South Carolina Living May 2012 by American MainStreet Publications

A Hero’s Welcome S.C. World War II veterans tour Washington, D.C.

SC Sc e n e

Keep your cool

SC Sto r i e s

The pipes are calling

Humor me

The world is your doily

THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 66 • No. 5 (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

May 2012 • Volume 66, Number 5

Photos by Luis Gomez

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

Keith Phillips

FEATURE

FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Pam Martin

ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang

16 We honor their service

At every stop on their Honor Flight tour of Washington, D.C., South Carolina’s World War II veterans were greeted with applause, handshakes, hugs and kisses. Learn more about this special tribute to the men and women of the “Greatest Generation” and how it was made possible by your local electric cooperative.

DESIGNER

Susan Collins PRODUCTION

Andrew Chapman WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Susan Scott Soyars Contributors

Becky Billingsley, Gina Carbone, Mike Couick, Jim Dulley, Carrie B. Hirsch, Jan A. Igoe, Jimmy Jacobs, Charles Joyner, Jenny Maxwell, Brian Sloboda, S. Cory Tanner, Andrea Thomas 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.

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

Cooperative news

6 ON THE AGENDA

Don’t miss the exotic sounds of new grass, grunge grass, jazz grass and even bluegrass rock ’n’ roll at the Plum Hollow Alternative Bluegrass Festival in Campobello. Plus: Get ready for summer with a review of symptoms and treatments for heat-related illness.

POWER USER DIALOGUE

10 Walking with heroes

SC LIFE STORIES

21 The pipes are calling

Professional bagpipe player Peggy Leonard celebrates her Celtic heritage in musical fashion. SCENE

22 Keep your cool

GARDENER

26 The dirt on manure

Three things every gardener should know about using the original organic fertilizer.

Touching scenes and memorable TR AVELS moments from the April 11 28 Striking it rich in Helen Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Northeast Georgia’s famous tourist village offers a wealth ENERGY Q&A of weekend adventures. 12 Clean coils mean

higher efficiency

Your air conditioner will run smoothly all summer long if you keep it free of dirt and debris. SMART CHOICE

14 Impressive printers

RECIPE

30 Mother’s Day brunch

Warm German potato salad Copper penny carrots Ingleside shrimp pilau Kershaw strawberry & sour cream salad

Make yourself look good on CHEF’S CHOICE paper with 10 new printer 32 Farm-fresh cooking options for your home or office. Some restaurants go to great lengths to obtain fresh ingredients. At The Farmer’s Shed in Lexington, they grow their own.

HUMOR ME

38 The world is your doily

Jan Igoe goes behind the lines with a guerilla army of crocheters who are out to eradicate earth tones.

Printed on recycled paper

Our energy-efficiency experts share 11 tips and one smart strategy to help you stay comfortable this summer while keeping a lid on your power bills.

Milto n Morr is

4 CO-OP CONNECTION

34 MARKETPLACE

A Hero’s Welcome S.C. World War II veterans tour Washington, D.C.

SC SC e n e

Keep your cool

SC Sto r i e S

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

36 SC EVENTS

The pipes are calling

Humor me

The world is your doily

Once a Marine, always a Marine. Don O. Daniels, who served as a .30-caliber machine gunner during the Battle of Iwo Jima, poses at the Marine Corps War Memorial during the April 11 Honor Flight. Photo by Luis Gomez.

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

TOP PICK FOR KIDS

Highlights

JUNE 9

MAY 19–20

May Fly Air Show and Festival

Take a ride in a bi-wing plane or just train your eyes skyward for thrilling aerobatics at the May Fly Air Show and Festival at Florence Regional Airport. Some of the best stunt pilots on the planet will be flying some of the world’s fastest and most maneuverable aircraft—all for your enjoyment. Other entertainment during the two-day event includes wing walkers, high-speed motorcycle demonstrations and comic relief from a jet-powered outhouse and school bus. Tickets are $15 at the gate or $12 with advanced purchase. Admission is free for military (with ID), their families and all children ages 12 and under. For details, visit mayflyairshow.com or call (843) 665-0515.

Reel-n-4kids Fishing Tournament

Hook a good-sized sea trout, red fish or flounder in Charleston Harbor, and you may snag some cash at the Third Annual Scout Boats Reel-n4kids Fishing Tournament. Children are welcome to join fishing fun—ages 12 and under may participate for free— while all others pay $50 to vie for the cash prizes. A special door prize drawing will net someone a Scout 177 Sport with trailer and an F70 Yamaha motor. Proceeds from the day of angling will benefit the Dorchester Children’s Center. For details, visit dorchesterchildren.org or call (843) 875-1551, ext. 31.

MAY 23–27

Gallabrae: Greenville Scottish Games

Are you ready for five full days of Celtic fun? Greenville’s Furman University will be the site of Gallabrae, the Upstate’s annual celebration of Scottish heritage. This festival has it all, including a bagpipe competition, Highland games and dancing, a border collie competition, a British car show and a full day of Celtic rock. There’s plenty of family fun, too. Don’t miss the Great Scot! parade through downtown Greenville on Friday, May 25, or the salute to the armed forces at the games on Saturday, May 26. For details, visit gallabrae.com or call (864) 968-8801.

MAY 24–26

Plum Hollow Alternative Bluegrass Festival

MAY 25–28

Come to Campobello for a three-day weekend filled with bluegrass, new grass, grunge grass, jazz grass and even bluegrass rock ’n’ roll. Some 5,000 fans of various forms of bluegrass music will converge on the sleepy hollow to take in the sights, sounds and southern culture that can only be the Plum Hollow Alternative Bluegrass Festival. Festival tickets are $25–$45.

Don’t forget to bring a camera to Freedom Weekend Aloft at Heritage Park in Simpsonville. Some of the world’s best hot-air balloonists will be on hand offering rides and demonstrating their skills as they compete for national and international titles. There’s plenty of on-theground fun too, in the form of free concerts at the Heritage Park amphitheater, a Frisbee dog competition and puppet shows.

For details, visit moonshiners.com or call (864) 680-0225.

For details, visit freedomweekend.org or call (864) 228-0025.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

Freedom Weekend Aloft

Email COMMENTS, QUESTIONS AND Story suggestions TO LETTERS@SCLIVING.COOP

Health Tip

Avoiding heat illness

Hot summer days are just a part of life here in South Carolina, and if you work or play outside it’s important to know the facts about these common heat ailments.

Heat stroke Heat stroke is

Heat exhaustion Heat exhaustion is usually the result of heavy sweating. People prone to heat exhaustion include the elderly, those with high

blood pressure or people who work in hot conditions. Besides excessive sweating, symptoms include extreme weakness or fatigue, dizziness and confusion, nausea, clammy skin, muscle cramps and shallow, rapid breathing. If a person suffers from heat exhaustion, move him or her to a shaded or air-conditioned area. The victim should drink cool, non-alcoholic beverages and take a cool shower or bath.

Heat syncope Sun-bathers

may be prone to heat syncope, which is dizziness or fainting after lying (or standing) for long periods of time. Dehydration can contribute to an episode of heat syncope, so keep that water bottle handy when you head to the beach. If you feel dizzy after lying

Jussi Pernaa

a potentially deadly condition that occurs when your body temperature rises rapidly and you can’t sweat quickly enough to keep a safe body temperature. Symptoms include hot, dry skin or the opposite— profuse sweating, hallucinations, chills, throbbing headache, confusion or dizziness and slurred speech. If you see someone with the symptoms of heat stroke, immediately call 911 and move the person to a shady area. Try misting the person with cold water, soaking his or her clothes or fanning the body.

for a long time, sit in a cool place and sip on cool water, sports drinks or clear juice.

Heat cramps People who

work or play sports outside in extreme heat may suffer from heat cramps, which result from low salt levels after heavy sweating. Heat cramps usually are felt in the arms, legs, or abdomen. If you feel cramps coming on, stop what you’re doing, sit in a cool place and drink clear juice or a sports beverage. Take it easy for a few hours after you no longer

feel the cramps. If you have heart problems, are on a low-sodium diet, or the cramps do not go away in an hour, call a doctor.

Heat rash Heavy sweating can cause a heat rash during hot, humid weather. It looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters that usually appear on the neck or chest, groin and in the crook of your elbow. Keep the area dry and use baby powder to alleviate discomfort. U.S. Centers for Disease Control

Power sources Power mix for Central Electric Power Cooperative

Coal 70.98% Nuclear 8.74% Oil -0.01% Natural gas 13.52% Hydro 0.97% Methane gas 0.32% Purchases or other 5.47%

Your electric cooperative gets most of the power it provides to you through Central Electric Power Cooperative. Along with other power system services, Central’s job is to aggregate the supply for all electric co-ops in the state. Central’s main source of power is through a long-term contract with Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility that operates a network of power plants. These plants are primarily coal-fired, but Santee Cooper also generates electricity in a variety of ways, ranging from hydroelectric dams to certified “green power” generating plants that trap and burn the methane gas produced in landfills. Santee Cooper’s Green Power is greater than 99 percent landfill methane gas,

less than 1 percent solar, and less than 1 percent wind. For specific information about this form of electricity call Santee Cooper at (800) 804-7424 ext. 3204 or visit santeecooper.com/greenpower. The Green-e Energy Program certifies that Green Power meets the minimum environmental and consumer protection standards established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. For more information on Green-e Energy certification requirements, call (888) 63-GREEN or visit green-e.org.

scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

On the Agenda

S.C.RAMBLE! By Charles Joyner, See Answer ON Page 35

Web Extras

MATCH BOXES

Exclusive bonus content this month at

SCLiving.coop

Honor Flight Photo Gallery: See additional pictures from the April 11 trip to Washington, D.C. Plus: Read our memorial profile of World War II veteran Raymond Vogt, a member of Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, who died shortly before the flight. Order your copy of the Honor Flight souvenir book. South Carolina Living has compiled a souvenir book with profiles of all 100 World War II Hveterans HHH H H H H who HHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHH participated in the April 11 trip. Copies will Ho no r be distributed free to participating veterFligHt April 11, 2012 ans, guardians and volunteers, but a limited number of extra copies are available for purchase. Visit SCLiving.coop for details. NO

R FLI

Columbia, S.C. to Washington, D.C.

h C a r oli

SC Stories: The pipes are calling. Turn to page 21 to meet Conway bagpipe player and instructor Peggy Leonard. Then visit the website to watch our exclusive web video of her playing “Amazing Grace.” If it doesn’t send chills down your spine, check your pulse.

Correction

Giving credit where credit is due The story “Piecing it together” in the March 2012 issue of South Carolina Living provided incomplete information regarding the creation of the yellow ribbon quilt at the Oconee Veterans Museum. Joyce Brickett helped design both the fabric quilt and the painted quilt panel, but the quilt was made by volunteer Marilyn Delay.

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.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

D I

Each letter in the Code Key below stands for the digit above it. Use the key to create two multiplication problems above. Solve the problems and write your answers in the box tops, one digit to each box. Then match boxes to find hidden words in your answers. Code Key 0 123 4 5 6 78 9 REIODANHSW

GONE FISHIN’

Find us on Facebook

Got freedom? Thank a veteran. Add your comments to our digital “Thank You” card. Visit facebook.com/SouthCarolinaLiving and click on the “I Support Our Veterans” button to help us salute South Carolina’s “Greatest Generation.”

The Vektor Fish & Game Forecast provides feeding and migration times. Major periods can bracket the peak by an hour. Minor peaks, ½ hour before and after. Minor

Smart home landscaping can lower your electric bills. Trees on the east and west sides of your home provide shade— and reduce your cooling costs—during hot summer months. Shade for your air conditioner can save 10 percent of your cooling costs. And by adding vegetation to the north side of your home, you can reduce winter winds that trigger higher heating costs. Find more ways to save at togetherwesave.com. Source: Touchstone Energy Cooperatives

May

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

17 4:07 18 4:37 19 — 20 — 21 12:52 22 1:22 23 2:07 24 2:37 25 3:37 26 4:52 27 6:22 28 7:37 29 8:37 30 2:07 31 2:52

11:07 11:22 6:07 11:37 11:52 6:52 5:07 7:22 12:07 5:37 7:52 12:37 5:52 8:37 1:22 6:22 9:07 1:52 6:52 9:52 2:22 7:22 10:37 2:52 7:52 11:22 3:37 8:52 12:07 4:22 10:22 — 5:22 12:52 12:37 6:22 1:22 2:37 7:52 9:22 9:07 4:07 10:07 10:07 5:07

1 3:37 2 4:07 3 — 4 — 5 1:37 6 2:22 7 3:07 8 4:07 9 5:22 10 11:22 11 7:52 12 1:22 13 2:07 14 2:37 15 3:22 16 3:52

10:52 11:37 4:52 5:37 6:22 7:07 7:52 8:52 9:52 6:52 12:52 8:52 9:37 10:07 10:52 11:22

June

11:07 6:07 11:52 6:52 7:52 12:22 8:37 1:07 9:22 1:52 10:07 2:37 10:52 3:07 11:22 3:52 12:07 4:37 — 5:22 1:37 6:22 7:37 3:52 8:52 5:07 10:07 5:52 10:52 6:22 11:37 6:52

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scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

Dialogue

Walking with heroes and bad days at work. If we are lucky, we have great days—days where you say “aha” as you glimpse something new or see old values affirmed. I had that day on Wednesday, April 11, during an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., with 100 of South Carolina’s World War II veterans. For months I had looked forward to meeting these legendary folks. I had read each of their stories and couldn’t wait to meet them in the flesh. I was not disappointed. My fellow guardian, Mary Holland, a staffer for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, and I spent the day with Mr. Tallie Crapps of Kinards and Mr. Gene Whatley of Batesburg. Both men served in the Pacific, Crapps as a Marine and Whatley as a Navy submariner. For the balance of the day, the four of us were Team Crapps/ Whatley. We met our veterans as they deplaned at Reagan National Airport and walked with them through a waiting crowd of greeters who offered applause, handshakes, hugs and kisses. My first “aha” moment of the day was when we reached a pony-tailed Vietnam-era veteran in the middle of the receiving line who leaned in to shake each veteran’s hand and bellowed, “Thanks for kicking their ass!” I don’t think there was a veteran who didn’t crack a smile, and sit or walk a little taller for the rest of the day. On the bus that took us to the National World War II Memorial, I met Mr. Tomie Gaines Sr. of Greenville, who served as a medic in a segregated cavalry unit modeled on the Civil Warera ‘buffalo soldier’ regiments. Gaines treated the injured on the battlefields of North Africa and Italy, but he downplays his service. “I didn’t do nothing but try to save a few people,” he said. I think most of us would beg to differ. We all have good days

Team Crapps/Whatley, right: Tallie Crapps and Gene Whatley are flanked by guardians Mary Holland and Mike Couick. Below, Richard Damron, in red, tells a Utah school group touring Arlington National Cemetery, “We won it for you.”

At the memorial Team Crapps/ Whatley walked and walked and walked; Mary and I struggled to keep up. We kept our promise to the veterans’ wives by taking lots of pictures. Throughout the day our bus was a mobile classroom with history and life’s lessons being taught on every row. I lost count of the times I handed out Kleenexes to watery-eyed guardians who weakly claimed they were suffering from allergies. The highlight of the day for me was about the future and not the past. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the crowd was breaking up after the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Richard Damron, a Marine veteran from York, was gazing across the panorama of Arlington National Cemetery when he was approached by a Utah middle school teacher with a group of students in tow. “Would you mind sharing some of your World War II memories?” the teacher asked. Mr. Damron backed up to a granite wall as the teenagers gathered around. “I saw planes land back on Iwo Jima on a ‘wing and a prayer’ after bombing

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

missions over Japan,” he said in a clear, steady voice. “Had that tiny, 2-mile-by-4-mile speck of land in the Pacific not been won by our troops, most of those planes would have not made it. “The war was won at great cost,” he continued, speaking directly to the spellbound students. “We won it for you. You are inheriting the world. It’s in your hands now.” Back at Reagan National Airport, Mary and I enjoyed our final minutes as part of Team Crapps/Whatley. Both vets claimed that their wives had given them express permission to hug Mary —but I am not sure that Ruby and Jeanette meant so many times. Tomie Gaines jitterbugged with a USO volunteer. Brothers Claude and Cleland Manning, lifelong companions separated only by the time they served in the Army, shared a moment of quiet reflection. A grandson pushing his grand father’s wheelchair was a bundle of raw emotion. Later one of the other guardians shared with me that she believed God had put her with her veteran. As for me, thank you God for allowing me to glimpse the wisdom of an 86-year-old Marine as he passed the mantle of freedom to a new generation of Americans.

Mike Couick President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

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EnergyQ&A

BY jim Dulley

Clean coils mean higher efficiency Keeping your air-conditioning unit free of dirt and debris will keep it running efficiently all summer long

Q A

I want my old air conditioner to run as efficiently as possible. Other than a professional service call, what can I do to tune it up myself?

Clean leaves and other debris from the top of the central air conditioner or heat pump. Remove garden tools and other items from around the central air conditioner condenser unit so the air flow is not restricted. Make sure all the screws, which hold the housing panels on the outdoor unit, are tight so there is minimal air leakage.

unit as they can impede airflow. Also, don’t rest rakes or other items against the cabinet. Over time, debris can build up inside the outdoor unit, and a basic cleaning job is certainly a do-it-yourself option. Switch off the circuit breaker to the unit and remove the outdoor cabinet. Clean out any debris that has accumulated inside it, which may block the coils or impede the operation of the fan. If fins have been bent over in spots, try to straighten them out so more air gets through to the coil. Be sure to save all the screws holding the cabinet sections together and make sure they are tight when you reinstall them. Loose spots create leaks that will draw air through the gaps instead of through the coils as designed. Between clean-ups, periodically check the tightness of the screws to ensure the integrity of the cabinet. It’s also important to ensure proper

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

Photos by James Dulley

With temperatures rising and summer on the way, it is wise to make sure your existing central air conditioner is running as efficiently as possible. Professional servicing once or twice a year is highly recommended for maximum cooling efficiency and as a way to extend the life of your unit (see “Annual AC tune-ups,” page 23), but there are some things you can do yourself to keep your central air conditioner running as efficiently as possible. Air conditioners operate by maintaining a delicate balance of air flow rates over indoor and outdoor coils containing a refrigerant chemical. Inside the coils, the refrigerant changes back and forth between liquid and gas states, and in the process chills the air in your home while expelling hot air to the outdoors. An important part of the process is the release of heat that occurs in the outdoor coils, which are aided by a layer of thin metal foils and a large blower fan. Sadly, the outdoor unit of a typical AC system is the part that most of us ignore because it’s out of sight and out of mind. A little routine care and maintenance will help improve its efficiency. Whenever you do yard chores, make sure weeds and shrubs have not grown too close to the outdoor

airflow through the indoor coils. With the circuit breaker still switched off, remove the side cover on the indoor unit to expose the evaporator coils and the blower. Indoor coils get damp when you run the AC, and they can accumulate quite a bit of dirt over time, which blocks air flow and decreases efficiency. Wipe the coils and then use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean them and the blower as well as possible. The final do-it-yourself step is the most obvious: Replace the blower filter regularly—every three months at a minimum. A clogged filter increases air flow resistance, which also reduces efficiency. 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.

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Switch to a WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system. It seems the only thing growing faster than the price of fossil fuels is the size of “high efficiency” air conditioners and heat pumps. A WaterFurnace geothermal heat pump doesn’t have any outdoor equipment. It uses the clean, renewable energy in your backyard to save up to 70% on heating, cooling and hot water. A WaterFurnace unit is twice as efficient at cooling than the best air conditioner or heat pump and five times more efficient at heating than any ordinary furnace. So if you’re tired of that loud, ugly outdoor unit, contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today.

YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

Anderson/Clemson McGee Heating & Air (864) 339-9251 www.mcgeegeo.com

Charleston Berkeley Heating & Air (843) 747-6700 www.berkeleyheating.com

Barnwell/Denmark/ Orangeburg Neeley Heating & Air (803) 793-3370

Columbia/Lexington/Midlands Greenville Brian’s Heating & Cooling Carolina Heating Service (803) 796-1788 (864) 232-5684 www.briansgeo.com www.carolinaheating.com

Camden/Lugoff/Elgin Powers and Gregory (803) 438-9616 powersandgregorygeo.com

Drawdy’s Heating & Air (803) 782-3546 www.drawdys.com

Gene Love Plumbing, Air & Chapin/Lake Murray/Newberry Electrical Wilson Refrigeration & A/C (803) 794-1399 (803) 276-9685 www.genelove.com

Columbia/Lexington/Midlands Rock Hill/Charlotte Rite Temp Heating & Air Panther Htg & Clg, Inc. (803) 755-0266 (803) 327-2700 www.ritetempheating.com www.pantherhvac.com Spartanburg Waldrop Heating & Air (864) 578-7252 www.waldropgeo.com

scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SmartChoice

By Becky BILLINGSLEY

Impressive printers In the market for a new printer? Lucky you. These models offer an impressive array of features and dramatically lower prices when compared to the machines on the market just a few years ago.

WIRELESS PRINTING PRONTO PRESS Copy, scan, fax and print from your desktop computer, or wirelessly from a laptop, with the Energy Star-rated HP Officejet Pro 8600 Plus. This all-in-one machine has a roomy 4.3-inch display to help you manage its many features, and print speeds that range from 16 to 35 pages per minute. The 8.5-by14-inch flatbed scanner has a resolution up to 4800 dpi, and photos can be printed from compatible memory cards. $230. (800) 349-4358; sears.com. CHEAP INK Thanks to low-cost black-ink cartridges that cost just $5 apiece, the Lexmark Platinum Pro 905 lets you print blackand-white documents for about a penny per page. It also has fax, scan, copy and wireless capabilities. Another clever feature: The Platinum Pro 905 can scan up to eight business cards at once and synch them with your address book software. $200 with a five-year warranty. (800) 539-6275; lexmark.com. WORKHORSE Handle letter- or legal-size documents via cable or Ethernet with a Brother HL-2270DW monochrome laser printer. Designed as a low-cost solution for black-and-white printing needs, it saves paper with a two-sided document feature, ink with the Toner Save mode, electricity thanks to its Energy Star rating and time with a print speed of up to 27 pages per minute. $150. (877) 276-8437; brother-usa.com. CLOUD CONNECTION The new Canon Pixma MX892 is a wireless wonder with the ability to print stunning 9600-by-2400-dpi photos, or pass them along wirelessly to laptops and compatible iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices. A 4-by-5-inch print can be zapped out in 20 seconds, and there’s even an option for printing stills from HD movie clips. $200. (800) 223-2500; adorama.com. 14

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

DESKTOP PHOTO LABS NO COMPUTER NECESSARY Printing your own lab-quality 9600-by-2400-dpi photos is extra easy with the large touchscreen on the HP Photosmart 7510 all-in-one printer. Wireless capabilities allow you to print photos straight from compatible mobile devices. It scans and makes copies, and can even fax without needing a phone line. $200. (888) 999-4747; shopping.hp.com. ART PROJECTS Quickly make your own greeting cards, artistic CD covers and ultra-high-definition photo prints with the Epson Artisan 730. It can print 4-by-6-inch photos in just 10 seconds. With six ink cartridges and automatic photo correction, anyone can restore old faded photos, convert photos to coloring book pages and make enlargements up to 400 percent. Maximum print resolution is 5760-by-1440 dpi. $150. (800) 873-7766; epson.com. ARCHIVAL QUALITY Accomplish all your printing chores at an extremely low price with the 7.5-pound Canon PIXMA iP2702. A patented print head shifts from black-and-white documents to full-color, archival-quality photo prints with ease. $50. (800) 385-2155; shop.usa.canon.com.

TRAVEL TEAM PARTY PIX Polaroid’s Grey Label GL-10 instant mobile printer means you can share party pictures while the party is still going. It connects via Bluetooth or USB to cameras and mobile devices and cranks out 3-x-4-inch photos in about 45 seconds. $100 for the printer; $20 for a 30-pack of paper. (888) 312-2615; store.polaroid.com. VACATION ALBUM Vacations become a lot more charming if you pack an Epson PictureMate Charm portable inkjet printer. It turns out 4-by-6-inch photos in less than 40 seconds and reads many types of digital camera memory cards. A 2.5-inch color screen allows you to preview images, enhance colors and remove red eyes before printing. $150. (800) 873-7766; epson.com. AIR STREAM Bridge the mobile printing gap with the new Lantronix xPrint Server. This handy device enables you to print any image from your Apple iOS 4.2 (or later) iPad, iPhone or iPod touch on almost any printer. Just plug it in and start printing—there are no print drivers or applications to install, and up to 10 printers will function from one server. $150. (866) 500-1957; store.lantronix.com.

scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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We honor their By Keith Phillips | Photography by Robert Burke • John Frick • Luis Gomez • Perry McLeod

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

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service

In April 1945, 19-year-old Don O. Daniels was a battle-tested Marine who had just finished 34 days of hard fighting on the island of Iwo Jima, and was training to invade Japan. Seaman Haskell Harbin was aboard the brand-new Honor Flight of South destroyer USS McCaffery, helping prepare the ship for Carolina and the state’s combat in the Pacific. Over in Europe, infantryman John P. McCarty was earning his second Bronze Star as his regielectric cooperatives ment pushed through the Siegfried Line and fought its way team up to bring 100 into Germany. World War II veterans In the spring of 2012, South Carolina’s electric cooper to Washington, D.C. atives paid tribute to the service of these men and 97 more World War II veterans during a VIP visit to Washington, D.C., and the National World War II Memorial. Like so many of the “Greatest Generation,” Daniels, Harbin and McCarty settled back into civilian life when the war was over and never talked much about their service. For his part, Daniels considered winning the war “a job we had to do.” So when he participated in the April 11 Honor Flight to our nation’s capital, he was nearly overwhelmed at the outpouring of thanks he and his fellow veterans received. “I wasn’t expecting all that,” Daniels said. “They treated us like kings.” During the day-long trip, organized by Honor Flight of South Carolina and funded by 19 cooperatives, the veterans took photos, shared stories and gave interviews to a throng of news media. Some touched the South Carolina pillar at the memorial, others somberly reflected on the wall of stars that commemorate the more than 400,000 military personnel who didn’t return from the war. After visits to the Lincoln, Korean War, Vietnam War, Marine Corps War and the U.S. Air Force memorials, the veterans toured Arlington National Cemetery and observed the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. But the highlight of the day for many was the hero’s welcome they received back at the Columbia airport. The veterans walked off the plane to a band playing patriOR FLIG otic songs, a gauntlet of American flags and hundreds N of grateful South Carolinians pumping their fists in Veterans from across South Carolina the air and chanting “USA! USA! USA!” pose at the National World War II Memorial on April 11, 2012. For Haskell Harbin, the rousing reception “brought water to my eyes, and it takes a lot to do that. ut h C a r ol “I thought it was just wonderful,” he said. “I was surprised to see how many people were interested in World War II veterans. I thought they’d forgotten about us.” On the following pages, South Carolina Living presents photos and stories from the emotional day in Washington, D.C., as our way of saying thanks to all the veterans of World War II.

World War II veterans: To learn more about future Honor Flights, please contact Betsy Hix at (803) 739-3024.

scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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t South Carolina’s World War II

veterans got the full hero treatment from the moment they arrived in Washington, D.C., on the April 11 Honor Flight, including a water cannon salute from the airport fire department.

u As part of their visit to the

National World War II Memorial, the 100 veterans dedicated this South Carolina state flag to the memory of Raymond Vogt of Westminster, who died just days before the trip. Vogt served in the U.S. Army Air Corps loading ordnance onto B-24 bombers.

u Ruby Madonna Galloway was the

only female veteran on the flight. During the war, she served as a flight controller for the Civil Aeronautics Administration Operating Force in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Her three brothers all served in uniform as well. “Everyone helped however they could,” she said of the war effort.

p Veteran Stan Gomberg of Columbia is greeted by an Honor Flight volunteer at Reagan National Airport. u Richard Sejnost, who

trained to be an officer in the U.S. Navy, shares a lighthearted moment with Honor Flight volunteer Dr. Elaine Roque-Nazario.

p Tomie Gaines of Greenville, who served in North Africa and

Italy as a U.S. Army medic, is welcomed to Washington, D.C., by Mike Couick, CEO of The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina.

u John Paul McCarty Sr., who earned two bronze stars for his

combat heroics on the battlefields of Europe, was—like many of the veterans—a bit bewildered at first by the crowd of people cheering his arrival in Washington, D.C.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 |

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p Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Strong, of the President’s Own United States Marine Band, played Taps for the assembled veterans in tribute to the more than 400,000 men and women who died in World War II.

p Gen. Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton, U.S. Air Force (retired), a native of Ridgeland, was on hand to greet South Carolina veterans including William P. Harrison of Manning. Harrison, 98, was the oldest veteran on the trip and said his time in uniform during World War II helped him prepare for his civilian career as an educator. “The Army helped me learn to deal with a lot of different situations,” he said.

t Charles R. “Bob”

White, who served as a U.S. Navy corpsman during World War II, shows his old military ID to a group of young sailors from the USS Mason. “It’s old home week for me,” he said.

u Edward L. Young

of Florence flew 196 combat missions as a P-38 fighter pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific. He later represented South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, and was joined on the flight by current 2nd District Congressman Joe Wilson. t Louis Lathren, who witnessed

Japanese kamikaze attacks on the U.S. Pacific Fleet as a sailor aboard the USS Baham, shared his war stories with guardian Gerren McHam at the National World War II Memorial.

u Brothers Claude and Cleland

Manning enjoyed touring the monuments of Washington, D.C. As a medic with the 119th Regiment of the 30th Infantry Division, Claude Manning treated injured soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge and earned a bronze star. “I’m just so glad I could be here with my brother,” Cleland Manning said. “He never talked about the war.”

scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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t Breeden John celebrated

his 25th birthday by serving as a guardian for his grand father, U.S. Navy veteran Victor Breeden John. As a lieutenant aboard the light cruiser USS Mobile, the elder John was the officer in command of the No. 1 gun turret and participated in most of the major naval battles in the Pacific. “We never stopped shooting,” he said.

p Gerald Plank, who survived a serious chest wound during the Battle of the Bulge, takes in the grandeur of the Lincoln Memorial. t Brothers Melvin Campbell

of Elgin (left) and Jack Campbell of Ruby, enjoyed their visit to Washington, D.C., together, but served oceans apart. Melvin was a U.S. Marine assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Midway in the Mediterranean, while Jack served as a Merchant Marine sailor on supply ships crossing the Atlantic and Pacific. p For Marine Corps veteran Edward Bartha and guardian Tara O’Neil, the

visit to Arlington National Cemetery was a time for quiet reflection.

u Horace L. “Pete” Boozer

(left) and Harold Pitts were childhood friends growing up in Newberry. Separated by the war—Boozer served as a Marine in China; Pitts served in the Navy aboard the USS Los Angeles—they reunited on a troop ship as they made their way back to South Carolina after Japan surrendered.

GetMore Web Extra Visit SCLiving.coop for more stories and

photos from the April 11 Honor Flight. Plus: Read our special memorial profile of veteran Raymond Vogt who passed away shortly before the trip.

Order the commemorative book To help honor our World

p The veterans ended their day with a rousing “welcome home” reception at the Columbia airport, where a large crowd greeted them with chants of “USA! USA! USA!” Among those on hand to pay tribute to the veterans was Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

War II veterans, South Carolina Living has compiled a souvenir book containing profiles and photos of all 100 veterans who participated in the cooperativesponsored Honor Flight. For information on ordering your copy, visit SCLiving.coop, email inquiries to HonorFlight@SCLiving.coop, or call (803) 739-5066. Thank a Veteran Add your comments to our digital “Thank You” card at facebook.com/SouthCarolinaLiving.

SCStories

SC Life

The pipes are calling

Peggy Leonard AGE: 63 HOMETOWN: Conway OCCUPATION:

Professional bagpipe player and instructor

OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: French

horn. She’s also learning to play the fiddle LITTLE-KNOWN FACT:

Milton Morris

Her favorite TV show is The Big Bang Theory

Web Extra Visit SCLiving.coop for a video clip of Peggy Leonard playing Amazing Grace. For more information on her performances or bagpipe lessons, visit peggyleonard.us/pipe-band.

There’s just something about the bagpipes that draws out emotions in people, and as a professional bagpipe player and instructor, Peggy Leonard of Conway has done her share of tugging at the heartstrings. “I’ve made hundreds of people cry,” she says, laughing. “That‘s a good thing.” A classically trained musician who studied French horn at The Juilliard School, she didn’t pick up the bagpipes until later in life. About 19 years ago, she went to a Highland Games event, heard “the scurl of the pipes” and decided to take lessons. She quickly mastered the art of playing the challenging instrument, and as a solo performer, she’s been in demand throughout South Carolina for weddings, funerals and special occasions. She also helped form the Myrtle Beach Regional Pipe Band, serving as the pipe major for six years. Leonard says she’s seeing a growing interest in bagpipe music, and notes she’s taught people of all ages, both genders and a variety of cultural backgrounds to play the traditional music of Ireland and Scotland. Part of the appeal for her, she says, is sharing her own Celtic heritage through the music of the pipes. “I just feel really proud to be doing something because of my Scottish heritage,” Leonard says. “You have that feeling like your relatives would really be proud of you.” —GINA CARBONE

scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCScene

BY JENNY MAXWELL

Keep your Summer 2011 in South Carolina was a real scorcher—the second warmest in the 117 years the weather service has been keeping records. On August 4, Barnwell topped out at 103 degrees, marking the nineteenth time they would hit triple-digit highs that season.

Eleven ways to raise your thermostat and lower your power bills this summer

Frank Furtick, an energy-efficiency expert at Edisto Electric Cooperative, remembers it well. Helping members save on their power bills is part of his job, and when summer temperatures soared, so did electricity bills and the number of calls for his advice. With summer 2012 just around the corner, we asked Furtick and Michael Smith, manager of energy programs for Central Electric Power Cooperative, what homeowners can do to keep a lid on their power use. They gave us lots of tips and common-sense advice, but it all boils down to one smart strategy: Raise the temperature on your thermostat. “I worked with a member who complained about how high his bill was,” Furtick says. “He kept his thermostat at 72 to 73 degrees. That’s low. For every degree you set it higher, you’ll save five to six percent on your cooling costs.” On most summer days, Furtick leaves his set at 78 degrees, but when the temperatures spiked last summer, he bumped it higher by a degree or two, so his system ran a little less. Smith turns the thermostat up even more at his house, to around 83 degrees on the hottest days, but concedes that this temperature may be too high for most. “Our house is fairly well sealed,” he says. “Eighty-three degrees can be comfortable, because I can maintain low humidity.” The key, both of our energy experts advise, is balancing comfort with savings, and they recommend these tips for keeping your cool at higher thermostat settings.

Block the sunlight: Direct sunlight streaming in through windows can be a significant source of heat during the hottest part of the day. “If you want to do something yourself and save some money, close blinds and drapes to keep sunlight out,” says Furtick. 22

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

cool

Caulk and weatherstrip: Small cracks and leaks in your house draw hot air in and work against your air conditioner 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To find leaks, check doors and windows for any drafts or visible light, then fill the holes. With a little caulk and weather stripping, you can make your house tighter—and more energy efficient—in a matter of minutes. Add or increase insulation: Adding attic insulation can be costly, but if your summer energy bills are out of control, you may save money in the long run. Michael Smith says most homes don’t have enough insulation to ensure maximum efficiency, but he recommends homeowners invest in a professional home energy audit before making any major efficiency improvements. Look for certified auditors with credentials from organizations like the Building Performance Institute (BPI)—they have special training and tools that allow them to analyze your home and recommend the most cost-effective improvements. To find BPI-certified professionals in your area, visit bpi.org. Landscape to add shade and reduce reflection: Adding shade trees, installing trellises and climbing vines on sunny walls, and re-thinking driveways and other hard surfaces around your house can reduce the amount of sunlight—and heat—that gets in.

Tighten, replace or insulate ductwork: You

can lose as much as a third of the cool air coming out of the AC unit if it travels through leaky ductwork. Professional HVAC contractors can quickly find and fix problems system-wide, but homeowners can also make their own repairs to any exposed ductwork. Check the integrity of seams, then apply a paint-on resin like mastic to keep the cool air flowing to the rooms of your home, not the crawl spaces.

Annual AC tune-ups: Are they worth it? With a cost of around $75 for a one-time tune-up or more than $100 for an annual service contract, hiring an HVAC company to perform maintenance isn’t cheap. Is it worth it? “Definitely,” says Michael Smith, energy programs manager for Central Electric Power Cooperative. “You’d be surprised how bad systems can get when they’re not maintained. Dirt builds up on coils, and that’s food for mold. It’s an efficiency issue and a health issue.” Smith says you should hire a reputable company, then pay attention to what the service technician does. You should expect the pros to check the coolant level, clean coils, check belts and the compressor, oil fan motors and make sure system operating pressures and temperatures meet manufacturer specifications. Frank Furtick, our energy expert from Edisto Electric Cooperative, advises homeowners to do their part between service calls by changing the filter every 30 days, making sure registers aren’t blocked and keeping doors open so air circulates throughout the house. For more tips on do-it-yourself AC maintenance, see “Energy Q&A: Clean coils mean higher efficiency,” on page 12. —JENNY MAXWELL

Change the way you cook: Use small appliances or cook outdoors on the grill. Microwave and toaster ovens generate less heat than a full-sized oven or a cooktop. Use the exhaust fan to draw heat outdoors, and fit the burner size to the pan, so as little heat escapes into the room as possible. ll

scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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Don’t throw cash out the window A smart shopper’s guide to room air conditioners Costing between $100 and $1,000, room air conditioners can be purchased at home improvement centers and big box retailers, and they tend to last a long time with minimal maintenance, so selecting the right model is important for maximum comfort and energy savings. Here’s what to look for: The Energy Star label: Room air conditioners with an Energy Star rating have been deemed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to use at least 10 percent less energy than comparable models. These agencies estimate that a typical consumer in hot and humid states—like South Carolina— could save up to $30 annually and as much as $250 over the life of the appliance. A high energy-efficiency ratio (EER): EER measures the cooling capacity against the amount of electricity consumed by a window unit. National appliance standards require room air conditioners built after January 1, 1990, to have a minimum EER of 8.0. For maximum savings, get the highest EER you can afford. Timers and programmable thermostats: These features offer better temperature control, allowing users to cool spaces according to their preferences. For example, you can set the unit to turn on 20 minutes before bedtime to make your room comfortable. The right size for the room: Room air conditioners come in a variety of sizes. Many people buy the largest one they can afford, assuming bigger is better, but that’s a mistake. A unit that’s too large will cool a room too quickly to properly remove humidity, leaving the space feeling cool but also wet and clammy. Measure the room you need to cool, and choose an appropriate size for the job. One last word of advice: If you’re replacing an existing unit with a more efficient model, don’t just toss the old AC in the trash pile. Air conditioners contain a refrigerant that should be removed by a trained technician. Contact your local solid waste collector for information on how to properly dispose of or recycle the old unit. —BRIAN SLOBODA

Turn off unnecessary lights: Leaving lights on when you leave the room is an obvious energy-waster, but in summer months it delivers a double whammy by also generating unwanted heat. Incandescent bulbs, for example, give off 90 percent of their energy as heat, not light. Summer is a good time to consider replacing incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Not only do CFLs use less power to light up the room, they also generate considerably less heat. Run heat-generating appliances at night: Try using heat-generating appliances

such as hair dryers, clothes dryers and computers during cooler times of day. Need to run the dishwasher? Do it early in the morning or after the sun sets. And consider line drying clothes on hot, sunny days.

Add a fan: Using a fan along with air conditioning can make a room feel four degrees cooler. Box and circulating fans can help, but a ceiling fan is the best option for moving air throughout a room. Home improvement stores offer models for as little as $50, and installation can often be a do-it-yourself job. However, fans are only effective when people are in the room. “I wouldn’t recommend using ceiling fans when you’re not home,” says Furtick. “It’s a waste of electricity to run fans in rooms when there isn’t anyone in them to experience the wind chill.”

Add a vapor barrier in your crawl space: Adding a layer of heavy-duty plastic over the ground beneath your house keeps humidity out of your house. Smith says it can be a DIY job: “It’s a hassle, but it’s not that expensive.” Your home improvement store can help you find the right materials. Smith also points out that a good vapor barrier can make your home healthier, by reducing the chance you’ll have mold. Upgrade your cooling system: If your system is more than 10 years old, you might benefit from installing a more energy- efficient system. New systems also offer advanced features, such as the ability to zone your house so you cool bedrooms at night, the living room during the day. Smith urges homeowners to consider replacing or repairing ductwork at the same time. “A new unit with poor ductwork is just wasting energy more efficiently,” he says. Window units are also getting more efficient, he says. If you are using a 1970s-era window air conditioner, upgrading to a new, Energy Star-rated unit could have a significant impact on cooling costs, but consumers should consider several factors before buying. For more information, see “Don’t throw cash out the window,” at left.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCGardener

BY S. CORY TANNER

The dirt on manure Three things every gardener should know about using the original organic fertilizer

been piled for a prolonged period of time—this does not kill the pathogens. To properly compost manure, mix it with yard waste like leaves, straw or wood chips and allow to heat to 140 degrees. It should be stirred several A couple decades ago, using manure times to make sure all of the mateto add organic matter and plant rial experiences the highest heat in nutrients to vegetable gardens was the center of the pile. After the heat a no-brainer. Many gardeners raised period, the pile should cure for two to some sort of livestock, or knew somefour months before use. body who did, and using manure The second concern is herbicide in a garden or field was a good way carry-over. Some herbicides approved of eliminating animal waste while for controlling broadleaf weeds in pasimproving the soil. Today, most people don’t have their tures and hay fields can actually pass through an animal’s digestive tract own farm animals and the practice of and remain active using manure as an organic in manure, even fertilizer is becoming a lost GetMore after it is composart. A resourceful gardener For more information ted. The herbican still track down manure on composting manure, cide ingredients of for use as fertilizer—somedownload factsheet HGIC concern are piclotimes free, sometimes not— 1600 at the Clemson but there are some issues to ram, clopyralid Extension Home & Garden consider before accepting and aminopyralid. Information Center that first load. Using manures or website, clemson.edu/hgic. The first mulch that contain and most sigtraces of these More tips on using manure nificant concern is food herbicides can seriously damage or l Only use manure from farm animals like cattle, safety. Fresh manure kill your garden plants. To avoid this horses, goats, rabbits and poultry, never carnivores, may contain several difproblem ask your manure supplier humans or pets. ferent pathogens, such if their pastures or hay fields were as E. coli, Listeria, and treated with any of these products. l Most commercially available, bagged manures have been thoroughly composted or pasteurized Salmonella, that can conThe last concern is weed seed (it should say so on the bag) and screened for taminate your produce. contamination. Believe it or not, herbicide contaminants and weed seeds, making You obviously don’t many weed seeds can pass through them generally safe for use. want to sicken yourself an animal and be a nuisance for the or others, so never apply gardener. Horse manure is particul More is not always better. Some soil nutrients, particularly phosphorous and potassium, can fresh, un-composted larly notorious for this. Composting become excessive with repeated applications of manure to a planted veg- will help reduce this problem, but you manure. Also, excess manure is more likely to etable garden. may need a plan to deal with an outfind its way into streams and ponds, contaminatA better alternabreak of weeds when fertilizing with ing water. A safe application rate is 30 pounds of tive is to use thoroughly manure. manure per 100 square feet tilled into the top 6–8 composted manures. It’s inches of soil annually. Monitor soil nutrient levels important to realize that S. Cory Tanner is an area horticulture with annual soil testing and stop applying manure “aged” is different from agent for Clemson Extension based if nutrient levels become excessive. composted manure. Aged in Greenville County. Contact him at manure has usually only shannt@clemson.edu. 26

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCTravels

BY ANDREA THOMAS

Striking it rich in Helen Northeast Georgia’s famous tourist village offers a wealth of weekend adventures If you want to get the most out of your visit to Helen in Northeast Georgia, the best advice is to keep your mind—and your schedule— open. With its stunning mountain vistas, eclectic local eateries and diverse shops and museums, this replica Alpine village is full of adventures just waiting to be discovered. Most visitors start their visit with a stroll through the downtown business district, which was built to resemble a picturesque Bavarian village. Walking along North Main Street is like stepping inside the pages of Hansel and Gretel. From the larger-than-life windmill in front of the Heidi Motel to the architecture reminiscent of a gingerbread house, everything has an Alpine theme. Helen is known for its month-long Oktoberfest (this year’s celebration will take place Sept. 20–Oct. 28), but if German food and beer are your

GetThere The town of Helen is located in White County, Ga., off Highway 17. For more information, call the Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 858-8027; helenga.org. Dukes Creek Gold and Ruby Mines is open year-round 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For details, (706) 878-2625 or dukescreek.com. Smithgall Woods State Park is open yearround. The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but parking is $5. For details, (706) 878-3087 or gastateparks.org/smithgallwoods.

passion, you can get your fill here 365 days a year at eateries like Hofer’s of Helen—an authentic bakery and café where waitresses dressed in traditional Bavarian outfits serve everything from strudel to spätzle. There’s also the Old Heidelberg restaurant, which is famous for both its authentic German food and a pub with nearly four dozen international beers on the menu. If you’re looking for more of a hands-on adventure, pay a visit to Dukes Creek Gold and Ruby Mines on Helen Highway. Owner Del Jackson says gold panning has been a part of north Georgia culture since the 1820s, when discoveries of the precious metal touched off a gold rush 20 years before the one in California. Modern visitors to the mine can get a taste of the prospecting experience by purchasing buckets of sand taken from the mine and panning through them in search of nuggets. “You’re guaranteed to find something in every bucket,” Jackson promises, and the mine’s experts are always on hand to help you refine your technique and

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

Hot-air balloons will grace the skies over Helen in late spring during the 2012 Atlantic Balloon Race and Festival. A stroll through Alpine Helen’s downtown will prepare you for the strudel or beer sure to follow.

appraise your finds. Not far away, at Smithgall Woods State Park, nature lovers will strike it rich with luxurious cabins, miles of hiking and biking trails, and some of the best catch-and-release trout fishing in the country, says General Manager John Erbele. Trout Unlimited named Dukes Creek, which runs through the park, as one of the top 100 U.S. streams for anglers, and “we’ve got about 51⁄2 miles of frontage.” Need another reason to visit Helen this spring? The 2012 Atlantic Balloon Race and Festival runs from May 31 to June 2, and the skies over the Alpine village will be filled with colorful balloons, some offering tethered rides 75 feet in the air and others offering romantic “champagne flights” over the Blue Ridge Mountains—proof positive that whatever your pleasure, you’re likely to find it (or its German cousin) in Helen.

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SCRecipe

Edited by Carrie Hirsch

Donna Moulton/iStockphoto

Mother’s Day brunch WARM GERMAN POTATO SALAD Serves 6

4 slices bacon, raw 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 4 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 15-ounce cans sliced white potatoes, drained 2 tablespoons water Pinch of black pepper Hao Liang/iStockphoto

“COPPER PENNY” CARROTS Serves 6

INGLESIDE SHRIMP PILAU Serves 4

4 strips bacon, raw 2 cups water 2 cups rice, uncooked (Note: use 2 cups only if using a rice steamer. If cooking the conventional way on a stovetop, use 1 cup uncooked rice.) Salt and pepper, to taste 1 pound medium shrimp, cooked and peeled 1 stick (8 tablespoons) salted butter ½ cup Worcestershire sauce 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour for dredging Rice steamer (optional)

Preheat large saute pan on medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes. Cut bacon into ¼-inch pieces. Place bacon in pan, cook 3–4 minutes until bacon is crisp. Stir sugar and vinegar into pan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Stir in potatoes and water until evenly coated. Cover and cook 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until potatoes begin to break down slightly and sauce has thickened. Stir in black pepper. James e. padgett, jr., m.d., columbia

Marinade

Donna Moulton/iStockphoto

¾ cup apple cider ½ cup vegetable or canola oil 1 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon prepared mustard 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 10-ounce can tomato soup Salt and pepper to taste

Vegetables

2 pounds carrots 1 small green bell pepper 1 medium onion

Combine marinade ingredients in a medium saucepan and heat, stirring until well blended; set aside to cool. Meanwhile, peel and slice carrots about 1/4-inch thick. Boil in a medium saucepan until tender, but not soft. Drain. Slice bell pepper and onion into rings. Alternately layer carrot slices, bell pepper rings and onion rings in large glass jar. Pour marinade over vegetables, close lid and refrigerate. Stores well for up to 1 week. Stir well before serving.

Sarah hancock, hilton head island (in honor of ethel m. moise)

KERSHAW STRAWBERRY & SOUR CREAM SALAD 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.

Y.a. sanchez, taylors

In a medium skillet, cook bacon and reserve drippings. Set bacon aside on paper towels. Add water, rice and bacon drippings to rice steamer (if cooking on a stovetop in medium-size pot, add only 1 cup raw rice) and cook until done according to manufacturer’s instructions. Fluff with fork, add salt and pepper and keep warm. In a large skillet, heat butter. Dip shrimp in Worcestershire sauce (use more as needed), roll in flour, then saute until brown on both sides. Gently stir in cooked rice. Toss lightly until rice is well-coated. Chop bacon, then add to rice. Serve immediately.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

Serves 9

2 8-ounce packages strawberry Jell-O 2 cups boiling water 1 10-ounce package frozen strawberries 1 15-ounce can crushed pineapple, drained 2 bananas, mashed 1 16-ounce tub sour cream

In a medium bowl, dissolve Jell-O in boiling water, then add strawberries and drained pineapple. Stir in mashed bananas. Pour half of mixture into 9-by-9-by-2-inch dish, cover and refrigerate until congealed. Spread sour cream over congealed salad. Pour remaining Jell-O mixture over sour cream. Cover and return to refrigerator for 2–3 hours. Slice and serve. Carolyn williams, kershaw

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scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

SCChef’sChoice

Text and photos BY JIMMY JACOBS

Farm-fresh cooking Many restaurants go to great lengths

to find the freshest ingredients, but at The Farmer’s Shed in Lexington, they grow their own. Opened in 2000, The Farmer’s Shed is a produce market, garden center and “upscale country cooking” restaurant operated by the Sease family just down the road from their farm on Augusta Highway. In a world full of fast food and fine dining, and too little in between, it’s the kind of place where busy folks can sit down for a comfortable, home-cooked meal. Shirley Sease, the owner and head cook, prides herself on the loyal following of Columbia-area diners who make the drive to get their fill of classic comfort food—with plenty of the freshest, locally grown vegetables on the side. “They love that we serve fresh vegetables that are in-season and grown

The Farmer’s Shed Cranberry Pork Chops serves 4

4 bone-in pork chops 1 8-ounce bottle of Catalina dressing 1 package dry onion soup 1 16-ounce can of whole cranberry sauce

In a large non-stick skillet, brown pork chops on both sides over medium heat. In a medium bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Pour cranberry mixture over pork chops and bring to a boil. Cover, lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

locally,” she says. All three components of The Farmer’s Shed are housed in what was originally a grocery store built in the 1930s. Country and homey, the atmosphere of the restaurant is Weave your way through the flowers and produce at the Sease family market to reach The Farmer’s Shed restaurant inside. low-key, welcoming and familiar, right down to the plastic utensils and squash, green beans, butter beans, the Styrofoam plates. peas, tomatoes, carrots, corn and okra. What’s cooking at The Farmer’s The origins of the restaurant can Shed depends on the day of the week. be traced back to 1947 when the From Monday to Friday, each day has Sease family farm was started. A a different roster of southern favorites. farmer’s daughter herself, Shirley Take Wednesday, for example. Guests married into the Sease family and can choose to chow down on meat took over the farm in 1978 with loaf with gravy, skillet-fried chicken, husband Clinton. They opened the baked ham or a cranberry pork chop, first version of The Farmer’s Shed and pick any two side dishes from a as a produce market in 1999, and list that includes green beans, coleslaw, quickly expanded to include a garden macaroni and cheese, okra and tomacenter. Not long after, Shirley thought toes and fresh greens—just to name a to open a restaurant that would be just like “eating at Grandma’s.” few. A plate with one meat, two sides Sease says her daily ambition is to and either a homemade biscuit or a make people feel at home. hunk of old-fashioned skillet corn“We just want to make sure everybread costs just $8.50. one is comfortable and getting good Other days of the week feature dishes such as chicken and dumplings, service,” she says. In fact, it’s the people she most chicken pot pie, pot roast, turkey and dressing, fried flounder, lemon-herbed enjoys. “It may sound silly, but I really chicken and shrimp and grits—a favorlike it when I’m in ite among the regulars. the back and I can Or, for just $7.25, hear the buzz of you can get a plate The Farmer’s Shed people out in the of four side dishes, 2514 Augusta Highway, restaurant,” she a tempting option Lexington says. “It’s rewarding when the menu offers (803) 996-0700 just to hear them fresh seasonal veggies farmersshed.com enjoying their food straight from the Sease Restaurant hours: Monday– and having a good farm, including rutaFriday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. time.” bagas, sweet potatoes,

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | May 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

Calendar of Events Please confirm information before attending events. For entry guidelines, access SCliving.coop.

UPSTATE MAY

17–20 • Greek Festival, Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Greenville, (864) 233-8531. 18 • Lake Russell Spring Fest, Cox Avenue, Calhoun Falls. (864) 418-8672. 18–19 • Georgia Mountain Eggfest, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee, Ga. (706) 896-4191. 19 • Town Wide Yard Sale, Calhoun Falls. (864) 418-8672, ext. 22. 19 • Potters on Gaffney’s Old Field Pottery Show and Sale, Cherokee County History and Arts Museum, Gaffney. (864) 489-3988. 19 • Kids Day at the Park, Smithgall Woods State Park, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-3087. 19–20 • Clemson Festival of ARTS, Catherine Smith Park, Clemson. (864) 633-5051. 23–26 • Gallabrae/Greenville Scottish Games, Downtown and Furman University, Greenville. (864) 968-8801. 24–26 • Plum Hollow Alternative Bluegrass Festival, Plum Hollow Farm, Campobello. (864) 680-0225. 25–27 • Memorial Day Blast, Unicoi State Park, Helen, Ga. (800) 573-9659. 25–28 • Freedom Weekend Aloft, Heritage Park, Simpsonville. (864) 228-0025. 26 • Jewelry Expo, The McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah, McCormick. (864) 852-3216. 26 • Bavarianfest, Festhalle, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-1908. JUNE

1–2 • 39th Annual Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race, Helendorf Inn, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-2271. 9 • Run To Remember CPT David Hortman 5K Run/Walk, Anderson University Athletic Campus, Anderson. (864) 561-7878. 13–16 • Mighty Moo Festival, various venues, Cowpens. (864) 580-9766. 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. Saturday Nights May 26– Sept. 1 • Bluegrass on the Mountain, Hillbilly Grounds, Mountain Rest. (864) 638-9070. Second Saturdays • Music on the Mountain Bluegrass Jams, Table Rock State Park, Pickens. (864) 878-9813. Third Saturdays through September • Youth Fishing Days at Buck Shoals, Smithgall Woods State Park, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-3087. Saturdays and Sundays • Museums open 1–5 p.m., Andrew Jackson State Park, Lancaster. (803) 285-3344.

MIDLANDS MAY

16 • Greater Sumter Chamber of Commerce 100th Anniversary Gala, Sumter Civic Center, Sumter. (803) 775-1231. 17 • “War Bonds,” Weldon Auditorium, Manning. (803) 433-7469. 18–19 and 25–27 • Aiken Community Playhouse Presents: “Man of La Mancha,” URS Center for Performing Arts, Aiken. (803) 648-1438. 18–19 • Red Rose Festival, downtown, Lancaster. (803) 286-8414. 18–20 • SC Book Festival, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia. (803) 771-2477. 19 • 15th Annual McConnells Tractor Show, McConnells Ball Field, McConnells. (803) 230-4126. 19 • 5th Annual NAMIWalks 5K Walk, West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater, Columbia. (803) 206-2916. 19 • Iris Festival Pageant, Sumter High School Auditorium, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. 19 • Carolina Spring Backcountry Days, Sumter County Museum, Sumter. (803) 775-0908. 19 and 26 • More Than Meets the Eye, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken. (803) 641-3654. 19 and 26 • Two Small Pieces of Glass, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken. (803) 641-3654. 22 • Critters of the Night, Silver Bluff Audubon Center, Aiken. (803) 649-7999.

25–27 • Sumter Iris Festival, Swan Lake Iris Gardens, Sumter. (803) 436-2640. 26–29 • Lone Star Bluegrass & Country Music Hoe Down, Lone Star BBQ & Mercantile, Santee. (803) 854-2000. JUNE

1 • Redcliffe by Moonlight, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, Beech Island. (803) 827-1473. 2–3 • Lexington County Master Gardeners Garden Tours, Lexington area. (803) 796-0884. 2 and 9 • Solar System Adventure, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken. (803) 641-3654. 5 • Raptors of South Carolina, Birds & Butterflies, Aiken. (803) 649-7999. 9 • Clover Scottish Games and Scotch-Irish Festival, Clover Memorial Stadium, Clover. (803) 222-3312. 10–16 • Southeastern Piano Festival, University of South Carolina School of Music and Koger Center, Columbia. (803) 777-4280. 15 • Taste of Newberry, Memorial Square, Newberry. (803) 276-6264. 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 • SOS Planet Showing, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden’s 3-D Adventure Theater, Columbia. (803) 779-8717. Daily, except Mondays • 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. Mondays through May • Homeschool Mondays, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717. Tuesdays through May • Toddler Tuesdays, Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100. Second Tuesdays • Family Night $1 Admission, Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100. Fourth Thursdays • Tales for Tots, Edventure Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100. Saturdays • Behind-theScenes Adventure Tours, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 978-1113. Saturdays in June • Solar System Adventure, DuPont Planetarium, Aiken. (803) 641-3654. Second Saturdays • Children’s Art Program, Sumter County Gallery of Art, Sumter. (803) 775-0543. Saturdays and Sundays • Gallery Tour, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810. Daily, by appointment • Overnights and Night Howls, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717, ext. 1113. Weekly, through midAugust • Summer Zoo Camp, Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

LOWCOUNTRY MAY

11–20 • Myrtle Beach Bike Week and Spring Rally, various locations, Murrells Inlet. (336) 643-1367. 17 • African American Civil War Lecture Series, Hartsville Memorial Library, Hartsville. (843) 332-5115. 17 • Pine Straw Festival, various venues, Patrick. (843) 498-6379. 19 • 16th Annual Rib Burnoff and Barbecue Fest, Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, Hilton Head Island. (843) 342-9466. 19 • Walterboro Antiques, History & Arts Festival, SC Artisans Center, Walterboro. (843) 549-0011. 19 • 25th Annual All Saints A screech owl might be one of the critters of the Garden Tour, All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton night encountered at the Silver Bluff Audubon Head Island. (843) 645-4111. Center on May 22.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

Add to your basket collection at the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival in Mount Pleasant on June 2. 19 • Summer Pier Kickoff Tournament, Folly Beach Fishing Pier, Charleston. (843) 588-3474. 19 • Shaggin’ on the Cooper, Mount Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant. (843) 762-9946. 19–20 • Blue Crab Festival, waterfront, Little River. (843) 385-3180. 19–20 • May Fly Air Show & Festival, Florence Regional Airport, Florence. (843) 665-0515. 25–June 10 • Piccolo Spoleto, various venues, Charleston. (843) 724-7305. JUNE

2 • Corvettes at Myrtle Beach, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. (843) 347-2019. 2 • Pier Tournament, Cooper River Challenge, Mount Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant. (843) 762-9946. 2 • Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival, Waterfront Memorial Park, Mount Pleasant. (843) 856-9732. 2–3 • Butterfly and Art Festival, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-6000. 2–4 • Wanda Johnson’s “Voice of the Blues,” Mad River, Charleston. (843) 762-9125. 9 • 3rd Annual Scout Boats Reel-n-4kids Fishing Tournament, Bristol Marina/ Brittlebank Park, Charleston. (843) 875-1551, ext. 31. 9 • Reggae Nights, James Island County Park, Charleston. (843) 795-7275. 9–10 • Art in the Park, Chapin Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 446-7471.

15 • Movies at the Mount Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant. (843) 762-9946. ONGOING

Daily • Trail Riding, Cheraw State Park, Cheraw. (843) 537-9656. Daily • Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet. (843) 235-6000. Daily, except major holidays • Parris Island Museum, Beaufort. (843) 228-2166. Daily • Nature Center, Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838-7437. Daily • Self-guided Colonial tours, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston. (843) 852-4205. Tuesdays, starting May 29– Aug. 28 • 10 p.m. fireworks, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. (843) 444-3200. Tuesdays, through Oct. 16 • Mount Pleasant Farmers Market, Coleman Boulevard, Mount Pleasant. (843) 884-8517. Tuesdays–Saturdays • Education Center displays and programs, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325. Thursdays through October • Blues & BBQ Harbor Cruise, Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston. (843) 722-1112. Saturdays–Tuesdays • Mansion Tours, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, McClellanville. (843) 546-9361. Saturdays through October • Lawn Mower Racing, MCK/Cyclone Speedway, Bennettsville. (910) 334-6638.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

The world is your doily in the family, especially one with a limited repertoire, there will be afghans. Lots and lots and lots of afghans. My mom, God rest her soul, was a knitting beast. Armed with hundreds of needles and crochet hooks, she mass-produced granny squares like a deranged machine. We suspect she was also colorblind. Mom had a knack for tracking down killer closeouts on polyester yarn. She had zero use for natural fibers. Except for a brief foray into sewing antelope fur vests for the entire family and dozens of traumatized friends, Mom was devoted to glow-in-the-dark polyester yarn. The more neon the orange, flamboyant the fuschia, or phosphorescent the chartreuse, the more likely the electric skein was to join her needlework palette. And the more eager the store was to pay her to take it away. Mom’s motto: Your relatives can never have too many homemade blankets. If you run out of beds, sofas, chairs, appliances, car seats and naked dolls, there’s always the grill, patio furniture and future generations to cover up. When my brother and his wife were expecting twins, Mom was in heaven. Two innocent children were desperately in need of homemade granny square afghans, just big enough to keep their tiny bodies warm, but ample enough to double as bivouac tents. My brother graciously told her that his twins’ rooms were being decorated

When you have a knitter

in soft pastel yellow and mint green. Mom’s response: “So?” When the blankets arrived, each was about 10 feet across by 12 feet long. Besides pastel yellow and mint green, we counted several dozen flickering, vibrating, seizure-inducing shades capable of piercing closed eyelids at 50 paces. Fearing the color cacophony could cause photosensitive epilepsy in lab animals, he called Mom to request a crochet cease and desist. While timidly voicing his concern about the long-term effects of visually overstimulating his newborns, Mom produced four more equally eye- boggling blankets so he could rotate them. They were finished before he hung up the phone. I now realize that my poor mom was born ahead of her time—too early

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2012 | scliving.coop

to cash in on the granny graffiti movement that would have guaranteed her rock star status: Yarn bombing. Yes, mad knitters around the world are taking to the streets to cover anything that grows, rolls, was cast in bronze or has roots. Every time a city bus rolls by on a chilly morning, die-hard knitters ask themselves the same question: “Why isn’t it wearing a scarf?” When nature leaves tree trunks humiliated by drab brown bark as flowers flaunt their colorful petals in the sunlight, true knitters know it’s their duty to fix the injustice. Why settle for tea cozies when you could be knitting tree cozies? From park benches to naked statues just crying out for striped leg warmers, guerilla crocheters are out to eradicate earth tones. To them, olive drab assault vehicles, such as tanks, seem desperate for fuzzy pink adornment. As prolific knitters run out of relatives to blanket, granny squares are breaking out of senior centers and running amok. So prepare yourselves. International Yarn Bombing Day is June 11. There’s still time to pack your needles and select prime targets. That also gives brown-trunked tree owners time to take precautions. Camouflage them in afghans before the knitters attack. Just call if you need one. I may have a few extras. JAN A. IGOE wishes all you knitters and crocheters a joyous Yarn Bombing Day. Share your handiwork at HumorMe@ SCLiving.coop.

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