the page. Give your oven a break by grilling out!
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.
Grill outdoors. Or use the microwave instead of the oven.
Take cooler, short showers instead of hot baths. Be refreshed.
Do laundry after the sun goes down. Wash clothes in cold water and line dry them when possible.
Close drapes and shades on sunny days. You’ll cool things off and be more mysterious.
Bump up the thermostat. If using a smart thermostat, set the temp higher when you're away from home.
Fancy Footwork
What’s in store for hurricane season page 6 Love records? Citizen Vinyl does, too. page 16
(ISSN
Scott Gates, CCC Editor
Warren Kessler Creative Director
Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor
Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant
Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer
Tara Verna Creative Services Associate
Donna Natosi Digital Strategist
Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com
Joseph P. Brannan Executive Vice President & CEO
Kristie Aldridge, CCC
Senior Vice President & COO
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each 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 $6 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
Social:
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.
8
Fancy Footwork
The happy feet of the J Creek Cloggers are reviving Appalachia’s lively dance. 16
Citizen Vinyl is in the Groove
An Asheville record press brings music to the masses.
Town, Big Adventure
Tales, trails and tartans await you in the mountains of Franklin.
Joy is contagious when Zeb Ross, Aurora Pless (pictured, right to left ) and their fellow J Creek Cloggers take the stage. Kim Ross started J Creek Cloggers in 2009 with eight members as a way to have fun dancing while educating about the regional Appalachian dance. Learn more on page 8. Photo by Carley Birch.
Awards
And the race is on! We’ve announced the top three finalists in each category for the 2025 Carolina’s Finest Awards on page 18. Send in your votes or visit carolinacountry.com/finest by August 9 for a chance to win one of three $100 gift cards.
From Our Readers
Good for a Growing Boy
The “Celebrating Ground Steak” article in the June 2025 issue of Carolina Country (page 20) brought back fond memories. I grew up in Mt. Airy, and in the late ’60s I worked across the street after school from the Dairy Center on West Lebanon Street.
At that time, Gene Fleming owned and operated the Dairy Center, and he or Bill Booker were always there to take and fill my order. I’m afraid I probably spent most of the money I was earning for a few hours a day on those delicious ground steak sandwiches, sometimes along with a milkshake and maybe a heated fried apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream, not really an unusual diet for a growing boy.
Thanks for the enjoyable articles of Carolina Country.
Mike Parker, Statesville A member of EnergyUnited
The At-Bat that Never Was No story about North Carolina baseball (“A Winning Museum,” June 2025, page 16) would be complete without mentioning the very short Major League career of Fayetteville native Archie “Moonlight” Graham. He was the real person upon whom the character of the same name is based in the W.P. Kinsella novel, “Shoeless Joe,” and its movie adaptation, “Field of Dreams.” He played in one game for the New York Giants in 1905 but never got to hit. He was put in as a defensive replacement and apparently was on deck when the game ended, but never got back to the major leagues. He later became a doctor in Minnesota. Burt Lancaster played his character in the movie, where, in a dream-world baseball field in Iowa, he finally gets his at-bat. His brother, Frank Porter Graham, was president of UNC
Carolina SNAPSHOTS
THIS MONTH:
Clogging is Cool Again
I know, there are plenty out there who will argue clogging has always been “cool.” But Waynesville’s Kim Ross and her J Creek Cloggers have helped the traditional dance go mainstream. The fast feet of her son, Zeb, became a social media sensation, bringing the group far-reaching fame. Learn more on page 8. Also, what are the odds we’d get reader letters from two Mike Parkers?
When asked if they were related, Mike from Hurdle Mills responded: “unlikely, but not impossible!”
—Scott Gates, editor
Chapel Hill and later a U.S. Senator, with an elementary school in Chapel Hill named for him.
Mike Parker, Hurdle Mills, general counsel for Piedmont Electric
THEME Selfies
A Robin Fleming, Supply
A member of Brunswick Electric
B James Bromley, Clyde
A member of Haywood EMC
C Avery Bryant, Advance
D Johnna Marley, Robbins
A member of Randolph EMC
Submit your photo!
Sept. theme: Fairs & Festivals (Deadline July 20) Oct. theme: So creepy (Deadline Aug. 20) Nov. theme: That was delicious (Deadline Sept. 20)
Send us your best shots based on an upcoming theme — 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.
A Year of Nuclear Power Milestones
By Amadou Fall
Nuclear power is grabbing headlines lately as a zero-carbon resource and its role in the U.S. energy transition. What remarkably began on an underground squash court at the University of Chicago — where the first working nuclear reactor was built by a group of researchers in 1942 — our nation’s nuclear reactor fleet has since grown to more than 90 operating reactors with a combined capacity of nearly 100 gigawatts. That’s more than enough to power all homes east of the Mississippi River..
NC electric cooperative’s early investment in nuclear energy has allowed the members and communities they serve to benefit from some of the lowest-carbon electricity in the Southeast.
The nuclear technology making news lately builds on concepts used in those traditional reactors. In May, the Tennessee Valley Authority, which provides power to several utilities across the Southeast, became the first U.S. utility to submit a construction permit for a small modular reactor (SMR). There are very few SMRs currently operating in the world, but the concept is intriguing. These small reactors would generate less than half the power of a large reactor, but would be a fraction of the size and could be built close to where power is needed, whether in remote areas or as part of microgrids.
Amid these headlines, another nuclear plant closer to home is equally worthy of attention. Catawba Nuclear Station in York County, South Carolina, is the workhorse of the generation fleet for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives and has been for 40 years. Unit 1, which we own a 61.5% share of, reached the milestone in December. North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have viewed nuclear energy as affordable, long-term source of reliable baseload generation since our investment in 1985 with a key benefit being the steady power it provides to
meet the minimum needs of the grid. It’s since become a vital part of the Brighter Future vision shared by electric co-ops across the state of safe, affordable, reliable and carbon-free energy for our members.
Thanks largely to the emissions-free power produced at Catawba, our current fuel mix is more than 60% carbon free. NC electric co-ops’ early investment in nuclear energy has allowed the members and communities they serve to benefit from some of the lowest-carbon electricity in the Southeast.
The only byproduct of nuclear power, other than steam, is spent fuel in the form of used uranium fuel rods. These are cooled in large pools for an average of 10 years before being transferred to 18-foot tall, long-term storage canisters, engineered to keep fuel safe without power or moving parts. All fuel used at Catawba since coming online in 1985 is still onsite.
While we’re keeping an eye on promising new nuclear technology, Catawba will continue to serve members of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives with steady, reliable power. Over the past 40 years, safety and security upgrades have kept its operations state-of-theart, and it promises to continue to serve us for decades to come.
Amadou Fall is COO of the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation.
If you have more questions about nuclear power, find answers at carolinacountry.com/nuclear-power
July Quick Hits
Happy Independence Day
Find a community event near you to celebrate the Fourth this year — plenty are listed on page 24. Find more at carolinacountry.com/calendar
Celebrate Safely
Be careful with fireworks. Don’t allow children to handle them, and never light them in your hand, indoors or in a container.
Source: National Safety Council
Hot Dog!
July is National Hot Dog month — try yours Carolina style, topped with chili, slaw and onions (pulled pork is a nice addition, too).
Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of fluids this summer, hydrating before and during outdoor activities. Drinking small amounts frequently is most effective.
Source: OSHA
Average to Above-Average Hurricane Season Expected
Forecasts for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season vary, although most project at least a dozen named storms from June 1 through Nov. 30, with at least 6 reaching hurricane strength.
Researchers at NC State University predict 12 to 15 named storms, with between 6 and 8 of those becoming hurricanes. Last year, NC State’s predictions proved to be accurate — forecasters predicted 15 to 20 named storms (18 formed), of those 10 to 12 could strengthen to hurricanes (11 did so).
The number of predicted named storms is in line with recent averages, according to Lian Xie, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences at NC State. The longterm (1951 to 2023) average of
named storms is 11, and the more recent average (1994 to 2024) is 15 named storms.
Projections from NOAA’s National Weather Service are slightly higher, with 13 to 19 named storms forecast, 6 to 10 of which could reach hurricane strength. NOAA released its forecast for an above-normal hurricane season with 70% confidence.
“In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we’ve never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather,” said NOAA’s National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. “This outlook is a call to action: be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you’re ready before a storm threatens.”
Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26, 2024. NASA
Co-op Projects Will Enhance Grid
Resilience, Reliability
Three NC co-ops receive DEQ funding
Three North Carolina electric cooperatives — Four County EMC, Surry-Yadkin EMC and Tideland EMC — were recently selected to receive funding from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to support projects that enhance grid resilience and reliability. The co-op projects are among seven statewide receiving more than $20 million to improve North Carolina’s electric grid for the future.
The selected projects will update grid infrastructure to increase load capacity and resilience against severe weather, resulting in a more reliable and affordable electricity supply for North Carolinians, according to DEQ.
Four County EMC
Funding will support Four County EMC’s Strengthening Transmission Efficiency and Enhancing Lifespan (STEEL) project, which includes upgrades to a transmission line running from Waycross to Turkey in Sampson County.
The project involves replacing 116 aging wooden poles with 140 engineered steel poles and installing larger-capacity conductors. These enhancements will boost wind resistance and improve power reliability across the region.
“At Four County EMC, we’re committed to building a stronger, smarter grid that supports the needs of our members today and in the decades ahead,” said Don Gatton, CEO of Four County EMC. “This investment reflects our focus on long-term reliability, resilience and innovation — ensuring that the communities we serve have the infrastructure in place to thrive, even in the face of increasingly severe weather and growing energy demands.”
Surry-Yadkin EMC
Surry-Yadkin EMC’s Foothills Resiliency project will perform transmission and distribution upgrades to reduce outages caused by natural hazards by 35%. The project also aims to create access to high-speed internet in underserved rural communities in Stokes, Surry, Yadkin and Wilkes counties.
“This grant is a vital investment in the future of our member-owners and the rural communities we proudly serve,” said Greg Puckett, executive vice president and general manager at Surry-Yadkin EMC. “It will allow us to strengthen reliability, expand access and support long-term growth across our service area. At Surry-Yadkin EMC, we’re committed to delivering safe, affordable and innovative energy solutions — and this funding helps us do just that.”
Tideland EMC
Tideland EMC’s Project Ocracoke Resiliency aims to reduce power outage duration by installing underground electrical lines and equipment and relocating aerial lines to less vulnerable areas.
Ocracoke Island receives power through a single transmission route — across Hatteras Inlet and along NC Highway 12 — an area that is highly susceptible to coastal erosion and severe storms. After years of erosion
jeopardized that power path on the south end of Hatteras Island, Tideland invested $3.5 million to replace aerial infrastructure with a buried submarine cable.
The new funding will support an extension of armored submarine cable where it comes ashore at Ocracoke, along with the relocation of targeted aerial infrastructure away from the Atlantic Ocean. The project will also support Ocracoke’s existing microgrid to further increase resilience and reliability.
“The rate of erosion and the increasing frequency of ocean overwash on the north end of Ocracoke since Hurricane Dorian now pose a routine risk to reliable electric service on the island,” said Paul Spruill, general manager and CEO of Tideland EMC. “Coming so soon on the heels of Tideland’s $3.5 million investment to address erosion on the south end of Hatteras Island, where we extended our submarine cable in 2020, we are tremendously grateful for this cost-sharing grant.”
Authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Resilience State and Tribal Formula Grants Program.
—Josh Conner, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives
Tideland EMC is replacing aerial infrastructure with a buried submarine cable to enhance reliability.
The happy feet of the J Creek Cloggers are reviving Appalachia’s lively dance
Trudy Haywood Saunders | Photos by Carley Birch
The sounds of bluegrass music filled the air at Darnell Farms, outside of Bryson City, in March 2022. Zeb Ross of the J Creek Cloggers could feel the beat from the top of his head of long, flowing locks down to the soles of his tap-clad Pumas. Unbeknownst to Zeb, he was being filmed by Jason Jordan, vacationing with his wife from Atlanta. Jordan paired the performance with the hip hop song, “Here Comes the Hotstepper,” posted it on TikTok, and the video went viral. Next thing you know, Eggs Tyrone blew them up on Instagram paired with “I’m a Thug” by Trick Daddy. When Zeb’s mother, Kim Ross heard about the “viral” social media sensation, she thought somebody was sick. But just like that, clogging was cool again.
DANCING ROOTS
Kim Ross started J Creek Cloggers in 2009 with eight members as a way to have fun dancing while educating others about the regional Appalachian dance. Her son Zeb, the most well-known of the group, claims that
he has been dancing since he was in his mama’s belly. Another clogging group from Haywood County, the Soco Gap Dancers, led by Sam Love Queen Sr., danced for FDR and the king and queen of England at the White House in 1939 — dubbed “the picnic that won the war” for strengthening the alliance between the United States and England.
“We’re preserving the same type of dance that was done in the late ’20s,” Kim says. In the 1800s, square dancers never broke the circle, but North Carolina is credited for being the first to change that. The team is all freestyle — some flatfoot, some buck dancing — but they’re all in rhythm, even with different footwork.
“Often people assume that the dance is Irish, but it’s a mixture of Dutch, German and Cherokee,” Kim says. The buck dancing the team does is a style that originated as a folk dance among African Americans during slavery, largely in the North Carolina Piedmont.
WOWING CROWDS
People have come from all over the country, and even as far as Poland, Wales, England and Ireland to see their shows.
“My favorite part is the multi-talented individuals,” Jill Campbell from Michigan says. “Not only does the team dance, Zeb has the fancy footwork!” He also sings and plays the guitar along with Terry on the team, while Kim tells about the history and culture.
Zeb Ross, a clogger famous for his viral clogging videos
Kim Ross, founder of J Creek Cloggers
Today the J Creek Cloggers boasts 25 members (not all pictured) and almost a quarter of a million Instagram followers.
“The entire team makes you feel a part of something and brings a smile to your face.”
“My favorite part of the show is seeing how each team member has their own spin on clogging. Each person has their own style and rhythm, and it is truly incredible to watch,” says Maddie Pyle, who often comes to the shows from Tennessee. “It’s truly something worth coming and seeing … They are the most down-to-earth, friendly people, and you may even learn a few dance moves.”
The most eye-catching parts of the group’s costumes are the multi-layered circle skirts, or circle dresses, made by Kim’s mom, with poofy crinoline underneath. Men typically wear jeans and a nice shirt (like the famous blue polo shirt Zeb is known for). And of course, there are the clogging shoes and taps.
“The way I dance on the side of my feet, I was going through a pair of shoes about every month,” Zeb says. He has since found that thicker shoes like Puma or Nike work better. “I just glue the taps on, and they last longer.”
The taps Kim wears are called buck taps, which are made of two jingly plates to create a secondary sound, unlike jazz taps made from single pieces of metal.
SPREADING POPULARITY
Today the J Creek Cloggers boasts 25 members, almost a quarter of a million Instagram followers, and travels around the country performing everywhere from the Charlotte Motor Speedway to halftime at a Tennessee basketball game. Zeb was even on the CMA awards with Peyton Manning and Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell’s official music video “Drinkaby.”
There’s even a “Fast Feet” move in the Fortnite video game modeled after Zeb’s carefree clogging.
“For me, dancing is the easiest way for me to just talk,” Zeb says. “There’s been times we’ve gone to
other places and we couldn’t speak the same language, but we could share the same dance.”
Since they’ve gone viral, clog dancing has grown in popularity from the surrounding states to outside the country.
“It’s brought everything back, which we’re thankful for,” Zeb says. Team members now range in age from 80 to 13-year-old Addison Nathan, who started dancing at only two years old.
“I saw my mom dancing and thought it was fun,” Addison says. “I like to make up my own moves dancing, and all of the team members’ moves are kind of different.”
Despite the team’s popularity, team members keep their full-time jobs so they can have fun on the weekend. Zeb is a machinist on third shift. Kim is a medical scribe. There are roofers, truck drivers and students, like Addison.
The J Creek Cloggers don’t have plans to quit anytime soon — there’s a documentary about the dance team in the works, and Kim has set her sights on doing something special for America’s 250th anniversary next year.
“My big goal is to eventually get back to the White House and recreate what Soco Gap did in 1939,” Kim says. “It’s been an amazing ride, and even if it ended today, we’d still be dancing.”
Trudy Haywood Saunders is a freelance writer and author of two mysteries for young adults. She lives with her husband and daughter in Montgomery County and is a member of Pee Dee Electric.
Digital Extras
Visit carolinacountry.com/extras to watch some of the “fastest feet you’ll ever meet” and learn how Zeb Ross made clogging cool.
embership
MATTERS
Did you know a tax credit is available on Energy Star heat pump water heaters?
You can claim 30% of the project cost, with a $2,000 maximum amount credited. The credit is provided through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Heat pump water heaters are an energy-efficient way to heat your home’s water. They work by transferring heat from the air to heat water. They help you save up to hundreds of dollars annually on your water heating costs.
The Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits and rebates for a wide range of home energy efficiency improvements, including exterior doors, windows, central air conditioning, and more. To learn more about these incentives for home upgrades, as well as how to claim them, visit energy.gov/save/home-upgrades.
Perspective
THE International Year of Cooperatives: Honoring Our Past, Powering the Future
As we celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives, Blue Ridge Energy is reflecting on the cooperative difference and what it means for you—our member-owners.
For many of us, electricity has always been a given. But generations ago, it was a hard-won achievement in our rural mountain and foothill communities. Nearly 90 years ago, local families came together to form what is now Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation. Investor-owned utilities had no interest in serving these areas, so neighbors took a leap of faith, contributing what little they could to bring power—and progress—to their homes and farms. It wasn’t just about lights; it was about changing lives.
That same spirit drives us today. Blue Ridge Energy continues to deliver reliable electricity, while also expanding broadband, offering propane and fuels services, supporting economic development, and improving quality of life for the communities we serve.
Blue Ridge Energy has also been part of international efforts to bring electricity to remote villages around the world, helping others experience what our communities did generations ago. In 1962, we helped form CRE (Cooperativa Rural de Electrificación) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, providing engineering and leadership support that helped it grow into the world’s largest electric cooperative. More recently, Blue Ridge line technicians joined others in bringing first-time electricity to the remote Bolivian village of Laphia—changing lives just as our founding members did decades ago.
This year, we proudly celebrate a business model built on cooperation— one that’s improving lives across the U.S. and around the world. Together, we’re still building a brighter future.
From Blue Ridge Energy CEO Katie Woodle
Community Solar Savings
Does your home’s energy use seem high?
Community solar may help save you money if your usage averages more than 1000 kWh a month.
Blue Ridge Energy operates five community solar gardens in the counties we serve. This program offers members easy access to solar energy without the upfront cost and maintenance of owning their own solar array.
Community solar makes solar energy available to renters and members whose roofs are not ideal for installing panels.
Our community solar program allows members to subscribe to one or more panels f or only $3.75 per panel per month. In return, you receive a bill credit for the energy produced by the solar garden AND a discount on kWh consumed off the grid.
If you’re interested in signing up or learning more, please call our Energy Solutions Department at 828-572-6062, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or visit our website.
Capital credits: allocations vs. refunds
Members receiving notice of capital credit allocations
During the month of July, members will receive notice of capital credits allocations from the previous year. This notice will come on the back of your July billing statement. For FlexPay members, this notice can be found on our website after logging into your account. Please be aware this is NOT a refund — refunds were issued in May.
Here’s more about the difference between capital credit allocations and refunds:
• Allocations 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, which reflects all the years in which you had service with Blue Ridge Energy.
• Refunds occur when your Board of Directors approve 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 costs down for members while still allowing for refunds to the member-owners 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.
Blue Ridge Energy EARNS AN ACSI® 2025 CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AWARD
Blue Ridge Energy is honored to have earned a 2025 Customer Satisfaction Award* from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI®) based on our member survey results. Members were asked to rate their overall satisfaction with us, how well we lived up to their expectations, and how well we measured up to their ideal co-op experience. While these were not the only questions in the survey, we included these specifically because they are the core components of the proprietary ACSI methodology.
Blue Ridge Energy’s ACSI score substantially outperforms the industry average score earned by publicly measured utilities reported in the 2025 ACSI Energy Utility Study. This Award is a testament to Blue Ridge Energy’s ongoing
efforts to provide the best possible member experience.
The 2025 Customer Satisfaction Award affirms that Blue Ridge Energy’s hard work has been noticed by its members. Blue Ridge Energy is grateful for its members and will continue to strive for excellence through constant dedication to improvement.
*Award criteria are determined by the ACSI® and are based on customers rating their satisfaction in a survey independent of the syndicated ACSI Energy Utility Study. For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi. org/badges. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC.
Katie Woodle
EDITOR
Renée R. Walker PRODUCTION
Puckett
Shielding From Surges
Protect devices during summer storms
Q:With storm and hurricane season here, I want to make sure I’m as prepared as possible. You’ve written about backup power options and how to navigate flooding. What other topics should I be aware of?
A:This time of year can bring a whole host of weather-related health and safety concerns. Losing power is a big one, certainly, but inclement weather can disable our appliances and devices even if it doesn’t cause our electricity to go out.
During a storm last summer, lightning struck near a friend’s home. Her electricity flickered and remained on, but the strike caused a power surge — a sudden and unexpected spike in voltage that travels along electric wires and cables — that knocked out her cooling system, smart thermostat and IT devices used in a home-based business.
Fortunately, the cooling system wasn’t damaged beyond repair, and my friend got it working again thanks in part to a knowledgeable HVAC professional. But thousands of dollars’ worth of IT equipment wasn’t so lucky and needed to be replaced.
As you noted, we’ve covered technologies like generators and battery storage for getting through outages, but how do we plan for and minimize risks associated with power surges?
The solution is probably something you’re already familiar with: surge protectors. Surge protectors can help keep outside jumps in power from coming into the home (e.g., from lighting) and reduce the impact of the cycling of large internal loads (e.g., washing machines, ovens, heat pumps, well pumps, electric vehicle chargers) on smaller indoor electrical devices.
Surge protection comes in a few forms. A primary distinction is between point-of-use surge protection and whole-home surge protection.
Point-of-use surge protection typically looks like a power strip, and you plug items you want safeguarded into the available outlets. (Note: Not all power strips come with surge protection.) Over time (likely within three to five years) or after a significant surge event, point-of-use surge protection must be replaced to ensure effectiveness, but it’s a relatively inexpensive way to shield smaller electronics.
Whole-home surge protection is designed to protect your entire electrical system. Because it offers more
substantial, long-lasting defense, this type of protection costs more and requires the assistance of a qualified electrician. It’s also now required by the National Electrical Code for new homes or for replacing existing service equipment. Whole-home surge protection is typically installed at the electric panel or meter.
If you want to learn more about surge protection, contact your electric co-op, which also may offer relevant rebates or incentives. If you’re exploring point-of-use options, we encourage you to focus your search on models rated by UL or ETL, which are independent testing organizations that provide product safety certification.
One additional note is that this article refers to power surges caused by nearby lightning strikes. No level of protection can withstand a direct hit. Although this situation is quite rare, you may want to consider unplugging especially critical devices — the best way to protect them — if you think it’s a possibility.
Jonathan Susser is a senior content developer for Advanced Energy in Raleigh.
Gar Ragland, Citizen Vinyl’s founder, includes Jeff Beck’s “Wired” among his top three records of all time.
is in the
Groove
An Asheville record press brings music to the masses
By Lori Grossman
VINYL IS BACK. NOT THAT IT EVER REALLY LEFT, but for years it took a back seat to 8-track tapes (remember those?), cassettes, CDs and MP3s. These other music formats didn’t provide the richness of sound that musicians and record lovers craved. Streaming dominates today’s market, but 43 million vinyl records were sold in 2023. And Asheville’s Citizen Vinyl is helping to lead the comeback.
Winston-Salem native Gar Ragland grew up loving music and enjoying the experience of searching for records, purchasing them, opening the shrink-wrap covering and playing the albums. That inspired him to study music composition at the New England Conservatory of Music, where his focus switched to music production.
In 2012, he relocated his family to Asheville, where the city’s music history and artistic vibes made him feel right at home. He dreamed of opening a business where every step of the recording process would be housed under one roof. But where?
BEGINNINGS
His search led to the Citizen Times building. In the 1930s, it had been the home of two newspapers, plus the studios of WWNC-AM radio. Bill Monroe, called the father of bluegrass, had broadcast from that studio in 1939. When Gar toured the building, he knew he’d found what he was looking for.
“My first reaction was, ‘this must be fate!’” he remembers. “Little did I know that the Citizen Times building had a very historic and well-crafted radio station studio that was perfectly provisioned for
David Simchock
Former press operator
Blake Whitaker pours black vinyl pellets (PVC) into the hopper which is part of the extruder. The extruder then melts the plastic and makes a glob of soft, hot vinyl called a “puck” that will eventually become a record.
doing recording and mixing. The stars really did align on this one.”
Gar Ragland opened his ambitious startup on the first floor of the historic Citizens Times building in October 2020. Citizen Vinyl comprises a combination recording studio, vinyl pressing plant, analog art/record store and farmto-table café.
PRESSING BUSINESS
There was just one vinyl press in 2020; now there are three. They’re kept busy pressing Citizen Vinyl’s own releases, plus the overflow from larger labels unable to keep pace with demand. When vinyl album sales nosedived in the 1980s, many pressing facilities closed. Citizen Vinyl — the state’s only large-scale record pressing plant — contracts with major labels to press recordings for them.
How has the process changed since the analog days of the 1980s? Not much, Gar says.
“The same process used 80 years ago is still being used today,” he explains. “While the process is similar, modern presses are computercontrolled, which makes it easier to control settings.”
The pressing process begins with the mixed and mastered digital recording files being transferred to
vinyl. A master disc is created when digital files are sent to the cutting lathe. It converts the sound into vibrations and literally carves them into grooves. Then, a template, or stamper disc, is made. A puck-sized cake of polyvinyl chloride is placed on the press, with album labels on both sides. Then the record is pressed. (You can view this process for yourself by booking a tour at citizenvinyl.com or watch online at carolinacountry.com/extras.)
Citizen Vinyl has invented and patented a modern addition to the old pressing process. Gar calls it “vinylkey.”
“It’s a vinyl record that has an NFC chip embedded into the vinyl under the label,” he explains. “A smartphone can scan the chip and create a link where the buyer can register ownership and access exclusive digital content like bonus tracks, videos, tickets and other experiences.”
HELENE RECOVERY
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought disastrous flooding to parts of Asheville, including Biltmore Village and the River Arts District. Citizen Vinyl closed temporarily but was relatively unscathed and wanted to help the community.
“Surprisingly, we never lost power
or internet,” Gar marvels. “We couldn’t open for business due to lack of potable water, but we offered our wireless internet and power to those who needed it.”
With power out across much of the region, hot meals were hard to find. Citizen Vinyl helped there, too.
“Our awesome chef, Michelle Bailey, set up grills outside to prepare free hot meals for the community,” Gar says. “Over 1,500 meals were served each weekend. Food, water and supplies were all donated by Michelle’s regional network of farmers and chefs.
“It was a great honor and privilege for us to support our community. We didn’t think twice about it, and we’re happy to play our role as ‘Citizens’ in this way.”
Freelance writer Lori Grossman currently lives in Texas, but carries memories of North Carolina in her heart.
Digital Extra
If you can’t make it to Asheville to tour the facility, visit carolinacountry.com/extras to watch Citizen Vinyl’s record press in action.
Citizen Vinyl
Kelly Doe
Vote Now for the Finest in the State!
We’re pleased to announce the top three finalists from each category, nominated by our readers. These are the best of the best, but we want to know your top picks! Winners of the 2025 Carolina’s Finest Awards will be featured in our November 2025 issue.
Barbecue Restaurant
■ JD’s Smokehouse, Rutherford College
■ Lexington Barbecue
■ Boss Hog BBQ, Sherrills Ford
Bakery
■ Scratchmade Snackery, Hatteras
■ Superior Bakery, Fayetteville
■ Turtle Creek Trading, Mt. Olive
Diner
■ Troy’s 105 Diner, Boone
■ The Shake-N-Dog, Lenoir
■ Franklinville Diner, Franklinville Festival
■ The Barbecue Festival, Lexington
■ Lincoln County Apple Festival, Lincolnton
■ North Carolina Pickle Festival, Mt. Olive
Landmark
■ Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton
■ Biltmore Estate, Asheville
■ Wright Brothers Memorial, Kill Devil Hills
Library
■ Ashe County Public Library
■ Billy Graham Library, Charlotte
■ Asheboro Public Library
Theatre
■ Appalachian Theatre, Boone
■ Belk Theater, Charlotte
■ Durham Performing Arts Center
Made in NC
■ Blue Mist Barbecue Sauce
■ Texas Pete
■ House of Morgan Pewter Downtown
■ Blowing Rock
■ Black Mountain
■ Boone
Toy Store
■ Lizzy’s Playthings, Burlington
■ Sassafras, Black Mountain & Waynesville
■ O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store, Brevard
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Carolina Voices
SEPTEMBER’S QUESTION: What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Submit your answer (up to 300 words) for a chance to be in an upcoming issue. We retain reprint rights, and we’ll pay $50 for those we publish in the print version of the magazine.
Deadline: July 15
Online: carolinacountry.com/voices
Mail: Carolina Country —Carolina Voices 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616
CONNECT
WITH Carolina Country
Don’t miss out on your favorite content, including the best NC travel destinations.
Sign up to receive email updates on our website!
Small Town, Big Adventure
Tales, trails and tartans await you in the mountain town of Franklin
Story and photos by Renee C. Gannon
Nestled within the Nantahala Forest in the southwestern corner of the state, Franklin provides adventures in the surrounding mountains as well as in town, with its locally focused women’s history trail, museums, restaurants and shops, and it’s bookended by two breweries: Lazy Hiker Brewing (lazyhikerbrewing.com) and Currahee Brewing (curraheebrew.com).
Historic Tales
As you cross over the Little Tennessee River into downtown Franklin, you’ll notice a sculpture in the center of Women’s History Park. The sculpture, “Sowing the Seeds of the Future,” depicts three women from the area’s past: Na-Ka Rebecca Morris (a Cherokee), Salley (an enslaved woman) and Harriet Timoxena Siler Sloan (a pioneer woman). The sculpture represents each group of women and their contributions that helped build Franklin.
It also serves as the trailhead for the Women’s History Trail (womenshistorytrail.org). Markers and art throughout the town weave the story of how women contributed to the culture and growth of the community, including the “Sowing the Seeds” women. One marker denotes the female entrepreneurs who turned a former 1890s girls’ school into the Franklin Terrace Inn to boost tourism in the early 1900s. The B&B still serves as base for adventure (franklin-terrace.com).
Museums also tell the tale of community. The Scottish Tartan Museum (scottishtartansmuseum.org) is the only tartan museum outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. It traces the history of the tartan and highlights Scottish heritage in the NC mountains. Visitors can also learn about their Scot heritage and buy a family (clan) tartan.
The Gem and Mineral Museum (fgmm.org) shows why the area is considered the gem capital of the world and is a delight for the rockhound in all of us. And the Macon
County Historical Society and Museum details community life from WWI to the present (maconnchistorical.com).
Nature Trails
Franklin also serves up a notable trail-related title: it’s the first certified Appalachian Trail (AT) town. But you don’t need to be a long-distance hiker to enjoy the local trails.
Waterfalls and overlooks await on trails deemed easy to strenuous. Many are located off dirt and gravel roads, so be sure your vehicle is capable of reaching certain trailheads and download both map directions and trail maps from your preferred hiking app before heading out due to a possible drop in cell service.
The 1.1-mile roundtrip Big Laurel Falls forest-covered trail culminates at a 25-foot cascade after following creeks and shallow waterfalls. It takes less than a half mile to reach 20-foot Mooney Falls, with its strong cascades audible even before you hit the trail.
Two overlooks, Pickens Nose Trail and Wayah Bald Lookout Tower, are worth the bumpy road drive. Travel through a rhododendron forest for 0.75 miles to reach the Pickens Nose craggy summit, and yes, the outcropping resembles the nose of 18th century General Andrew Pickens. The view of Nantahala National Forest is worth the initial 275-foot elevation change at the trail’s start.
Wayah Bald Lookout Tower, a stone tower built in the 1930s, is accessible by both the AT and Bartram trails, as well as a paved greenway via a forest service road. The 360-degree view at 5,342 feet stretches to the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains as well as the hills of Georgia, and is perfect for a sunset.
No matter your level of adventure, Franklin has you covered.
Renee C. Gannon is the senior associate editor of Carolina Country.
Pickens Nose Trail Summit
“Sowing the Seeds” statue
The Scottish Tartan Museum
Roasted Spaghetti Squash
With herbed browned butter and fig sauce
Ladle this sweet and savory sauce over squash, other roasted vegetables or crispy roasted chicken thighs.
1 large spaghetti squash
Oil
Salt and black pepper
¹/₃ cup pine nuts
8 tablespoons salted butter, divided
1 cup shallots, thinly sliced
1 cup (about 8) fresh figs, chopped
¼ cup golden raisins
3 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
1–2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Salt as needed
From Your Kitchen
Simple Summer Salad
With marinated vegetables
This salad screams summer with its juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers and tangy onions. Plus, it’s pretty, healthy and comes together in a snap. Bada boom!
1 cup water
½ cup white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
¼ cup olive oil
¼–½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
2 English cucumbers, sliced ¼-inch thick and cut in half
3 medium-sized tomatoes, cut into small wedges
Cut squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Brush with oil and dust with salt and pepper. Roast, cut side down, at 400 degrees for 35–40 minutes. Cool, then scrape into strands with a fork.
Toast nuts in a small, dry skillet over medium heat 2–3 minutes until lightly toasted.
Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large, light-colored skillet over medium heat. Sauté shallots until lightly browned. Remove from skillet and set aside.
In the same skillet, melt remaining butter over medium heat until the butter is foamy, bubbling and smells toasty. Scrape up the brown bits as it heats.
Reduce to a simmer and stir in the drained shallots, figs, raisins, syrup and herbs. Heat 2–3 minutes.
Remove from heat and add vinegar and pepper. Taste and salt as desired. Toss in the squash. Scatter with toasted nuts and serve immediately.
Yield: 4–6 servings
1 small red onion, sliced and separated into rings and halved (or white if you prefer less spicy)
Optional additions: crumbled feta, mozzarella balls, avocado chunks, chopped fennel bulb
Whisk water, vinegar, oil, sugar, salt and pepper together in a large bowl until smooth; add cucumbers, tomatoes and onion and stir to coat.
Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve.
When suddenly gifted with lots of figs, what’s a person to do? Many were extra ripe, which we froze whole for later. As for the others … hello Squishy Fig Gingerbread!
3 large eggs
1 cup cane sugar
½ cup sorghum or cane molasses*
¾ cup coconut oil, melted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
1 cup self-rising flour
½ cup self-rising corn meal mix
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon apple pie spice
2 cups very ripe figs, squished with fingers
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13-by-9-inch baking dish.
Using mixer, combine eggs, sugar, molasses, coconut oil and extracts until blended.
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix into wet ingredients a little at the time until well incorporated. Using spatula, fold in squished figs.
Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for about 30 minutes, until the surface starts showing cracks.
Let cool, break into pieces and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Yield: 15–20 servings
*Do not to use blackstrap molasses.
Note: Abundance of fresh figs and no time or ideas? Flash freeze on a cookie sheet, then bag them like ice cubes to use in recipes year-round!
Recipes by Culinary Adventurist Wendy Perry (WendyPerry.com), home economist, blogger and NC food artisan, unless otherwise noted.
Digital Extra
Visit carolinacountry.com/recipes to search more than 1,000 recipes by name or ingredient.
Rustic Squishy Fig Gingerbread
Recipe courtesy of Kathryn Ransom of Maxton, Lumbee River EMC
July Events
JULY 4–5
Christmas In July 2025 Downtown West Jefferson 336-846-1987
JUNE 24 – JULY 6
Lumbee Homecoming
UNC Pembroke, Pembroke 910-521-8602
JULY 1–5
Southeast Old Threshers Reunion Old-fashioned farming, crafts, exhibits, demonstrations, activities Denton FarmPark, Denton 336-859-2755
Denton Antique Festival Harrison Park, Denton 336-859-4231
JULY 3
Pleasure Island Independence Day Fireworks Carolina Beach Boardwalk, Carolina Beach 910-458-2977
JULY 4
Harmony’s July 4th Celebration Harmony Community Center, Harmony 704-450-7031
Freedom Festival City Park, Havelock 252-444-6429
4th of July Celebration Riverwalk, Wilmington 910-772-4177
JULY 4–5
Croaker Festival
Lou Mac Park, Oriental
JULY 5–6
Art on the Greene Heritage art and crafts, food, activities Historic Banner Elk School, Banner Elk 828-898-5398
May’s winner
JULY 19
14th Anniversary Celebration Eck McCanless Pottery, Seagrove 336-873-7412
JULY 25
Nature and Forest Bathing Therapeutic nature stroll Grandfather Mountain, Linville 800-468-7325
JULY 25
Blowing Rock Tour of Homes Downtown Blowing Rock 828-295-7323
JULY 25
JULY 10 – AUG. 2
Horn in the West Outdoor Drama
Hickory Ridge History Museum/ Daniel Boone Park, Boone 828-264-2120
JULY 12
Ridgeway Cantaloupe Festival Ridgeway Road, Ridgeway
JULY 19
NC Peach Festival Downtown Candor 910-974-4221
JULY 19
Polk Fest and Silent Auction President James K. Polk State Historic Site, Pineville 704-889-7145
Grandfather by Night: Naturalist Program Guided after-hours hike Grandfather Mountain, Linville 800-468-7325
JULY 25–26
Cruso Quilt Show Bethel Middle School Gym, Waynesville 828-400-7323
JULY 26
Watermelon Festival Downtown Fair Bluff 910-649-7202
JULY 30
Animal Enrichment Day Enrichment demonstrations, games, crafts Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, Linville 1-800-468-7325
Visit carolinacountry.com/calendar for more information about each event, including links to the most current information, or to submit your own event.
where in Carolina Country is this?
Send your answer by July 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 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
The May “Where Is This” photo by Haywood EMC member Bill Rusinko features Sutton and Sons Antiques, on Dellwood Road off US Highway 19, just outside of Waynesville in Maggie Valley. This treasure trove of a store has helped locals and travelers alike find that missing piece of décor, history and memory. Can’t find what you are looking for? Sutton and Sons will also help you track down that hard-to-find antique or collectible. Many readers commented how time stood still as they roamed through the store. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Vickie Sealock of Mars Hill, a French Broad Electric member.
The best walk-in tub just got better with breakthrough technology! Presenting the all new Safe Step Walk-In Tub featuring MicroSoothe. ® An air system so revolutionary, it oxygenates, softens and exfoliates skin, turning your bath into a spa-like experience. Constructed and built right here in America for safety and durability from the ground up, and with more standard features than any other tub.
✓ Heated seat providing warmth from beginning to end
✓ Carefully engineered hydro-massage jets strategically placed to target sore muscles and joints
✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub
✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price
You’ll agree – there just isn’t a better, more affordable walk-in tub on the market.
26 electric cooperatives
Your local electric cooperative is a not-for-profit organization, delivering electricity at the cost of doing business, never to make a profit. Our focus is on people, and the network of 26 electric cooperatives across the state is committed to serving you and the communities we share for generations to come.
93 counties across NC
2.8M members served
WHEN THE LIGHTS
GO OUT,
SO DO WE.
Your co-op is ready to roll when repairs are needed. If summer storms disrupt power, we quickly have equipment and crews on the way.
Regardless of the weather, when the lights go out, so do we.
Members are notified of an upcoming peak usage period by signing up to receive Beat The Peak alerts. These are a few critical hours when people are using the most electricity, all at the same time (typically only a few of the hottest weekday summer afternoons or coldest winter mornings).
Participants then voluntarily reduce their electricity usage during the peak period. Simple steps help!