2023-06-BEMC

June 2023

The magazine of

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3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Bleed

Notes

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Scott Gates, CCC Editor

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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.

10

Harvest House

10 14 22

Carolina Weddings

Six stunning wedding venues fit for any kind of bride.

Honoring Culture through Art Educator and artist Linda Dumas Wade celebrates her rich ancestry.

A Ride Across the River The Elwell Cable Ferry is back in action.

Favorites 2 From Our Readers 4 Viewpoints

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.

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6 More Power

28 Carolina Adventures 30 Carolina Kitchen 32 Carolina Calendar 32 Where is This?

On the Cover Mallory and Matt Sullivan were married at The Farmstead in Cabarrus County. Photo

by John Huneycutt of Huneycutt Photography (huneycuttphotography.com).

John is also digital media coordinator for Union Power Cooperative.

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

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Experiencing a power outage?

Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service.

Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

We are always on the lookout for great recipes from our readers. And we put our money where our mouth is, offering $25 for those published. See page 30.

What’s Cooking in Your Kitchen?

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From Our Readers That is what my husband was and will always be.

He would check the mail, set it all down except his little magazine, which he would sit down, open it up, lean back, cross his Georgia boots one over the other and read Carolina Country front to back.

He always made a point to show w enfro Nelson R me the recipes.

Durwood He would take me on a journey with “Where Is This in Carolina Country” and the Transported by Stories I would like to share with all who hold stories. I listened to him read the “I Remember” stories, and my husband this little monthly magazine, like my at times would have beautiful tears husband did. He was called home from these — they helped him rememOct. 8, 2021, after a struggle with ber the precious past.

COVID, and he is forever with the Now I get this precious little magaLord Christ Jesus. zine out of the mailbox and it is very Durwood Nelson Renfrow taught dear to me. As I read a recent issue, me how precious the Carolinas truly God guided me to share our story are, being from up north myself. The with all of the other beautiful stories. kindness and willingness to help your Thank You for your little neighbors because you truly want POWERFUL magazine. to see someone be all they can be.

This way of life is not a trend that’s Maryann Renfrow, Kenly, a member fading, making room for the next, it’s of Wake Electric one heart still beating for all the rest.

THIS MONTH:

Summer Weddings June marks the start of wedding season, with most opting to tie the knot now through October.

(My wife and I had a June wedding in Haywood County back in 2007.) We’re celebrating the season with a nod to some classic Carolina wedding venues across the state, each one served by an electric cooperative.

Whether couples prefer traditional finery or country chic, there’s likely a perfect spot on our list. Also, electric co-ops are working together to advocate on behalf of their members—learn more on pages 6 and 8.

—Scott Gates, editor

Cracking Up One-year-old Maggie enjoys the April issue of Carolina Country.

Glider Bonds The minute I saw the “glider from the past” (“Home Improvement Wins,” May 2023, page 8), I was back in my great Aunt Eva’s yard in coastal Connecticut, where she raised six children and often had family over.

We would sit on that glider for hours talking, visiting and feeling about as peaceful as you could be. A glass of lemonade, a ride on the glider and family all around — life was perfect.

Brian and Melissa Edwards, Seagrove, members of Randolph EMC

Deb via carolinacountry.com

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Viewpoints

Preparing for the Future With 4-H

By Lance Williams

Since first joining 4-H at seven years old, I have been eager to sign up for any opportunities that come my way. When my 4-H agent told me about Citizenship North Carolina Focus 2019, I quickly signed up for the event, not quite aware of what it was.

Reflecting back on this decision, the choice to expand my understanding of civic engagement and deepen my breadth of knowledge on the legislative process has allowed me to grow as a leader with diverse perspectives and become a productive citizen of North Carolina 4-H North Carolina. provides opportunities It is a pleasure to be able to call rural for me to grow as Franklin County my home. Moreso, Franklin a leader, gain new County 4-H has played insights on rural life, a vital role in the development of my life in and … become an rural North Carolina. advocate for myself Although I’m the grandson of tobacco farmers, and my community … the generational gap in an agricultural occupation with my family puts me in a unique position. There absolutely is a deep connection that exists between me and my agricultural heritage, however, the lack of a traditional “family farm” upbringing placed me in an awkward place of not feeling quite rural enough.

For me, the single best bridge for this gap has been 4-H and the exposure to multiple disciplines it makes available. From spending day camps dissecting chickens, to running for district and state office, North Carolina 4-H provides opportunities for me to grow as a leader, gain new insights on rural life, and — especially at Citizenship North Carolina

Focus — become an advocate for myself and my community at the governmental level.

Just as North Carolina’s electric cooperatives work to improve communities through local initiatives, Citizenship North Carolina Focus, sponsored by the state’s electric co-ops, allows individuals from communities across the state to come together and brainstorm solutions to local problems while also gaining knowledge on the legislative process. The annual visit to meet our representatives and senators in the General Assembly is always a highlight of the trip, as well. By meeting face-to-face with lawmakers who advocate for us every day, youth like me are able to gain firsthand experience in being an advocate for what we believe in. More importantly, 4-Hers from around North Carolina are able to speak about the program to the legislators who play an important role in funding NC 4-H. After all, we as 4-Hers “pledge our hands to larger service,” and what better way to do that than speak on behalf of a program that has given us all so much.

I certainly owe a lot to 4-H and Citizenship North Carolina Focus because of the confidence it has built in me — a confidence to be proud of my agricultural heritage, a confidence to pursue a career in agriculture, and most importantly, a confidence to make a difference in what matters to me.

Lance Williams is a resident of Franklin County and currently serves as vice president on the NC 4-H State Council. He will attend NC State University in the fall to study Agricultural Science with a focus on returning to and serving rural counties.

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More Power

A CEO panel discussed the importance of a proactive communications strategy.

Outgoing NCEMC Board President Greg Puckett

Co-op Leaders Meet in Raleigh for 2023 Annual Meeting Sessions focus on theme of ‘Stronger Together’ In April, more than 400 electric co-op leaders from across the state met in Raleigh for the 2023 Statewide Annual Meeting.

Joe Brannan, executive vice president and CEO for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, opened the meeting by addressing the theme “Lead the Change: Stronger Together.”

“Through our shared Brighter Future vision, we’ve achieved great things,” Brannan said. “A lot of initiatives around the state have showed that cooperatives are not only forward thinking, but innovative.”

He discussed recent achievements such as microgrid projects and community development initiatives, as well as external factors influencing how electric co-ops do business, including market forces like cost pressures and supply chain issues.

“All of you have had the foresight to stay ahead of these issues to mitigate some of the impact to members,” he said. “And it’s going to take all of us working together to continue to overcome these obstacles, serving our members to the best of our ability.”

Sessions also included a youth and education panel, as well as a CEO panel discussion about strategic communications, featuring Four County EMC CEO Don Gatton; EnergyUnited CEO Thomas Golden; Brunswick Electric General Manager and CEO Josh Winslow; and moderator Kristie Aldridge, vice president of strategic communications and

marketing with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

The second day of the meeting included a Rural Electric Action Program (REAP) Breakfast, where NC House Majority Leader John Bell (District 10) addressed the crowd, as well as statewide organization business meetings and an address from Surry-Yadkin EMC Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Puckett, outgoing NCEMC board president.

Puckett discussed the changing nature of the electric industry, stressing a critical constant through decades of serving members: cooperation.

“We stick together — we’ve always done that as cooperatives,” Puckett said. “And as long as we stick together, we’re on the right path to better serve our members.”

Puckett was joined onstage by Angela Strickland, senior vice president of business and technology strategies for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, who echoed his sentiments.

“We really are stronger together,” she said, “whether it’s within your community, within your statewide co-op network, or nationally.”

Who’s Who at the Annual Meeting STATEWIDE LEADERS

The following were elected to 2023–2024 board leadership positions: NCEMC (power supply):

President Susan Flythe, Cape Hatteras EC; Vice President Greg Andress, Union Power Cooperative; Secretary-Treasurer Josh Winslow, Brunswick Electric Susan Flythe

NCAEC (co-op services):

President Richard Midgett, Cape Hatteras EC; Vice President Dirk Burleson, Rutherford EMC; Secretary-Treasurer Tammi Phillips, Randolph EMC TEMA (material supply):

Richard Midgett

Incoming directors: District I: David Eggers, Blue Ridge Energy; District II: Jason Loehr, Southside EC (Va.); District III: Jeff Clark, Jones-Onslow EMC

YOUTH LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIPS

The North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives awards three scholarships each year to Youth Tour participants from the past year: Kaesi Blythe, representing Surry-Yadkin EMC, received the Katie Bunch Memorial Scholarship; Karlie Keepfer, representing Blue Ridge Energy, received the Gwyn B. Price Memorial Scholarship; and Madeline Hiteshue, representing EnergyUnited, received the Youth Leadership Council Scholarship.

6 | June 2023

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More Power

Wake Electric Lineworkers Help Osprey Relocate This spring, an osprey chose a seemingly perfect spot for its home in Wake County, located high up and in a wide-open area, with ample fishing opportunities in the wetlands and ponds nearby. Unfortunately, that spot was on one of Wake Electric’s high voltage transmission poles.

Nesting in utility structures is unsafe and can be deadly to ospreys and other large birds whose natural wingspan can reach up to 6 feet. If the bird or their nest were to make contact with a power line, it could potentially cause injury to the bird or a fire and could lead to power outages and costly damage.

“As a local electric cooperative, we are very concerned with our local community, and we care about wildlife and the environment, too,” said Don Bowman, vice president of engineering and operations at Wake Forestbased Wake Electric. “We knew that we needed to take measures to keep the birds in that area safe and protect our equipment.”

The new nesting platform

After the nest was discovered, Wake Electric moved quickly to create a safe solution and constructed an 85-foot pole with a platform for the bird to build a nest out of harm’s way. Once the platform was built, the osprey took to the new, taller nesting spot.

The new platform will allow safe and natural nesting for osprey around the surrounding wetlands while safeguarding important electrical equipment.

NC Co-ops Meet With Both State and Federal Legislators This spring, leaders from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives met with elected officials at two events, providing opportunities to engage both state and federal legislators.

At the Rally in Raleigh in March, more than 150 representatives from all 26 of North Carolina’s electric co-ops convened at the General Assembly to meet with their legislators and discuss policy issues important to electric co-ops, their members and their communities.

More than 100 state senators and representatives participated in the event.

At the April Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., more than 100 leaders from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives joined peers from across the country to meet with legislators on Capitol Hill. Co-ops met with all 16 members of the NC congressional delegation — 14 representatives and Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd.

Freshman Reps. Don Davis of North Carolina and Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, both elected in 2022, told co-op leaders they’re frustrated by the fierce partisan divide in Congress and hope to work together as members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

While meeting with legislators at both events, co-op leaders stressed that any future energy policy should support ongoing efforts to innovate on behalf of co-op members and maintain the reliability, affordability and sustainability of the electric grid.

“These meetings are a critical opportunity to discuss issues important to both electric co-ops and the rural communities we serve,” said Paul Meyer, senior leader of external affairs for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

“Our members of congress rely on us for this insight, which is all the more important amid ongoing changes in our industry. Co-op members expect the lights to stay on at a cost they can afford — our nation’s energy policies must meet this fundamental expectation.”

Congresswoman Alma Adams (District 12), on left

NC House Speaker Tim Moore (District 111), on right

8 | June 2023

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Six stunning wedding venues fit for any kind of bride By Emory Rakestraw

Huneycutt Photography

Carolina Weddings 10 | June 2023

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Some brides have dreamt of their wedding day since childhood, with details like the color palette and bridesmaid dresses decided before “Will you marry me?” is even a question.

Others don’t begin planning until the engagement is official. Yet any bride-to-be will tell you: it all starts with your venue.

The Berkley Manor Ocracoke | theberkleymanor.com Max Guest Count: 300 Aesthetic: Historic coastal charm Co-op Connection: Tideland EMC

Harvest House

Harvest House and Catering Ramseur | harvesthouseandcatering.net Max Guest Count: 200 Aesthetic: Farm chic amid rolling fields Co-op Connection: Randolph EMC

Rustic meets traditional alongside 138 acres of working farmland with views of the Uwharrie Mountains in the distance. A 1900s two-story farmhouse serves as a beautiful backdrop for pictures. Grand events can easily be accommodated in the 6,400-square-foot rustic barn or outdoor reception area with a permanent dance floor. For the bride that wants a country-setting, or appreciates nature but still needs an indoor, rain-proof option, Harvest House packs plenty of charm.

Siobhan Lorraine Photography

A romantic, remote wedding beneath the sprawling live oaks of Ocracoke Island comes to life at Berkley Manor.

Relaxed, yet ornate if need be, the property sits on two-and-a-half acres with the historic Berkley Manor as the backdrop. Say “I do” on the docks over Silver Lake or throw a grand event in the Berkley Barn beneath a crystal chandelier. The best part, up to 18 guests can stay at the manor and 14 additional guests at the Berkley Suites. This remote location is perfect for a bohemian or outdoor-loving bride who wants something off-thebeaten-path with guest experience still at the forefront.

Streams of Grace Photography

“In my experience,” says Kirin Battaglia, a wedding planner and events coordinator at Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, “a creative mind and being visually open to a space’s potential can really turn any venue into your dream wedding destination.”

Deciding on a venue sets the tone and aesthetic for your big day. It also determines which vendors you’ll work with or if you’ll do an all-inclusive package.

In North Carolina, there are remote island weddings, refurbished barns or even cozy lodges with mountain views to say, “I do.”

“For someone who loves the outdoors and dreams of a wedding with countryside charm, lean towards a rustic farm or barn venue,” Kirin says.

“A bohemian bride may find herself at home in a wildflower field or lush forest but can be versatile with an indoor location, as well.”

To help get your planning started, these venues — each served by a North Carolina electric cooperative — provide a lovely backdrop for soon-to-be nuptials fit for every couple’s style.

The Berkley Manor carolinacountry.com | 11

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Huneycutt Photography

The Saratoga Springs

The Saratoga Springs Mount Pleasant | thesaratogasprings.com Max Guest Count: 250 Aesthetic: Southern storybook wedding Co-op Connection: Union Power Cooperative

Did you always dream of a “royal” wedding, or appreciate the finer things in life with stunning vignettes for guests to enjoy? The Saratoga Springs lends a fanciful garden party aesthetic, with a horse-drawn carriage to whisk you away Cinderella-style. A neo-classical yet delightfully southern home was built by owners Larry and Tammy Honeycutt.

An array of enchantment springs to life beneath the stunning pergola, and big tent receptions are an ideal fit here.

Although not all-inclusive, a preferred vendor list helps the bride craft her vision. For those wanting a fairytale day, this is the perfect option.

The Barn at Rock Creek Leland | thebarnatrockcreek.com Max Guest Count: 150 in barn / 200 in outdoor pavilion Aesthetic: Regal, though rustic Co-op Connection: Brunswick Electric

Regal rustic charm set within 13 acres of coastal fauna and flora makes The Barn at Rock Creek an ideal choice for a diverse range of brides. A pond provides a waterside ambiance alongside a handmade swing and garden path area fit for multiple photography vistas and moods. An array of outdoor ceremony locations allow the bride to immerse themselves in nature or craft an indoor-outdoor feel on the pavilion. Furniture installations alongside delicate floral and lighting arrangements can easily shift the vibe from traditional to bohemian, and even pastoral. The Barn at Rock Creek was made for the modern bride that still wants to infuse a bit of old-world style and nature-focused flair into the ceremony.

Luna’s Trail Farm & Event Center Westfield | lunastrail.com Max Guest Count: 240 Aesthetic: Pastoral tone with big views Co-op Connection: Surry-Yadkin EMC

Calling all bohemian brides who want a stunning foundation but a blank slate to make their own. Luna’s Trail Farm is set on the bank of a lake with views of Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock. A pastoral feel sets the tone, but a window-filled ceremony space backed by wood-paneled walls infuses rustic charm. Dark oak and arched windows define the reception area, yet this artist's canvas can be curated through elaborate florals, mixed vintage seating, and intricate design details for an effervescent ambiance full of personality. An alternative Big Creek Lodge is fit for intimate ceremonies and mingles modern with cozy.

On-site lodging makes the guest experience a breeze and this provincial venue is perfect for a curated wedding day of your choosing.

The Farmstead Photo on page 10 Mount Pleasant | thefarmatbrusharbor.com Max Guest Count: 275 Aesthetic: Working farm with mountain vibes Co-op Connection: Union Power Cooperative

Located on a working cattle farm in Cabarrus County, the spacious barn at The Farmstead features soaring beams, a large stone fireplace and a spacious patio — all within 20 miles of Charlotte. A nearby farmhouse provides the bridal party a spot to prepare for the big event, or to host a pre-wedding brunch. (There’s a separate groom’s lounge, too.) Onsite ceremony locations include an open-barn pavilion and pond-side, within a short walk of the barn.

Emory Rakestraw is a Wilmington-based freelance journalist (EmoryRakestraw.wordpress.com). She was married in May in Asheville—her wedding theme was whimsical/garden party, with ample May flowers.

12 | June 2023

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Feeling Rejuvinated With CBD

Everyone feels the hurt as you age, but CBD can help you deal with it

By Beth Giles

Life really does fly by. Before I knew it, my 70s had arrived, and with them came some new gifts from dear ol’ Mother Nature— frequent knee pain, stress, low energy and sleeplessness. Now, I’m a realist about these things, I knew I wasn’t going to be young and springy forever. But still, with “golden years” nearly on my doorstep, I couldn’t help but feel a little cheated. That is until I found my own secret weapon. Another gift from Mother Nature.

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5/10/23 1:50 PM

Carolina People

Honoring Culture through Art

Educator and artist Linda Dumas Wade celebrates her rich ancestry

By Donna Campbell Smith

L

inda Dumas Wade, who is an artist, quilter, jewelry maker, singer, writer and educator, is the curator of Mustee Folk Art. This unique style of art combines Linda Dumas Wade artifacts, symbols, elements and styles of African/African American and Native American cultures in several mediums, including quilting and acrylic paintings on canvas.

In her mission to foster awareness of the Mustee Linda’s art represents both her African and Native culture, Linda teaches art to children, having taught at the American heritage. She created Mustee Folk Art for the Vital Link Private School in Raleigh and the after-school remembrance and awareness mixed-blooded people and program in Bunn. She created an art curriculum for chiltheir descendants — those she explains as being stripped dren, “Arts in Education: Color and Learn,” which includes of their heritage rights, as they were historically undocucoloring and workbooks. mented and labeled Negro or Mulatto in early censuses.

As a U.S. Army veteran who suffers from PTSD, Linda Linda first became aware of her mixed-blood heritage credits art for helping her cope whenever she feels like through family oral history. withdrawing from the “I always felt something outside world. She immerses “My dream is that Mustee Folk spiritual that made me herself in her artwork. She keep researching my herihas shared her story of how Art becomes an accepted form tage,” she says. art has helped her cope with of art and my work one day be To verify the stories told PTSD in a program titled by her grandfather, she “Mental Health and How displayed in the Smithsonian’s eventually turned to DNA It Works for You,” offered testing and learned that her through the Raleigh chapter Museum of African American father’s great-grandmother’s of the National Alliance on History and Culture.”

Native American ancestry Mental Illness. traced to the Chickasaw and Continuing her quest Choctaw nations. to share her knowledge, She learned of the term “Mustee” when reading the 1919 Linda has chronicled all she has learned about her family issue of “The Journal of Negro History” while researching history into a book, “In My DNA.” Her purpose is to make the results of her years of research available to family her own roots. In the journal, historian and writer Carter members who want to know more about their heritage.

G. Wilson used the word in reference to people of mixed African/African American and Native American descent.

Spreading awareness Where does Linda Dumas Wade want to go from here?

Personal growth through art “My dream is that Mustee Folk Art becomes an accepted Linda began her art career in Dayton, Ohio, in the 1980s.

She attended Sinclair Community College, majoring in form of art and my work one day be displayed in the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Commercial Art and Executive Secretarial, obtaining Culture,” she says. her associate degree. She successfully completed jewelry Linda has started the process of application toward courses at the Riverbend Art Center, including courses in making her dream come true. Visit bit.ly/fb-mustee to wax sculpturing, jewelry casting and silversmithing. learn more and see examples of her art.

Linda created her first piece of Mustee Folk Art in 1995.

Titled “Spirit Blower,” it is a painted and embroidered quilt. She works with vivid primary colors and earth tones. Writer Donna Campbell Smith lives in Franklin County. Learn about her at donnacampbellsmith.com.

Her art is currently exhibited at the Artists’ Art Center in Spring Hope and Triangle Cultural Gallery in Raleigh.

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SE

June 2023

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

Taylor’s Blueberry Farm is delicious fun for the whole family Linda Taylor tells us how they do it, and why it matters.

D

arryl and I bought the land in Leland in 2003, when he was a Line Supervisor at BEMC’s Southport/Oak Island office, and I worked at the New Hanover County Sheriff ’s office. We wanted to develop something our children and grandchildren could carry on into the future. Darryl’s coworker, Glenn Owens, had a blueberry farm, and got us started. We planted a thousand blueberry bushes, little sticks with a root mass, by hand. We had friends help us, but even so it took three weeks. When they started budding out, we’d go up and down the rows and rub off the little blossoms to build up the root mass.

We kept doing that and didn’t let them produce until the fourth year. Then, it was time to open to the public.

Once our Facebook page was up and going, things took off, and now we have more than 5,000 followers. We have lots of repeat customers. Our blueberries are so good, so sweet, because we have six hives of honeybees that pollinate them.

We don’t use pesticides because of the bees. Once the berries turn blue, I keep testing them until they’re exactly ripe.

Some places will let you pick as soon as they turn blue, but they’re not quite ready yet, and a little sour. We wait until they’re sweet and delicious. You can pick your own, or we’ll always have some ready for sale.

Our bees make sure we have a plentiful garden too, and often we’ll let people pick their own vegetables. We have chickens running around, and kids love petting the horse, donkey and pony.

Our pond has ducks and geese and large Smallmouth Bass. It’s very laid back; some people just come to relax and enjoy the scenery.

We have an air-conditioned barn that accommodates up to 40 that people rent for birthday parties and other special events. Some people just enjoy the barn after picking blueberries. I make blueberry cider and muscadine cider slushies, and we’ll just sit down and talk.

When you come here, we want you to feel like it’s your farm. I love meeting

Darryl and Linda Taylor with three of their eleven grandchildren. everyone, and it’s great to have everyone feeling at home and comfortable. After all, although we’re just 10 minutes from the city, we’re definitely in the country.

Find out when the farm will be open for the season, and the blueberries ready, by following them on Facebook.com/ taylorsblueberryfarm and at taylorsblueberryfarm.com.

June 2023 | 15

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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

An option that could save you money!

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 save money by shifting your energy consumption to times when our membership is using less. You’re also helping us reduce peak demand, which reduces our wholesale power costs and benefits us all.

"I

moved here from Wisconsin, where I participated in a Time-ofUse rate option with my electric provider, and was glad to see that my new electric co-op offered one too. I knew, with a little planning, it could make a difference in my electric bill.

I had an Ecobee smart thermostat in Wisconsin that really helped me maximize savings on the rate plan, so I bought one as soon as I signed up for Time-of-Use with BEMC. “In the summer, the key for me is to program the thermostat to raise the temperature by a few degrees, during the week, from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. It’s just me and my dogs, so there’s really little

inconvenience. And if I’m away from the house other times, I’ll raise it when I leave, then lower it before I get back.

For example, when I go out of town in the summer, I’ll set my thermostat to 80, then when I’m a few hours away from home, I’ll use my phone to turn it down to 74. When I walk in the door it’s comfortable.

“To make the rate plan work I also do my laundry, and a lot of my cooking, and running the dishwasher, after 10 p.m. The rate after 10 p.m. is so much lower than the regular rate that it just makes sense. With Time-of-Use, I’m saving money, doing the right thing for the environment, and helping us all

lower wholesale power costs. It takes a little thinking ahead at first, but then it just becomes habit.”

Earl Smith

The Time-of-Use rate option does not require shifting use on weekends or on most holidays.

For more information, visit bemc. org/time-of-use, call (800) 8425871, or stop by any office.

Bill Buster: Keep your cooled air inside this summer!

Check exterior doors and windows for air leaks and use self-adhesive weather stripping and caulk to make the seals air-tight.

One of the distinct advantages of being memberowned is that we can invest more in our system and its maintenance. Find out how on the next page!

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a t

d

Things we do better, to ensure reliability and affordability One of the distinct advantages of being member-owned is that we can invest more in our system and its maintenance. The return on that investment is higher reliability and more affordable power. Fixing outages is a cost to our members — if we build a more resilient system then we don’t incur that expense. Costs that are expected and planned are better for rates than high, unexpected costs that come later. Here are some ways we’re proactive on your behalf.

1

Our system-wide maintenance practices and inspections processes go above and beyond industry standards, in both frequency and the types that we do.

It’s even stricter for our critical infrastructure such as substations, transmission lines and transformers. We do our best to mitigate any problem before it becomes an outage. And we make sure that new construction is properly installed and operating effectively, to ensure it performs optimally for its expected life.

2

We plan ahead to keep everything our crews need, and our operations running efficiently, n stock.

Supply chain issues have left many utilities across the country without the materials they need. We’ve been proactive, anticipating need and shortages, and worked with our partners to make sure we have what’s required for maintenance, to respond to outages, and for new construction.

3

When we build new lines or infrastructure, we are planning ahead. Because we are forecasting for the future, we’re putting in larger poles and larger conductor than is needed at the time, so we don’t have to go back in and upgrade a few months or years later. We also build

Jordan Overbee, Vice President of Engineering & Operations

to a higher wind standard than what is required, so a storm might result in a tree on a line rather than a broken pole, and a two-hour outage rather than a 10-hour outage.

4

We have the latest technology in place that communicates how our system is functioning to our operations center for our dispatch, engineers and linemen. Using their tablets, they are able to troubleshoot, diagnose and operate the system more efficiently. This helps identify issues before they become a problem, and helps us respond faster and analyze outages before we’re ever on site.

5

Most importantly all our employees prioritize our members every day. If a lineman sees a potential issue on the way to a job, he makes an order to fix it before it becomes a higher cost to the members. Across all departments, there’s a culture of solving problems before they incur more expense. And everyone is flexible; your job might not be what you do that day if it means taking care of the members - and improving reliability and affordability.

June 2023 | 17

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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:

Syvetta Hickman Syvetta began working at BEMC as a Customer Service Representative in Whiteville in 2011, was promoted to Human Resources Specialist in Supply in 2018, then returned to Whiteville as a Member Service Supervisor in 2021. Fun Fact: Syvetta never uses curse words. She says it’s just a personal preference and holds nothing against anyone who does. è What brought you back to Whiteville? While working as a CSR, I obtained a master’s degree in human resources management, and an open position took me to Supply. I thoroughly enjoyed my work and the team. I then obtained a master’s in organizational leadership, and after dealing with a few family tragedies, I knew I needed to be closer to home. It’s great being back with the crew I started with. They are like family. è You have a reputation as a very upbeat person. What drives your positive attitude? My faith in God. Everyone has people behind them, with me, it’s my three kids and my mom. I’m so proud of my kids and want to keep progressing and being a positive example for them. And truthfully, I just really enjoy people! Someone asked me what type of people I don’t get along with, and I said, “I don’t know any!” I can adapt to all types of personalities. I have a BA in computer science, which I’ve never used, because I realized I prefer to be more interactive with people. I find it’s easy to empathize with members because we’ve all had rough times. I feel overjoyed when a member comes in with an issue, we can work through it together, and they leave feeling better. è Are you involved in the community outside of work?

Yes, giving back is very important to me. I’m a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, an organization that

Syvetta Hickman, Member Service Supervisor

focuses on public service and the overall improvement of our communities. I am a volunteer at Families First, which serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and a member of TI2TS, an organization that helps those in need in more rural parts of Columbus County. I am also a member and secretary for H.E.A.R.T.S Foundation, a group working together for the betterment of underprivileged youth and improving the lives of youth within the local community. Lastly, I am a member of Just SISTAS, serving the community and doing fundraisers for a variety of causes.

Updating your contact information is quick, easy and important!

Do we have your most recent mobile phone number and email address? If not, please consider emailing info@bemc.org or calling (800) 842-5871 and updating our records. Why is it important? Two reasons:

1

If the mobile phone you use to report an outage is the one we have associated with your account, it can speed up the restoration process. Our system can automatically locate you.

2

If we have your email address we can send you periodic emails containing important information and updates.

Thanks for helping us serve you better!

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 | June 2023

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Mark Gilliland, Pioneer Utility Resources

Energy Sense

Efficiency Tips for Residential Well Pumps

By Miranda Boutelle

R

esidential well systems use energy in different ways, based on the equipment and water use. The homeowner is responsible for maintaining the well, ensuring drinking water is safe and paying for the electricity needed to run the well pump. Here are steps to improve and maintain your residential well and use less electricity.

Get your well system inspected If you’re concerned about how much you pay to pump water from your well, start with an inspection.

Similar to heating and cooling systems, well pumps are put to work daily, and parts will wear over time. Regular maintenance can improve efficiency and increase the lifespan of the system.

The proper system design and sizing can save energy.

Oversizing equipment can waste energy. Ask a professional if your well equipment is properly sized for your needs. In some cases, adding a variable-speed drive can save energy.

Keep in mind, well systems don’t last forever. Consider design and sizing before the existing system fails.

Things can go wrong with your well that are hard to spot. The water system may even act normally with good water pressure and flow while using more energy and causing higher bills.

One of the most common causes of increased energy use is underground water line leakage between the pump and the home. Water lines can freeze and break or be damaged by digging or a vehicle driving over underground lines.

Other issues can include waterlogged pressure tanks and malfunctioning equipment. Even if your well is in good working order, there are practices you can implement to save on your electric bill.

Lower your water use The less water you use, the less energy you use. Here’s how you can conserve water and electricity with your home appliances: Toilets | Check your toilet for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color appears in the bowl without flushing, your toilet has a leak. This is likely caused by a worn flapper, which is an inexpensive and easy do-it-yourself fix.

If your toilets were installed before 1994, they are likely using more than 4 gallons per flush, which is well above new energy standards of 1.6 gallons. The average family can save nearly 13,000 gallons per year by replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense-labeled models.

Switch to a low-flow showerhead with flow rates of less than 2 gallons per minute for maximum water efficiency.

Another option is the tried-and-true plastic bottle method. Place sand or pebbles into a one- or two-liter bottle and place it in your toilet tank or buy toilet tank bags. This results in less water filling the tank and less water being flushed.

Dishwasher | If you wash dishes by hand, start using your dishwasher instead. Did you know new Energy Star®certified dishwashers use less than half the energy it takes to wash dishes by hand? According to the Department of Energy, this simple change in habit can save more than 8,000 gallons of water each year.

Washing machine | Run your machine only with full loads to save water and energy. You may also consider upgrading to an Energy Star-certified washing machine, which uses about 20% less energy and about 30% less water than regular washers.

Showerheads and faucets | Get leaky showerheads and faucets fixed. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year.

Faucet and shower aerators are inexpensive devices that reduce the amount of water flow. For maximum water efficiency, look for faucet aerators with no more than 1 gallon per minute (GPM) flow rates and low-flow showerhead flow rates of less than 2 GPM. Understanding proper well system design, maintenance and water conservation will help you save.

This column was written by Miranda Boutelle of the Efficiency Services Group. Visit CarolinaCountry.com/your-energy for more ideas on energy efficiency.

20 | June 2023

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river A ride

across the

The Elwell Cable Ferry is back in action

By Sarah Thompson | Photos by Ashley Davis

The two-minute ride across the Cape Fear River on the Elwell Cable Ferry will send any partaker back in time. While its purpose is practical, the nostalgic feeling it brings people is what has made it into a local celebrity in Bladen County, deeply missed during a two-year hiatus.

While cable ferries may be unknown to outsiders, the Elwell Ferry, served

by Four County EMC, is one of three historic inland ferries in the state that hold a special place in eastern North Carolinians’ hearts.

“This is the first time we’ve gone for an extended period of time without it running,” says Ken Clark, a district engineer with the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT). “And there’s a whole series of events that lead to that.”

In 2018, Hurricane Florence smashed through the coastal communities of North Carolina. At the Elwell Ferry, the water levels became too high, so it was not possible to send the vessel across. The hits kept coming: in 2020, the contractor of the ferry passed away suddenly, and when the pandemic hit, NCDOT could not financially support running the ferry because of an absence of people requiring transportation.

When NCDOT was finally able to run the ferry again, it needed to find a new contractor — insurance for the ferry and that new contractor required updated inspections and repairs. The long journey to get the vessel back in the water might beg the question: Why not build a bridge?

“It really comes down to cost,” Ken says. “It’s definitely more convenient with a bridge, but the cost of the bridge to go across there, because of the size of the river, you’re probably talking about a minimum of $15 million.”

Originally, cable ferries were not pulled by a hydraulic motor. They were pulled by horses or people across the water with a pulling stick that wrapped around the cable. In the 1920s, NCDOT started replacing the ferries with bridges. Now, there are only three inland cable ferries: the Elwell; the San Souci Ferry in Bertie County; and Parker’s Ferry in Hertford County.

The Elwell Ferry was established by brothers John Roland and Walter Russ in 1904. When trying to modernize the ferry from a pull-stick system to gasoline power, Walter Russ was killed by a gas explosion. His son, Lee Roy Russ, took over ferry operations.

NCDOT took ownership of the Elwell ferry during the 1930s, adding it to the highway division. The department contracts the ferry to other entities to lead its operation and in-person work.

Without the ferry, the detour is 23 minutes compared with the two-minute travel time across the water.

While people waited anxiously for

the ferry, Chuck Connor, project manager at the Wilmington Marine Center, worked tirelessly throughout the summer with his team to bring the vessel to its former glory.

“I rode the ferry one time when I was little with my dad many years ago,” Chuck says. “So when the DOT called, I was excited about going to look at it, and taking on the job and getting her back in service.”

Finally, last October the ferry returned to service, moving approximately 80 vehicles a day across the river.

“It’s a love-hate relationship from the DOT perspective because [inland ferries] cause a lot of aggravation in terms of scheduling, water fluctuations and different things that occur,” Ken says, “but the love side of it is the nostalgia. When you go down there it’s a very serene, peaceful setting.

Even if it only lasts two minutes, people seem to really enjoy that moment of going back in time.”

Sarah Thompson was a Carolina Country editorial intern in 2022. She is currently pursuing a journalism degree from UNC Chapel Hill.

22 | June 2023

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I Remember

Memories and photos from our readers

‘

M H a g i h s m

f w f s w s u

Bolduc, Sr, My Grandfather Arthur Joseph t Connie in 1935.

Aun and Grandmother Maybelle

Sermon Snoozing In 1960, as a young girl of 12, my brother, sister and I were sent to the Pythian Home Orphanage for Children in Clayton. We Home children attended the Methodist Church every service and occupied the back pews. We were instructed to always go to the front if the minister gave the alter call.

I had a habit of dozing off during the sermons, almost getting whiplash when the minister would slap the pulpit to emphasize a point. I was snoozing one Sunday when I barely heard the words “altar call.” I dutifully jumped up and went to the altar, kneeling on the padded rail and bowing my head. I waited for the rest to follow, but no one showed up beside me. The minister placed a hand on my head and went into a fervent prayer for me and my soul.

Afterward, I grabbed one of the girls and asked what the minister had said when he gave the altar call. She told me that he had asked if there was anyone who had sinned in particular that week and felt the need for special prayer for forgiveness. I slunk out of church with red cheeks that day.

Always a Hero This is a picture of my grandfather, Arthur Joseph Bolduc, Sr., with my grandmother, Maybelle, and my Aunt Connie, beating the heat on a summer day circa 1935. I love seeing the swimsuit fashion from that era!

I never knew my grandfather in person, but felt as if I did, hearing the many stories that kept his spirit alive along with our family’s picture sharing.

He was a hero, a fireman who died young when he was only 48. His lungs were damaged while he was battling an industrial fire, and he was pronounced dead on the scene. His heart began beating again several minutes later while the EMTs worked their magic. He had two more precious weeks with his family before he succumbed to his injuries.

First responders will always be my heroes!

Michelle Weaver, Stony Point

Tula Smith, Granite Falls, a member of Blue Ridge Energy

Daddy’s Shadow My mom used to tell me I was on a horse before I could walk, and I was my daddy’s shadow. If he was in the barn, so was I. I watched him break mustangs and colts no one else wanted to ride. Some of those horses my mom begged him not to take. The horses always left his barn better than they came. We had so much fun together. My daddy gave me my love of horses that continues today, even though I can’t ride anymore. When people ask if I was raised in a barn, I can say, “Yes.” I learned so much in that barn from my daddy and the horses.

Daddy passed away Jan. 1, 2020, from Alzheimer’s. He forgot a lot, but he always remembered the colts he rode. He is so missed.

Cindy Cascaddon, Statesville, a member of EnergyUnited 24 | June 2023

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‘Take Care of What We Have’ My grandparents had a small farm off Highway 74. My Pap-paw raised cows, pigs and guinea chickens. I always thought the guinea chickens were really ugly, but came in handy for Sunday dinner. The farm had a pond that was full of bream. I could snatch them right out of the water with my cane pole.

After four or five fish, I would revert to my favorite sport — skimming rocks across the water. Most of the time I only got three to four skims on the water, but once I hurled a stone that skipped seven times. I could not wait to tell my Pap-paw. He had the biggest smile on his face and said, “Nicky, don’t fill up my pond with rocks.”

Pap-paw was continually working on the barn. He had a gallon bucket with nails he had pulled out, most of which were as crooked as a snake. My job was to take a ball peen hammer and straighten the nails. Pap-paw promised me a penny for every 10 nails I would straighten. After straightening about a dozen nails, I asked Pap-paw why he did not just get some new nails. Pap-paw looked at me with the most endearing smile and said, “Nicky, God only made so many nails, we have to take care of what we have.”

I continued to straighten over a dozen nails. Pap-paw gave me a quarter. I have never forgotten that day with my Pap-paw.

Nelson Payne, Supply, a member of Brunswick Electric

Lingering Memories of Grandma I remember my grandmother, Ruby Siler Culberson. She was born in 1903 when women viewed homemaking as their sole and sacred vocation. She taught her six children to fear God, help others and put in an honest day’s work.

She lived in a small wooden house with a tin roof that was surrounded by fields of red clay and acres of broken dreams. Her flower and vegetable gardens decorated the bleak landscape, and she tended the green plants and hydrangeas (her snowball bushes) with love. She was patient in everything she did, whether watching her grandchildren play or peeling apples for a pie.

Perhaps the most vivid memory of my grandmother is of her in the kitchen at the wood stove. Her house always smelled of wood smoke and of her freshly baked, homemade biscuits. My family sat down to a feast of sweet tea, fresh corn, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, turnip greens and sliced tomatoes.

I have very few tangible objects left from my grandmother except for one beautiful quilt. She sewed one by hand for each of her 16 grandchildren. The colorful scraps of fabric are like the bits of memories I have woven together in my mind of her rocking on the porch, rolling out biscuits and walking in her garden. Her life was so different from the one that I live today, yet we are connected like the threads of that quilt with a cord that cannot be broken.

Deana Johnson, Laurinburg, a member of Lumbee River EMC

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 carolinacountry.com | 25

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Carolina Adventures

The new Hendersonville location

Owner John Taylor

A ‘Ton of Fun’ at O.P. Taylor’s Visit two NC toy store locations for fun and games

By Lori Grossman

W

ith school out, if you find yourself on a Western NC road trip with a car full of kids (or grandkids), a stop at O. P. Taylor’s toy store could help the miles pass more quickly.

Customers’ rave reviews have spread O. P. Taylor’s story far and wide. USA Today included it in its 2014 list of the 10 Best Toy Stores, alongside the world-renowned FAO Schwarz and London’s Hamleys toy shop. Pretty impressive company.

Let’s head to the Brevard location and find out why.

You know you’re in for a treat when you see the life-size toy soldiers “guarding” the entrance. Inside, the 6,000-square-foot space is jam-packed with toys on two levels. Owner John Taylor and his staff are a bunch of grownup kids who have a blast demonstrating (playing with) various toys. You’re encouraged to join the fun, too.

Taylor and his wife, Susie, acquired the space on S Broad Street in 1987.

After a year as an outfitter store, they transitioned to toys. The magic began with the store’s attentiongrabbing name.

They wanted something fun to pair with their last name. A friend suggested using “Opie,” the first name of Sheriff Andy Taylor’s young son on the Andy Griffith Show. The first two

letters of the name were a perfect fit.

Stocking the store was next on the agenda. John had definite ideas about what kind of toys he wanted to sell.

“We don’t do video games, mainly because we want kids to use their imaginations, learn to figure stuff out, build things, experiment and discover,” he says. “Sitting in front of a TV playing video games rots your brain!”

So this is the place to introduce your kids and grandkids to the joys of model-building or just playing with a Slinky. (Remember?) Stuffed animals adorn the stairway to the second level, where there are many a potential [stuffed] best friend to be found.

Board games fill another corner. A slot-car racetrack dominates the middle of the first floor.

You’ll hear the happy sound of excited kids and grownups up here, too. If you can drag yourself away from poring over the stocked shelves, reexperience the fun of twirling a hula-hoop. An employee — or maybe even John — may challenge you to a contest, so be ready. (You’ll recognize John. He’s the one wearing a propeller beanie.)

The store is known for its LEGO stock. In the mood for some spur-ofthe-moment building? There’s a space for that. When you’re done, check the shelves. You’re bound to find a

set you don’t have, or possibly one of the hard-to-find ones you’ve been searching for.

There’s enough fun here to keep you and the young ones busy for hours. Put it on your list for holiday shopping, too — the store draws visitors from all over for Christmas shopping.

“We have a group of six ladies from Metro Atlanta that rents a VRBO every Thanksgiving to come to O. P. Taylor’s and Christmas shop,” John says. “I have a young couple from Boston that also comes down Thanksgiving weekend.”

There are two other locations in addition to the original store in Brevard. A spot in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, has been open since 2002, and though half the size of the Brevard flagship, Taylor says it’s “a ton of fun.”

The Hendersonville store opened last June. As announced on social media at the time: “The Hendersonville store is open! The pandemonium and craziness has officially begun.”

Freelance writer Lori Grossman currently lives in Texas, but carries memories of North Carolina in her heart.

O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store

optaylors.com 16 S Broad St., Brevard | 828-883-2309 418 N Main St., Hendersonville | 828-384-4958

28 | June 2023

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an

Carolina Kitchen

Bruschetta with Zucchini Tapenade This recipe is a snap to make. Be creative with the vegetables — substitute eggplant or yellow squash for the zucchini, and yellow cherry tomatoes would add great color. Use it as a dip for breadsticks, on mini-pizzas or tossed with pasta, too.

1 medium zucchini ½ pint cherry tomatoes ½ large onion 3 cloves garlic ½ cup olive oil ½ small bell pepper ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon dried thyme ¼ cup chopped black olives Good Italian bread Fresh herbs, chopped (basil, oregano, marjoram, parsley or a combination)

Use a food processor to coarsely chop the zucchini, tomatoes, onion, garlic and bell pepper. Do it in batches, not all at once.

Pulse until they’re chopped, but still have some texture left; do not purée. Place vegetables in a large bowl.

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid is gone, 10–15 minutes. Reduce the heat and stir more frequently if the mixture begins to stick.

The vegetables should be soft and melty.

Near the end of the cooking time, stir in the thyme. When the tapenade mixture is done, remove from the heat and stir in the olives. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight is better).

Toast or grill slices of Italian bread.

Spread tapenade over each slice, then sprinkle on herbs and serve.

Yield: About 2 cups tapenade

From Your Kitchen Banana Split Sensation

More than a century ago, the banana split was invented in Pennsylvania and sold for 10 cents, twice the going rate for sundaes.

Today its celebrated ingredients — fruity bananas and pineapple, whipped cream, cherries and nuts — come to life in this fluffy, pudding-like dessert. Add strawberries if you like!

2 sticks butter, room temperature, divided use 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 package (8-ounce) cream cheese 2 cups + 2 tablespoons powdered sugar, divided use 3–4 bananas, sliced 1 can (20-ounce) crushed pineapple, drained 1 pint heavy whipping cream 1½ cups peanuts, chopped Chocolate syrup 12 cherries, maraschino or fresh Recipe from Marla High of Marshville A member of Union Power Cooperative

Melt one stick of butter and mix with the graham cracker crumbs. Press mixture into bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan.

Refrigerate crust for at least 30 minutes.

Add the remaining stick of butter, cream cheese and 2 cups of powdered sugar to a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Spread filling over cooled crust.

Slice bananas and spread evenly over filling. Top with drained pineapple.

Beat the 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar with the whipping cream on high about one minute or until stiff peaks form. Spread over the pineapple. Sprinkle with peanuts. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and decorate with cherries.

Yield: 12 servings

Submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe.

Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25.

Shrimp and Corn Chowder With chive oil

What could be more summery than fresh shrimp, corn and herbs? Fresh basil would be a good substitute for the chives, but do not use dried herbs.

3 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped ½ cup olive oil, divided use ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¾ cup onions, diced ½ cup red bell pepper, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced Pinch of salt 2 cups chicken broth 1 pound medium shrimp, shelled 1½ cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen and thawed 1 can (13.5-ounce) unsweetened coconut milk 1 teaspoon lime juice Put the chives and ¼ cup olive oil in a food processor or blender. Pulse 3 or 4 times, scraping after each pulse, until the chives are mixed into the oil. Pour into a small bowl, add black pepper and set aside.

Pour the remaining ¼ cup olive oil into a large stockpot and place over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the onions, red bell pepper and garlic, and a pinch of salt. Stir and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the vegetables are soft but not browned.

Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the shrimp and corn. Return to a boil and cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through, just a few minutes. Taste, and add salt if needed. Turn off the heat and stir in the coconut milk until combined with the other ingredients. Stir in lime juice.

Strain the chive oil into a small, clean bowl. Ladle the chowder into serving bowls and drizzle each bowl with the chive oil as desired. Serve immediately.

Yield: 6 servings

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

30 | June 2023

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1 jar Omaha Steaks Seasoning (3.1 oz.)

8 FREE Omaha Steaks Burgers (5 oz.)

73334LYX separately $270.93 SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE

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Savings shown over aggregated single item base price. Photos exemplary of product advertised. Limit 2. 8 free 5 oz. burgers will be sent to each shipping address that includes 73334. Standard S&H added per address. While supplies last. Items may be substituted due to inventory limitations. All purchases acknowledge acceptance of Terms of Use: OmahaSteaks.com/terms-of-useOSI or call 1.800.228.9872 for a copy. Expires 07/31/23. | SRC0715

OmahaSteaks.com/GrillPack4836

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June Events

JUNE 16

Ruth Bell Graham: A Day Celebrating a Legacy of Faith Billy Graham Library, Charlotte 704-401-3200 JUNE 16–17

NC Blueberry Festival Music, fun and blueberries Historic Downtown Burgaw 910-259-2007 JUNE 17

JUNE 16–17

Daylily Festival

NC Blueberry Festival Music, fun and blueberries Historic Downtown Burgaw

Over 1,100 varieties of daylilies Bear W Daylily Farm, Morganton 828-448-5443 JUNE 22–25

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

JUNE 1

JUNE 3

JUNE 9–11

Artists in Residence at Edgewood

Kayak/Paddleboard Race

Meet artists and see work in progress Edgewood Cottage, Blowing Rock 828-295-4636

Garner Park, Knoll Shores 719-331-5910

La Vie en Rosé Art & Wine Festival

June Bloom Festival on the Farm

JUNE 10–14

JUNE 1–4

Crafting, glassblowing, music Sunshine Lavender Farm, Hurdle Mills 919-414-4982

AAUW Book Sale

JUNE 3–4

JUNE 11

JUNE 2–4

Master Gardener 17th Garden Tour

Ocrafolk Festival Musicians, storytellers and artisans Berkley Manor, Ocracoke Island

Learn from six hosts Heritage Oak Farms, Lexington 336-407-2853

Concert in the Park: Danny Platt

Women’s Paddlefest

JUNE 4

JUNE 15

Bear Town Exchange

Erick Baker: Orchard Sessions at The Farm

NC Trail Days Festival Various locations, Elkin 336-515-0458

Festival for female paddlers Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson 404-398-2103 JUNE 3

Music on Main: Eight Tack Minds ’70s Dance Band Main Street, Sparta 336-469-4758

Marked Tree Vineyard, Flat Rock 828-513-3773

Vendor and flea market New Bern Farmers Market 315-430-7951

Boshamer Gymnasium, Brevard 828-338-9906

Singer/songwriter Memorial Park, Blowing Rock 828-295-4636

Music, food, cash bar The Farm at Old Edwards, Highlands 866-526-8008

JUNE 9–11

High Country Jazz Festival Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, Boone 828-865-3000

Paramount Theater, Burlington 336-222-8497 JUNE 24

Saturdays in the Park Free concert series Crouse Park, Sparta 336-469-4758

Heritage Day Bolick & Traditions Pottery, Lenoir 828-295-6128

The Great Trent River Raft Race Union Point Park, New Bern 252-637-3111 JUNE 30–JULY 1

Christmas in July Festival Voted 2022 Carolina’s Finest Festival Street festival, West Jefferson 336-846-1987

Visit carolinacountry.com/calendar for more information about each event, including links to the most current information, or to submit your own event.

where in Carolina Country is this?

Send your answer by June 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 August 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.

April’s winner The April “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Renee Gannon features North Wilkesboro Speedway, located off US Highway 421 North in Wilkes County. Since the photo was snapped late last year, the 30,000-seat speedway underwent renovations for the NASCAR 75th anniversary All-Star Race in late May, the first race on this 0.625-mile short track since 1996. The track hosted races from 1949 to 1996. After a campaign to bring the speedway back, those efforts received state and federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to again race at the track. Submissions for this photo reached more than 1,000 total entries. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Janie Stephens of Mooresville, a Blue Ridge Energy member.

Di M of

The speedway is a stop along the newly recognized Moonshine & Motorsports Trail, an educational initiative of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at ncmmtrail.com

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Discover the Spirited Story of Stock Car Racing and Down-Home Distilling

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Discover North Carolina’s NEW Moonshine and Motorsports Trail and experience our state’s history of perseverance and innovation like never before.

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