2023-09-BEMC

REGISTER TO WIN A NEW EVOLUTION GOLF CART

2023 ANNUAL MEETING

Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10:30 AM

Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation Headquarters 795 Ocean Highway West Supply, NC

Members may submit questions or concerns to annual.meeting@bemc.org by Thursday, Sept. 21, 5:00 PM

ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA

• Establishment of a Quorum, Response to Notice of Meeting, and Waiver of Minute(s) Reading;

• BEMC Reports;

• Announcement of Director Elections;

• Additional Business;

• Management response to submitted member questions.

2023 DISTRICT ELECTIONS

District 3 - Moses Herring, Incumbent

District 4 - Glenn Humbert, Incumbent

District 5 - Larry Fowler, Incumbent

District 6 - David Gore, Incumbent

In non-contested districts, the registration of a member at the annual meeting shall constitute an affirmative vote in favor of the person(s) identified in the Nominating Committee report unless a negative vote is submitted in writing to BEMC headquarters at least seven days prior to the annual meeting.

See detailed information, rules, terms, and conditions by visiting bemc.org/annualmeeting.

REGISTER & VOTE

Aug. 21 - Sept. 21

Registrations and votes will be counted securely and electronically through SmartHub. SmartHub is available 24/7 via bemc.org, downloadable on mobile devices from the Apple App Store or Google Play or, with personal assistance, during regular business hours at any BEMC office.

PRIZE DRAWINGS

2023 Golf Cart & Cash Prizes

All members who register for the Annual Meeting will be entered into a drawing to win a 2023 Evolution golf cart and cash prizes. Prize winners will be announced on Sept. 22.

CRUISE CLOSE TO HOME ® along the Columbia & Snake Rivers

Follow Lewis and Clark’s epic 19th-century expedition along the Columbia and Snake Rivers aboard the newest riverboats in the region. Enjoy unique shore excursions, scenic landscapes, and talented onboard experts who bring history to life.

Small Ship Cruising Done Perfectly ®

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 55, No. 9 Published

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

Joseph P. Brannan

Executive Vice President & CEO

Nelle Hotchkiss

Senior Vice President & COO

Kristie Aldridge, CCC Vice President

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, notfor-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership.

Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine?

Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year.

Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. Schools, libraries, $6.

Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460.

Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950.

All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

Contact us

Phone: 919-875-3091

Mail: 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Web: carolinacountry.com

Email: editor@carolinacountry.com

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

Experiencing a power outage?

Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service. Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

Golf in the Old North State

It’s All About the Short Game

Gather ’Round for Liver Mush

Carolina Country Scenes

Snow Camp Connections

I enjoyed the article on “Finding Freedom” (August 2023, page 24). Freedom Hill Church was the first Wesleyan abolitionist church in the South. It was originally built in Snow Camp in 1848, but was moved and restored on the Campmeeting Grounds in Colfax, in Guilford County. When the campgrounds were sold, it was moved again to the campus of Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina. More information on Freedom Hill Church is available on the school website (bit.ly/swu-church).

Tim Smith, Maiden, a member of Rutherford EMC

Chowder Down East

WOW!! The recipe in the June 2023 issue for Shrimp and Corn Chowder (page 30) was delicious! My daughter-in-law made it (I took her the recipe) when our family gathered Down East near Marshallberg. She doubled the recipe, used fresh shrimp, fresh corn and added small cubes of potatoes plus a few other spices. It was amazing! If you are a fan of seafood and chowder, you must try it. Love the recipes in this magazine.

Kay Blanchard, Lee County, a member of Central Electric

Carolina SNAPSHOTS

THIS MONTH: Hit the Links

I own a set of golf clubs, but I’ll admit: my skills didn’t evolve much beyond what I learned on the Putt-Putt course growing up. Regardless of one’s skill on the links, North Carolina provides ample opportunity to enjoy its beautiful scenery — from the mountains to the coast — on award-winning and, in some cases, world-renowned courses. (There’s a lot of good PuttPutt out there, too.) Learn more starting on page 10. Also, find out more about electric co-op lineworkers and the families who support them on page 4.

—Scott Gates, editor

Clarifications to our August Issue

The directions in dividing the batter for our readersubmitted Honey Bun Cake (page 30) were unclear. Pour 1/3 of the batter in the bottom of a baking pan, sprinkle the filling over the batter, and then add the remaining batter.

We’ve heard from several readers with concerns about our article on electric co-op member and cancer survivor Wes Harper, specifically about the nature of a Discovery Channel survivalist show he’s appeared on. While we intended for the article to highlight Wes’ commitment to family, support of cancer patients, and finding purpose in difficult situations, we understand your concerns and appreciate your feedback.

THEME Farm Life

A Loving the Farm Life

Donna High, Peachland

A member of Pee Dee Electric

B The Highlands of Happy Dash Farm

Sarah Hummel, Boomer

C All Baled Up

Dory Hubbard, Lincolnton

A member of Rutherford EMC

D That Proud First Egg Feeling!

Amanda Morgan, Kinston

A member of Jones-Onslow EMC

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO!

November Theme: Fall Colors

Send us your best shots based on the upcoming month’s theme by Sept. 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.

Prayers and Support for Dedicated Lineworkers

By Ashleigh Lancaster

Nothing can ever prepare me for the notice to pack his bags for a storm call. My husband is fortunate enough to be a lineman for Pitt & Greene EMC. Being on call 24/7 is hard to comprehend. Storm season is tough, both for the ones in the path of storms, as well as for the lineworkers and their families when they leave to restore power.

The family atmosphere created between the employees of local co-ops and their significant others makes it much more tolerable for those at home when the call comes, but we never know if he will be gone 24 hours or 30 days. One day he may be home, the next he could be on the road to an unknown location to help those in need. As tough as it may be, I try to set all of my feelings aside and support his dream.

Electric co-op lineworkers respond to hurricanes, ice and snow storms, tornadoes or whatever disasters come their way, sacrificing more than we will ever imagine. They miss birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, field trips and other big events. When my husband and I got married in September, I never thought about storm season. Now, storm season is a “thing” in our lives. My husband has been gone for more than half of our anniversaries due to hurricane damage in North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

I worry and pray for my husband and his crews every day, storm or not. Worry is always a part of the game. Being the significant other of a lineman for 14 years is not for the weary. I have learned they need us to be strong, positive, and they need our prayers. I always try to tell my husband how proud I am of him and the work he is doing. I also try to assure him things are going smoothly at home (even when I am at my wit’s end). I make sure he knows we are praying for him and his crew. With a toddler at home, we keep those phone calls positive and not full of

questions like: “When are you coming home?” or “Are you tired and hungry?” I always keep in the back of my mind: No news is good news. If I don’t hear from him, he’s okay, he is working, and he will respond when he is able.

When I was pregnant with our little boy in 2018, my husband was working on storm recovery in New Bern and became stuck on the opposite side of the river due to flooding. Not only was he facing the stress of our first pregnancy, but I was eight-and-a-half-months pregnant, and he didn’t know if he would be able to get to me if I went into labor! Thankfully, our little man waited to make his appearance until his daddy was back home.

When the call comes in to pack his bags, I pray he goes to an area where the community gets involved. Even though the people in these areas are suffering from loss, many communities will cater to the line crews and first responders. They create goody bags, help do laundry, provide home-cooked meals, and even provide necessities if they are running low. When lineworkers are welcomed into communities like this, it eases the minds of the wives and families back home.

Preparing ourselves for the next hurricane and storm season never goes without its unique challenges, but there is one thing for sure. We will remain positive, and continue to pray for the safety of our lineman and his crew to make it through another year of this journey called life.

Ashleigh Lancaster and her husband, Pitt & Greene EMC Crew Foreman James “Fuzzy” Lancaster, live in Snow Hill. They’re celebrating their 9th wedding anniversary this month.

I have learned they need us to be strong, positive, and they need our prayers.

NC Co-op Helps Educator Bring Career Paths to Life

Roanoke Cooperative hosted Kenan Fellow Dawn Stokes this summer

into the classroom and share what I have learned with them.”

During her internship, Stokes said she learned the nuts and bolts of the electric cooperative industry, from the role lineworkers have in keeping the lights on to how the co-op supports their local community and assists members. Perhaps most importantly, according to Stokes, she gained a greater understanding of the local workforce, the career opportunities available for her students and the types of skills necessary to perform these job functions.

One Halifax County educator earned the experience of a lifetime this summer, thanks to a partnership between North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, Roanoke Cooperative and the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership.

Dawn Stokes, an eighth grade science teacher at Enfield Middle S.T.E.A.M. Academy, spent three weeks in July interning with Aulanderbased Roanoke Cooperative after being awarded a prestigious Kenan Fellowship earlier this year. For Stokes, an educator for 13 years, a sense of community and the impact of this experience on her future students was most memorable.

“Roanoke Cooperative rolled out the red carpet for me during my internship, and I am so thankful for this experience,” Stokes said. “North Carolina’s

electric cooperatives are committed to supporting their communities and members, and I was able to witness the cooperative difference firsthand throughout my internship.”

As part of her Kenan Fellowship, Stokes completed extensive, hands-on professional development along with her cohort of 38 fellows. The professional development and networking opportunities will continue throughout the year and into 2024, culminating in a final project allowing her students to explore the different career paths available to them within the electric cooperative industry and beyond.

“Though my students are eighth graders, it is never too early for them to begin thinking about their futures and preparing for life after school,” Stokes said. “I can’t wait to get back

“Roanoke Cooperative is proud to partner with the Kenan Fellows Program, and it was a pleasure to host Dawn this summer,” said Basil Williams, senior manager of Member Services, Communications and Public Relations at Roanoke Cooperative, who also served as Stokes’ mentor during the internship. “Throughout this process we have learned so much from Dawn and know that this experience will positively impact her future as an educator and the students of Halifax County.”

Stokes is the first teacher from a Halifax County school to be selected as a Kenan Fellow. She is the first Kenan Fellow hosted by Roanoke Cooperative and the 11th to be hosted by a North Carolina electric cooperative.

Get Behind the Wheel of an EV

—Chris Nault, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

(Left to right) Kenan Fellow Dawn Stokes with Corey Hayes and Basil Williams of Roanoke Cooperative during her internship.

Amneris Solano, Kenan Fellows Program

Lineworker Training Critical as Field Grows

Electric co-ops are dedicated to job training and safety

For electric lineworkers, safety starts long before the hard hat and insulated gloves are ever put on. It starts with classroom learning and hands-on training that provide lineworkers with the knowledge and skills critical for protecting them from danger as they build and maintain the electric system that powers everyday life.

Through a robust Job Training and Safety program shared by North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives, current and future lineworkers commit to putting safety first through new and continuing education courses at lineworker schools that feature cutting edge technologies for hands-on training, as well as classroom instruction.

“The business we’re in requires that safety is part of a lineworker’s DNA,” said Farris Leonard, director of Job Training and Safety for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “Our team is committed to facilitating that culture of safety in everything we do from training schools to our time working directly with cooperative teams.”

Lineworker schools

Since 1998, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have partnered with Nash Community College in Rocky Mount, which operates the Lineman Training Academy. The program was created by the co-ops to provide training for lineworkers as they entered the field, as well as an important opportunity for academic advancement, as students can combine their job training with academic curriculum to graduate with an associate’s degree in two years.

Beyond the formal partnership with Nash Community College, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have worked with community colleges across the state on lineworker training programs and other workforce development initiatives for years.

“Many of these schools are located in the same rural areas where our

co-ops are based, and they have a real impact on our communities and workforce” Leonard said.

Lineworker career field set to grow

Approximately 1,400 lineworkers serve North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives, and there are more than 120,000 electric lineworkers nationwide. The career field is rapidly expanding, and lineworker jobs are in demand across North Carolina and the nation.

“A large percentage of the workforce has retired or will retire over the next several years, taking their knowledge and experience with them, which makes our focus on training and development even more important,” Leonard said.

Currently there are 10 lineworker schools in operation across North Carolina. While this number is expected to grow, Leonard says coordination will be key.

“With coordination comes consistency,” he said. “Consistent training programs will allow co-ops to have the same expectations for their lineworkers after completion and allow a smoother and safer transition into the field.”

Patience and safety are key

This summer marks two years since leaders at James Sprunt Community

College in Kenansville asked Leonard and his Job Training & Safety team for advice and information about the types of programming that would create a structured and disciplined training school for interested students.

To kick off the program for the third class of students, Leonard was invited to share his thoughts on how students can make the most of their time in the program. Noting that a steady, methodical pace allows for critical thinking, Leonard conveyed a simple and important message: “Be patient and relentlessly focused on safety.”

—Chris Nault and Lola McBride, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Farris Leonard (second from right) speaks with an electrical lineworker class at James Sprunt Community College.

ELSEWHERE, A COUPLE IS CLINKING GLASSES OF A CAB POURED FROM A BOX IN THEIR KITCHEN.

Here,

G LF G LF

By Craig Distl

By Craig Distl

Brunswick Plantation Resort and Golf

Pinehurst Resort

the Great Depression and World War II. As post-war America boomed, so did golf in the Old North State. The sport’s future king, Arnold Palmer, headed south from Pennsylvania in 1948 to play collegiately at Wake Forest College, creating a powerhouse program that remains a force today. Along the way, golf courses and resorts sprung up, people moved to golf communities in the suburbs and the golf bug that touched every corner of the state throughout the 1980s and ’90s continues to this day.

Courses across the state

We’ll start our sweep of public-access golf in the mountains at Asheville’s Grove Park Inn. The course as it now exists was designed by legendary Scottish architect Donald Ross in 1926 and renovated in 2002 by Greensboro’s Kris Spence. Nestled between the historic inn and downtown Asheville, it’s definitely a bucket-list course for avid golfers.

An hour northeast is another stay-and-play retreat, Mount Mitchell Golf Club. Routed through the Toe River Valley below the highest peak east of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell Golf Club is a fair test of golf designed by famed English architect Fred Hawtree.

Heading east to the Piedmont offers the chance to play Tanglewood Park, site of the 1974 PGA Championship. Tanglewood underwent a major renovation in 2018 that kept the original intent of the Robert Trent Jones, Sr.,

Continued on page 12

GOLF AND NORTH CAROLINA. Inaplaceboastinghundredsof courses from mountains to the coast,thetwoareinseparable.

Duke University Golf Club

described as a “hard par, easy bogey” as there are no water hazards and few out-of-bounds stakes. Regular golfers are able to advance the ball from tee to green, at which point the notorious turtleback greens — designed to be highest at the center, falling away at the sides — offer a stiff test for those trying to play at or below par.

Naturally, the thrill of playing No. 2 carries a premium price. However, there are eight others under the Pinehurst Resort umbrella available at varying price points and levels of difficulty, as well many others in the Pinehurst/ Southern Pines area.

Down at the coast, just across the line from South Carolina’s golf-crazed Myrtle Beach, Brunswick County has become a golf destination all its own. The county has more than 30 golf courses, including a standout foursome at Ocean Ridge Plantation.

The award-winning “Big Cats” courses — Leopard’s Chase, Tiger’s Eye, Panther’s Run and Lion’s Paw — make Ocean Ridge a golf nirvana. Leopard’s Chase is arguably the pick of the litter, finishing in style with an 18th green guarded by a man-made waterfall tumbling over a wall of coquina boulders, the same type of rock that first made a splash at Tiger’s Eye.

Up the coast in the Outer Banks, where the state disappears into the Atlantic Ocean, Nags Head Golf Links provides one more unforgettable experience. Built along the Roanoke Sound, the course is known for its rugged shoreline, island holes, seaside vistas and rolling dunes with native sea grass.

We are fortunate to reside in a state so ideally suited for golf—a place that combines golfing history, interesting topography and an abundance of publicly accessible links. Whether you crave a round with ocean breezes or crisp mountain views, there’s a tee time waiting for you nearly every day of the year.

and proud native of North Carolina.

Digital Extras

Visit carolinacountry.com/extras for the online version of this article, which includes links to golf course websites.

It’s All About the

Short Game

Miniature golf has North Carolina roots By

Mini

golf, goofy golf, Putt-Putt, crazy golf these days, you can find as many variations of miniature golf as there are nicknames for the family friendly putting courses.

Most offer some sort of gimmick, making it obvious that scores — at least when it comes to miniature golf — aren’t the goal. One indoor game is played in a glow-in-the-dark setting. One chain, catering to the over-21 crowd, offers trendy snacks and cocktails. But the strangest of all is a course “laid out” in the basement of a funeral home!

Although many of these very different courses are referred to as “putt-putt,” only one chain is the original, the real deal: Putt-Putt Fun Centers, developed by Fayetteville native Don Clayton in 1954.

Clayton’s Putt-Putt wasn’t the first course, though. That honor belongs to a course that opened in 1867 in St. Andrews, Scotland. That course was called “The Ladies' Putting Club.” The concept caught on and eventually spread to Pinehurst, North Carolina, where wealthy English businessman James Barber hired an architect to create a putting course on his

Craig Distl is a Belmont-based freelance writer

Lonnie Poole Golf Course, NC State University

Lori Grossman

Craig Distl

golf game there, and possibly in the United States, was played in January 1918.

Miniature golf’s popularity waxed and waned over the next few decades. Then in 1954, Don Clayton’s doctor ordered him to take a month off from his job selling insurance, fearing he might suffer a nervous breakdown. He was supposed to rest, but instead decided to build his own public miniature golf course. Clayton (then 28 years old) and his father built it for $5,200. The course paid for itself in less than a month, at 25 cents per game (if you do the math, that’s a lot of games). A year later, there were eight locations. By 1957, there were 106.

Clayton wanted to use the name Shady Vale for his new courses, but was a bit confused about the spelling of the word “vale.” When the phrase “PuttPutt” came to him, he used that instead.

He’d played other courses filled with obstacles like rotating windmills, and clown mouths that opened and closed. Clayton didn’t like them and planned his own version on 3-by-5-inch cards on his dining room table. Clayton’s vision of Putt-Putt would skip all the kitsch and return to golf’s roots. His courses emphasized putting skills, much the same as any golfer would need on a regulationsized course.

Each of his 18 par-2 holes was plotted out and copyrighted. Each hole utilized outdoor carpet and aluminum bump boards. The bump boards made it possible to lower a golfer’s score if a shot banked off the board at just the correct angle. As Putt-Putt’s popularity grew, Clayton started selling

franchises. That allowed the company to spread not only across the country, but around the world as well. By 1994, there were over 400 locations in six countries.

Don Clayton never returned to the insurance business. Putt-Putt’s success made him a multimillionaire. But times and tastes change. By the time Clayton died in 1996, people wanted more than just miniature golf. When David Callahan (another Fayetteville native) bought out the Clayton family interest, Putt-Putt had begun to slip. He knew changes were needed to bring people back and to keep the game relevant. In 2014, he told a writer for the Fayetteville Observer: “PuttPutt centers are a place for group participation … People want entertainment in a family-friendly environment. And that’s what we will provide.”

Under the new name Putt-Putt Fun Centers, entertainment options have expanded at most locations. Now, after several competitive games of golf, guests can try out the batting cage, arcade and laser tag. Other favorites such as go-karts, bumper boats and indoor bumper cars have been added. In keeping with efforts to use clean energy, these three are powered by electricity.

As Putt-Putt celebrates its 70th anniversary next year, its mission remains the same. As founder Don Clayton once said: “Our product is very simple. We sell happiness.”

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

Putt-Putt Fun Center

Find a Fun Center

There are now Putt-Putt Fun Center locations in a dozen states. Visit putt-putt.com to find one near you.

Junior Putters Association

Putt-Putt Fun Center

Members of the Junior Putters Association

September 2023

2023 Annual Meeting Information

This will be a business meeting only, with the following agenda:

è Establishment of a quorum, Response to notice of meeting, Waiver of minutes reading

è Reports

è Results of Director elections

è Additional business

è Management response to members’ submitted questions (submit to annual.meeting@bemc.org by Sept. 21)

All members who register will be entered into a drawing to win a 2023 Evolution golf cart, and cash prizes! Winners will be announced on Sept. 22.

REGISTRATION WILL BE THROUGH SMARTHUB. You can register and vote online from Aug. 21 – Sept. 21. SmartHub is available for free at bemc.org and app stores, or we’re happy to help you during business hours at any of our offices.

Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10:30 a.m.

BEMC Supply District Office

Public Meeting Room

795 Ocean Highway W., Supply

DISTRICT ELECTIONS

District 3: Moses Herring, incumbent

District 4: Glenn Humbert, incumbent

District 5: Larry Fowler, incumbent

District 6: David Gore, incumbent

In uncontested districts, the registration of a member constitutes a vote for the person(s) identified in the Nominating Committee report, unless a negative vote is submitted to BEMC headquarters at least seven days prior to the annual meeting.

BEMC offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, for the Labor Day holiday.

All registrants will be entered into a drawing to win a NEW 2023 Evolution golf cart!

Getting to Know Capital Credits:

A member benefit that puts money back in your wallet

è What are capital credits? Brunswick Electric is a non-profit, member-owned business. Each year, funds that remain after paying operating expenses and planning for growth are set aside as margins. Each year, these margins are assigned to you in proportion to the amount of electricity you purchased during the year. Periodically, the board of directors assesses the financial stability of the co-op to determine when it is financially feasible to return margins, in the form of capital credits, to the membership. In general, capital credits are issued every two years. Checks are issued to members for the amount of capital credits you are due, using an allocation method that benefits all members, and demonstrates the value of being a member.

è Why does the co-op need to hold margins? The co-op uses margins to level out cash flow and to reduce borrowing, with the promise of repaying this capital in the future. This allows us to invest in infrastructure improvements and prepare for future growth, while keeping electric rates stable over time. It’s a model that promotes stability and saves the membership money.

è What happens to my capital credits if I move out of the service territory? If you move, your name, account number and capital credits remain on our books. As long as we have your current address at all times, you will receive your capital credits by mail.

è How do I sign up for this member benefit? You don’t have to! It’s automatic when you become a member.

CAPITAL CREDITS ALLOCATION FOR 2022

The 2022 member capital credits allocation is $0.0315344580 per dollar billed. The allocation can be estimated on the dollar amount of a member’s regular monthly electric service, as billed or prepaid, for the year.

There’s Still Time! Bright Ideas Education Grants Deadline is Sept. 15

As you begin a new academic year, do you have an idea for a project that will enhance your students’ learning experience, but isn’t in the budget? Don’t forget that you can still apply until Sept. 15 for a grant up to $2,000 for an innovative classroom project that needs funding. Last year Brunswick Electric distributed $34,160 to local teachers, and this year, you could be among the recipients. Visit bemc.org/bright-ideasgrants to apply.

ANNUAL REPORT

You Can Count on Us.

Josh Winslow CEO David Gore President

In January we were pleased to announce that we had no plans for a rate increase in 2023. This is despite inflationary pressures, and a growth rate of almost 5%. Everything is more expensive, and neighboring electric co-ops and Duke Energy are raising their rates, so you may be wondering how it’s possible we have no plans to raise ours. We’re driven by our mission to deliver bestin-class reliability at the lowest possible cost, and provide customer service and engagement that is meaningful. We’d like to tell you how your board and management’s focus on rate stability in 2022 and before, and your collective action, made stable rates a reality.

Our demand control programs have contributed significantly to cost containment. We designed them precisely to give you control over your consumption, and the opportunity to have a positive impact on our wholesale power costs. These programs connect us all, allowing for collective action that makes us stronger than we are as individuals. Your participation in our Connect-to-Save thermostat programs, Beat the Peak action alerts and Timeof-Use rate option made a difference. Because we worked together, these programs saved us approximately $700,000 in 2022. As more members participate, and we roll out more programs, the impact will be even greater. These programs save money, and increase reliability for us all.

Our efforts to cut controllable costs also had a substantial effect on rate stability. We’re continually striving to maximize efficiency across all departments; reducing expenses that won’t impact reliability or service has been a top priority. Our collaboration with the other NC cooperatives has resulted in favorable wholesale power costs for the next few years. And through our statewide organization, NCEMC, because of our early investment in nuclear energy, we were able to make sure that legislated carbon reduction goals didn’t put an undue burden on our membership. We continue to work internally, and with our North Carolina colleagues, for your best outcomes.

In good times and in uncertain times, we strive to be the energy partner you can depend on. The cooperative business model is more relevant today than ever, as we work together to drive down costs and provide superior reliability. Our member-owned business structure allows us to reinvest in our system, making it more robust, and gives you the power to impact our rates. This means you have more reliable power, and more control. That’s the bottom line of the cooperative difference, and it’s something you can count on every day.

President, BEMC

CEO, BEMC

MISSION WITH A VISION | Board of Directors

Perry Sellers District 1

Frederick Tedder District 9

Calvin Duncan District 8

Dan Strickland District 7

David Gore District 6

Larry Fowler District 5

Glenn Humbert District 4

Deborah Ahlers District 2

Moses C. Herring District 3

John Ward At-Large, Brunswick County

200 Employees

60% Faster Outage restoration time compared to the national average

2 Largest of 26 in NC

1.5 Billion kWh sold in 2022

7,248+ Miles of underground & overhead line

3 Years of no lost-time accidents

34th Largest of more than 900 in the United States

8 EV Charging stations

11,139 Commercial meters

99.9% Reliability

94,108 Residential meters

738 Community solar panels subscribed

SCHOLARSHIP HIGHWAY

$10,000

$169,318

BRIGHT IDEAS

$33,171

YOUTH TOUR & SPORTS CAMP

$3,000

COMMUNITY GRANTS

$37,750

COMMUNITY GRANTS

Provided 32 organizations financial support for family services, civic and community programs, cultural and arts programs, emergency services and economic development.

SCHOLARSHIP HIGHWAY

Emma Stone (Brunswick) and Peyton Blosser (Columbus) received college scholarships.

WARM HOMES WARM HEARTS

WARM HOMES WARM HEARTS

$85,397

TOTAL DOLLARSFROMCOOPERA T I V E T O

Provided funding assistance to over 650 families with Brunswick Family Assistance and the Columbus County Department of Aging.

BRIGHT IDEAS EDUCATION GRANTS

Funded 43 teachers innovative classroom projects that offer students inspiring, hands-on learning experiences.

SPORTS CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE YOUTH TOUR

Jordyn and Madilyn Smith went on an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., to learn about the cooperative difference.

Provided full scholarships for Mylee Sneed to attend the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp in Raleigh, and for Lucas Banks and Tayven Turnage to attend the Carolina Basketball School in Chapel Hill.

TOWN OF OCEAN ISLE BEACH RECEIVES NEW ASCENDANT FIRE TRUCK

BEMC worked with the USDA to obtain funding through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program to enable the Town of Ocean Isle Beach to purchase a new ascendant ladder truck for their fire department. The Town of Ocean Isle Beach suffered a direct landfall from Hurricane Isaias in July 2020. During the storm the Town was also faced with seven devastating home fires at the same time. Due to the severe flooding on the roadways during this storm all responding apparatus was damaged. The Fire Department responds to over 1,000 incident calls annually. Emergency response activities include fire suppression, high and low angle rescues, water rescues, mutual aid response calls, and life safety and medical assistance. The USDA loan funding has enabled to Town to continue to effectively provide vital services to its residents and the multitude of tourists that frequent the Town every year.

MEMBERS IN NEED RECEIVE NEW HVAC UNITS THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT

Brunswick Electric was selected by Advanced Energy, a nonprofit that works with electric utilities and the government, to identify members who would receive a new HVAC unit and installation, for free. To qualify, they had to have received benefits through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program or Crisis Intervention Program in the last 12 months, have high energy use, and an inefficient HVAC system. Funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act, made available through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Members who qualified were invited to apply, and those who passed a site visit and durability check were then selected by Advanced Energy. Four members in Columbus County and two in Brunswick County received new Daikin HVAC units.

EV Day for Members

Columbus County Fair

W. Brunswick

Friday Night Lights

S. Columbus

Friday Night Lights

Watermelon Festival

Science is Elementary Career Days

MAINTENANCE

Each year we take steps to protect our electric infrastructure by conducting safety inspections and ongoing maintenance.

3,817 new homes connected

171,243 personally handled phone calls

43,795 service orders processed

87 American Customer Satisfaction Index Score compared to national average of 74 in 2022

5,910 total new members

120 miles of new underground lines installed

ENERGIZED BATTERY SYSTEM

Energized the 5 MW battery storage system at Zion Hill Substation, deploying it in December to reduce overall peak demand of the system.

MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

Initiated an extensive maintenance program for our substations to prevent equipment failures, mitigating 8 potential costly failures.

WHITEVILLE DISTRICT

Worked with state and federal agencies to bury overhead lines in the Boardman area that were difficult to access and were prone to storm damage.

Completed 6 miles of overhead replacement construction to upgrade lines in the Hallsboro, Dulah Rd. and Wright Rd. area.

SUPPLY DISTRICT

Completed a DOT project for the future Mulberry Rd. DOT project. Completed 3.5 miles of overhead replacement construction to upgrade lines.

OAK ISLAND DISTRICT

Continue to support the DOT in relocation efforts for the Midway Rd./211 road expansion.

Completed 2 miles of overhead replacement construction to upgrade lines.

PROGRAMS / As a BEMC member, you get to decide how you interact with us. By enrolling in one of our programs, you not only help yourself but the entire membership.

CONNECT TO SAVE

Provides members with two options to save! Receive a $50 bill credit, and a $4 credit each month when you enroll your existing smart thermostat. Or, get one at a reduced price, have it professionally installed for free, and get a $50 annual incentive. Enrolling allows BEMC to make brief changes to your HVAC setting by three degrees on a limited number of peak demand periods, which helps us control wholesale power costs.

5,155 participants

TIME-OF-USE RATE

Offers members a lower rate for electricity when demand on our system is low, balanced with a higher rate when demand on our system is high. You’ll lower your bill by shifting your energy usage away from peak times, because you’ll pay a lower rate than our standard rate all other times, and a much lower rate from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

89 participants

PREPAY POWER

You pay for power in advance of when you need it. PrePay Power gives you control over your energy usage and provides flexibility, allowing you to choose when and how much to purchase. There’s no monthly bill or deposit, and you always know how much you’re spending on electricity. It’s easy to check your account status, and add money to your account, any time of day or night. You’ll also receive high energy use email notifications to help you control your usage.

9,543 participants

WEATHERIZATION LOANS

Provides 5% loans for energy efficiency projects, up to $10,000 for residential projects and $10,000 for commercial projects. Terms can be as long as 60 months, and payments are included with your monthly electric bill. If you own your home, and have two years of service with a good payment history, the loan process is simple.

$1,016,467 granted for 148 loans

BEAT THE PEAK

Offers our members the option to voluntarily reduce electricity use during peak usage periods: a few critical hours when the demand and wholesale cost for electricity is the highest. This helps hold down power costs and keeps rates affordable. If 1,500 of us participate, we can lower our monthly cost by $100,000.

OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH / BEMC leadership has a strong commitment to maintaining the financial integrity and strength of your cooperative, in a way that balances competitive rates with reliable and safe service as we lead the transition to a clean energy future and ongoing maintenance.

MEMBER’S

Depreciation

Total Operating Expenses

Net Operating Margins (Before Allocations)

Net Non-Operating Margins

Total Net Margins (Before Allocations)

Help the Lineworker Restore Power

Occasionally, severe weather can cause power disruptions. When outages occur, our lineworkers get to work! They restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

Help the lineworker reach the transformer to fix the power outage.

Reconnect with Rejuvenating Twists on Classics

With hectic day-to-day schedules and feeling like you’re being pulled in multiple directions, it can be difficult to find the time to catch up and reconnect with family and friends, but mealtime may just be the best opportunity. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or all three, sharing a meal can be a powerful moment. Here are some recipes featuring fresh ingredients to add a pep in your step and fuel connection with loved ones.

Visit Safeway.com and Albertsons.com for more refreshing meal ideas.

—Family Features

Mixed Berry-Lime Smoothie Bowl

With banana and granola

This rejuvenating dish is the perfect balance between sweet and tart.

1 banana

½ package (6-ounce) blackberries

½ lime

2 cups frozen mixed berries

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

4 fluid ounces whole milk

1/8 cup honey

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 cup granola of choice

Wash and dry banana and blackberries.

Peel and thinly slice banana; set aside.

Zest and juice lime into blender. Add frozen mixed berries, yogurt, milk, honey and cinnamon. Blend on high speed until smooth, 1–2 minutes.

To serve, divide smoothie between bowls and top with banana, blackberries and granola.

Yield: 3 cups

Ribeye Steak Kebabs

With grape tomatoes and mushrooms

Swap the steak for chicken, fish, tofu or a hardy vegetable to appeal to many tastes and preferences.

2 cloves garlic

½ small bunch Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/8 cup red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

¾ pound ribeye steak

½ pint grape tomatoes

¼ pound white mushrooms

Green pepper, sliced (optional)

½ medium red onion

6 skewers

Peel and mince garlic. Wash and dry parsley. Shave leaves off stems; discard stems and mince leaves.

In large bowl, whisk minced garlic, half the minced parsley, olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper to create a marinade.

Cut steak into cubes; transfer to marinade bowl and toss to coat.

Wash tomatoes, mushrooms and green pepper. Halve mushrooms. Add tomatoes, mushrooms and green pepper to marinade.

Peel onion and cut into

chunks; add to marinade. Toss beef and vegetables until well coated.

Heat grill pan, outdoor grill or skillet to medium-high heat.

Thread steak and vegetables onto six skewers.

Cook kebabs in batches until steak is browned and vegetables are tender, 3–5 minutes per side. Transfer to plate and repeat with remaining kebabs.

To serve, plate kebabs and sprinkle with remaining minced parsley.

Yield: 6 servings

We’re Losing Money on These Pearls

An opera-length cultured pearl necklace for the Impossible Price of $19

You’ve never seen a price like this for genuine pearls. Our competitors are charging hundreds of dollars for pearl jewelry; we’re charging just $19 for our Speakeasy Pearl Necklace, a 50-inch, opera-length strand of generous 7 mm cultured freshwater pearls. Read our lips: WE ARE LOSING MONEY ON THESE PEARLS.

Classic, unique and displaying a soft, “satiny” luster, cultured freshwater pearls are a favorite of jewelers and jewel wearers alike. And the appeal of pearls is timeless. “Pearls are always appropriate,” said Jackie O., that famous icon of style.

This necklace features more than FOUR FEET of cultured freshwater pearls that can be double- or even triple-looped to match any outfit and mood. Normally, we’d charge $399 for a necklace like this. So why aren’t we? Our goal is to build a long-term client relationship with you. We are sure that most of you will become loyal Stauer clients in the years to come. I don’t want to sell you one piece of jewelry. I want to help you celebrate a lifetime’s worth of birthdays, anniversaries and other special events with jewelry.

More than FOUR FEET of pearls for

$19!

Better yet, if you act right away, pay another $19 and I’ll throw in the matching triple-decker Speakeasy Pearl Bracelet, valued at $299. That’s $698 OF VALUE FOR JUST $38! To put it plainly, you win, we lose.

Don’t sit on this offer. Only 1,427 Speakeasy Pearl Collections are available for this ad, and half have already sold!

Jewelry Specifications:

• 7 mm cultured freshwater pearls

• Necklace: 50" L. Bracelet: 7 1/4" L

Speakeasy Pearls Collection

Necklace $399 $19* + S&P Save $380

Necklace & Bracelet $698 $38* + S&P Save $659

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: SPN121-01

“I couldn’t believe it, but decided to call and I’ve not been disappointed since. I received the necklace and keep coming back for more.”

—

Amy, Fairmont, WV

$19 Impossible Price NECKLACE ONLY “Pearls

Back to School Energy Savings

Adjust energy use to new routines

By Jonathan Susser

Q:My kids recently returned to school, and I want to manage this adjustment along with my energy bill. What are things I should keep in mind?

A:Some of the biggest changes associated with the back-to-school time of year are those around routine. After a summer filled with both outdoor and home-based activities, you and your family may be spending less time in the house, and it may now stay empty for more hours throughout the day.

While this might not seem significant, it might be for your electric bill. For example, your air conditioning system could be cooling your home when no one is there, and you may benefit from altering the thermostat settings.

So, as everyone is running out of the house in the morning, try bumping up your thermostat a few degrees — the smaller the gap between your thermostat setpoint and the outdoor temperature, the less it’ll cost you. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, double check any scheduling functions before hectic mornings to see if they still make sense for your updated occupancy levels. (Note: For heat pump systems, make sure your thermostat is heat-pump compatible in order to maintain efficiencies while changing temperature settings.) Also, keep interior doors open to improve airflow and take a bit of strain off your cooling system.

It’s worth remembering to turn off unnecessary lights, appliances, fans and electronics before you leave. While each one alone may not draw much electricity, they can add up over time.

If you typically drive your kids to school, maybe there’s a carpool opportunity to help make new friends and save on gas, or electricity if you have an electric car. By the same

token, if you’re waiting in the pickup line at the end of the day, see if you can turn off your car rather than let it sit idling, wasting fuel.

If your kids are a little older and you’re in the market for a laptop, printer or computer monitor, look for models that are certified by Energy Star®. These products use efficient components and have been third-party tested to better manage energy consumption.

Other areas to keep in mind for potential savings include laundry (even with new outfits and jerseys to wash, continue to aim for a full load before starting) and food (see what ingredients are in season, try homegrown instead of driving for store bought, and consider reusable over single-use containers for lunches).

It’s also an exciting time to explore what energy-related enhancements your children’s schools may have made. For example, electric school buses are arriving in North Carolina, bringing cleaner, quieter and safer rides for students. Earlier this year, Randolph County received North Carolina’s first electric school bus to serve the public school system. In addition, many schools are adding solar arrays to save on energy and act as a learning tool.

Finally, think about whether your family took on any energy efficiency projects over the summer — could they be worth sharing in the classroom or at an upcoming science fair?

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

Better than cannabis, better than CBD

New Joint-Supporting “Miracle Oil” Capsule Delivers Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Comfort in Just Days

Thousands of Americans are rediscovering normal freedom of movement thanks to a “miracle oil” capsule that’s outperforming hemp in promoting joint comfort.

According to the official figures from the CDC, more than 58 million Americans are living with joint discomfort. This epidemic has led to a search for alternative approaches – as many sufferers seek relief without the harmful side effects of conventional “solutions.”

Anti-aging specialist Dr. Al Sears is leading the way with a new formula he calls “the most significant breakthrough I’ve ever found for easing joint discomfort.”

The capsule is based on a “miracle oil” historically treasured for its joint healthsupporting properties. Marco Polo prized it as he blazed the Silk Road. And to this day, Ayurvedic practitioners rely on it to promote optimal joint health.

Now, with a modern twist backed by science, Dr. Sears is making this natural solution for joint health available to the public.

Your Body’s Hidden “Soothing System”

Joint health research changed forever with the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in 1992. Up until that point, research on cannabinoids focused on psychoactive effects. Now, scientists were looking at a new way to fight occasional aches and pains.

Your ECS serves as a central “signaling system” that tells your body how to react to things you do every day. It controls several critical bodily functions such as learning and memory, sleep, healthy immune responses –and your response to discomfort.

A recent study revealed a direct link between the ECS and creaky, sore joints. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied the aging of mice with endocannabinoid deficiencies versus “normal” mice.

As they aged, the deficient mice had a whopping 60% more joint degeneration than the mice with a healthy ECS.

As the name suggests, the ECS responds to cannabis. At the time it was discovered, scientists assumed that was the best way to support it. But thanks to Dr. Sears’ all-natural solution, you can power up your ECS without marijuana.

“Calling it the ‘endocannabinoid system’ was a misnomer from the very beginning,” Dr. Sears explained. “Modern research reveals that you don’t need cannabis to activate this incredible system. You don’t need to ‘get high’ to get joint relief.”

A scholarly review found that plants and herbs that don’t produce mind-altering effects can support the ECS and help it maintain its

healthy functions.

This includes common foodstuffs, such as kava, chocolate, black pepper, and most significantly – the star ingredient to Dr. Sears’ own Mobilify formula - frankincense.

Modern scientists say this natural ingredient meets “cannabinoid tetrad” –the signs used to determine if something supports the ECS. While it doesn’t produce a “high” like cannabis does, it binds to the same receptors to support a healthy response to discomfort.

All the Benefits of CBD –Without Cannabis

Indian frankincense, the chief ingredient in Mobilify, has been shown to provide all the benefits of cannabis without any feelings of sluggishness or sleepiness.

And studies show that users don’t have to wait long for the comfort they’re looking for.

In a study published in the International Journal of Medical Sciences, 60 patients with stiff knees took 100 mg of Indian frankincense or a placebo daily for 30 days. Remarkably, Indian frankincense “significantly” supported healthy joint function and relieved discomfort in as little as five days.

Additional research linked regular use to lasting comfort.

In another study, 48 participants were given an extract made from frankincense for 120days. When the results came in, researchers determined the extract strongly supported joint comfort – especially in the knees.

These results were all achieved without marijuana. Research continues to back up the idea that you can support smooth, strong, and healthy joints naturally – without tiredness or sluggishness.

Get Moving Again with Mobilify

Mobilify has already helped thousands of Americans stay on their feet and breeze through their daily activities with ease.

One user even reported getting results the same day it was used.

“Mobilify really helps with soreness, stiffness, and mild temporary discomfort,” Joni D. said.

Larry M, another user, compared taking Mobilify to living a completely new life.

“After a week and a half of taking Mobilify, the discomfort, stiffness, and minor aches went away…it’s almost like being reborn,” he said.

Dennis H. said it helped him get back to his favorite hobby.

“I can attest to Mobilify easing discomfort to enable me to pursue my golfing days. Definitely one pill that works for me out of the many I have tried,” he said.

How to Get Mobilify

Right now, the only way to get this powerful, unique Mobilify formula that clobbers creaking joints without clobbering you is directly from Dr. Sears. It is not available in stores.

To secure your bottle of this breakthrough natural joint discomfort reliever, buyers should call with Sears Health Hotline at 1-800-334-3080. “The Hotline allows us to ship the product directly to customers.”

Dr. Sears believes in this product so much, he offers a 100% money-back guarantee on every order. “Just send me 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 1-800-334-3080 to secure your limited supply of Mobilify. If you are not able to get through due to extremely high call volume, please try again! Call NOW to qualify for a significant discount on this limited time offer. To take advantage of this exclusive offer use Promo Code: CCMB823 when you call.

The active ingredient in Mobilify soothes aching joints in as little as 5 days

Steps to Restoring Power

When the power goes out, we expect it to be restored within a few hours. But when storms or another natural disaster causes widespread damage, extended outages may result. Our line crews work long, hard hours to restore service safely to the greatest number of consumers in the shortest time possible. Here’s what’s going on if you find yourself in the dark:

1. High-Voltage Transmission Lines

Transmission towers and cables that supply power to transmission substations (and thousands of members) rarely fail. But when damaged, these facilities must be repaired before other parts of the system can operate.

2. Distribution Substation

A substation can serve hundreds or thousands of consumers. When a major outage occurs, line crews inspect substations to determine if problems stem from transmission lines feeding into the substation, the substation itself or if problems exist further down the line.

3. Main Distribution Lines

If the problem cannot be isolated at a distribution substation, distribution lines are checked. These lines carry power to large groups of consumers in communities or housing developments.

4. Tap Lines

If local outages persist, supply lines (also known as tap lines) are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers, either mounted on poles or placed on pads for underground service, outside businesses, schools and homes.

5. Individual Homes

If your home remains without power, the service line between a transformer and your residence may need to be repaired.

Always call or go online to report an outage to help co-op line crews isolate local issues.

Praise for DiamondAura® 

“So much sparkle and the play of light on DiamondAura® beats any diamond!”

— D.D. from Columbus, OH

How to Win at Love

A

classic tennis bracelet serves up over 10 carats of sparkle for a guaranteed win

It was the jewelry piece that made the world stop and take notice. In the middle of a long volley during the big American tennis tournament, the chic blonde athlete had to stop play because her delicate diamond bracelet had broken and she had to nd it. e tennis star recovered her beloved bracelet, but the world would never be the same.

From that moment on, the tennis bracelet has been on the lips and on the wrists of women in the know. Once called eternity bracelets, these bands of diamonds were known from then on as tennis bracelets, and remain the hot ticket item with jewelers.

Join more than 1 million thrilled diamondAURA® customers

We’ve captured this timeless classic with over 10 total carats of DiamondAura®, our signature diamond alternative stone. is sparkling marvel rivals even the nest diamonds (D Flawless) with its transparent color and clarity, and both are so hard they can cut glass. Don’t believe me? e book “Jewelry and Gems – e Buying Guide,” praised the technique used in our diamond alternative DiamondAura®: “ e best diamond simulation to date, and even some jewelers have mistaken these stones for mined diamonds,” it raved. For comparison, we found a similarly designed 10 carat tennis bracelet with

D Flawless diamonds from another company that costs $57,000!

Want to look like a million bucks without stressing over losing or damaging something that cost you a fortune? e Love Wins Tennis

Bracelet is a simple strand of glittering gems in precious sterling that epitomizes elegance. e rst time we o ered this bracelet, we sold out literally in minutes. It was our fastest selling product of 2021. It took six months to get it back in stock — Get yours before we run out!

Jewelry Speci cations:

• 10 ¾ ctw of the Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura®

• Rhodium- nished .925 sterling silver setting

•Fits wrists to 7 ½"

Love Wins Tennis Bracelet (10 ¾ ctw) $399

$39* + S&P

*Special price only for customers using the offer code.

1-800-333-2045

Your Offer Code: LWB258-02

Liver Mush Gather’round for

The NC Fall Liver Mush Festival offers

‘Mush, Music and Mutts’

By Renee C. Gannon | Pictures courtesy

“What is liver mush?” asked a few friends (who aren’t from around here) when I mentioned attending the NC Fall Liver Mush Festival in Shelby. Well, it’s dark gray with small specks of white, comes in a rectangular block and has a slight gritty, peppery texture.

What do you do with it? Growing up in Concord, it was a staple in my family’s fridge. Slice it right out of the wrapper and slap on saltine crackers for a quick snack, fry for a sandwich or as a companion to your morning eggs and grits.

But what IS IT? Instead of describing it myself, I turned to Emily Epley, director of Visit Cleveland County, which organizes the festival every year. According to Emily, liver mush is a “micro-regional” food probably brought to the southern Piedmont by German immigrants. “It is a pork product created at a time when people raised their own food and used all the animal,” she explains. “So after the pork roast, chops, ribs, etc., were taken, the farmers would boil off head meat and include liver, then add cornmeal and seasonings into the pot until well-cooked and blended together.”

The mush would then be poured into a rectangular pan and refrigerated, creating “bricks.” It is fully cooked at that point, adds Emily. And let’s not confuse it with liver pudding, which is made with flour and has a softer texture; or scrapple, which contains less liver.

These liver mush bricks are featured in the festival’s Liver Mush Eating Contest. Brave patrons set at a table faced with one-pound bricks of liver mush, condiments such as ketchup and mustard, water, napkins and a bucket at their feet, ready to put away as much as possible in this timed event. Onlookers often chant “Mush! Mush! Mush!” as the clock ticks down. In 2022, Michael Ellis topped others by eating almost two bricks for his fifth title.

The festival also features a cookoff and a recipe contest, showcasing ingenious ways to include the local

Mark your calendar!

Two NC festivals celebrate liver mush:

Oct. 21, 2023

NC Fall Liver Mush Festival

Mush, Music and Mutts

Uptown Shelby

8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. nclivermushfestival.com

June 1, 2024

Livermush Festival

Marion discovermarionnc.org

food staple in a multitude of dishes.

But this festival offers something for everyone, even those who do not wish to partake in the liver mush. More than 80 vendors at the festival include arts and crafts, food and beverage trucks, community associations, games for kids and a kids’ costume parade.

Why throw a party for liver mush on a beautiful, crisp Saturday in October? Since 1985, the festival has celebrated this Southern pâté — part of the triumvirate in this area: music, agriculture and food.

Tradition, alive and well

The area is known as the Carolina’s Land of Rhythm and Roots. Cleveland County is home to singer-songwriter Don Gibson and music legend Earl Scruggs. The Earl Scruggs Center sets in the middle of uptown Shelby, serving as a focal point for the festival. In its early days, Cleveland County was an agrarian society. German and Scots-Irish settlers brought food as well as traditional roots music as they migrated to North Carolina.

“Liver mush and music overlap because of the alignment of traditional music, agrarian society and food such as liver mush,” Emily explains. “Agriculture was a foundation of the community, as was making the most out of what you raised.

of Visit Cleveland County

Before ‘snout to tail’ was a ‘thing’ in today’s foodie world, people were already doing that.”

Families worked hard, so music became a part of the culture to not only pass the time but to celebrate together. Before radio, playing stringed instruments and pump organs provided the party.

Emily notes that Earl Scruggs grew up on a cotton farm nearby. He and his family played music to pass the time.

“Earl would also play on his breaks at the Lily Mill,” she adds. “He and some other workers would sit outside and play until it was time to go back to work.”

Festival highlights

At the festival, organizers bring in musicians that reflect the traditional music roots of the region to showcase on stage. Roving musicians also walk the streets during the festival, providing impromptu concerts to visitors, especially helpful in passing the time for those standing in line waiting to purchase a $2 liver mush sandwich from vendors such as Mack’s Liver Mush and Meat Co. In 2022, Mack’s sold more than 6,500 sandwiches.

Another big draw? The third part of the “Mush, Music and Mutts” tagline used by the festival: a pet parade and costume contest. Owners line up

awaiting their turn to show off their dogs dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz, astronauts, Disney icons, and every other permeation of costumes normally reserved for children at Halloween.

After more than 30 years, the festival continues to grow. According to Emily Epley, the festival will add more kid and family activities, including partnering with the City of Shelby for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to the Carolina Harmony Trail, which runs along First Broad River into uptown Shelby. The trail passes along the festival zone and the soon-to-open New Harmony Trail Boardwalk Shops. The festival is free and of course, pets are welcome. Open your tastebuds to something different, grab a liver mush sandwich, listen to some music and enjoy the costume ingenuity from parents of both children and dogs!

SAVOR THE SEASONS in Upcountry South Carolina

Digital Extras

Over the years, local cooks have incorporated liver mush in a variety of recipes, including pizzas, lasagna, stir fry and more. Visit carolinacountry.com/extras for recipes as well as a video showcasing last year’s festival.

Renee C. Gannon is the senior associate editor of Carolina Country.

Every season is the best season to explore the many treasures in the Upcountry.

Life Between the Sounds

The Albemarle-Pamlico region boasts a slowed pace and a rich history

By Jessie Lang

In the northeast corner of the state, North Carolina’s Albemarle-Pamlico Region comprises a system of six river basins. Two sounds, the Albemarle to the north and the Pamlico to the south, create the state’s largest peninsula including all or part of five counties. Showcasing unique natural and cultural points of interest for both nature lovers and history enthusiasts — with a history including the state’s first town, pirates, moonshine and the Underground Railroad — this coastal region is well worth a visit, and preserves the natural resources and culture of northeastern North Carolina.

Bath

If you want to travel back in time to North Carolina’s founding, visiting our state’s first town and port of entry is the place to start. Chartered in 1705 and located on the Pamlico Sound, Bath served as a base for the infamous pirate Blackbeard and was also the site of Cary’s Rebellion in 1711. Iconic places to visit while in Bath include The Inn on Bath Creek, St. Thomas Episcopal Church (the oldest church building in our state) and Quarterdeck Marina.

Plymouth

With river access to the Albemarle Sound, the first incorporated town in Washington County offers a view into coastal North Carolina’s cultural and historical significance to our state. Designated as a North Carolina Small Town Main Street community, a prominent historical exhibit includes a lighthouse replica of the Roanoke River Lighthouse. The town is also paramount to the Underground Railroad due to Roanoke River’s contribution to the freedom seekers’ efforts, earning Plymouth a spot in the Network to Freedom national trail (“Finding Freedom,” August 2023, page 24).

Elizabeth City

Further north, the quaint harbor town of Elizabeth City is home to the Museum of the Albemarle, a regional branch of the North Carolina History Museum. The museum promotes the history and culture of this intriguing region, including exhibits about boatbuilding, century farms, the hog industry, indigenous peoples and the Reconstruction era. An essential part of the region’s history includes moonshining, featured in the traveling exhibit “Temperance & Bootlegging: A Nation Under Prohibition.” The exhibit explores northeastern North Carolina’s significance to the industry — an often overlooked area when discussing bootlegging. Part of the recently designated Moonshine & Motorsports Trail, the museum is a rich well of history preserving the story of this region.

Wildlife Refuges

If the wild side of the Albemarle-Pamlico region interests you most, then the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge is the place for you. Featuring the largest natural freshwater lake in our state, the refuge includes marshes, swamp forests and rich biodiversity. Supporting wintering waterfowl, black bears and bobcats, this refuge is a crown jewel in which to explore the rich natural resources of the region.

Within 60 miles to the north of the Mattamuskeet Refuge, you’ll find the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, also well worth a visit. Established in 1984 to protect the rare pocosin wetlands, the marshy area protects animals such as the river otter, alligators and the endangered red wolf. The state-of-the-art visitor center offers educational exhibits to learn more about the refuge.

Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

Jessie Lang is the 2023 editorial intern for Carolina Country.

Gum Ball Gardening

Put those ankle twisters to work

Story and photos by L.A. Jackson

The autumn garden can be such a pleasant place. Many perennials continue to show off, late planted annuals begin to come into their prime, and the first cooling fall breezes start to turn the summer’s heat into a memory.

So, the urge becomes great to kick off your shoes and tippy-toe through your special green world. All’s well until — “E-e-e-YOW!” — your wonderful walk comes to a screaming halt because you stepped on a danged sweet gum ball.

Sweet gum balls go by many names: monkey balls, goblin balls and several other colorful monikers. The fact is, they are not strangers to many gardens, and they do hurt when stepped on with bare feet. Gum balls can also strike outside of the garden by easily rolling the ankle of a shoe-wearing foot on any hard surface.

So, what good are sweet gum balls? Well, believe it or not, there actually is some usefulness to these prickly little so-and-sos. Personally, I have used gum balls as seveniron practice while sending them back to their home in the woods.

Occasionally, I have also brought gum balls in to amuse the cats, which they usually enjoy—for about five minutes, and then, cats being cats, ignore them.

To a budding interior designer, however, these odd, spiky spheres have potential in natural dried arrangements, or, if spraypainted bright yellow or orange, interesting additions to Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations. Ditto for metal-flake green and red, which can turn plain gum balls into conversation-piece Christmas ornaments.

Back in the garden, dried gum balls can also be used for a positive rather than painful effect. In much the same manner as bits of Styrofoam, a few inches of light-weight, porous gum balls added to the bottom of a plant container lessens the pot’s heft and also improves drainage.

And similar to regular organic mulch, a two- to three-inch layer of gum balls around plants deflects

the sun’s light to help keep roots cool and, at the same time, conserve moisture. Sure, such spiked plantings might look like a Goth garden, but it works.

As a bonus, this odd mulch scattered around garden-bound plants or tucked in with potted pretties offers prickly protection against slugs and snails because, like bare feet, these soft-bodied pests do not enjoy the “E-e-eYOW!” experience that comes with encountering the stiff spines of “useless” sweet gum balls.

L.A.’s website of the month: Terra Ceia Farms (terraceiafarms.com). A third-generation nursery in Pantego, NC, that specializes in fall-planted/spring blooming and spring planted/summer blooming bulbs.

Garden To-Do’s for September

Clean and save your leftover pots for next spring.

Now is not too soon to begin preparing for next year’s garden, especially if you have leftover pots from plants you bought this growing season, since they can be useful later for sprouting seeds or starting cuttings. To tuck them away properly, first soak the containers in a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water for at least an hour. Then scrub the pots with a brush or sponge and wipe dry. This autumn chore will help assure the containers will be free of overwintering diseases, fungi or bad bug eggs that could mess up your potted creations next spring.

□ Ornamental grasses should be coming into their pretty prime now, with many showing off dazzling inflorescences that can be cut and used to add extra visual gusto to indoor arrangements this fall.

□ Don’t give up on the ornamental garden just yet. Bring some late growing season flash to your landscape by adding such pretties as chrysanthemums, dusty miller, ornamental kale, pansies, flowering cabbage, asters and violas.

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

Prickly gum ball mulch also guards these colorful coleus plants against slugs and snails.

CAROLINA COUNTRY SCENES

Photo Contest

Send us your best photos of Carolina people or scenes! We’ll pay $50 for

RULES

Deadline: Nov. 15, 2023

Submit high resolution digital photos online; print photos need to be at least 5 x 7 inches.

Include your name, electric co-op, mailing address and email address or phone number

If you want your print returned, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (We will not return others.)

SEND TO

Mail: Carolina Country Photo Contest 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616

If you did not take the photo you are submitting, please tell us who did so that we can appropriately recognize the photographer. We retain reprint and online rights for all submissions.

Payment will be limited to those entries appearing in print only, not entries featured solely on carolinacountry.com.

Arrabbiata Bread Dipping Sauce

This summer we’ve canned, sliced and shared the bounty from our tomato patch — and we’re about ready for tomato sandwiches to fade away. So for your fall harvest, try this spicy concoction, which makes a delicious bread dip for tailgates, or spoon over grits or toss with pasta.

4–5 large, ripe, meaty garden or farmers’

market field tomatoes

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium sweet onion, finely chopped

4–5 large cloves fresh garlic, finely minced

5 teaspoons Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons crushed red pepper (to taste)

Several bay leaves

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup tomato paste

2–3 tablespoons brown sugar

Fresh basil

Fresh Parmesan cheese

Toasted bread (we prefer sourdough)

From Your Kitchen

Rainbow Pasta Salad

Summer morphs slowly into fall in North Carolina, which means you can get away with a fresh pasta salad in the warm month of September. This salad gives new meaning to “eat the rainbow.”

¾ cup Italian salad dressing

1 tablespoon fresh basil

1 clove minced garlic

6 ounces tri-colored pasta

2 cups broccoli florets

2–3 medium-sized carrots, thinly sliced

1 cup cherry tomatoes

½ small red onion, minced

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a small pot of water to boil. Cut an “x” on the end of each tomato with a sharp knife. Plunge into boiling water for about 1 minute. Remove into cold water. Peel and core when cool. Chop into small pieces. Heat oil in a large skillet over mediumhigh heat. Cook onions until they begin to caramelize. Add garlic and stir with onions for about one minute.

Add tomatoes with juice and seasonings. Turn heat to a slow simmer and reduce, stirring occasionally. As sauce thickens, blend in tomato paste and sugar. Taste for acidity and add more sugar if needed to balance (amount will depend on the tomatoes).

Remove from heat and cool. At serving time, dollop onto toasted bread and scatter with thin ribbons of fresh basil and grated cheese.

Best served at room temperature. Yield: Makes about 4 cups

Sweet Corn Ice Cream

With browned butter and salted popcorn

In looking for a way to use the last ears of sweet corn, we’ve stirred up a batch of unique, no-churn ice cream. Warming up the fresh corn and cobs to infuse the cream is the secret, but the browned butter adds a hint of toasted nuttiness.

1 stick butter

4 ears fresh corn, cleaned

1 can (12-ounce) evaporated milk

1 quart heavy cream, divided

1 vanilla bean, split

Pinch of salt

1 can (14-ounce) condensed milk

Freshly popped salted popcorn

Waffle bowls, optional

Melt the butter over medium heat in a light-bottomed, small, heavy skillet. Watch closely, stirring often, until barely browned, about 6 minutes. Immediately remove from heat and set aside to cool.

Cut corn from cobs into medium sauce pot. Break up cobs and put into the pot. Add condensed milk and 2 cups of the heavy cream. Scrap the vanilla bean into the mixture and add salt. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a slow simmer, then reduce to low and warm for 20 minutes to infuse the corn flavor into the cream. Strain, discard cobs (saving corn) and refrigerate until cold.*

In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing, basil and garlic. Set aside. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, vegetables, Parmesan cheese and the dressing blend.

Whip the remaining cream to stiff peaks, adding in the butter at the end of whipping. Using a spatula, fold in the condensed milk, chilled cream mixture and corn until just incorporated. Pour into a large casserole dish or 2 loaf pans. Cover and chill 6 hours or overnight. Serve in a waffle bowl if desired and garnish with salted popcorn.

*Adding the corn is optional, but we like the texture it adds to the ice cream.

Yield: About 8 servings

Toss until all ingredients are well-coated. Refrigerate until serving.

Yield: 8 servings

Digital Extra

Visit

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

Recipe courtesy of Nicole Thompson of Sanford, a member of Central Electric.

September Events

SEPT. 23

Hiddenite Celebration of the Arts

Living history pavilion, crafts, food Hiddenite Church Rd., Hiddenite 828-632-6966

Gold Hill Founders Day

Parade, crafts, food, music Gold Hill Mines Historic Park, Gold Hill 704-267-9439

Camden Heritage Festival

SEPT. 23

SEPT. 2

Crystal Coast Record Show

History Museum of Carteret County, Morehead City 252-247-7533

SEPT. 3

Bear Town Exchange

Vendor and flea market

New Bern Farmers Market 315-430-7951

SEPT. 9

Historic New Bern Ride

Union Point Park, New Bern 800-344-4867

Patriots Park Concert Series

Elvis Tribute

Patriots Park, Kings Mountain 336-469-4758

Summer Artisan Markets

Nantahala Outdoor Center, Bryson City 828-682-7413

July’s winner

SEPT. 9

Art in the Park Art exhibition Park Ave., Blowing Rock 828-295-7851

Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival

Carolina Bible Camp & Retreat Center, Mocksville

SEPT. 10

Concert in the Park Memorial Park, Blowing Rock 828-295-7851

SEPT. 15

Liberty Mountain

Revolutionary War drama Joy Performance Center, Kings Mountain 704-730-9408

SEPT. 16

American Craft Walk Front Street, Wilmington 714-697-1315

SEPT. 16

Master Gardener

Volunteers Fall Plant Sale

Forsyth County Center, Winston-Salem 336-703-2850

SEPT. 22

Tweetsie Ghost Train

Tweetsie Railroad, Blowing Rock 800-526-5740

SEPT. 22–24

Beaufort Pirate Invasion NC Maritime Museum Gallants Channel Annex, Beaufort 252-241-9049

SEPT. 23

Union County Heritage Festival

Union County Agricultural and Event Center, Monroe 704-283-3729

Music, vendors, car show Camden Community Park 252-621-3940

SEPT. 28

Sounds of Georgia

Revue of Georgia’s Musical History

CoMMA Performing Arts Center, Morganton 828-433-7469

SEPT. 29–30

Reclaiming the Black Past

An artifactual journey

Johnston County Heritage Center, Smithfield 919-938-5912

SEPT. 29–OCT. 1

Lumbee Tribe of NC Powwow

Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center, Maxton 910-521-5185

SEPT. 30

NC Muscadine Festival

Wineries, music, crafts, food Duplin Events Center, Kenansville 910-296-2181

where in Carolina Country is this?

Send your answer by September 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 November 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

The July “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Editor, Scott Gates, features a red, white and blue wall decorated with a fiberglass fish and seahorses. The wall is in the parking lot of the former Worrell’s Nauticals Oddities and Seafood Restaurant on Goldsboro Street in downtown Wilson. A few readers mentioned they saw the wall while visiting the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park near the parking lot. This one stumped some, with wrong answers focused on Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Sarah Eason of Pine Knoll Shores, a Carteret-Craven EC member.

Hiddenite Celebration of the Arts

Living history pavilion, crafts, food Hiddenite Church Rd., Hiddenite

Two simple phones. One caring team.

Always there, always helpful, and always pleasant to talk with.

– Patricia

Easy | Our easy-to-use Jitterbug® phones feature large screens, simple menus, powerful speakers and Urgent Response buttons. The Jitterbug® Flip2 has big buttons and one-touch speed dialing while the Jitterbug® Smart3 has voice typing, video chat and internet access.

Helpful | Our specially trained caring team is here for you day or night. Whether you want to learn more about your new phone, need a ride or have a health concern, we’re here to help. And with Urgent Response, enjoy peace of mind knowing you can count on us, even in an emergency.

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Affordable | We offer flexible and affordable plans with unlimited talk, text and 24/7 access to our 100% U.S. based caring team for as low as $19 99 per month. 2 With no long-term contracts or cancellation fees, you can switch plans anytime.

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ALL–NEW Data plan required for Jitterbug Smart3.

• We can help you learn about your new phone

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ALL–NEW Data plan required for Jitterbug Smart3.

All plans include:

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• 24/7 access to our 100% U.S. based team

• Fast and reliable nationwide coverage

• No long-term contracts

Amazon. 2$5/mo. discount when you enroll in paperless billing. Full price $24 99 /mo., plus taxes and fees. Monthly fees do not include government taxes or fees and are subject to change. A data plan is required for the Jitterbug Smart. Plans and services may require purchase of a Lively device and a one-time activation fee of $35. Pricing may vary. For details on current pricing, visit lively.com. Not all Lively services are available on all plans. See plans for details. See lively.com/link for details. Urgent Response, Nurse On-Call, and Ask Lively’s Operator Services available 24/7. Customer Service available during normal business hours. Urgent Response or 911 calls can be made only when cellular service is available. 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. Nurse On-Call is not a substitute for dialing 911. Emergencies will be transferred to a 911 call center, or members may be directed to call 911. See terms for details. Consistently rated among top wireless providers as fast and reliable by IHS RootScore Reports. 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. Screen images simulated. Appearance of device may vary. Lively and Jitterbug are trademarks of Best Buy Health, Inc. ©2023 Best Buy. All rights reserved.

P.

Ready to Respond

When bad weather hits, North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives are ready with dedicated crews from across the cooperative network and a stronger, smarter and more resilient power grid.

For information on what you can do before, during and after a storm, visit NCStormCenter.coop.

Benefits of Switching to Time-of-Use

1 Time-of-Use rewards members with a lower electric rate for shifting energy-intensive tasks.

2 Time-of-Use rate plan gives our members more control over their energy bill.

3 Time-of-Use members help reduce peak demand, which reduces wholesale power costs.