From Our Readers

VisitNC.com McAdenville

The holidays are upon us, and we can count ourselves all blessed to be spending them in North Carolina. We reflect on what makes this season special here in the Tar Heel State on pages 8 and 9, and you can find recipes to keep your Christmas, Hanukkah or other celebrations going strong on page 22. From all of us at Carolina Country, thank you for reading, and we’re looking forward to sharing more great stories in 2023!

—Scott Gates, editor

Focus on Reliability I just wanted to give you and your team a shout out for the Carolina Country magazine you provide. The article titled “Reliability is Key to a Successful Energy Transition” (November 2022, page 4) was very informative. I also enjoyed all the other articles and information as well. Keep up the great work!

Penny Lynch, Leland A member of Brunswick Electric

Family Christmas Memories

When I was a child, one of the greatest joys of the holidays was sitting in front of my grandmother’s decorated

Christmas tree. The sweet-smelling cedar coming out of the woodland was placed where all the children could see. The gifts were wrapped in big boxes with Santa paper, My family Christmas tree from 1955 and red and green ribbons. I stared at the beauty of the tree, knowing

Santa would leave one present for me.

Dorothy Steele, Lilesville A member of Pee Dee Electric

Calvin Reyes

A Happy, Peaceful Place This note is in reference to an article in your October issue (“Haunting Tales,” page 8). To have the place I called home referred to as a “haunted” little village broke my heart. My dad, Bud Rudisill, was the last person to move from Henry River Mill Village. It was a happy, peaceful place to grow up in.... We might not have had much, but we didn’t know it. Lots of villagers attended church at Henry River Baptist, and many are resting in the cemetery there. It really insulted me to read this story. We never heard of haunts and voices and people hearing things.... It’s a place just full of wonderful memories of growing up, the wonderful people we grew up with, and my wonderful parents, Bud and Hettie Rudisill.

Nadine Rudisill, Hickory A member of Rutherford EMC

Editor’s note: Thank you for writing in about this, Nadine. The village is a beautiful spot that’s currently undergoing preservation efforts to restore it to its former glory. Readers can learn more about these efforts, as well as how to visit the village, at henryrivermillvillage.com.

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 54, No. 12 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 Tara Verna Creative Services Associate Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com

Joseph P. Brannan Executive Vice President & CEO Nelle Hotchkiss Senior Vice President & COO

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each memberowned, not-for-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership. Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine? Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year. Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. Schools, libraries, $6. Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

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