August is typically one of the warmest months of the year, and that means air conditioners across our community are working overtime to keep homes comfortable. During periods of extreme heat, many members may see an increase in their electric bill and wonder what factors contribute to the cost of electricity.
We believe understanding your electric bill is an important part of being an informed member. While the total amount due may seem like a single number, it actually reflects several different costs associated with delivering reliable electricity to your home or business each month.
The largest factor is often the amount of energy you use. Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and the more energy your household consumes, the higher your bill will be.
During the summer, air conditioning is typically the largest driver of increased energy use. When temperatures climb into the 90s or higher, our cooling systems run longer and more frequently, consuming significantly more electricity than they do during milder weather.
Another major factor is the cost of generating or purchasing electricity. Like many cooperatives, South River EMC purchases power through contracts with North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation. The cost of producing electricity fluctuates based on fuel prices, including natural gas, coal and other energy resources used to generate power. Changes in wholesale power costs influence the price of elec-
tricity delivered to members. Transmission costs also play a role. Before electricity reaches your home, it must travel across a network of high-voltage transmission lines that connect power plants to local distribution systems. Transmission equipment requires ongoing maintenance and upgrades to ensure reliability, especially as electricity demand continues to grow.
Closer to home, South River EMC maintains the local electric distribution system—utility poles, power lines, transformers, substations and other essential equipment that safely delivers power to members.
Maintaining this equipment is covered through the monthly service charge. This is a flat monthly fee all members pay, regardless of how much electricity they use. This fixed fee ensures all members pay a fair share of the basic, operational costs required to keep the power grid reliable and ready to serve your home or business. Whether a member uses a little electricity or a lot, we must maintain infrastructure and have crews, equipment and resources available to provide electricity around the clock.
Summer temperatures can also influence costs in less obvious ways. When the demand for electricity is high across a region, wholesale power prices can increase. Utilities and grid
operators must ensure enough generation is available to meet peak demand, and those costs can be reflected throughout the electric system.
The good news is that simple steps to lower energy use can make a meaningful difference. Setting your thermostat a few degrees higher when you’re away, replacing dirty HVAC filters, using ceiling fans, sealing air leaks and avoiding the use of major appliances during the hottest parts of the day can help reduce energy consumption, lower your bill and reduce strain on the local grid during peak demand.
South River EMC’s mission is to provide safe, reliable and affordable electricity while being transparent about the factors that impact energy costs. We understand every dollar matters, and we are committed to making smart investments that keep the lights on and support the communities we serve.
If you ever have questions about your electric bill or co-op programs designed to help you save, please reach out. We’re here to help you make informed decisions that work for your household.
Bright Ideas Deadline Approaching Swiftly
Every great lesson begins with a Bright Idea.
Through the Bright Ideas grant program, South River EMC is proud to help local teachers turn innovative classroom concepts into reality.
Bright Ideas provides grants of up to $2,500 for creative, hands-on classroom projects that enhance student learning in certified North Carolina public K–12 schools.
Whether it's introducing new STEM technology, creating engaging literacy programs, expanding art and music opportunities, or bringing science to life through interactive experiments, the program helps educators provide experiences that might not otherwise fit within school budgets.
Funding cannot be used for professional development.
Each year, South River EMC awards at least $50,000 in Bright Ideas funding to eligible teachers serving schools in parts of Harnett, Johnston, Sampson and Cumberland counties.
Since 1994, North Carolina's electric cooperatives have invested millions of dollars in innovative classroom projects, benefiting millions of students across the state.
The application period opened April 1, and we have seen a lot of applications come in so far.
Teachers who submit their applications by Aug. 15 are entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card, while the final application deadline is Sept. 15.
Applications must be submitted online through the Bright Ideas website at ncbrightideas.com
South River EMC believes strong schools build strong communities. By supporting teachers with funding for innovative educational projects, the cooperative invests in the future workforce and helping students discover new opportunities to learn, explore and succeed. Learn more about South River EMC's Bright Ideas program at sremc.com/bright-ideas
Flags will fly once again over South River EMC offices for Veteran's Day. Sponsorship opportunities will open next month if you would like to honor or memorialize an active or retired service member with a tag. For details visit sremcfields.com
Is A HERO Home For You?
South River EMC's High Efficiency Residential Option (HERO) program is an option to consider if you're in the market for a new home.
Stay Cool And Save
Replacing an older heating and cooling system with a highefficiency unit, 16 SEER 2 or greater, can improve comfort and help reduce energy use.
The cooling efficiency of a unit is measured by the seasonal
Choosing a HERO home can help you save up to 30% because these homes are built efficiently from the ground up.
The HERO program offers re-
energy efficiency ratio 2, or SEER 2, rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient a system.
A properly sized and professionally installed system can provide more consistent temperatures and improved indoor comfort.
Improve Efficieny To Help Cut Costs
Making your home more energyefficient starts with reducing air leaks and improving insulation.
Having the right amount of insulation and sealing air leaks is important, with approximately 50% of your electric bill attributed to heating and cooling.
If cost is standing in your way, having a weatherization package
completed by Community Action, could make you eligible for a rebate from South River EMC.
A weatherization package for single family or manufactured low-income homes includes: air/ duct sealing, improved insulation, an HVAC tune-up or replacement and a programmable thermostat in a home with a heat pump or an
bates to builders and buyers who build to either the prescriptive or the performance path.
For details on the program or the rebate, scan the QR code.
South River EMC offers rebates to members who install higher efficiency HVAC systems in their homes.
Learn more about the rebate by scanning the QR code.
electric furnace/central AC.
For details scan the QR code.
A Window Upgrade Could Help Savings
Upgrading to newer, more efficient windows is a smart investment that can improve your home's comfort and help lower energy costs.
Energy-efficient windows help reduce unwanted heat gain during the summer and heat loss
during the winter, making it easier for your heating and cooling system to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
In addition, new windows can enhance your home's appearance and increase its overall value.
Heat Your Water More Efficiently To Save
Installing an energy-efficient water heater can help lower energy use, while providing reliable hot water for your family.
The water heating rebate helps members reduce the cost of purchasing and installing solar or heat pump water heaters.
Because water heating is one of the largest energy expenses in many homes, upgrading to an efficient model can lead to longterm energy savings.
Both solar and heat pump
Pool Pumps, Still Part Of A Discussion
A variable or two-speed pool pump can help reduce electricity use while keeping your pool clean and properly maintained.
Variable and two-speed pool pumps operate more efficiently than traditional single-speed
models by allowing the pump to adjust its speed based on the pool's needs.
These upgrades can provide reliable performance while helping members save energy and lower operating costs over
South River EMC has a rebate to helps members offset the cost of installing replacement windows.
For complete guidelines and rebate details, scan the QR code.
water heaters are great options, but you must consider which one works for you.
For complete eligibility information, rebate amounts and application details, scan the QR code.
the life of the equipment.
If you're thinking about upgrading your pool pump, a variable or two-speed could earn you a rebate.
For complete eligibility information, scan the QR code.
Keep the Sunshine Outside This Summer
When temperatures climb into the 90s, most of us expect our air conditioners to work overtime.
But what many homeowners don’t realize is that one of the biggest sources of heat inside the home is sunshine coming through the windows.
Heat moves in three basic ways: conduction, convection, and radiation. During the summer, the sun’s energy reaches your home as radiant heat. Unlike conduction or convection, radiant heat doesn’t need air to carry it. It travels in the form of electromagnetic waves from the sun through space and then passes easily through your windows.
Once that sunlight enters your home, it strikes your floors, furniture, countertops and walls. Those surfaces absorb the sun’s energy and heat up. They then slowly release that heat into the air inside your home, much like a sidewalk stays warm long after the sun goes down.
During the winter months this is a great way to cheaply warm our homes but, in the summer, this process creates a “greenhouse
effect,” forcing your air conditioner to remove not only the heat coming in from outside but also the heat that has been stored inside your home.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 25 to 30% of the energy used for heating and cooling is associated with heat gain and heat loss through windows. Even modern doublepane windows can allow a significant amount of the sun’s heat to enter your home on a bright summer day.
The good news is that one of the easiest energy-saving measures is also one of the least expensive. By closing blinds, shades, or curtains before direct sunlight enters your home, you can block much of that radiant energy before it can heat the surfaces inside. Less heat enters your living space, which means your air conditioner has less work to do.
Pay particular attention to east and west-facing windows. Eastfacing windows receive intense morning sun, while west-facing windows often receive the hottest afternoon sun—just as outdoor temperatures are reaching their peak. Keeping these windows shaded can noticeably improve comfort throughout the day. Our family has made it a point to do this over the month of June and the increase in comfort when temperatures are at their highest is really astounding.
Energy efficiency doesn’t always require expensive upgrades. Sometimes, simple habits make a meaningful difference. Closing your blinds before leaving the house takes only a few seconds, but it can reduce the amount of radiant heat entering your home, improve comfort, and help your air conditioner run more efficiently throughout our long North Carolina summers.
If you are interested in upgrading your windows though, take a look at our Energy Star Windows rebate at sremc.com/ advise-guys or reach out to us with questions at adviseguys@ sremc.com.
South
Message from Advise Guy Aaron Jackson
Swimming Pool Safety Word Scramble
Dive into this word scramble challenge! Read the pool safety tips below to uncover the scrambled words. Remember these tips to stay safe while having fun in the sun.
Doublecheck your work in the answer key.
1. Never swim without an lutda nearby, even if you know how to swim.
2. Walk around the pool. Gunrnin on wet surfaces can cause slips and falls.
3. Wear cessrnuen and drink plenty of water to stay safe in the summer heat.
4. Keep cilarcteel devices, cords and speakers far away from the water.
5. If you see lightning or hear drehtnu, get out of the pool immediately and go indoors.
Nature’s Master Builder
The remarkable world of beavers
By Rue Reynold
The gentle current carries a freshly cut willow branch across the water. Strong orange teeth grip the prize as this creature slips beneath the surface, webbed feet paddling with quiet determination. Ahead lies a growing lodge, each carefully placed stick strengthening a home that will shelter generations. Every branch has a purpose. Every ripple shapes the landscape. This is the world of the North American beaver — nature's original engineer.
Built for life in the water
The North American beaver is North America's largest rodent and one of its most remarkable architects. Thick, waterproof fur insulates it from cold water, while large webbed hind feet provide powerful propulsion. A broad, flat tail provides balance while swimming, stores fat for winter and serves as a warning signal when slapped against the water.
Beavers possess unique teeth. Their bright orange incisors never stop growing and are strengthened by iron-rich enamel, allowing them to gnaw through trees that would quickly wear down ordinary teeth. Transparent eyelids protect their eyes underwater, while valves behind their lips let them carry sticks or chew wood beneath the surface without taking in water.
The engineers of the wetlands
Beavers inhabit rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and wooded wetlands throughout North Carolina. Wherever flowing water and hardwood trees meet, they find opportunity. By felling trees and building dams, beavers slow moving water, creating ponds and wetlands that provide shelter from predators and easy access to food.
Their diet consists entirely of plants, including bark, twigs, leaves, aquatic vegetation, and the inner bark of hardwood trees such as willow, sweetgum, birch and maple. During autumn, they gather branches underwater near their lodges, creating food caches that remain accessible even when the surface freezes farther north.
The benefits of beaver engineering extend far beyond their own survival. Beaver ponds create habitat for fish, amphibians, waterfowl, turtles, insects and countless other species, while also improving water quality, reducing erosion and helping wetlands store water during droughts.
Legends and folklore
Across cultures, beavers have long symbolized diligence, cooperation and wisdom. Their tireless work ethic has made them enduring emblems of perseverance and community.
In Celtic traditions, beavers were admired for their determination and ingenuity. Medieval stories often portrayed them as intelligent, resourceful creatures, while later folklore associated beavers with perseverance and the ability to shape the landscape around them.
Many Indigenous tribes throughout North America recognized beavers as teachers of hard work and cooperation, admiring their ability to transform entire landscapes and live in balance with the natural world.
Today, many conservationists celebrate beavers not simply as builders, but as ecosystem engineers whose work benefits countless forms of life.
Beaver Facts
1. Beavers are North America's largest rodents.
2. Their orange front teeth are strengthened with iron and never stop growing.
3. Beaver dams create wetlands that support hundreds of other plant and animal species.
4. Transparent eyelids allow beavers to see underwater while protecting their eyes.
5. Beaver lodges have underwater entrances, helping keep families safe from predators.
Quick-thinking, hardworking and endlessly resourceful, beavers do far more than build lodges and dams — they reshape entire ecosystems. By protecting healthy waterways and allowing these remarkable rodents to continue their work, we preserve wetlands that benefit wildlife and people alike.
Visit NCWildlife.gov to learn more about these incredible ecosystem engineers.
Rue Reynold is the editorial assistant for Carolina Country magazine.
Managing Costs Across the Grid
Your electric cooperative has a unique and important advantage in serving its members with affordable, reliable electricity: the strength of a statewide network. By working closely together—leveraging their collective strength and sharing innovative ideas—North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives are able to manage costs across the grid.
Collective Buying Power
The state’s electric cooperatives pool their buying power through the Tarheel Electric Membership Association (TEMA). By working together, co-ops reduce the impact of rising material costs on everything from poles and wires to energy storage projects.
Meeting Growing Demand
Demand for power is growing nationally. Co-ops work to negotiate the best possible contracts on large power purchases and manage peak demand every day. Decades ago, electric co-ops formed the North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation (NCEMC) to help manage generation and transmission needs. Today, NCEMC owns power generation plants, purchases power through contracts, identifies innovative energy projects and coordinates transmission resources for its members.
Innovative Resource Management
Advocating for Affordability
NC electric co-ops advocate at the General Assembly and in Washington, D.C., in coordination with their trade association, the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives (NCAEC). Together they form a powerful voice on issues that affect rural communities and power affordability.
North Carolina’s electric co-ops are national leaders in collective management of 600 megawatts of distributed energy resources, including battery storage sites, microgrids, solar projects and member-owned generation.
Over the course of their history, NC co-ops have formed organizations to support the work they do, each with its own governing board of directors made up of representatives from each member co-op. Today, this family of organizations— NCEMC, NCAEC and TEMA—is collectively known as North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.
Plugging in for Healthier Homes
A clean cooking initiative is changing lives
Residents of a remote Guatemalan village will no longer have to fill their small homes with toxic smoke every time they cook, thanks to life-changing electricity brought to them by volunteers from North Carolina’s electric cooperatives.
In the village of El Plan Nuevo Amanecer near the Mexican border, women and girls were cooking over flaming wood fires, breathing in thick smoke that irritated their eyes and lungs and lingered inside their houses.
“Several of the children have this kind of chronic cough that you would hear throughout the village,” says Cara Johnson, who is working with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives as an Energy Innovator Fellow through the Department of Energy.
Solving the problem became part of the mission for Cara and volunteers from eight North Carolina co-ops who traveled to Guatemala to construct more than three miles of line by hand, wiring 55 homes to receive electricity for the first time (see page 8). Residents were able to quickly put that power to use with new two-burner, plug-in Black+Decker stovetops, purchased from a local supplier.
Cara, who is fluent in Spanish, educated residents about the health and safety benefits of the electric stovetops.
“I spent the majority of the trip speaking with the women in their homes, learning about their lives and families and gaining their trust. They even taught me how to make tortillas by hand,” she says. “Most of the houses are about 20 feet by 20 feet spaces with no interior walls, so there’s one room to live, eat, cook and sleep in. There’s no ventilation, so the smoke from the fire just collects and sits in the air. When you walked
in, your eyes and throat would burn. And the temperature was already upwards of 90 degrees in April, even without the fire.”
Adults in the village talked about how much electricity would improve their children’s lives.
“There was an 80-year-old gentlemen who was completely blind and would sit on a hammock every day and talk about what the village was like when he was a kid,” says Josh Conner, multimedia communications strategist for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, who traveled to Guatemala to document the project. “He said one of the biggest things that electricity is going to do is keep the kids from moving away because there’s more opportunity there for them now.”
One mother said the new electric stovetop will improve her children’s health and prevent them from getting badly burned like she did.
Not only were we bringing electricity, but we were giving the community a tangible resource they could use with that electricity that will improve their health and hopefully their children’s futures.”
“Half of her eye was burnt from flames that blew into her face on a windy day as she was cooking over her open fire stove,” Cara says. “She didn’t want that same thing to happen to her daughters.”
“The clean-cooking initiative felt meaningful beyond just the kitchen,” she adds. “Not only were we bringing electricity, but we were giving the community a tangible resource they could use with that electricity that will improve their health and hopefully their children’s futures.”
Erin Kelly is a staff writer for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Story by Erin Kelly
Josh Conner, NC Electric Cooperatives
Arturo Rivera Photography
Surprises Await in Alamance County
A history of revolution shaped these vibrant Piedmont communities
By Renee C. Gannon
In the 1700s, Alamance County was still part of Orange County, not having its own county borders until 1849. But the growing community would find itself at the forefront of two revolutions: America’s fight for independence and the economic juggernaut of the textile industry.
Now just a whisper of its former dominance, the textile industry that built this region created a culture that has grown into a vibrant area offering a well-rounded day trip for visitors.
Alamance Battleground
Before the first shots were fired in America’s battle for independence, NC farmers formed associations in the 1760s to protest local government corruption. These Regulators aired their grievances against excess taxes, illegal fees and corrupt officials. In 1771, Regulators gathered in a field just south of Alamance Village and unsuccessfully engaged with Governor William Tryon’s British militia.
Visitors to the Alamance Battleground State Historic Site walk the battlefield between the British lines at the visitor center and the Regulator lines near what is now Highway 62.
Lisa Cox, the historic interpreter at the site, weaves a tale of exasperated farmers fighting for equal justice under British rule and the battle’s aftermath. She notes that most Regulators remained loyal to Britain — even fighting for the British — and simply wanted equal treatment.
Textiles to trails
A few miles away from the battleground sits the Alamance County Historical Museum, within the 19th century home of the Holt family. Textile pioneer Edwin Holt helped build the economic engine that would add more than 50 mills to the region. His “Alamance Plaid” was the first commercially woven colored cotton fabric made in the American South. Later, nearby Haw River would become the “Corduroy Capital of the World.” The Textile Heritage Museum in historic Glencoe, near Glencoe Mills, details the history of the industry, as does the local town museums and along the Textile Heritage Trail.
The Haw River powered the textile mills and now powers a burgeoning outdoor industry. The Haw River Paddle Trail offers 14 access points
Climb the 80-foot-tall Monadnock Tower in Snow Camp to survey the rolling hills and forests of the Cane Creek Mountains Range.
(Right) The Textile Heritage Museum in historic Glencoe details the history of the industry. Piedmont Lagacy Trails
to the river as it flows through the county and passes towns the river helped build (the entire trail covers five counties). The paddle trail is part of the Haw River Trail corridor, 80 miles of paddle and hiking trails from Haw River State Park to Jordan Lake State Recreational Area.
Want a view above the river and trees?
Head to Cane Creek Mountains Natural Area in Snow Camp and hike to the Monadnock Tower via either the Northern Approach Trail or the Lookout Trail, two of the 10 trails available. Climb 80 feet to survey the rolling hills and forests of the Cane Creek Mountains Range, which boasts the highest peak east of Greensboro at 987 feet.
Small town charm
After hiking or visiting the past, the area’s downtowns offer local shops, breweries and eateries to satisfy every taste.
And a historic ride awaits young and old at the Burlington City Park: on the restored 1910 Dentzel Menagerie Carousel. Choose from a cat, an ostrich, lion or horse (with real horsehair tails) — just a few of the 46 unique handcarved animals to relive your childhood. And not to be overlooked at the park, ride on the mini classic diesel-powered train — an appropriate ride for a town built by the railroad industry and once known as “Company Shops.”
Events: August
01 Marlins Baseball Big Rock Stadium 252-269-9767
International Black Theatre Festival Various locations, Winston-Salem | 336-723-2266
K9s in Flight Frisbee Dogs Aug. 1–2 Tweetsie Railroad 828-264-9061
Horn in the West Aug. 1–8
Daniel Boone Park 828-264-2120
“The Lost Colony” Outdoor Drama Aug. 1–22
Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, Manteo | 252-473-6000
INTERTWINED Aug. 1–23
Hillsborough Gallery of Arts 919-732-5001
Cannon Day Aug. 1–Sept. 5 Demonstrations, storytelling Fort Macon State Park 252-726-3775
07 Ocracoke Fig Festival Aug. 7–8
Berkley Barn, Ocracoke 252-921-0283
Sarah James Fulcher Redfish Tournament Aug. 7–9
Cedar Island Resort 252-422-5141
08
Junior Naturalist Day Grandfather Mountain, Linville 828-733-2013
Tea with Seagrove Potters Participating potters, Seagrove 336-879-4145
15 Lions Duck Race Festival Riverview Lions Sheets 336-620-5581
Monster Trucks Carteret County Speedway 252-436-7223
Hot Nights Cool Rides Car Show
Historic Main Street, Forest City 828-447-1730
21 NC BeachBlast Festival Aug. 21–22 Patriots Park, Kings Mountain
22 Nature and Forest Therapy Grandfather Mountain, Linville 828-733-2013
SUBMIT YOUR EVENT
Visit carolinacountry.com/calendar for more information about each event, including links to the most current information, or to submit your own event.
Renee C. Gannon is the senior associate editor for Carolina Country magazine.
Find this article online, with links to local destinations to help plan your trip.
Haw River Trail.org
LA’S WEBSITE OF THE MONTH Nurseries Caroliniana (nurcar.com) is a South Carolina-based e-nursery specializing in perennials, vines and woodies, with particularly large selections of camellias and osmanthuses.
The Lilies of August
Take your pick of late-blooming hostas
Story and photos by L.A. Jackson
When there is a need for foliage plants with the elegance to doll up semi-shady spots in the landscape, gardeners often turn to hostas — durable summertime performers that can be counted on for lasting visual interest with their various textures and subtle hues.
However, starting in August, some hostas seem to want even more attention, so they stretch long stalks above their leaves and begin to flower. And not only are these blooms welcome sights for eager eyes in the perennial shade garden that typically goes into a flowerless funk during the high heat of a scorching summer, but the nose knows of their presence because they are also fragrant. Wait … hostas that bloom in late summer? And they’re fragrant? Welcome to the nifty niche of hostas often tagged as “August lilies.”
I’m not breaking any new ground here. These so-called August lilies are old-school hostas that originated in southern China and migrated to America in the early 1800s. Botanically grouped in Hosta plantaginea, they became instant hits in the South due to their heat tolerance and ability to cast scented spells in gardens on warm afternoons of waning summers.
As with many plants that become popular with gardeners, H. plantaginea has been tinkered with by breeders looking for improvements, but most mutated and hybridized forms still retain the good ol’ August lily charm of late-blooming, scented flowers. While white is the typical color of these bell-shaped beauties, some have also been tinted with light purple hues.
Today, although many variations have been created, there
GARDEN TO-DO’S FOR August
are only about two dozen selections of August lilies generally available to the gardening public. But this doesn’t make them hard to find. Heck, I bought the classic “Royal Standard,” which has been around for ages, at a big box home improvement store.
Other August lilies that can be found with minimal searching include the popular “Guacamole” showing off sassy avocado-colored leaves; “So Sweet,” the 1996 Hosta of the Year with foliage that shimmers in shades of cream and green; and “Sugar Babe,” a petite, variegated pretty with scented, amethyst-streaked blossoms.
Online hunting will find other selections for sale, of course, but try local garden centers first because they, too, know well the dreamy appeal of these enchanting lilies of August.
L.A. Jackson is the former editor of Carolina Gardener Magazine.
The pursuit of perfectly shaped, home-grown tomatoes can be spoiled at this time of year by a nastiness known as cracking. This is marked by concentric, unappetizing rings circling tomato tops, or vertical splits along the sides of ripening fruits. It usually occurs when a big rain falls after an extended dry spell. So much water suddenly available to tomato plant roots can cause fruits to expand quickly and literally break right out of their skins. Heavily mulching your plants will help steady the ground moisture supply, and a regular watering schedule when the rains don’t come will also help prevent cracking.
® Continue harvesting mature cucumbers, squash, green beans, tomatoes and okra at least once a week to encourage more and more production from your summer edibles.
® Looking to add more horticultural snap-crackle-pop to your midsummer garden? Check out local botanical gardens, arboretums and even garden centers to see what kinds of plants are showing off the best during these hazy, lazy days of August.
Royal Standard hosta
Recipe
Advertising published in Carolina Country is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to customers at the advertised price. All ads must adhere to Carolina Country’s advertising policy, which can be found in our media kit at carolinacountry.com/advertise/MediaKit. The magazine, North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc., and the member cooperatives do not necessarily endorse the products or services advertised. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted. Should you encounter advertising that does not comply with these standards, please inform Carolina Country at 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616. 919-875-3091.
1920s Style for a 1920s Price
It was a warm summer afternoon and my wife and I were mingling with the best of them. The occasion was a 1920s-themed party, and everyone was dressed to the nines. Parked on the manse’s circular driveway was a beautiful classic convertible. It was here that I got the idea for our new 1920s Retrograde Watch.
Never ones to miss an opportunity, we carefully steadied our glasses of bubbly and climbed into the car’s long front seat. Among the many opulent features on display was a series of dashboard dials that accentuated the car’s lavish aura. One of those dials inspired our 1920s Retrograde Watch, a genuinely unique timepiece that marries timeless style with modern technology.
With its remarkable retrograde hour and minute indicators, sunburst guilloche face and precision movement, this design is truly one of a kind. What does retrograde mean?
Instead of displaying the hands rotating on an axis like most watches, the hands sweep in a semicircle, then return to their starting point and begin all over again.
Retrograde watches by the big brands can set you back thousands; one recent offering from a big French fashion house is selling for more than $150,000! But because we’ve designed the 1920s Retrograde Watch in-house, we can offer it to you for just $99!
This watch is so wildly popular with our customers that we’re actually concerned about running out; we only have 937 729 left for this ad!
Join more than 1 smart people who love stauer watches
Watch Specifications:
• Precision movement
• Stainless steel case, caseback and crown
• Retrograde hour and minute indicators
• Water-resistant to 5 ATM
• Brown genuine leather band
• Fits wrists up to 8"
1920s Retrograde Watch
$399 $99* + S&P Save $300
*Special price only for customers using the offer code.
“An elegant and exciting timepiece that every collector will love.”
— George omas, internationally renowned watch expert
“[A] unique and beautiful timepiece.”
— Carlos C., Los Banos, CA
Chilled Southwest Vegetable Lasagna (No Cook)
Turn those ovens off and savor cool meals on hot summer days. Overload on the abundance of garden goodies with this easy recipe. Makes a colorful side or main dish.
Cilantro Pesto Ricotta
1 cup ricotta cheese
½ cup packed fresh cilantro
2–3 large garlic cloves
½ cup sliced almonds
2–3 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
Juice of ½ lime
½ teaspoon each salt and pepper
Blend in food processor until smooth and creamy. Chill.
Lasagna
1–2 large zucchini (8 thin slices)
1 large English cucumber (8 thin slices)
About 1½ cups salsa
Kernels cut from 2 ears of corn
Several sweet mini peppers, sliced into thin rings
¾ cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
¾ cup crumbled queso fresco
Chopped cilantro
Chili powder and cumin
Slice zucchini and cucumber very thin lengthwise, preferably with a mandolin. Layer between paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Spoon a little salsa on a platter. Arrange a layer of zucchini and cucumber (on top of each other) over salsa on platter. Spread half with a thin layer of pesto ricotta and spoon over a little salsa. Fold over the cuke and zucchini and repeat layers of ricotta and salsa. Scatter with corn, peppers and cheeses.
Garnish with cilantro and a light dusting of cumin and chili powder. Chill 30 minutes before serving.
Yield: 4–8 servings
FROM YOUR KITCHEN
Pepián de Pollo
This chicken stew recipe is Guatemala's national dish and was recommended by Arturo Rivera, the Guatemalan photographer who helped document North Carolina’s Brighter World initiative in 2026. (See page 8.)
Honey Crunch
Peach Chiffon Pie
Light, fluffy and plumb full of peach flavor, this chilled pie is nestled in a sweet honey-crunch crust for a simple no-cook dessert that tastes like summer.
1 box (12-ounce) honey granola type cereal (we used Honey Bunches of Oats)
1 stick salted butter, softened
2 tablespoons peach gelatin powder
¹/₃ cup cold water
3 cups fresh or frozen peeled peaches, setting aside a few for garnish
2 tablespoons orange juice
½ cup sweetened condensed milk 2–3 tablespoons sugar as needed
1 pint heavy whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks
Yellow and red food coloring, optional (3 parts yellow + 1 part red)
For the crust, roughly crumble cereal with butter in a food processor. Spread into a 9-inch pie plate and refrigerate.
Submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25.
Scatter gelatin over cold water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes to “bloom” and become spongy.
Purée peaches with juice and condensed milk. Blend in bloomed gelatin until smooth. Taste and add sugar if needed, depending on sweetness of peaches.
Gently fold in half of the whipped cream. Leave as is or add a few drops of food coloring for a deeper peach color.
Spoon filling into crust and chill 4–6 hours.
Garnish with peaches and serve with remaining whipped cream.
Yield: 8 slices
Culinary Adventurist Wendy Perry (WendyPerry.com) is a home economist, blogger and NC food artisan.
3 Lynette Carlston, Beaufort, A member of Carteret-Craven EC
4 Karee Smith, Mount Holly, A member of EnergyUnited
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.
where in Carolina Country is this?
Send your answer by Aug. 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 October 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 June “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Renee Gannon shows the Old Orange County Courthouse and its Tower Clock on the corner of King and Churton Streets in downtown Hillsborough. Given as a gift from King George III to St. Matthews Church in 1766, the clock was moved about two blocks to the courthouse once it was built in 1844. Many claim it is the “oldest continuous-running tower clock in America.” The clock has seen its share of history in Hillsborough, a hotbed of Regulator protests and battles against the British before and during the Revolutionary War, including the hanging of six Regulators captured at the Battle of Alamance and marched to the town for trial and execution in 1771. Check out visithillsboroughnc.com for more on the town’s history. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Sarah Shore of Hillsborough, a Piedmont Electric member.
#1 Selling Walk-In
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.
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✓ 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.
The Cooperative Advantage
North Carolina’s electric cooperatives work hard to provide reliable, affordable power at the cost of doing business. The state’s 26 not-for-profit co-ops collectively manage costs and pool our buying power for the benefit of the 2.8 million people we serve. Co-op employees are active members of the places we serve — your neighbors, friends, and family. We’re here to keep the lights on and the community strong, because this is our home, too.
