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
EDITOR
Sarah Ellis Owen (803) 739-3040
sarah.owen@ecsc.org
MANAGING EDITOR
Lou Green (803) 739-3042 lou.green@ecsc.org
FIELD EDITOR
Josh P. Crotzer
PUBLICATION COORDINATOR
Raphael Ofendo Reyes
ART DIRECTOR
Sharri Harris Wolfgang
DESIGNER
Trevor Bauknight
PRODUCTION
Andrew Chapman
EDITOR
WEB
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
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.
SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING is brought to you by your member-owned, taxpaying, not-for-profit electric cooperative to inform you about your cooperative, wise energy use and the faces and places that identify the Palmetto State. Electric cooperatives are South Carolina’s — and America’s — largest utility network.
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
A spool of the underground cable that runs through your neighborhood now costs $4,244, up 70% since 2019.
Prices on the rise
WE’VE ALL FELT IT the pressure of rising prices affecting 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
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.
Average consumer cost increases, 2019–2024
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
SC | agenda
Howdy, neighbor
Meet the new editor of South Carolina Living
I’M NEW HERE TO THIS MAGAZINE but not to South 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 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 sarah.owen@ecsc.org
I look forward to sharing these pages with you.
MEMBERS SPEAK ON THE COOPERATIVE DIFFERENCE
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 diehard electric co-op customer forever.”
—BLANCHE MEEKS
“Those are my guys. They’re family to me,” Meeks says. “I love those guys, 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 on social media.
Sarah Ellis Owen
SAM HOLLAND
COURTESY OF SARAH ELLIS OWEN
Owen and her dog, Penny, hike along the Foothills Trail at Virginia Hawkins Falls in the Upstate.
Sarah Ellis Owen
A rewarding challenge
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
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.
“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 ENERGY 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.
p Harper Rowe, left, and Ali Chapman t Easton Hall
PHOTOS
Managing the electric grid during the EV transition
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.
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 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
As EVs continue to become more common, electric cooperatives will face new challenges in managing the increased demand for electricity.
MIKE COUICK President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina
Putting down roots
AS A NATIVE SOUTH CAROLINIAN, I know we tend 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.
Anita’s story proves that being from a place is different than being of that place.
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
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.
How can I save money on home improvements?
BY MIRANDA BOUTELLE
QHow do I use tax credits and rebates to upgrade my home energy system?
ATax 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,
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.
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.
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.
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.
FAIR foods you can make at home
BY BELINDA SMITH-SULLIVAN
For those with a youthful spirit and a memory of the excitement of going to the local fair, we offer some goodies typically found there. If you can’t attend this year, you can still fill your kitchen with the smells of fair food.
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
l Remove wax from store-bought apples by dipping apples in hot water for a few seconds, then rubbing them with a towel
l Dry apples thoroughly
l Remove stems before inserting apple skewers or sticks
l Refrigerate apples after dipping into the caramel
l 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.
KAREN HERMANN
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.
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
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. 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.
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
Geocaching lets everyone become a treasure hunter
BY HASTINGS HENSEL
PHOTOS BY MATTHEW FRANKLIN CARTER
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
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.
“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
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.
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.
THE HUNT IS ON Surveying the landscape, following clues, and poking into nooks and crannies finally pay off when the cache is discovered.
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
READER REPLY TRAVEL SWEEPSTAKES
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.
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.
By entering, you agree to join the South Carolina Living email list and abide by our full sweepstakes rules, found at SCLiving.coop/rules.
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.
SHEILA BATTIN; PHOTO BY MATTH EW FRANKLIN CARTER
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.
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,
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,”
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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
•
•
•
Ed
•
•
Stroll through through HISTORY
Aone-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
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
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.
“While the Civil War raged in the background, Beaufort County became the birthplace of Reconstruction.” —PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, 2017
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 for African Americans.
More than 160 years later, the story of America’s Reconstruction is being shared through Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
“The Reconstruction story is happening in every ZIP code in America,” Barr says. “The park tells the story of the Reconstruction era nationally, with Beaufort as a case study.”
And it’s an important story then, now and for future generations. “The Reconstruction era has important implications for how we create a wiser and more just society as we move forward,” former Beaufort mayor and park champion Billy Keyserling writes in his book Sharing Common Ground: Promises Unfulfilled but Not Forgotten
The first effort to create the national park or rather, at the time, to create a Reconstruction Era National Monument failed in the early 2000s but was revived in 2016 by two congressmen from South Carolina, Democrat Jim Clyburn and Republican Mark Sanford, along with Keyserling, former Port Royal mayor Sam Murray and other community leaders.
The following year, President Barack Obama established the national monument in Beaufort, saying, “While the Civil War raged in
the background, Beaufort County became the birthplace of Reconstruction.” The national monument was redesignated by Congress in 2019 as a national historical park.
The park “is just getting started,” says Kaley Crawford, who led tours of the park in its earlier days. “The Reconstruction story is ever-evolving, and the park will continue to evolve with it.”
Dive into the story on your own with an exploration of Beaufort’s four park sites. The sites sit within an easy 15-minute or less drive from one another, so visiting all four can make for a full day of learning and sightseeing. Here’s a guide to going back in time through the park.
Downtown Beaufort
Exploring the park begins in downtown Beaufort at the visitor center in the historic Beaufort Firehouse, which was donated to the park by native Beaufortonian Keyserling and his brother, Paul.
Daily tours of downtown Beaufort from the visitor center help put the Civil War and resulting Reconstruction into perspective. Stops throughout the historic district include:
u The Castle, which served as a hospital for both Black and white Union soldiers during the war
u First African Baptist Church, which served as a school during Reconstruction and continues to have an active congregation
u Robert Smalls’ gravesite at Tabernacle Baptist Church
u The new Harriet Tubman Monument on Craven Street
u The location of one of the first federally chartered Freedman’s Savings Bank branches in the U.S.
u The Secession House, where South Carolinians first decided to secede before the war and where tax auctions of Beaufort land were held after the war. uu
WELCOME TO THE PAST Ranger Chris Barr, right, and volunteer Jess Behrman greet guests at a Reconstruction Era National Historical Park tent.
HISTORIC HERO The tour includes a stop at the gravesite of Robert Smalls, who was born into slavery in Beaufort and who is famous for commandeering and delivering a Confederate ship to the Union Army. He was elected to Congress during Reconstruction.
NPS
MIC SMITH
WHERE: Pinckney-Porter’s 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
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Visitor Center
WHERE: 706 Craven 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.
WHERE: Darrah Hall is at 24 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, on the Penn Center campus
HOURS: Darrah Hall is open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesdays 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.
GET THERE
Explore the four Reconstruction Era National Historical Park sites in Beaufort County.
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.
DETAILS: For more information about visiting Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, visit nps.gov/reer or call (843) 962-0039.
Camp Saxton
Darrah Hall
Brick Baptist Church
Penn Center’s Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist Church
Camp Saxton
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
Round out your Reconstruction exploration with a 15-minute drive from Camp Saxton to the Penn Center on St. Helena Island, where you’ll 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.
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 freedmen’s town established after the Civil War
u And the Gullah Museum on Hilton Head Island.
Learn more at www.gullahgeecheecorridor.org
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
MAKING AN IMPRESSION The name of the person who formed this brick may be lost to time, but their finger imprints remain on the wall of Brick Baptist Church.
KEEPING THE STORY ALIVE Darrah Hall at Penn Center is part of the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
With so many of us depending on the Internet for work and school, we are pleased to make fast, reliable, and a ordable Internet service more accessible. Standard Internet gives you the ability to do everything you want to do online without spending too much. STANDARD INTERNET PACKAGE
• Speeds up to 400 Mbps
• Stream your favorite movies & shows in HD on multiple devices
• No contract required Call 888-403-2667 or visit comporium.link/2994 to sign up for Standard Internet today!
Upstate
SEPTEMBER
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.
EUPHORIC TASTES
Greenville’s annual food, wine and music extravaganza, Euphoria, takes place Sept. 19–22.
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 Harvest Day Festival, downtown, Inman. (864) 472‑3656 or inmanchamber.com.
28 Railfest, Greer City Park, Greer. (864) 233‑0461 or visitgreenville.com.
OCTOBER
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.
ONGOING
Through Jan. 19, 2025 “D-Day: June 6, 1944–The Memory Lives On,” Upcountry History Museum, Greenville. (864) 467‑3100 or upcountryhistory.org.
Midlands
SEPTEMBER
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.
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.
SEPTEMBER IN THE GARDEN
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.
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.
Vitex 101
BY L.A. JACKSON
WHILE CRAPE MYRTLES and butterfly 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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
L.A. JACKSON
PHOTOS BY L.A. JACKSON
ROSY OUTLOOK Prevent black spot from taking hold in the soil and ruining such pretties as this Pope John Paul II cultivar.
PRETTY POLLINATOR Shoal Creek is a popular vitex cultivar, with fairy-like panicles.
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
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
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 previous columns. This “Humor Me” originally appeared in the October 2016 issue. Visit SCLiving.coop/news/ in-memory-of-jan-igoe
Easy to use. Easier to afford.
Easy | Our easy-to-use Jitterbug® phones feature large screens, simple menus, powerful speakers and Urgent Response buttons. The Jitterbug® Flip2 has big buttons and one-touch speed dialing while the Jitterbug® Smart4 has voice typing, video chat and internet access.
Helpful | Whether you want to learn more about your new phone, need a ride or have a health concern, we’re here to help. And when you add Urgent Response, enjoy peace of mind knowing you can count on us, even in an emergency. Our kind and knowledgeable, specially trained, 100% U.S.-based caring team listens and goes above and beyond in answering your questions.
24/7 access to our caring team • Fast, reliable nationwide coverage • No long-term contracts • Keep your phone number3
