurs in the late afternoon hours in the summer and the early morning during the winter,” said John Lemire, director of grid management for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “With hybrid solar and storage solutions, renewable solar energy is captured when it’s most abundant in large batteries.

This energy can then be discharged exactly when it’s needed to efficiently support the grid.”

Cooperatives in North Carolina are working together to integrate innovative energy technologies like solar and

14 more than

75,000 SOLAR PANELS

SOLAR + STORAGE SITES more than

53MWh

OF ENERGY STORAGE

will generate more than 23 MW, or enough to power more than

23,000 HOMES

Six developments are already operational: ■ Two sites in Duplin County—Interconnected with Four County EMC ■

One site in Halifax County—Interconnected with Halifax EMC

■

Three sites in Randolph County—Interconnected with Randolph EMC

Eight more expected to be activated by the end of the year: ■ One site in Greene County—Interconnected with Pitt & Greene EMC ■

One site in Hyde County—Interconnected with Tideland EMC

■

Three sites in Northampton County—Interconnected with Roanoke Electric Cooperative

■

One site in Richmond County—Interconnected with Pee Dee Electric

■

One site in Sampson County—Interconnected with South River EMC

■

One site in Wake County—Interconnected with Wake Electric

storage at a deliberate pace to balance and uphold commitments to reliability, affordability and sustainability.

Currently, electric cooperatives have approximately 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable, distributed energy and edge-of-grid resources integrated or pending integration into cooperative grids through their shared role as a “distribution operator.”

As a distribution operator, the state’s electric co-ops are coordinating thousands of distributed energy

resources throughout the grid to optimize their performance and support an efficient and strategic grid evolution.

“While cooperative power is already very reliable, this cuttingedge capability enhances reliability even further for co-op members, as power now flows multi-directionally throughout the grid,” Fall said.

—Lindsey Davis, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives carolinacountry.com | 5

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More Power

NASA

July

Quick Hits Safe Celebrations Be careful with fireworks and sparklers— they should only be handled by responsible adults. Visit bit.ly/nsc-fireworks for more safety tips.

Tropical Storm Elsa was among those that affected North Carolina in 2021.

Above-Normal Hurricane Season Predicted Know Your Sunscreen Use “broad spectrum” sunscreen, which blocks the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, with SPF of 15 or higher.

Tip and Toss Curb your local mosquito population by emptying or getting rid of outside containers that hold stagnating water.

Source: NC State

Cool Shades Keep window coverings closed during summer days to block the sun’s heat and help your air conditioner work less.

Source: DOE

The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1 and runs through November, and this season is predicted to be busier than usual. The 2022 Atlantic hurricane season will see up to 21 named storms forming in the Atlantic basin, according to researchers at both NC State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Atlantic basin includes the entire Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. The long-term average of named storms is 11.

Of the predicted named storms, seven to nine may grow strong enough to become hurricanes (the historical average is six), with the possibility of three to five storms becoming major hurricanes, according to NC State University.

Although no hurricanes made landfall in North Carolina in 2021, three

tropical systems moving through the state — Claudette, Elsa and Fred — brought heavy rainfall, high winds and flooding. Hurricane Ida, which made landfall as a category 4 hurricane in Louisiana in September 2021, impacted communities as far north as New England.

“Hurricane Ida spanned nine states, demonstrating that anyone can be in the direct path of a hurricane and in danger from the remnants of a storm system,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “It’s important for everyone to understand their risk and take proactive steps to get ready now by visiting Ready.gov (Listo.gov en español) for preparedness tips, and by downloading the FEMA App to make sure you are receiving emergency alerts in real-time.”

Be Prepared For Whatever Mother Nature Brings Whether storm clouds are on the horizon or a hurricane is in the forecast, NCStormCenter.coop is your one-stop-shop for important information to protect you and your family during severe weather.

Resources include:

 A real-time statewide outage map  Information on what to do before, during and after a storm  Specific resources for hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes and winter storms

BE PREPARED WITH

StormCenter.coop

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6/10/22 2:55 PM

More Power

EneryUnited’s Wayne Wilkins Retires After 51 Years of Service Thomas Golden appointed as next CEO

In May, EnergyUnited CEO Wayne Wilkins retired following a career with electric co-ops that spans decades.

“Over the course of his storied career in the energy industry, Wayne was continually committed to supporting member and community service initiatives that positively impacted so many people,” said EnergyUnited Board Chairman and President Dr. Max Walser. “I am incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to serve with Wayne and sincerely appreciate all that he has done on behalf of EnergyUnited members.”

Wilkins’ 51-year career with North Carolina’s electric cooperatives includes service as CEO of Davidson EMC, where he helped coordinate the consolidation of it and the neighboring Crescent EMC to form the present-day EnergyUnited, based in Statesville, in 1998. The co-op has since deployed new technologies to better serve members and increase reliability, including advanced metering infrastructure, smart grid technology and electric vehicle chargers.

His service to the electric cooperative network extends to the state level, where he served on the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation and North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives (NCAEC) boards of directors, including providing guidance as NCAEC Board President in 1990 and serving on the NCAEC Executive Committee from 2008–2013. He has worked closely with legislators at the state and national levels, advocating on behalf of the communities served by electric cooperatives across North Carolina, and has supported political action as Chair of the Rural Electric Action Program.

“As I look back and ask myself the question of what I would do different, I don’t think I could’ve picked a better business to be in,” Wilkins told “There are just so EnergyUnited members ahead many incredible of his retirement.

“There are just so people and facets many incredible within this job that people and facets within this job have pushed me that have pushed and grown me as me and grown me as a leader, a leader, a friend a friend and even a father.” and even a father.”

Following the announcement of Wilkins’ retirement, EnergyUnited Board of Directors appointed Thomas Golden to serve as the cooperative’s next CEO.

Thomas Golden (left) will serve as EnergyUnited’s next CEO. Retiree and prior CEO Wayne Wilkins spent 51 years working with North Carolina’s electric cooperatives.

Golden recently served at the co-op’s COO, where he was responsible for the oversight, implementation and execution of many strategic initiatives that focused on developing growth opportunities, operational enhancements, improving member value and maintaining superior safety and reliability performance. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear engineering and engineering physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University.

“I am honored to serve EnergyUnited members as the cooperative’s CEO,” Golden said. “More than 115,000 EnergyUnited members trust their cooperative each day to deliver safe, affordable, reliable and environmentally-responsible energy. While these primary service pillars remain consistent, our members’ expectations will continue to evolve with the implementation of new technologies and innovative solutions. As EnergyUnited’s CEO, I’m excited to lead the cooperative into this future with member satisfaction always top of mind.”

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6/9/22 5:06 PM

A Taste Pirate’s Life of the

Legends live on at Beaufort Pirate Invasion

By Pamela A. Keene

8 | July 2022

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s the son of a commercial fisherman, Beaufort native Carl Cannon, Jr., came by his love of the sea honestly — though some people would say he took a wrong turn along the way. As an adult, Cannon chose a life of pirating. He’s commander of a rowdy band of swashbucklers, mermaids and sailors landing at Gallant’s Channel September 23–25 for this year’s Beaufort Pirate Invasion (beaufortpirateinvasion.com).

“Pirates have gotten a bad rep, but it really depends which side you’re on,” says Carl, who spends his days organizing pirate invasions and volunteering at the Maritime Museum in this seaside town, which is nestled between the outlying Shackleford and Bogue banks.

“Over history pirates are typically robbers and thieves,” Carl adds, then slipping into character: “We are privateers, hired by kings and the wealthy to protect their property from their enemies, and sometimes it’s necessary to appropriate their cargo. We’re the good guys.”

Pirate activity in and around Beaufort harks back to the Golden Age of Piracy, when the infamous Blackbeard ran the Queen Anne’s Revenge aground in Beaufort Inlet in 1718, and in 1747 when Spanish privateers attacked and plundered the small town until local militia finally drove the attackers away.

It was that bit of tumultuous history that inspired the first event in 1960: a reenactment of the invasion performed by the local fire department.

“When I was just a kid, my mom would take me to the original Pirate Invasions, which started here in the early 1960s,” Carl says. “I can remember waiting on the docks for my dad to come home between fishing trips, and when I was pretty young, I was given my first rowboat. So between those early days and our family’s history with the sea, I guess I always dreamed about that kind of life.”

A

Invasions through the years

VisitNC.com

Those early Pirate Invasion events of the ’60s were two-hour performances featuring pirate antics and a bit of history, but after several years, interest waned. America’s Bicentennial and the tall ship cruises revitalized it.

“Around that time, well-known pirate Captain Horatio Sinbad joined in the fun for several years, and he and his ship ‘Meka II’ brought a new aspect to the event for a time,” Carl says. “Then we underwent another revival in the 1980s. The pandemic slowed us down, but all in all, we’ve done 48 events since the early 1960s.”

Before Carl took up the pirate life, he was a commercial fisherman and worked on a dredge boat. By 2012, he had purchased and outfitted a sailboat into an 18th-century replica of a pirate ship and began pirating. In 2017, he took over volunteer leadership as president of the Beaufort Pirate Invasion. The festival became a non-profit in 2015 so that it could raise money for charity — last year, the group funded a violin and a cello for the classical music program at East Carteret County High School.

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Samantha Taylor

Samantha Taylor Samantha Taylor

Samantha Taylor

In May, Carl’s crew descended on Swansboro in Onslow County for its two-day Pirate Fest.

“There were boats, encampments, cannon firings, sword fights and even a pirate scavenger hunt,” says LaQuesha Cadwallader, recreation program supervisor with Onslow Parks and Recreation, which presented the event with Swansboro Parks and Recreation. “People just really like pirates.”

Event attendees got into the action. “Many of the adults and kids came dressed up like pirates,” Director of Swansboro Parks and Recreation Anna Stanley says. “And the invasion on the water with the battle between the ships is amazing. It’s one of my favorite annual events here.”

Upcoming piracy

In September, Carl and his pirate crew of nearly 40 will sail into Gallants Channel and set up their encampment on its shores, living the pirate life throughout the three-day

Samantha Taylor

Darryl Marsh

Swansboro swashbuckling

Carl Cannon, Jr. (right), with Michael Taylor (aka Brax) at a past event

festival. Battles between pirate ships, living history displays and reenactments, sword fights, mermaids, lady pirates and black-powder demonstrations bring the past alive.

The Motley Tones, Thunder and Spice and The Crossjacks set a pirate-style musical backdrop for magicians, stilt walkers, the Creative Flame fire dancers, peg-legged buccaneers, blacksmiths and axe-throwers.

“It’s our mission to keep the tradition alive with our pirate invasion events up and down the Atlantic Coast, showcasing the fun and history of this oft-maligned lifestyle,” he says. “Once you get to know us, you’ll find that our pirate crews are a friendly bunch who only pick up a sword when necessary, fire our cannons to demonstrate our might — and are a lot more bark than bite.”

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

10 | July 2022

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The storied lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read

Carolina colonial history is full of stories of pirates, evil men who preyed on unarmed vessels along the Atlantic coast. Sometimes the line between honest seaman and pirate was a fuzzy one. Perhaps the fuzziest line of all was drawn in the case of two pirates who sailed under the black flag of “Calico Jack” Rackham, who countered the typical image of a pirate—not because of what side of the law they were on, but because of their gender. They were the lady pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read.

This dastardly duo were among a very few female pirates in recorded history, and most of what we know about them is drawn from the 1724 book, “A General History of the Pyrates.”

Anne Bonny Anne Cormac was born in Ireland in 1702, the illegitimate daughter of William Cormac and his servant, Mary Brennan.

Cormac later sailed with his lover and baby to America.

They settled near what is now Charleston, South Carolina.

Campbell Smi th Donna By

When Anne was a teenager, her mother died. Anne became manager of their plantation. She had a hot temper; legend tells she beat a man nearly to death with a chair when he made unwanted advances.

Fed up with the genteel life of the colonial South, she married James Bonny, who was known to dabble in pirating. That is how Anne met the pirate Calico Jack.

They became lovers, and she ran off to sea with him.

Anne gave birth to Jack’s child while they were in Cuba.

(It is believed they left the baby with friends and went back to sea.)

By now, Anne was a full-fledged member of the crew. She dressed in men’s clothing, probably at Jack’s request. She was handy with sword and pistol, and quick to use them.

Anne next fell for one of Jack’s crewmen. Although in a twist fit for a swashbuckling movie script, Anne soon learned that fellow crewman “Mark” Read was also a female disguised in men’s clothing.

Mary “Mark” Read Mary Read (aka Mark), began life differently than Anne.

Born in England, she was disguised as a boy from infancy.

Her widowed mother pretended Mary was a boy to receive a death benefit not otherwise available to a girl child.

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Anne Bonny (left) and Mary Read

When Mary was older, Mrs. Read hired her daughter out as a footboy. It wasn’t long before Mary tired of that job and ran away. She took on a position with a British man-of-war and later joined the army as a soldier.

Mary, still believed to be a man by all, fell in love with a fellow soldier. They kept her gender a secret until after their time with the army, at which point they became publicly married. Mary and her husband lived a normal and happy life running a tavern.

Then, Mary’s husband died. She failed with the tavern business and returned to the life she knew best. Disguised as a man she joined an army in Holland. Later she took a position on board a ship sailing for the West Indies.

Pirates, led by Calico Jack, attacked the merchant ship, and Mary was taken prisoner. From that time on, Mary was a pirate.

Divergent fates It wasn’t long before Mary and Anne became aware that they were each a woman. Calico Jack, none the wiser at first, became jealous of “Mark” and threatened to slit his throat. Anne had to let him in on her and Mary’s secret.

But the drama didn’t end there. Mary had an affair with another crewman and became pregnant. Meanwhile,

Calico Jack’s ship was captured, and the pirates were put on trial. The men were all sentenced to hang, with Jack scheduled to die the next day. He asked to see his beloved Anne before his execution, but if he’d hoped for sympathy, he got none. As Anne succinctly put it: “I am sorry to see you in this predicament, but had you fought like a man, you would not have to die like a dog.”

Mary and Anne were tried, however, both were pregnant at the time and since a pregnant woman could not receive the death penalty, their sentences were delayed.

Mary, however, died while in prison. Anne’s fate was unknown until the twentieth century, when a rumor surfaced that her name was found in a family Bible, along with a birth certificate and some letters. The birth certificate named a boy child, John Cormac Bonny, whose father was named as John Rackham.

If this rumor is true, it supports the theory that Anne’s father bought her pardon and sent her back to the Carolinas. Some believe Anne Bonny married a man named Joseph Burleigh, lived to a ripe old age and is buried in Virginia. But to this day, how Anne truly spent her later years remains a mystery.

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

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Strong storms.

Stronger network.

Co-op ingenuity and innovation are adding strength and flexibility to our grid.

Coupled with the dedication of crews from home and afar, cooperatives are ready for whatever summer weather brings.

NCElectricCooperatives.com.

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Lower Your Energy Bill and Help us Keep Rates as Low as Possible!

Bring Your Own Thermostat Brunswick Electric’s Bring Your Own Thermostat program offers you a $50 bill credit when you enroll your smart thermostat, and a $4 credit each month.

Enrolling allows BEMC to make brief changes to your HVAC setting by three degrees on a limited number of peak demand periods, which helps us control wholesale power costs.

“We enrolled at the end of 2021, and it’s really been painless. I like the fact that we receive emails ahead of time letting us know when our setting will be adjusted, and it’s nice knowing we’re doing our part to lower peak demand.”

Jim Falotico

“In my first month with the Time-of-Use rate option I saved over 25% on my electric bill. It’s an excellent rate option, and I like knowing it helps to better manage costs for the benefit of all members.”

Jim Claypool

Time-of-Use Rate Option The Time-of-Use (TOU) rate option offers you a lower rate for electricity when demand on our system is low, balanced with a higher rate when demand on our system is high. You’ll lower your bill by shifting your energy usage away from peak times, because you’ll pay a lower rate than our standard rate all other times, and a much lower rate from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. all year-round.

Another Way to Keep Rates Down Brunswick Electric issues Beat the Peak alerts when we expect peak demand, which in the summer is usually from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. We ask you to voluntarily limit energy usage then because together, we can reduce our wholesale power rate by lowering peak demand. By participating you can help us avoid or reduce future rate increases.

Because You Want to Know...

Each month we’ll answer a question that has been on a member’s mind, because we bet you might also want to know. Send your questions to brookes.versaggi@bemc.org.

è

Q

It’s hard to be without electricity after a major storm. What is your process for getting power back on?

è

A

Please know we work as quickly and efficiently as possible after a storm to restore power to everyone.

We follow a complex process that ensures power is restored to the most people in the shortest amount of time. You can watch a video that shows you the process at bemc.org/tutorials.

Power in

numbers

In 2019, America’s electric co-ops returned more than $1.3 billion in capital credits to their consumer-members.

July 2022 | 15

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• SPOTLIGHT on BRIGHT IDEAS EDUCATION GRANTS •

M sp n

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

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othing brings back memories of some of the most important years of our lives like the photos in a high school Jada Williams, Tralena Avery, Belinda Collins and Ahnna Claire Benton-Rogers. yearbook. As media coordinator for Whiteville High School, Belinda Collins supervises the photography, and although he’s a freshman, and they yearbook staff in producing the “Sandspur,” Whiteville generally don’t have time in their schedule for yearbook, High’s annual publication. he keeps reminding me that he takes good pictures.”

When she took on the role a few years ago, one of the Collins adds that she “would like to have a big class challenges was the eclectic collection of old cameras that working on the yearbook because there are so many they had been assigned. They were all different, and the elements to it, from selling ads to developing a theme learning curve for each made getting new yearbook staff and writing the content; it’s a great lesson in completing members up to speed difficult. They start taking photos a project from start to finish. And the end result, well, on the first day of classes, and precious moments in time there’s nothing quite like a high school yearbook. You that they thought had been recorded sometimes didn’t can turn the pages and it reminds you of the person you come out as well as they’d like. were, and it’s nice to relive those memories.”

Collins applied for and received a grant to purchase Brunswick Electric has been providing grants for up three Panasonic Lumix cameras, which are intuitive to to $2,000 for innovative classroom projects that would use, and take great photographs. She otherwise go unfunded. This past year, asked a local expert, Fuller Royal, to 26 local teachers received a total of fix the settings so that the staff would $34,372 in grants. Since its founding be able to react quickly at events and in 1994, the program has contributed activities. They’ve been a big hit with more than $800,000 to area teachers. the three member staff.

The deadline to apply is “Now they can take nice, clear September 15, and applications pictures for the yearbook that they received by the early bird deadline can be proud of, and will live on for a of August 15 will be entered into a long time,” reports Collins. “They’ve also gotten a lot of drawing for a $100 Visa gift card. Applications should positive feedback from other students, which we think be submitted online at NCBrightIdeas.com or at bemc.org/bright-ideas-grants. will help with recruitment. We have a student who loves

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Five Fun Facts about Rights-of-Way Maintaining clear Rights-of-Way helps Brunswick Electric prevent outages and speeds restoration after a storm. Here are some aspects of the program you might not be aware of:

1

We’re not just concerned with the width of a Right-ofWay, we also look at nearby “danger” trees, that are dead or could otherwise fall on our lines. If they do, at a minimum they will take out a circuit, and could possibly break a line or damage a pole, which will extend an outage.

Removing these trees before they fall has a big impact on reliability.

2

When a tree grows tall enough for some of its limbs to brush against a power line, it can lead to intermittent “blinks”. These momentary trips of a circuit breaker can cause things like your clocks to reset. This is why we encourage planting only low-growing trees and shrubs beside power lines.

3

We ask that members with underground lines avoid planting near our equipment. When there’s an outage our cabinets need to be easy to find, and there are other occasions when we must be able to open them as well.

Having adequate clearance for our crew, tools and materials is essential. We appreciate visibility and accessibility.

4 5

We cut, trim and maintain our Rights-of-Way on a regular cycle, which is typical of utility industry best practices, and important because we’re in an area of high vegetative growth.

Skytrim working on wooded areas. It has a 75-foot reach.

Please note that clearing vegetation around the above ground lines that go from transformers to individual houses is the responsibility of the homeowner.

Deeper Dive The electric distribution System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) is a description of the length of time all customers would have been out of power if the total number of minutes out of service in a year's time were to be shared. Your cooperative generally scores in the top quartile compared to our peers.

Crew in mowing tractors work under our lines.

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:

Ashley Swaim

I

had been working in Emergency Services since 2006, including as a dispatcher for Brunswick County’s 911 Communications Center, before coming to work for BEMC. As an NC State Certified Firefighter and EMS and rescue technician, I’ve always been motivated by a passion for helping people. I began serving as a Control Center Technician for Brunswick Electric in December 2020, and as my son Ryan will tell you, I enjoy every aspect of what I do.

Each call I take gives me the opportunity to solve a problem, and they’re all different. It could be that a BPT Ashley Swaim, Control Center Technician (Bill Payment Terminal) needs a repair, someone’s power was cut off, or there’s a structure on fire and the meter needs to be pulled. Whatever it is, we know our members are being affected by it, and we do our best to solve the issue as quickly and completely as possible.

I feel fortunate every day that I’m doing something I believe in, with a team dedicated to serving our members’ best interests.

Announcing 2022 College Tuition Scholarship Winners Congratulations to Peyton Blosser, graduate of South Columbus High School and son of John Blosser of Nakina, and Emma Stone, graduate

Peyton Blosser

Emma Stone

of South Brunswick High School and daughter of John and Kelly Stone of Southport. Each received a $5,000 college tuition scholarship from BEMC. Stone will attend UNC Chapel Hill, and Blosser will attend NC State University.

Each year, the co-op awards $5,000 scholarships to two local high school seniors based on a combination of academic achievement, participation in community and school activities, SAT or ACT scores, letters of reference, and a 1,500-word essay. Applications are available online in mid-December and in high school guidance counselors’ offices, and the deadline to apply is mid-March.

Visit bemc.org/scholarship-highway for more information.

BEMC offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in honor of Independance Day CUSTOMER SERVICE ( 800) 842-5871 | OUTAGE REPORTING (800) 682-5309 Shallotte (910) 754-4391 Southport/Oak Island (910) 457-9808 Whiteville (910) 642-5011

P.O. Box 826, Shallotte, NC 28459 www.bemc.org email: newsletter@bemc.org

AUTO BILL PAYMENT 24/7 (866) 934-6830 This institution is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Gore

Larry Fowler

PRESIDENT

S E C R E TA R Y T R E A S U R E R

Frederick Tedder

Calvin Duncan

VICE PRESIDENT

A S S T. S E C R E TA R Y T R E A S U R E R

Deborah Ahlers

Perry Sellers

Moses Herring

Dan Strickland

Glenn Humbert

John Ward

Joshua L. Winslow

Dennis Worley

CEO/G ENER AL MANAGER

AT T O R N E Y

18 | July 2022

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IN POWER. SINCE 1920.

R&T Power Systems delivering the promise to always keep you out of the dark! #PromiseOfPower

RTPowerSystems.com

SERVING EASTERN NC

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6/9/22 3:47 PM

On the House

Swimming in Savings Help make your pool more energy efficient

By Jonathan Susser

Q:

I read somewhere that my pool pump is one of the biggest energy users in my home. Is that true? What can I do to make it more energy efficient?

A:

It is, indeed, true. Circulating, filtering and cleaning all that pool water yearround — especially in the summertime — eat up a significant amount of energy. In fact, pool pumps, due to their motor, may be your second largest energy consumer at home, behind only your heating and cooling system. Fortunately, there are efficient pumping technologies that will make less of a dent in your wallet while keeping the water crystal clear.

When evaluating a pool pump for efficiency and savings potential, the biggest thing to look for is whether it is single-speed or variable-speed. Single-speed pool pumps, as their name suggests, operate at only one speed no matter the task. In other words, they’ll run at the same rate when operating a chlorinator, supporting water features or filtering, despite the latter requiring less power.

Variable-speed pool pumps, on the other hand, can tailor their speed to specific uses, and can be programmed to do so, so that you don’t waste power when it isn’t necessary.

These pumps also tend to be quieter and should require less maintenance and last longer than single-speed pumps, because slower filtration rates put less stress on the equipment. However, you’ll still want to properly maintain them just like the others — by repairing leaks and removing

debris, for instance — so they operate at peak performance.

A downside to variable-speed pool pumps is that they cost more upfront than single-speed pumps (though check with your electric cooperative for rebates). However, given their operating cost savings, their break-even point is typically just a couple of years, and you should save a substantial amount of money from then on — likely on the order of hundreds of dollars annually. Pool equipment manufacturer Pentair provides an online calculator (bit.ly/pool-calc) to gauge how much you might be able to save.

Also, keep an eye out for the Energy Star® label on pool pumps. Energy Star independently certifies variable-speed pumps — both in-ground and above-ground models — that meet specific criteria, so you’ll be even more confident that you’ll save energy and money. In fact, certified in-ground pool pumps use up to 65 percent less energy than standard pool pumps, and certified above-ground pool pumps use around 17 percent less energy.

While pumping will be your largest pool-related energy expense, there are additional ways to cut down on costs.

For example, safely covering your pool when it’s not in use can help reduce any heating expenses, conserve water and even make cleaning easier. If you have a pool heater, try to avoid heating your pool too much beyond 78 degrees — each degree you add could set you back an additional 10% to 30% in energy.

So, worry a bit less about the bank and enjoy the sun and water this summer. Maybe you’ll even get to fit in a few extra pool parties with your new savings.

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

20 | July 2022

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FREEDOM. TO BE YOU.

If you think oxygen therapy means slowing down, it’s time for a welcome breath of fresh air.

Introducing the Inogen One family of portable oxygen systems. With no need for bulky tanks, each concentrator is designed to keep you active via Inogen’s Intelligent Delivery Technology.® Hours of quiet and consistent oxygen flow on a long-lasting battery charge enabling freedom of movement, whether at home or on the road. Every Inogen One meets FAA requirements for travel ensuring the freedom to be you.

• No heavy oxygen tanks • Ultra quiet operation • Lightweight and easy to use

• Safe for car and air travel • Full range of options and accessories • Clinically validated for 24/7 use

Call 1-888-491-1237 or visit inogen.com for a free consultation and info guide.

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I Remember

Memories and photos from our readers Birthday Beach Fun Every August my family would go to Carolina Beach for my birthday. We would stay in a two-story house that had been converted to several small efficiencies.

Each evening we would walk to the pavilion. I would ride the hobby horses, my mom would play bingo, we would walk the boardwalk and watch the candy folks pull taffy and make those giant pinwheel lollipops.

Our last stop was at Dairy Queen for free ice cream as the owner of the house where we were staying ran the DQ. My dad brought his own inner tube to use as a float, fishing poles for him and my brother, and he and I would dig big holes on the beach and just sit in them. Best times ever that I cherish in my heart.

Lucy Buchanan, Fairview A member of Union Power Cooperative

I Love My ‘Teachur’ As an adult, the many cards I received from my beloved Grandpa Bill was a US Army Air Force pilot in grandfather Bill always 1941 during World War II. contained this phrase: “I love my teachur.” It was a private joke between us, dating back to my days as his self-appointed seven-year-old schoolmarm. For some reason, I decided that the former World War II pilot and successful housing contractor needed an education.

Sprawled out on the concrete floor of the carport at his house on Dublin Road in Asheboro, chalk in hand, I spent hours “teaching” him math and spelling.

“What is 7 times 7?” I would demand, only to hear him say “53!” or “99!” Exasperated, I would huff and puff.

“When will you learn that 7 times 7 is 49?” And his spelling was atrocious. “If you don’t learn to spell,” I warned him, “you will never make it in life!”

Eventually I realized that the joke was on me, and he intentionally flunked my quizzes just to hear me scold him. My grandfather passed away in 1995, and I owe so much to him, including my sense of humor and lifelong interest in education. Looking back, however, I just wish I’d spent more time learning from him.

Ashley Harris, Asheboro, a member of Randolph Electric

Dressed for the Beach In 1970, my father, Lasalle Hankins, won this boat in a drawing. At that time, my parents had eight children to feed and decided to sell the boat to secure additional funds for our care. Prior to its sale, my father had to have a family photograph taken with the boat. I am sitting on my mother’s lap wearing a bathing suit. Years later, I inquired of my mother as to my “inappropriate” dress attire. She responded, “You often dressed yourself in a bathing suit hoping to go to the beach!”

Pauline Hankins, Bolivia A member of Brunswick Electric

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Saturday Afternoon Wrestling Pictured are my grandparents, Gordon and Leeanna Davis, in rural McDowell County. They purchased a TV in the early 1960s, but it only picked up the Charlotte station. Wrestling came on Saturday afternoons, and boy did they get into that. Grandpap sat in his straight-back chair twisting, jerking and grunting right along with them. Of course, they had good and bad guys.

One bad guy was called Rip Hawk.

Chief Wahoo McDaniel, a good guy [and a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American], was a crowd favorite. He came to the ring wearing his magnificent headdress, strutting around the ring before his match. On this particular Saturday, Dad said, “Come on, we’ll go cut your granny’s grass.”

As we were getting out of the truck, here comes Grandma walking or maybe stomping down from their log house.

You could tell she was ill, nope, madder than a wet hen, I guess. Dad asked, “What’s wrong, Ma?” She replied, “Why

My grandparents, Gordon and Leeanna Davis, 1962.

that there danged ol’ Chicken Hawk done went and jumped on him before he could get his feathers off!”

I still laugh every time I recall that day and how upset she was from that wrestling match!

Arvle Davis, Asheville A member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

Corn, Corn and More Corn Everyone who knows me, knows I love corn. It doesn’t matter how it is cooked or even how it is served. When I was a small child, I remember going to a Corn Festival.

There was corn everywhere … white corn, yellow corn, pretty corn, ugly corn … EVERYWHERE! To a corn lover like me, it was a childhood dream come true.

I had corn with salt, corn with butter, and even just plain corn. Since it was just picked local corn, it was very sweet.

I liked it even better than chocolate!

I always remembered the Corn Festival. It was such a good memory. I thought it could never be topped. Then, years later, my father-in-law retired. He decided to return to his hometown. Once there, he found and purchased a small piece of property. He was very happy as he began to grow some of his food.

We watched him as his garden began to grow. Each time we saw him, everything would be taller and closer to picking. I should say, my father-in-law may have liked watching everything grow even better than eating it. He was amazed at how much he could grow in his garden.

Finally, the garden was ready. Up on the top of a hill, his large stalks of corn were gently blowing in the wind. To me, it was such a beautiful sight and one I will always remember.

My father-in-law said I could have all the corn I could carry — no bags or boxes. Since I love corn so much, this was a challenge I couldn’t resist.

I began to pick corn, one ear at a time. Before I was through, I had corn in my pockets, under my arms, rolled in the shirt I was wearing — there was corn in my socks and up my sleeves. Corn was anywhere you could imagine.

By the time I was through, my spouse and father-in-law were really laughing. I was trying not to laugh since I did not want to drop a single ear!

We were never sure how I managed it, but I ended up with 60 ears. We picked a few more ears and went back to the house to eat them. I know that was some of the best corn I have ever eaten. Certainly the ones I laughed about the most!

Katie Martin, Danbury

Send Us Your Memories We love sharing photos and memories dear to our readers. Submit your photo, plus roughly 200 words that describe it, online or by mail with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want it returned (only one entry per household, per month). Include your name, mailing address, phone number or email address, and the name of your electric co-op. We retain reprint rights, and we’ll pay $50 for those we publish. Online: carolinacountry.com/contact U.S. Mail: I Remember, Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616

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Carolina Bookshelf

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V The Last to Vanish

In her latest novel, available July 26, New York Times bestselling author and Charlotte resident Megan Miranda tells the story of the fictional North Carolina mountain resort town of Cutter’s Pass. As the book begins, a string of unsolved disappearances that has haunted the town is once again thrust into the spotlight when investigative journalist Landon West, who was staying at an inn managed by Abigail Lovett, disappears himself. Abby has sometimes felt like an outsider within the community, but she’s come to view Cutter’s Pass as her home. When Landon’s brother Trey shows up looking for answers, Abby can’t help but feel the town closing ranks. And she’s still on the outside. When she finds incriminating evidence that may bring them closer to the truth, Abby soon discovers how little she knows about her coworkers, neighbors, and even those closest to her.

Hardcover, 336 pages, $27.99; e-book, $14.99 (prices may vary by retailer). simonandschuster.com

Painters and Their Paintings

Nestled in the northwestern corner of North Carolina, mountainous Ashe County boasts the kind of picturesque landscapes artists dream of. A spirit of natural artistry runs deep through the county’s culture and its towns offer murals, street art and galleries and institutions like the Florence Thomas Art School.

A true art destination, Ashe County is home to hundreds of painters inspired by the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the New River Valley. This book showcases the talented painters of Ashe, professionals and hobbyists alike, across generations and various paint media. Works by 103 artists are represented in 415 full color images. Artists featured include Joan Stiles Bell, Wendy Morrison, R.T. Morgan, Stephen Sharpe Shoemaker and the late Florence Thomas, of the same-named art school in West Jefferson. The book’s author, Doug Munroe, is a painter and retired nurseryman. Photography enthusiast Kim Hadley handled the book’s photos and coordinated with the artists.

Large format paperback, 259 pages, $40. mcfarlandbooks.com

Digital Extra Find more books about and from NC at carolinacountry.com/bookshelf.

Prefer to support independent bookstores? You can cross-reference books and local shops where they are sold by visiting indiebound.org.

Feeding The Soul

Before Tabitha Brown, a North Carolina native, was a vegan foodie on social media sharing recipes and wisdom with millions, she was an aspiring actress, who in 2016 began struggling with undiagnosed chronic autoimmune pain. Her puzzling condition exhausted and frightened her and several doctors she consulted were unable to find what was wrong.

The draining experience made her believe she wouldn’t live to see age 40, until she started listening to what her soul and her body truly needed. In her new book, she shares insights gained from her challenging physical and emotional journey and also sprinkles in several vegan recipes, including Vegan Tuna Melt and Vegan Fried Peaches and Biscuits. Rich with personal stories and inspirational quotes, Tabitha shows readers how to make a life for themselves that is rooted in nonjudgmental kindness and love, both for themselves and for others. Hardcover, 288 pages, $22.39; e-book $14.99, audio file $20.99. harpercollins.com

S

Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks

More than 6,000 ships have met their doom in the waters of North Carolina’s coast, and their stories weave a rich history of tragedy, drama and heroics along these picturesque beaches. Sailors have lost their lives and fortunes, and heroes have been made where the combination of mixing currents, treacherous coastline and shifting underwater sandbars have spelled disaster for even the most seasoned sailor.

“Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic” recounts the intriguing stories of daring deeds, tragic failures, enduring mysteries and buried treasure. Writer James D. Charlet brings readers right on board with his colorful anecdotes. He also explains nautical terms and relates how some shipwrecks impacted American history and its politics. Charlet is an authority on the U.S. Life-Saving Service on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and is a former site manager of Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum in Rodanthe.

Hardcover, 264 pages, $35; e-book $14.49. barnesandnoble.com

Carolina Bookshelf features select books that relate to North Carolina by setting or topic or that are by NC authors. To submit a book for a possible mention, please mail a copy of the book, along with a description of its topic, purchase information and your contact information, to Carolina Bookshelf, Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27616.

24 | July 2022

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6/9/22 3:47 PM

Struck in 99.9% Fine Silver! e EVER! For the First Tim

r First Legal-Tende tury! n Morgans in a Ce

ITE D! VE RY LIM t the Mint!

Sold Out a

Actual size is 38.1 mm

O PRIVY MARK

The U.S. Mint Just Struck Morgan Silver Dollars for the First Time in 100 Years!

It’s been more than 100 years since the last Morgan Silver Dollar was struck for circulation. Morgans were the preferred currency of cowboys, ranchers and outlaws and earned a reputation as the coin that helped build the Wild West.

Struck in 90% silver from 1878 to 1904, then again in 1921, these silver dollars came to be known by the name of their designer, George T. Morgan. They are one of the most revered, most-collected, vintage U.S. Silver Dollars ever.

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary with Legal-Tender Morgans

Honoring the 100th anniversary of the last year they were minted, the U.S. Mint struck five different versions of the Morgan in 2021, paying tribute to each of the mints that struck the coin. The coins here honor the historic New Orleans Mint, a U.S. Mint branch from 1838–1861 and again from 1879–1909. These coins, featuring an “O” privy mark, a small differentiating mark, were struck in Philadelphia since the New Orleans Mint no longer exists. These beautiful

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coins are different than the originals because they’re struck in 99.9% fine silver instead of 90% silver/10% copper, and they were struck using modern technology, serving to enhance the details of the iconic design.

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6/9/22 3:47 PM

Carolina Adventures

An Island Frozen in Time Portsmouth Island Village delivers scenes from yesteryear Story and photos by Leah Chester-Davis

S

tep onto the lone, narrow dock at Portsmouth Island, and you are greeted by a quiet peace and a small village from yesteryear that beckons you. The island has appeal for history buffs, surf fishers, and for those who simply want to revel in miles of white sandy beaches known for their shells and incredible views of the Pamlico Sound and Atlantic Ocean.

As you head from the dock and walk along a small road through scenic marshland, you’ll have the chance to wander through the village and view about 17 structures from the late 1800s and early 1900s. On any given visit, about six are open to visitors.

Treasured town North Carolina’s colonial legislature chartered Portsmouth in 1753 as a planned town. It became a bustling seaport and one of the most important on the East Coast. By the late 1700s, Portsmouth was the largest town on the Outer Banks, and it would reach its peak of nearly 700 residents by 1860. The Civil War brought changes, though, and so did shifting sands that changed the inlet to make it less accessible for large ships. As a result, other inlets gained more importance.

With the last residents leaving Portsmouth in 1971, Portsmouth Village is now part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore and under the auspices of the National Park Service. It is a treasure to both North Carolina and the Nation.

Historical sights The first stop is at the Theodore and Annie Salter House, which is now the visitor center. The park service has several interpretive displays about life on the island. The General Store, with a small post office in the corner, welcomes you into a circa 1900 store and the island’s gathering place.

Visit the one-room schoolhouse and imagine one teacher for eight grades. Climb the ladder in the lifesaving station to a perch with stunning views. Picture island residents gathering at the Methodist church as church bells peal.

Today, visitors ring the church bells, which are about the only sounds on the island other than the whisper of the wind and birdsong.

The village is open to visitors during the spring through fall, depending on the weather. Much of that time, two park service volunteers reside on Portsmouth, most signing up for three-week stints. In late May and early June, Kathi and Glenn Dunn, of Marshallberg, make Portsmouth their home.

During their temporary stays over the past seven years, they greeted day visitors, answered questions, kept the buildings swept and cleaned, mowed, and handled emergencies.

“Portsmouth picks its people,” says Kathi. “The first time I ever set foot on the dock, there was a sense of peace. I loved it. There is something about this place that grabs people, and it grabbed me. I feel the history. I feel the presence of Portsmouth more than many other places. Come prepared to experience history that you can feel.”

Getting there Portsmouth is currently only accessible via private boat or by Portsmouth Island Tours out of Ocracoke (call 252-928-4361 or 252-928-5431 for details and reservations).

Rudy Austin, a Tideland EMC board member, and his brother Donald run the tours, along with Rudy’s son, Wade.

The brothers, former ferry captains, grew up on Ocracoke and started helping their father with tours in the early 1980s.

On the trip over and back they share a bit of island history and slow the tour boat for photographs whenever pods of dolphins are spotted.

If you visit the island, plan on about two hours exploring the village and two hours for beachcombing. Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, water, walking shoes, a bag for shells and a fully charged phone for photos.

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

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6/8/22 12:49 PM

Jammin’ Sweepstakes

25 Annual th

Carolina Country is partnering with the PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival to offer a random drawing to send winners to the 25th annual festival at PreddyFest Bluegrass Park on the Tar River in Franklin County.

Two winners will receive a festival package that includes:

Weekend passes for you and four friends or family members A week of free camping onsite (campers may access as early as July 30)

CarolinaCountry.com/PFBF NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. One entry per person, drawn by random; odds of receiving one (1) of the two (2) available festival packages, each containing five (5) weekend tickets (estimated retail value of $300), depend upon number of entries received. Offer only good for the 2022 festival being held August 5 and 6, 2022, in Franklinton, NC. Entries must be completed online by July 15, 2022.

August 5th & 6th

Franklinton, NC

FEATURING MUSIC FROM:

The Grascals Junior Sisk Band Alan Bibey & Grasstowne High Fidelity Constant Change Starlett and Big John Nick Chandler & Delivered Ashley Watkins & Andrew Small, and the Buffalo Mountain Boys

PLUS

Free Camping With Weekend Pass 130 Acres Of Family Fun By The River Vendors And Great Food Onsite

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6/10/22 2:44 PM

NC Outdoors

Building a Brand and Cutting-Edge Tackle Kelly Barefoot’s Catch Outdoors is a local powerhouse

By Mike Zlotnicki. Photos courtesy of Kelly Barefoot

I

t’s been said necessity is the mother of invention. For Kelly Barefoot of Raleigh, it was a discontinued crankbait color. What evolved from that in the late 1990s is Catch Outdoors, a brand offering a wide range of tackle designed for fresh and saltwater fishing, as well as sun protection gear.

“The Custom Lures Unlimited website officially began in the summer of 2003,” Kelly says. “The idea of CLU actually began to come into focus several years prior to ’03 though. In the late ’90s, I was heavy into local and regional bass tournaments. One of my favorite crankbait colors became discontinued. I searched high and low for every one I could find, which were scarce at best — these were days when Google, eBay and Amazon didn’t exist as we know them today.”

“Having carved and hand painted lures in the ’80s as a kid, and having tied flies in college, I purchased a cheap airbrush and some cans of air,” he continues. “I began painting that one discontinued color, ol’ blue. I put some of those colors and others in the hands of my friend and pro angler Jeffrey Thomas. That simple move started the ball rolling.”

Kelly was employed by the state in those days, working eight hours a day and then going home and creating lures for hours at a time. In the summer of 2006, he decided to quit the reliable day job with support of his wife, Heidi, and go into lure making full time. Starting out, he would custom paint lures for anglers, but also for groomsmen gifts, holiday-themed lures, lures for anniversaries — just about anything. But what started as a one-man effort has blossomed into a full-fledged lure company.

“When I made the conversion and switch from an all-custom model with CLU and rebranded into Catch Outdoors in late 2014 and early 2015 to a production model, the business and logistics side changed everything

almost instantly,” he says. “Switching from CLU to Catch Outdoors was, without doubt, the hardest decision I ever made as a business owner. Once again, I was going from comfort in the unknown. It has turned out to be by far the best business decision I have made to date.”

Kelly still runs the business and designs the products, but he has four to six local workers that he contracts with for services including packaging products, shipping, receiving and local warehousing, manufacturing, and management, as well as several others that earn commissions through retail sales.

Kelly recently reconnected with local angler Shannon Stewart, who started out doing injection work for him and is now doing lure design work.

“We bounce ideas, thoughts and concepts off each other weekly,” Kelly says. “I benefit from his enthusiasm, and I believe he gains from my 19 years business experience of both successes and failures. Can’t wait to see where it leads in the years to come.”

Kelly’s most popular lure lines are his Danny Joe’s Original Floating Worm, the Zero Gravity Jig and the new tungsten Jack Slap blade bait. Interestingly, the Floating Worm is very popular with salmon and steelhead anglers in the Pacific Northwest.

“It is without any question the most versatile and effective lure I have ever created,” he says of the Jack Slap. “If you have a fin and swim in water, it will catch you.”

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.

Visit catchoutdoors.com to learn more about Kelly and his products.

28 | July 2022

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Marketplace

Vacation Rental

For Sale

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.oceanfrontcourt.com or call 1-800553-SURF (7873)

PORTMEIRION BIRDS OF BRITAIN DINNERWARE, Classic Casual. Discontinued unused estate item.

Original packaging. Six 7-piece place settings. Serving pieces available. 704-636-7521

MYRTLE BEACH AND NMB CONDOS oceanfront and Ist row sleeps 4 to 8 (3BR 3BA) awesome ocean front views a wonderful memorable vacation! 704-300-6001 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

WEEK 26/JULY 4TH TIMESHARE N. MYRTLE BEACH Spacious 2bedrooms 3 full baths $7,000 910-476-2689 HAZEL KELLER COSMETICS. Made in NC using natural ingredients since 1964. Look your best with the ultimate in luxurious, yet affordable cosmetics. 704-399-2226, www.kellercosmetics.com

Miscellaneous ELIMINATE YOUR DEBTS FOREVER— debtfree4life.com/073-837 or call 980-406-6268 COLLECTOR BUYING OLD TOYS, old comic books and WWII military souvenirs like helmets, uniforms, patches, pins, swords and almost anything else. Call 704-616-6567

TRIANGLE DETECTORS. Large selection of metal detectors and gold prospecting equipment, SALES & RENTALS. Durham 919-949-4007

WANTED ARROWHEADS. Buying Indian artifacts any size collection. 757-373-3502

Business Opportunities

HEARING AIDS TOO EXPENSIVE? Do you qualify for help or low payments? Hearing Aid Helpline 866-479-1519

“MONEY LIKES SPEED, SIMPLICITY AND AUTOMATION!” “First Mover Advantages!” www.PerpetualProfits.biz

Insurance

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.

To place a classified ad: carolinacountry.com/classifieds

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.

CASH PAID FOR OLD FISHING LURES—Call Rick Hutton 704-695-4917

BURIAL INSURANCE PLANS for any budget. No exam, easy qualification. Visit finalexpenseassured.com or call 813-352-2587.

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1-888-427-BARN (2276)

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6/10/22 2:35 PM

Carolina Kitchen

Spiced Refrigerator Pickled Peaches

Some of us grew up enjoying pickled peaches, while others may find them unfamiliar and odd.

This classic Southern food first appeared in a cookbook in the 1700s. Both sweet and tart, serve pickled peaches alongside ham and turkey, or diced and spooned over ice cream, pancakes or waffles.

4 pounds peaches (freestone preferred; choose peaches that are ripe and slightly soft to touch) 8 cinnamon sticks ½ teaspoon per pint crushed red pepper, optional 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup apple cider vinegar ½ cup water 2 teaspoons whole cloves 4 teaspoons apple or pumpkin pie spice Peel peaches and cut into halves or wedges and then place into 8 pint or 4 quart-sized jars. Add cinnamon sticks (1 per pint or 2 per quart jar). If using red pepper for a bit of a kick, add to jars as well.

Heat sugars, vinegar, water and spices to a low boil and cook for about 10 minutes to thicken into a thin syrup. Remove from heat.

Carefully ladle the hot syrup with spices over peaches (leaving ½-inch head space if canning).

Refrigerate and enjoy in a day or two once spices and peaches marry. Keep in refrigerator up to a few months. Or, if you’d rather, can per industry recommendations (10-minute water bath).

During off season, you can make these using canned peaches for homemade Christmas gifts!

Once you have enjoyed all the peaches, use the remaining syrup as you would other syrups or just add more peaches.

Sticky Chicken Legs With orange marmalade

Summertime and the livin’ is easy. And we like to keep it that way, so give this simple recipe a go. Just a few ingredients and you’ll be devouring finger lick’n good, sweet ‘n’ crispy chicken legs. Pair with our Butter Swim Cornbread Biscuits on the side — simply scrumptious!

1

2 ½ 1

dozen chicken legs Salt and pepper teaspoons granulated garlic cup orange marmalade stick butter, cut in small pieces

Pat legs dry with paper towels. Season all sides with salt, pepper and garlic.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking pan with parchment paper and place a cooking rack over paper. Coat rack with pan spray. Cook legs until they reach 165 degrees, turning after the top side has browned a bit to do the same on the other side.

If preferred, you can also grill the legs until crispy and browned.

Put hot legs in a deep bowl and add in marmalade and butter. Cover with another bowl and shake vigorously until butter melts and hot legs are nicely glazed.

Serve immediately if you prefer your chicken crispy.

Tip: To give your legs a little heat, add some hot sauce or cayenne pepper when shaking.

Yield: One dozen chicken legs

Yield: Makes about 6–8 pints (3–4 quarts)

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6/8/22 1:18 PM

Carolina Kitchen

Butter Swim Cornbread Biscuits With blueberries and rosemary

From Your Kitchen

It’s blueberry season here in North Carolina, so time to ramp up your usage. These baked beauties are a little bit cornbread and a little bit biscuit. If you’ve never made butter swim biscuits, they are just what they sound like: biscuits, swimming in butter as they bake.

1 1½ 1 1 2 1 1²/₃

stick butter cups all-purpose flour cup yellow cornmeal tablespoon baking powder tablespoons sugar teaspoon table salt cup buttermilk

¼ cup chopped fresh rosemary 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons flake salt (optional) 2 tablespoons melted butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Put butter into an 8-by-8-inch baking dish to melt while oven heats and biscuits are made.

Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir in buttermilk and rosemary until just blended and dough is wet. Overworking will make biscuits “tough.” Gently fold in blueberries.

Spoon batter over melted butter and spread to edges with a spatula. Dust with 1 tablespoon of sugar and the flake salt if so desired. Cut into 3-by-3-inch squares before putting into hot oven.

Bake 30–40 minutes until golden brown. Let sit for the butter to be absorbed, then cut and serve.

Variation: For pastry-type biscuits, add ¼ cup sugar to the batter. Make a glaze of powdered sugar and a little water to drizzle over top when done.

Yield: 9 biscuits

Coconut Cookie Pudding

While not exactly a trifle or a pie, this Coconut Cookie Pudding is reminiscent of both. Thanks to a triple dose of coconut products, its tropical flavor arrives in full force.

Crust 12 coconut cookies, crushed, and the rest reserved (we used a family-sized box of belVita Breakfast Biscuits, toasted coconut flavor) 6 tablespoons butter, melted First layer 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 2 tablespoons sugar, granulated

Pudding 1 tub (8 ounces) of whipped topping, divided 12 reserved whole coconut cookies 2 small boxes Coconut Cream JELL-O instant pudding 2½ cups cold milk 1½ cups shredded coconut, toasted* and divided

Make the crust by crushing 12 coconut cookies, mix with butter and press into bottom of an 8-by-8-inch baking dish.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

Beat cream cheese and sugar with mixer until blended.

Spread over crust.

For the pudding, whisk pudding powders with milk; let set. Then stir in 1 cup whipped topping with ¾ cup coconut.

Spread over cream cheese mixture, using just enough to cover.

Add another layer of cookies, then more pudding.

Continue layering until the cookies and pudding mixture are gone. Then top with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with the rest of the toasted coconut. Refrigerate about 5 hours to let the flavors meld. Serve. *To toast shredded coconut, bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, and then let cool.

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

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

Recipe courtesy of Patricia Mitchell of Randleman, a member of EnergyUnited.

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.

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6/8/22 1:19 PM

where

EXTENDED

J U LY

Deadline 15

in Carolina Country is this ?

Send your answer by July 15, 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

Sign up for email updates to guess next month’s “Where Is This” ahead of print publication: carolinacountry.com/register Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our September issue, will receive $25.

Have a roadside gem you’d like to share?

Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where.

Last month’s winner We’ve extended the deadline for “Where Is This” answers to provide readers more time to submit answers. As a result, we have yet to select the winning entry from our June photo as of publication date. We’ll announce the winner next month!

carolinacreators Castles in the Sand Photo by Michelle Tinger, Sunset Beach A member of Brunswick Electric “Each year at Sunset Beach, a group called the Sunset Sand Artists builds these wonderful sand structures on the beach for all to enjoy.”

See more photos at carolinacountry.com/potw

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6/10/22 2:36 PM

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6/8/22 1:09 PM