September 2024

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THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS VOLUME 78 • NUMBER 9

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2024 sept

(ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240)

Read in more than 620,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033 (803) 926‑3175 fax: (803) 796‑6064 letters@scliving.coop

Emma Murphy Novak begins a walking tour at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort.

EDITOR

Sarah Ellis Owen (803) 739‑3040 sarah.owen@ecsc.org

22 Stroll

MANAGING EDITOR

Lou Green (803) 739-3042 lou.green@ecsc.org

through history

FIELD EDITOR

Josh P. Crotzer PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Raphael Ofendo Reyes ART DIRECTOR

A guide to going back in time in the Lowcountry

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

Trevor Bauknight

4 CO-OP NEWS

PRODUCTION

Updates from your cooperative

Andrew Chapman WEB EDITOR

FALL WINTE&R TRAVEL ISSUE

6 AGENDA

Chase Toler

COPY EDITORS

Jennifer Jas, Jim Poindexter CONTRIBUTORS

Sheila Battin, Miranda Boutelle, Mike Couick, Jennah Denney, Hastings Hensel, Jan A. Igoe, L.A. Jackson, Cele and Lynn Seldon, Belinda Smith-Sullivan PUBLISHER

Avery Wilks ADVERTISING

Meet the new editor of South Carolina Living and the winners of the Children’s Book Challenge.

10 DIALOGUE Putting down roots

It’s one thing to be from a place, but another to truly be of that place.

12 ENERGY Q&A How can I save money on home improvements?

Mary Watts (803) 739‑5074 ads@scliving.coop NATIONAL REPRESENTATION

American MainStreet Publications (512) 441‑5200 Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication. If you encounter a difficulty with an advertisement, inform the Editor.

ADDRESS CHANGES: Please send to your

local co-op. Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to Address Change, c/o the address above.

Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, S.C., and additional mailing offices.

© COPYRIGHT 2024. The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING is brought to you by

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16 SC TRAVELS Hide and seek

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19 READER REPLY TRAVEL SWEEPSTAKES Enter for your chance to win $100.

20 SC STORIES Good as golden

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34 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 35 MARKETPLACE + FISH & GAME CHART 36 SC GARDENER Vitex 101

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38 HUMOR ME Got gravity?

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Where 5,000 heard the news Reconstructing Reconstruction history in the Lowcountry

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SC co-op news

MID-CAROLINA

Prices on the rise WE’VE ALL FELT IT—the pressure of rising prices affecting

mcecoop.com LEXINGTON OFFICE

P.O. Box 669 254 Longs Pond Road Lexington, SC 29071 DUTCH FORK OFFICE

7524 Broad River Road Irmo, SC 29063 CUSTOMER SERVICE

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(803) 749-6444 (888) 813-7000 Toll Free

A spool of the underground cable that runs through your neighborhood now costs $4,244, up 70% since 2019.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Marvin W. Sox, Chairman Alan R. Lunsford, Vice Chairman Donette B. Kirkland, Secretary J. Allan Risinger, Treasurer J. Carey Bedenbaugh, Jr. Eddie C. Best, Jr. Kenneth E. Lindler Mark A. Svrcek Justin B. Watts CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Bob Paulling

The mission of Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative, Inc., a not-for-profit member-owned electric distribution utility, is to deliver reliable, costefficient utilities and innovative solutions to our members.

Mid-Carolina Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

CO-OP NEWS EDITOR

Katrina Goggins katrina@mcecoop.com

4

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

every part of our lives, from grocery runs to filling up at the gas station. At Mid-Carolina, we’ve felt it too.

Inflation has hit us hard, especially regarding the cost of supplies and essentials we need to keep your lights on.

According to our materials supplier, CEEUS, the cost of power line materials alone has risen nearly 70% since 2019. Supply chain disruptions have only added to the strain.

Despite these challenges, we’ve worked to keep your electricity bills as stable as possible. Unlike investor-owned utilities, Mid-Carolina’s monthly bills have only seen slight changes based on the monthly adjustment factor (MAF), and we haven’t raised base rates since 2019.

As a not-for-profit, Mid-Carolina Electric operates on just enough, and any excess is returned to our members through capital credits. But the reality is that it will take more to keep us afloat. Rate changes are not just inevitable for electric providers—they are necessary.

The why

Three main cost pressures are bearing down on us: changes with our main power supplier, new policies and regulations and inflation.

Santee Cooper’s rate freeze is ending. As a distribution utility, Mid-Carolina Electric does not generate power. We purchase power. Our main power supplier, Santee Cooper, had its rates frozen for the past four years due to a class-action lawsuit.

This freeze expires in December, and Santee Cooper will raise its rates to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in unbudgeted costs incurred during the freeze.

Unfortunately, Mid-Carolina Electric and other co-ops will be on the hook for these increases. While the exact increase won’t be known until fall, we vow to keep you informed and to work with our co-op partners to try to negotiate with Santee Cooper to ensure we pay only our share.

Federal policies are hurting us, too. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released four major new regulations for the electric industry, including a rule to cut emissions from power plants. This rule requires power producers to either adopt unproven, expensive carbon-reduction technologies or greatly throttle down their output. These regulations come at the worst possible time for our nation’s energy future, further threatening reliability and contributing to increased energy costs.

Rest assured that Mid-Carolina is dedicated to being your voice on policy issues. I have testified both on Capitol Hill and at the Statehouse, specifically addressing these issues. We are watching, participating and committed to bringing clarity to

Rising Costs Affect Both the Co-op and Our Members MCEC supply cost increases, 2019–2024

Average consumer cost increases, 2019–2024

these complex issues while keeping our members at the heart of everything we do.

The impact of inflation is undeniable. Every component it takes to build and maintain our distribution system has seen staggering price increases.

Let me share some examples of increases for several key components. A spool of the underground cable that runs through your neighborhood now costs $4,244, up 70% since 2019. Transformers, essential for safely powering your household, have nearly doubled in price. Underground ­transformers now cost $2,407, up from $1,283, and overhead transformers have risen to $1,360 from $874. A single crossarm has increased to $93 from $42.

These essential pieces of equipment are crucial for the nearly 4,600 miles of lines Mid-Carolina Electric operates and maintains to provide you with safe and reliable electricity.

What we’re doing

Long before this period of high inflation, we took major steps as a co-op. In 2016, we introduced a groundbreaking rate structure that gives our members the power to lower their monthly bills. Now embraced by a growing number of electric cooperatives and other utilities, our rate structure has three components: the account charge, energy charge and on-peak charge. While the account charge is fixed, you can lower your bill by deciding how much power you use and when.

Want to save on your bill? Simply adjust your heavy electricity use to outside of on-peak hours and tap into some of the lowest energy rates in the country.

WINTER PEAK HOURS:

Nov. 1 to March 31 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

SUMMER PEAK HOURS:

April 1 to Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

What you can expect

Change is never easy, but sometimes life and circumstances demand it. This is one of those times.

In the coming months, we will communicate openly with you about the impacts of rising costs. We will continue to highlight ways our members can save money on their bills. When it’s time for rate adjustments, you can rely on us to be transparent and make only the essential changes needed to address the cost pressures we’re facing.

For nearly 85 years, we have been dedicated to serving our community and our members. Our commitment has always been to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective electricity to power your homes. Times change—and so do prices—but our mission remains the same.

Mid-Carolina exists solely to serve you, and we are in your corner!

BOB PAULLING

CEO

SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

5

SC |agenda Howdy, neighbor

MEMBERS SPEAK ON THE COOPERATIVE DIFFERENCE

Meet the new editor of South Carolina Living

SA M H O LL A N D

I’M NEW HERE—TO THIS MAGAZINE but not to South

—Sarah Ellis Owen 6

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

COU RTESY O F SA R A H E LLIS OWE N

Carolina.

Let me tell you about myself by telling you a little about my state.

My South Carolina is a salty-aired sunset on Sullivan’s Island.

It’s rumbling bleachers at Williams-Brice Stadium on a September Saturday night. (No offense to that orange Sarah Ellis Owen team in the Upstate.)

It’s a plate of pulled pork with a heaping side of hash at Little Pigs Barbecue buffet.

It’s a “howdy” and a head nod to the hiker shuffling through the leaves past my dog and me on the Foothills Trail.

It’s a sky so big and full of stars over the Chattooga River that it makes my eyes go blurry and my neck go sore from staring up in the dark.

This place, my South Carolina, is home to me and has been for nearly 15 years.

Now, this isn’t the home where I was raised—that’s up in North Carolina, off a dirt road named for my grandfather’s folks, where Mama and Daddy and our old German shepherd still live on the family land, and it’ll always be “home.”

But South Carolina’s the place where my husband and I have made our very own home, where I graduated from the University of South Carolina and where I worked for a decade at The State newspaper. And this state is the place that’s shaped a lot of who I am.

Here at South Carolina Living, I believe I have the best job—to weave together the stories of the people, the land, the art, the history, the activities and the ways that life flourishes here— the things that make South Carolina the home you choose, too.

And the soul of this place we call home, well, I don’t have to tell you: It’s something special, something beautiful.

It’s a pleasure to be here as the new editor of this magazine. And now that we’re acquainted, let’s stay in touch.

Tell me what makes South Carolina special to you and what you’d love to see more of in South Carolina Living.

Drop me a line any time at Owen and her dog, Penny, hike sarah.owen@ecsc.org. along the Foothills Trail at Virginia I look forward to sharing Hawkins Falls in the Upstate. these pages with you.

Blanche Meeks

EDISTO ELECTRIC MEMBER MEMBER SINCE: 2005 HOMETOWN: Bamberg

Co-ops are family

Blanche Meeks’ excitement about moving into her new home quickly faded when she heard it would be two weeks before the house would be hooked up to electricity.

She dreaded the idea of an extended hotel stay with her three children.

But after just a few days, Meeks visited Edisto Electric Cooperative’s office and learned the co-op already had a crew working at her home.

“I went home and saw about 10, 11, 12 guys in my yard,” Meeks says. “That was the best feeling a person can have. Just being able to move into your own house with your own lights.”

Meeks wanted to show her appreciation.

She made sure the co-op crew went home well-fed. “ I will be a die“Those are hard electric my guys. They’re co-op customer family to me,” Meeks says. “I forever.” love those guys, —BLANCHE MEEKS all of them.”

After experiencing life as a co-op member, Meeks says she can’t imagine getting electric service from a traditional utility.

“I would never move from my location to get any other lights from anyone,” Meeks says. “I will be a die-hard electric co-op customer forever.”

WHAT’S YOUR STORY? ­Scan this QR code or visit SCLiving.coop/stories to share what you love about your co-op.

Entries may be published in future issues of South ­Carolina ­Living, online and o­ n social media.

An old family home and an imagined young heroine inspired three budding South Carolina authors and helped them learn that telling the co-op story can be a fun and rewarding experience.

Two books, Easton Hall’s The Old Farm House along with Phoenix and the Town Power Outage by Harper Rowe and Ali Chapman, were selected as winners of the 2024 Children’s Book Challenge. Both books will be published and distributed to South Carolina elementary schools this fall.

The Children’s Book Challenge is an electric cooperatives initiative that challenges fourth- and fifth-graders to write and illustrate stories that focus on how electricity is delivered in their communities.

Rowe and Chapman, fifth-grade students at Reuben Elementary in Newberry, co-wrote and illustrated Phoenix and the Town Power Outage with the guidance of school media specialist Kevin Boozer. Their story of a local hero who helps her co-op restore a community-wide outage was selected as a regional winner by their local co-op, Newberry Electric, before advancing as a statewide finalist in the group category. The students split the contest’s $500 prize, and Boozer received a $100 prize.

Innovating for the future

PH OTOS BY JOS H P. C ROT ZE R

A rewarding challenge

p Harper Rowe, left, and Ali Chapman t Easton Hall

“This was a great process to teach them,” says Boozer, who used the Children’s Book Challenge as part of the school’s gifted and talented enrichment program.

“It hit a lot of the standards that we’re required to meet, so it was a great fit for us.”

Hall, a home-schooled fourth grader from York, won the individual division after claiming York Electric’s local contest. Hall received a $500 prize, and his teacher, who is also his mother, Heather Hall, received $100. The Old Farm House was inspired by the 150-year-old home Hall lives in and tells the story of a boy who learns about how the cooperative first brought electricity to the home and how it continues to serve his family today.

“I learned how power has to go through all these steps,” says Hall. “It goes through substations and then the distribution lines before it gets to us.”

Registration for the 2025 Children’s Book Challenge is now open to fourth- and fifth-grade teachers across the state. Visit enlightensc.org/book for more information. —JOSH P. CROTZER

USE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

Drones aid in power line inspection and maintenance.

Smart meters provide real-time data and help pinpoint service issues.

PREPARING FOR INCREASED E NERGY USE

The demand for electricity is increasing as more technologies are electrified.

Co-ops are exploring innovative solutions such as battery storage to meet the demand.

ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR MEMBERS

Some co-ops provide innovative efficiency services such as appliance rebates and flexible billing options to help members manage their energy use.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

By working with and learning from other co-ops, we are uniquely positioned to improve service for our local communities.

SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

N R EC A

The energy industry is changing, but electric co-ops are known for adapting to their local members’ needs. As we plan for changes and challenges ahead, innovative solutions are essential. Here are a few ways we’re innovating for the future.

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SC agenda

Managing the electric grid during the EV transition FO R D

IMAGINE RUSH-HOUR CITY TRAFFIC —crowded and slow. Congestion can also occur on the electric grid if lots of electric vehicle owners charge their EVs at the same time. A big spike in energy use could lead to power outages or expensive updates to our system. Electric cooperatives are already preparing for increased electricity demand from EV use.

Smart charging is like a traffic light for electricity—it helps manage the demand for power from EVs. Here’s how you can help if you own an EV: u Charge during off-peak hours when electricity demand is low, such as late at night or early morning before daybreak, to help prevent grid overload and save on your energy bills. u Use delayed charging. Modern EV chargers can wait to charge your car until there’s less demand for power. This helps keep the grid stable and ensures you have power when you need it. u Adopt grid-friendly charging. Some EV chargers can adjust how fast they charge your vehicle based on how much power is available. This helps avoid grid congestion and the need for expensive upgrades.

It’s crucial for cooperatives to identify and track how many EVs are charging on their systems, because when they can predict EV charging patterns, they can maintain a more efficient and reliable power grid. When they have local, detailed data, South Carolina’s co-ops can design EV programs that fit your community’s specific needs, encourage responsible energy use and offer additional cost savings to co-op members. If you’re considering an EV and have questions about home charging, contact your local electric cooperative for guidance. —JENNAH DENNEY

Determine whether you will need to install a Level 2 charger and whether your home’s electrical system is compatible.

A guide to electric vehicle ownership Owning an electric vehicle, or EV, is a big change from owning a conventional vehicle—and it comes with numerous benefits, from environmental sustainability to long-term cost savings (say goodbye to oil changes!).

But before switching to an EV, consider the key aspects of ownership and make an informed decision based on your specific needs.

EV BASICS Understand the differences between battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles. Think about your daily, monthly and annual driving needs, and consider which of these options will best suit your lifestyle.

DRIVING RANGE Evaluate how far an EV can drive when fully charged to ensure it aligns with your daily commute. The driving range of EV batteries commonly exceeds 200 miles today. For the infrequent longer trip, an app in your EV will find the nearest charger for a quick boost or full charge. For a really long trip, renting a gas-powered vehicle might be a logical choice.

HOME CHARGING Determine whether you will need to install a Level 2 charger— it can charge an electric vehicle battery up to 80% in four to 10 hours, or a plug-in hybrid in about two hours—and whether your home’s electrical system is compatible. Slower Level 1 chargers usually come standard with an EV and typically do not require home upgrades.

PUBLIC CHARGING OPTIONS Research the availability of public charging stations

along your typical routes. You can find a searchable map online through the U.S. Department of Energy at afdc.energy.gov/stations that pinpoints charging spots across South Carolina and beyond.

COST COMPARISONS Compare EV prices from multiple dealerships. Purchase

prices are higher than conventional vehicles, but EVs have proved cost effective due to reduced maintenance and fuel costs.

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES South Carolina doesn’t offer financial incentives for EV buyers. However, some EV models are eligible for up to a $7,500 federal tax credit.

MAINTENANCE EVs typically require less maintenance than conventional vehicles, and this can lead to long-term savings. EVs have far fewer moving parts than combustion engine vehicles, resulting in a streamlined maintenance experience.

BATTERY WARRANTY Ensure the EV battery includes a substantial warranty.

Most manufacturers offer eight-year warranties (or up to 100,000 miles). Also, check the warranty to find out if it’s affected by using certain types of charging programs, such as managed charging or bidirectional power flow.

G E R D A LTM A N N

INSURANCE IMPLICATIONS Talk with your insurance provider about whether owning an EV will change your policy.

FEES South Carolina charges a $120 fee every two years for plug-in and fuel

As EVs continue to become more common, electric cooperatives will face new challenges in managing the increased demand for electricity.

8

cell electric vehicles and a $60 fee every two years for hybrid vehicles to compensate for road tax revenue that is typically collected from gasoline sales.

These additional fees should be factored into the total cost of ownership when you consider buying an EV. —JENNAH DENNEY

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

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SC dialogue

Putting down roots AS A NATIVE SOUTH CAROLINIAN, I know we tend

MIKE COUICK

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

Anita’s story proves that being from a place is different than being of that place.

10

to regard newcomers with skepticism. Can you truly understand this place unless your roots are established deep in our dirt?

I was recently reminded of how wrong that perspective can be.

I’ve known Broad River Electric Cooperative trustee Anita Whitney since I started working for the electric cooperatives more than 20 years ago.

Throughout that time, I assumed she was born and raised in Union County.

That, too, was wrong.

It turns out that Anita Pecko was born in Arkansas, the seventh of nine children in a Catholic military family. They bounced from the United States to Europe and back again before settling in Sumter when she was in the fourth grade. There, she excelled as a star student and athlete at St. Anne Catholic School, earning academic and athletic scholarships to Columbia College, where she graduated with a degree in math.

In graduate school at USC, she met Jimbo Whitney, a fun-loving country boy who soon brought her to his family’s home and farm on Whitmire Highway, outside of Union. She fell in love. Not just with Jimbo, but with the place.

She appreciated the beauty of the land around her and the sounds and feel of nature in that part of South Carolina. She drew comfort in the instant embrace of Jimbo’s parents. “Mr. Bill” Whitney drove her through his pastures to show off his cows. Jimbo’s mother, Dorothy, made her the first plate of scrambled eggs and grits she’d ever eaten.

They advised Jimbo to hold on to this woman who was a combination of “looks and brains.”

Throughout the spring and summer of 1984, the young couple returned to the Whitney family farm. On those trips, Anita says, she’d touch the windshield as they drove through Whitmire and could feel that the temperature was cooler than the heat they’d left in Columbia.

By the end of that year, Jimbo—having just attended the community’s annual male-exclusive, day-after-Christmas hunt—proposed to Anita in the Whitney den. By 1989, they were living in the cabin next door to Jimbo’s parents with their

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

first child, Eva. The Whitneys soon hosted their own version of those community hunts—skeet shoots and paintball for the whole family.

Over the next 35 years, this exotic transplant who attended a British school in Germany and traveled through Europe in a Volkswagen bus became firmly rooted in the Union County soil.

Those roots have been nourished in part by Anita’s servant spirit and her devotion to doing what’s right. When family members neared the end of their lives, she took care of them. For some, Anita’s loving face was the last they saw on this earth.

As Anita brought new Whitneys into the world, her roots took hold. In her 30s, while raising her young ones, she took a sabbatical from her career as a systems analyst and became CEO of the Union County YMCA, where she led efforts to build new facilities and programs. In 1993, Anita became the first woman to serve on the Broad River Electric Cooperative board of directors. During that same decade of her life, she also served as a magistrate.

Anita and Jimbo raised four children: Eva, Bo, Ann and Julia. She worked as a substitute teacher, launched the Union County volleyball club and started USC Union’s volleyball program. Jimbo owned and operated Whitney Asphalt. They worshipped at Hebron Baptist Church, making Anita a self-proclaimed “Ba-tholic.”

Anita still goes to her backyard with her prized possession, the Bible her mother-in-law left to her, and does a morning devotional in the peaceful midst of God’s creation. In the afternoon, she’s often on her front porch, where she can see her grandkids come up the long drive. She also likes watching the trucks go by. They remind her of Jimbo, who died in 2022 on Christmas Day. I’m so glad that I got to learn more about Anita and her journey. Her story proves that being from a place is different than being of that place. Anita Whitney may not have been born and raised in Union County, but her commitment to her community and its people have made it a part of her.

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SC energyQ&A

How can I save money on home improvements?

BY MIRANDA BOUTELLE

t You can improve your home’s envelope with

insulation that qualifies for tax credits.

q Tax credits for ENERGY STAR heat pump water

heaters cover 30% of the project cost, up to $2,000.

A rebate is a cash payment or electric bill credit. A tax credit will reduce what you owe when filing taxes. too. You can receive 30% of the cost of the panel upgrade, up to $600.

These federal tax credits are available through 2032. You must own the home you’re upgrading, and it must be your primary residence. Federal tax credits only apply to existing homes in the United States, not new construction.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 expanded funding for many home upgrades by allocating $8.8 billion for home rebate programs that will be available in the future at the state level: u The HOMES program allows up to $8,000 per home for standard-income households. Higher rebates are available for low- to moderate-income households. u The HEAR program offers rebates of up to $14,000 per home for qualified efficient electric equipment for low- to moderate-income households.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

BO N N E V I LLE POWE R A DM I N ISTR ATI O N

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DOLLARS AND SENSE p When shopping for appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR logo on the energy guide to identify which products are the most efficient options.

M A R K G I LLI L A N D

Tax credits and rebates can help you save energy in your home while saving you money for years to come. To make good use of these tools, though, first know the difference between a tax credit and rebate.

A rebate is a payment for purchasing or installing a qualified product or home improvement. You may receive it at the time of purchase, or you might have to apply for it and receive it after the product is installed. Check with your electric cooperative to see if it offers rebates.

Typically, the rebate is applied as a credit on your electric bill. But in some cases, your rebate could be a cash payment.

A tax credit, on the other hand, is a dollar-for-dollar amount that taxpayers can report on their tax documents to reduce the amount of taxes owed.

You apply for a tax credit when you file your tax documents, so it typically takes longer to reap the benefits compared to a rebate.

Homeowners can qualify for up to $3,200 annually in federal tax credits for energy efficiency upgrades, according to ENERGY STAR. Federal tax credits are available for heating and cooling system upgrades including heat pumps, furnaces, central air conditioners, boilers and geothermal heat pumps. Tax ­credits for ENERGY STAR-rated heat pump water heaters cover 30% of the project cost, up to $2,000. You can also improve your home’s envelope—the portion of the home that separates the inside from the outside—with tax credits for insulation, windows and skylights.

If an energy efficiency upgrade requires improving the electrical panel in your home, there’s a tax credit for that,

M A R K G I LLI L A N D

Q A

How do I use tax credits and rebates to upgrade my home energy system?

These programs could be available in South Carolina by 2025, according to the state energy department.

Additional energy efficiency rebates might also be available, further helping people save money on their electric bills and helping states meet climate goals, reduce system costs and strengthen the electric grid.

MIRANDA BOUTELLE is with Efficiency Services Group, a cooperatively owned energy efficiency company.

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DETAILS OF OFFER: Offer expires 10/31/2024. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Get $379 off each window and $779 off each entry/patio door and 12 months no money down, no monthly payments, no interest when you purchase four (4) or more windows or entry/patio doors between 9/12/2024 and 10/31/2024. Subject to credit approval. Interest is billed during the promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. Financing for GreenSky® consumer loan programs is provided by federally insured, federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to age, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or familial status. Savings comparison based on purchase of a single unit at list price. Available at participating locations and offer applies throughout the service area. See your local Renewal by Andersen location for details. License numbers available at renewalbyandersen.com/license. Some Renewal by Andersen locations are independently owned and operated. 2Values are based on comparison of Renewal by Andersen® double-hung window U-Factor to the U-Factor for clear dual-pane glass non-metal frame default values from the 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 International Energy Conservation Code “Glazed Fenestration” Default Tables. ‡Review aggregator survey of 5-star reviews among leading national full-service window replacement companies. January 2024 Reputation.com. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2024 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.

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|

SC recipe

FAIR

For those with a youthful spirit and a memory of th e excitement of going to the lo cal fair, we of fer some goodies typically foun d there. If you ca n’t attend this year, you can still fil kitchen with th l your e smells of fair food.

foods you can make at home

BY BELINDA SMITH-SULLIVAN

EASIEST CARAMEL APPLES MAKES 10, DEPENDING ON SIZE

10 tart apples (Granny Smith, Pink Lady or Honeycrisp) Skewers or popsicle sticks 22 ounces caramels 4 tablespoons heavy cream Pinch kosher salt Chopped pecans or peanuts

Line a baking sheet with silicone pad or parchment paper. Prepare apples (see chef’s tips), insert skewers and place on baking sheet.

Set aside.

In a medium bowl, add caramels, cream and salt, and microwave for a few minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until caramel is smooth. Alternatively, place bowl with caramels over a double-boiler, stirring occasionally until melted. Be sure not to allow water to get in the bowl.

Roll apples in caramel, making sure to coat almost to the top of each apple. Allow excess to drop back into the bowl. Scrape the bottom of the apple against the side of the bowl so caramel does not pool at the bottom as apples rest and cool on the parchment or silicone pad.

Immediately after dipping apple in caramel, dip in nuts. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or until caramel is set.

CHEF’S TIPS Prepping apples for best results

Remove wax from store-bought apples by dipping apples in hot water for a few seconds, then rubbing them with a towel l

l

Dry apples thoroughly

Remove stems before inserting apple skewers or sticks

l

Refrigerate apples after dipping into the caramel

l

14

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

KAREN HERMANN

If air bubbles start to form in the caramel or if it gets too thick, rewarm it slightly. If it is too runny, let it cool slightly before dipping.

l

CAVEMAN POPS (ROASTED SMOKED TURKEY LEGS) MAKES 4

4 smoked turkey legs Low-sodium all-purpose seasoning or BBQ rub Barbecue sauce, optional

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place a cooking rack on a half sheet pan or baking sheet lined with foil. Rinse turkey legs with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with rub.

KAREN HERMANN

Place turkey legs on rack and cook until reaching an internal temperature of 165 F, or approximately 35 minutes. About two minutes before the end of the cooking time, brush on some barbecue sauce and continue to cook until the sauce becomes slightly crusted.

To serve, wrap the bottom of the turkey leg with foil wrap.

CORN DOGS MAKES 12–16

1 cup cornmeal 1 cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup sugar ½ tablespoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon cayenne ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup milk 2 tablespoons honey 1 large egg 1–2 packages hot dogs Wooden skewers 1 quart canola oil, for frying

I U LI IA N E DRYGA I LOVA

In a large mixing bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, cayenne, black pepper and salt. In a small- to medium-size bowl, combine milk, honey and egg. Add wet ingredients to dry and thoroughly combine. Pour mixture into a tall, wide container, such as a 16-ounce takeout plastic cup.

Pat dry the hot dogs, and insert skewers. Heat oil in Dutch oven to 350 F. Make sure skewered hot dogs can fit flat into your Dutch oven.

Roll hot dogs in batter until well-coated and carefully drop into hot oil.

Cook 2–3 minutes until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels.

ELEPHANT EARS MAKES 8

3¼ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling out 5 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1½ cups whole milk 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon Canola oil, for frying

In a large bowl, combine flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, baking powder and salt. Add butter and milk, while stirring, until a slightly sticky dough is formed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon and remaining sugar. Set aside.

Dust a clean work surface with flour. Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and roll into balls. Roll the balls in the flour to lightly coat. Using a rolling pin, flatten dough balls into circles or discs, approximately ¼ inch thick. If not frying immediately, place parchment paper between each rolled-out circle and set aside.

GWÉ N A Ë L LE VOT

In a Dutch oven, add 2 to 3 inches of oil. Bring temperature to 350 F. (Use a candy thermometer to monitor oil temperature.) Carefully place ears, one at a time, into the hot oil and fry 1 to 2 minutes on each side until lightly golden brown.

Place elephant ears on a large paper towel-lined sheet pan and sprinkle immediately with cinnamon sugar. Repeat until all ears are cooked.

SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

15

Hide

and

seek I KNOW WHERE I AM, but I don’t know

where I am supposed to be. Not exactly.

I’ve just stepped off the Mountain Creek Trail at Paris Mountain State Park, just outside of Greenville, and I’ve climbed up the stone amphitheater in the rain to the top of the hill. I’m walking through a well-worn path in a forest of sweetgum and maple, and I come at last to a kind of ruin—a broken foundation of cinderblocks, many of which lay on the ground.

I look down at my phone. The Geocaching app tells me I’m within 15 feet of the treasure—the small box of trinkets called the cache. I poke around the ruin like I’m looking for a lost television remote or a set of keys. For 10 long minutes, I peer into every cinderblock hole, every crevice and corner. I turn over logs. I look up into branches. I kick up leaves.

Nothing.

I keep refreshing the app, keep looking down at the GPS map and then up at 16

Geocaching lets everyone become a treasure hunter

BY HASTINGS HENSEL PHOTOS BY MATTHEW FRANKLIN CARTER

X ALMOST MARKS THE SPOT Raindrops provide a challenge this soggy day, but an app guides our treasure hunter to within 15 feet of the cache.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

my surroundings. The name of the cache is called “Tiers of Seats,” but surely that refers to its proximity to the amphitheater? The description tells me I’m looking for “a small lock-n-lock container,” but how small?

Frustrated, I almost click the “Hint” button on the app. Determined, I keep looking on my own. This will be my first geocache find, and I want to start strong in the hobby. After all, I know I’m already hooked—what’s more fun than a treasure hunt in nature?—and that I’ll be readily joining the 3 million geocachers who play the game worldwide.

Geocaching, simply put, is a guided hunt for purposely hidden trinkets at sites around the globe. You use an app and a GPS to find one, see what’s inside the cache and, if you choose to, replace a goody with an item of your own. The trend began nearly 25 years ago, when GPS technology became more accurate after the U.S. military allowed it, and a GPS buff named Dave Ulmer buried

|

SC travels “ Geocaching is a popular activity across the country, and we have embraced it to give folks another activity to enjoy in our parks.”

—GWEN DAVENPORT, S.C. STATE PARK SERVICE

THE HUNT IS ON Surveying the landscape, following clues, and poking into nooks and crannies finally pay off when the cache is discovered.

some random things in Oregon, posted the waypoints to an internet forum, and sat back as another GPS buff named Mike Teague found it.

Geocaching now has made its way into nooks and crannies all across our state. More than 4,500 geocaches are estimated to be hidden in South Carolina, and almost every state park has ­beginner-friendly and more advanced geocaches for its visitors to find.

“Some have been placed by individuals, and some by our park staff,” says Gwen Davenport, the S.C. State Park Service sales and marketing manager.

“Geocaching is a fun way to get people of all ages outside—all while using technology. It’s a popular activity across the country, and we have embraced it to give folks another activity to enjoy in our parks.”

As the rain splatters on my phone, making the touchscreen difficult, I ask myself if I’m really enjoying it. Or am I just on a fool’s errand?

But then something catches my eye— something slightly out of place, something I won’t spoil for anyone who might hunt for “Tiers of Seats.” The next thing I know, I’m opening a small plastic box roughly the size of a deck of cards. I snap it open to find a random collection of trinkets: Pokémon cards and a homemade bracelet. Worthless, perhaps, but a treasure all the same to me.

I leave behind what I have in my wallet—a guitar pick—and place the box back before logging my first-ever find on my phone. But it isn’t time to rest on my laurels. No, it’s literally time to head to “Don’t Rest on Your Laurels,” the name of the next geocache located not even half a mile away.

How to geocache at S.C. state parks— and beyond Download a geocaching app on your phone and register a username. There are multiple apps for the activity, but the one used for hunting at South Carolina parks is simply called “Geocaching,” and it’s free.

q

Open the map and select a geocache to find. Note the difficulty, the terrain and the size of each quest and cache. Read the notes in the description.

q

Select “Navigate” and use the GPS to get within 10 to 15 feet of the cache.

q

Start looking. If you need help, use the “Hint” button.

q

Once you find the cache, you may take a trinket if you leave another one in its place.

q

Write your name in the logbook and/or log your find on the app.

q

Move on to the next geocache.

SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

17

SPONSORED BY

SOUTH CAROLINA’S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

Children's Book Challenge

4th & 5th Grade Students WRITE & ILLUSTRATE A STORY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! Teachers, showcase your students’ knowledge of electricity in South Carolina by applying skills in creative writing, social studies, science and art.

Contest open to individual students and teams of up to four.

Cash prizes awarded to winning student(s) and teacher.

Learn more and register online at www.enlightensc.org/book 18

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

Stop. Go. Visit. Hardeeville, SC Your ideal place to live, work and play • Emerging as SC’s 4th largest city all within 58 square miles • Close proximity to I-95 • Closest SC city to the Port of Savannah, the 3rd busiest port in the nation • Minutes away from our neighboring tourist destinations of Hilton Head Island, SC and Savannah, GA • Home to world famous 55+ retirement communities, Sun City and Latitude Margaritaville • Outdoor activities for fishing, camping, golfing and ecotourism

HardeevilleSC.gov

R E A D E R R E P LY T R AV E L S W E E P S TA K E S

Let us treat you on your fall road trip Whether you’re hitting the road this fall to peep some color-changing leaves, cheer on your favorite football team or enjoy cooler weather creeping across our state, we’d like to send you off with spending money in your pocket. Register for our Reader Reply Travel Sweepstakes and your chance to win a $100 gift card that spends like cash anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

FA L L R O A D T R I P S W E E P S TA K E S YES! Enter me in the drawing for a $100 gift card.

Name Address City State/ZIP

To enter, scan the QR code, register online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply, or use this mail-in form.

We’ll randomly draw the name of one lucky reader from all eligible entries received by Sept. 30, 2024.

Email*

By entering, you agree to join the South Carolina Living email list and abide by our full sweepstakes rules, found at SCLiving.coop/rules.

Entries must be received by Sept. 30, 2024, to be eligible. *Required. Winner will be contacted by South Carolina Living to verify eligibility and mailing address.

Phone* My electric cooperative is: SEND TO RRTS, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033.

Register online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

19

|

SC stories

Johnathan Lower and Teddy RESIDE IN: Piedmont.

CLAIM TO FAME: Funny skits propelled Teddy and Lower’s popularity on

social media, and their videos regularly rack up millions of views. The pup has played the roles of doctor, mechanic, prankster, crime fighter and more.

Whatever the skit, the LOLs are guaranteed, and Teddy’s “cheeser” smile takes the cake for cuteness.

MOST BELOVED: It’s hard for Lower to choose a favorite video, but a “kissing booth” skit from earlier this year stands out for him. “There’s about 30 girls waiting in line to get their turn at the kissing booth with Teddy, and I end up getting trampled by the crowd of girls going for Teddy,” Lower said.

FOLLOW THEM: Find Lower and Teddy on Instagram @aguyandagoldenn, TikTok @aguyandagolden and Facebook at Aguyandagolden.

Good as golden

It was love at first sight when Johnathan Lower first set eyes on his “soul dog” in 2019.

“Teddy’s little ears were flopping. I didn’t even have to see him more than that to know that he was my dog,” Lower says.

Teddy was just 8 weeks old when Lower brought him home. The pair became TikTok sensations during the pandemic when Lower posted a video of a storage space under the stairs of his home that he had turned into a lavish $5,000 custom doghouse for the golden retriever, complete with welcome mat, fireplace, TV, plush bed and a human-sized second entrance. Fast-forward, and Teddy and Lower now have a fan base of more than 4 million Instagram followers and 8 million TikTok followers.

“We didn’t mean for any of this to happen.

I didn’t build Teddy’s doghouse to get a following. I just downloaded TikTok right after the pandemic. Just for the fun of it one night, I uploaded a video of Teddy’s doghouse, and it just absolutely blew up,” Lower says.

Lower has turned their fame into a positive influence: From bringing joy to kids in hospital beds to being a hit in nursing homes, Lower says his main hope is to spread positivity and help people through tough times.

“I got a message last year about a police officer in Kentucky that got a call that a guy was about to jump off a bridge. He got to the scene and the guy was watching our videos, and it just pulled him out of that,” Lower says.

Lower also uses their online platform to bring more awareness about dogs that have no permanent homes. Through a feature he calls Shelter Dog Saturday, he picks up a dog at a shelter, takes the dog out for a day and makes a video. So far, he’s helped more than 55 featured dogs get adopted.

Through thick and thin, Teddy and Lower are there for each other. Lower gave Teddy a home. Then, when Lower’s father passed away from cancer in 2021, Teddy was a source of comfort.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay him. He’s just a special dog,” Lower says.

— S HEILA BATTIN; PHOTO BY MATTHEW FRANKLIN CARTER

20

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

Make every swing count.

202 Mid-Carolina Charity Golf Tournament Benefitting Becky’s Place at Lexington Medical Center Over the last 23 years, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative employees have helped raise nearly $200,000 for Becky’s Place at Lexington Medical Center, to help cancer patients struggling with the side effects of chemotherapy. Join us this October to make a difference in every corner of our service area.

Monday, October 21, 2024 Golden Hills Country Club | Lexington, SC Register by October 11, 2024. Limited to 25 teams.

Contact MCEC Communications at communications@mcecoop.com for more information or visit mcecoop.com.

www.mcecoop.com | (803) 749-6400

|

SC co-op news

Mid-Carolina celebrates milestone CarolinaConnect high-speed internet now available to all MCEC members in single-family households BURGUNDY BARR could see the lifechanging technology her family desperately needed—within view of her home but also beyond her reach.

Less than a mile away, schools and businesses in Batesburg-Leesville were being connected to high-speed internet by large national companies. She wanted the same access for her family but had either been denied by private firms or told it would cost thousands of dollars to install.

“We were in a hole, an internet desert,” Barr recalls. “I called everyone, anyone who would listen. Then, I reached out to the electric cooperatives.”

CarolinaConnect, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative’s fiber optic internet partner, answered the call.

“It’s nice to be in the modern world now,” says Barr, who joined CarolinaConnect in 2023. “We went from using walkie-talkies to taking turns on wireless internet to not having to worry.

It has really opened us up to a world of possibilities.”

A milestone of connectivity

This summer, Mid-Carolina Electric celebrated a milestone in its partnership with CarolinaConnect. As of August,

20B

the two cooperatives could provide access to fiber optic internet to all MCEC members living in single-family dwellings.

“It is literally changing lives,” says Bob Paulling, Mid-Carolina Electric president and CEO. “What we’ve done with CarolinaConnect goes back to what we did more than 80 years ago, when the investor-owned utilities would not serve power to rural America. Cooperatives stepped up then, and we’re doing the same thing now with internet.”

Mid-Carolina Electric’s exploration into fiber optic usage started in 2005, as part of a plan to modernize its electric grid. Experts say smart grid technologies provide numerous safeguards and advantages, including real-time monitoring and management of energy flow and improved response time during emergencies.

By 2009, the need had been clearly defined. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants offered to provide financial assistance to install and deliver broadband, identifying rural areas in South Carolina that lacked reliable internet access.

“We were denied for the grant, twice,”

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

Jeremy Leaphart of CarolinaConnect inspects fiber internet cable at a home in BatesburgLeesville. This summer, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative celebrated a key milestone in its partnership with the internet cooperative.

says Lee Ayers, MCEC vice president of engineering. “What we did learn from that process was that traditional providers weren’t going to put up the money without funding, and the grants weren’t going to be enough to get the job done.

But we knew that our members needed it, and we had the capability.”

Ayers and Paulling soon started to “dream up” CarolinaConnect in 2013, when Paulling became CEO of the cooperative. Internet accessibility also was a focus for Mid-Carolina Electric trustees exploring member needs, and in 2014 during a strategic planning session, the board tasked Paulling with making a business case. CarolinaConnect was born and launched in 2016.

The Barr family (from left), Larry, Bennett, Burgundy and Nora, is among thousands of members who have signed up for CarolinaConnect internet. Their highspeed internet service has “opened up a world of possiblities,” says Burgundy.

“It’s already a success and will continue growing. We hope everyone who can will take advantage of it,” Paulling says.

Mid-Carolina Electric’s internet journey isn’t unlike that of other cooperatives across the country, say officials with The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), which recently created a broadband division.

“Building in some of these low-density, hard-to-reach areas makes it difficult for a traditional business, but co-ops understand that challenge,” says Katie Culleton, legislative affairs director for NRECA Broadband. “That’s why we are—and should be—at the table. In Washington and in state houses, we’re making sure that stakeholders understand and appreciate the unique perspective and expertise we bring.”

Cooperative-based internet service is also good for the economy, says Brian O’Hara, NRECA Broadband senior director of regulatory affairs.

“In a lot of rural areas, medical facili-

We were in an internet desert. It’s nice to be in the modern world now.

—BURGUNDY BARR

ties are closing down, so telemedicine is important. There’s also a lot of agriculture reliant on internet access now. Co-ops are sustaining communities and boosting economies by providing internet in areas that would otherwise be unserved.”

‘The next, next greatest thing’

CarolinaConnect CEO Glenn Martin has seen the growth firsthand. From his office in Lexington, a digital counter on his wall changes each time a new internet member joins.

“We’re growing every day and have changed a lot of people’s outlook on the market, even the competitors who have had to switch their pricing and sales strategies because of us. And all that has been to the benefit of our members,”

says Martin. “We don’t charge extra for a router in your house. We haven’t changed prices since 2016. We don’t want to be like the big companies. We just want to be us. The cooperative spirit is our business model.”

CarolinaConnect does rival the large telecommunications firms, with high rates of subscriptions among co-op members and service to nearly 40,000 homes and businesses. The internet cooperative also has expanded beyond Mid-Carolina Electric, now partnering with Newberry Electric Cooperative and Aiken Electric Cooperative along with a few other rural towns lacking internet access.

Across the state, electric cooperatives are banding together too, creating The Broadband Cooperatives of South Carolina, which now serves eight co-ops since its start last year. Paulling says part of the growth can be credited to simply doing what co-ops have always done: answering a need.

“In co-ops, we like to use a 1940s quote by a farmer who was testifying in church about electricity coming to his rural area,” Paulling recalls, smiling. “He said, ‘The greatest thing on earth is to have the love of God in your heart, and the next greatest thing is to have electricity in your house.’ In their day electricity was life-changing. Well, we think internet does the same. It is the next, next greatest thing.”

SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

20C

LOCAL INTERNET SERVICE IS

INTERNET SERVICE Unlike providers located time zones away, CarolinaConnect provides local customer service from our headquarters in Lexington. That means faster response times, more efficient solutions and unparalleled customer satisfaction. In other words, exactly what you would expect from the hometown affiliate of Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative.

SAVE HUNDREDS INCLUDING: • • • •

No installation fee — limited time offer No contracts, no asterisks, no hidden fees No monthly router charge Faster speeds than DSL, satellite, wireless or cable modems

A N A F F I L I AT E O F M I D - CA R O L I N A E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E

www.CarolinaConnect.com/mcec-offer

Step back In Time

Come experience the cultural history, folklife and unique people that make Pickens County such a special place to visit.

• October 18 & 19 Ghost Stories, Storytelling Festival & Liar’s Competition • November 15 & 16 Native American Celebration-Selugadu • December 21 Ed Harrison Memorial Celtic Christmas • February 15, 2025 Deep Winter Blues • March 15, 2025 Kid’s Fest!!!

SCAN TO START PLANNING

*Partially funded by ATAX dollars, South Carolina Arts Commission & South Carolina Humanities

PAWLE YS ISL AND | MUR R ELLS INLE T | LITCHFIELD BE ACH GAR DEN CIT Y | GEORGE TOWN | ANDR EWS

HAMMOCKCOASTSC .COM

VisitHagoodMill.com

FMHM.ORG | 107 Clebourne St • Fort Mill, SC 29715 | (803) 802-3646

Project assisted by town of Fort Mill & York County Accommodations Tax Grants. Photo Courtesy of Tony McMehan. Designed by White Paw Studio.

SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

21

Stroll

A through

HISTORY

one-of-a-kind national park sits in the Beaufort area, telling the story of a pivotal period in South Carolina and American history when the city and its Sea Islands were at the center of a change in how human beings were treated and how a swath of the United States was governed.

Beaufort can make you feel transported to another time, with its rich antebellum architecture and centuries-old live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. In many ways, the identity of this Lowcountry locale can’t be separated from its history, both the beautiful and the difficult.

While national parks most often are stand-alone landmarks or natural resources, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park is unusual as a “time period” park, spread over four locations that have been donated to the federal government by communities and leaders—as is required by the Antiquities Act—and all of which contribute to the Reconstruction story.

A visit to this unique park in the heart of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor is part drive and part stroll through some of the most iconic scenery of South Carolina, from the moss-draped streets of downtown Beaufort to the quiet charms of St. Helena Island and Port Royal. It is very much a personal journey through South Carolina history​ —not ancient history, but a history that’s still deeply tied to the present-day community.

“Just today I sat and talked with a Penn School alumnus and listened to her sing songs from the school’s ‘mystery play’ they did at Christmas,” says Chris Barr, a supervising ranger at the park, explaining modern-day connections to the school that was one of the first places to educate formerly enslaved people in the Lowcountry. “There are local residents here today who knew those people and remember their stories.”

Those enduring community connections, Barr says, are “the power of this park.”

Reconstructing Reconstruction history

A guide to going back in time at Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

BY CELE AND LYNN SELDON

M IC S M ITH

HISTORY AFOOT Ranger Katherine Freeman entertains and educates visitors about the Reconstruction period in Beaufort during one of the park service’s complimentary walking tours through the city’s historic district.

22

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

Beaufort and its Sea Islands played an integral part in the Civil War. They are strategically located between Charleston and Savannah, with a secure port tucked away from the Atlantic Ocean at the confluence of the Beaufort and Broad rivers. The area was captured by Union forces during the Battle of Port Royal in 1861, and as slavery ceased to be the law of the land, most white Confederates fled, leaving behind their property and their formerly enslaved people.

By 1862, some 10,000 newly freed African Americans were thought to be in the Beaufort area, looking for their next chapter and ushering in the Reconstruction era in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.

The goal—and challenge—of this period in America was to integrate millions of formerly enslaved people into social, political and labor systems, including citizenship, education and land ownership.

The Reconstruction era, spanning four decades from the

FALL WINTE&R TRAVEL ISSUE

“ While the Civil War raged in the background, Beaufort County became the birthplace of Reconstruction.” —PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, 2017

N PS

1860s to 1900, found initial footing in Beaufort County and the surrounding islands in what became known as the Port Royal Experiment. This groundbreaking program included the establishment of a military recruitment depot and training ground for African Americans joining the war effort, the arrival of northern missionaries who opened schools for formerly enslaved people, and buildings throughout Beaufort’s historic district that were transitioning to businesses that helped pave the way to citizenship WELCOME TO THE PAST Ranger Chris Barr, right, and volunteer Jess Behrman greet guests at a Reconstruction Era National Historical Park tent. for African Americans.

More than 160 years later, the story of America’s Reconstruction is being shared through Reconstruction Era the background, Beaufort County became the birthplace of National Historical Park.

Reconstruction.” The national monument was redesignated “The Reconstruction story is happening in every ZIP

by Congress in 2019 as a national historical park. code in America,” Barr says. “The park tells the story of the The park “is just getting started,” says Kaley Crawford, who Reconstruction era nationally, with Beaufort as a case study.” led tours of the park in its earlier days. “The Reconstruction And it’s an important story—then, now and for future story is ever-evolving, and the park will continue to evolve with it.” generations. “The Reconstruction era has important implicaDive into the story on your own with an exploration tions for how we create a wiser and more just society as we of Beaufort’s four park sites. The sites sit within an easy move forward,” former Beaufort mayor and park champion 15-minute or less drive from one another, so visiting all four Billy Keyserling writes in his book Sharing Common Ground: can make for a full day of learning and sightseeing. Here’s a Promises Unfulfilled but Not Forgotten. guide to going back in time through the park.

The first effort to create the national park—or rather, at the time, to create a Reconstruction Era National Monument​ Downtown Beaufort —failed in the early 2000s but was revived in 2016 by two congressmen from South Exploring the park begins in downtown Beaufort at the visCarolina, Democrat Jim itor center in the historic Beaufort Firehouse, which was Clyburn and Republican donated to the park by native Beaufortonian Keyserling and Mark Sanford, along with his brother, Paul.

Keyserling, former Port Royal Daily tours of downtown Beaufort from the visitor center mayor Sam Murray and other help put the Civil War and resulting Reconstruction into percommunity leaders. spective. Stops throughout the historic district include: The following year, X The Castle, which served as a hospital for both Black and President Barack Obama white Union soldiers during the war established the national monX First African Baptist Church, which served as a school during Reconstruction and continues to have an active ument in Beaufort, saying, congregation “While the Civil War raged in X Robert Smalls’ gravesite at Tabernacle Baptist Church HISTORIC HERO The tour includes X The new Harriet Tubman Monument on Craven Street a stop at the gravesite of Robert X The location of one of the first federally chartered Smalls, who was born into slavery in Beaufort and who is famous for Freedman’s Savings Bank branches in the U.S. commandeering and delivering a X The Secession House, where South Carolinians first Confederate ship to the Union Army. decided to secede before the war and where tax auctions He was elected to Congress during of Beaufort land were held after the war. uu Reconstruction.

M IC S M ITH

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Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitor Center

N PS

Camp Saxton

St., Beaufort, in the Old Beaufort Firehouse in Beaufort’s Historic District HOURS: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. seven days a week TOURS: Ranger programs depart from the visitor center Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and last about an hour.

COST: Admission and tours are free.

N PS

WHERE: 706 Craven

GET THERE

WHERE: Pinckney-Porter’s

Explore the four Reconstruction Era National Historical Park sites in Beaufort County.

Chapel visitor station at 27 Pinckney Blvd., Port Royal HOURS: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays TOURS: Tours of Camp Saxton from the chapel to the Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve depart on Saturdays at noon and last about an hour.

COST: Free

Penn Center’s Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church WHERE: Darrah Hall is at 24 Penn Center Circle West,

St. Helena Island, on the Penn Center campus

Darrah Hall

through Saturdays TOURS: Ranger programs depart Darrah Hall Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and last about one hour, including a visit to the grounds of Brick Baptist Church.

M IC S M ITH

HOURS: Darrah Hall is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesdays

COST: The ranger-guided programs are free. However, Penn Center maintains its own museum and welcome center where visitors can learn about Gullah Geechee culture, heritage and history on St. Helena Island. Admission to the Penn Center museum is $15 for a self-guided campus tour and $20 for a docent-guided tour. Visitors ages 5 and under are free.

24

M IC S M ITH

Brick Baptist Church

DETAILS: For more information about visiting Reconstruction Era

National Historical Park, visit nps.gov/reer or call (843) 962‑0039.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

From downtown Beaufort, drive about 10 minutes south to Camp Saxton in Port Royal. Established in the fall of 1862— shortly after the Battle of Port Royal—Camp Saxton was one of the first recruiting depots and training facilities for the African American soldiers who were part of the 1st South Carolina Infantry.

With military service seen as one of the first steps toward citizenship, Black soldiers trained on the grounds of the John Joyner Smith Plantation, also known as Old Fort Plantation, along the Beaufort River in Port Royal, which today borders the Naval Hospital Beaufort. The only remnants of the plantation are the tabby ruins of the old fort, which served as the dock for Camp Saxton and were donated to the national park by the town of Port Royal.

Echoes of the Emancipation Proclamation can be heard here, where some 5,000 newly freed people gathered to hear the proclamation read on the morning of Jan. 1, 1863.

Tours of Camp Saxton depart from Pinckney-Porter’s Chapel, a restored Reconstruction-era freedman’s chapel in Naval Heritage Park, which also serves as Port Royal’s visitor center for the park.

Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church

M IC S M ITH

Round out your Reconstruction exploration with a 15-minute drive from Camp MAKING AN IMPRESSION The name of the Saxton to the Penn person who formed this brick may be lost Center on St. Helena to time, but their finger imprints remain on Island, where you’ll the wall of Brick Baptist Church. find Darrah Hall and, nearby, Brick Baptist Church. Founded in 1862 by abolitionist missionaries from Pennsylvania, Penn School was one of the first schools created specifically for the education of freed African Americans. Darrah Hall, the oldest building on the Penn Center campus, is part of the Reconstruction Era park.

Darrah Hall was used over time as a community center, classroom, temperance hall and recreation facility. Today, it is the park’s St. Helena Island visitor center and houses interpretive displays and videos and launches tours to Brick Baptist Church, just across the street.

Beginning in the fall of 1862, classes at the Penn School were held at Brick Baptist Church. The church was first built in 1855 by enslaved people to be a house of worship for the white planters. But ever since the Battle of Port Royal, it has been an active African American church. The church remains privately owned but allows the park to lead tours onto its grounds.

M IC S M ITH

Camp Saxton

KEEPING THE STORY ALIVE Darrah Hall at Penn Center is part of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.

Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor The story of South Carolina’s role in slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction can’t be separated from the roots of the African American people whose culture came to define swaths of the Southeastern Atlantic coast, particularly in the Lowcountry.

The federally designated Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor stretches from southeastern North Carolina, just north of Wilmington, down to St. Augustine, Florida.

The Beaufort area and the Reconstruction Era park are right in the heart of the cultural corridor, which celebrates the heritage, legacy, foodways and linguistics of enslaved Africans brought over to the United States—many through Charleston and other Southeastern cities—during the Transatlantic Slave Trade of the 18th and 19th centuries. Isolated in these coastal communities, the Gullah Geechee people retained their African beliefs, customs and languages, and many of them continue to thrive along the Southeastern coast.

The 12,000-square-mile federal National Heritage Area isn’t a single site but rather many historic and culturally rich places of significance to the Gullah Geechee people, including: u McLeod, Magnolia and Boone Hall plantations in Charleston u The many ironworks of Philip Simmons throughout

Charleston and the Philip Simmons House and Museum

u The Charles Pinckney National Historic Site in Mt. Pleasant u The Gullah Museum in Georgetown u Reconstruction Era National Historical Park in Beaufort

County

u Penn Center on St. Helena Island u Historic Mitchelville on Hilton Head Island, the first freed-

men’s town established after the Civil War

u And the Gullah Museum on Hilton Head Island.

Learn more at www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org.

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FA L L & W I N T E R T R AV E L G U I D E

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Raylrode Daze Festivul Branchville, South Carolina September 26-28, 2024 Thur, Sept 26: Music by Dylan Carter from The Voice Fri, Sept 27: Bands – Sounds of Legacy and Colie Jennings Band Sat, Sept 28: Parade, 11 a.m.

Entertainment and Music by Solid Gold Tribute – Kids in America, 8 p.m.

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Georgia Mountain Fall Festival October 11-13 & 17-19

Appalachian Brew and Music Festival

Hiawassee, GA | 706-896-4191 GeorgiaMountainFairgrounds.com

Pumpkin Patch

Oct 19 & 26

Santa’s North Pole Express

Dec 6-7, 13-14, 20-21

South Carolina Railroad Museum Bring the whole family and get your tickets early!

• Train ride to our event pavilion • Food vendors • Children 12 and under select • Pajamas Welcome and decorate a pumpkin • Personal Visit with Santa • Carnival games & prizes • Pictures with Santa

Museum Hours — Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Bring this ad to receive $5 off purchase in our Museum Gift Shop

For more information and ticket purchases visit SCRM.org or call 803.635.9893 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro, SC

We also offer private charter events.

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FA L L & W I N T E R T R AV E L G U I D E

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds

FA L L & W I N T E R T R AV E L G U I D E

Discover

CHESTER COUNTY SOUTH CAROLINA

Pack your bags for the 19th Annual SC Jazz Festival Head to Cheraw October 18-20 to celebrate Dizzy Gillespie’s 107th Birthday!

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Scan here to begin planning your trip to explore the beautiful county nestled between two rivers.

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FA L L & W I N T E R T R AV E L G U I D E

Play, Bike, Explore Aiken County

Boyd Pond Park • Langley Pond Park • Silver Bluff Audubon Visit DiscoverAikenCounty.com for more information Aiken County Visitors Center • 133 Laurens Street, NW, SC 29801 • 803.642.7557

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Celebrate 20 years of tradition in 20 days with plenty of activities showcasing locally harvested seafood and Lowcountry cuisine while highlighting the rich history and culture of the area. The celebration culminates with a juried fine art show and street fest on October 19th and 20th.

32

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

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33

|

SC calendar SEPT 13–OCT 15 Upstate

24–28 SC Foothills Heritage

Fair, The F.A.R.M. Center, Seneca. farmoconee.org.

26–29 … And Getting Caught in the Rain, Centre Stage, Greenville.

(864) 233‑6733 or centrestage.org.

27 AutumnFest at the Market, Greenville State Farmers Market, Greenville. (864) 244‑4023 or agriculture.sc.gov.

27 Rock Out Hunger featuring Rhythm Jab, Social Latitude, Greenville. werescuefood.org/ rock-out-hunger.

28 Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Abbeville Opera House, Abbeville. (864) 366‑9673.

28 Harvest Day Festival, downtown, Inman. (864) 472‑3656 or inmanchamber.com.

28 Railfest, Greer City Park, Greer.

(864) 233‑0461 or visitgreenville.com.

SE PT E M BE R

13–Oct. 6 Ms. Holmes and Ms. Watson, Apt. 2B, The Warehouse Theatre, Greenville. (864) 235‑6948 or warehousetheatre.com.

15 AMP Concert Series—Pickens Praise, Pickens Amphitheater, Pickens. visitpickens.org.

19–22 Euphoria Greenville food, wine and music festival, multiple venues, Greenville. euphoriagreenville.com.

19–22 Winnie the Pooh Kids, Greenwood Community Theatre, Greenwood. greenwoodcommunitytheatre.com.

20–21 Uniquely Union Festival, downtown, Union. uniquelyunion.com.

20–22 Spartanburg Greek Festival, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Spartanburg. spartanburggreekfestival.com.

21 Hagood-Mauldin House Tours, Hagood-Mauldin House, Pickens. pickenscountyhistoricalsociety.com.

21 South Carolina Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Hagood Mill Historic Site, Pickens. visithagoodmill.com.

O CTO B E R

2–5 Albino Skunk Music

Festival, The Skunk Farm, Greer. albinoskunk.com.

5 Fall Plant Sale, South Carolina Botanical Garden Nursery, Clemson.

(864) 656‑2458.

11–12 Fall for Greenville, Main Street, Greenville. fallforgreenville.net.

12 Greenville Woodworkers Guild Semi-Annual Tool Sale, 209 Hollyridge Court, Greenville. (630) 639‑6525 or greenvillewoodworkers.com.

12 Music on the Mountain, Table Rock State Park, Pickens.

(864) 878‑9813.

18–20 Antiques, Fine Art & Design Weekend, Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville.

(864) 271‑7570 or gcma.org.

O NG O ING

Through Jan. 19, 2025 “D-Day: June 6, 1944–The Memory Lives On,” Upcountry History Museum, Greenville. (864) 467‑3100 or upcountryhistory.org.

Midlands S E P TE M B E R

EU PH O R IA

EUPHORIC TASTES Greenville’s annual food, wine and music extravaganza, Euphoria, takes place Sept. 19–22.

34

18 An Evening with Artist Meredith Connelly, Museum of York County, Rock Hill. (803) 329‑2121 or chmuseums.org.

19 Focal Points Tour: Hats Off, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799‑2810 or columbiamuseum.org.

SCLiving.coop/calendar

Our mobile-friendly site lists even more festivals, shows and events. You’ll also find instructions on submitting your event. Please confirm information with the hosting event before attending.

19–21 Pirate Weekend 2024, 222

Broad St., Camden. (803) 432‑9841 or historiccamden.org.

19–22 Columbia’s 37th Annual Greek Festival, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Columbia. columbiasgreekfestival.com.

20–Oct. 6 The Curious Savage, Fort Mill Playhouse, Fort Mill. (803) 548‑8102 or fortmillplayhouse.org.

21 Jubilee: Festival of Black History and Culture, 1403 Richland St., Columbia. historiccolumbia.org.

26–28 Raylrode Daze Festivul, downtown, Branchville. raylrodedazefestivul.com.

27 Riverbanks Zoofari, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. riverbanks.org.

27–28 Irmo Okra Strut, Irmo Community Park, Irmo. okrastrut.com.

28 Palmetto Peanut Boil, 2900 block of Devine St., Columbia. animalmission.org.

OCTOBER

1–6 Orangeburg County Fair,

Orangeburg County Fairgrounds, Orangeburg. (803) 534‑0358 or orangeburgfair.com.

4–20 The 39 Steps, Chapin Theatre, Chapin. (803) 404‑0015 or chapintheatre.org.

5 Newberry Oktoberfest, downtown, Newberry. newberryoktoberfest.com.

5 Out of this World! Family Day, Museum of York County, Rock Hill. chmuseums.org.

7–12 Lancaster Playhouse presents The Crucible, Andrew Jackson State Park Amphitheatre, Lancaster. lancasterplayhouse.com.

8–13 MAD Festival 2024, Arts Center of Kershaw County, multiple venues. (803) 425‑7676 or artscenterkc.org.

9–20 South Carolina State Fair, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia.

(803) 799‑3387 or scstatefair.org.

10–13 United States Disc Golf Championship, Arena Course at Winthrop Lake, Rock Hill. usdgc.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

11–20 Western Carolina State

Fair, Aiken Fairgrounds, Aiken. westerncarolinastatefair.com.

12 Catawba Fest Arts & Crafts Show, Catawba Park, Tega Cay. (803) 548‑3512 or tegacaysc.org.

12 Rock Around The Clock Festival, downtown, Winnsboro.

(803) 635‑4041.

18–26 August: Osage County, Aiken Community Theatre, Aiken. (803) 648‑1438 or aikencommunitytheatre.org.

18–30 Boo at the Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia.

(803) 779‑8717 or riverbanks.org.

Pee Dee & Lowcountry SEPTEMBER

14–15, 20–22 Beaufort

Theatre Company presents Oklahoma!, USCB Center for the Arts, Beaufort. (843) 521‑4145 or uscbcenterforthearts.com.

15 Harbour Town Fall Fest, Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island.

(908) 963‑6013 or seapines.com.

21 Harvest Hoe-Down Festival, Aynor Town Park, Aynor.

(843) 358‑1074 or aynorhoedown.com.

22 Hilton Head Shrimp Festival, Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island.

(908) 963‑6013 or seapines.com.

22 Walk to Fight Hunger, Wannamaker County Park, North Charleston. lowcountryfoodbank.org.

26–Oct. 6 MOJA Arts Festival, multiple venues, Charleston. mojafestival.com.

27–29 Atalaya Arts & Crafts Festival, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237‑4440.

27–29 Beach ’n Chili Fest, Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion Place, Myrtle Beach. visitmyrtlebeach.com.

28 Fall Festival, Saint Paul’s Waccamaw Methodist Church, Pawleys Island. (843) 237‑2294.

28 Irish Italian International Festival, Main Street, North Myrtle Beach. (843) 280‑5570 or nmb.us.

28 Colonial Day, Old Santee Canal Park, Moncks Corner. (843) 899‑5200 or oldsanteecanalpark.org.

29 Tango Meets Classical:

Music of Boccherini and Piazzola, St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Charleston. (943) 763‑4941 or chambermusiccharleston.org.

OCTOBER

1 First Day Hike: Archaeology

of Charles Towne, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston.

(843) 852‑4200.

1–20 Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival, multiple venues, Bluffton. blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.org.

3–5 Gopher Hill Festival, downtown, Ridgeland. (843) 258‑4008 or gopherhillfestival.org.

4–5 Beaufort Shrimp Festival, Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Beaufort. (843) 379‑7063 or beaufortshrimpfestival.com.

5 Great Guns on the Ashley Artillery Demonstration, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston. (843) 852‑4200.

5 Printmaking Workshop: Linocuts, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Ridgeland. (843) 284‑9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.

5 Stargazing at Hampton Plantation, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, McClellanville.

(843) 546‑9361.

5–6 Harvest Home Weekend Festival, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235‑6000 or brookgreen.org.

8–27 Purlie Victorious, The Historic Dock Street Theatre, Charleston.

(843) 577‑7183 or charlestonstage.com.

9–Nov. 2 Preservation Society of Charleston’s Fall Tours, downtown, Charleston. (843) 722‑4630 or preservationsociety.org.

10–12 Yemassee Shrimp Festival, downtown, Yemassee. (843) 589‑2565 or townofyemassee.org.

11 Queens of Rock & Soul, USCB Center for the Arts, Beaufort. (843) 521‑4145 or uscbcenterforthearts.com.

12–13 Art in the Park, Market Common Valor Park, Myrtle Beach. wacg.org.

12–13 Little River ShrimpFest, Little River Waterfront, Little River. littlerivershrimpfest.org.

ONGOING Thursdays through Nov. 14 Sea

Stroll and Learn, 25th Avenue Beach Access, Isle of Palms. (854) 837‑2331 or iop.net.

PALMETTO STATE

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OCTOBER

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weekend?”

Readers turn to South Carolina Living to find fun things to do and great places to go in South Carolina and our neighboring states.

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DATA BY SOLUNAR SERVICES

SCLIVING.COOP | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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|

SC gardener

Vitex 101

SEPTEMBER IN THE GARDEN

BY L.A. JACKSON

n With autumn moving in, veggie patches across the state can be filled this month with such cool-weather delectable edibles as collards, mustard greens, onions (sets), garden peas, radishes, broccoli, rutabagas, spinach, Brussels sprouts, carrots and turnips.

PH OTOS BY L . A . JAC KSO N

n If your herb garden is getting a bit crowded by perennials such as chives, mint, parsley, lemon balm, oregano or thyme, now is a good time to dig up and divide the plants for more elbow room.

And if you want fresh herbs during the winter, pot up a few of these divisions and set them in a sunny window indoors.

PRETTY POLLINATOR Shoal Creek is a popular vitex cultivar, with fairy-like panicles.

WHILE CRAPE MYRTLES and butterfly

L . A . JAC KSO N

ROSY OUTLOOK Prevent black spot from taking hold in the soil and ruining such pretties as this Pope John Paul II cultivar.

TIP OF THE MONTH Continue to patrol the rose bed and pick off any leaves that show signs of ugly black spot. Toss them away; do not compost.

Also, regularly rake up any spent petals and fallen foliage. This will help break up the life cycle of black spot, which is a soil-borne disease. For the same reason, since the ground remains black spot’s base of operation during the winter, after your roses have shed their final flowers and leaves for the season, rake up the surrounding mulch, discard it, and spread a fresh organic ground covering for the chilly months to come.

36

bushes are standard choices for gardeners wanting summer-flowering woody ornamentals, I’ve enjoyed an additional showoff: vitex (Vitex agnus-castus).

Also called chaste tree, vitex is a warm-season bloomer that becomes generously bejeweled with fairy-like spikes of blossoms dipped in a gorgeous bluish-purple hue. Some cultivars sport white and pink flowers, but, to me, they don’t have the visual zing of typical vitex selections.

Vitex—not the nasty beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) that is like a coastal kudzu—is native to Europe and western Asia, but it has been grown on our side of the Big Pond for centuries. Heck, Thomas Jefferson liked this vitex so much that he planted nine rows of it at Monticello in 1807.

Not only is a blooming vitex pretty, but it is also a pretty busy hub of buzz.

It is a major fly-in for bees and hummingbirds because they find the lightly scented flowers simply irresistible. Ditto for butterflies.

Vitex is a deer-resistant beauty that loves full sun and, once established, is quite drought-resistant, too. It is adaptable to most soil types—the exception being mucky, slow-draining areas, where it will suffer.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

Autumn is a great time to plant woody ornamentals, so if vitex has piqued your curiosity, head off to your favorite local garden center—or online e-nursery—and let the hunt begin!

Shoal Creek is perhaps the easiest vitex cultivar to find, and it can be a biggie, maturing upward to 15 feet or more. I have Shoal Creek, but I cut the branches back to 2-foot nubs in late winter. They come roaring back the following spring, topping out at around 7 feet, stuffed full of blooms on the new growth.

If pruning is not one of your favorite garden chores, consider smaller varieties such as the cute Blue Puffball that restrains itself to about 4 feet tall or Blue Diddley, a 3- to 6-footer.

Having a short vitex means you can reach the flowers, not only to enjoy them up close and personal but also to cut them off after they begin to fade. This is a necessary chore because vitex has a strong proclivity to procreate (say that fast five times), which it can do if permitted to form seeds on the spent panicles.

L.A. JACKSON is the former editor of

Carolina Gardener ­magazine. Contact him at lajackson1@gmail.com.

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SC humor me

Got gravity?

BY JAN A. IGOE

AS SOMEONE WHO PREFERS TO CHEW

gum while seated, I didn’t want to miss a minute of the Olympics. Especially women’s gymnastics and those little cannonballs who think the laws of physics are just suggestions.

As a kid, I took acrobatics. That’s like gymnastic kindergarten, where you learn to do cartwheels and flips—the basic stuff that most kids can master without hospitalization. But it didn’t take long to find out how special I was. All the other girls were shorter than my legs, which took off wherever they felt like going when I was upside down and they knew I couldn’t see them. The other girls had little, tiny legs that followed directions.

But I persisted and finally mastered a one-handed cartwheel with all my appendages going along for the ride.

The next step was an aerial, where the cartwheel is so fast, you don’t need the ground at all. Like magic, you’re airborne.

I moved all the chairs out of the dining room and propped the back door open, giving me a clear shot from the porch to the living room, where I would attempt my first gold-medal stunt. The other girls were doing it, so I thought gravity might be my friend, too.

Out on the back porch, I revved up like the Road Runner and motored into the living room, fearlessly launching into “Look, Ma, no hands!” mode. But, just as my legs got over my head, a dubious little voice deep in the backseat of my brain stopped the world with a question. I remember being upside down with all my disorderly limbs suspended in midair when it said, “Hey, genius, does the name Isaac Newton ring a bell? Put your hands down before you crash.” And I did, taking out my mother’s favorite lamp in the process.

The doctor coaxed my dislocated shoulder back into place, but there was no emergency room for the lamp, which 38

But, just as my legs got over my head, a dubious little voice deep in the backseat of my brain stopped the world with a question. made Mom even crankier than finding her house converted into a gymnasium.

The next day, she signed me up for flute lessons.

Eventually, I got into distance swimming, where beanstalks are welcome and it’s harder to break things—but I’d still rather watch gymnastics. And I’m very defensive of those tiny, flipping females who should be filing flight plans before their floor routines. I’ll do battle with anyone who doesn’t show respect.

During the Olympics, I kept a defibrillator charged in case one of Simone Biles’ BFFs came crashing through the TV set needing medical attention after three half-twisting something-or-others with a double back-flop.

And any time an announcer said, “No one in history has ever completed 19 aerials in layout position before, but Gabby’s middle toe was slightly crooked on the

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | SEPTEMBER 2024 | SCLIVING.COOP

landing. That’s a two-tenths deduction,” I wanted to shove my fist through the screen and strangle him with my swim goggles.

If I scored gymnastics, those girls would get extra points for every limb that was still attached on the landing.

Three more points if their leotards didn’t rip. Extra points for being utterly adorable. And some more points for being 4 feet tall and fearless.

Although I love them, it’s a good thing the Olympics are over. It’s been exhausting sitting here lifeguarding the gymnasts. And I’m out of gum.

EDITOR’S NOTE: South Carolina Living

is reprinting some of JAN A. IGOE ’s ­ revious columns. This “Humor Me” p originally appeared in the October 2016 issue. Visit SCLiving.coop/news/ in-memory-of-jan-igoe.

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