South Carolina Living August 2011 by American MainStreet Publications

Stormy Weather

Are you prepared?

SC Sto r i e s

Recipe for success

Augusst 2011

SC Sc e n e

Life on the Waccamaw

Humor Me

Warming trend of stupidity

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THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 65 • No. 8 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240) Read in more than 450,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033 Tel: (803) 926-3 1 75 Fax: (803) 796-6064 Email: letters@scliving.coop EDITOR

Keith Phillips

August 2011 • Volume 65, Number 8

FEATURE

16 Preparing for the worst

You can’t predict or prevent natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods, but you can be prepared for them. Discover the three simple steps that could save your life, and the lives of your loved ones.

FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread 4 CO-OP CONNECTION

SC LIFE

6 ON THE AGENDA

21 Recipe for success

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

Susan Collins PRODUCTION

Andrew Chapman WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Susan Scott Soyars CONTRIBUTORS

Becky Billingsley, Mike Couick, Jim Dulley, Tim Hanson, Erikah Haavie, S. Kim Henson, Carrie B. Hirsch, Jan A. Igoe, Charles Joyner, April A. Morris, Shandi Stevenson, S. Cory Tanner

Take aim at late-summer fun with this month’s round-up of festivals, including Schuetzenfest, Ehrhardt’s annual celebration of marksmanship and hunting. Plus: South Carolina’s electric cooperatives honor two out standing high school students.

POWER USER DIALOGUE

10 Lessons learned

Publisher

Lou Green ADVERTISING MANAGERS

Tel: (800) 984-0887 Dan Covell Email: dan@scliving.coop Keegan Covell Email: 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. ADDRESS CHANGES: Please send

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

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

For anyone who thinks disasters can’t happen here, we have two words for you: Hurricane Hugo. ENERGY Q&A

12 What’s new in heat pumps

New technology has improved the efficiency of air-source heat pumps, making them an even better choice for heating and cooling your home. SMART CHOICE

14 The all-electric kitchen

Home-cooked meals and tasty snacks are just minutes away with these handy kitchen gadgets.

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

SCENE

22 Ten reasons to love Conway

See why this historic city on the banks of the Waccamaw River is growing by leaps and bounds.

GARDENER

26 Growing collard greens

South Carolina’s official state vegetable is delicious, nutritious and easy to grow. TRAVELS

28 Listening to history

Explore the roots of popular American music with a toetapping Smithsonian exhibit. RECIPES

30 Simple summer dishes

Watermelon & date salad Country lemonade Other mother’s okra rice Panko turkey burgers CHEF’S CHOICE

Bleu Voodoo Grill spices up downtown Easley with authentic Cajun cuisine.

Stormy Weather

Are you prepared?

HUMOR ME

38 Hot dumb in the SC Sto r i e S

Recipe for success

SC SC e n e

Life on the Waccamaw

Humor me

Warming trend of stupidity

On the Cover: Graphic evidence of the need to prepare for disasters is found in this enhanced satellite image of Hurricane Hugo coming ashore at Sullivan’s Island on Sept. 21, 1989. Photo: NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer image used courtesy of NASA.

Printed on recycled paper

Kim Nelson’s 15 minutes of fame turned out to be a key ingredient in the launch of her made-fromscratch cake business.

32 Let the good times roll

Augusst 2011

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING is brought to you by your member-owned, taxpaying, not-for-profit electric cooperative to inform you about your cooperative, wise energy use and the faces and places that identify the Palmetto State. Electric cooperatives are South Carolina’s — and America’s — largest utility network.

STORIES

Stephen Hodanish/NOAA/NWS

Cooperative news

ART DIRECTOR

Milton Morris

Pam Martin

summertime

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: Here is our best evidence that sizzling summer heat is making some of us stupid.

34 MARKETPLACE 36 SC EVENTS

Melan ie Stewa rt

PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

On the Agenda For a listing p m co lete s, see of Event 6 page 3

Highlights

AUGUST 26–27

Outstanding students

In 1842, a farmer named West Allen Williams discovered a small mineral spring in Anderson County. Before long, the town now known as Williamston was considered the “Saratoga of the South,” as people from all corners of the globe came to drink its curative water. The Civil War put an end to all that, but the spring still flows today. In fact, it’s the centerpiece of a city park, where each August the residents celebrate their history with a two-day festival. Now in its 30th year, the Spring Water Festival will include a shag dancing contest on Friday night, a 5K Spring Water Run on Saturday, and live music from 17 gospel bands as well as country music legend Earl Thomas Conley. For details, visit springwaterfestival.com or call (864) 847-7361.

Each summer, South Carolina’s electric cooperatives send 46 o utstanding high school students on the Washington Youth Tour, a six-day trip to our nation’s capital designed to teach future leaders about government and politics. Two of the students selected for the 2011 trip were also honored for their individual achievements. Blake Graham, of Pawleys Island, was selected to represent South Carolina on the Youth Leadership Council (YLC) of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Graham attended the YLC Conference,

Spring Water Festival

AUGUST 18–20

Schuetzenfest

Founded by German immigrants and populated by avid hunters, the town of Ehrhardt celebrates the arrival of the fall hunting season with Schuetzenfest, which translates as “marksmen’s festival.” However you say it, the down-home celebration is always a good time. Attendees will enjoy a parade featuring camouflaged vehicles, gospel performances by local church choirs and live bands playing on Friday and Saturday nights. For details, visit ehrhardtsc.com or call (866) 241-3294.

SEPTEMBER 1–11

Upper S.C. State Fair

DEER SEASON SAFETY

Attention all hunters: Before you head into the field this season, visit SCLiving.coop for tips from noted outdoor writer, and York Electric Cooperative member, Jim Casada.

TOP PICK FOR KIDS

From elephant ears, that classic carnival treat consisting of fried batter and powdered sugar, to elephant rides, Greenville’s Upper S.C. State Fair has something for the kid in everyone. This is a classic fair with agricultural exhibits, a petting zoo, midway games and rides, and nightly magic shows for the youngsters. For the bigger kids, there’s also a NASCAR-sanctioned K&N Series short track event at the adjacent Greenville Pickens Speedway, a fun Enduro race for jalopies and an old-fashioned Demolition Derby. For details, visit upperscstatefair.com or call (864) 269-0852.

Web Exclusive

SEPTEMBER 6–10

S.C. Apple Festival

What’s more American than apple pie? How about a rodeo and whitewater rafting? To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the South Carolina Apple Festival in Westminster, there’ll be a group float on the wild and scenic Chattooga River; an apple-licious parade and baking competition; a street festival with rides; a combination street dance and fish fry; crafts and classic cars; and two nights of professional rodeo events. Apple varieties that will be ripe for picking during the festival include Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Gala. For details, visit westminstersc.com or call (864) 647-7223.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

Email COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND GOOD NEIGHBORS TO LETTERS@SCLIVING.COOP

and future leaders July 16–20, in Washington, D.C., where he participated in leadership and teambuilding exercises, meetings with congressional staffers who are “alumni” of past Youth Tours, and a competition to select the NRECA’s National Youth Spokesperson. The experience was “an opportunity to meet other students who have similar goals and the desire to make our nation a better place,” says Graham, who was sponsored by Santee Electric Cooperative. Graham and the other YLC students will also attend the NRECA Annual Meeting in San Diego in

Emily Blackshire, center, with other students on the Washington Youth Tour. At left, Blake Graham visits the Capitol to meet with congressional staffers.

March to assist co-op delegates, participate in the Parade of States at the opening General Session and take part in a variety of educational activities.

Emily Blackshire, of Hilton Head, has been awarded a $2,500 scholarship provided by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. Blackshire, a rising senior at Hilton Head Preparatory School, was selected to receive the R.D. Bennett Scholarship, which is named for Robert D. Bennett, the first manager of the South Carolina

electric cooperatives’ statewide association. “My ambitions in life are simply to make the world a better place, for one person or for millions,” says Blackshire, who represents Palmetto Electric Cooperative. “Though I’m not entirely sure what that means yet, I know it drives me to attempt to excel in everything I do.”

scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

On the Agenda GONE FISHIN’

Letters

In the dog house

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.

I was so excited to read the July article “Unleashing Hope.” I noted, however, that you didn’t include The Service Dog Institute (TSDI) based in Greenville. TSDI provides service dogs for children with special needs. The service dogs help with

issues such as mobility and balance, social interaction and behavioral distraction. Please let your readers know there is an upstate connection for their needs at theservicedoginstitute.org or by calling (864) 399-4392.

Write SCL 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 email us at letters@scliving.coop or send a note by fax to (803) 796-6064. All letters received are subject to editing before publication.

Wilma Rodriguez-Linton, Mauldin

We bumbled

Just FYI: The bee pictured on the table of contents in the June issue (in reference to the feature story “One honey of a hobby”) is not a honeybee. It is a bumblebee.

Minor

AM Major

17 8:37 18 9:22 19 10:22 20 — 21 — 22 — 23 — 24 1:52 25 3:07 26 4:07 27 5:07 28 — 29 12:52 30 7:37 31 8:37

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

August

Minor

PM Major

2:37 8:52 2:52 9:07 3:07 9:22 12:07 9:37 — 10:07 — 11:37 9:52 5:22 10:37 5:37 11:07 5:52 11:37 6:22 12:22 6:37 7:07 12:37 7:22 1:07 7:52 1:52 2:22 8:22

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

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

2:52 3:37 1:07 4:07 12:37 10:22 10:52 11:22 11:52 12:07 12:37 6:52 1:22 1:37 2:07 2:22

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

Minor

September

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

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Dialogue

Lessons learned of South Carolinians that thought we were immune to hurricanes. We weren’t around for Hazel in 1954, and a lifetime of experience led us to believe that “hurricane season” (June to November) only brought backyard barbecues and county fairs, never flooding rain and damaging winds. That changed for me in September of 1989 with the arrival of Hurricane Hugo. My wife was three months pregnant with our first child and life in Columbia was good. It was, frankly, hard to process the news of a tropical storm brewing out there in the Atlantic even if it was drawing a bull’s-eye on South Carolina. Besides, we lived hours from the coast. How bad could a tropical storm be here in the Midlands? We found out when the storm made landfall on Sullivan’s Island around midnight on Sept. 21, with 140-mph winds and a 20-foot storm surge on top of astronomically high tides. Hugo then proceeded to churn through the state for nearly 7 hours on its way to Charlotte. By the time it passed over my childhood home in Clover, it was still generating peak wind speeds of 70–80 mph. The storm was ultimately responsible for 21 deaths and $7 billion of damage in the mainland United States alone. The number of homes damaged or destroyed in our state was astonishing—9,500 in Charleston, 7,500 in Myrtle Beach, 5,400 in Sumter and 1,500 in Columbia. My family was lucky. Our homes were spared, and my pregnant wife and I were without power for only 14 hours. My parents in Clover had no electricity for nearly a week. As South Carolina moves through yet another hurricane season, your local electric cooperative, the American Red Cross and government agencies like the S.C. Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) are all working diligently to make sure they are prepared to respond to any natural disaster, large or small, and today I’m asking you to do the same. As we point out in this month’s feature “Preparing for the Worst,” a recent poll shows that only 7 percent of the American people are adequately prepared to survive a natural or manmade disaster, and most people who live in hurricane-prone states haven’t taken adequate steps to prepare for tropical storms. September is National Preparedness Month, a good reminder that while we can’t predict or prevent natural disasters, we can all take simple steps—like making a survival kit and mapping out a hurricane evacuation plan—to be prepared. It might seem silly to “waste” a beautiful, cloudless summer day thinking about disasters, but thinking ahead is the key to being prepared. I urge you to heed the advice from the experts and take steps today to protect yourself and your family, because I’ve learned the hard way that nature’s fury, once unleashed, is indiscriminate and unpredictable. I was part of a generation

Mike Couick

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

EnergyQ&A

BY JIM DULLEY

What’s new in heat pumps

Q A Lennox

It’s time to replace my central airconditioning unit and the old electric heater in my home. Is a heat pump a smart investment? How do they work?

The reversing valve, show in this illustration as a small gold cylinder, allows the heat pump to switch from cooling to heating mode.

Maytag

Pictured below is the indoor unit of an air-source heat pump with a variable speed blower and a backup electric furnace.

heat pump can be a very smart investment because a single unit can both heat and cool your house efficiently. There are two types of heat pumps to consider—geothermal and airsource. A geothermal heat pump exchanges heat with the ground while air-source systems exchange heat with the surrounding air. Geothermal systems are one of the most energyefficient heating and cooling systems for any climate, but the initial installation costs are high and not all homes have the right yard and soil type to make them work. Air-source heat pumps are a more common choice and they look almost like a standard central air conditioner, but they have a few extra parts. In cooling mode, the refrigerant inside the heat pump’s coils draws heat from the indoor air and expels it to the outdoors. The efficiency of this cooling process, as rated by the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), is comparable to that of a modern central air conditioner. In heating mode, a reversing valve changes the flow of the refrigerant through the system, allowing it to draw heat from the outdoor air and warm the inside of your home. The

James Dulley

LearnMore

For more details on geothermal heat pump systems, see the Energy Q&A column in the February 2010 issue or read it online at SCLiving.coop.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

efficiency of this process is rated by the heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF). As long as the refrigerant is colder than the outdoor air, it will absorb and transfer heat. However, as outdoor temperatures drop, it becomes more difficult for a heat pump unit to draw sufficient heat. When the outdoor air falls below about 30 degrees, a backup heating system may be required. There have been many recent developments in standard air-source heat pumps. Some newer units have modulating, multistage-output rotary compressors. This new design is extremely efficient for heating and cooling (10 HSPF and 22 SEER), allowing consumers to get $2 to $3 worth of heat for each $1 of electricity. They also run very quietly. Other units use solar panels to generate some of the electricity required to operate the system, but it’s not necessary to invest in the latest and greatest units. Even a standard, low-cost, single-stage heat pump with a scroll compressor (like the one I have in my own home) can be an efficient option and provide year-round comfort. When choosing between units, consult a qualified contractor to find the right unit for your home, weather conditions and budget. And no matter what type of new heat pump you select, make sure your air handling and duct system are compatible. For the greatest efficiency, there should typically be from 400 to 500 cubic feet per minute of airflow per ton of cooling. Your old duct system may have to be modified to match. Send questions to Energy Q&A, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce SC 29033, email energyqa@scliving.coop or fax (803) 739‑3041.

SmartChoice

By Becky BILLINGSLEY

The all-electric kitchen GET YOUR GRILL ON The patio grill just went digital. The iGrill is a handy cooking thermometer that monitors temperatures up to 400 degrees F, and thanks to a clever app, it feeds data via a long-range Bluetooth signal to your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, so you’ll always know when supper is ready and safe to eat. $100. (888) 934‑4745; igrillinc.com.

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SIMMERING DOWN When it’s too hot to grill outside and you don’t want to heat up the kitchen, let the Cuisinart 6.5-quart Programmable Slow Cooker spend the day cooking for you. It automatically shifts to the warm setting when the food is done, and has a simmer feature in addition to high and low cooking temperatures. $100. (800) 211-9604; cuisinart.com.

PERSONAL PIES Savory pot pies, fruit tarts, quiches and vegetable-stuffed snacks are just minutes away. The Breville Pie Maker cranks out four individual-size crimped and sealed pies in less than 10 minutes. $100. (877) 812‑6235; williams‑sonoma.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

DIY YOGURT If you love yogurt, but hate throwing away all those little plastic containers, try making your own with the Yolife Yogurt Maker. The device comes with reuseable containers and lids that let you make a single large batch (up to 80 ounces) or several small batches (6 ounces each) in 8–12 hours. $45. (888) 254-7336; yolifeyogurt.com. DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH The Bodum Bistro Juicer makes liquefying fruits and veggies easy. A special drip-stop eliminates sticky messes, and a cyclone function gets every last drop of juice out of the pulp. Make it a decor accent; it comes in black, orange, red, green and white. $50. (800) 232-6386; bodumusa.com. INSTANT BRAIN FREEZE The Zoku Quick Pop Maker turns juice and yogurt into frozen treats in less than 10 minutes. Have fun with mix-ins like fresh fruit, nuts and candy; you can even make a multi-layer flavored core pop. $50, includes six reusable sticks and drip guards. (800) 846-3000; brookstone.com.

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a devastating hurricane, tornado, earthquake or flood hit your corner of South Carolina tomorrow, would you know what to do? The sad fact is, most of us wouldn’t. A recent survey conducted by the American Red Cross found that only 7 percent of Americans are adequately prepared to survive a natural or manmade disaster. It also found that 69 percent of people living in hurricane-prone states (like South Carolina) don’t have a disaster supply kit, and 60 percent don’t have an evacuation plan—two things every family needs in case of a major storm. 16

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

To underscore the need to be prepared, the Department of Homeland Security has declared September (which also happens to be the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season) National Preparedness Month. It’s a reminder that a little planning now could save your life, and the lives of your loved ones, should the worst happen. The good news: It only takes three steps to be prepared for anything that Mother Nature might throw your way.

Step 1: Assemble a survival kit

“The first thing a family needs to do is have a kit with basic items in case of a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado or a flood,” says Karen Anderson, regional disaster director for the American Red Cross Columbia Region. “Add or subtract from the kit throughout the year based upon the season.”

Natural disasters can strike without warning, but with a little planning, you can be ready for anything BY TIM HANSON

American Red Cross

NRECA

The Red Cross sells prepackaged emergency kits, but you can easily assemble your own following Red Cross and South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) guidelines, which suggest having enough of these supplies on hand to last three days: Water. You’ll need at least one gallon per person, per day—half for drinking and half for cooking and sanitation. Children, nursing mothers or anyone suffering an illness may require more water, so plan accordingly. Water should be stored in plastic bottles rather than in glass containers and should be replaced periodically throughout the year to ensure freshness. Food. Your kit should be well-stocked with canned or pre-packaged food that is ready-to-eat, has a long shelf-life

and requires little or no water to prepare. Don’t forget basics, like salt, pepper and sugar, and be sure to include high-energy “comfort foods” for good measure. All items should be replaced twice each year. Flashlights. Have several on hand with plenty of extra batteries. The Red Cross advises against using candles due to the risk of fire. Radio. A radio is critical for monitoring pending storms and for finding out what’s happening in the wake of a disaster. Radios that pick up NOAA weather alerts are preferred. Don’t forget the extra batteries. Medical supplies. A well-stocked first aid kit is a vital component of any disaster survival kit. You should also have a seven-day supply of prescription medications. lll scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

After the storm large and small, Red Cross relief workers and your co‑op’s line crews are right beside the first responders like paramedics, police and fire crews, working to restore basic services. If there is advance warning of a major event, relief agencies and co-ops often preposition their teams for an even quicker response, and they activate emergency plans to call on out-of-state help.

In the wake of disasters

The Red Cross

American Red Cross

While not an official arm of the federal government, the Red Cross is chartered by Congress to provide disaster relief services nationwide. It works through a network of

help provide shelter, food and emotional support. They can also call on out-of-state resources as needed, including supplies from 20 Red Cross warehouses that are strategically situated around the United States, says Karen Anderson, regional disaster director, of the American Red Cross Columbia Region. To help get food to disaster victims, the state’s Red Cross chapters have eight emergency response vehicles—part of a fleet of 300 across the nation—each capable of carrying up to 500 meals. And in the case of a major disaster, the organization works with multiple partner agencies to open large kitchens, each of which can feed up to 40,000 people per day. “Once services are in place, the Red Cross uses a variety of communication means, from social media outlets to public address announcements through its emergency vehicles to inform the public on available services,” says Scott R. Salemme, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Columbia Region.

Electric co-ops

local chapters supported by donations and volunteers (see “How to help” page 20). As part of their planning to respond to major disasters, the South Carolina chapters of the Red Cross have identified nearly 1,000 potential shelter sites, and they have nearly 2,000 trained volunteers to

While the Red Cross tends to feeding and sheltering disaster victims, the state’s network of electric cooperatives concentrates on restoring power as quickly and as safely as possible, says Scott Bryant, vice president for loss control and training at the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina (ECSC). That means coordinating the work of repair crews that may work as many as 16 hours a day under harrowing post-event conditions.

Regular contingency planning among the ECSC’s 18 member cooperatives, and with co-ops in more than 20 other states, is crucial to moving swiftly and effectively. When it is safe to move in after an event, line crews first inspect and repair substations, then follow the power lines leading away from the stations to restore service to members. “We try to get power back on as soon as we can,” says Bryant. “Those people at the very end of the line in outlying areas may be the last ones to get power restored, but they won’t be forgotten.” In the event that damage from a major event—something like a Hurricane Hugo, for example—South Carolina crews can expect help from cooperatives in surrounding states. “Most every co-op in the United States has signed a mutual aid agreement with The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association,” Bryant says. “The agreement says that cooperatives are willing to send help wherever it is needed.”

Common disasters Disasters often strike with little or no warning. These tips will help you prepare for and survive the most likely emergencies in our state. House fires. Advance knowledge of the safest route out of the house is the key to surviving this disaster, which strikes all too frequently in South Carolina—mostly during winter months when people are trying to keep warm.

Earthquakes. The catch phrase to remember is, “Drop, Cover and Hold.” Get down on the floor, try to get under something like a table and hang on until the shaking stops. In case you didn’t know, the entire state of South Carolina has a “moderate to high risk” for earthquakes. A notorious 7.3 quake that hit Charleston in 1886 was felt from New York to Havana.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

Ice storms. Ice created by severe winter storms can snap trees, limbs and utility poles leading to widespread power outages. Emergency provisions, including the all-important flashlights and extra batteries, really come in handy in this situation.

Electrical safety tips

Take time to choose other items that you might need if you were forced to evacuate on a moment’s notice or to subsist at home without utilities, grocery stores or public services. Pack everything in watertight containers and store them in a location that is easily accessible. For more information on packing and maintaining a disaster kit, visit redcross.org/beredcrossready.

NOAA/National severe storms laboratory

Step 2: Have an evacuation plan

In addition to creating a survival kit, your family should have a clear and well-rehearsed evacuation plan in place for emergencies large and small. The Red Cross suggests establishing two fixed meeting places—one outside but near the home where family members can meet in the event of a sudden emergency like a fire or an earthquake; the other outside the neighborhood in the event that the family is not able to return home. “Another good thing to set up with your family is to arrange for somebody who does not live in the area to act as a ‘call center’,” says Anderson. “If something happens during the daytime and the family becomes split up, lll

Tornadoes. If authorities issue a tornado “watch”, that tells you the formation of a tornado is possible. You’ll want to monitor your local television or radio station and make sure your emergency evacuation kit is handy. If and when a tornado “warning” is issued, that means either a twister has been spotted or has been picked up by radar. In short, it’s time to take cover. Since most homes in South Carolina do not have basements, families should seek protection on the lowest floor in the house and in the smallest room or in a hallway away from windows. If a heavy object like a big table is available, hang on to the object with one arm and cover your head with your other arm.

NASA

lll Personal hygiene items. Remember to include soap and shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste and other related items, like contact lens solutions, that you might need. Cash. Banks will be closed and ATMs may be out of commission in the wake of a disaster. Sleeping bags. Each family member should have a sleeping bag, or at least a blanket to keep warm. Extra clothing. Pack at least one change of clothing, coats, work boots or sturdy shoes, hats and gloves. Important documents. These include bank account, Social Security and credit card numbers as well as insurance policies, passports, birth and marriage certificates.

Avoid downed power lines. Fallen power lines are a grave danger in the wake of storms and other disasters. While lines are generally designed to de-energize when they hit the ground, there’s no way to tell if a line is carrying voltage or not, says Scott Bryant, of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. Always assume downed lines are energized and stay well clear to avoid the risk of electrocution. Use caution with generators. Many people in South Carolina have emergency power generators installed in their homes and still others attempt to install them in the days and hours before the arrival of a major storm. “If you are going to use a generator, it is imperative that it be properly installed by a qualified electrician,” Bryant says. “If it is not properly installed, the generator can put several thousand volts back out on those primary power lines that our crews will be working on. It’s very dangerous.” The Red Cross cautions that portable generators should not be connected to your home and that all generators be used outside the structure and away from any door or window that could allow deadly carbon monoxide fumes to accumulate. Unplug appliances. Any large appliances like stoves, clothes washers or dryers that were in use when the power went out should be disconnected to prevent power spikes that could damage those items when power is restored.

Hurricanes. Since 1900, four major hurricanes packing winds in excess of 110 mph have made landfall in the Palmetto State leaving death and billions of dollars in damage in their wake. While tropical storms carve wide swaths of destruction, at least they come with several days of advanced warning. Coastal residents are used to the ritual of tracking named storms during the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June to November. While a survival kit can be a lifeline if you are forced to “ride out” a hurricane or tropical storm, the best advice for survival is to pack your disaster kit in the car and evacuate well in advance of the storm’s landfall.

scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

How to help

lll each

American Red Cross

While mandated by Congress to provide domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross is not a government agency. It is funded solely by private donations and relies on a network of trained volunteers to provide services 365 days a year. To donate, volunteer or to learn more about being prepared for disasters, contact your regional Red Cross office.

Columbia Region P.O. Box 91 Columbia, SC 29202 (803) 540-1200 columbiaregionredcross.org Twitter: RedCrossSC Serves Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Sumter, Williamsburg and York counties.

Charleston Region 8085 Rivers Ave., Suite F North Charleston, SC 29406 (843) 764-2323 lowcountryredcross.org Facebook: American Red Cross Carolina Lowcountry Serves Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton and Jasper counties. Upstate Region PO Box 9035 Greenville, SC 29604 (864) 271-8222 upstateredcross.org Twitter: ARCofUpstateSC Serves Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and Union counties

Web resources Visit SCLiving.coop to download these Red Cross fact sheets: Red Cross Ready: Includes instructions on making a kit, planning and rehearsing an evacuation route and how to stay informed before, during and after a disaster. Hurricane Safety Checklist: Explains the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning, and provides tips on how to secure your home. Returning Home after a Hurricane or Flood: Provides important safety tips for assessing damage and avoiding health risks. Power Outage Checklist: Filled with important safety tips on everything from emergency lighting to reporting downed power lines.

person will know to call that relative, and that relative will tell everybody who calls where each family member is located.” Social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can also be useful for keeping track of family members during and after a disaster. Regardless of which channel you use to communicate, the point is that everyone in the family knows how to reach one another. In the case of large-scale events, emergency management agencies and relief organizations will use these same social media channels to guide survivors to shelters and relief services. After a disaster the Red Cross also activates its Safe and Well program, a web-based registry service that allows the public to stay in touch with loved ones by visiting redcross.org/safeandwell or calling (866) GET-INFO. For an event with advance warning, a hurricane for example, public safety officials may issue mandatory evacuations, says Lance Cpl. Robert Beres of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Having an emergency kit pre-packed and your evacuation plan mapped out (along with alternative routes) can save valuable time and help you avoid the traffic snarls that often result. “When you are asked to leave, please do so,” says Beres. “Don’t wait until the last minute. You’re not only going to put yourself in jeopardy but also the personnel who may have to come rescue you.” Plans also need to be made for evacuating family pets, says Anderson of the Red Cross. “If you are evacuated to a general population shelter, there is actually no place to house your pet,” she says. “So you have to make sure you have that plan in place before the disaster strikes.”

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

Step 3: Be informed

While disasters can strike without warning, emergency management officials stress it’s important for South Carolinians to know what kinds of events are most likely in their area and to prepare their survival kits and disaster plans accordingly (see “Common disasters” page 18). As part of their advice to be informed, the Red Cross also recommends training in basic first aid and CPR— life-saving skills that can also be useful in everyday life. “The more prepared you are,” says Anderson, “the more likely it is that you’re going to survive.” Derrec Becker, public information coordinator for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), says that one of his agency’s main concerns is public apathy about potential disasters. “It’s been 21 years since we’ve had a direct landfall from a major storm,” he says, referring to Hurricane Hugo. “And just imagine the growth in the state that has happened in the last two decades.” Just as his department works with first responders and relief agencies to be ready for anything, “We want people at home to do the same,” he says.

SCStories

SC Life

Recipe for success Kim Nelson had never heard of the ABC reality show Shark Tank when a friend told her about it last winter, but she had big dreams for Daisy Cakes, her made-from-scratch bakery business, so she sent in an audition tape. It turned out to be a smart business decision. Nelson was selected as a contestant on the show, which brings entrepreneurs face-to-face with a panel of “sharks,” or potential investors. In a nail-biter episode that originally aired in April, she turned on the Southern charm, handed out samples, answered some tough questions and secured a last-second investment of $50,000. Orders flooded into the company’s website, ilovedaisycakes.com, and Nelson sold more cakes in two days than she did in all of 2010, making her business the most successful venture profiled in two seasons of the show. The daughter of Laurens Electric Cooperative members Richard and Geraldine Adams, Nelson has been cooking with her mother, grandmothers and great-aunt Daisy since she was nine. After years of catering and teaching cooking classes, she and her mother launched Daisy Cakes in June 2009 in the kitchen of her Spartanburg home, using old family recipes and farm-fresh ingredients like hand-sifted flour, cage-free eggs and real butter. The company now employs 13 people baking around the clock, but Nelson says everything is still made from scratch and that she and her mother still cook together every day. “It’s what I love to do,” she says. —shandi stevenson

Kim Nelson AGE:

Spartanburg OCCUPATION: Owner of Daisy Cakes LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Wofford College FAVORITE CAKE: Lemon MILTON MORRIS

HOMETOWN:

Learn Kim Nelson’s secret for baking the perfect red velvet cake in an exclusive web video at SCLiving.coop.

Recipe secrets

scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCScene

BY BY S. KIM HENSON | Photos by Milton Morris

10 Reasons Hometown Pride

to Love

Conway

first wandered into downtown Conway in the spring of 2003, “It was love at first sight.” The couple were then living in Moline, Ill., where Stan worked as senior vice president for a retail grocer. They were searching for a new place to call home, and after strolling through the lovingly restored downtown, the couple knew they had found it. They moved to Conway that fall, and later purchased Bodega, a kitchen store on Main Street. “We fell in love with Conway’s small-town feel and charm,” Debby says. They’re not the only ones. In the past decade, Conway’s population has grown nearly 40 percent as visitors— captivated by the historic city on the banks of the Wacca maw River—decided to return and put down roots. Residents and visitors agree: There’s a lot to love about this city in the heart of Horry County. Here are 10 things that top the list. When Debby and Stan Stephens

Stately live oaks. Dubbed “Conway’s oldest citizens,” the moss-draped live oaks that line the city streets are a major source of civic pride. It’s been that way from the city’s founding in 1700s when crews built roads around the trees, rather than cut them down. There is a full-time city arborist who cares for the legacy oaks, and the town’s unofficial slogan is: “The trees have the right of way.” “Our trees are such an important part of the town— so important that we wrote their history and gave them names,” says Mayor Alys Lawson. That history takes the form of a brochure that guides visitors on a walking tour featuring 10 of the famous live oaks, some more than 400 years old. The map is available at the Conway Visitor Center (903 3rd Avenue, 843‑248‑1700, cityofconway.com/visitors) located in the restored Paul Quattlebaum house.

Stan and Debby Stevens were looking to move from Illinois when they found Conway. They own Bodega, a store that sells dining and kitchen luxuries.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

A rich history. Conway is one of South Carolina’s oldest cities. Founded in 1734, it was originally named Kingston (after Britain’s King George II), but residents changed the name after the Revolutionary War to honor Gen. Robert Conway. Surrounded by farms and plantations, the city was a thriving river port throughout the 1800s and 1900s, and much of downtown was built during this period. Another walking-tour brochure available at the visitor center identifies 39 historic homes and buildings, many of them listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the scenic stops: Kingston Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1858, and Conway City Hall, which was designed by South Carolina

architect Robert Mills—the man best known for designing the Washington Monument. For the full story of the human and natural history of the area, don’t miss The Horry County Museum (438 Main Street, 843-915-5320, horrycountymuseum.org) in the heart of downtown. The museum’s newest project is the L.W. Paul Living History Farm (2279 Harris Shortcut Road, 843-365-3596, horrycountymuseum.org/farm). The working farm, constructed by local businessman Larry Paul, gives visitors a hands-on glimpse of life on a “onehorse family farm” in the early- to mid-1900s. “Visitors to the farm may see the farmer plowing fields, gathering tobacco or curing meat, depending on the season,” says curator Walter Hill.

River views and recreation. The scenic Waccamaw River is another point of civic pride and one visitors can Historic Kingston Presbyterian explore from the picturChurch sits among just a few of the town’s many stately live oaks. esque River Walk winding along its banks. Guests of The Cypress Inn (16 Elm St., 800‑575‑5307, acypressinn.com) can pull up a Carolina rocker and watch the boats come and go from a private marina, or take a stroll down Elm Street to enjoy the riverbank vistas of Mayor Martin Riverfront Park (843‑248‑1740, conwayparksandrecreation.com). Conway native Jim Holbert offers river cruises that explore the history of Conway on River Memories (843‑246‑1495, rivermemories.org) a 21-foot electric cruiser built in the style of passenger boats that steamed along the river in the 1900s. Feeling more active? Rent a boat or join a guided paddling excursion from Conway Kayak Tours (843-488-0999, conwaykayak.com), and explore the Waccamaw tributaries known as Kingston Lake and Crabtree Swamp.

Great festivals. Major annual events include the Rivertown Music and Arts Festival on the first Saturday in May, Bluegrass on the Waccamaw on the second Saturday in May, and the Conway Fall Festival on

Jimmy Martin, above left, and Chris Grainger, above right, own Conway Kayak Tours and lead guided trips when they aren’t working as line crew foremen for Horry Electric Cooperative. Co-op member Jim Holbert, right, also provides river tours aboard his electric cruiser, River Memories.

the first Saturday of October. But the city’s biggest annual bash is Riverfest, sponsored by the Conway Chamber of Commerce (203 Main Street, 843‑248‑2273, conwayscchamber.com). Held every June as a pre-Independence Day celebration, it’s the town’s longest running festival and features live bands on multiple stages, boat parades, raft races and fireworks. Weekly goings-on include The Conway Crawl, with live music and extended shopping hours at downtown stores, and the Conway Farmers Market (217 Laurel Street, conwayfarmersmarket.org), which opens 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays from May through October.

Good eats. Hungry? Downtown Conway has no shortage of places to enjoy your next meal. Check out Crady’s Restaurant, Bar & Bakery (332 Main St., 843‑248‑3321, cradys.com), a popular Sunday brunch stop that also opens for dinner during performances by Theatre of the Republic (see #6). Try the ham brioche, a smoked ham sandwich topped with Granny Smith apple slices and red onions. At Rivertown Bistro (1111 3rd Avenue, 843‑248‑3733, rivertownbistro.com) diners enjoy a bird’seye view of the city from the second-floor terrace while noshing on Lowcountry spring rolls. The Crafty Rooster Bar scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCScene University (843-347-3161, coastal.edu) is a public liberal arts school offering 53 undergraduate degrees and seven master’s degree programs to more than 8,700 students. In 2003, the school added football to the athletics program and tailgating at Chanticleer home games is now a favorite fall pastime. Horry-Georgetown Technical College (843-3473186, hgtc.edu) is located on an adjacent campus offering degree programs and continuing education classes that range from marine biology and education to photography and chocolate making.

Once vital to Conway’s commerce as a bustling port, today the Waccamaw River is treasured for the leisure-oriented activities and businesses it supports.

& Grill (1125 3rd Avenue, 843-438-8330, craftyrooster.com) is the hangout for students and alumni of Coastal Carolina University (see #8), serving up Chanticleer spirit along with hamburgers, pizza and wings. The Trestle Bakery (322 Main St., 843‑488‑2069, trestlebakery.com) is a popular lunch and breakfast stop that’s famous for home-style cookies, cakes, breads and pastries.

Lots of comedy and drama. Theatre of the Republic, Conway’s community performing arts group, keeps the town entertained with an ambitious schedule of Broadway-style performances including Hairspray, which kicks off the 2011–12 theater season on Aug. 19 at the Main Street Theatre (337 Main St., 843‑488‑0821, theatreoftherepublic.com). Tickets cost $18 to $22 and you might just get to see a rising star or two on the stage. In 2006, talented tween actresses, Caitlin Gann and Caroline Blanton were double cast to play Annie. Gann later appeared in the Broadway musical 13, and Blanton reigned as Miss South Carolina’s Outstanding Teen. “We have quite a few actors and actresses who have gone on to work professionally in theatre,” says Tim McGhee, the theater’s executive and artistic director.

Unique shopping. “Shopping downtown Conway is as much about what you’ll see and experience, and the service you’ll get, as it is about what you’ll buy,” says Russell Fowler, who built Black Water Market, a shopping and apartment complex that incorporates historic architecture and some of the state’s largest murals. The market’s shops includes Haberdashery and HerDashery (1019 4th Avenue, 843‑248‑9999, thehabconway.com), women’s and men’s clothing stores stocked with Coastal Carolina University dress attire including the school’s official blazer. Other unique downtown merchants include Bodega (301 Main St., 843-248-9271, shopbodega.com), where Debby and Stan Stephens sell dining luxuries from a beautifully restored 103-year-old building with the original windows and heartof-pine flooring. Encore Florals & Fine Gifts (225 Kingston St., 843‑488‑4086, encoreflorals.com) is located in the Paul Quattlebaum house next to the visitor center.

Community spirit. Conwayites have a tradition of pulling together for good causes, and that tradition of caring for the community is one of the core principles behind Horry Electric Cooperative, says Penelope Hinson, manager of public relations, marketing and energy management. The co-op is headquartered in Conway and has served the surrounding area since 1940. “The people who work at the co-op actively participate in the town’s activities like serving on the board for the Chamber of Commerce, volunteering during the United Way Day of Caring, and serving meals for homeless at the Shepherd’s Table,” she says. Other volunteer organizations that work to improve the quality of life in Conway include Fostering Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides clothing, school supplies, books and toys to area foster children; Waccamaw Riverkeeper, which monitors the health of the waterway; and the Conway Historical Society, which preserves and showcases the city’s past. Working with the city, the volunteers behind these organizations help preserve Conway’s charm, says Joe Henderson, the city’s zoning administrator. “The people of Conway, more than anything, care for their town,” he says.

“The people of Conway, more than anything, care for their town.”

A brand new gym. The 60,000-square-foot Conway Recreation Center (1515 Mill Pond Road, conwayparksandrecreation.com) is scheduled to open Sept. 1. City residents will have access to weight rooms, a suspended walking track, a five-lane indoor swimming pool, as well as new athletic fields and nature trails winding through protected wetlands.

8 24

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scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCGardener

BY S. CORY TANNER

Growing collard greens Collard greens have been a South

since colonial times, but the humble vegetable has never been more popular than it is today. In June, the S.C. Legislature designated collard greens as the official state vegetable, and nationally, chefs at fine restaurants from New York to California are adding the robust flavors of fresh collards to their menus. Close kin to cabbage, collard greens are easy to grow throughout South Carolina. The key is timing. Collards are a cool-season vegetable best planted in July and August for a fall crop. During mild winters, fall collards often persevere through the cold to produce luxuriantly the following spring. Gardeners in the Midlands and Coastal ten sio n Cle ms on Ex

Carolina staple

Chefs at fine restaurants from New York to California are adding the robust flavors of fresh collards to their menus. regions can also enjoy a second planting in the spring by setting transplants from late-February to mid-March. Popular varieties include Champion, Georgia, Morris Heading and Top Bunch. Collards can be grown from seed or transplants. Sowing seed is a common practice in the coastal plain, but transplants are the best option for most home gardens. Transplants are widely available at garden centers but the 26

Bold foliage makes collard plants attractive additions to flower borders. Frost improves the sweetness and flavor of collard greens.

selection of varieties may be limited and transplants may not be available in time for your preferred planting dates. Consider growing your own transplants by sowing seeds in small containers 6 to 8 weeks before you intend to transplant. Collard plants should be spaced 18 inches from each other in rows that are 4 feet apart. As an alternative to traditional row culture, I like to plant collards in flower borders. Skirted by cool-season flowers like pansies, collards provide bold accents to the landscape and serve as edible ornamentals. All leafy greens require good soil fertility. Have your garden soil tested to ensure the correct soil pH (5.8 to 6.5) and nutrient proportions for the crop. If you haven’t tested your soil, till in 3 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet before planting. Once your plants are more than six

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

inches tall they will need to be side dressed with nitrogen fertilizer. Two pounds of calcium nitrate per 100 feet of row will do the trick. If you prefer an organic option, cottonseed meal, bone meal or fish emulsion can supply the necessary nitrogen, but they need to be applied earlier since they take longer than conventional fertilizers to become usable by the plants. Watch your plants closely for insect damage. Several species of caterpillar can damage collards, but insecticides containing the organic ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis will help manage pests if applied while the caterpillars are small. Follow the product instructions and thoroughly cover the upper and lower leaf surfaces for the best results. Harvest collards at your leisure. You may gather entire plants at any stage, but I prefer to harvest individual leaves as needed, allowing continued growth and production. Mature leaves are great when cooked in the traditional fashion—stewed with salted meat. For a healthier, but equally appetizing, way to cook collard greens, slice young, tender leaves into thin strips and stir-fry in olive oil. These are just two ways to enjoy our state vegetable, so show your South Carolina pride and grow some collard greens this fall. To learn more about growing collards and other vegetables, visit Clemson Extension’s Home & Garden Information Center at clemson.edu/hgic. is an area horticulture agent for Clemson Extension based in Greenville County. His responsibilities include coordinating the Greenville County Master Gardener program and providing home gardening advice. Contact Tanner at shannt@clemson.edu.

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SCTravels

BY ERIKAH HAAVIE

Listening to history The fast-picking bluegrass style

of Flatts & Scruggs may seem far removed from the mournful Mississippi Delta blues of Robert Johnson, but when you explore these diverse musical styles side-by-side in the panels of “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music,” a Smithsonian traveling exhibit now on display at Georgetown’s Kaminski House Museum, you’ll discover that

Photos by Milton Morris

they are, in fact, distantly related. The connection? It’s the banjo. The instrument most closely associated with Appalachia actually originated in Africa, and was brought to America by slaves. When European settlers in the mountain region discovered the versatile stringed instrument, they began playing it alongside their dulcimers and fiddles on English ballads and Irish folk songs, establishing the roots of what we now know as bluegrass. The descendants of slaves also gave birth to another uniquely American form of music—the blues—when they sang out their misery in the form of “field hollers,” work songs set to the rhythms of hard agricultural labor. Exploring the origins and connections of “roots music,” from the earliest Native American songs to the folk music of the 1960s, is what “New Harmonies” is all about. The exhibit, now touring South Carolina, demonstrates how diverse styles often merge to create new forms of popular music. It showcases that history with photos and profiles of pioneering musicians, interactive listening stations and displays that provide a hands-on experience with instruments like the diddley

GetThere is on display through Sept. 3 at the Kaminski House Museum, 1003 Front Street in Georgetown. For hours and admission information, call (843) 546-7706.

“New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music”

Future tour stops:

Sept. 10–Oct. 23, Oconee County Public Library, Walhalla. (864) 638-4133 Oct. 29–Dec. 11, Laurens County Library, Laurens. (864) 681-7323 Dec. 17, 2011–Feb. 4, 2012, Beaufort County Library, Beaufort. (843) 470-6524 March 3–April 22, 2012, Southern Wesleyan University, Central. (864) 898-5027 April 28–June 10, 2012, Fairfield County Museum, Winnsboro. (803) 635-9811 June 16–July 29, 2012, McCelvey Center, York. (803) 684-3948 Aug. 4–Sept. 16, 2012, Landrum Library, Landrum. (864) 457-2218 Sept. 22–Nov. 11, 2012, Black Creek Arts Council, Hartsville. (843) 332-6234 Nov. 17, 2012–Jan. 5 2013, Colleton County Museum. (843) 549-2303

Who knew? The banjo, the must-have instrument of any good bluegrass band, originated in Africa.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

bow and banjo, says Robbie Davis, director of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street project. “The ‘new’ in New Harmonies comes from the idea that music is in a state of almost constant evolution,” he says. “New Harmonies tells the story of how music gave people from different origins and backgrounds a chance to come together, sample what each brought from their own cultures and how they combined them to create something new and American.” Sponsored by the Humanities Council of South Carolina, the exhibit is traveling to small-town libraries and cultural centers through January 2013, says Theresa J. Wallace, the council’s tour coordinator. “New Harmonies” will be on display at the Kaminski House Museum through Sept. 3, before moving to the Oconee County Public Library in Walhalla, and from there to future stops in Laurens, Beaufort, Central, Winnsboro, York, Landrum, Hartsville and Walterboro. As part of the exhibit, each stop will include local concerts and live performances that explore South Carolina’s own musical traditions. Related events in Georgetown this month include shag and gospel concerts on the Kaminski House lawn, and on Aug. 25, music historian Sharon Cooper-Murray will present a lecture and concert on Gullah folk music at the Georgetown Library. Davis says the combination of local performances and the tour exhibits is designed to help patrons expand their musical horizons. “Music is a great topic for cultural intersection and conversation,” he says. “I think it’s an incredible opportunity for people to learn where their favorite music originated and pick up a taste for something new.”

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SCRecipe

Edited by Carrie Hirsch

Simple summer dishes WATERMELON & DATE SALAD SERVES 6

5 cups watermelon balls, chilled 6 Medjool dates, pitted, sliced into slivers ¼ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice N cup roasted pistachios, chopped Ina Peters / iStockphoto

In a large serving bowl, combine watermelon and dates. In a small bowl, stir salt into lime juice, drizzle over melon and toss. Sprinkle with pistachios just before serving.

The Crimson Monkey / iStockphoto

COUNTRY LEMONADE

PANKO TURKEY BURGERS

MAKES 6–8 SERVINGS

SERVES 4

6 lemons 2 cups granulated sugar 1 gallon distilled water

1 pound raw ground turkey ½ box of stuffing mix 1 egg 1 ½ cups panko crumbs Olive or canola oil Cheese slices, lettuce and tomato slices

Wash and dry lemons. Squeeze juice of lemons (reserving rinds) over sugar in a 1-gallon pitcher. Slice lemon rinds and place on sugar. Toss and let sit for ½ hour. Pour water into pitcher and stir until sugar dissolves. Pour in 12-ounce glasses filled with ice, and enjoy.

OTHER MOTHER’S OKRA RICE

In medium bowl, combine turkey, stuffing mix and egg. Mix well, using hands or wooden spoon. Make 4 patties and press into panko crumbs on both sides. Heat oil in a medium skillet, and fry on medium heat for approximately 10 minutes or until done. Add cheese, tomato and lettuce as garnish if desired.

SERVES 4-6

lorraine borger, bluffton

b.r. glover, graniteville

Jacob Van Houten / iStockphoto

4 slices bacon 1 pound okra, finely chopped 2 cups raw rice 1 ½ cups chicken stock 2 teaspoons salt

In a heavy skillet, fry bacon. Fry okra in bacon drippings. Put in rice steamer with rice, chicken stock and salt. Cook until done. elizabeth hancock, hilton head island

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

Karen Hermann / iStockphoto

nikki cartee, york

Send us recipes! We welcome recipes for all seasons: appetizers,

salads, main courses, side dishes, desserts and beverages. Selected original recipes win a $10 BI-LO gift card.

About submitting recipes Entries must include your name, mailing address and phone number. 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.

Send recipes to South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, by email to recipe@scliving.coop or by fax to (803) 739‑3041.

scliving.coop | August 2011 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCChef’sChoice

Story BY APRIL A. MORRIS | Photos by Melanie Stewart

Let the good times roll to laissez les bon temps rouler, but don’t have the coin to get to Louisiana, take the shorter trip to downtown Easley where the Bleu Voodoo Grill offers the laid-back ambiance and spicy Cajun flavors of New Orleans. Bleu Voodoo’s menu features Cajun specialties such as fresh-cut gator bites, crawfish eggrolls and homemade

If you’re ready

BANANAS FOSTER BREAD PUDDING SERVES 24

Pudding

6 bananas 3 loaves plain baguettes 1 quart heavy cream ½ gallon whole milk 15 eggs

2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 cup chopped pecans 2 tablespoons vanilla

Cut bread into 1-inch squares and mix all ingredients together except for the bananas; let soak for 15 minutes. Butter 24 ramekins and add sliced bananas to bottom. Layer bread pudding mix and another layer of sliced bananas. Top with more bread pudding until the ramekins are three-quarters full. Bake at 350° for 20–25 minutes until golden brown. Top with sliced bananas and rum sauce. Rum Sauce

½ pound butter 4 ounces spiced rum 1 pound brown sugar 1 cup heavy cream

Melt butter and sugar until sugar dissolves, carefully add rum until mixed. Remove from heat and add cream.

gumbo alongside Lowcountry favorites like shrimp and grits. Other offerings inspired by the Crescent City include blackened, pan-seared catfish and crawfish etouffee, featuring the traditional “holy trinity” of veggies (onions, peppers, and celery) and tender, sauteed crawfish. Though the Bleu Voodoo Grill menu evolves with the 114 E. Main Street, Easley seasons, it always offers (864) 644-8282 David Wingard and Donna Pace fresh alligator, crawbring a touch of New Orleans facebook.com/bleu.voodoo fish and oysters straight to the Upstate, offering Cajun Open Thursday–Saturday, from Louisiana. food and bright folk art in a 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. lively atmosphere. For a beef fix, dig Reservations recommended into a Bleu Voodoo for parties of five or more. burger (with bacon, onion rings, pickled jalapeno peppers and Cajun mayo for that extra kick) with a side of hand-cut sweet potato fries. Wash it all down with one of the more than 30 beers available in the Bonaventure and Bayou bars, including Louisiana favorites like Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager and Abita. And for dessert, the rumglazed bananas Foster bread 7,000-square-foot space, building two pudding will make you think unique dining rooms with bars to you’ve died and gone to the French match. Then they filled the place Quarter. floor to rafters with trinkets from New The eclectic eatery is the work of Orleans, and David’s colorful folk art David Wingard and Donna Pace, who paintings inspired by the Big Easy. met when Donna came to work for “We love New Orleans and we David at Wingard Jewelers more than wanted to bring all the components of 25 years ago. They got their start in that feeling together,” Pace says. the restaurant business in the 1990s Open three nights a week, Bleu when David invested in Easley’s nowVoodoo attracts a steady crowd of regdefunct Dixie Star Steakhouse. With ulars who enjoy the novelty of a Cajun the storefront next to the jewelry dining experience in the Upstate of store sitting vacant, the couple saw an opportunity to build a new downtown South Carolina. “We have a following,” Wingard says. “It’s great to have a cuseatery from scratch. tomer find us and thank us for having Starting in a gutted shell, they this place.” spent five years renovating the

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

UPSTATE AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

1–11 • Upper South Carolina State Fair, Fairgrounds, Greenville. (864) 269-0852. 2–3 • Native American Exhibit Festival, History Museum, Spartanburg. (864) 278-9698. 3 • Cherokee Foothills Bicycle Tours, North Greenville University Stadium, Tigerville. (864) 380-4227. 3–4 • Dacusville Farm Days, Robinson Field, Easley. (864) 836-6893. 6–10 • South Carolina Apple Festival, Westminster. (864) 647-7223. 8–10 • Bluegrass in the Woods Autumn Festival, Anderson. (864) 356-3444. 9 • Campfire, Walnut Grove Plantation, Spartanburg. (864) 576-6546. 9–10 • Glory Days Festival, Downtown, Woodruff. (864) 476-8154. 10 • Philharmonic’s Orchestra, Converse College Twichell Auditorium, Spartanburg. (864) 278-9698. 10 through Nov. 10 • Masks of the Cherokee, County Museum of Art & History, Pickens. (864) 898-5963.

ONGOING

Daily • Art Gallery at the Fran Hanson Discovery Center, South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson. (864) 656-3405. Daily • Trail Riding, Croft State Natural Area, Spartanburg. (864) 585-1283. Daily through Sept. • Pickyour-own-berries, The Happy Berry, Six Mile. (864) 350-3945. Daily, except Mondays through Aug. 18 • A History of Tattoo in S.C., Museum of Art & History, Pickens. (864) 898-5963. Daily, except Mondays through Aug. 18 • CAFfeine Contemporary Art Forum: Adornment, Museum of Art & History, Pickens. (864) 898-5963. Daily, except Mondays through Sept. 18 • Our Town, Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville. (864) 271-7570. Tuesdays and Thursdays until Sept. 15 • Bingo, Festhalle, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-1908. Tuesdays through Saturdays except major holidays • Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg. (864) 583-2776. Thursdays through Sept. • Larkin’s Rhythm on the River, Peace Center Amphitheater, Greenville. (864) 467-3020. Thursdays through Sundays until Aug. 27 • The Kings of Country, Centre Stage, Greenville. (864) 233-6733. Fridays through Sept. 2 • Square Dancing, Oconee State Park, Mountain Rest. (864) 638-5353. Saturdays through October • Hilarious Hillbilly Massacre, Pumpkintown Opry, Pickens. (864) 836-8141.

MIDLANDS AUGUST

18–21 • Lend Me a Tenor, Little Theatre, Sumter. (803) 775-2150.

19 • Plaza Concert, Rotary Centennial Plaza, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. 20 • Artists Voice, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810. 20 • SCISA Volleyball Jamboree, County Civic Center, Sumter. (803) 436-2270. 20–21 • USSSA Baseball Tournament, Patriot Park Sportsplex, Sumter. (803) 436-2248. 27 • Main Street Latin Festival, Downtown, Columbia. (803) 348-0749. 27 • Summerfest, Downtown, York. (803) 684-2590. 27–28 • ISA Softball Tournament, Patriot Park Sportsplex, Sumter. (803) 436-2248. 28 • American Photography, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810. SEPTEMBER

1–3 • Book Sale, County Library, Bamberg. (803) 245-3022. 2 • Classic Movie Night, Opera House, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. 2 • Fridays at the Terrace, Downtown City Centre, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. 2–4 • Bluegrass & Country Music Jamboree, Lone Star, Santee. (803) 854-2000. 3–5 • Labor Day Festival, Crooked Creek Park, Chapin. (803) 345-2444. 8 • Sumter @ Six, Downtown Brody Pavilion, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. 9–10 • Aiken’s Makin’ Festival, Downtown, Aiken. (803) 649-1200. 10 • Behind the Scenes, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, Beech Island. (803) 827-1473. 10 • By the Sweat of Our Brows, Historic Brattonsville, Rock Hill. (803) 684-2327. ONGOING

Daily • Trail Riding, Kings Mountain State Park, Blacksburg. (803) 222-3209. Daily • Trail Riding, Lee State Park, Bishopville. (803) 428-5307. Daily • Trail Riding, Poinsett State Park, Wedgefield. (803) 494-8177. Daily, except Thanksgiving & Christmas • SOS Planet Showing, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden’s 3-D Adventure Theater, Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

19 • Sunrise Battlefield Tour, Musgrove Mill State Historic Site, Clinton. (864) 938-0100. 20 • Living History Saturday, Ninety Six National Historic Site, Ninety Six. (864) 543-4068. 20 • Musgrove Mill Anniversary Celebration, Musgrove Mill State Historic Site, Clinton. (864) 938-0100. 20 • Seay House Saturday, Seay House, Spartanburg. (864) 596-3501. 25–27 • Spittoono, National Guard Armory, Clemson. (864) 710-8321. 26 • Beat the Heat Family Night, Upcountry History Museum, Greenville. (864) 467-3100. 26–27 • Spring Water Festival, Town Park, Williamston. (864) 847-7473. 26–28 • Upstate Women’s Show, Carolina First Center, Greenville. (864) 250-9713. 27 • How to be an Amateur Naturalist, Paris Mountain State Park, Greenville. (864) 244-5565.

10 through Nov. 10 • The Fine Art Ramblers, County Museum of Art & History, Pickens. (864) 898-5963. 14 • A Regional Radio History, Upcountry History Museum, Greenville. (864) 467-3100. 17 • South Greenville Fair and Antique Tractor & Engine Show, City Park, Simpsonville. (864) 862-4224.

“A Crabby Experience” can be had at Myrtle Beach State Park, Tuesdays through Aug. 30. Daily, except Sundays • Living History Days, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells. (803) 684-2327. Daily, except Mondays • Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810. Daily, except Mondays and major holidays • Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, Camden. (803) 432-9841. Sundays • Docent-led Gallery Tour, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005. Mondays until August 29 • Hopelands Summer Concert Series, Hopelands Gardens, Aiken. (803) 642-7650. First Thursdays until Oct. 7 • Main Street Live, Rock Hill. (803) 324-7500. Second Thursdays through Oct. • Outdoor Concert Series, Downtown, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. Fridays • Main Street Marketplace, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 779-4005. First Saturdays until Dec. 3 • Rivers Bridge Battlefield Guided Tour, Rivers Bridge State Historic Site, Ehrhardt. (803) 267-3675. Saturdays • Behind-theScenes Adventure Tours, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 978-1113.

LOWCOUNTRY AUGUST

20 • Big Kahuna Fishing Tournament, Fishing Pier, Folly Beach. (843) 588-3474. 20 • Reggae Nights Summer Concert, James Island County Park, Charleston. (843) 795-8486.

25 • Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Hippodrome Theater, Charleston. (843) 513-2655. 26 • Movies at the Pier, Mount Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant. (843) 795-4386. 27 • International Food & Arts Festival, Municipal Parking Lot, Walterboro. (843) 549-7046. 27 • Race for The ARK, Summerville. (843) 832-2357. SEPTEMBER

2 • Moonlight Mixers, Folly Beach Pier, Charleston. (843) 795-4386. 2–4 • Beach Boogie & BBQ Festival, Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach. (843) 626-7444. 2–4 • Celebrity Golf Tournament, Hilton Head Island. (843) 842-7711. 2–5 • Muscadine Festival, Williams Muscadine Vineyard & Farm, Nesmith. (843) 354-2169. 3 • Beach & Shag Festival, Charleston. (843) 571-3668. 3 • Cooper River Challenge, Fishing Pier, Mount Pleasant. (843) 762-9946. 4 • Barbecue Championship & Bluegrass Festival, Boone Hall, Mount Pleasant. (843) 884-4371. 4 • End of Summer Celebration, Beach Pier, Surfside. (843) 650-9548. 10 • Adopt-A-Highway, Charleston. (843) 722-5940. 11 • Dog Day Afternoon at Whirlin’ Waters, Wannamaker County Park, North Charleston. (843) 795-4386. ONGOING

Daily • Trail Riding, Cheraw State Park, Cheraw. (843) 537-9656.

Daily, except Christmas • Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-6000. Daily, except major holidays • Parris Island Museum, Beaufort. (843) 228-2166. Daily except Mondays • Feeding Frenzy, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440. Sundays through Sept. 4 • Serenades, Fuller Park, Surfside Beach. (843) 650-9548. Mondays until Oct. 31 • Coastal Kayaking, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440. Tuesdays through Aug. 30 • A Crabby Experience, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Wednesdays through Aug. 24 • Stingray Shuffle, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Wednesdays until Oct. 31 • Coastal Birding, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440. Thursdays through Aug. 18 • Jumping Jellyfish! Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Thursdays through Sept. 1 • From the Forest to the Sea, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Thursdays and Fridays through Aug. 31 • Alligators, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (866) 890-3977. Fridays through Sept. 2 • Seine-sational Fun! Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Fridays through Oct. 31 • Farmers Market Hilton Head Island, Historic Honey Horn, Hilton Head Island. (843) 785-2767. Saturdays through Sept. 3 • Crazy Over Crabs! Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Saturdays through Sept. 3 • Feeding Time, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Saturdays–Tuesdays • Mansion Tours, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, McClellanville. (843) 546-9361. Second Saturdays • Local League of Artisans Arts & Crafts Bazaar, Yesterday’s, Hartsville. (843) 498-6576.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

Hot dumb in the summertime

forehead that reads: “God loves you. Please forgive me if I say or do anything stupid, Thank You!” This thoughtful gesture may persuade neighbors to cut him some slack when they catch his dog watering their marigolds, but probably not for spitting at them while they’re trying to read his head. Phlegm tends to neutralize the Hallmark moment.

Defenseless driving

Hiring a hit person

A disgruntled motorist recently tried to cross the Waccamaw River in a stolen truck, Robbie Knievel-style. The news reports cited road rage, which prompted him to crash into several vehicles, carjack at least two, and attempt the river jump without a ramp. The police had to borrow a canoe to haul him out like a prize flounder. Maybe next time, he’ll use some common sense and steal a boat.

Standing apology

It takes a proactive person to tattoo an all-occasion apology on his 38

patients up unless they faint in the waiting room. But with real docs, their price includes perks like sterilization, stitches and even anesthesia. Here’s an idea for cost-conscious lipo-seekers: Until you can afford a real doctor, how about joining a real gym?

While I can’t cite an official study, there’s a lot of what we writers call, “anecdotal evidence,” that warm weather makes people stupid. Anecdotal evidence is what columnists and deadline-driven journalists often rely on when we can’t brake for obstacles such as facts. In this case, I’m talking about actual news reports—all collected since sun block season started— where overheated individuals have been caught embracing their inner moron. None of these people came from Alaska or other planets with polar bears. In fact, the majority reside right here in our sizzling state, where homegrown maniacs usually surrender the summer spotlight to tourist talent. But not lately. We’ve only got a couple more brain-melting months to go, so let’s crank up the AC and chill out before stupid happens again.

Pageant precaution

Note to self: When you don’t have time for relationship counseling and decide to hire a professional to knock off your baby daddy, don’t use Facebook until you unfriend his mom. Or try Craig’s List.

Discount liposuction

It’s always tempting to save money on plastic surgery by hiring a stranger who’ll perform it with a Hoover in somebody’s apartment, but when the lipo-sucker offers to pick you up at the mall, that’s usually a red flag. Real doctors almost never pick

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | August 2011 | scliving.coop

Nobody likes a wrinkly 8-yearold. That’s why one mom decided to inject her pageant-contestant daughter with Botox. You know the old saying: A needle a day keeps the crow’s feet away. With any luck, the child won’t need liposuction until she’s 10. (Therapy, yes. Liposuction, no.)

Mugging for the mug shot

You have the right to remain dignified when detectives add you to their digital scrapbook, so leave the Cheshire cat thing to John Edwards. There’s no need to smile for the camera unless your dentist is paying for the advertising rights. If we just stay cool, most of us can make it to Halloween without a felony charge. But if something really dumb happens, please tell the cops you’re visiting from Juneau. Jan A. Igoe ,

a writer and illustrator from Horry County, will never run out of humor columns as long as the police keep sharing their catch of the day. Share your thoughts with her at HumorMe@SCLiving.coop.

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