2023-07-BRE

HELPING YOU SAVE

Try these simple ways to help you take the heat off summer energy bills:

ADJUST ceiling fans to turn counterclockwise. The downdraft helps rooms feel cooler.

CLOSE drapes and shades on sunny days. You’ll cool things off and be more mysterious.

GRILL outdoors. Or use the microwave instead of the oven.

Grilled Lime Chicken recipe

Ingredients

• 8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)

• 1/2 cup lime juice

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 4 green onions, chopped

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, divided

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Place chicken in a shallow dish. Combine the lime juice, oil, onions, garlic, 2 tablespoons dill and pepper; pour over chicken and turn to coat. Refrigerate, covered, 2-4 hours.

Drain chicken, discarding marinade. Grill chicken, covered, over medium-hot heat for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until a thermometer reads 165°. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon dill.

TAKE cooler, short showers instead of hot baths. Be refreshed.

TACKLE laundry — especially clothes drying — after the sun goes down. Washing clothes in cold water and line drying them helps, too.

BUMP up the thermostat. If using a smart thermostat, set the temp higher when you're away from home.

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1Full bundle cost $44 98 , $4 99 discount applied monthly. Discount not available on lively.com. 2Monthly fees do not include government taxes or fees and are subject to change. A data plan is required for the Jitterbug Smart3. Plans and services may require purchase of a Lively device and a one-time activation fee of $35. Pricing may vary. Urgent Response, Lively Link, and Nurse On-Call are only available with the purchase of a Lively Health & Safety Package. See terms for details. Urgent Response or 911 calls can be made only when cellular service is available. Coverage is not available everywhere. Urgent Response tracks an approx. location of device when device is turned on and connected to the network. Lively does not guarantee an exact location. Lively is not a healthcare provider. Seek the advice of your physician if you have any questions about medical treatment. Lively Rides provides a service through which you can request a ride to be arranged through the Lyft Platform. Ride fares are applied to your monthly Lively bill. Personal Operator fees may apply. Consistently rated the most reliable network and best overall network performance in the country by IHS Markit’s RootScore Reports. 3Porting is dependent on the availability of the phone number requested and subject to approval of the existing carrier. Lively and Jitterbug are trademarks of Best Buy Health, Inc. ©2023 Best Buy. All rights reserved.

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99 month3

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

Jessie Lang

Editorial Intern

Jessica Armstrong

Graphic Designer

Tara Verna

Creative Services Associate

Keith Alexander

Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com

99 month3

Joseph P. Brannan

99 month3 low as required. July 2023

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

Web: carolinacountry.com

Email: editor@carolinacountry.com

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

Experiencing a power outage?

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From Our Readers

More Tomato Man Lessons

We just watched Craig LeHoullier’s episode of “Growing a Greener World” and were mesmerized!

(“Lessons from the ‘NC Tomato Man,’” March 2020, page 18.) My husband and I are going to try straw bale gardening, for sure.

Char via carolinacountry.com

Editor’s note: Thank you for sharing that episode, Char! Craig was featured on the award-winning PBS television series hosted by Joe Lamp’l (who’s also been featured in Carolina Country).

THIS MONTH: Culinary Adventures

In recent years you’ve likely come to know Wendy Perry as a mainstay for Carolina Country – you’ll frequently find her recipes in our Carolina Kitchen section (along with cookbook author Debbie Moose). Wendy has also brought readers along on a few “culinary adventures,” the latest of which she didn’t have to travel far for. Learn more about her experience starting a food business on page 8. Also, read about an exciting new way a produce company is using electricity on page 6.

—Scott Gates, editor

Correction to our June issue

“Honoring Culture through Art” (page 14) should have referenced historian Carter G. Woodson, not Wilson. Thank you to a reader for pointing that out via carolinacountry.com

SNAPSHOTS

THEME

Patriotic

A First Fourth

Tricia Steiger, Zebulon

A member of Wake Electric

B A Beach Fourth

Diane Madison, Shallotte

A member of Brunswick Electric

C Riding Proud

Karen Creed, Mount Airy

A member of Surry-Yadkin EMC

D I’m Home

Sarah Simmons, Morehead

A member of Carteret-Craven EC

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO!

September Theme: Farm Life

Send us your best shots based on the upcoming month’s theme by July 20 — we’ll pay $25 for those published. Submit high resolution digital photos and find full terms and conditions at carolinacountry.com/snapshots (no emails, please). We retain reprint and online rights for all submissions.

Digital Extra

Visit carolinacountry.com/tomatoman to view the full episode of Growing a Greener World.

Safeguarding Reliable Power

By Susan Flythe

In May, two national power grid watchdogs issued stark warnings about the reliability of our nation’s power grid.

First, a commissioner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which provides grid oversight, warned at a Congressional hearing: “I think the United States is heading for a very catastrophic situation in terms of reliability.”

Within weeks, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, which coordinates with utilities to ensure reliability across the grid, issued warnings for U.S. electric utilities to prepare for extreme heat this summer — and an elevated risk of blackouts — as well as severely cold winter weather into 2024.

Balance these warnings with headlines about record amounts of renewable generation coming online, and many might be confused: With all these new generation resources becoming available, why is reliability now such an issue?

In recent years, many plants powered by fossil fuels have been retired. This type of generation is easily dispatchable, meaning it can be reliably switched on to provide a steady source of power when needed. Reliability becomes a concern as these sources of dispatchable generation are replaced with more intermittent sources, like wind and solar, which are not dispatchable as needed when demand is high.

What’s more, the existing network of transmission power lines cannot support widespread growth in renewable energy, which is typically located in areas that are productive for the renewable plants (like wind and solar), but far from where the electricity is used. Siting and building new transmission lines to support new renewable energy is a complex process with regulatory and stakeholder hurdles that have become a roadblock to deployment.

This pattern leads to the reliability warnings we’re seeing more of lately. While renewable energy can be effectively utilized, the scale and pace of change to how we generate and transmit power cannot come at the cost of reliable access to it.

Transitioning to an energy future that supports reliability, affordability and sustainability will take national coordination among federal regulators and electric utilities to:

■ Invest in new infrastructure, including transmission to move power generated from renewables to population centers;

■ Better manage the retirement of dispatchable sources, taking control of the pace to ensure new, reliable generation is at the ready when older dispatchable sources go away; and

■ Better coordinate resources across the grid as they become more diverse and decentralized. Electric co-ops are doing many of these things right here in North Carolina, using new and existing resources to uphold reliability while pursuing a goal of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. NC electric cooperatives utilize a diverse array of power sources, including nuclear power and peaking natural gas units, renewable sources of generation, and other distributed sources of generation coordinated through a central operator (see “A Brighter Future Through Grid Management,” August 2021, page 10).

But it will take a national effort to safeguard access to power across our country’s interconnected grid. The nation’s power grid has been described as the largest, most complicated machine built, and producing and moving electricity is consistently ranked as humanity’s greatest invention. Regulators, policymakers and utilities must band together to ensure care as we guide this marvelous resource into a new era.

Susan Flythe is executive vice president and general manager at Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative in Buxton. She currently serves as president of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation.

“The scale and pace of change to how we generate and transmit power cannot come at the cost of reliable access to it.”

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Surry-Yadkin EMC Partners with Local Produce Company on ‘eTRU’ Project Project

will cut diesel fuel use, reducing costs and emissions

In May, Surry-Yadkin Electric Membership Corporation (SYEMC), North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives and a local family-owned produce company launched a collaborative project that will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide a more energy efficient way to transport produce.

Through the project, Hollar & Greene Produce, a Watauga County-based cabbage producer and hauler, is switching from diesel to electricity to power refrigeration units used for cold-storage shipping — the first time this technology has been deployed by North Carolina’s electric cooperatives. The eTRU units (which stands for electric transport refrigeration) will help keep produce trucks cool during staging at a transportation facility in Mount Airy, saving the company an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 per year.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with this project,” said Travis Bode, SYEMC’s manager of economic development. “The results of the project are already delivering impressive results on fuel savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.”

At a ribbon-wcutting ceremony, Hollar & Greene gave a demonstration of the eTRU technology on one of its trucks, switching over from diesel fuel to electricity,

showing how the process works and the noticeable reduction in noise — another benefit of eTRUs.

“This eTRU project is a perfect example of how cooperatives working with their members can develop solutions that bring benefits to members and communities,” said Jim Musilek, vice president of innovation and business development for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “With the success of this project, we are excited not only about this partnership but for the larger-scale deployment of this technology across our state and how it will help power a brighter future for generations to come.”

Hurricane Season Expectations

Forecasters at both NC State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are predicting a “near‑normal” hurricane season in the Atlantic basin, which includes the entire Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are prepping for potential storm response in the communities they serve, keeping member safety top of mind.

(Left to right) Travis Bode; Brandon Bettis and Tony Greene with Hollar and Greene Produce; and Jim Muselik at the ribbon-cutting ceremony

F

ROMHOME KITCHEN TO FOOD BUSINESS

Tips shared from my own culinary adventure

By Wendy Perry | Photos by G.F. Wheeler

Is your garden bountiful? Do you make the best pickles, jams, baked goods or think your BBQ sauce is “it"? Have you heard, “you need to sell that!” And said to yourself, “why yes, I do,” but don’t know where to start? With a few exceptions, you can get your home kitchen certified here in North Carolina, so let’s head off on a culinary adventure to learn how!

As a food creator since making decidedly inedible mudpies garnished with Comet as a little girl, I’ve always dreamt of seeing a product on shelves with my name on it. A few years ago, this became a reality for me, a journey I’m happy to share so you, too, can see your dream come to fruition.

I was playing with seasoning concoctions for gift boxes and asking (i.e. making) everyone around me to give their input. Nephew Wyatt (who’s called me Dee Dee since he could utter sounds) said, “Dee Dee, this stuff is good on EVERYTHING!” Wow! If a teenage boy said that, I must be onto something. Thus my first product, “Everythang Dust” was born, and so was Aunt Dee Dee’s Kitchen, with a goal to make my products userfriendly for as many as possible.

A staunch proponent and frequent judge of NC-made food products, I was already familiar with the industry, eager to learn specifics to be legal and get out there. That’s when I turned to a few successful friends and our supportive NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), the entity that grants certifications for home kitchens.

So let’s begin this journey together. Here are some questions to ask (and answers) when considering a homebased food business.

DO YOU HAVE A PRODUCT(S)?

Of course you do! As you start, don’t spread yourself too thin. Stick with one or a two to get up and running, fine tune things, then add others.

DO YOU HAVE AN INSIDE PET?

If you have a pet, even if it just comes in periodically, your home kitchen will not be permitted. (And don’t think you can fool the inspectors — they know things!) This is for the safety of the consumer and your liability.

Would you want to eat food from a kitchen where a cat may be slinking around on countertops? All is not lost if you do have a pet. Shared use/ incubator kitchens are popping up all around. Or you may find a restaurant that will rent to you during off hours where you can get permitted. Just know that inside pet = no permit! (Note that not all “nice kitchens,” like at a church, are permitted or permittable under state and federal criteria.)

HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR HOME’S ZONING, HOA OR LEASING OFFICE? Before proceeding, you need to make sure your desire to use your home kitchen is legal. You don’t want to get all your cupcakes in a row only to find out no-can-do.

DOES YOUR KITCHEN MEET CRITERIA?

There are specifics your kitchen must meet that fall under Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). North Carolina has specific codes as well — common sense things like management and water testing. If you have well water, a water test (by your county) must be attached to your application.

DOES YOUR PRODUCT(S) REQUIRE TESTING?

Not all foods can be created in and sold from a home kitchen. Some prohibited foods considered “high risk” include refrigerated items, dairy, some bakery products (cheesecakes and cream/ cream fillings), low-acid canned foods and a few others. “Low risk” foods (shelf stable and require no refrigeration) can be prepared in your permitted kitchen. Those are things like baked goods, seasonings/dried foods, jellies/ jams/preserves, some sauces, candies, acidified foods and a few others.

Continued on page 10

NEXT STEP

NC Food & Drug Protection Division Start here with basics from the NCDA&CS. ncagr.gov/fooddrug/food/homebiz.htm

NC State Extension –  Food Business

Got To Be NC

As a producer, you can become a member! gottobenc.com

NC Specialty Foods Association

This volunteer organization is dedicated to assisting NC specialty foods companies. ncspecialtyfoods.org

If you plan to run with grandma’s pickles, salsa or your BBQ sauce, you need to contact NC State University’s testing department. Some acidified foods may require testing, and you may need to attend NC State’s Acidified Foods Manufacturing School, an FDA-recognized online course, to produce them.

DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS PLAN?

All adventures need a map to get you where you want to go. Be sure to include a marketing plan. You could have the next best food thing there is, but if folks don’t know of it, success will be a struggle. Not allocating money for marketing is often a new business’s biggest mistake! Find particulars needed for your plan on the NCDA&CS site referenced in the sidebar. Also, be sure you have proper liability insurance before selling your first morsel!

ARE YOU WELL-VERSED IN LABELING REQUIREMENTS?

You have several entity-specific requirements to consider when labeling your food. The FDA sits atop this list with specifics (from ingredients to weights) right on down to local regulators, retail outlets and farmers’ markets that allow you to sell.

ARE YOU READY?

Once your application is submitted and you’ve had a successful inspection, you’re on your way to sharing your best to the world. Be sure to join #GotToBeNC and consider joining the NC Specialty Foods Association (ncspecialtyfoods.org).

As the Association’s Marketing Coordinator Sherry Barefoot will tell you, “So many of our members since the Association’s creation in 1994 started their food businesses in homecertified kitchens, and now work with commercial kitchens and copackers to mass produce their tasty visions.”

Although it may sound daunting, don't be discouraged. With the right tools and knowledge, you can have your home kitchen up and running soon.

Carolina Country recipe contributor, Wendy Perry, is a culinary adventurist who wears many aprons, including coaching those through the process of getting a home kitchen certified. Learn more at WendyPerry.com and AuntDeeDeesKitchen.com

CONNECT WITH Carolina Country

Membership MATTERS

Take advantage of Smart Rebates

Get money back!

You can get money back from Blue Ridge Energy’s Smart Rebates program when you purchase one of the following qualifying EnergyStar® appliances or home projects! These help reduce your electricity usage, which helps you save on your monthly bill for years to come.

Appliances

• ENERGY STAR Refrigerator (min. 15 cu. ft.) $25

• ENERGY STAR Freezer (min. 10 cu. ft.) $25

• High-Efficiency Heat Pump or Mini-Split (16 SEER or greater)* $150

• Geothermal Heat Pump (19 SEER or greater)* $250

Weatherization

• Duct Sealing or Replacement up to $100

• Air Sealing* up to $100

• Insulation* up to $100

• Building an ENERGY STAR home* up to $500

*Indicates items for which you may also be eligible for a federal EnergyStar tax credit in addition to the Blue Ridge Energy rebate.

Smart Rebates is a Blue Ridge Energy member benefit initiative to help members save money through energy efficiency.

Rebate forms and complete details are available at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/Rebates.

Energy efficiency improvements you make in your home can lower your monthly energy bill, providing cost savings on your energy bill for years to come. Why not consider making an energy efficiency purchase now and maximize the savings with Blue Ridge Energy’s Smart REBATE offers!

Top honor for the Blue Ridge Family

At Blue Ridge Energy, our employees who serve you are our greatest asset! Each day, they display a tremendous amount of skill and passion for their jobs, with hearts of service for our members. Being a cooperative is unique and it takes a special group of people who work each and every day to support our purpose to make life better for the members and communities we serve.

That’s why I’m honored that our Blue Ridge family has been named by the Best Companies Group as one of North Carolina’s great employers. This recognition is based on a thorough company assessment and employee surveys regarding workplace policies, business philosophy, employee culture, involvement in local communities, and best employer practices to recruit and retain top talent.

Blue Ridge Energy, like many organizations, is facing challenges now and in the years ahead. Your cooperative team is successfully navigating these challenges with topperforming employees coming from a wealth of backgrounds, working to serve our members and carrying on a cooperative tradition of leadership in the business, economic and community landscape of Northwest North Carolina.

Af ter many years of service, a sizable amount of the Blue Ridge workforce has begun retiring. Recruiting and retaining talent to Blue Ridge Energy is a top priority in making

sure that we continue making life better and Powering a Brighter Future for our membership. As we prepare for the future, we recognize that this award as one of the great NC employers, along with other efforts, will help us attract and retain individuals who align with the cooperative culture, business model and love for service to members in our corner of this beautiful state.

We are proud to have been named one of the best employers in the state of North

From Blue Ridge CEO Doug Johnson

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 standards 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 opened 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 1:00pm (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 on 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.

For more information, visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

Capital credits: allocations vs. refunds

Members receiving notice of capital credits allocations

During the month of July, members will receive notice of capital credits allocations from the previous year. This notice will come n the back of your July billing statement or via direct notification for FlexPay members ho do not receive statements. Please be aware this is NOT a refund — refunds were issued in May.

Here’s more about the difference between capital credits allocations and refunds:

locations are based on the amount of electricity a member purchased the previous fiscal year. This annual allocation amount is added to your overall membership capital credits balance, hich reflects all the years in which you had service with Blue Ridge Energy.

funds occur when your Board of Directors approves a capital credits retirement. This involves refunding a portion of

your overall membership capital credits balance. The rotation of these funds over time allows the cooperative to build and maintain power lines, substations, rights of way, and other areas to ensure safe and reliable electric service. It also reduces the need for loans, which keep cos ts down for members while still allowing for refunds to the memberowners of Blue Ridge Energy.

Capital credits are a benefit of belonging to a cooperative. This not-for-profit business model is used by thousands of cooperatives to balance debt and equity to help keep member rates low and provide reliable electric service.

Your annual capital credits allocation notice communicated in July is NOT a refund, but rather one of the first steps in the annual process. Refunds were issued in May.

Planting in right-of-way areas

Should you plant in a right-of-way area on your property? Since a right-of-way exists to help ensure reliable electricity by protecting power lines from trees and large shrubs, it’s best not to plant in these areas. Clear rightsof-ways also contribute to the safety of our line technicians.

However, we understand that planting new trees can be a good way to accent your property. When planting, here are a few tips to keep in mind for a beautiful view while also protecting the reliability of your electricity:

• Before taking a trip to a plant nursery, consider the location of power lines and right-ofway areas. Think about the height of a fully grown tree or shrub and avoid planting within 20 feet of power lines. If that’s unavoidable, select plants that grow no higher than 15 feet.

• Trees that grow up to 40 feet can usually be safely planted at least 25 feet away from power lines. Trees that will grow larger should be planted more than 50 feet from power lines.

Be aware that to provide reliable electric service for all members, we must maintain rights-of-ways. Trees and shrubs planted too close to power lines must be trimmed, cut or removed in order to maintain the required amount of clearance.

Backup Power Options

Considerations for storm-ready generators

By Jonathan Susser

Q:With summer storm season here, I want to be as prepared as possible in case my power goes out. With new backup power options seeming to come to the marketplace every month, what are some technologies I should be aware of?

A:Losing power at home can range from being mildly inconvenient to life-threatening, so it’s smart to evaluate what resources are available and how to use them, particularly during this time of year.

In this article, we’ll provide a high-level overview of a few existing and emerging technologies. With all of them, we highly recommend first contacting your local electric co-op to speak with an energy expert, working with a certified electrical contractor, and seeking references from friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, there are bad actors trying to prey on unsuspecting customers by advertising false benefits.

You’re likely most familiar with portable generators. Portable generators typically run on an internal combustion engine fueled by gas. They can be extremely valuable for getting through outages, but have downsides such as needing to be used outdoors, their noise and exhaust emissions. Another class of generators, larger home standby generators, are wired directly to your home and turn on automatically when power goes down.

Solar arrays, such as one you might add on your roof, are sometimes touted as promoting energy independence. However, most residential arrays are connected to the electric grid and must stop producing power when a grid outage or interruption occurs to avoid back-feeding electricity, or pushing it onto the grid when the grid is down, which can be extremely dangerous. In certain safe configurations, solar arrays can be completely off-grid and used during power loss.

Battery energy storage systems are stationary units that hook up to your gate, fence or home and can store energy when the power is on and dispatch it later, such as during

an outage or when electricity prices are more expensive (for members on particular electricity rate structures). Some electric vehicles — which are basically mobile battery storage systems — like the Ford F-150 Lightning also now come with the ability to supply power from their batteries back to a home or to specific appliances.

Finally, solar arrays can be paired with battery storage. With this setup, the battery system can provide power when needed and then be replenished by the solar array.

No matter which technology you end up pursuing, one of your first steps should be to assess your most critical appliances and devices. If an outage occurs, what needs to stay on? Do you have life-sustaining health/safety equipment, or equipment essential for your crops or livestock? Knowing how much electricity these use, both while running and starting up, will help you determine the appropriate sizing for your backup power. An electrical contractor can assist with the process, or learn more at the links in the Generator Safety box below.

Best of luck navigating this hurricane season and finding the solution that meets your needs.

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

Generator Safety

Backup generators can be valuable resources should power go out, but if used improperly they can kill you or the people who are restoring power to your home. Find generator safety information and other storm prep information at ncstormcenter.com.

Ford Motor Company

The all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning is an example of a backup power source for properly equipped homes.

Vote Now for the Finest!

For this year’s Carolina’s Finest Awards, we opened up a nomination period in the spring — we’re pleased to announce the top three reader-selected finalists from each of 10 categories. These are the best of the best, but we want to know your top picks! Winners of the 2023 Carolina’s Finest Awards will be featured in our November 2023 issue.

BBQ

 Apple City BBQ, Taylorsville

 Chimney Rock Smokehouse, Chimney Rock

 JD‘s Smokehouse, Rutherford College

Farm Attraction

 Denton Farm Park, Denton

 Mike‘s Farm, Beulaville

 The Farm, Dobson

Festival

 Autumn Leaves Festival, Mount Airy

 Festival of Trees, Cashiers

 NC Seafood Festival, Morehead City

Ice Cream Shop

 Lumpy‘s, Wake Forest

 Riley‘s Delights, Statesville

 Scoops Ice Cream & Such, Mount Airy

Iconic NC Landmark

 Chimney Rock, Chimney Rock

 Pilot Mountain, Pinnacle

 The Biltmore Estate, Asheville

Independent Book Store

 Page 158 Book Store, Wake Forest

 Pages Books & Coffee, Mount Airy

 The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines

Made in NC Product

 Cheerwine

 House of Morgan Pewter, Kinston

 Texas Pete

Main Street/Downtown

 North Main Street, Mount Airy

 White Street, Wake Forest

 Downtown West Jefferson

Pizza Place

 Pie on the Mountain, Lansing

 Stagecoach at Broad River Inn, Chimney Rock

 Village Inn Pizza, various locations

Waterfall

 Hickory Nut Falls, Chimney Rock

 Linville Falls, Marion

 Looking Glass Falls, Brevard

A Lightning-Fast History

Discover outlaws and icons on the Moonshine & Motorsports Trail

By Jessie Lang

The popularity of both moonshine and motorsports in the 1950s arose out of the daily life of many residents across the state, who made moonshine to support their families in rural areas. What once was a hobby between local bootleggers eventually evolved into the international sport of stock car racing. The Moonshine & Motorsports Trail, sponsored by the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources (DNCR), immerses travelers in the history and connection between the two industries.

“It’s important to provide a space for these often-unsung stories and a map of important racing and distilling locations so North Carolinians and visitors alike can access these spaces,” said DNCR Digital Engagement Manager Karl Galloway.

North Wilkesboro Speedway WILKESBORO, WILKES COUNTY

To understand racing’s connection to moonshine, The North Wilkesboro Speedway is a good place to start. Revenuers dubbed Wilkes County the “Moonshine Capital of the World.” Running moonshine involved fast driving, later resulting in car racing.

Enoch Staley built the speedway in 1946, launching the racing career of moonshiner Junior Johnson.

After closing in 1996, the speedway underwent renovations in 2021 and reopened to great fanfare in May 2023 for the NASCAR All-Star Race.

Occoneechee Speedway HILLSBOROUGH, ORANGE COUNTY

A unique spot on the trail was one of the first two NASCAR tracks to open in the 1949 inaugural season. The only dirt track remaining, Occoneechee Speedway closed in 1968 and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Many NASCAR icons raced here, including Louise Smith, Fireball Roberts, Wendell Scott and Lee Petty.

Visiting the track feels like entering another time. The preservation of the ticketing station, flag stand and abandoned cars make visiting the Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail awe-inspiring. The track served as inspiration for the Disney movie “Cars 3.”

Charlotte Motor Speedway CONCORD, CABARRUS COUNTY

The Charlotte Motor Speedway opened in 1960 and has an intriguing history. One of its founders, Curtis Turner, was an infamous bootlegger from the Appalachian Mountains who went on to become a racing legend, winning 17 races in NASCAR’s Cup Series. Fans still flock to this track today, considered the crown jewel of motorsports.

NASCAR Hall of Fame CHARLOTTE, MECKLENBURG COUNTY

Charlotte’s significance to stock car racing made it no surprise when NASCAR opened their Hall of Fame here in 2010, as Charlotte was known as the “Stock Car Racing Capital of the World.” The museum is a walk through the history of motorsports and doesn’t shy away from its connection to moonshine — one exhibit includes a moonshine still built by Hall of Fame member Junior Johnson.

Rockingham Speedway ROCKINGHAM, RICHMOND COUNTY

Due to the popularity of motorsports in the ’60s, many believed that rural communities would benefit from a speedway in Rockingham. Nicknamed “The Rock,” the track, built in 1964, was championed by businessman L.G. DeWitt.

Stone Mountain State Park

ROARING GAP, ALLEGHANY COUNTY

If you’re looking for a challenging hike across mountainous terrain and wish to learn about the significance of moonshine in Appalachia, Stone Mountain State Park spans 14,472 acres and features abandoned moonshine stills dating back to the 1950s. Hikers have found approximately 200 stills in the park, many of which weren’t discovered by revenuers.

Jessie Lang is the 2023 editorial intern for Carolina Country.

Explore more

Two other stops on the trail are North Carolina’s Albemarle Peninsula and the North Carolina History Museum (above). Sure to enthrall both sports fans and history lovers, the sites on this trail are not to be missed. Visit ncmmtrail.com for more information on these and all the stops along the trail.

Digital Extra

A short video at carolinacountry.com/ extras brings stops along the trail to life.

State Archives of NC

BETTER THAN BOTOX: Takes Years Off Your Face in Minutes

Women are raving about the life-changing effects of this powerful formula.

There’s no denying that people — mostly women — are on a mission to discover the best way to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles permanently. The $14 billion dollars spent on aesthetic procedures in 2021 alone is a clear indication of that fact.

But now science appears to be offering a simpler solution. It’s a special delivery technology adapted for skincare that gets superior results.

Known as advanced liposome technology, this powerful distribution system ensures that vital nutrients are delivered exactly where your skin needs them the most, providing your skin with maximum anti-aging benefits.

New Age-Defying ‘Dermal Filler’ Cream in High Demand

Al Sears, MD, of Palm Beach, Florida, recently released an anti-aging cream that adapts this breakthrough medical technology into the realm of skincare, and he’s struggling to keep up with consumer demand.

Dr. Sears is South Florida’s leading anti-aging pioneer. He has authored over 500 reports, scientific papers, and books on anti-aging. A frequent lecturer at global anti-aging conferences, Dr. Sears spoke at the WPBF 25 Health & Wellness Festival featuring Dr. Oz, along with special guest, Suzanne Somers. Thousands of people were in attendance as Dr. Sears discussed his latest anti-aging breakthroughs.

This powerful cream, known as Restore, keeps selling out faster than it’s produced — and people are raving about the effect it’s having on their skin.

“Within a few minutes of applying the cream, it visibly plumps out the under-eye area and my cheeks as well as those annoying lines that deepen as we age between the nose and lips. It also felt like it was tightening and smoothing my skin at the same time. I definitely

feel I look younger whenever I use it,” said Amy B., of Montville, New Jersey.

“The lines around my mouth and eyes are filled in and my skin is tightened. I love having younger-looking skin, so I will continue using Restore” raves Cathy C., of Florida.

The best part is that this cream has no adverse side effects, doesn’t require a doctor’s visit or prescription, and is 100% natural.

A Formula Designed to Take Years off Your Face in Minutes

of your skin, and French studies have shown that avocado oil improves skin cell metabolism and enhances skin thickness.

Powerful Delivery System Ensures Nutrients Penetrate Deep into Your Skin

The dermis is the underlying layer of skin that supplies nourishment and oxygen, and removes waste. In other words, it’s responsible for keeping your outer layer of skin healthy. Liposome technology is designed to support and nourish this deeper layer of skin by delivering nutrients directly to it.

“All of Restore’s powerful ingredients are encapsulated in a liposome shell — an organic container that carries the beautifying agents deep into the skin cells,” explained Dr. Sears.

“Restore’s liposome shell is composed of phosphatidylcholine or PC for short. While cell membranes repel water, they absorb PC because they’re actually made of it. As a result, Restore is delivered deep into the cell for maximum firming and volume.”

When you apply liposome cream to your face, the liposomes in the skin cream work their way inside your skin, fuse with the skin cell membranes and then release their contents directly to the cells. Regular skin creams don’t have this capability.

Once it’s penetrated the deeper layer of skin, Restore releases a unique blend of botanicals, vitamins and essential oils that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, gives skin a more even tone, and moisturizes the interior layers of your dermal cells, firming and plumping your skin.

Restore’s first skin-enhancing agent is Madonna lily leaf stem cell extract. It helps produce an even-toned complexion. In a clinical study reported in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, participants treated with this extract for 28 days showed improvements in skin luminance and tone around the eyes.

Where To Get Restore

Right now the only way to get this powerful age-defying delivery technology is through Dr. Sears.

To get life-changing results like Amy and Cathy, buyers should contact the Sears Health Hotline at 1-800-682-8358. “We simply don’t have enough supply to get Restore shipped directly to stores,” said Dr. Sears. “The hotline allows us to ship the product directly to the customer – the one who really wants it.”

Restore is also loaded with vitamin C, which British researchers have found reduces both wrinkles and dryness.

“In

Restore we use magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a more stable form of vitamin C that doesn’t break down in liquid as does ordinary C,” explains Dr. Sears. “That means the antioxidant molecules stay intact within your skin cells where they can prevent damage from dangerous free radicals.”

This powerful formula also features guarana seed extract, coenzyme Q10, and avocado oil. Japanese researchers have also found that coenzyme Q10 supports production of the thin membrane that separates layers

Dr. Sears feels so strongly about this product, that he offers a 100% money-back guarantee on every order. “Just send back the bottle and any unused product within 90 days, and I’ll send you your money back,” said Dr. Sears.

The hotline will be taking orders for the next 48 hours. After that, the phone number may be shut down to allow them to restock. Call 1-800-682-8358 to secure your limited supply of Restore. If you are not able to get through due to extremely high call volume, please try again! Call NOW to qualify for this limited time offer provided at a significant discount. To take advantage of this exclusive offer use Promo Code: CCRS623 when you call in.

Revolutionary Formula Reduces the Appearance of Wrinkles in Minutes

“Advanced liposome technology ensures that vital nutrients are delivered exactly where your skin needs them the most.”

Learning on the Fly

Fly-fishing doesn’t have to be complicated

By Mike Zlotnicki

Although I don’t consider myself a fly angler, I own a fly rod. However, I do consider Scott Wood a subject expert on fly fishing. Scott, a buyer and product manager for Great Outdoor Provision Co., sat down with me to talk about getting into the sport, one he’s been doing since childhood.

“I grew up with a stream in the backyard … so naturally I gravitated to fishing,” Scott says. Eventually, Scott figured out he could catch more fish on fly rod poppers than on hardware.

If one is shopping for golf clubs, it helps to get fitted at a pro shop. The same goes for fly rods, as one size doesn’t fit all. A big-box retailer is likely not set up to allow customers to cast lines, a significant part of the selection process, Scott explains.

“With a fly rod, there’s personal preference in casting style,” he says. “A rod that casts better for me might not be the one that casts better for you.”

Fly rods were once made of split bamboo, then fiberglass. Most rods today are graphite, although Scott explains fiberglass is making a comeback.

“It’s what we call ‘slower,’ so it bends a little deeper into the rod and doesn’t rebound as quickly,” he says. “That can be good if you’re trying to cast in a jungle where you want to cast short and you want to cast slow in a delicate presentation.”

Scott explains that fly-fishing rods are measured in “weights.” A 3- or 4-weight rod is best for mountain trout, for example, whereas an 11- or 12-weight rod is suited for species like tarpon, amberjack or tuna. If you want to use a rod for bass and bream fishing, a 6-weight rod is best, Scott says. “It’s got enough oomph to cast heavy-bass flies, but it’s not so heavy that a bream isn’t going to be fun.”

Selecting the right line is another consideration — Scott sees the rod and fly line as equally important. A weight-forward floating line is standard. One misconception is you must fish floating flies with floating line, but you can also use a sinking fly and it will simply hinge down on the leader, he explains. Scott uses a monofilament leader, which is a length of line between the main fly line and the tippet, or what the fly is tied to.

In the fly-fishing world you have “poppers,” or topwater flies; “floating flies,” or dry flies; and “wet flies,” also known as streamers and sub-surface flies. A decent combo, or outfit — consisting of a rod, reel, line and leader — costs from around $200 to $250 or more. Pro shops can also design an outfit for specialty fishing.

“A lot of people will benefit from a lesson, whether in a class or individually. It can be hard to learn to cast on your own — even just one lesson can help,” Scott offers as final advice. “Also, buy decent equipment. You get what you pay for. There’s a tendency in the fly-fishing world to make it seem way more complicated than it is. It’s just fishing.”

Mike Zlotnicki is associate editor at Wildlife in North Carolina magazine. He lives in Garner with his wife, three daughters and two German shorthaired pointers.

Mike Zlotnicki

Scott Wood casting for largemouth bass at a Piedmont farm pond.

“The renown of Italy’s jewelry, with its sensual beauty and extraordinary craftsmanship, is founded on the goldsmithing skills passed down through generations.” – The New York Times

Iguess I was a little bored. For the past hour, I’d been on the phone with Daniele, the head of my office in Italy, reviewing our latest purchases of Italian gold, Murano glass and Italian-made shoes and handbags.

“Daniele,” I said, “What is the hottest jewelry in Italy right now?” His reply? Woven gold bracelets studded with gems. He texted me some photos and I knew immediately that this was jewelry that Raffinato just had to have.

The best part about these bracelets? The price. Because of our longstanding connections in Arezzo, the mecca of Italian goldsmithing, we can offer both bracelets together for just $99, a fraction of the price you’ll pay anywhere else for similar jewelry. Order today. These bracelets are one of our hottest sellers this year, and with disruptions in the supply chain, we can only guarantee that we have 1,273 861 of these bracelets on hand for this ad.

Make the next gift you give your loved one a trip to Italy with the Italiano Fantasia Bracelets, stunning accessories that are sure to turn heads.

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Grandma’s Cranberry

Congealed Salad

With Krispy Kreme crullers

Growing up, I can never remember a time my Grandma didn’t have a dish of this in her refrigerator. She loved cruller doughnuts and hated waste, breaking up the stale ones into her Jell-O salad. This dish would shine at a summer picnic — don’t forget the Cool Whip!

2 cups cranberry juice

2 boxes (3-ounce) red Jell-O (we used cherry and strawberry)

1½ cups cold water

1 can (20-ounce) crushed pineapple in juice

2 cans (14-ounce) whole berry cranberry sauce

1 cup toasted walnuts, chopped (pecans work, too)

6 mini Krispy Kreme cruller doughnuts Cool Whip

From Your Kitchen

Zucchini Bread

Despite how offended some folks are by that little bit of green in a sweet bread, they honestly won’t even know that little bit of extra nutrition is in this delicious bread! The bread also benefits from the added moisture. Be aware that this recipe makes 2 loaves.

3 eggs

1 cup oil (such as vegetable)

2½ cups sugar

2 cups grated zucchini

2½ teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking powder

3 teaspoons cinnamon

½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Submit

Heat the juice to boiling in a large microwave safe bowl. (We used an 8-cup glass measuring cup.) Whisk gelatin into hot juice to dissolve. Add cold water and mix well.

In another bowl, combine pineapple (including juice) with cranberry sauce. Stir into gelatin mixture.

Pour into a 9-by-13-inch dish. Scatter with the nuts. Break four doughnuts into pieces and distribute evenly into mixture. Crumble the other two and dust the top of the salad. Chill overnight.

Serve with Cool Whip.

Note: This isn’t a firm gelled salad — it’s more ‘spoonable’ than sliceable. If you prefer a denser consistency, omit the pineapple juice.

Yield: 12–16 servings

Creamy Fried Chicken Salad Rolls

What’s a Southern picnic without fried chicken? or chicken salad? We’ve combined the two in these stuffed rolls! The salad can be a bit messy, so we stuffed it into top-split hot dog rolls so the goodness doesn’t fall out.

6 cups fried chicken*

¾ cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons sweet pickle juice

¾ cup roughly chopped sweet pickle chips (we used Mt. Olive Sweet Heat Bread & Butter)

4 cups iceberg lettuce, roughly chopped

2–3 stalks celery, diced (about ¾ cup)

2–3 green onions, dark and green parts, finely chopped

½ teaspoon black pepper

Hot sauce, a few shakes (optional)

2 packages (8-count) top split rolls Chives, snipped as a garnish (optional)

Chop up chicken into small pieces. In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients except rolls. Fold chicken into mixture. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

When ready to serve or pack your picnic, stuff salad into rolls and keep safely cooled.

Recipe courtesy of Michelle London of Matthews, a member of Union Power Cooperative

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two loaf pans.

Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add oil, sugar, zucchini and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients. Add to egg mixture and stir until just blended. Add in nuts.

Pour into pans and bake for one hour.

Yield: 2 loaves

*You can fry your own chicken, but save time by getting it from a local restaurant. (We used Bojangles’ 4-piece dark meat fried chicken and 6 tenders, including skin.) You can also use prepared frozen cooked tenders. Yield: About 16 rolls (2 per person)

Recipes by Wendy Perry, a member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative, unless otherwise noted. Learn more at WendysHomeEconomics.com

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July Events

JULY 15

Art in the Park Park Avenue, Blowing Rock 828-295-4636

Anniversary Celebration

Eck McCanless Pottery, Seagrove 336-873-7412

JULY 16

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

Outdoor theater play

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo

MAY 27–AUG. 19

Unto These Hills

Outdoor theater play Cherokee Historical Association, Cherokee 828-497-2111

JUNE 2–AUG. 26

The Lost Colony

Outdoor theater play Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo 252-473-2127

JUNE 30–JULY 1

Christmas in July Festival Street fair West Jefferson 336-846-1987

JUNE 30–JULY 4

NC 4th of July Festival

Music, games, fireworks Waterfront Park, Southport 919-457-5578

JULY 1

Blowing Rock 4th of July Festival Main Street, Blowing Rock 828-295-5222

Music on Main —

Dedicated Men of Zion Music, gallery, food, activities Main Street, Sparta 336-467-4688

JULY 1–2

Art on the Greene Art gallery

Historic Banner Elk School, Banner Elk 828-898-5398

JULY 1–AUG. 1

Horn in the West Outdoor theater play

Horn in the West Amphitheater, Boone 828-264-2120

JUNE 3–AUG. 26

Pleasure Island Pirate Cruise

Family-friendly pirate voyage Wednesdays and Saturdays

Island Cruises, Carolina Beach 919-232-3272

JULY 8

Daniel Boone Native Gardens Fairy Day

Daniel Boone Native Gardens, Boone 828-264-1299

JULY 14–AUG. 12

From This Day Forward

Outdoor theater play

Fred B. Cranford Amphitheatre, Valdese 828-522-1150

JULY 21

Symphony by the Lake at Chetola Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock 828-295-4636

JULY 25–30

Blowing Rock

Charity Horse Show

Broyhill Equestrian Preserve, Blowing Rock 828-295-4700

JULY 25–AUG. 20

Little Treasures

Art gallery and mixed media Hillsborough Gallery of Arts, Hillsborough 919-732-5001

JULY 29

Saturdays in the Park — Phatt City Concert in the park Crouse Park, Sparta 336-467-4688

where in Carolina Country is this?

Send

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 September issue, will receive $25. Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where

May’s winner

The May “Where Is This” photo by South River EMC member Jo Nance features “the Blues Brothers in a Cage.” While one reader mentioned the official Blues Brothers, Jake and Elwood, were spending time in Joliet Prison in Chicago, Illinois, these Blues Brothers statues are enjoying the great outdoors in front of Jonathan’s Pizza on East First Street in downtown Stedman, Cumberland County. Many readers noted that former Stedman Mayor and Blues Brothers fan Billy Horne erected the statues almost 20 years ago, in honor of the bros as well the local Gainey brothers, who often dressed and performed concerts as Jake and Elwood for community events. Vandalism over the years forced the duo behind the chain link fence for protection. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Johnny Walker of LaGrange, a Tri-County EMC member.

The Lost Colony

The Lost Colony

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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.

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