South Carolina Living August 2010

WHY ADOPTION

MATTERS What we must do to save S.C.’s foster children S .C . SC E N E

5 cool waterfall hikes A U G U ST 2 0 1 0

S .C . STO R I E S

A woman who tells it like it was

HUMOR ME

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THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 64 • No. 8 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240)

Keith Phillips FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Pam Martin

16 Saving South Carolina’s Lost Children

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Jenny Maxwell ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

Susan Collins PRODUCTION

Jason Clarke WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Susan Scott Soyars CONTRIBUTORS

Becky Billingsley, Alice Clamp, Mike Couick, Kristine Hartvigsen, Carrie B. Hirsch, Jan A. Igoe, Charles Joyner, Greg Lucas, Jenny Maxwell, Bob Polomski, Marc Rapport, Pat Robertson.

Publisher

Lou Green ADVERTISING MANAGERS

Tel: (800) 984-0887 Dan Covell E-mail: dan@scliving.coop Keegan Covell E-mail: keegan@scliving.coop National Representation

National Country Market Tel: (800) NCM-1181 Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication.

If you encounter a difficulty with an advertisement, inform the Editor.

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

ADDRESS CHANGES:

Periodicals postage paid at Cayce, S.C., and additional mailing offices. © COPYRIGHT 2010. The Electric

Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor. 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.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

4 CO-OP CONNECTION

SC LIFE

6 ON THE AGENDA

21 Kitty Wilson-Evans

Cooperative news

Don’t miss the late-summer fun of the South Carolina Apple Festival, the York Summerfest, the Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Harry Hampton Hunting & Fishing Expo. PLUS: How dirty air filters cost you money, an update on EPA lead-safe remodeling rules and S.C.ramble.

POWER USER DIALOGUE

10 The joy of adopting

At the heart of any decision on adoption there is a fundamental question: What’s best for the child?

ENERGY Q&A

12 How heat pump water

heaters save energy

The new breed of heat pump water heaters can save homeowners $300 a year on their power bills.

SMART CHOICE

14 Back-to-school gadgets

Don’t be surprised if your kid’s list of school supplies includes these educationoriented devices.

STORIES

She’s officially retired from her job as a re-enactor at Historic Brattonsville, but Kitty Wilson-Evans is still sharing stories of the slave experience in South Carolina.

SCENE

22 Five cool waterfall hikes

Escape the summer heat and enjoy the unbeatable scenery found in the state’s northwest corner.

OUTSIDE

26 Lake Wateree

State Recreation Area

SC Gardener: Stopping chinch bugs Outdoor tips TRAVELS

28 Hometown hero: “Doc” Blanchard Bishopville honors a favorite son who never sought the spotlight, but had a habit of making headlines.

RECIPES

30 Lazy summer days

Robinson family guacamole and tortilla chips Dr. White’s famous peach ice cream Do nothing cake and icing CHEF’S CHOICE

22

32 A taste of Italy in the Lowcountry With 80 flavors to choose from, Pino Gelato on Hilton Head Island has a loyal following among locals and tourists.

HUMOR ME

38 Close encounters of the bug kind

28 South carolina living

Printed on recycled paper

Member of the NCM network of publications, reaching more than 7 million homes and businesses

21

For thousands of children in the state foster care system, the key to a better life is finding a permanent, loving home as early as possible. See how adoption and foster care are changing in South Carolina and learn how you can help children in need.

The Palmetto Conservation Foundation

EDITOR

F eature

Ten quintillion reasons to be afraid—very afraid—of what’s creeping around out there.

34 Marketplace 36 SC EVENTS

Why Adoption

MAtters What we must do to save S.C.’s foster children S .C . SC e n e

5 cool waterfall hikes

S .C . Sto r i e S

A u g u st 2 0 1 0

Tel: (803) 926-3 1 75 Fax: (803) 796-6064 E-mail: letters@scliving.coop

August 2010 • Volume 64, Number 8

Yor k Cou nty Cultur al & Her itag e Mu seu ms

Read in 470,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033

A woman who tells it like it was

Humor me

Summertime, and the living is buggy

The Irons family is a living example of how adoption can change the lives of foster children in South Carolina.

Photo by Anne McQuary.

On the Agenda

Highlights

August

For a complete listing of Events, see page 36

TOP PICK FOR KIDS

South Carolina Apple Festival

www.tiffineyphotography.com

Since 1961, the South Carolina Apple Festival has celebrated the beginning of the harvest in the Blue Ridge foothills of Oconee County. Food vendors, rides, entertainment and a pie-baking contest are regular highlights, as is a two-day IPRA-sanctioned rodeo.

The South Carolina Apple Festival is held in the Oconee County town of Westminster.

Details at westminstersc.com or (864) 647‑7223.

Through August 31

A Crabby Experience Summer’s almost over, but there’s still time for a family trip to the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park for A Crabby Experience. Offered every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. through August 31, it’s a catch-andrelease program where kids and adults get hands-on experience with marine life by netting a variety of crabs, fish and other critters under the guidance of the park’s veteran naturalists.

Myrtle Beach State Park is at 4401 South Kings Highway. Details at southcarolinaparks.com or (843) 238-5325.

August 27–28

September 3–5 S.C. Department of Natural Resources

York Summerfest Over the past quarter-century, Summerfest has become one of the largest one-day parties in South Carolina and as many as 45,000 visitors are expected this year to gather on and around Congress Street in the White Rose City of York. The festivities begin with a Friday night concert and moonlight bike ride. The next day, there are arts and crafts, a wide variety of food offerings, plus a health court, classic car show, children’s activities, three music stages and, new this year, a robotics demonstration.

August 27–29

Harry Hampton Hunting & Fishing Expo

Summerfest is held in downtown York. Details at greateryorkchamber.com or (803) 684-2590.

Get ready for the fall sporting season at the Harry Hampton Hunting & Fishing Expo in Spartanburg. Special guests this year include pro angler Keith Johnson, who will demonstrate fishing techniques in the Bass Tub, a 4,000-gallon mobile aquarium; and renowned international hunting consultant Sammy Schrimsher, who will show off his whitetail exhibit and talk to visitors about deer hunting. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for children age 7 to 12.

The Harry Hampton Hunting & Fishing Expo will be held in the Spartanburg Expo Center on Pottery Road off Interstate 26 at Exit 17. Details at huntandfishexpo.com or (803) 734-3885.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament No other charity event combines big names, great courses and a good cause quite like the Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament. The Labor Day event is celebrating its 30th year and has raised more than $3 million for local children’s charities in that time. Three top-flight courses provide the setting, culminating on Sunday with the final round at Harbour Town, where the iconic lighthouse greets players and the gallery just past the 18th green.

The Hilton Head Island Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held on the Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Hall on Friday, the Robert Trent Jones Course at Palmetto Dunes on Saturday and Harbour Town Links on Sunday. Details at hhcelebritygolf.com or (843) 842-7711.

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

Greater York Chamber of Commerce

6

S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

September 7–11

E-MAIL COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS TO LETTERS@SCLIVING.COOP

Lead-safe remodeling update In the June issue of South Carolina Living, we told you about new EPA regulations designed to minimize lead exposure during the renovation of homes built before 1978 (“Leadsafe remodeling,” Page 35, June 2010). Under the new rules, which affect an estimated 24 million homes nationwide, contractors must be certified in lead-safe practices by a government-approved trainer. Shortly after the issue went to press, the EPA announced it was extending the deadline for contractors seeking certification. They now have until September 30, 2010, to enroll in training and December 31 to complete it. The EPA also announced in July that it was

Energy Efficiency

removing a provision from existing regulations that allowed owner-occupants of pre-1978 homes to “opt-out” of having their contractors follow lead-safe work practices if there were no children under six years of age in the home. For more information on EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rules for lead-safe remodeling, visit epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.

Tip of the Month

Consider using ceiling and other fans during the cooling season.

They provide cooling and work better During summer months additional when air conditioners hardest, do energy-intensive tasks such as laundry circulation so you can raise the thermostat and cut down and washing during off-peak demandceiling fans ondish air conditioning costs.

Energyenergy Star-certified hours, usually in the early morning or later evening. do even better, especially those that include compact fluorescent light bulbs. Source: Alliance to Save Energy GONE FISHIN’ The Vector Fish & Game Forecast provides feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour. Minor peaks, ½ hour before and after.

Minor

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

— — 1:37 3:07 4:07 4:52 — — 1:07 7:37 8:07 8:52 9:37 10:52 —

7:52 9:07 10:07 10:52 11:22 11:52 5:37 6:22 6:52 1:37 2:07 2:37 3:22 4:07 5:07

5:37 10:07 10:52 11:22 11:52 12:07 7:07 7:22 7:37 7:52 2:07 2:22 2:37 2:52 —

11:37 5:37 6:07 6:22 6:37 6:52 12:22 12:52 1:22 1:37 8:07 8:22 8:37 8:52 9:22

August 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Minor

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

— — — 2:37 3:52 4:52 — — 7:37 8:37 9:22 10:37 — — — —

6:22 7:52 9:07 10:07 10:52 11:37 5:52 6:37 1:22 1:52 2:37 3:22 4:22 5:37 7:07 8:37

— 12:22 10:22 10:52 11:22 12:07 6:37 7:07 1:37 2:07 2:37 3:07 12:37 — — 10:22

10:07 5:07 5:22 5:37 5:52 6:22 12:22 12:52 7:22 7:52 8:07 8:37 8:52 9:07 4:37 4:52

SEPtember 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

7

On the Agenda

August

Letters

S.C.RAMBLE!

Horsing around What an outstanding photo on the cover of the June issue of South Carolina Living!

Congratulations to the gutsy photographer who stood her ground with those pounding hooves racing toward the camera. I couldn’t wait to read the accompanying article and admire the other photos, as well. Thank you for publishing such a high-quality magazine.

Natalie McCartha, Chapin

102 tips I loved your pamphlet (“101 Low-Cost/No-Cost Home Energy-Saving Measures for South Carolina”) in July’s issue of South Carolina Living. There were a number of suggestions that we put to use immediately in our all-electric household. May I offer up suggestion number 102, in the laundry category? Dryer balls, those tennis ball-like orbs you throw in with your clothes, can cut drying time by up to 25 percent, saving you money on your power bill.

They also make clothes softer and less prone to wrinkling, eliminating the expense of dryer sheets.

Dave & Maris Putman, Wagener

SCL To-Do List Send us your favorite health-care professional

When you’re sick, injured or just not feeling yourself, nothing is more comforting than a skilled health-care professional. Doctors, nurses and ­physician assistants who take the time to listen, and who go the extra mile to make sure their patients are properly diagnosed and treated, are a very rare breed and worthy of recognition.

That’s why we’re asking you to tell us, in 200 words or less, all about your favorite health-care professional. Deadline is September 1.

Letters to the editor We love hearing from our readers. Tell us what you think about this issue, send us story suggestions or just let us know what’s on your mind by writing to Letters, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033. You can also e-mail us at letters@scliving.coop or send a note by fax to (803) 796-6064.

All letters received are subject to editing before publication.

8

By Charles Joyner, See Answer ON Page 34

M

A

R

I

O

N

Fill in this grid so that each row, each column and each 2 x 3 rectangle contains all six letters MARION.

Reader Connections No doubt about it: South Carolinians love their pets—and the veterinarians who take care of them. We asked for stories of your favorite vet and got these heartfelt replies.

My favorite veterinarian

I met Dr. Richard Bell of Bell Farms in Spartanburg County earlier this year.

He was treating my in-law’s horse when I asked him to look at my German shepherd. I had already taken her to another vet twice and was seeing no improvement. She was dying, and I was devastated. We didn’t know why she wasn’t eating or wasn’t herself. Dr. Bell saved her life! A month or so later, I rescued a Persian cat off the streets. He was in bad shape, only days from dying. Dr. Bell saved this cat’s life, too. He understands the love people have for their animals and takes the time to explain medical conditions and options completely. And as a former veterinary technician, I know from experience how reasonable his prices are! I couldn’t ask for a better, more qualified and caring per son to treat the animals I love. Thank you, Dr. Bell, for everything you have done to save my four-legged children and for saving me from the heartbreak of losing them. You are a true gift from God. Rebecca White, Cowpens

My favorite veterinarian is Dr. Jeanne Fowler at All About Pets in Travelers Rest. She is, by far, the most caring and gentle individual that I have had the pleasure of meeting. Her demeanor is so calm that my pet beagle, Lady Bug, actually falls asleep during her acupuncture treatments. Dr. Fowler uses conventional medicines and holistic/herbal remedies in which the latter has been the most successful for my little one. Lady Bug has had shoulder and back problems for years—too much jumping off kitchen counters and office desks! Since she is a senior rescue from a “hoarding house,” my number one priority is her health during her retirement years, and Dr. Fowler has been instrumental in helping me celebrate her 17th birthday.

Beth Kern, Greenville

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

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Dialogue

The joy of adopting when our middleaged waitress commented on how much our two youngest children, Coleman, 10, and Alex, 8, favored each other. I replied to her that it was somewhat remarkable that they looked alike in that they were both adopted—Romania and Indiana. For the rest of the meal the waitress went out of her way to take special care of them.

As I paid the check and the kids headed toward the restaurant exit, she stopped me and shared how she had been a birth mother to a little boy about 30 years ago and how she had given up the child for adoption. She went on to be married and have other children, but that little boy was still a part of her heart.

Her choice to relinquish custody had been anguishing, but in the end she felt her son deserved stability, permanency and a home, things that were awfully difficult for a young, unmarried mother to provide.

I have since thought about how brave and selfless this waitress was in allowing her child to be adopted. In making that choice, she very well may have ensured that her son’s fantasies would be about being a fireman or cowboy rather than about having enough to eat or a full night’s sleep unmarked by violence or abuse.

Children Come First, the advocacy group mentioned in the article on adoption (page 16) in this month’s South Carolina Living, has worked with the General Assembly with bipartisan support toward the goal of helping foster children find permanent homes and to shorten the time required for that process to occur. They are to be congratulated.

I am convinced that these efforts will help. A thousand wonderful South Carolina children, who need the support of permanent families and who have so much love to give back, can benefit if we can build an awareness of the need—and the wonderful opportunity awaiting potential adoptive parents. The opportunity provided by foster case, through which parents interested in adopting may be able to both help in the short run and also experience the joy they receive through that care, should not be overlooked.

As for me, I say to birth mothers like our waitress and the birth mothers of Coleman and Alex, God bless you for giving adoptive parents like my wife and me the greatest gift of all!

I was eating at a local restaurant last month

Mike Couick

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

10

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

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11

EnergyQ&A

BY ALICE CLAMP

How heat pump water heaters save energy

Q

Integrated heat pump water heaters work like refrigerators, only in reverse. They transfer ambient heat to the water inside the tank and release cool, dry exhaust air. They are most efficient in warm, humid environments and need at least 10 square feet of space around them for proper air exchange.

I’m remodeling my home and a friend suggested that I install an electric heat pump water heater.

How do they work and are they an efficient option?

A

LearnMore For more information on how heat pump water heaters work, visit energystar.gov and click on the “Products” tab.

For information on heat pump water heaters that qualify for the federal tax credit, click on the “Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency” link in the lower left corner.

12

GE

generate—heat, it consumes roughly half the electricity of a conventional electric resistance water heater. This efficiency qualifies integrated heat pump water heaters for an Energy Star rating, a first for electric water heaters. This added efficiency comes with a high initial price tag. Integrated units sell for $1,400 to $2,000—more than twice the cost of standard electric resistance water heaters—but they cost half as much to operate. The Department of Energy estimates that Energy Star-qualified units can save homeowners $300 a year on their power bill. Depending on your co-op’s electric rate and the installed cost of a heat pump water heater, payback for the purchase can take as little as three years. Heat pump water heaters that meet the Energy Star requirements also qualify for the 30 percent federal energyefficiency tax credit if installed in an existing home that is your permanent residence. The tax credit for qualified

Rheem

Heat pump water heaters, while not a new technology, are experiencing a rebirth. A handful of small companies produced units in the 1980s and 1990s, but random failures and other issues soured consumers on the technology.

Now, major appliance companies have entered the market with a new and improved generation of heat pump water heaters.

Heat pump water heaters come in two types. The more expensive “integrated” type replaces an electric resistance water heater with one that combines a heat pump with a storage tank. The second version adds a heat pump unit to an existing electric water heater. In both versions, a heat pump circulates a refrigerant, which absorbs heat from the surrounding air and transfers it to water in the tank.

Essentially, it works like a refrigerator in reverse. The process creates cool, dry exhaust air that is released into the vicinity of the appliance.

Because a heat pump water heater uses electricity to move—rather than

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

water heaters expires Dec. 31, 2010.

Heat pump water heaters are not right for every home. They are most efficient in warm and damp climates, and homes in those regions ­benefit from the appliances’ cooling and dehumidifying effects. A heat pump water heater needs at least 10 square feet of open space around it to ensure adequate air exchange. An open basement, a utility room, or—in some areas—a garage, will work. Noise is another consideration when deciding where to place a unit. While conventional electric resistance water heaters operate quietly, most heat pump water heaters create noise levels similar to window air conditioners.

Alice Clamp is a technology writer for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the Arlington, Virginia-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Send questions to Energy Q&A, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce SC 29033, e-mail energyQA@scliving.coop or fax (803) 739-3041.

SmartChoice

By Becky BILLINGSLEY

Back-to-school gadgets YOU DO THE MATH Graphing calculators are often required for algebra, geometry, pre-calculus, calculus, statistics and physics courses. For the latest in feature-rich calculating devices, check out the TI Nspire line from Texas Instruments. The CAS model, for example, performs numeric and symbolic calculations, shares documents with your home computer and has a split screen to see math problems as a graph, equation, table, geometric figure or text. It’s also permitted for use during the SAT, AP and PSAT exams. $160.

(800) 842-2737; epsstore.ti.com.

when buying school supplies meant stocking up on notebooks, loose-leaf paper and pencils. In order to prepare students for an increasingly digital future, South Carolina educators are embracing the use of high-tech devices in the classroom. “When it’s used correctly by good teachers, technology can help transform students from passive receivers of information into much more active learners,” says State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. With that in mind, don’t be surprised if your kid’s back‑to-school wish list includes some of these education‑oriented gadgets.

Gone are the days

CLEVER COMPUTERS DROP-PROOF LAPTOP Worried about your darlings being too rough with their laptops? The spill-resistant Panasonic Toughbook C1 can survive a 30-inch drop. It features hot-swappable batteries for continuous use, a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-520M processor and a 250GB hard drive. A unique triple-hinge system also allows the multi-touch screen to swivel into tablet mode. $2,829.

(877) 207-3168; rapidacc.com.

DEALS ON MACBOOKS College students can have a Mac and a free 8GB iPod Touch, too, if they buy before Sept. 7. There’s also a $50 education discount for qualified students, faculty and staff of all grade levels when buying online through the Apple Store. The 13-inch MacBook is Apple’s smallest and lightest laptop. It has a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 250GB hard drive and a built-in lithium polymer battery that offers up to 10 hours of operation on a single charge. $949 with discount; $999 standard.

(800) 692-7753; store.apple.com.

TRAVELING MOUSE A portable mouse makes using small laptops and netbooks exponentially easier.

The wireless Microsoft Explorer Mini Mouse is easy to transport, runs on a single AAA-battery and it works on carpet, countertops or the cafeteria table. $20. (800) 201-7575; amazon.com.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

STUDY AIDS POCKET DATA Centon USB Datastick Keychains allow you to share your school pride along with your data. The company has 50 schools in stock with more coming. Prices start at $19 for 2GB. (800) 800‑0014; pcconnection.com.

TRANSFER TEXT This handy pen scanner stores up to 500 pages of printed text and transfers it to a PC, PDA or Smartphone. The Wizcom InfoScan TS Elite uses a virtual keyboard and stylus to make edits to scanned text, then save it in any Windows-based text application. Or, use the USB connection to scan directly into a computer. $135.

(866) 216‑1072; amazon.com.

EXTRA ALARMING Hard sleepers won’t have to worry about missing class with a Sonic Alert Alarm with Super Shaker function.

Has an extra-loud adjustable alarm and will actually vibrate the bed. $60.

(248) 577‑5400; sonicalert.com.

ECO HATCHERY A perfect housewarming gift for apartment-dwelling college students, the EcoHatchery Eco Starter Kit contains a box full of energy-saving tools such as a toilet leak detector, energy monitor and a compact fluorescent light bulb. $97.50.

(414) 332‑8347; ecohatchery.com.

I PULLED THE PLUG ON MY ENERGY COSTS JUST

BY PULLING A FEW PLUGS. T V s , g aming consol e s , D V R s , c a b l e b o x e s a n d a l m o s t a n y t h i n g t h a t h a s a plug uses en e r g y e v e n w h e n i t ’s o f f . I ’ m s a v i n g $ 2 2 2 a y e a r b y p u l l i n g plugs and t u r n i n g o f f p o w e r s t r i p s . W h a t c a n y o u d o ? Fi n d o u t h o w t he little chang e s a d d u p a t To g e t h e r We S a v e . c o m .

TOGE T HERW E S AV E .COM

Saving South Carolina’s

For thousands of kids in foster care, a permanent home means a chance at a better life

By Jenny Maxwell

B

Anne McQuary

Lost Children

Ann e McQuary

ecause their mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol, Naomi Torfin and her brother were placed in foster care. Naomi later went to college. Her brother went to prison.

Torfin believes the reason she’s succeeded while her brother has struggled may be this: After ­multiple foster care placements, she wound up in a permanent home. Her brother never did.

Today, Torfin is working alongside others in South Carolina to make sure foster children can move more quickly from temporary placements to a permanent home. When a child’s world is in chaos and birth parents can’t meet their needs, she says, adoption is their best hope for a better life.

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Why permanence matters Naomi Torfin is executive director of Children Come First and a foster care success story herself.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

Torfin is executive director of Children Come First, a non­profit organization working to reduce the number of children in foster care by finding them permanent homes. She is a rare foster care success story. Of the approximately 500 South Carolina children who will

It made a lasting impression on Christy Irons, fourth from left, when her biological parents became foster parents. Her husband, Nigel, was adopted as a child.

Five of their children are adopted. The Irons family from left to right: Judsen, Celee, T.C., Christy, Nigel, Mia, Joseph and Corban.

“age out” of foster care at age 18 this year, only 1 percent will graduate from college. Mean­while, three out of 10 homeless people—30 percent—are former foster children.

Torfin considers herself lucky, because she found some stability. “I had the right people, people who showed me that life doesn’t have to be ugly chaos.”

Children in foster care typically wind up moving from home to home, and those changes add more distress to an already difficult situation. “Every time a child moves, they regress about three months in their education,” says Torfin, “It’s the exception for a kid to stay in the same foster home for the duration.”

Torfin was in and out of different homes until she was 15. “I never lived in the same place for more than a year,” she recalls. “I was walking on eggshells. If I did something wrong, that could mean a new school, a new home, starting all over again.

Web Exclusive For more on this story, including writer Jenny Maxwell’s visit with the Irons family, visit SCLiving.coop.

“The system is set up for survival, not succeeding.

Succeeding means you take on some skill. You make your way. Surviving means finding any way you can to get what you need.” She wonders if her brother just doesn’t know any other way to meet his needs. “Maybe my brother is in prison because he aged out of foster care. Jail is easier for him.”

Making adoption a priority

Placing a child in foster care isn’t anyone’s ideal solution, but sometimes it is necessary. Social services intervenes when children aren’t safe in their homes. Often that means children are being neglected because parents are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Caseworkers also step in when children are in danger from physical or sexual abuse or when a parent has died or been sent to prison.

Whenever possible, they will try to keep children with biological relatives and return them to birth parents when it is safe to do so, but when those plans won’t work, foster care is the only option. No one believes, however, that foster care is where children should stay for long. scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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The Heart Gallery

Millie Qualls wants to change the way South Carolinians see foster children.

As program coordinator of the South Carolina Heart Gallery, a joint program of the Department of Social Services and the Office of the Governor, she manages the work of photographers who donate their services to help promote adoption. The photographers spend time with foster children, working to capture a true picture of each child’s personality. That photograph, along with a brief profile, becomes part of an online gallery for potential adoptive parents. Photo collections are also displayed at exhibits around the state.

“So many times, people will see a photo and say, ‘Oh, he looks just like my nephew at that age’,” says Qualls. “Someone recognizes something in a child that makes them envision this child will fit into their family.

And what a great thing it turns out to be for that child, to have a sense that I belong here.”

Qualls first read about the original Heart Gallery in a Parade magazine article. Since starting the South Carolina gallery in 2005, there’s been a dramatic increase in contacts from potential adoptive parents.

In 2009, after 125 exhibits around the state, she received more than 1,450 inquiries— a four-fold increase over the previous year.

For more information or to volunteer, visit scheartgallery.org.

Miguel, 7, is one of the adoptioneligible children featured on the South Carolina Heart Gallery website. His profile describes him as “imaginative, joyful, and all boy! He likes to play basketball and play with his drum set but also has a creative side and loves coloring, drawing and completing art projects.”

Photo by Kimberly Gibson

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

“There’s something about the human

spirit. Children need to be connected to a family.”

Geo rge Miln er Photos cou rtes y of

“If you start talking to foster children, you find out they feel disconnected,” says George Milner, a veteran foster parent and the founder of Children Come First. “There’s something about the human spirit. They need to be connected to a family. Adoption is about the only way to do that.”

Milner never intended to get involved with policy­ making. His interest was in helping children one on one.

He and his wife Karen have been foster parents to 45 children over the past 19 years. Milner is a businessman, though, and despite his reluctance, he saw a system that wasn’t working, hindered not by a lack of good intentions but by poor laws and a shortage of funds. He encouraged Governor Mark Sanford to add foster care to his agenda.

The governor responded by making Milner co-chair of a task force to examine South Carolina’s foster care system.

That task force came up with 27 recommendations—from increasing parental education so children can stay with their birth families to reducing the time it takes for a child to be cleared for adoption.

Milner didn’t want to see the work stop there. “One of my promises to people I work with is that I lead from the front,” he says. “So let’s hold ourselves accountable to make some of this happen.” In 2008, he formed Children Come First, a politically active nonprofit, to “thump the system, to wake them up,” he says, so children can move more quickly into permanent homes. He hired Torfin, whose experiences, like his, make this a deeply felt commitment.

Children Come First has set a goal of reshaping South Carolina’s foster care system within 10 years, by getting and keeping the state legislature’s attention. One of the organization’s recent victories came in May, when the governor signed a bill that shortens adoption wait times for children in foster care.

“It is a remarkable piece of legislation because it really emphasizes the importance of not letting children stay in foster care for too long,” says Dr. Kathleen Hayes, director of the state Department of Social Services. In South Carolina, 1,700 foster children a year will not be able to return to their biological families because their parents will never be able to provide them with stable homes.

Only 600 to 700 of these children, however, will be cleared for adoption.

The new law aims to help some of the 1,000 who are in limbo, by allowing the court to terminate parental rights immediately in severe abuse cases and requiring biological parents to address problems more quickly. Getting those

Providing foster children with a loving home is a Milner family tradition. George and Karen Milner, left, have cared for 45 foster children over the past 19 years. Daughter Christy Irons, top, grew up helping her foster siblings find stability before becoming an adoptive parent. Today she and husband Nigel, above, are parents to five adopted children and one biological child.

1,000 children into permanent homes also will require more funding, says Milner. Budget cuts have limited the number of cases that can move through courts, and children are not available to be adopted until a judge terminates parental rights.

Finding families for children

While Naomi Torfin understands the life of foster children, Christy Irons probably knows as much as anyone about the rewards and challenges of caring for them. She’s George and Karen Milner’s daughter, and she still remembers the family meeting her parents called when she was 12. They asked their three daughters to vote on whether to bring a foster child into their home. “My parents have always been really big on public service. We voted within our family and foster kids won,” she says. “I’m pretty sure it was unanimous.”

As her father says, foster children “never bring clothes, but they do bring emotional baggage.” Irons became a temporary sister to dozens of foster children during her teenage years, and was exposed to a different side of life. “I had

Six ways you can help

As a former foster child, Naomi Torfin, executive director of Children Come First, knows giving children even a glimpse of stable family life can make the difference. “I call it growing the good, one little seed, one little sprout,” she says. “You can do something to help, just by showing them another life.”

From little to big, here are six ways you can make a difference in the lives of foster children: Make them visible. South Carolina foster children have been described as our hidden homeless. Learn the facts and share them with others at community meetings, in conversation, through e-mails or by adding a link on your website. A good place to start is Children Come First. “If you have five minutes a day—whatever you have— we try to connect you with someone who can use your help,” says Torfin. For more information, visit scchildrencomefirst.org.

Host a Heart Gallery exhibit. The Heart Gallery (see page 18) is looking for businesses and community spaces, open to the public, in which to display photographs of children awaiting adoption. Contact info@scheartgallery.org.

Serve on a review board. Local citizens serve on 41 boards across the state to review the cases of children in foster care. Board members are appointed. Contact your state legislator to find out about vacancies and express your interest. Learn more at oepp.sc.gov/fcrb.

Volunteer as a guardian ad litem. Volunteers are needed to advocate for the best interest of children in court. Learn more at oepp.sc.gov/gal.

Become a foster parent. South Carolina needs to double the number of foster parents, says George Milner, founder of Children Come First. And if you’re thinking of adopting, he adds, “foster parenting is a great opportunity to meet a child.” The South Carolina Foster Parent Association provides information online at scfpa.com or learn more at dss.sc.gov.

Adopt a child. It’s a myth that adopting a child in South Carolina is expensive or restricted to married couples. Singles and older adults are eligible. In some cases, subsidies may be available for care.

“Empty nesters would be perfect for adopting an older child,” says Millie Quall of the South Carolina Heart Gallery. Find out more at dss.sc.gov or visit scheartgallery.org.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

In May, when Governor Mark Sanford signed legislation that shortens the adoption wait time for children in foster care, he was joined by state lawmakers, representatives of Children Come First and families with adopted children.

lived a very sheltered existence. I had no idea,” she says, of the troubles other children faced.

The lessons she learned helping those foster siblings find stability in their lives made a lasting impression. Irons was 24 when she and her husband, Nigel, adopted Judsen.

Today, they are the parents of five adopted children and one biological child—four boys and two girls. T.C., the oldest, loves playing football. Joseph and Corban sport matching haircuts. Judsen does back flips on the trampoline. Little Mia cracks up everyone with her crazy laugh.

Big sister Celee, a fan of Harry Potter books, is the family’s big reader. And like any group of siblings, when something breaks, they yell in unison: “Dad!” Nigel Irons, who was adopted as a child, shares his wife’s passion for giving foster children a permanent home, but neither parent glosses over the challenges. “A lot of times, you think you’re saving these kids, and they’ll be grateful. They walk in. They stomp on your toe. That’s hard to take,” Christy Irons says. And while many children in foster care don’t have serious problems, Irons warns you may still encounter a few shocks. “Joseph, my seven-year-old, he cursed like a sailor. I’d never heard anything like it in my life,” she says, laughing. On the other hand, some troubling diagnoses turn out to be wrong: “They told us Mia may never talk, and she’s fine.”

Watching her adopted kids outgrow their troubled pasts has been enormously rewarding, Irons says, and she hopes her experiences will encourage more people to adopt.

“These kids have a need. We have the ability to meet that need. A lot of people have that ability,” she says. “It is hard, but it is completely, completely worth it.”

SCStories

SC Life

Kitty Wilson-Evans

York County Cultural & Heritage Museums

OCCUPATION: storyteller, author, retired kindergarten teacher HOME: Lancaster FOND MEMORY: Portraying Brattonsville slaves “Polly” and “Watt” with her late husband, John.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Trained as an opera singer in Germany where her father was stationed with the Army.

Kitty Wilson-Evans isn’t really the retiring type.

Although she stepped down in June after 16 years as a costumed interpreter at Historic Brattonsville in York County, Wilson-Evans is still sharing stories of the slave experience in South Carolina.

For instance, over the Fourth of July holiday, Wilson-Evans accompanied a family reunion on a visit to author/peach farmer Dori Sanders’ farm in Clover, adding her history-telling abilities to a trip arranged through the Olde English Tourism District. The next day, she was in Charleston sharing stories with visitors at Magnolia Gardens before returning home to prepare for a program at the Living History Park in North Augusta.

“I’m going to keep busy and keep telling the stories. They’re too important and they mean too much for me not to,” she says.

“I don’t sugar coat. I tell it like it was.”

Wilson-Evans began working at Brattonsville in 2000 after six years of volunteering. The site’s first African-American re-enactor, she became known for her evocative, poignant and sometimes gritty presentation of plantation life for slaves, at first as “Polly” and later as “Kessie,” a character she created from her own name and uses in her book and on her website (kessiestales.com).

“I know it sounds strange, but when I portray Kessie, I’m not just acting. I feel it. I feel like I’m that slave telling the children and adults here today how they got what they have and they’re here where they are because of how we, the slaves back then, learned how to survive and carry on,” she says. “And I’m going to keep telling that story as long as I can.” —marc rapport

scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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SCScene

By PAT ROBERTSON

Five cool waterfall hikes When the August sun beats down on South Carolina with a vengeance, there’s no better place to be than in the northwest corner of the state where myriad waterfalls provide the opportunity to cool off while enjoying extraordinary mountain scenery.

An excellent guide to these cooling vistas is The Waterfalls of South Carolina published by the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. The book features 31 waterfalls in the area west of Highway 11 from Jones Gap State Park in Pickens County, to the western border of the Sumter National Forest in Oconee County. “The great thing about waterfalls in South Carolina is that most of them are easily accessible,” says Benjamin Brooks, who co-authored the guide with Tim Cook. “Some are reachable by longer hikes, some by short, easy hikes. And they all have different personalities.”

Here are five of their favorites.

Lower Whitewater Falls

Photos courtesy of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation

Location: Oconee County, off S.C. 130. Turn right at the entrance to Bad Creek Hydroelectric Station, then drive 2 miles to the parking area for the Foothills Trail/Whitewater River.

Beginning in North Carolina and ending at Lake Jocassee, the Whitewater River plummets more than 700 feet in its final half-mile and its most spectacular plunge is the final 200-foot drop through the Jocassee Gorges. Lower Whitewater Falls is impressive year-round, but especially stunning when the turning leaves add a dash of color. The trail to the overlook is moderately strenuous, requiring about 45 minutes each way, but the view from the manmade overlook is worth every step. From the trail head, follow the blue blazes for the Lower Whitewater Falls overlook spur across the Whitewater River, go right on the Jocassee Gorges segment of the Foothills Trail and follow the white blazes to a gravel road. Go left on the road and then veer right after 200 feet to rejoin the trail.

Follow the blue blazes to the overlook.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

Station Cove Falls

Location: Oconee County, off Oconee Station Road (S-95) just past Oconee Station State Park South Carolina waterfalls don’t get much prettier than this. The stepped, 60-foot falls are the final drop in the passage of Station Creek as it flows into a beautiful Appalachian cove forest noted for its rare plants. It’s a great summer hike, but Station Cove Falls is worth visiting year-round. In fall, it’s framed by turning leaves, and in winter, the streams of water may be sheathed in ice. The hike to Station Cove Falls is an easy half-mile trek on a spur trail that splits from the Oconee Passage of the Palmetto Trail. It takes about 30 minutes each way. The trailhead is marked by a kiosk on Oconee Station Road approximately one-third of a mile past Oconee Station State Historic Site. Parking is limited to just four spaces, but additional parking is available at the state park picnic area.

S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Wildcat Falls

Location: Greenville County, in a wayside park approximately 5 miles north of where U.S. 276 and S.C. 11 merge.

While the lower section of Wildcat Falls can be viewed from your car, on a hot summer day most folks can’t resist the sight of cold water cascading over granite and they end up splashing around in the shallow pool just below the 20-foot outcropping. The upper portion of the falls requires a 20-minute hike to the point where Wildcat Branch twists its way 75 feet down a granite outcropping. The quarter-mile trail to the upper falls is easy to follow, but strenuous in spots. The most challenging sections are at the beginning and end. A steep stairway leads from the parking lot to the trail and, at the base of the falls, you’ll need to climb over large, slippery boulders.

scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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SCScene

Moonshine Falls

Location: Greenville County, off U.S. 276 at Asbury Hills Camp and Retreat Center There’s no mystery behind the name, just a colorful past. If you look carefully, you can still see parts of rusty old barrels in the cave at the waterfall’s base, the remnants of a well-camouflaged moonshine still. The small creek that forms the falls is surrounded by sheer bluffs and a steep ridge, and the hike to the falls is moderately strenuous, requiring 1 hour and 15 minutes each way.

Access to the trail is by permission only, and must be obtained in advance from the Asbury Hills Camp and Retreat Center by calling (864) 836-3711 or e-mailing info@asburyhills.org.

By the book

The new third edition of The Waterfalls of South Carolina, published by the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, features 31 beautiful waterfalls in Pickens, Greenville and Oconee counties. Available as an 86-page paperback, it’s filled with stunning color photographs, maps and concise directions including GPS waypoints for each waterfall.

Brooks, who grew up in Seneca, and Cook, who grew up in Clemson, began exploring the Upstate waterfalls and working on the guide while both were students at Clemson University. For more information, contact the Palmetto Conservation Foundation Press, (803) 771-0870 or palmettoconservation.org. Price: $12.95

Twin Falls

Location: Pickens County, north on U.S. 178. Take a left on Cleo Chapman Road (S-100) at Bob’s Place Tavern, a right on Eastatoe Community Road (S-92) and another right onto Waterfalls Road.

There is considerable debate over the proper name of Twin Falls—it’s also known as Reedy Cove Falls, Rock Falls and Eastatoe Falls. Take your pick. By any name, it’s still one of the state’s most impressive and accessible waterfalls.

Reedy Cove Creek splits into two channels before tumbling over a large granite face. The left falls drops 75 feet straight down while the right side makes a series of short drops before following a 45-degree slope. The forest of the Eastatoe Valley provides a scenic contrast to the falls, and a zoom or normal lens works best to capture the cascading water. The falls are on a private nature preserve that is open to the public from dawn to dusk. The trail is an easy, 10-minute hike from the parking area, covering a mere quarter of a mile and ending at a viewing deck.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

You can find maps of the trails leading to these and other waterfalls at the South Carolina State Trails Program website, sctrails.net.

49th Annual

SOUTH CAROLINA

APPLE FESTIVAL

Historic Main Street, Westminster, SC

September 7-11, 2010

Sept. 7: Golf Tournament Sept. 8: River Float Sept. 9: Music on Main & Apple Baking Contest Sept. 10 & 11: Festival Music • Food • Arts & Crafts Car Show • Motorcycle Run Talent Show • Kiddie Rides 5K Road Race • SCAF Luncheon IPRA sanctioned Rodeo Call Westminster Chamber of Commerce 864-647-5316 or 864-647-7223 for more information THIS AD PAID FOR WITH OCONEE ATAX FUNDS.

From the mountains to the sea

and everything in between...

Discover the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor Call for your free copy today (866) 915-0842 or visit us online at www.sc-heritagecorridor.org

Watch for our Fall Travel Guide in September.

The Ultimate Guide to S.C. Fall Festivals Three “Can’t Miss” Fall Getaways LOTS MORE!

scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

25

SCOutside

BY GREG LUCAS

State Park Profile

Lake Wateree State Recreation Area Lake Wateree State Recreation Area

South Carolina Living

provides convenient access to the 242 miles of shoreline along Lake Wateree, one of South Carolina’s oldest reservoirs. The 13,250-acre lake is known nationwide for its exceptional fishing (crappie, bream, largemouth bass, catfish and striped bass) and hosts numerous fishing tournaments throughout the year.

The park’s wooded, lakeside campground features 72 sites, including Lake Wateree State Recreation Area is an ideal place to launch a boat or just take in the sights.

The park provides prime access to the 13,250-acre reservoir and includes a tackle shop, boat ramp, public dock, nature trail and campground.

many that can accommodate large RVs, and all feature water and electrical service. The park also offers a tackle shop and store, boat ramp, picnic area and playground.

For those want­ing to get off the water for a while, the mile-long Despor­tes Island Nature Trail is a pleasant diversion. The trail winds through pine forest and hardwood bottomlands and offers a good chance to see or hear birds such as brownheaded nuthatch, pine warbler and Eastern phoebe. The peaceful stroll may remind visitors that this area was once part of a thriving Native American settlement. The name Wateree is

SCGardener

Stopping chinch bugs

Q A

Every summer my otherwise healthy St. Augustine lawn develops isolated dead patches. What causes this and what can I do to stop it?

Seasonal dead patches in St. Augustine lawns are usually the work of chinch bugs. These troublesome insects are black, about 1/5-inch long, and have white patches on their wings. The southern chinch bug feeds primarily on St. Augustine grass, but lawns with Bermuda grass, centipede grass and zoysia may be attacked as well. Both adults and nymphs use needle-like sucking mouthparts to extract sap from the crowns, stems and stolons of grasses and their feeding produces irregular patches of yellowing turf as the leaf tips turn brown. As the blades wither, the patches become straw colored.

26

Damage typically begins near pavement or other drought- and heatstressed areas.

You can confirm the presence of chinch bugs by using the fool-proof “floatation method.” Cut out both ends of a coffee can and push one end two to three inches deep into the grass at the edge of a yellowing area. Fill the can with water and keep it filled for five minutes. Any chinch bugs present will float to the top.

If you find 20 or more chinch bugs per square foot, chemical control may

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

be necessary. Common lawn insecticides including Ortho Bug-B-Gon (bifenthrin), Bayer Advanced (cyfluthrin and imidacloprid) and Spectracide Triazicide (lambda-cyhalothrin) are all effective against chinch bugs.

To thwart future invasions, use slow-release fertilizers and mow the lawn frequently and at the appropriate height. Chinch bugs thrive in hot, dry conditions, so irrigate your lawn when you see signs of moisture stress. You can also look for heartier varieties of grass. St. Augustine FX10 is resistant to southern chinch bugs, while Bitterblue, Floralawn, Floratine and Seville are somewhat resistant.

BOB POLOMSKI, Ph.D. , is a Clemson Extension horticulturist. For more lawn and gardening advice, visit the Home and Garden Information Center at clemson.edu/extension/hgic.

Photos: Texas Agricultural Experiment Station/Dr. James Reinert

By Bob Polomski

thought to be from the Catawba word “wateran,” meaning “to float on the water.” The Wateree were one of the early Native American tribes of the Carolinas.

The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., during Daylight Savings Time, with admission $2 for adults, $1.25 for seniors and free for ages 15 and younger. Lake Wateree State Recreation Area is located east of Interstate 77 at 881 State Park Road (off U.S. 21) near Winnsboro. For more information, call (803) 482-6401 or visit southcarolinaparks.com and click on the “Park Finder” link in the upper left corner.

HEALTH INSURANCE

OutdoorTips August winners

Use a household mop—the kind that has a spray reservoir built into the handle—to dispense weed killer without having to stoop down every few steps. You can stand comfortably the whole time while you eliminate weeds in your yard or garden.

It really saves your back.

CLEANING OUT WEEDS

RUBY ROBINSON, CLOVER

DON’T CART IT OFF Replacing your old barbecue grill? Don’t discard the wheeled cart. It can be used for toting garden tools around your yard.

BOB CRITCHFIELD, MOUNTAIN REST

Send us tips!

Readers whose original tips are published will receive a copy of Wild Fare & Wise Words, a collection of recipes and writing from the great outdoors.

Send entries with name and mailing address to: Outdoor Tips, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce SC 29033 or outdoors@scliving.coop.

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Toll free 1-866-604-0417 scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

27

SCTravels

By Keith Phillips

Hometown hero

Bishopville’s ‘Doc’ Blanchard a three-time All American who so dominated the field as a running back that an opposing team’s coach called him “Superman in the flesh.”

As a military pilot, he set a speed record, flew combat missions and once landed a burning plane rather than eject over a populated area, earning an Air Force commendation for bravery.

Throughout his remarkable life, Felix Anthony “Doc” Blanchard had a habit of making headlines, yet he never sought

south carolina living

© Bett man n/CORBIS

He was a gifted athlete,

West Point running back Doc Blanchard, top, is shown in action in New York on October 5, 1945. His sister, Mary Elizabeth Blanchard, above, speaks in Bishopville’s Veterans Flag Park at the June dedication of statues honoring her brother.

See the expanded story and additional photos online at scliving.coop.

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the spotlight. It’s a testament to his humility that not so long ago, few people in his hometown of Bishopville could recall his name, much less his exploits.

All that officially changed this June when a trio of bronze statues honoring Blanchard were publicly dedicated in Veterans Flag Park, the result of a 10-year project by local residents to give the town’s favorite son proper recognition.

The irony of it all is that Blanchard, who died in 2009 at 84, never really understood what all the fuss was about, says his sister, Mary Elizabeth Blanchard.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

“He never felt that he did anything except what he was supposed to do and what he was expected to do,” she says. “In his words, ‘There just wasn’t anything to it.’ ” Blanchard played running back on the celebrated 1944–46 Army football teams. Known for his explosive, up-the-middle running attacks, “Mr. Inside” was the first junior to win the Heisman trophy, leading his teams to two national championships and a 27-0-1 record.

When Army defeated Notre Dame 59–0 in 1944, Fighting Irish coach Ed McKeever ­commented, “I’ve seen Superman in the flesh.

He wears number 35 and goes by the name of Blanchard.”

Athletic success is only part of his legacy.

After graduating from West Point, Blanchard turned down offers to play pro football and focused on a military career. He became a pilot in the U.S. Air Force and in 1959 (the same year he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame) it was his flying that made news.

Assigned to the 77th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Wethersfield, England, he set a speed record for the Super Sabre F-100 jet.

Later that year, he earned a commendation when an oil line ruptured and his jet caught fire. Standard procedure called for ejecting, but Blanchard feared the plane might crash into a nearby town. He stuck with the damaged aircraft, made a perfect landing and escaped unharmed to quip: “I was near the field anyway.” He capped his flying career with 84 fighter-bomber missions over North Vietnam before retiring as a colonel in 1971 and becoming the commandant of cadets at New Mexico’s Military Institute.

The statues, which depict Blanchard as a boy, college athlete and Air Force pilot, were dedicated on June 13, 2010—65 years after Blanchard was awarded the Heisman, says Mary Elizabeth Blanchard. “It is my fervent hope that the statue will be an inspiration for the young people to develop their talents just as he did,” she says. “We were all very proud to live in this place, and I’m very grateful that my brother lived so that this place is proud of him.”

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❑ 1. Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce ❑ 2. Lowcountry Tourism ❑ 3. City of North Myrtle Beach ❑ 4. Historic Bennettsville ❑ 5. South Carolina State Parks ❑ 6. Aiken Center for the Arts ❑ 7. Carolina Foothills Heritage Fair ❑ 8. Audubon Center at Beidler Forest ❑ 9. Newberry Opera House ❑ 10. S.C. National Heritage Corridor ❑ 11. Pendleton District Tourism ❑ 12. Alpine-Helen, Georgia ❑ 13. Bluffton-Hilton Head Island Tourism ❑ 14. Florence Tourism ❑ 15. S.C. Apple Festival, Westminister June Winner:

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scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

29

Edited by Carrie Hirsch

Lazy summer days Robinson Family Guacamole & Tortilla Chips Serves 4

2 fully ripe Haas avocados 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice 1 small red onion, chopped 1 medium tomato, chopped 1 teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 ½ teaspoons El Tapatio Hot Sauce (or favorite hot sauce)

Cut avocados lengthwise and remove pits. Remove avocados from their shells and place in a small bowl. Add lime juice and mash avocados with a fork until smooth. Stir in the onion, tomato, garlic powder and salt, then add the hot sauce. Chill, covered for ½ hour, then serve. Can be served as a dip with tortilla chips (recipe follows) or as a side with tacos or enchiladas.

Tara’s Home-Made Tortilla Chips 20 small corn tortillas, cut into quarters 2 cups canola oil (or other vegetable oil) 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Debbi Smirnoff istockphoto.com

In a large skillet or electric frying pan, heat the oil to 350 degrees—hot enough for the oil to really bubble when you put a slice of tortilla in to fry but not so hot that it smokes. Place the tortilla pieces one by one into the hot oil. Fry in several batches as not to crowd the skillet. When the underside is golden brown, they are ready to be turned over. Once both sides are golden brown, remove them from the oil and drain on a plate covered with a layer of paper towels to absorb the excess oil. Salt to taste. Serve hot with fresh guacamole.

Tara Dempsey-Robinson, Irmo

30

Dr. White’s Famous Peach Ice Cream Serves 16

4-quart ice cream churn 4 eggs 2 cups whipping cream 2 ½ cups granulated sugar 2 ½ cups whole milk (or enough to fill the churn 2⁄3 full) 3 tablespoons vanilla flavoring 8 cups fresh peaches, pits removed, peeled, diced (about 10–12 good-sized peaches)

Combine the peaches and 1 cup of the sugar, and set aside (when the peaches absorb the sugar they don’t get icy according to Dr. White).

Combine well in the churn the eggs, whipping cream and remaining sugar. Add enough milk to fill the churn two-thirds full and mix well. Add vanilla flavoring. Run the churn until the mixture begins to thicken. Stop the churn at this point and add the peaches. Churn to desired thickness and enjoy.

Ruth Polk, Hartsville

Do Nothing Cake & Icing Serves 10

2 cups self-rising flour 2 cups granulated sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 large can crushed pineapple

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients with a spoon. Pour into a greased and floured oblong baking pan. Bake for 25 minutes.

Send us recipes!

Icing 1 stick margarine 1 cup granulated sugar 2⁄3 cup evaporated milk 1 cup walnuts, chopped (or nuts of choice) 1 cup flaked coconut Elzbieta Sekowska

We welcome all types of recipes for all seasons: appetizers, salads, main courses, side dishes, desserts and beverages. Selected original recipes win $10 and a shot at winning the out-of-print Best of Living in South Carolina cookbook. Send recipes to South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, by e-mail to recipe@scliving.coop or by fax to (803) 739‑3041.

About submitting recipes Entries must include your name and mailing address. When writing recipes, please specify ingredient measurements.

Instead of “one can” or “two packages,” specify “one 12-ounce can” or “two 8-ounce packages.” Note the number of servings or yield. Recipes are not tested.

Karen Wiesner

SCRecipe

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

In a medium saucepan, melt margarine, sugar and evaporated milk. Stir until blended. Simmer 2–3 minutes. Add nuts and coconut to the ­mixture, then pour over the cake.

Jackie Richardson, Bennettsville

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scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

31

SCChef’sChoice

By Carrie Hirsch

A taste of Italy in the Lowcountry we all scream for...gelato?

For the uninitiated, gelato is an Italian frozen dairy treat often compared to ice cream, only it’s lower in fat and sugar, but loaded with taste thanks to a simple ingredients list.

Most recipes call for blending fresh fruits or nuts with whole milk and sugar, and only occasionally cream and eggs, making gelato a healthier way to satisfy a sweet tooth.

“You can really taste the flavor of what you’re eating—it’s real fruit and milk,” says Ramona Fantini, the owner of Pino Gelato on Hilton Head Island.

“It feels more dense in the mouth, like custard. It’s served seven degrees softer than ice cream and is 93 percent fat free.”

The gelateria, located in the Village at Wexford shopping center, has 80 varieties from which to choose—all made on-site following recipes developed in Sicily. Fantini, whose favorite You scream, I scream,

AFFOGADO Makes 1 serving

This is a traditional Italian dessert made with espresso and gelato.

2 ounces chocolate gelato 2 ounces hazelnut gelato 1 6-ounce espresso shot, hot 2 teaspoons chocolate sauce 1 teaspoon cocoa powder 4 tablespoons fresh whipped cream 1 tall clear glass for serving

Cover the bottom of the glass with half the whipped cream. Scoop both ­gelatos on top of the whipped cream, then slowly pour the hot espresso onto the gelatos. Top the glass with the remaining whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate sauce and cocoa powder.

Serve immediately.

32

flavor is blood orange, opened the store in 2004 after falling in love with gelato on a trip to Italy with her husband John. “We pursued this business to bring that authentic taste and quality stateside,” she says.

Pino Gelato also offers dessert beverages and made-to-order gelato cakes, including white chocolate dome cakes with straticella sauce. Mail orders are shipped on dry ice to customers across the nation, and for many repeat visitors to the Lowcountry, the store is on speed dial. “We have a tremendous tourist following,” says Fantini. “Some come directly here from the airport, as they have called in their order in advance.”

Wanting to expand the store’s offerings beyond gelato, Fantini recently introduced “pizza in a cone,” a single-​ portion pizza shaped like an ice cream cone and filled with skim-milk Mozzarella and toppings. Featured on the Food Network’s show Unwrapped, it allows pizza lovers to eat lunch on the go. “We sometimes have to explain that pizza in a cone is served hot,” she says. “It is not pizza-flavored gelato.”

Since opening the Hilton Head store in 2004, the company has expanded through franchising. There

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

Pino Gelato 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite G The Village at Wexford Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 842-2822 pinogelato.com Monday through Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.

Sunday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Hours vary during winter months.

are now Pino Gelato stores in six states, from Georgia to Pennsylvania, but the company remains rooted in the Lowcountry, says Dominic Leong, director of business development.

Pino Gelato participates each month in Palmetto Electric’s Green Power initiative to purchase electricity generated from renewable sources and supports local charities. During last year’s fifth anniversary celebration, the staff thanked local customers by giving away a red Vespa scooter. “As far as the repeat customers are concerned, we may not know all their names, but as soon as they walk in the door we know their flavors,” says Leong. “Our personalized service sets us apart.”

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scliving.coop | August 2010 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

35

Calendar of Events Please call ahead before attending events. For entry guidelines, access SCliving.coop.

UPSTATE AUGUST

21 • Flight of the Dove, Clinton. (864) 833-6287.

26 • 21st Annual Juried Competition Reception, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill. (803) 328-2787.

28 • Williamston Spring Water Festival, Town Park, Williamston. (864) 847-7473.

29 • South Carolina Half Iron Man, Lake Greenwood State Recreation Area, Greenwood. (864) 223-8431.

SEPTEMBER

2–12 • Upper South Carolina State Fair, Upper SC State Fairgrounds, Greenville. (864) 269-0852.

3 • Midnight Flight, Anderson Area YMCA, Anderson. (864) 716-6262.

9–11 • Rudy’s Bluegrass in the Woods Autumn Festival, Rudy’s, Anderson. (864) 356-3444.

ONGOING

Daily • Horseback Riding, Forrest Trails, Enoree. (864) 918-3469.

By Appointment • Museum, Abbeville. (864) 459-4600.

Daily • Artist Co-op, Laurens. (864) 575-3020.

Daily • Arts Council, Greenville. (864) 467-3132.

Daily • Arts Council, Union. (864) 429-2817.

Daily • Museum of Art, Greenville. (864) 271-7570.

Daily • Museum of Art, Arts Center, Spartanburg.

(864) 583-2776.

Daily • Senior Activities, Easley. (864) 295-2136.

Daily • Trail Rides, Easley. (864) 898-0043.

Daily • Volunteer, Botanical Garden, Clemson.

(864) 656-3405.

Fridays • Bluegrass Music and Square Dancing, Oconee State Park. (864) 638-5353.

Fridays until Sept. 25 • BB&T’s Main Street Fridays, Greenville. (864) 467-2697.

Saturdays until Aug. 30 • Music in the Woods, Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville. (864) 244-5565.

Saturdays until Oct. 30 • Pumpkintown Mountain Opry Dinner Shows, Pickens. (864) 836-8141.

Weekly • Laurens County Museum, Laurens.

(864) 681-0670.

36

Weekends in August • Living History Weekends, Kings Mountain State Park, Blacksburg. (803) 222-3209.

MIDSTATE AUGUST

21–22 • USSSA Baseball Tournament, Patriot Park Sportsplex, Sumter.

(803) 436-2248.

28 • Main Street Latin Festival, Columbia. (803) 939-0360.

28 • Wild Summer’s Nite Auction and Wild Game Feast, Tronco’s Medallion Center, Columbia. (803) 256-0670.

28 • 2010 Jubilee: Festival of Heritage, Mann-Simons Cottage, Columbia. (803) 252-1770, ext. 33.

28–29 • ISA Softball Tournament, Patriot Park Sportsplex, Sumter.

(803) 436-2248.

SEPTEMBER

2–4 • Friends of the Bamberg Library Book Sale, Bamberg County Public Library, Bamberg. (803) 245-3022.

2–5 • Lone Star Bluegrass & Country Music Jamboree, Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile, Santee. (803) 515-3938 3–5 • Palmetto Tennis Center Jr. Championships, Palmetto Tennis Center, Sumter. (803) 774-3969.

4–5 • Chapin Labor Day Festival, Crooked Creek Park, Chapin. (803) 345-2444.

10–11 • Aiken’s Makin’, Aiken. (803) 641-1111.

10–11 • Pine Ridge Neighborhood Festival, Midlands Dixie Youth Ball Field, Pine Ridge. (803) 755-2500.

10-12 • Plum Branch Saddle Club Fall Trail Ride, Clarks Hill Lake, Plum Branch. (803) 640-2765.

11 • By the Sweat of Our Brows, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells. (803) 684-2327.

11 • Annual Coin Show, H. Odell Weeks Activity Center, Aiken. (803) 644-0761.

ONGOING

Daily • African American Heritage Garden, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, Beech Island. (803) 827-1473.

Daily • Blue Man Group— Making Waves, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 463-5278.

Daily through Sept. 5 • Innovation and Change: Great Ceramics from the Ceramics Research Center, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005.

Daily through Sept. 19 • Imperial Splendor: Renaissance Tapestries from Vienna, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005.

Daily through Jan. 31 • South Carolina Silver: Varieties in Society 1750–1935, SC State Museum. (803) 898-4921.

Daily, except Sundays • Living History Days, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells.

(803) 684-2327.

Sundays • Docent-led Gallery Tour, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005.

Mondays until August 30 • Hopelands Summer Concert Series, Hopelands Garden, Aiken. (803) 642-7650.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays • About Face Weekly Drawing Sessions, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 343-2215.

Second Thursdays • Sumter @ Six Outdoor Concert Series, Brody Pavilion, Sumter. (803) 436-2640.

Fridays • Fridays at the Terrace Concert Series, downtown Sumter. (803) 436-2640.

Fridays • Big Screen Fridays at the House, Sumter Opera House, Sumter. (803) 436-2640.

Fridays • Main Street Marketplace, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005.

Saturdays in August • Follow the Drinking Gourd, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken.

(803) 641-3654.

Saturdays in August • Dig Star Virtual Journey, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken. (803) 641-3654.

Saturdays in August • Music in the Woods, Kings Mountain State Park, Blacksburg. (803) 222-3209.

Saturdays • Gallery Tour: Imperial Splendor and Innovation and Change, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 343-2215.

LOWCOUNTRY AUGUST

15 • Seventh-Annual First Day Festival for Charleston County Schools, SC Aquarium, Charleston. (843) 577-3474.

21 • Half Rubber Tournament, Isle of Palms. (843) 886-8294.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

26 • Battle of the Bands, The Music Farm, Charleston.

(843) 740-9000.

28 • Race for the Ark, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Summerville. (843) 832-2357.

28–29 • Charleston Beach Music and Shag Festival, J.B. Pivots Beach Club, Charleston. (843) 571-3668.

30–Sept. 3 • PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship, Dunes Golf Club, Myrtle Beach. (843) 449-5914.

31 • Wine on the Water, S.C. Aquarium, Charleston.

(843) 577-3474.

SEPTEMBER

3–4 • Edisto Beach Buck’s Pizza King Mackerel Tournament, Edisto Beach. (843) 869-3867.

3–4 • Smoke on the Beach / ​ Beach Boogie & BBQ, Valor Park, Myrtle Beach.

(843) 493-2637.

3–6 • Williams Muscadine Festival, Williams Muscadine Vineyard and Farm, Nesmith. (843) 354-2169.

5 • BBQ & Blues Festival, Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant. (843) 884-4371.

11 • Special Guest Character Appearance: Dora the Explorer, SC Aquarium, Charleston. (843) 577-3474.

11 • Street Music on Paris Avenue, Port Royal. (843) 279-2787.

9–12 • Mozart in the South, Charleston. (843) 763-4941.

13–18 • Seafood, Jazz & Brew Festival, Hilton Head Island. (843) 686-4944.

ONGOING

Daily • Window Exhibit: Charleston Kids with Cameras Photography Contest, The Meeting Place, Charleston. (843) 745-1087.

Daily • Le Grand Cirque Adrenaline, The Palace Theater, Myrtle Beach. (843) 448-0558.

Daily • Downtown Conway Farmer’s Market, Conway.

(843) 365-6715 ext. 115.

Daily until August 21 • NARNIA, the Musical, The Palace Theater, Myrtle Beach.

(843) 448-9224 x 222.

Daily until August 31 • The Great American Trailer Park Musical, The Palace Theater, Myrtle Beach.

(843) 448-9224 x 222.

Daily, except Sundays • Atalaya Tour, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Daily, except Mondays • Hampton Plantation Mansion Tours, McClellanville.

(843) 546-9361.

Daily, except Mondays • Feeding Frenzy, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Mondays • Coastal Kayaking, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Mondays until Aug. 30 • Secrets of the Salt Marsh, Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838-2011.

Tuesdays until Aug. 17 • Plankton—The Ocean’s Garden and Zoo, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Tuesdays until Aug. 31 • Beach Explorations! Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838-2011.

Tuesdays until Aug. 31 • The Urban Sea Turtle, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Tuesdays until Aug. 31 • Salt Marsh Seining, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Tuesdays until Aug. 31 • Spineless Wonders, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Tuesdays and Thursdays • Bingo, Lions Club, Edisto Island. (843) 296-4092.

Wednesdays • Coastal Birding, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Wednesdays until Aug. 11 • Planet Jeopardy, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Wednesdays until Sept. 1 • Legends of the Forest, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Wednesdays until Sept. 1 • Seine-sational Fun, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Thursdays until Aug. 19 • The Dynamic Coast, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Thursdays until Aug. 31 • Alligators, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Thursdays until Aug. 31 • Sea Safari, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Thursdays until Aug. 31 • Secrets of the Salt Marsh, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Thursdays until Sept. 2 • Jumping Jellyfish, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Third Thursdays • Art Walk 2010, Summerville. (843) 821-7620.

Fridays until Aug. 20 • Reptile Rap, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Fridays until Aug. 20 • Atalaya Tour, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Fridays until Aug. 31 • Sea Turtles, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-8755.

Fridays until Sept. 3 • From the Forest to the Sea, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Fridays • Birding at Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440.

Saturdays • Beachcombing, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440.

Saturdays • Alligators of the Lowcountry, Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838-2011.

Saturdays until Aug. 21 • Tales from the Sea, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Saturdays until Aug. 28 • Lighthouse Life, Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838-2011.

Saturdays until Aug. 31 • Fish Printing, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440.

Saturdays until Aug. 31 • Snakes and Reptiles, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440.

Saturdays until Sept. 4 • Feeding Time, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

First Saturdays • Fears that Fortified Charles Towne— Musket Demonstration, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston. (843) 852-4200.

Third Saturdays • Fears that Fortified Charles Towne— Cannon Demonstration, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston. (843) 852-4200.

Every third Saturday • Bluegrass Concert, HorryGeorgetown Technical College, Conway. (843) 457-2854.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

Close encounters of the bug kind Summer is my absolute favorite time of year in the Carolinas. Sure, it’s hot enough to grill steaks on your dashboard and a killer hurricane might rumble up the coast at any moment, but the caterpillars are gone.

Having narrowly escaped many near-death encounters with creepy crawlers, I don’t leave home without my helmet, hip waders, respirator and golf umbrella until mid-July. That’s when the spring hordes of kamikaze caterpillars quit bungee jumping off the trees and getting stuck in my hair.

I’m not just profiling future moths here.

Anything with more than four legs, a thorax and assorted wiggly parts sends me running.

As a card-carrying insectophobe, I don’t want to admire them, collect them or eat them in lollipops.

Professional insect counters claim that 10 quintillion bugs are creeping, stinging, sucking, biting and squirming around the planet at this very moment. In case you haven’t seen 10 quintillion written out before, it has 19 zeros and six commas. That’s a lot of bugs.

And fear of them is a perfectly natural instinct that has enabled the human race to survive. Nature programmed us to recoil in terror 38

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2010 | scliving.coop

when unidentified buzzing objects swarm our way. Of course, women recoil better than men because we’re climbers. When we see a bug, we’re all about vertical ascent.

I remember this one corporate meeting— a real fancy, “crystal goblets for the ice water” kind of meeting. But it was just your normal, ­insomnia-curing afternoon until a massive cockroach marked “Goodyear” emerged from a female VP’s briefcase. The highly accomplished professional woman was up on that conference table before she could get her first scream out.

Within seconds, every female at the meeting was up there with her, high-stepping like an Irish dance troupe strung out on Red Bull.

But if you’d like to see a real show, invite a bug to dinner. Halfway through an excellent salad at a nice Italian restaurant, a juicy, winged intruder—dressed in balsamic vinaigrette and a crouton—waved its antennae at me from the endive. This wasn’t just a bug; it was Mothra.

And yes, I screamed. Rather loudly, according to several patrons who weren’t expecting opera with dinner.

Since then, I’ve learned there are rules of etiquette for such occasions. Turns out it’s downright rude to complain about a complimentary serving of fresh protein. Cleveland State University offers etiquette tips for grads on the Web and suggests handling encounters with bugs, hair and non-edibles this way: “Remove the objects without calling attention to them and continue eating. You may quietly point out the critter to your waiter and ask for a replacement dish. Remove any objects from your mouth and place [them] at the edge of your plate.”

This may work in Ohio, where the state insect is a wimpy little polka-dot ladybug. But let’s see them “quietly point out” a homicidal Carolina mantis mingling with their meatballs. Yeah, then we’ll talk.

Jan A. Igoe writes from Horry County, a top vacation destination for large, frightening insects. You can share your thoughts, comments and column ideas with her at HumorMe@SCLiving.coop.

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