2023-05-BRE

YOUR SLICE OF GOODNESS

Being an electric cooperative member has many sweet benefits. Start with safe, reliable electricity. Add affordable, friendly service. Flavor with support for local communities.

Then add the icing on top — money back to you through capital credits.

Capital credits are members’ share of money left over after expenses have been paid and savings set aside for upcoming projects and storm emergencies.

In May, over 23,000 active members with a capital credits refund of $35 or more will receive a check in the mail, and 36,000 members with a refund less than $35 will see a credit on their May bills. This year, members will receive a total of more than $5.8 million.

What a treat! (Read more on page 11.)

Benefits continue even after you move.

More than 34,000 former members continue to enjoy capital credits refunds even though they are no longer active members. Be sure Blue Ridge Energy has your current address to ensure you receive yours. Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Unclaimed to search for unclaimed capital credits that may add a special slice of goodness to your life.

For many patients with macular degeneration and other visionrelated conditions, the loss of central visual detail also signals the end to one of the last bastions of independence - driving. A Wilmington optometrist, Dr. Edward Paul, is using miniaturized telescopes which are mounted in glasses to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration and other eye conditions.

“Some of my patients consider me the last stop for people who have vision loss” said Dr. Paul, one of only a few doctors in telescopes to help those who have lost vision due to macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other debilitating eye diseases.

Imagine a pair of glasses that can improve your vision enough to change your life. If you’re a low vision patient, you’ve probably not only imagined them, but have been searching for them. Bioptic telescopes may be the breakthrough in optical technology that will give you the independence you’ve been looking for. Patients with vision in the 20/200 range can many times be improved to 20/50.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss in people over 50. Despite this, most adults are not

familiar with the condition. As many as 25% of those over the age of 50 have some degree of macular degeneration. The macula is only one small part of the retina, however it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp central vision. When it degenerates, macular degeneration leaves a blind spot right in the center of

to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the driver’s vision test.

Nine out of 10 people who have macular degeneration have the dry form. New research suggests vitamins can help. The British medical journal BMC Ophthalmology recently reported that

possible to keep a person functioning” says Dr. Paul. Even if it’s driving.

Doreen Jenkins, 72, of Pocahontas, friend. She wanted to keep her Iowa drivers license and was prescribed bioptic tele-

lights farther away. Dr. Paul also prescribed microscope glasses for reading newspapers and menus in restaurants.

As Doreen puts it, “my regular glasses didn’t help too much- it was like looking through a fog. These new telescopic glasses not only allow me to read signs from a farther distance, but makes driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. I don’t know why I waited three years to do this; I should have come sooner.”

“Bioptic telescopes can cost over $2,000,” says Dr. Paul, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass.”scope is that the lens automatically focuses on whatever you’re looking at,” said Dr. Paul. “It’s like an self-focusing camera, but much more precise.”

56% of patients treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins experienced improved vision after six months.

TOZAL Comprehensive Eye Health Formula is now available by prescription from eye doctors.

risk factor for developing the disease, heredity, smoking, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure have also

degeneration accounts for 90% of new legal blindness in the US. While there is currently no cure, promising research is being done on many fronts. “My job

To learn more about bioptic telescopes or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Paul, give us a call at 1-910-208-9011. You can also visit our website at:

A scene as it might be viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Scott Gates, CCC Editor

Warren Kessler

Creative Director

Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor

Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant

Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer

Tara Verna

Creative Services Associate

Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com

Joseph P. Brannan

Executive Vice President & CEO

Nelle Hotchkiss

Senior Vice President & COO

Kristie Aldridge, CCC Vice President

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, notfor-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

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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.

From Our Readers

Community Development in Action

I am so proud to be a member of Randolph EMC, and I love to brag to my friends about how generous and giving our cooperative is, not only to its members, but to our communities as well! Not only through the educational grants for teachers and scholarships for students, but also through giving to charities. Thank you for your donation to help Robbins Fire Rescue purchase their tanker engine. Our fire departments cover large fires and emergencies in Moore County, and this will be such a welcome and much needed addition.

Kathleen Causey, Seven Lakes, a member of Randolph EMC

Editor’s note: Thank you for writing in about this, Kathleen! That grant was one of two recently made by the co-op to support local fire departments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant program. North Carolina’s electric co-ops are national leaders in using this program, which provides rural utilities with grants and zero-interest loans to directly fund local projects that create and retain employment in the communities they serve. Twenty-three NC co-ops have tapped the program to channel a total of $83 million to projects across the state, supporting the creation of more than 6,000 jobs.

SNAPSHOTS Carolina

THIS MONTH: Springtime in Carolina Country

We typically run home improvement tips in May, as it’s a great time to tackle projects otherwise put off by cold weather. We have an ample share of that in this issue — including DIY success stories from readers on page 8 — but we couldn’t resist the opportunity to celebrate spring with a nod to a popular pastime wherever you may live: kite flying. Also, on page 6 we share how electric co-ops are helping members use less energy.

Sporting Clays Enthusiast

THEME

Rainy Days

A Puddle Jumping

Phillip Stith, Winston-Salem, A member of Carteret-Craven EC

B Umbrellas in the Mist

Patricia Joynes, Boone, A member of Blue Ridge Energy

C Dodging Raindrops

Eric Kozen, Burgaw, A member of Four County EMC

D Glistening Bells

Jason-Bauder, Raeford, A member of Lumbee River EMC

E Raindrops on My Window

Jody Wolf, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., A member of Blue Ridge Energy

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO!

July Theme: Patriotic

Send us your best shots based on this theme by May 20 — we’ll pay $25 for those published. Submit high-resolution digital photos and find full terms and conditions at carolinacountry.com/snapshots emails, please). We retain reprint and online rights for all submissions.

“Golf With a Shotgun” (April 2023, page 26) is an excellent article, and a great description of our wonderful sport and how much fun it is!

Doug Parsons via carolinacountry.com

When combined with the

Bright Ideas Grants Foster Success for Students and Teachers

By Elizabeth Babcock

When I first learned about the funding opportunities made possible by North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ Bright Ideas education grant program, I wanted to improve our school’s computer lab by purchasing software and online subscriptions that would enhance instruction and support classroom teachers. Funding provided through the program over the years has done that, and so much more. The grant program has been a blessing for our entire school.

Bright Ideas grants funded a project that helped us procure some of the first eBooks in our rural school. Our computer lab has become a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab. We now have technology-based learning that goes beyond online games and documents to the ability to create 2D drawings and turn those into 3D prints so students have an actual model to hold, use and share with others.

Bright Ideas grants have helped us fund a variety of other meaningful, hands-on projects. Many of these projects started small, and the grant program has allowed us to build on what we started with so that we can continue to add on to, edit, revise and improve project expectations and reach more students each year. Programmable robots, for example, have been used for countless engaging activities to provide learning opportunities in all subject areas. Students have used these robots for launches, obstacle courses, moving objects, making music, recording messages, creating characters, dancing — and, of course, for fun!

Engineering kits have also been funded by Bright Ideas grants. These are some of our students’ most treasured projects. Students build a crawling robot from scratch, and they are able to make changes to improve the robot design. Students race others and are challenged to see how they can make them the fastest. They also have a weight challenge, where students

solve problems to see how much weight they can get their robot to pull. And through the drawbot project, we learn about artists like Jackson Pollock, and students design a robot that mimics the style of that artist.

Bright Ideas also funded several projects from Osmo that have changed our school. Osmo kits make iPads even more interactive with reflective pieces and stands. There are dozens of interactive apps and activities that cover concepts in all areas of our kindergarten through fifth grade curriculum. (Osmos are also a parent night favorite, and some of the teachers love the Words games so much that we catch them playing with them during breaks!)

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Osmo project is the difference it’s made for one particular student. She struggled to make connections and engage in her regular classroom setting, but with the support of Osmo, she is now able to connect and learn in her classroom.

Our goal with our students is to motivate and encourage them to be successful and productive members of society who think critically and solve problems. Like hundreds of schools across the state, we couldn’t do this without the support of the Bright Ideas education grant program.

Elizabeth Babcock is instructional technology facilitator at LaFayette Elementary School, served by South River EMC.

The grant program has been a blessing for our entire school.

Applications for Bright Ideas education grants are now being accepted. Visit ncbrightideas.com to learn more.

Co-op Programs Help Members Save Energy

As member-owned, not-for-profit utilities, keeping costs low for members is a priority for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives and their boards of directors. Helping members use energy more efficiently is one way co-ops across the state are achieving this, using a range of resources including home energy audits, energy use data and, in some cases, energy efficiency loan programs.

“Using less energy in your own home is one way to immediately reduce costs,” said Chris Powell, coordinator of public relations for Albemarle EMC.

Energy audits

Powell conducts 75 to 100 free energy audits a year for Albemarle EMC members, typically following unusually high bills. During an audit, Powell inspects the house with an eye for how it’s using energy. He starts by checking the heating and cooling system, going straight to the thermostat.

“The heating and air system is a home’s largest user of energy, typically followed by the water heater,” Powell explains. “We encounter a lot of heat pumps that are underperforming or are just running on backup heat.”

Following an audit, Powell provides members with a report listing his

findings, along with recommended fixes, including if an appliance needs to be serviced.

Energy use tracker

Another tool available to co-op members is energy use data. Member service representatives can typically access it, and it is often available for members to explore online. Using graphs, a home’s energy use can be compared with high and low temperatures over the course of a day or month. In many cases, any energy use anomalies will stand out, especially to a trained eye.

“Looking for that correlation between temperature and usage is the first step in diagnosing a problem,” said Jon Jacob, energy solutions manager for Blue Ridge Energy. His co-op’s Usage Tracker tool shows members daily home energy use data, along with daily temperatures. “Heating and cooling systems are often the reason for higher than usual bills, but in some cases devices like water heaters or well pumps may be running constantly due to an otherwise unseen issue.”

Even a leaky faucet or damaged pipe can create problems, causing a well pump to run constantly. If data show a steady source of unknown use, Jacob can test things out with a member. They can find the breaker

for the well pump, for example, turn it off, and see what energy use looks like the next day.

Data can also be used to set high use alerts, or for tracking energy use for members using a pay-as-you-go prepaid energy feature.

Energy efficiency loans

Although not all electric co-ops offer energy efficiency loan programs, some use the tool to help members improve their home’s energy use. Roanoke Cooperative, for example, makes cost effective upgrades to member-owners’ dwellings with little to no upfront costs through its Upgrade to Save program — costs are repaid over time on monthly electric bills. The co-op works with certified contractors and quality control inspectors while overseeing projects to ensure improvements are installed correctly.

To date, more than 1,700 member-owners have participated in the program with average savings of more than $70 per month. In addition, its Roanoke SolarShare program provides health and safety repairs to economically disadvantaged member-owners. Health and safety upgrades made through the program total more than $160,000 in grant funds.

“I believe that Upgrade to Save is one of the most important programs at Roanoke Cooperative,” said Roanoke Cooperative Coordinator of Community Development Susan Williams. “It provides much-needed energy efficiency upgrades to member-owners that may not be able to afford them otherwise.”

— Scott Gates, Carolina Country staff

Blue Ridge Energy's Usage Tracker tool

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“Wow, I didn’t realize what I was missing!” — Tina R., Atlanta

HOME IMPROVEMENT WINS

Carolina Country readers get the job done

In recent years we’ve heard some unfortunate — though sometimes comical — stories from readers about when things went wrong. Vacation fails, recipe fails, and yes, home improvement fails (May 2019, page 18). We’re well overdue to celebrate some successes! Thank you to all who took the time to share beloved projects. There’s a lot of good work being done out there— check out a few of our favorites.

BEACH HOUSE OVERHAUL

My husband and I are currently remodeling my grandparents’ house at Holden Beach. One room at a time. We love spending the time together doing these projects and seeing the before and after. This is one of the rooms we’ve completed.

Traci Smith, China Grove, a member of Brunswick Electric

FAMILY LIBRARY

When we bought our house, our upstairs landing had a big closet with wire shelving and bifold doors. My darling husband had a different vision. He replaced the shelves with handmade wooden ones, painted the walls and took off the doors to create the Pelman Family Library!

Amy Pelman, Wake Forest,

a member of Wake Electric

RUSTIC RECYCLING

We added a master suite to our home. We tore down a more than 100-year-old barn and used the tin for the ceiling in the bedroom, the door for the closet, the light from the barn above my vanity, and pecky cypress boards from the subfloor for the bathroom door. The walls and floors were rough-cut pine boards that I hand-sanded and routed to fit together. I used cedar shakes to make a shower wall. It could not have come out any better if a pro had done it, and I am so proud of the finished product!

Dyanna Myers, Elloree, S.C., a

NEW LIFE FOR AN OLD SHED

In summer of 1999, we purchased a property with a burned-out house used for storage. Within walking distance of the Intracoastal and a short drive to Holden Beach, it was a dream come true.

Over 20 years, the house was rebuilt in stages, thanks in part to friends and family. We gutted out the interior, added doors and windows and stuccoed the outside.

After retirement, we moved in full time. It was tight quarters in our 700-square-foot house! We hired a contractor to add on 720 square feet, including a living room, bedroom, walk-in closets and bathroom. All of the masonry work was done by my husband.

We have also renovated the kitchen and added an enclosed sun porch. So much time and patience, but well worth taking a scrap of nothing and turning it into a beautiful home.

A GLIDER FROM THE PAST

I fell in love with this glider style over 20 years ago at a campground in Myrtle Beach. Never seen another until I came across plans to buy in a magazine. It was a great project during the winter months. I added extra support to the seats, and modified the legs due to the lay of the land. I spend a lot of spare time relaxing in this glider.

Dan Savage, Statesville, a member of EnergyUnited

AV INSTALL

We upgraded the location of the TV from the built-in shelf area to on top of the mantle. With the assistance of my father, we ran power from the attic inside the wall to have a seamless look with no hanging cords, and then added some shelves in the old space to balance the look.

Daniel

Houser,

Iron Station, a member of Rutherford EMC

member of Haywood EMC

Rebecca Wroten, Supply, a member of Brunswick Electric

Go fly a

Fair winds blow for North Carolina kite fliers

By Joan Wenner

As the outdoors beckons, the age-old popular pastime of kite flying and the art of making them emerges. Where there’s wind, there are colorful kites able to fly. It is an activity almost anyone can do (and if you tell someone to “go fly a kite,” you won't be punished). Plus being in and enjoying the fresh air is something that virtual reality and avatars so far can’t match.

From the simple to the highly intricate, kites can be seen all around North Carolina — pretty much yearround, though more so from April (officially National Kite Flying Month) through October — and are a sight to behold at organized festivals or gatherings at many state and local parks.

Kite basics

The American Kitefliers Association (AKA) says for adults and kids to build a successful kite, focus on creating a structure that is both strong enough and light enough to fly in a variety of wind conditions, while also paying attention to attributes like balance, bridling, wind speed and turbulence.

Some kites will fly better than others in particular wind conditions, which is why there are a variety of designs. At beaches, for instance, the air above the land gets heated faster and starts rising with signs of low pressure created, according to the association.

The best weather for kite flying is a good clear wind coming from behind— light breezes (4–10 miles per hour) are ideal. High-altitude

meadow winds are desireable, too. North Carolina has an abundance of kite-friendly conditions at its beaches, mountains and Piedmont areas, perfect for everyone to hone their kite flying skills.

Get airborne Kites for children of different ages can be made or kite kits purchased (see kittyhawk.com for some examples).

AKA’s publication “Kiting” offers kit plans, and its website (kite.org) lists more than a dozen plans and instructions for free. For example, there is a simple paper butterfly kite, and a trash bag kite that couldn’t be easier. All you need are “two sticks, a bag, string and scissors, and you have a kite!”

North Carolina offers several kite flying festivals throughout the year, so find one near you and take to the skies.

Kites

through the ages

Here are just a few:

Rogallo Kite Festival

Nags Head | June 16–17 252-441-7132

Wright Kite Festival Kill Devil Hills | July 14–15 877-359-8447

Mile High Kite Festival Beech Mountain | Sept. 2–3 828-387-9283

Cape Fear Kite Festival Kure Beach | Nov. 3–5 910-458-8434

Kites with Lights

Nags Head | Nov. 25 877-359-8447

Joan Wenner, J.D. is a longtime boating and general interest topic writer residing in Pitt County. Comments welcome at joan_writer@yahoo.com.

ƒ The first kites may have been constructed by cultures in Malaysia, Indonesia and the South Pacific as fishing instruments made of natural materials like leaves and reeds, according to AKA.

ƒ In 450 B.C., a Chinese philosopher carefully crafted a wooden bird to “fly” on a tethered line. (There is some debate whether this is considered a true kite, and early written accounts point to earlier kite flying in China, in 200 B.C.)

ƒ Kites increased in popularity in the 18th century, and were also utilized by physicists and meteorologists for scientific purposes (including Benjamin Franklin).

ƒ The Wright Brothers (who were said to be very skilled at flying kites), discovered box kites provided enough lift to raise a man off the ground and built a box biplane. The rest, as is often said, is history.

Kitty Hawk Kites

Membership MATTERS

Capital credits refunds coming in May!

Check the mail or your bill

Money is coming back to members this May thanks to a $5.8 million capital credits retirement approved by your board of directors!

Checks begin mailing mid-May, so be sure to check your mailbox! Members qualifying for a $35 or more refund will be mailed a check separate from their electric bill. Those qualifying for less will see it as a credit to their electric account in May. Members new to the cooperative as of 2023 will be eligible for capital credit refunds beginning next year.

As a cooperative, Blue Ridge Energy doesn’t earn profits. Instead, revenues remaining after all expenses are paid each year are considered “margins.” Margins are allocated annually to members and reflect your member equity (ownership) in the cooperative. After being used for a period of years as capital to help finance reliability projects, these funds are returned to members.

This process helps reduce the need for loans, which in turn, helps keep your electricity rates lower. It also helps maintain a healthy balance between debt and equity to ensure your cooperative’s financial health and stability.

The percentage of equity to be retired and refunded to members is determined annually by your board of directors based on your cooperative’s financial condition. This year, that amount is 3 percent.

Over the history of Blue Ridge Energy, more than $92 million has been returned to members.

Rising costs impact electricity

As a member-owned electric cooperative, Blue Ridge Energy is committed to looking out for our members’ best interests by delivering reliable electricity at the most affordable cost—even during the current environment of significant increases in costs.

Your cooperative is doing everything possible to manage rising costs and will continue to do so. However, there are many factors affecting the price we all pay for electricity that are beyond our control.

The key drivers of rising costs affecting the price of electricity include:

• Geo-political activity across the globe continues to disrupt the world’s energy markets and has sent energy prices soaring at unprecedented levels. Rising costs of natural gas and other electric generation sources were significantly impacted in 2022. While there’s been recent natural gas price improvement, it’s unclear if current prices will be sustained throughout 2023. Additionally, the wholesale power cost adjustment implemented in February will likely be in effect all of this year.

• Supply chain issues and delays of materials needed to maintain the power grid and for operations are also driving up our operating costs. For example: in the past few years, the cost of transformers has increased by 50 percent, meters by 98 percent, power lines by 80 percent, power poles by 20 percent and line trucks by 20 percent. Suppliers tell us this will continue

to be an issue and costs will continue to climb.

• North Carolina’s energy policy, which was signed into law last year, will add significant costs over the next 10 years. The law establishes a carbon reduction target of 70 percent by 2030-2032 and is aimed primarily at Duke Energy’s generation resources. It will be extremely important to manage the pace of change to ensure that we consider reliability and affordability as we pursue an aggressive carbon reduction plan for North Carolina.

We know the impact of rising costs in every sector of the economy is difficult. One of the ways we help is through our Members Foundation and Operation Round Up. This winter, we’ve worked hard to raise additional funds so that we can distribute more crisis heating assistance. Members and employees support this program as well as our subsidiary companies who gave a total of $75,000 this year. This has helped many more homes stay warm this winter.

Rising costs will affect your cooperative and our country for the foreseeable future but our commitment to you, our members, is that we will do everything possible to manage this challenging situation while providing the best reliability and member service you deserve. Even in a rising costs environment, we’re committed to the cooperative principle of keeping your bill as low as possible and providing value to the communities we serve.

From Blue Ridge Energy CEO Doug Johnson

Annual Membership Meeting plans underway: director election kits coming in late May

As a cooperative, Blue Ridge Energy’s Board of Directors is made up of members who represent the entire membership. Each year, Blue Ridge members vote on and elect candidates for four open seats, one in each of the cooperative’s directorate districts: Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany.

Director Election kits will be sent to members on May 24 by mail, or by email if signed up for this option by April 17 at blueridgeenergy.com/company/ board-governance/directors-kit. Members can vote for director candidates online or by mail during this year’s voting period of May 24 through June 14. Members may vote, or change their previous online or mail vote, if attending the cooperative’s annual meeting in-person. The annual meeting will be held June 22 at 4 p.m. at the corporate headquarters in Lenoir.

If voting by mail, the proxy must be signed by the member with their choices clearly marked and received in the enclosed postage-paid envelope no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. To comply with proper election management procedures, the form cannot be given to an employee or accepted at any Blue Ridge office.

To ensure the integrity of director elections, Survey and Ballot Systems, an independent election administrator, was approved by the Credentials and Election Committee in December 2022 (committee members’ names are available at BlueRidgeEnergy.com). This committee is comprised of members from across the cooperative’s service area and is responsible for ensuring director elections are properly conducted, including certifying election results.

Director election kits will be sent to members on May 24. Included will be:

• biographical information for all candidates

• proxy with instructions on how members can vote for candidates in all districts by using one of two options: online or by returning the proxy provided in the kit that includes a postage paid return envelope

• or, if signed up for the email director election kit, you will receive a link in the email to easily vote online

PURPA written comments and hearing notice

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation d/b/a Blue Ridge Energy will receive written comments and subsequently hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 26, 2023, to consider the written comments received as part of its overall consideration and determination process with respect to adoption of the new standards set forth in the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act (PURPA) 111(d) included in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

The IIJA requires cooperatives, municipal utilities, and state regulators to consider adopting s tandards on promoting greater transportation electrification (Sec. 40431) and utility demand response (Sec. 40104).

The written comments will be received through a portal on the Blue Ridge Energy website. The portal will open for comments

on June 1, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. (EDT) and will close on July 17, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).

The hearing will be held at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) at Blue Ridge Energy’s corporate office at 1216 Blowing Rock Blvd., Lenoir. Anyone desiring to attend the hearing, will need to pre-register to attend. Registration information will be available on the Blue Ridge Energy website.

A decision whether to implement each standard will be made on or before November 15, 2023, after considering the written comments received as well as Blue Ridge Energy’s studies regarding these two issues. The decisions will be communicated in writing on Blue Ridge Energy’s website no later than November 15, 2023.

Visit

‘The Ceiling Is the Roof’ for Home Upgrades

Roof work can lead to other energy savings

By Jonathan Susser

Q:I’ll be replacing my damaged roof soon and was wondering if I might be able to knock out other home improvement projects at the same time. How might I go about doing this?

A:Although Michael Jordan’s “ceiling is the roof” comment left some scratching their heads, home roof projects do present opportunities for additional enhancements — some might even say the sky is the limit. One perspective we like to promote is the home-as-a-system approach. It’s the idea that all of the systems in our homes interact with one another to influence our whole experience. Change or update one, and others will likely be affected, which can impact things like comfort, safety, health, durability and energy efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center (bit.ly/doe-basc) offers a framework for whole-home and smaller-scale improvement projects to help maximize their features and benefits. They recommend proactively keeping these six steps in mind:

Step 1: Ensure your home can accommodate the proposed improvement.

Step 2: Ensure your home meets ventilation standards for fresh air.

Step 3: Ensure moisture protection.

Step 4: Ensure any air leaks or drafts are blocked.

Step 5: Improve comfort and reduce energy costs by adding insulation where appropriate.

Step 6: Upgrade equipment and appliances that might be newly accessible.

So, how does this relate to getting a new roof? Roof work can represent a great opportunity to group additional upgrades together for the surrounding area, which could become easier to access. For example, to help keep heat inside your home in the winter and outside in the summer, you might want to include radiant barriers or air seal and further insulate the attic space, which could reduce drafts, lower energy usage and enhance comfort.

You could also look at upgrading your ventilation system and HVAC equipment. If changes were made to air sealing and insulation, make sure any combustion appliances are appropriately tested to work safely and efficiently; repair or replace if needed.

Indoor moisture prevention can be strengthened by confirming that your gutters and downspouts are clear, in good shape and taking water away from your home. Adjustments to landscape grading could be considered as well to help stop outdoor moisture from entering your home. Overall, the measures you pursue will depend on your particular home, setup and needs. Getting a home energy assessment prior to your roof replacement can be an extremely valuable way to help navigate the possibilities available to you. Reach out to your local co-op or nearby contractors with certifications from the Building Performance Institute (bpihomeowner.org) for guidance.

Hopefully this information gives you ideas to think through. With a little more planning and strategy, repairs and upgrades can be more satisfying and less stressful than before.

Jonathan Susser is a content developer for Advanced Energy in Raleigh.

Considering home solar?

Connect with your local energy experts.

Get answers to questions like “What’s the impact to my energy bill? How do I get started?” From home solar to energy efficiency, your electric cooperative is here to help you reach your home energy goals.

Celebrating Bigfoot

The WNC Bigfoot Festival offers big fun

By Donna Campbell Smith

The seat of McDowell County, Marion, is located at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and edged by the Pisgah National Forest. Some say Bigfoot lives in those mountains. John Bruner is one of the folks who believes, and it was his idea to organize a festival celebrating Bigfoot. The first annual festival was held in 2018 and tens of thousands of folks flocked to the town to take part in the festivities.

The two-day event had to be canceled in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic. John brought it back in 2022, and not even the predicted rain put a damper on the fun. Festival goers fall into several categories: those who believe, those who have encountered one and know, and others who are skeptics but are open to the possibility. Of course, none of those categories are required to take part in the festival. Come because it’s just good family fun.

This year’s Western North Carolina Bigfoot Festival (marionbigfootfestival.com) will be held in Marion on May 26 and 27. The festival will start Friday night with an Education Expo featuring Bigfoot expert speakers and ending with a question-and-answer session. Saturday

the downtown streets will be closed to vehicles. A shuttle service will bring festival goers to the main streets that will be lined with hundreds of vendors selling everything Bigfoot related one could imagine. Of course, there will be food vendors as well as the local eateries. The main stage, set up in front of the courthouse, will offer all day entertainment including live music, story tellers, and the annual Bigfoot Calling Contest. A play area with bouncy houses will entertain the children. Attendees can have their picture taken with the big hairy man and one may even sing a song while he plays a guitar.

Dr. Tim Mounce, best-selling author of creature-filled children’s books (squatching.com) and podcast host of “All Things — Unexplained,” was a vendor for the first time at the 2022 festival.

“I had such a great time at the WNC Bigfoot Festival in Marion, North Carolina!” he says. “As a vendor, I was able to meet so many amazing people and hear so many wonderful stories. As a participant, I was lucky enough to have fun exploring this gem of a mountain town and the surrounding area.”

Dr. Tony Blevins was also a first-time festival goer last year. His own audio encounter with what he believes was a Bigfoot has ignited a keen interest in the cryptid. (“I heard him yell. Over and over,” he says of his experience that occurred while on a run.) His personal thought on Bigfoot is that it is a North American wood ape. Retired, he describes himself as an adventure seeker and cryptology enthusiast. Tony says the best part of the festival for him was meeting people and listening to their stories.

Plan your visit with enough extra time to follow Tim’s example and explore Marion and the surrounding area. Enjoy the Blue Ridge Mountains and all of its attractions including Pisgah National Forest, which offers mile-high peaks, waterfalls and some of the most beautiful vistas in the state. Nearby Lake James State Park has boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, camping and

picnicking.

Donna Campbell Smith has authored several books, including “My Neighbors from the Woods,” a novel about Bigfoot. Learn more at donnacampbellsmithwrites.com.

Donna Campbell Smith

Donna Campbell Smith

Mount Ida overlooks downtown Marion.

The SheSquatchers tell stories of Bigfoot sightings.

The author with a Bigfoot enthusiast.

Deborah Brown

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Compact Cannas

Enjoy the blooms on a smaller scale

Story and photos by L.A. Jackson

In flower and foliage, canna lilies (Canna sp.) can make big statements in the landscape, but maybe too big at times. Some cannas grow upwards of 6 feet or more, and in a grouped setting, they are awesome, bordering on formidable. Heck, I’ve even seen expansive stands of such cannas large enough to hide my truck behind.

For backyard growers not thrilled about gardening in the shadows of such biggies, there’s another way to go. Along with big, bodacious creations, dwarf cannas have also been a goal for many plant breeders.

Cannas that restrain themselves to 3 feet in height or less aren’t particularly new to the gardening world, but, to me, it sure seems like more and more of these compact cuties are showing up in garden shops these days. They are becoming ordinary enough that even big box retail stores with nursery centers have gotten in on the fun.

When the cultivar “South Pacific Scarlet” (26 to 32 inches tall) was honored as an All-America Selections

(AAS) winner in 2013, it helped shine a light on the possibilities of petite cannas. This was reinforced when little sister “South Pacific Orange” also became an AAS winner in 2018.

Awards aside, the advantages of compact cannas are obvious, particularly if you have limited garden space. Since they will play nicer among other small ornamentals, it is easier to fit them into the flower garden. Dwarf cannas are also prime candidates for potted plantings to help doll up a deck, patio or gazebo.

Growing cannas in containers makes them seasonally mobile, meaning they can be moved to a sheltered place during the winter. This is important in upper elevations of Western North Carolina, where the cold months have a frostier bite. In other parts of our state, compact cannas are usually hardy enough to

weather typical winters in the garden, but do add a few inches of protective mulch in autumn, just in case.

Like their big brothers, gardengrown dwarf cannas put on their best bloom displays under full sun tucked in beds heavily amended with organic matter. Also, don’t let these pretties dry out — they need at least an inch of water weekly in the summer. And when it comes to nutrients, compact cannas are little piggies, requiring gobs of compost or light applications of 8-8-8 or 10-10-10 fertilizer every six weeks through the growing season for peak performance.

L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener Magazine. Contact L.A. at lajackson1@gmail.com

L.A.’s website of the month: Sandy Mush Herb Nursery (sandymushherbs.com) in Leicester, NC, specializes in herbs (of course), native plants and perennials, but also has an exceptionally large selection of scented geraniums. Ordering is by mail or telephone only.

Garden To-Do’s for May

Enjoy home-grown dill, fennel and parsley? You should still be able to find established plants now, so prepare a garden bed and have at it. Then, fill up another bed further away with the same herbal helpers. The reason for this repetition is their foliage often attracts big, fat green caterpillars with black stripes and yellow dots. These are immature black swallowtail butterflies, so instead of using insecticides on such beauties-to-be, if you find any on “your” plants, simply move them to the second bed containing “their” plants so they can bulk up and eventually flit away as pretty butterflies.

□ Haven’t plunked down any peanuts, pumpkins, okra or sweet potatoes in the veggie garden yet? It shows what a sharp backyard grower you are. These edible delectables are heat seekers, and they really shouldn’t be planted until May, when the soil has turned into a warm, growth-encouraging planting patch.

□ Your fine-feathered garden friends will be working overtime with spring activities this month, so don’t forget to clean the birdbath and refill it with fresh water at least once a week.

A black swallowtail caterpillar enjoying a fennel feast.

Look down on “South Pacific Scarlet” canna lily’s beauty—in a good way.

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.

Grilled Korean Ribeye Steak

Sandwiches

With spicy gochu mayo

Hello May! Time to fire up those backyard grills and soak up longer evenings outside. With a tasty charred steak sandwich in hand, slathered in spicy mayo, what could be better? Make extras to freeze —we guarantee you’ll want these again soon!

4 boneless ribeye steaks, ¼-inch

4 baguette rolls, split and buttered

Marinade

½ cup tamari or soy sauce

¼ cup mirin (rice wine)

3 tablespoons sesame oil

¼ cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons sesame seeds

1 piece of ginger (1-inch)

peeled and zested

1 heaping tablespoon garlic paste

Freshly ground black pepper

Sauce

½ cup mayonnaise

1 heaping tablespoon gochujang sauce

Toppings

1 big bunch scallions, trimmed

Shredded lettuce

Thinly sliced seedless cucumber (slice with vegetable peeler)

Combine marinade ingredients and pour over steaks in a zippered bag. Marinate, turning occasionally for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Reserve marinade.

Combine the mayonnaise and gochujang for the spicy mayo sauce and set aside.

Prepare hot grill. Place steaks over high heat and sear until lightly charred on each side to desired doneness, or cook in an oven or stovetop in a hot cast iron skillet.

For the toppings, dip scallions in marinade and cook alongside steaks until wilted and lightly charred. Cut up and toss with lettuce. Slice cucumber.

Lightly toast rolls. Place steaks on rolls and top with gochu mayo, lettuce/scallions and cucumber.

Yield: Makes 4 sandwiches

Marinated Asian Carrot Salad

Bright and crisp, this sweet and tangy salad makes a perky side dish not only for our Grilled Korean Ribeye Sandwiches, but for just about anything. You can even use on pork, chicken or fish sandwiches. Best served cold.

Dressing

¹/₃ cup grapeseed oil

¹/₃ cup rice wine vinegar

¼ cup honey

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce

1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger

(optional)

Zest of 1 lime

Juice of half a lime

1 heaping tablespoon garlic paste

Recipes by Wendy Perry unless otherwise noted. Learn more about Wendy at WendysHomeEconomics.com

Digital Extra

Salad

1 bag (10-ounce) shredded carrots

1 large daikon radish, peeled and shredded

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1 cup cilantro, loosely packed and chopped

Toasted sesame seeds or “everything” seasoning

Whisk together all dressing ingredients. Combine carrots, radish and onion in a large mixing bowl. Toss with dressing. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. At serving time, stir in cilantro and sesame seeds or seasoning.

Yield: 6 servings

Visit carolinacountry.com/recipes to search more than 1,000 recipes by name or ingredient.

From Your Kitchen

Maple-Walnut Quinoa

Breakfast Bowl

Move oatmeal to the back burner — try quinoa, a stellar source of protein and fiber. Coupled with nuts and berries, this light, healthy bowl smacks of cinnamon and syrup. Yum!

1 cup prepared quinoa

¼ cup plain almond milk or water

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 pinch sea salt

½ tablespoon ground flax seeds

1 tablespoon butter

¼ cup blackberries (or other fruit)

courtesy of Dori

Add your quinoa to a small saucepan with almond milk or water. Then mix in remainder of ingredients and heat until warm.

Consider batch cooking the quinoa ahead of time for a week’s worth of breakfasts (¼ cup dry quinoa per morning).

Yield: 1 serving

Recipe

Grassau of Indian Trail, a member of Union Power Cooperative.

May Events

MAY 13

Bath Fest Street fair, music Bonner's Point, Bath

MAY 19–20

Albemarle Rockfish Festival

Edenton Marina, Edenton

Beaufort Music Festival Gallants Channel, Beaufort 252-342-9801

MAY 19–21

North Carolina Potato Festival Downtown Waterfront, Elizabeth City 252-338-4104

MAY 20

Art in the Park Art exhibition and sale Park Ave., Blowing Rock 828-295-4636

THROUGH MAY 7

HerbFest 2023

Downtown Wake Forest 919-570-0350

THROUGH MAY 21

Connecting Visions

Art exhibition

Hillsborough Gallery of Arts 919-732-5001

MAY 5

Howl at the Moon Party

New wine release

Marked Tree Vineyard, Flat Rock 828-513-3773

MAY 5–6

Antiques Street Fair

Cameron 910-245-3212

MAY 5–6

Plant Sale

Arboretum at Tanglewood Park, Clemmons 336-682-6792

BBQ Festival on the Neuse

Downtown Kinston 252-523-2500

MAY 6

Fried Apple Pie Festival

Alleghany County Fairgrounds, Sparta 336-372-5473

Get Your Rear in Gear — Raleigh 5K WakeMed Soccer Park, Raleigh 1730 Newbold-White House Opening Tours and gift shop Historic Site, Hertford 252-426-7567

MAY 6–7

Burlington Carousel Festival Burlington City Park 336-222-5030

MAY 7

An English Spring Concert of English composers and poets First United Methodist Church, Elizabeth City

MAY 12

20th Annual Tourism Day Music, food, yarn spinning I-26 West NC Welcome Center, Mars Hill 828-689-4257

Yadkin Valley Wine Festival Elkin Municipal Park, Elkin 336-526-1111

MAY 20–21

Ole Gilliam Mill Crank Up Ole Gilliam Mill Park, Sanford 301-670-1596

MAY 21

Concert in the Park Memorial Park, Blowing Rock 828-295-4636

MAY 28

Artists in Residence at Edgewood Edgewood Cottage, Blowing Rock 828-295-4636

where in Carolina Country is this?

Send your answer by May 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

Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our June 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

March’s winner

The March “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Renee Gannon features the old Jackson Springs Hotel located off Highway 73 and Hotel Street in the Jackson Springs community of Moore County. Opened in 1890, visitors came for the natural mineral springs. Reader Staci Mills said the water won second best medicinal water at the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1904. The hotel, noted reader Velta Zegel, once hosted Annie Oakley when she participated in the shoots at the old Gun Club, in what is now part of nearby Pinehurst. After a fire in 1932, the hotel never recovered. Many in the area refer to it as the “Old Yellow Building.” The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from John Honeycutt of Pinebluff, a Pee Dee Electric member.

MAY 19–20

Albemarle Rockfish Festival

Edenton Marina, Edenton

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VOTE

from the comfort of your home

You could WIN A $200 GIFT CARD

A member in each district will be eligible to win a $200 gift card for voting in the director election!

Electing the directors who guide your cooperative is an important way you can be involved in Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation. It’s also one of the many advantages of being served by a cooperative.

This month, you’ll be receiving your director election kit, which includes voting instructions,

You may vote online or cast your vote by mail using the proxy and return envelope in the 2023 Board of Directors Election kit!

candidate biographical information, and your proxy.

Members can vote for Board members in all districts, not just the district in which they live.

If you signed up to receive your kit by email, you’ll receive the same information with a link to vote online.

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation

2023 Report on Nominees

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation’s Nominating Committee met on March 9 to review qualifications and nominate Board candidates to present to the membership for election to four open seats on the Board of Directors.

Through the Nominating Committee process, this slate of qualified candidates is presented to the membership for consideration. Members have the opportunity to vote for their choice of candidates in all districts and elect those who will serve a three-year term on the Board. Members have convenient options to vote for directors online or by mail, and full details will be included in a director election kit being sent to each member on May 24.

Members may attend and vote in person at the corporate headquarters during the Annual Meeting. Members are also invited to participate in the Annual Meeting through a phone call-in system. Look for information in the upcoming June issue of Carolina Country.

The Annual Meeting uses a business format, featuring reports and an announcement of director election results.

No nominations by petition were received by this year’s deadline of April 3.

June 22, 2023 — 4:00 p.m.

2023 Director Proxy Committee

As part of the governance process for director elections, the Director Proxy Committee was elected at the March Board of Directors meeting. This year’s committee includes Kelly Melton (Caldwell District), J.B. Lawrence (Watauga District) and Bryan Edwards (Alleghany District).

This committee is made up of three directors who are not running for re-election to the Board this year.

The purpose of this committee is to cast votes as directed by the member on the proxy in the director election kit. This will include those members who designate the Director Proxy Committee to act on their behalf in casting director votes and those members who make no designation on the proxy form for a particular district.

The Nominating Committee presents these candidates for consideration:

Caldwell District

Kim Cobb Alleghany District

John F. “Johnny” Wishon, Jr.

Caldwell District

David Eggers

Watauga District

Tom Trexler

Ashe District

David Boone

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation

Thursday,

Blue Ridge Energy Corporate Office, Lenoir, N.C.

The June issue of Carolina Country will detail how to participate through the phone call-in system.