THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 71 • No. 5 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240) Read in more than 573,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033
MAY 2017 • VOLUME 71, NUMBER 5
Tel: (803) 926-3 1 75 Fax: (803) 796-6064 Email: letters@scliving.coop EDITOR
Keith Phillips ASSISTANT EDITOR
Diane Veto Parham FIELD EDITOR
Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR
Travis Ward
ART DIRECTOR
Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER
FEATURE
16 A state of
Susan Collins PRODUCTION
Andrew Chapman
poor health
WEB EDITOR
Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR
South Carolina remains one of the least healthy states in the nation. But there is hope. Discover how to thwart the state’s five deadliest medical conditions.
Susan Scott Soyars CONTRIBUTORS
PUBLISHER
Lou Green ADVERTISING
Mary Watts Tel: (803) 739-5074 Email: ads@scliving.coop NATIONAL REPRESENTATION
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 201 7. The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor.
6 ON THE AGENDA
Set sail for the Holy City and Tall Ships Charleston. Plus: Simple steps to prevent hackers from taking control of your home’s internet-connected devices.
POWER USER DIALOGUE
10 Fighting addiction
A growing number of teens and young adults struggle with addiction to powerful prescription opiates and heroin. Learn how our state’s colleges are mobilizing to reverse this trend. ENERGY Q&A
12 Looking into new windows
While insulated windows can improve the look and resale value of a home, they don’t do much to boost overall efficiency. Learn what to do before making a big investment. SMART CHOICE
14 Kitchen companions
Whether you love to cook, hate to cook or just have to cook, these tools can make your life in the kitchen a whole lot easier.
Member of the NCM network of publications, reaching more than 7 million homes and businesses
SC LIFE STORIES
21 Her life is a zoo
Animal keeper Alyson Goodwin’s job comes with some big responsibilities—8,000-pound elephants, 1,500-pound giraffes and a 563-pound sea lion, to name just a few. SCENE
28
22 Into the woods
If you were stranded in the woods with no car, no phone and no flashlight, would you have the skills to survive? TRAVELS
28 Lost in the lilies
Grab your paddle and kayak down the Catawba River for a visit to the world’s largest colony of Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. RECIPE
30 Rookie cooking
No more excuses. With Chef Belinda’s menu of delicious starter recipes, anyone can make a satisfying, home-cooked meal.
GINA MOORE
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.
Cooperative news
CARROLL FOSTER
National Country Market Tel: (800) NCM-1181
4 CO-OP CONNECTION
30
HUMOR ME
38 Cougar spotted at the shelter Dark, dreamy eyes and a body that begs to be cuddled. For humor columnist Jan A. Igoe, it adds up to a serious case of puppy love.
34 MARKETPLACE 36 SC EVENTS
SPECIAL REPORT
OUR STATE OF (NOT SO GREAT) MAY 2017
Bonnie Aleman, Jayne Cannon, Mike Couick, Amy L. Dabbs, Meghaan Evans, Hastings Hensel, Jan A. Igoe, Patrick Keegan, Thomas Kirk, Sydney Patterson, Belinda Smith-Sullivan, Paul Wesslund
HEALTH
Five killer diseases and how to thwart them
SC SC E N E
Into the woods SC R E C I PE
Rookie cooking
South Carolina’s health report is back, and the results aren’t pretty. Learn why we’re ranked as one of the nation’s least healthy states. Photo illustration by Sharri Wolfgang.