2024-10-PEMC

The Seven Cooperative Principles

Grounded in values like democracy, equality and teamwork, the seven cooperative principles guide how our co-op operates and makes decisions in the best interest of our members.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership

Cooperatives are open to everyone who is able to use its services. Anyone who moves into Piedmont Electric’s service area is allowed membership without discrimination.

2. Democratic Member Control

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members. Piedmont Electric members vote for directors from our membership, ensuring that our board is made up of members just like you who live in and understand our community.

We need members like you to join our board! Turn to pages 16–17 to learn more about what it means to serve on our board and how to express your interest in running during the next election.

3. Members’ Economic Participation

As a member-owned organization, any revenue exceeding expenses, called margins, are used by the cooperative to hold down costs and then given back to those we serve in the form of capital credits. Credits are paid back to members based on their electricity purchases from the cooperative. Since 1975, Piedmont Electric has returned more than $33 million in capital credits to our members.

4. Autonomy and Independence

A cooperative is a self-governing organization controlled by its members. This allows us to offer services, programs and policies that fit our members’ specific wants and needs. We conduct regular surveys and online focus groups to provide us with your input on what you’re looking for from your co-op.

5. Education, Training and Information

Cooperatives provide education and training for their members, elected representatives and employees so they can effectively contribute to the development of the cooperative. Piedmont Electric provides education about energy efficiency, safety and more through our newsletters, website, social media and emails.

6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives

We’re stronger together. We have mutual-aid agreements with other electric cooperatives so that when Piedmont Electric needs extra hands after a major outage, neighboring co-ops assist us. Likewise, we’ll be there to lend a helping hand to other co-ops when they are in need.

7. Concern for Community

Empowering our current and future members ensures a brighter and stronger future for all of us. We show our commitment to our communities by supporting a wide range of youth programs and community programs through Piedmont Electric’s Helping Hand Foundation and our USDA REDLG program.

Hands-on Ag Innovation

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.

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 56, No. 10 Published monthly by

3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Scott Gates, CCC Editor

Warren Kessler Creative Director

Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor

Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant

Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer

Tara Verna Creative Services Associate

Donna Natosi Digital Strategist

Keith Alexander Advertising Keith@carolinacountry.com

Joseph P. Brannan

Executive Vice President & CEO

Nelle Hotchkiss Senior Vice President & COO

Kristie Aldridge, CCC Vice President

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, notfor-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership.

Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine?

Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost.

Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $5 per year.

Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. Schools, libraries, $6.

Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460.

Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950.

All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

Contact us

Phone: 919-875-3091

Mail: 3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Web: carolinacountry.com

Social:

Email: editor@carolinacountry.com

Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to carolinacountry.com/address

Experiencing a power outage?

Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service. Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

From Box to Bowl

A co-op partnership puts farm tech in the hands of Duplin County students.

Crack Down on Cybercrime

How to secure connected devices on your home network.

Carolina Voices

What was your favorite Halloween costume?

All About Ava

The Ava Gardner Museum and Festival captures classic Hollywood.

Favorites On the Cover

Katlyn Foy, an agricultural instructor at James Sprunt Community College, with a bumper crop of greens (holding mustard greens, a wall of collards to her left). The community college, in partnership with Four County EMC, is immersing students in hands-on agriculture with a self-contained hydroponic farm. Learn more on page 10. Photo by SP Murray (sp-murray.com).

Country Scenes

Send us your favorite photo of people or scenes from around the state by Nov. 15 to be considered for our annual photo contest! Learn more on page 8.

From Our Readers

Inspired Art

Youngsville Academy art teacher and Wake Electric member Bridget Flynn shared issues of Carolina Country magazine with students to provide some artistic inspiration. Sixth grader Aoife Linn used watercolor to recreate a photo of Emerald Isle submitted by Ashton Allgood, a member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (July 2024, page 2).

Correction to our September Issue

The Conetoe Family Life Center works with ECU Health (not East Carolina University) on its Food is Medicine program, which brings fresh produce and health screenings to communities with limited access to healthcare and nutritional resources (“Feeding the Multitudes,” page 11). Visit bit.ly/ecu-food to learn more about Food is Medicine events.

Reader Poll Results

THIS MONTH:

Teaching Tech

Rural North Carolina is full of surprises. Some I’ve come to expect, like a breathtaking sunrise over rolling cropland, or an award-worthy batch of roadside boiled peanuts. But rural landscapes of quiet woodlands and old tobacco barns are hiding another surprise: innovation is everywhere. I traveled to Duplin County to explore one example of rural innovation at James Sprunt Community College — learn more on page 10. Also, cybercrime is on the rise, but let’s fight back. Learn how to do so at home on page 20.

—Scott Gates, editor

Remembering Doc

When I got my very first job as a 15-year-old I was a waitress at The Gateway Restaurant in Boone. Doc Watson would sit on a bench [between the restaurant and the theater next door] with a little tin cup as he played music on his guitar. That bench and Doc Watson now sit [across the street] next to the Mast General Store, where it was Hunt’s Department Store when Doc Watson was growing up (see “Where in Carolina Country is this?,” page 32).

Eula Kirby, Lenoir, a member of Blue Ridge Energy

We’re now deep into pumpkin spice season (with the flavor and scent seemingly everywhere), and in late August we asked our social media followers how they feel about that. Is all that pumpkin spice exciting or nauseating? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@carolinacountrymagazine) to participate in future polls.

I love pumpkin spice in some things and all the fall colors but let me enjoy the rest of the summer!

Ginger Carawan

I’m not ready and it’s overrated. I like peppermint, caramel apple and apple flavors.

Heather Augustine

Not a fan of putting pumpkin spice in everything, but you do you. But what is it with overdoing every seasonal theme? Let me go on record that I don’t care to hear Christmas music beginning in October either!

Sheila Sullivan Willis

I like Pumpkin spice, but not this early and not in EVERYTHING.

Randy Wagner

Exciting! I love it, and fall is my favorite season. I buy everything I see in the stores that says pumpkin spice!! It brings me happiness and joy!!!

Jamie Simmons Mozart

I love the smell of pumpkin spices, they make me all warm and cozy.

Diana Gorman

A Crash Course in the Cooperative Difference

By Maya Fitch

When I first applied for the NC Youth Tour sponsored by our electric cooperative, Surry-Yadkin EMC, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Upon arriving in Raleigh to meet everyone before the drive to Washington, D.C., I was surprised to find that there were nearly 50 participants, most of us from little-known rural towns all over North Carolina. Many of us gave speeches on what we had learned about electric cooperatives from our local co-ops. After we delivered our speeches, I was proud to be selected by my peers as our state’s representative for the national Youth Leadership Council (YLC).

When we arrived in D.C., I knew very little about the impact of electric cooperatives outside of local community initiatives that my cooperative has — such as assisting those in need with funds through the Operation Round Up program. On Youth Tour, we visited national landmarks and met with the offices of various North Carolina legislators who emphasized the importance of electric co-ops in ensuring that the voices of smaller rural communities can still be heard on a national level.

Electric co-ops ensure that the voices of smaller rural communities can still be heard on a national level.

At the All-State Youth Night, it was truly eye-opening to see just how prevalent co-ops are in our country. With around one to four representatives from each co-op in the state and almost 50 total participants, North Carolina was far from being the largest group present. I was surrounded by people from faraway states like Montana and Texas, and amazed to meet attendees from Washington state, California and Hawai’i. We mingled in the crowd for hours to trade state pins, constantly asking “What state are you?” or “Do you have Alaska?” (the rarest pin to find, as there was only one representative who traveled from Alaska). The room was raucous and chaotic with thousands of teenagers, but the opportunity to

meet so many people from all over the country (and represent our state with an awesome group cheer) was an unforgettable experience.

As the Youth Leadership Council’s delegate for North Carolina, I will partner with SurryYadkin EMC in the coming months to support initiatives that benefit our local community and continue learning about the importance of cooperative businesses. As NC’s representative, I attend monthly video conferences with other states’ YLC delegates to discuss our engagement with our local co-ops and support each other with ideas to make the most positive difference in each of our communities. In the spring of 2025, I will attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting in Atlanta, as well as the statewide North Carolina meeting in Raleigh, to gain further insight into the larger-scale matters relating to electric co-ops and their vital role in our state and country.

High school students

Contact your electric co-op now for more information about applying for the 2025 Youth Tour!

Maya Fitch, a 2024 Youth Tour participant sponsored by Surry-Yadkin EMC, is a senior at Salem Academy in Winston-Salem.

Power:

Safe, Steady and Emissions-Free

The two-unit 2,258-megawatt Catawba Nuclear Station is located on the Catawba River in York County, S.C.

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives invested early in nuclear power, and in the nearly 40 years since, it’s proved to be a key part of our mission to provide members with affordable, reliable power. Here’s what has made nuclear power pay off as a sound investment:

NUCLEAR POWER IS SUSTAINABLE

Nuclear power plants emit nothing but water vapor, making them a carbon-free generation source. They also produce more electricity on less land than any other clean-air source.

NUCLEAR POWER IS SAFE

Nuclear plants have strong federal oversight, including permanent onsite inspectors. Multiple systems, protocols and design features keep the plant safe, including a large, expertly trained onsite security force and advanced cybersecurity measures.

Did you know?

■ Uranium, used to power the reactors, is an abundant metal available at a very stable price.

■ One pellet of fuel, about the size of your fingertip, contains the same amount of energy as 1 ton of coal or 149 gallons of oil.

■ Nuclear energy generates nearly 20% of the 4.18 trillion kilowatt-hours of U.S. electricity generation.

NUCLEAR POWER IS RELIABLE

The Catawba plant is the workhorse of the co-op generation fleet, providing steady “baseload” power 24/7 at a very low cost. It can run 18 months at a time without having to be refueled.

■ More than half of the electricity NC electric co-ops provide to members is from nuclear energy, most of which is generated at the Catawba Nuclear Station in York County, South Carolina, operated by Duke Energy.

■ The volume of fuel used across the entire U.S. nuclear fleet for almost five decades, if stacked end to end, would cover an area the size of a football field to a depth of less than 10 yards.

Booming Energy Jobs

North Carolina had the third-fastest rate of energy job growth from 2022 to 2023 (at 6.9%), led by Alabama (9.6%) and Utah (7.8%), according to the U.S. Department of Energy. All told, the nation’s energy workforce added 250,000 jobs in 2023 for a total of 8.35 million energy jobs. More than half of those (56%) were “clean energy” jobs, or those involving technology that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions. Visit careers.electric.coop to search for electric co-op jobs nationwide.

Source: 2024 U.S. Energy and Employment Report

Bees and Bright Ideas

Onslow County teacher used grants to build multi-use pollination center

Every fall, there’s a buzz across the state as educators and students return to the classroom. For Brandon Dillman and students at White Oak High School in Onslow County, that buzz is a bit louder — literally.

Since 2018, Dillman, who currently serves as K–12 Science Coordinator for Onslow County Schools, and his students have been educating youth on the importance of honeybees and other pollinators through a collection of beehives. This apiary has helped to educate not only the students and faculty of White Oak High School, but also members of the Onslow County community and beyond. Dillman says it wouldn’t be possible without support from local groups, including Jacksonville-based Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corporation, which has helped fund components of the apiary through Bright Ideas grants.

North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives have collectively awarded nearly $16 million in Bright Ideas grants across the state since 1994. These grants have funded 14,700 projects and impacted more than 3.5 million students.

Dillman’s most recent grant from Jones-Onslow EMC funded a 50-inch touchscreen that serves as a comprehensive data hub. This hub allows students to record and track essential information pertaining to the honeybee colonies.

“This cutting-edge technology will enable us to actively collaborate and share valuable insights with neighboring schools and organizations, fostering a collaborative network dedicated to honeybee education and conservation,” Dillman explained.

The data hub is paired with an observation unit that Dillman created, which allows local community members and classes to observe the beehives and beekeepers in action. The team calls it their “Honeybee Education Center.”

“It allows them to be immersed in it. It gives them tools to go off into the future, and … they’re learning skills that can carry them forward.”

Taking the information students learn in their textbooks and applying it to real-life lessons is what Dillman says education is all about.

“It allows them to be immersed in it,” he said. “It gives them tools to go off into the future, and even if they don’t have their own bee colonies, they’re learning skills that can carry them forward.”

A multi-year grant winner, Dillman has used each of his awards to build upon the hives and pollination gardens.

“These grants have supported aspects of this whole thing, so without them, we may have never started this project,” Dillman said.

With the project now benefiting students from elementary to high school, Jones-Onslow EMC says projects like the apiary show the impact that local educators are making in their community.

Digital Extras

Watch Brandon Dillman’s students suit up and get hands-on experience with beekeeping at carolinacountry.com/extras

“Brandon is a shining example of what the Bright Ideas program is all about. He has gone above and beyond with his grant proposals, creating projects that will have a lasting impact for years,” said Krystal Phillips, communications and community relations director at Jones-Onslow EMC.

“From the start, Brandon wasn’t just thinking about a one-time project—he wanted to make a real difference for his students. With projects like his bee sanctuary and pollinator gardens, he’s teaching valuable life skills that his students will carry with them.”

—Josh Conner, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Josh Conner

Poultry Education Nonprofit Hosts UK Delegation

Edgecombe-Martin County EMC funds educational tool

In August, a dignitary delegation from the United Kingdom hosted by the U.S. Department of State visited Edgecombe County for something the region uniquely excels at: poultry farming and education.

The delegation visited the NC Center for Poultry Education in Pinetops, an educational nonprofit organization sited on a commercial, family-owned poultry farm owned by S & N Enterprises LLC and served by Tarborobased Edgecombe-Martin County EMC. The Center operates in collaboration with Perdue Farms, Hog Slat, the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, NC State University, the University of Mount Olive and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The centerpiece for presentations during the international visit was a Promethean ActivPanel interactive display, made possible with funds donated by EdgecombeMartin County EMC and a matching grant from North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives ($2,000 and $5,000 donations, respectively).

“Our co-op was made aware of the Center’s need for a smart board to better deliver educational and informational outreach,” said Edgecombe-Martin County EMC CEO Winston Howell. “We were determined to meet their need in time for the international delegation visit, and we worked with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives to quickly make funds available. The Center provides invaluable support to FFA, 4-H, and other educational

CAROLINA COUNTRY SCENES

Photo Contest

Send us your best photos of Carolina people or scenes! We’ll pay $50 for those published in the Carolina Country Scenes section of our January 2025 issue.

Rules

Deadline: Nov. 15, 2024

One entry per household

Submit high resolution digital photos online; print photos need to be at least 5 x 7 inches.

Include your name, electric co-op, mailing address and email address or phone number

If you want your print returned, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. (We will not return others.)

Send to

If you did not take the photo you are submitting, please tell us who did so that we can appropriately recognize the photographer.

We retain reprint and online rights for all submissions.

Payment will be limited to those entries appearing in print only, not entries featured solely on carolinacountry.com

Find the full terms and conditions at carolinacountry.com/photocontest

Online: carolinacountry.com/photocontest No emails, please. Mail:

agricultural programs, and Edgecombe-Martin County EMC was happy to assist its efforts in this way.”

One current focus of the Center is to counter misinformation about the poultry industry that influences consumer behavior and impacts agricultural production. In hosting the delegation from the United Kingdom, it was tasked with addressing misinformation about animal agriculture in the United States.

“The visit was a success, and we had great conversation with the delegates about our nation’s agricultural system. The support we received from Edgecombe-Martin County EMC ensured we could put our best foot forward and present materials in a dynamic, engaging way,” said Steven Brake, CEO of the NC Center for Poultry Education. “By improving education at various levels — from primary and secondary to university, extension and professional levels — consumers will make more informed choices, ensuring the industry’s sustainability in the long run.”

FROM BOX TO BOWL

A CO-OP PARTNERSHIP PUTS FARM TECH IN THE HANDS OF DUPLIN COUNTY STUDENTS

BY SCOTT GATES

It’s cool and quiet in the narrow room, dark but for a glowing vertical matrix of red and blue LEDs. Their light merges to cast a purple glow on walls of leafy cabbage and collards. Katlyn Foy, an agricultural instructor at James Sprunt Community College, walks along the crops, motioning to the back of the room.

“The water tank is there, connected to the irrigation system, and back in the corner is what we call ‘the brain’ — that controls everything, from water flow and light to the nutrient mix,” she explains. “It’s constantly monitoring and adjusting.

There are a lot of moving parts, and it all works together.”

Katlyn is in what looks like a 40-foot freight container on a back corner of James Sprunt's West Park Campus in Warsaw. From the outside, the container is fairly unassuming, aside from an eye-catching paint job declaring “Box to Bowl: Fresh greens growing inside.” On the inside, however, it’s a futuristic, hyperefficient hydroponic farm, growing the equivalent of two acres of crops in half the time.

Four County EMC and James Sprunt, along with support from North

Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, Duplin County and the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund, partnered on the container farm to offer students a hands-on introduction to agricultural and crop management.

“A large portion of our members work in the agriculture field, and we saw this partnership as an opportunity to introduce technology that could benefit an industry that is very important to eastern North Carolina,” said Greg Sager, vice president of member services at Burgaw-based Four County EMC.

Katlyn Foy (center) with continuing education students at James Sprunt Community College.

SP Murray

CONTAINER TECH

James Sprunt's farm is one of more than 600 similar containers designed by Freight Farms, growing crops in all manner of external conditions across five continents — from the Canadian wilderness to the Middle Eastern desert. The farms aren’t meant to replace traditional agriculture, but to offer fresh food access 365 days a year to areas that might not otherwise have it.

There’s also the educational component of such a system, which in the case of James Sprunt's farm, is engaging students with both hands-on agricultural experience and cuttingedge farm tech.

There are inherent benefits to hydroponic farming, or growing crops without soil, in a controlled environment like the James Sprunt container, explains Kara Gravinese, innovation and business development analyst for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Nutrients are automatically added to water as needed, and that water is recycled from grow beds as well as condensation from the container’s HVAC system. The container is designed to use around 5 gallons of water a day, or 99% less water than traditional agriculture.

“We’re still assessing the data, but in a high-humidity region like eastern North Carolina, we’re hopeful it will actually be ‘water positive,’ generating more water than it uses,” Kara says.

Depending on operating settings ranging from eco mode to

performance mode, the container farm can produce a yield of crops in around 5 to 6 weeks, from seed to harvest.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to investigate hydroponic technology, including how we can grow food with less resources like land and water, while making more efficient use of labor hours,” Kara says. “Students are also learning business management, gaining an understanding of the economics of running a financially viable farm, and learning how to

continued on page 12

(Left to right) Four County EMC CEO Don Gatton with Kristen Hole, Greg Sager and Katlyn Foy

This futuristic, hyper efficient hydroponic farm grows the equivalent of 2 acres of crops in half the time.

Josh Conner SP Murray

analyze and adapt to data trends. Those are all valuable skill sets.”

Kara and her team are working with Four County EMC and James Sprunt to interpret data from the farm and find areas to optimize energy consumption and improve efficiencies, both for Katlyn and her students, and for Freight Farms units across the globe.

“Katlyn’s students are learning advanced technical skills for the management of hydroponic farms, and we’re learning right along with them,” Kara says.

BOX BENEFITS

The controlled nature of the farm presents opportunities, as well as its own set of challenges. Challenges largely relate to maintaining a clean environment without the use of any chemicals. The crops grow pesticideand herbicide-free, and Katlyn keeps the floor and other components clean with a hydrogen peroxide mixture.

She also ensures anyone working or visiting the container makes cleanliness a priority. That includes taking care not to track in any outside soil, which could introduce the plants to disease or pests. Seeds are sorted before planting to ensure they’re free of outside organic matter or, worse, any sign of pests — like dreaded aphids.

“Thankfully we haven’t had a pest issue, but I have heard from some

container farms that have had aphid infestations,” she says. Then again, she explains, controlling pests in a box can be a lot more straight-forward than in open cropland. “With aphids, you can close the container and raise the temperature to 120 degrees. That kills the insects, and the plants are fine.”

The container is also free of growing seasons, allowing students to experiment with a variety of crops year-round.

“In here we can grow whatever we want, when we want,” Katlyn says on a July afternoon. “Right now I’m growing collards and cabbage, and those are winter crops — I’d normally plant those in August in a greenhouse.”

This flexibility can be invaluable to local or regional restaurants, which may crave access to crops that are out of season or otherwise hard to come by. Kara points to one example of this kind of “premium product” being grown by a hydroponic farm in New Jersey.

“Oishii is a company growing a prized variety of Japanese strawberries in a hydroponic environment,” she says. “These berries are typically found in the foothills of the Japanese Alps, but they’re growing them right in Jersey City, year-round.”

During the fall semester, 90 students across several classes have been able to utilize the James Sprunt container farm for hands-on experience, gaining a better understanding of everything

from starting seeds and transplanting, to promoting healthy growth through the right balance of nutrients. And at harvest time, it’s all hands on deck. A recent harvest yielded 330 pounds of produce, all of which is donated to local charities.

“This curriculum equips these students, who are the future of agriculture in our state, with the knowledge to adapt and pivot while remaining within the agricultural sector,” said Kristen Hole, innovative electrification specialist at Four County EMC.

Katlyn credits support from Four County EMC with making the project feasible, in turn better equipping local community college students for the future.

“Without the support of local cooperatives, students would not be able to learn about agriculture in the capacity that they are right now. I try to do what I can to get students set for the workforce, or to prepare them for university — your education is something no one can ever take from you,” she says. “Even if you don’t go into agriculture, it’s important to learn about and understand. Without it, the world wouldn’t work.”

Scott Gates is editor for Carolina Country magazine. Josh Conner, communications specialist for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, contributed to this article.

Grow plugs are placed into the nursery to receive nutrient rich water and special LED lights.

James Sprunt students utilize the container farm for hands-on experience.

HOW VEGETABLES GROW INSIDE THIS METAL BOX

After placing seeds into ‘grow plugs,’ the seedlings will be moved into the nursery area where they will germinate & start their lives! Here they will be provided with nutrient rich water and special LED lights for 2–3 weeks.

There is enough room to grow up to 4,600 seedlings in the nursery area!

WHAT’S IN THE GROW PLUG?

• Coconut husk and peat moss

• It holds its shape better than traditional soil.

varies

The sturdy seedlings will be transplanted into the cultivation area — this is where they will grow to their full maturity.

The mature seedlings will be placed in plant panels among 4 different grow walls & spaced according to by crop variety/size into 5 grow channels.

HOW MUCH WILL IT GROW?

• There is enough room to grow close to 8,000 crops in the cultivation area!

1 2 3

Produce will then be packaged and distributed throughout the school & community! NURSERY GROWING

After the crops grow in the cultivation area for 3–4 weeks , it’s time to harvest.

Fall Into Comfort: Preparing Your Home for Cooler Weather

Before the cooler Carolina weather commences, there are some simple changes you can make around your home to keep it cozy while prioritizing energy efficiency. Here are some practical tips to prepare your home for the colder months around the corner.

Caulk Gaps Around Doors and Windows

Even the smallest cracks around your doors and windows can let warm air escape and cold air seep in, leading to higher heating bills. Sealing these gaps can help maintain a comfortable temperature in your home and reduce the workload on your heating system, saving you energy and money.

Insulate Your Water Heater

Water heaters can lose heat through the tank’s walls, so your heater must work harder to maintain the desired temperature. Adding insulation in the form of a water heater blanket can help reduce heat loss and improve efficiency.

Adjust the Water Heater Temperature

Speaking of your water heater, consider setting the temperature to 120°F. Even a slight adjustment can help reduce energy consumption while providing plenty of hot water for your family’s needs.

Replace Your Air Filters

Regularly replacing your air filters helps your HVAC system maintain good airflow and ensures your heating system operates efficiently. A dirty filter can restrict airflow, causing your system to work harder and use more energy. By changing the air filter once a month, you’ll not only improve your home’s energy efficiency but also enhance indoor air quality.

Join Our Energy-Saving Programs

Signing up for our programs can also help you save money during the colder months. Our time-of-day program offers lower electricity rates during off-peak hours, allowing you to shift energy-intensive activities like laundry to off-peak times to reduce energy costs.

Our water heater load management program is another option to consider, which pays a monthly $1 bill credit for participation. Once enrolled, your electric water heater will cycle off to reduce energy usage. In most cases, you will not notice when your tank cycles off, as it will have a reserve of hot water ready for use. Start making these simple changes today for a more efficient fall and winter.

IMPORTANT DATES

Sept. 27 - Oct. 6

National Drive Electric Week

October

National Co-op Month

Oct. 1

EV Event in Carrboro Plaza from 2-4 p.m.

Oct. 16

Winter Time-of-Day Rate

Schedule Begins

Shift your energy use on weekday mornings away from 6-10 a.m.

16 Spotlight on Our Coop Values: Democratic Member Control

17 Serving on the Piedmont Electric Board of Directors

18 Scare Away Energy Vampires and Phantom Loads This Halloween

October is National Co-op Month!

Check out our Carolina Country cover wrap to learn more.

Spotlight on Our Co-op Values: Democratic Member Control

As we celebrate National Co-op Month in October, we recognize the unique values of the cooperative structure. On the inside front cover of this month’s issue of Carolina Country, you’ll see the seven cooperative principles that drive what we do, including the second one, “Democratic Member Control.”

This principle means our members have a direct say in how the co-op runs. This democratic approach makes our cooperative more responsive and connected to the people we serve. So participate in April of each year by voting in the annual board election.

What It Means to Serve on Our Board

Our board members play an essential role in ensuring that our organization adheres to its principles and effectively serves our members’ best interests. Board members help guide our cooperative. They also stay up-to-date on industry trends and regulations to make smart decisions that benefit our members.

What sets electric cooperatives apart from traditional electric utilities is that we are member-controlled and not driven by shareholders. As a not-for-profit co-op, decisions are made with our members’ best interests in mind rather than the bottom line. This approach means our cooperative’s policies and initiatives reflect what our members want and need. Visit pemc.coop/board to learn more about the duties and responsibilities of our board members and view the bylaws.

How to Become a Board Member

We are often asked why our elections are uncontested. The simple answer is that there are not always multiple members interested in running for the board. If you’d like to run for the board, the first step is to check the qualifications listed in section 4.02 of our bylaws. If you meet the qualifications, email Piedmont.Board@pemc.coop with your name, address and interest in a director position. Doing this will help us verify your membership and qualifications and determine if your district is up for election at the next annual meeting.

Our districts include the following:

• Orange County: Districts 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9

• Alamance County: Districts 2 and 3

• Caswell County: Districts 3 and 4

• Person County: Districts 5, 6, 7 and 8

• Granville County: Districts 6 and 7

• Durham County: Districts 8 and 9

Serving on the Piedmont Electric Board of Directors

As your local electric co-op, Piedmont Electric Cooperative is guided by a board of directors composed of nine members from across our service area. These board members provide guidance and oversight and help shape the strategic direction of the cooperative alongside our staff. This member-driven process sets us apart from other electric utilities, ensuring that the local needs of Piedmont Electric members are heard and met. Directors are elected on a three-year rotation, nominated by a committee of members, and must meet the requirements outlined below.

The following is an excerpt from our bylaws about nominations.

SECTION 4.06. Nominations.

(A) NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

It shall be the duty of the Board to appoint a Nominations Committee consisting of nine (9) persons who are members but are not directors or close relatives of directors, and who are so selected that each of the Cooperative’s Directorate Districts shall have one representative thereon. The Committee shall meet and nominate candidates for each of the Cooperative’s Directorate Districts to be elected at the next annual meeting. The Committee shall nominate at least one (1) nominee for each such District and may nominate more than one (1) nominee for each such District. The Committee shall show clearly each nominee(s) and the Directorate District for which they are nominated. The Committee shall ensure that all members nominated meet the qualifications to serve as a director set forth in section 4.02. The Committee shall meet as necessary in order to complete its nominations no later than

thirty days preceding the deadline for nomination by petition as is set forth in the following subsection to provide the opportunity for any qualified member who desires to be placed on the ballot at the upcoming annual meeting but not nominated by the Committee, to seek nomination by petition as set forth in the following subsection.

(B) NOMINATIONS BY PETITION

Any fifty (50) or more members of the Cooperative, acting together, may make additional nominations in writing over their signatures, in like manner listing the nominees separately with respect to the Directorate Districts from which they are nominated, on or before January 14 preceding the annual meeting at which such directors are to be elected. Any member nominated by petition as a candidate for any Directorate must meet the qualifications to serve as a director set forth in section 4.02 before the nominee’s name may be placed on the ballot for election at the annual meeting.

(C) PROVIDING NOTICE OF ELECTIONS

The Secretary shall communicate to the members through any publication routinely used by the Cooperative for communication with the membership on a monthly basis or by electronic means at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting, the names of all nominees for each such district, showing separately those nominated by the Committee and those nominated by petition, if any.

(D) POSTING OF NOMINATIONS

Once the signatures of the members on any petition and the qualifications to serve of the nominees are verified, the names of all nominees for each directorate district shall be posted at the principal office of the Cooperative. The Posted Notice of all nominees shall show the directorate for which each nominee seeks election as director and may indicate those nominated by the nominations committee and those nominated by petition.

Revised 9/19/22

Nominating Committee Meets Nov. 23

OFFICIAL NOTICE

Three seats on the Piedmont Electric board of directors are up for election in 2025. These seats are currently held by Stephen C. Long (District 4), Darren Chalk (District 6) and Richal Vanhook (District 9). As a reminder, there will be no voting at the annual meeting. All voting will be conducted online or by mail-in ballot. Districts 1, 2 and 5 will be up for election in 2026 and Districts 3, 7 and 8 in 2027.

The members serving on the nominating committee are:

JOE CURRIN

Chapel Hill, District 1

GREG MARTIN

Mebane, District 2

GREGORY RUDD

Yanceyville, District 3

DIANNE MURPHY

Mebane, District 4

ADAM SARVER

Roxboro, District 5

MARK RAMEY

Roxboro, District 6

MARTIN A. DAVIS

Timberlake, District 7

ALVIS LONG

Hillsborough, District 8

SYLVIA WADE

Rougemont, District 9

Scare Away Energy Vampires and Phantom Loads This Halloween

As Halloween creeps closer, it’s not just ghosts and goblins we need to be wary of–your home might also be haunted by something spooky. Energy vampires, or phantom loads, are stealthy power drainers that can drive up your electricity bills without you even noticing.

Understanding these energy fiends and how to identify them can help you save money and make your home more energy efficient.

Energy Vampires and Phantom Loads Lurking in Your Home

Energy vampires are devices and appliances that continue to draw power even when turned off or in standby mode. Think of phone chargers left plugged in, gaming consoles on pause or microwaves with digital clocks. These sneaky devices suck electricity all day and night, much like a vampire silently draining its victim’s energy.

Although each device may only use a small amount of electricity on its own, together, these phantom loads can add up to a significant portion of your energy consumption, haunting your electricity bills month after month.

Beware of Utility Scams: Protect Yourself and Your Community

Utility scams are unfortunately common and can happen to anyone, not just members of Piedmont Electric Cooperative. Because everyone has utility bills, scammers often target utility companies, posing as legitimate employees or representatives to steal money or personal information.

At Piedmont Electric, we want to reassure you that we will never demand immediate payment or threaten to disconnect your service without prior notice. Our priority is to work with our members to resolve any

PIEDMONT ELECTRIC CONNECTION

How to Identify These Spooky Phenomenons Around Your Home

To uncover these hidden energy users, visit pemc.coop/energy-calculators and use our online energy calculators. These tools can help you identify which devices in your home are the biggest culprits of wasted energy. By inputting information about your appliances and electronics, these calculators can estimate their energy usage so you know how much they impact your bill.

The Scary-Good Value of Electricity

With Halloween around the corner, it’s the perfect time to compare the cost of electricity to some of our favorite festive purchases.

issues and avoid service interruptions. We are always here to verify any information you need, and we can research visits, payments and account details in our system.

While we can’t prevent scammers from attempting to impersonate us, we are committed to protecting your account. Here’s how you can stay safe:

1. Visit SmartHub for real-time account balances.

2. Call 800.222.3107 to speak with a member service representative (MSR) or use our automated payment line to check your balance and due date.

• For the price of a Halloween-themed inflatable lawn decoration, you can run your washing machine for 1,650 hours, so your favorite costumes are always clean.

• For the price of a pack of Halloween party decorations, you can stay cozy under an electric blanket for 631 hours.

• For the price of a haunted forest ticket, you can use your microwave for 275 hours, making popcorn for a scary movie marathon.

*Energy use estimates come from energy.gov and include a washer that uses 255 Watts per hour, a $50 lawn inflatable, an electric blanket that uses 400 Watts per hour, a $30 pack of Halloween party decorations, a microwave that uses 1500 Watts per hour and a $49 haunted forest ticket.

3. Remember that we will always communicate with you about a planned visit, announce our arrival or leave a door hanger for visits.

If you ever suspect a scam, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 800.222.3107 By notifying Piedmont Electric about potential scams, you help protect yourself and our community. Together, we can create the first line of defense against fraud.

Published monthly for the members of Piedmont Electric Cooperative. Piedmont Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Hillsborough and Roxboro Drive-Thru Hours: Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Caswell Drive-Thru Hours: Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Offices are closed except for scheduled appointments. Available by phone or website chat Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Report outages, make payments and access account information by phone 24-hours-a-day by calling 800.222.3107

You can also pay your bill online at pemc.smarthub.coop.

2500 NC Highway 86 South PO Drawer 1179 Hillsborough, NC 27278

Jordan Overbee President & General Manager

DIRECTORS

Randy Kinley, Chair

Steven P. Bailey, Vice Chair

David Poythress, Secretary

Richal Vanhook, Treasurer

Darren Chalk, Stephen C. Long, V.Kay Scurlock-Ferguson, Jimmy Thomas & Cyrus Vernon

Opt in for text alerts by texting “pemc” to 800.222.3107. Once you’ve opted in, report an outage by texting “#out” to 800.222.3107 or "#status" for an update on your outage.

Our automated outage reporting system uses your phone number to determine your service location. Update the phone number connected to your account online through SmartHub, by completing the form on your monthly bill or by calling 800.222.3107.

Use the SmartHub app to report an outage or online at pemc.smarthub.coop/#reportanissue: with your SmartHub login.

Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for our system to recognize new cell phone numbers in the text outage alert program.

Smart Storage

Pair storage with energy savings in your attic

By Miranda Boutelle

One hiding spot for energy savings in homes is also a common location for storing holiday decorations and infrequently used sentimental items: the attic.

Using your attic for storage is tempting but, if not done properly, can be problematic when trying to maximize your home’s energy efficiency. Let’s explore how you can improve insulation levels and properly store items in your attic.

Attic insulation is one of the best low-cost ways to make your home efficient. People often associate insulation with keeping your home warmer in the winter, but it also provides benefits in the summer. Insulation reduces heat transfer from the attic to the house, which lowers energy bills for air conditioning and makes your home more comfortable.

Attic insulation is measured in R-value, which is a measurement of how well a material resists the flow of heat. For attic insulation, thicker is better (the higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power). The recommended R-value is typically between R-38 and R-60, depending on regional climate. North Carolina building code requires at least R-38 for ceilings and in the attic. In most homes, the ceiling joists are buried in insulation to achieve the recommended R-value.

The problem with attic storage is it typically doesn’t offer enough space for the recommended R-value. Often, plywood or boards are placed directly on top of the ceiling joists, which isn’t enough space for the insulation. Insulation can get compacted by people moving items in or out, reducing the effective R-value.

Ideally, the attic would not be used for storage so it can be properly insulated, but that’s not feasible for everyone.

Here are some strategies for maintaining attic storage and recommended insulation levels.

The best location for attic storage is over an unconditioned area of your home, such as the garage. You don’t need insulation in attic spaces over a garage or unconditioned area because you are not heating or cooling the space below. This makes it the perfect spot to tuck away items for storage.

If that isn’t an option, consider minimizing the number of stored items or the storage area’s footprint. A great way to do this is by building an attic storage platform. A raised platform allows the space underneath it to be fully insulated. These platforms are available in ready-to-install kits, or you can buy materials and build them yourself.

Allow enough space underneath the platform to achieve the proper R-value. Use lumber to build a frame perpendicular to the existing joists and cover it with plywood or oriented strand board. Once your storage area is set up, add insulation inside the platform to bring the R-value up to the proper level.

Your attic might also have trusses that allow you to build shelves and maximize space by storing items vertically. Always wear a dust mask or respirator when working in the attic. Don’t forget to weatherstrip the attic hatch to ensure a tight seal (see “Batten Down the Hatch,” October 2023, page 20). Take a look around your attic to see if you can find any hidden opportunities for energy savings.

This column was written by Miranda Boutelle of the Efficiency Services Group. Visit CarolinaCountry.com/your-energy for more ideas on energy efficiency.

By Ryan Newlon

Crack Down on CYBERCRIME

How to secure connected devices on your home network

Every day, we are integrating more smart devices into our home networks, often without a second thought. From smart light bulbs to connected kitchen appliances, our homes are becoming increasingly interconnected. While controlling our environments with a smartphone can open up a world of convenience and efficiency, it also brings a host of security concerns that must be considered.

“October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and while we should always be vigilant of the latest cyber threats and risks, this is a great time of year to consider simple steps we can take to make our digital lives more secure,” says Brian Burnett, director of cybersecurity for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

When you bring new connected devices into your home, it’s crucial to understand what you’re adding to your network and how to do so securely. If you connect devices without understanding the implications, you could be opening the door to potential problems. Remember, manufacturers typically prioritize functionality and profit over security. They deliver the basics of what you need, leaving you responsible for securing the rest.

To help you navigate this complex landscape, here are a few tips to help you secure connected devices on your home network.

Secure your router (or modem). Your router comes with a default ID assigned by the manufacturer. Consider changing the router name to one that is unique to you. You should also change the router’s default password to a stronger one that is at least 12 characters long and includes letters, numbers and symbols. Speaking of passwords ...

Be smart about passwords. Remember to change default login passwords on all devices, and use strong, unique passwords for every device and online account. Avoid reusing passwords, and if you have trouble remembering them, enlist the help of a password manager. These services automate passwords, creating and saving passwords that are complex, random and secure. Some are free, some are available for a low subscription fee, so research which one might be best for you and your family.

Know what you’re connecting to your home network. Understand the purpose of each device on your network. If possible, keep your most critical devices on a separate network from your smart home gadgets to minimize risk. Many routers allow you to create a secondary (guest) network, which can be used to separate your smart devices from other connected electronics, like your laptop. This will prevent a hacker who finds their way in through, say, a smart doorbell account (it’s been done) from accessing every other device on your network.

Cyber threats don’t stop at our front door, which is why electric cooperatives are deeply committed to staying on top of the latest cybersecurity practices. “ “

Set devices to update automatically. Most device manufacturers roll out updates to resolve bugs and enhance functionality. You should be able to select an “automatic update” option to ensure your devices include the latest security patches and features.

Feeling overwhelmed? Find a cyber buddy. Connect with a family member, friend or even a neighbor in your community who is tech-savvy. You can also check to see if your Internet Service Provider (ISP) offers support.

Taking steps toward better cybersecurity habits is about ownership, vigilance and proactive measures. With so much technology at our fingertips, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Remember: it’s a journey, so if you find managing multiple devices cumbersome, consider simplifying your digital surroundings. Being proactive now can prevent cyber issues down the line.

“Cyber threats don’t stop at our front door, which is why electric cooperatives are deeply committed to staying on top of the latest cybersecurity practices,” Brian says. “North Carolina’s electric co-ops support each other in these efforts, and we belong to a national network of hundreds of co-ops, all working together to learn about the latest risks and share our experiences.”

Staying informed in this digital age can turn challenges into stepping stones that increase our overall security. Together, we can secure our digital lives and support each other through the complexities of the modern age. Let’s take these steps together and build a safer digital future for everyone.

Ryan Newlon is principal, cybersecurity for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Is Your Identity Secure?

Take steps to protect yourself from a recent data breach

In August, a Florida-based background check company called National Public Data acknowledged that the personal information of nearly 3 million Americans had been stolen in a cyberattack. What’s worse, much of that data had been offered for sale on the “dark web,” including names, email addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers and mailing addresses. With access to this information, a criminal could commit fraud like opening credit accounts in someone else’s name, collecting unemployment insurance, or accessing Social Security benefits.

Was your information a part of this breach? Take these steps to be sure.

 See if your name was part of the breach. Never enter your full social security number on a site that claims to help with this. A reputable cybersecurity firm, Pentester, offers a search tool at npd.pentester.com that only requires your name, state and birth year.

 If your name isn’t on the list, still consider using an identify theft protection service to make sure your information stays secure.

 If your name is on the list, don’t panic, but do take action.

Strongly consider placing a credit freeze with each of the three credit bureaus. (Yes, you’ll have to place a freeze with each separately.) This will prevent each bureau from sharing your credit report with others, which is a necessary step when doing things like buying a car or opening a credit card. You can unfreeze your accounts at any point if you need to make such a transaction. Place a freeze online or contact each by phone: Equifax | equifax.com | 1-800-525-6285

Experian | experian.com | 1-888-397-3742

TransUnion | transunion.com | 1-800-680-7289

 If you have not done so already, visit ssa.gov/myaccount to create a personal “my Social Security” account with the U.S. Social Security Administration. This ensures no one else will create an account with your information, and allows you to check for any suspicious activity and manage Social Security benefits.

If you think someone has gotten into your accounts or has your personal information, visit IdentityTheft.gov There, you’ll find more steps to take to find out if your identity has been misused, and how to report and recover from identity theft.

— Scott Gates, Carolina

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Introducing

world’s lightest mobility scooter with anti-tip technology

Like millions of older Americans, I struggle with mobility. For years, I watched my quality of life slip away, as I was forced to stay home while friends and family took part in activities I’d once enjoyed. I thought I’d made some progress when I got a mobility scooter, but then I realized how hard it was to transport. Taking it apart and putting it back together was like doing a jigsaw puzzle. Once I had it disassembled, I had to try to put all of the pieces in the trunk of a car, go to wherever I was going, and repeat the process in reverse. Travel scooters were easier to transport, but they were uncomfortable and scary to drive, I always felt like I was ready to tip over. Then I found the So Lite® Scooter. Now there’s nothing that can hold me back.

I took my grandkids to the beach and the park last week and I couldn ride all over the park. My scooter stayed charged for 10 hours! I really did enjoy going where ever I wanted to go and I felt so self sufficient that I had to cry of joy!!!!

- Lennette Robinson

Years of work by innovative engineers have resulted in a scooter that’s designed with seniors in mind. They created Electronic Stability Control (ESC) that makes it virtually impossible to tip over. If you try to turn too quickly, the scooter automatically slows down to prevent it from tipping over. The battery provides powerful energy at a fraction of the weight of most batteries. With its rugged yet lightweight aluminum frame, the So Lite® Scooter is the most portable scooter

Why a So Lite® Scooter is better:

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ever—but it can hold up to 275 pounds—yet weighs only 40.8 pounds without the battery! What’s more, it easily folds up for storage in a car seat, trunk or even on an airplane. It folds in seconds without tools and is safe and reliable. Best of all, it’s designed with your safety in mind, from the newest technology and superior craftsmanship. Why spend another day letting your lack of mobility ruin your quality of life? Call now and find out how you can get a So Lite® Scooter of your very own.

CAROLINA VOICES

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE

HALLOWEEN COSTUME?

There’s a certain satisfaction in pulling together that perfect Halloween costume, or helping kids or grandkids transform into superheroes, royalty or (in one reader’s case) a kindly grandma. We asked readers to share their favorite costumes and can only say: bravo. We hope you enjoy these as much as we do.

All for One and One for All

Ask me my favorite holiday, and I will respond “Halloween.” Always has been. I love getting dressed up and sometimes start planning my costume shortly after the new year. We often celebrate in the neighborhood with pizza while handing out treats to the ghouls and goblins making their rounds. Attached is a picture of my husband, mom and me as the three musketeers!

Margaret Matthews, Emerald Isle

A member of Carteret-Craven

Electric Cooperative

Candy for Grandma

Being an old lady was my favorite Halloween costume because my mom spray-painted my hair gray, and my grandpa made me a walker out of pvc pipe. My grandma gave me her glasses and curlers, also. That Halloween was SO fun because I got lots of candy, and I was in the newspaper! In conclusion, my favorite Halloween costume was an old lady.

Brooklynn Carter (age 10), Sanford A member of Central Electric

Christmas in October

My favorite Halloween costume was a homemade gingerbread house. My youngest son, who was 4 years old at the time (2021), LOVED gingerbread houses (or “candy houses,” as he called them). Ever since the previous Christmas, he was hooked. He loved to draw them, color pictures of them, build them out of blocks or Playdough, and occasionally Graham crackers and whipped topping with sprinkles and berries. He even requested a gingerbread house birthday cake that year. So it seemed an obvious choice when he asked to be, not a gingerbread man, but a gingerbread house for Halloween. I worked my crafty hands and with his specific candy requests we created the perfect costume. We had the best time wishing people “Merry Christmas” as we trick-or-treated around the neighborhood. He was glowing (literally) as the house was equipped with lights, as well as his sweet smile! We did, however, realize that his arms weren't long enough to get the candy from one hand to his bag — I'm no architect — but it didn't stop him from filling up his candy bag with the help of big brother and friends.

It was a costume we still talk about each year with smiles. And sometimes it makes its way down from the attic with our Christmas decorations and the sweet memories circle around again.

Mary Beth Barts, Newport A member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

A Family Legacy of Haunting

I sure do remember my favorite Halloween costume: It was October 2004. My family has always loved Halloween, and helped Pleasant Grove and Albertson VFD with their trails. I was about 8 years old when they started helping Glenwood Farms with their haunted house. I hate to admit it, but I was a little scared of all the horror stuff, but they talked me into hiding in a big 152-quart cooler, and I would pop out and scare people. Needless to say, I was hooked.

For Halloween in 2004, William, my brother, was dressed as Leatherface [from “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”] so I wanted to be Leatherface, too. The picture shows me in the middle with William on the left and Daddy on the right. Notice my plastic chainsaw — I was one happy little boy. I will always remember this as one of the best times of my life. I was with my daddy and brother, and I had on my favorite Halloween costume.

I met my future wife, Laramie, at Glenwood Farms when we were 13, and we continued to help Glenwood Farms each year until they closed. The next year or so Daddy had the opportunity to purchase an old farmhouse. We all decided we would open our own haunted house, so now my family owns and operates a successful haunted house named Marr Branch. You can see my favorite costume has a lot of meaning to me as we continue Marr Branch Haunted House (marrbranchhauntedhouse.com).

Jon-Blaney Jones, Mount Olive, a member of Tri-County EMC

Souped Up

My favorite Halloween costume is one I made my grandson (who is now 20), when he was three years old. I always made my grandchildren costumes every year, and when I asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween (thinking he would say a ninja or something like that) he said, “a can of chicken noodles soup.” Okay, so I made him a costume that year and won first place.

Mary Park, Littleton A member of Halifax EMC

DECEMBER’S QUESTION: What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

Submit your answer (roughly 200 words) and any related photos for a chance to be in an upcoming issue. We retain reprint rights, and we’ll pay $50 for those we publish in the print version of the magazine.

Deadline: Oct. 31

Online: carolinacountry.com/voices

No emails, please.

Mail:

AVA GARDNER FESTIVAL

The celebration of Ava Gardner’s life runs Friday, Oct. 4– 6 at the Ava Gardner Museum in downtown Smithfield, 325 E. Market Street. The event will include tours, talks and screenings of Ava’s films. Call 919-934-5830 or visit avagardnerfestival.com for more information.

Ava

THE AVA GARDNER MUSEUM AND FESTIVAL CAPTURES CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD

BY RENEE C. GANNON

lthough no one believes me, I have always been a country girl and still have a country girl's values," Ava Gardner (1922–1990) wrote in her autobiography, “Ava: My Story.”

“Because I was promoted as a sort of a siren and played all those sexy broads, people made the mistake of thinking I was like that off the screen. They couldn’t have been more wrong.”

Born in the small Johnston County community of Grabtown, just outside of Smithfield, Ava Gardner lived that iconic Hollywood star life, but never forgot her roots. Named as one of the top 25 female legends by the American Film Institute, her tobacco farm upbringing served her well in the rough and tumble world of movie

making, taking off with her breakout role as femme fatale Kitty Collins in the 1946 film “The Killers.” Many of her hit movies had a connection to home, including when she played Julie LaVerne in the 1951 film “Showboat,” which is based on North Carolina author Edna Ferber’s 1926 novel. Her role as Maria Vargas in the 1954 film “The Barefoot Contessa” almost mirrored her own life, as a peasant girl discovered for stardom.

Ava never forgot where she came from, often visiting family and friends throughout Johnston County. Her community most certainly never forgot Ava.

THE AVA GARDNER MUSEUM AND FESTIVAL

Dr. Thomas Banks became a lifelong friend of the soonto-be legend from what started as a joke by his 12-year-old self and ended in a kiss on the cheek from college student Ava. That fateful day, according to Ava Gardner Museum

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHNSTON COUNTY CVB

history, young Tommy shouted out “Hey, Girlfriend!” to Ava while she stood around with friends. She surprised him by chasing the young man down and planting one on him in front of his friends, a moment that would never be forgotten. Over the years, he watched as Ava began her film career and stardom. He collected newspaper articles and saved autographed photos, letters and memorabilia that she would send through their lifelong correspondence.

Thomas’ wife, Lorraine, joined him in adding to his collection and also became friends with Ava. The couple even visited her in London, where the discussion of donating their vast memorabilia collection for an exhibit about “the hometown girl makes good” began. Ava Gardner agreed with Thomas and Lorraine’s plans to exhibit the ever-growing collection.

The quest to showcase Ava in her home state of North Carolina took off in the early 1970s, when Doris Cannon, a writer for the Smithfield Herald, began a campaign to honor Ava Gardner in Smithfield. The team formed when Thomas contacted the newspaper looking for Ava photos for his collection.

A temporary exhibit honoring Ava opened in 1979, with a more permanent home for the collection found in 1981 at the old Brogden School Teacherage building, where Ava had attended school (and where Thomas Banks and Ava first met). In 1985, Ava visited the family farm in Grabtown. She and her sisters drove to the Teacherage building, hoping to visit the exhibit, but the building was not yet open, and she declined to bother someone to unlock the door, noting “I know what’s in there, I lived it.”

Thomas passed in 1989. His wife scattered some of his ashes at the Teacherage in honor of all his hard work to create the Ava Gardner Museum. In 1990, Lorraine agreed to donate the Banks collection to the city of Smithfield with the opening of the permanent museum. Finally, in October 2000, a renovated 6,400-square-foot building in downtown Smithfield opened as the Ava Gardner Museum. In 2007, the annual Ava Gardner Festival began on the first weekend of October to commemorate the museum’s opening.

Each year, the festival showcases exhibits, heritage tours, guest speakers and film screenings of Ava Gardner’s movies. For 2024, new exhibits will feature additional movie costumes, and a showcase called “Archiving Ava,” which will display some of Ava’s person belongings and keepsakes she kept from her 44-year Hollywood career. This year’s festival includes the showing of “Pandora and the Flying Dutchman” at the local amphitheater and “Mogambo” at the Howell Theater, as well as a discussion at the museum theater with Film Historian Rob Davis on 100 years of filmmaking. On the festival’s final day, the museum will present the premiere of the “Ava Gardner Centennial Documentary Short.”

The museum’s memorabilia collection continues to grow, with film scripts and posters, lobby cards, Gardner family and personal artifacts, portraits, costumes

and other items honoring the life and career of one of Hollywood’s greatest stars. In 2022, the Ava Gardner Mural on the side of the museum was unveiled, created by Greensboro graffiti artist/muralist Brian Lewis, aka JEKS (see his Andy Griffith mural in our August 2024 issue, page 28).

The mural overlooks a rose garden — yellow roses were a particular favorite of Ava’s. After their divorce, her third husband, Frank Sinatra, sent her a bouquet of yellow roses every year on her birthday. Although he didn’t attend her funeral in 1990, he did send one final bouquet, along with a note that read, “All my love, Francis.”

Ava’s gravesite is located just two miles from the museum in Sunset Memorial Park, not far from the tobacco farm she once called home.

Renee C. Gannon is the senior associate editor of Carolina Country.

The Ava Gardner Mural created by JEKS

e Gold Rush of 2024

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ere, amidst the darkness, lies the prize we seek — veins of gold, glimmering like stars in the night sky.

Now picture this: a ring, not just any ring, mind you, but a masterpiece crafted to adorn the fingers of the discerning. Crafted with meticulous care, each piece encasing ribbons of 24 karat gold in a Tungsten setting, whispering tales of luxury and prestige.

Meticulously crafted and amazingly comfortable, you will not find anything like this in a jewelry store. As gold prices skyrocket, we have been able to craft this and hold the price under $100 making it exclusively available with only 495 reserved for this ad. And of course we offer a 30 day no questions asked guarantee.

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Crispy Topped Sheet Pan Fish

With glazed sweet potato fries

Sheet pan suppers: there’s no quicker, easier way to get a healthy, yummy meal on the table.

This version of “fish and chips” checks that box and is family-friendly, too.

Crumb topping

1 bag (2-ounce) pork rinds

1½ cups parmesan cheese, grated

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon seafood seasoning (we used Old Bay)

1 tablespoon dried dill weed

Fish

2 pounds (or so) thick boneless white fish fillets (we used cod)

Salt and pepper

¾ cup mayonnaise

Potatoes

3 medium sweet potatoes, washed and cut into ½-inch wedges

¹/₃ cup oil

1 tablespoon favorite seasoning blend (we used Italian)

Cumin

Brown sugar

Salt

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking pan with foil.

Combine all topping ingredients and pulse in a food processor into fine crumbs. Place fish pieces onto a plate and top with salt, pepper, mayonnaise and crumbs. Set aside.

Toss sweet potatoes with oil, seasoning and a sprinkling of cumin. Scatter in a single layer on the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven.

Turn wedges and lightly dust with salt and sugar. Nestle fish pieces among potatoes and return pan to oven. Continue baking 15–18 minutes or until the fish is done and the crumbs are browned. Serve immediately.

Note: The topping is best made and used at the time of cooking.

Yield: 4–6 servings

Digital Extra

Visit carolinacountry.com/recipes to search more than 1,000 recipes by name or ingredient.

From Your Kitchen

Pistachio Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

The salty tang of seasonal nuts meets the bright flavor of cranberries and the two invite oats and cinnamon along for the ride. No complaints about this union!

1 cup butter, softened

1¹/₃ cups light brown sugar, packed

¾ cups sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup dried cranberries

2 cups oats, quick

¾ cups shelled pistachios, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together butter and sugars; add eggs and vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda. Slowly add this dry mixture to your creamed ingredients to make the cookie dough.

In another bowl, combine cranberries, oats and pistachios. Stir.

Slowly add the cranberry mixture to the cookie dough until the cranberries, oatmeal and pistachios are evenly distributed throughout. The dough may seem dry (this is okay).

Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.

Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool on rack.

Yield: 4 dozen cookies

Red cabbage’s deep hue reveals a more nutritious choice than its green counterpart, thanks to more Vitamin E, C and beta carotene. And its earthy taste delivers big flavor in this pickled slaw, the perfect topper for hot dogs and more. Plus, it’s extra pretty with splashy yellow pineapple mixed in!

1 small head of red cabbage, shredded

1 medium red onion, cut into thin slivers

3–4 green onions, chopped

2–3 celery sticks, diced

1 can (8-ounce) crushed pineapple in juice

1 can (8-ounce) pineapple tidbits in juice

Salt and pepper to your taste

½ cup sweet pickle juice

¹/₃ cup light oil

Toss all ingredients together, putting aside a few tidbits of green onion for garnish. Let the slaw marinate for several hours or overnight before serving. Keeps up to about 10 days in the refrigerator.

Yield: 8 servings

Recipe courtesy of Pam Rowell of Indian Trail, a member of Union Power

Marinated Red Cabbage and Pineapple Slaw

October Events

OCT. 19–20

Woolly Worm Festival Historic Banner Elk School, Banner Elk 828-898-5605

OCT. 4–5

Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival Oriental Village, Oriental 502-345-4771

Valley Hills Antique Power Club Tractor Show Catawba Meadows Park, Morganton 828-413-1055

Antiques Street Fair Historic Downtown Cameron 910-245-3212

OCT. 4–6

Ava Gardner Festival

Film screenings, food, exhibits Ava Gardner Museum, Smithfield 919-934-5839

OCT. 5

Autumn Fest Clay Street, Mebane 919-304-3737

OCT. 5–NOV. 24 (weekends)

Carolina Renaissance Festival 16445 Poplar Tent Rd, Huntersville 704-896-5555

OCT. 5–27

Pumpkin Extravaganza Red Wolf Farm, Maiden 828-999-8099

OCT. 6

Wine Festival

Thistle Meadow Winery, Laurel Springs 336-359-2995

August’s winner

OCT. 12

Intercultural Festival

Riverwalk Park, Belville 910-842-6566

OCT. 12–13

Celtic Festival Fort Defiance, Lenoir 828-758-1671

OCT. 18–19

Historic Hertford Ghost Walk Downtown Hertford 252-426-5657

OCT. 19

AACA Auto Show Big Rock Landing Deck, Morehead City 919-413-2138

OCT. 12

StreetFest and Fireworks Downtown Sanford 919-718-4659

Bill’s Creek Music Festival

Bill’s Creek Community Center, Lake Lure 828-375-7480

NC Grape Festival

Lu Mil Vineyard, Elizabethtown 910-866-5819

Dismal Day

Dismal Swamp State Park, Camden 252-771-8333

Liver Mush Festival Uptown, Shelby 704-484-4750

OCT. 26

Fall Festival

Camp Albemarle, Newport 252-726-4848

The Barbecue Festival Uptown Lexington 336-956-1880

Blowing Rock Halloween Festival Main Street, Blowing Rock 828-295-5222

Visit carolinacountry.com/calendar for more information about each event, including links to the most current information, or to submit your own event.

where in Carolina Country is this?

Send your answer by Oct. 15, with your name, address and the name of your electric cooperative. Online: carolinacountry.com/where

By mail: Where in Carolina Country? 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616

Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our December issue, will receive $25.

Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where

The August “Where Is This” photo by Carolina Country’s Renee Gannon features music legend Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson sitting on a bench with his favorite Gallagher guitar at the corner of King and Depot Streets in downtown Boone. The late Grammy-winning musician was born down the road in Deep Gap. He started MerleFest in nearby Wilkesboro in memory of his son, Merle, and the annual festival still welcomes top musicians from across the country. The bronze “Man of the People” statue, created by the artist Alex Hallmark, serves as a perfect spot to grab a selfie with Doc. In the winter, the statue often sports a scarf around his neck. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Terri Burris of Statesville, an EnergyUnited member.

Todd Bush

NORTH AMERICA’S

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The best walk-in tub just got better with breakthrough technology! Presenting the all new Safe Step Walk-In Tub featuring MicroSoothe. ® An air system so revolutionary, it oxygenates, softens and exfoliates skin, turning your bath into a spa-like experience. Constructed and built right here in America for safety and durability from the ground up, and with more standard features than any other tub.

✓ Heated seat providing warmth from beginning to end

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✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub

✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price

You’ll agree – there just isn’t a better, more affordable walk-in tub on the market.

Powering a Brighter Future

North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives are leading the way to a brighter future for 2.5 million cooperative members and communities through:

Reliability & Innovation

Leveraging new technologies and innovation to deliver reliable electricity across resilient, co‑op operated electric grids.

Affordability & Sustainability

Upholding our commitment to provide electricity to members at the lowest possible cost while working toward net zero carbon emissions at a responsible pace.

Local Community Support

Enriching the lives of our local members through continued education initiatives, economic development and community focused activities.

Supporting the Community With Our Helping Hand Foundation

The goal of the Piedmont Electric Helping Hand Foundation is to help improve the quality of life for those in our service area. Through this foundation, we’re able to provide financial assistance and support to local initiatives, driving community growth and development. Members help fund the foundation by rounding up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar. When we work together to support our community, we all win.

Programs Funded by the Helping Hand Foundation

Thanks to the generous contributions of our members, the Helping Hand Foundation is able to fund a wide range of community programs and projects. One such initiative is the Bright Ideas grant program, which supports local teachers and educators by funding projects for children in our service area.

Funds from the Helping Hand Foundation also support the following initiatives:

• Energy assistance to members going through a tough time

• Basketball camp scholarships for middle school students

• An annual Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., for high school students

• College scholarships

• Food and clothing drives

• Community fire departments, public libraries, schools and community colleges

Thanks to your support, we’ve helped thousands in need since starting the foundation in 2017. You can learn more about how the Helping Hand Foundation impacts our community by visiting pemc.coop/helping-hand-foundation

How to Donate to the Helping Hand Foundation

Members who round up their monthly bills already support the Helping Hand Foundation. However, if you’d like to make an additional, tax-deductible contribution to the foundation, you can do so in the following ways:

• Donating on your bill

• Making a donation online

• Sending a donation by mail

• Donating your most recent capital credits

• Donating your future capital credits

Visit pemc.coop/donate to learn how to submit a donation using any of the above methods. If you have any questions, please contact us at 800.222.3107 or info@pemc.coop.

With the power of our co-op members behind it, the Helping Hand Foundation can make a difference in our communities where it’s needed most. Thank you for your support over the years!

The Cooperative Difference: Your Voice, Your Community, Your Power

Being a member of an electric cooperative is a different experience than being a customer of a traditional electric utility. Here’s what makes being a member of Piedmont Electric Cooperative so special.

You’re a Member-Owner

As a not-for-profit business, our goal is not to make more money for shareholders. Instead, all of our members are also our owners, and our primary goal is to provide safe, reliable electricity at an affordable price and with exceptional service for you.

Money Returns to Our Members

Your local co-op returns margins back to members in the form of capital credits. The amount you receive is based on your electricity use in the year of the margins being returned. To see if you have unclaimed capital credits, visit pemc.coop/capital-credits

Community Benefits

Piedmont Electric is proud to put our members and communities first. We invest in our communities by offering scholarships to students, providing zero-interest loans to local emergency responders, supporting our teachers and building sustainable infrastructure like EV charging stations. Since you live right here in our communities, as a member, you benefit from these initiatives.

Every Member Matters and Has a Voice

As part of our co-op, you can let your voice be heard in our yearly board of directors election. As a cooperative member, you have a say in our leadership, how we operate and the direction we take. We also conduct monthly surveys and annual focus groups to get feedback from those we serve to continue to improve our service.

Access to Money-Saving Programs

When members work together to lower energy use, we can all save money. To make it easier for you to save, we’ve developed energy-saving programs for all of our members. Explore ways to pay a lower rate for the energy you use, get credits back on your bills and more by visiting pemc.coop