South Carolina Living October 2012

Copper

Theft Co-ops crack down on a dangerous and costly crime H o m e tow n Pr i d e

At home in Marlboro County SC G a r d e n e r

October 2012

Growing garden mums Humor Me

Give me crispy, or give me death

“There were at least eight times I should have been dead, but God was watching over me.”

Henry C. Fitzgerald elgin, S.C.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Bulge, Iwo Jima, and the Berlin Airlift—they’re all here. From the foxholes of Belgium to the engine rooms of Navy destroyers to the cockpits of P-38s, this 212-page book will absorb you with the profiles, period photos and portraits of 100 South Carolina World War II veterans.

Read

the fascinating stories of 100 World War II veterans who are also your neighbors.

Order your copy of Honor Flight today!

to order Honor Flight, complete and return this form with a check made payable to electric Cooperatives of S.C. PLEASE Print CLEARLY YouR nAmE AddRESS

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CitY/StAtE/ZiP EmAiL AddRESS

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Number of books _________________________ at $29.95 each. Amount enclosed $_________________________________________ Mail form and check to: Electric Cooperatives of S.C. P.O. Box 100270 Columbia, SC 29202-3270

Price includes shipping and sales tax. Allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery.

Questions: EmAiL: HonorFlight@scliving.coop PhonE: (803) 739-5066

THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 66 • No. 10 (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 Diane Veto Parham FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Pam Martin

ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

FEATURE

16 At home in Marlboro County

From the historic attractions of downtown Bennettsville to the quiet communities of Blenheim, Clio, McColl, Tatum and Wallace, there is a lot to love about living in Marlboro County. Join us on a tour as locals, like Cindy Stone (center) and her staff at Breeden’s Grocery, share why they are proud to call the area home.

Milton Morris

ASSISTANT EDITOR

October 2012 • Volume 66, Number 10

Susan Collins PRODUCTION

4 CO-OP CONNECTION

Andrew Chapman

Cooperative news

WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Susan Scott Soyars Contributors

Becky Billingsley, Mike Couick, Jim Dulley, Carrie B. Hirsch, Jan A. Igoe, Charles Joyner, Mark Quinn, Marc Rapport, S. Cory Tanner 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. © COPYRIGHT 201 2. The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor. is brought to you by your member-owned, taxpaying, not-for-profit electric cooperative to inform you about your cooperative, wise energy use and the faces and places that identify the Palmetto State. Electric cooperatives are South Carolina’s — and America’s — largest utility network.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

6 ON THE AGENDA

Find out how the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf stack up against one of the first massproduced electric vehicles—the 1917 Detroit Electric. Plus: Top weekend events from across the Palmetto State.

POWER USER DIALOGUE

10 The essential holiday dish Everyone has a favorite Thanksgiving Day food that makes the holiday special. Tell us yours and you could win a new iPad. ENERGY Q&A

12 Cool breeze,

cooler electric bills

Ceiling fans—and the right thermostat setting—can help lower electricity use.

SMART CHOICE

14 Tailgating with technology With this starting lineup of must-have items, you might never leave the parking lot.

SC LIFE STORIES

22

21 Market warrior

Greenville native Miller Gaffney gets competitive on a new PBS reality show that is shaking up the antiques world.

SCENE

22 Cracking down on copper theft

South Carolina’s electric cooperatives are partnering with law enforcement and Crime Stoppers to put copper thieves behind bars.

26

GARDENER

26 Growing garden mums

Colorful potted mums are everywhere this time of year—but do they belong in your outdoor garden?

TR AVELS

28 Overlooked Edisto

28

Take a walk on the wild side at Edisto Beach State Park, where the famous shell-covered beachfront is only part of the fun.

RECIPE

30 Hearty fall flavors

White chili chicken My brother’s Brussels Mary’s maple walnut cream no-crust pie Fudge nougats

30

CHEF’S CHOICE

32 Dining underground

14

Belgian cuisine and specialty brews make The Trappe Door a tasty escape from the everyday.

Copper

HUMOR ME

ThefT

38 Give me crispy or give me death

Printed on recycled paper

Co-ops crack down on a dangerous and costly crime

How far will you go in search of perfect French fries?

H o m e tow n Pr i d e

At home in Marlboro County SC G a r d e n e r

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

36 SC EVENTS

OctOber 2012

Growing garden mums Humor me

Give me crispy, or give me death

A new partnership between electric cooperatives and Crime Stoppers of South Carolina aims to put copper thieves behind bars. Photo

by Alexander Raths.

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

Highlights

NOVEMBER 10

Castra Romana XI

Friends, lend an ear: Roman citizens, politicians, soldiers, gladiators and even barbarians will gather at Castra Romana XI, a family-friendly event at Givhans Ferry State Park in Ridgeville.

The day of living history recreates Imperial Rome with mock combat by re-enactors in period garb. Popular features include artillery demonstrations with a Roman “catapulta”; the “medici” treating battlefield wounds first-century style; and a “tripastos,” a crane used to construct immense aqueducts and Rome’s great buildings.

OCTOBER 18–21

South Carolina Jazz Festival Cheraw celebrates the birthday of native son Dizzy Gillespie, the legendary trumpeter, with four days and nights of cool jazz concerts.

Featured artists are Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Kate McGarry and the Think Jazz Orchestra (trombonist Mitch Butler pictured).

Guests can also jam at an evening street party and tour the “Dizzy on Display” exhibit at the Southern African-American Heritage Center.

For details, visit legvi.tripod.com/castroromani or call (843) 437-5587.

For details, visit scjazzfestival.com or call (843) 537-8420.

Back to the future The Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival takes an electric turn

most people only know the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf. But if you steer your way to the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival Nov. 3–4, you’ll find another groundbreaking electric vehicle to ponder—the 1917 Detroit Electric Model B. This vintage ride belongs to Palmetto Electric Cooperative member Charles Mistele, who is partnering with the co-op to display it alongside the newer electric models as part of the Motoring Midway. The exhibit will demonstrate just how much electric vehicles have—and haven’t—changed in 95 years.

Take range, for example. The Volt gets 40 to 50 miles on a single charge; the Leaf about 73 miles. And the Detroit Electric?

When it comes to electric cars,

energy

efficiencytip

TOP PICK FOR KIDS

NOVEMBER 17

Historic Tour of Homes and Sites NOVEMBER 3–4

Arts Festival and Pauwau

For details, call (843) 358-6877 or visit waccamawindians.us/tribal-events.

6

HORRY INDEPENDENT

Visitors to Aynor’s 20th annual Pauwau of the Waccamaw Indian People will get a rare glimpse of ancient drumming and dancing ceremonies, as well as traditional clothing and arts. Schoolchildren are invited to attend mini pauwaus Nov. 1–2, then return with families for public events on Nov. 3–4.

Limited RV and tent camping sites are available.

Just once a year, the historic Koger plantation house (pictured) in Grover is opened to allow visitors to view its remarkable craftsmanship.

The 1780s-era house, once the home of state senator Joseph Koger Jr., was constructed with nearly invisible wooden pegs and dining room wainscoting hand-painted to resemble oak. The showpiece of the Upper Dorchester County Historical Society’s tour, the house is “as sturdy as the day it was built,” says society president Phyllis Hughes. The tour features four other sites, including Badham House, built by a sawmill owner and displaying beautiful carpentry.

For details, call (843) 563-9091 or visit upperdorchestercountyhistoricalsociety.com.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

Two degrees can make a big difference on your electric bill. Setting your thermostat 2 degrees Fahrenheit higher in summer and lower in the winter results in major energy savings. Investing in a programmable thermostat can save even more—these devices automatically lower and raise your home’s temperature. Set it and forget it! Find more ways to save at TogetherWeSave.com.

Source: Touchstone Energy Cooperatives

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

milton morris

has been passed down from his greatgrandparents, along with treasured family memories.

“I can remember riding in this car when I was 5 years old. Every Easter Sunday my grandfather brought his car to church, and I would ride back to his house in this car—if I was lucky,” he recalls. “Last June, my 7-year-old granddaughter was sitting in here. I was driving, and she was asking the same questions I asked my grandfather. ‘Poppy, how fast does this go?’ ‘Why doesn’t this car have a ­steering wheel?’ It was a little trip down memory lane.”

Charles Mistele still enjoys taking his old‑school electric car out for a spin. “It’s a pleasure to drive,” he says.

“It was advertised to go 80 miles on a charge, and with the optional Edison nickel-steel batteries—which cost as much as a Model T at the time—it would go 140 miles on a charge,” Mistele says with pride. “In fact, one went 211.3 miles on a charge, which was a world record for distance.”

While the Volt and Leaf can outperform the tiller-steered Detroit Electric in most every other dimension of automobile performance, Mistele wouldn’t trade. His car is a rare piece of automotive history from an era when drivers could buy gas-, electricand steam-powered vehicles. In 1917, Anderson Carriage Company was producing about 2,000 to 3,000

October 26–November 4

Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival The 1917 Detroit Electric will be on display at the Motoring Midway Nov. 3–4 as part of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance at Honey Horn Plantation. The 10-day festival is one of the country’s top classic car venues, and typically draws more than 15,000 attendees for events ranging from vintage automobile races to cocktail parties and cooking demonstrations. Entry to the Motoring Midway is included free for ticketholders during the Car Club Jamboree on Saturday, Nov. 3, and the Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, Nov. 4.

For complete event details, visit hhiconcours.com or call (843) 785-7469

electric cars a year, but the advent of the electric starter motor soon gave gas-powered cars the edge. Today, there are fewer than 100 Detroit Electrics still around​—​most of them in museums.

Mistele’s wonderfully maintained Model B

ONLY on SCLiving.coop Web Extra Videos: Antiques expert Miller Gaffney shares her tips for finding the best sterling silver pieces, Charles Mistele takes us for a ride in his 1917 electric car and law enforcement officials crack down on copper theft.

Contests: Participate in our Favorite Thanksgiving Food reader poll and you could win an iPad. Plus: There’s still time to win tickets to the Clemson-USC football game. And don’t miss out on this month’s Reader Reply contest— the prize is a 3-day, 2-night weekend on Pawleys Island.

Humor Me: If you got a chuckle out of Jan Igoe’s column this month, there’s plenty more where that came from.

Look for the Humor Me archive under the Opinion tab and prepare to laugh yourself silly.

Like us on Facebook

Let the world know how much you enjoy living in South Carolina by liking our page at facebook.com/SouthCarolinaLiving.

web extra Visit SCLiving.coop to take a spin in Charles Mistele’s 1917 Detroit Electric, courtesy of our “web extra” video.

GONE FISHIN’ 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

AM Major

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

8:52 10:07 11:22 — — — 1:37 3:22 4:22 10:52 11:22 — — 7:52 8:22

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

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

8:16 9:01 9:46 11:01 — — — 1:31 3:01 9:16 10:01 10:46 11:31 7:16 8:16 9:01

1:01 1:31 2:01 2:46 3:46 4:46 6:01 7:16 8:31 4:01 4:46 5:46 6:31 12:01 12:46 1:31

October

November

Minor

PM Major

2:07 2:52 3:37 9:07 10:52 9:07 9:52 3:52 4:22 4:52 5:07 12:07 12:22 12:52 1:22

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

1:01 1:31 2:16 3:31 7:46 7:46 8:16 8:46 2:31 3:01 3:31 4:16 — 12:16 1:01 2:01

6:01 6:31 6:46 7:16 12:01 1:01 1:31 2:01 9:31 10:01 10:46 11:16 4:46 5:31 6:01 6:46

scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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Letters

Spreading The Word I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how much I enjoy your publication.

I especially appreciate you publishing the story about Jonathan Smith of Bespoke Carolina (SC Stories, page 14, Sept. 2012).

In a world “gone to pot,” it is great to know you are not afraid of publishing an article where someone gives the credit where the credit is due. We are all nothing without Jesus and it was great for you to publish someone like Jonathan who was not afraid to give witness to Christ in his life. byron hames, gaffney

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.

8

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

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scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

9

Dialogue

The essential holiday dish and chances are your mind immediately latches onto great food.

On Thanksgiving, my immediate family has two gutstretching meals. Lunch is with Mary’s extended family: deep-fried turkey, ambrosia, 16-layer chocolate cake and homemade biscuits. Yum! Then we get to my family’s farm in Clover. At 80, Momma still spends days getting ready for this one meal. The dining room table is set for nine. Cakes are on the sideboard. The turkey is a rich brown, having been cooked by her long-standing, favorite method: in a brown grocery bag. The sweet potato casserole is topped with brown sugar and pecans. Giblet gravy is steaming as the loaf of homemade Sally Lunn bread comes out of the oven.

For me, it’s not really Thanksgiving unless there is Momma’s cornbread dressing. It takes two days to make as the biscuits and cornbread have to crumble just right. It is good the first time with giblet gravy. As my visit stretches into the weekend, it is my constant companion as I watch football. Sometimes I microwave it; other times I take it straight from the refrigerator to the La-Z-Boy. Cornbread dressing is my essential Thanksgiving dish, and I can almost taste the love my mom puts into making it.

Now it’s your turn. This fall, we’re inviting the readers of South Carolina Living to participate in a reader poll and, in so doing, register for a chance to win a new iPad. Between now and Nov. 21, visit SCLiving.coop, register for the prize drawing and vote for your favorite Thanksgiving food.

We’ve even created a space on the web for you to submit the recipe—if you’re willing to share.

I’ll provide the initial results of our poll in the November/December issue, and after the Thanksgiving Think of Thanksgiving,

Grandmother Love’s Old-Fashioned Cornbread Dressing

1 large (13-by-9-by-2-inch) pan day-old cornbread, crumbled* 1 6–18 day-old biscuits (about 4 cups), crumbled* 1 cup celery, chopped ½ medium onion, chopped 4–5 teaspoons ground sage 1 stick margarine, chopped 8 eggs, hard-boiled and chopped 2 10.5-ounce cans onion soup Turkey neck and giblets, cooked in about 1½ quarts of water and chopped very fine Salt and pepper to taste

Reserve the broth that the turkey neck and giblets were cooked in.

Combine cornbread, biscuits, celery, onion, sage, margarine, eggs, soup and turkey, mixing thoroughly as you add each one. Add about 4 cups of broth as the last ingredient and mix well. Mixture should be about the consistency of pound cake batter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into large baking dish greased with margarine.

Bake at 400 degrees for 45–60 minutes or until it begins to brown on top. * For best results, use Ballard-style cornbread (such as Martha White Family-Size White Cornbread Mix) and Southern-style biscuits. Do not substitute flaky biscuits or other kinds of bread.

feast is done, we’ll add up the votes and draw at random the name of one lucky participant to win the iPad. Look for all the results—and a few of our favorite recipes—on the website shortly after the holiday.

To get the ball rolling, I am sharing my mom’s cornbread dressing recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

And good luck winning that iPad. Mine has a protective film on it—to protect from spilled dressing and giblet gravy.

Win an iPad

Visit SCLiving.coop between now and Nov. 21 to participate in our Favorite Thanksgiving Food reader poll. One registered participant will be selected at random to win a new iPad. For complete contest rules, see the website.

10

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

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

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494,179

1,730 ø ø ø

1,730 ø ø ø

468,702 ø ø ø (See Instructions on Reverse) 468,702

October 1999 Circulation PS c. Form 3526, Total Paid and/or Requested [Sum of 15b. (1), (2),(3),and (4)] d.

Free Distribution

by Mail (Samples, compliment ary, and other free)

483,025

477,899 ø ø ø 477,899

1,730 470,432 12,593 483,025

Total Free Distribution (Sum of 15d. and 15e.)

Total Distribution (Sum of 15c. and 15f) Copies not Distributed Total (Sum of 15g. and h.)

j. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c. divided by 15g. times 100)

100%

16. Publication of Statement of Ownership ✓ Publication required. Will be printed in the ________________________ issue of this publication.

October

17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner

Editor

1,730 479,629 14,550 494,179 100%

Publication not required.

Date

9/13/12

I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonme nt) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

Instructions to Publishers 1.

Complete and file one copy of this form with your postmaster annually on or before October 1. Keep a copy of the completed form for your records.

2.

In cases where the stockholder or security holder is a trustee, include in items 10 and 11 the name of the person or corporation for whom the trustee is acting. Also include the names and addresses of individuals who are stockholders who own or hold 1 percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities of the publishing corporation. In item 11, if none, check the box. Use blank sheets if more space is required.

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3.

Be sure to furnish all circulation information called for in item 15. Free circulation must be shown in items 15d, e, and f.

4.

Item 15h., Copies not Distributed, must include (1) newsstand copies originally stated on Form 3541, and returned to the publisher, (2) estimated returns from news agents, and (3), copies for office use, leftovers, spoiled, and all other copies not distributed.

5.

If the publication had Periodicals authorization as a general or requester publication, this Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation must be published; it must be printed in any issue in October or, if the publication is not published during October, the first issue printed after October.

EnergyQ&A

BY jim Dulley

Fanimation

Cool breeze, cooler electric bills Ceiling fans—and the right thermostat setting—can help lower electricity use

Q A

I’m thinking about installing a couple of ceiling fans to reduce my electric bills. How do I choose and use the right fan for my needs?

The greater the pitch of a fan’s blades, the more air that will be moved at any given speed.

Ceiling fans can cut your electric bills year-round, but before you run out and buy a few, it’s important to understand how they save energy. If you install a ceiling fan and don’t adjust your thermostat settings accordingly, you may be more comfortable, but it actually increases your power use.

The important thing to remember is that the fan itself does not cool air or things—fans cool people, so they should be turned off when the room is empty.

During summer, ceiling fans cool the skin by rotating to create a downward breeze. That should make you feel comfortable enough to turn up the air conditioner a few degrees.

The five-blade ceiling fan below has an electric heater built into the housing. It automatically rotates the proper direction for cooling or heating.

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creates a gentle upward breeze (away from people in the room). This will force the warm air—which naturally rises—back down where it’s needed.

Then you can set your furnace a few degrees lower and save energy there, too.

Some new ceiling fans also have a built-in electric heater with a handheld remote thermostat/control. It functions just like a standard ceiling fan during summer. During winter, switch to heating mode, and the fan automatically reverses rotation.

To feel that all-important breeze on your skin during summer, be sure you get the right blade diameter. A common sizing rule of thumb is to use a 36-inch fan for rooms up to 150 square feet, a 48-inch fan for up to 300 square feet and a 52-inch fan for up to 450 square feet. For larger rooms, use two fans spaced about one-quarter of the way in from opposing walls.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

James Dulley

Setting the thermostat higher saves much more electricity than the ceiling fan consumes.

When cold weather arrives, flip the small switch on the side of the ceiling fan housing to reverse the blade rotation. Run the fan on low speed so it

James Dulley

Reverse the blade rotation when cold weather arrives to force warm air—which naturally rises—back down where it’s needed.

This hand-held remote control/thermostat controls a ceiling fan with a built-in electric heater for heating just one room or area.

Price is often a good indication of the quality of a ceiling fan. Better ceiling fans typically have a greater pitch (twist) on the blades. This requires a more powerful motor, but it moves more air at a lower rotation speed. Lower speed results in less sound and less chance of annoying wobble.

A hand-held remote control is a convenient feature that can be found in both inexpensive and pricier models. Natural wood blades are attractive, but inexpensive ones made of synthetic materials are generally well balanced. A rubber-mounted hub reduces noise and vibration. Even the best ceiling fans may require you to attach small balancing weights to stop wobble at high speed.

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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Tailgating with technology STARTING LINEUP GENERATED FUN Looking for more than just a car battery to power your next tailgate extravaganza?

At 29 pounds, the EU1000i Honda generator is portable, “super quiet” and fuel efficient—a half-gallon of gas will power your party for almost four hours. $950. (770) 497-6400; powerequipment.honda.com.

GIMME AN O Getting your grill on is quick and easy with the 24-pound Pro-Iroda O-Grill. It offers one-hand portability, 10-second set-up, a wind-proof flame and a waterproof electric ignition system that eliminates the need for matches and lighters.

Standard propane cylinders heat its 225-square-inch grilling surface, and you can likely find a suitable team color from six options. $190. (888) 664-7632; pro-iroda.com.

IMMACULATE RECEPTION CHANNEL CHASER Keep up with all the scores on TV during tailgate time with a DISH Tailgater Portable Satellite Antenna. The 10-pound unit sets up easily and automatically finds the right satellite signal. It displays at up to 1080i and supports HD and SD programming. $350 for antenna; receiver and monthly subscription charges apply.

(800) 823-4929; dishnetwork.com.

DRY VIEWING A little drizzle or a splash of sweet tea won’t fry a MirageVision outdoor television—it’s weatherized to be water resistant. The company modifies brand-name, flat-screen TVs for outdoor use, including automatic adjustment of picture brightness and contrast to suit lighting conditions.

Starts at $950 for a 22-inch LED-GS. (702) 533-8899; theoutdoortvstore.com.

HOT STUFF Carry a hot casserole to the tailgate party in a Mesh Pocket Electric Tailgate Hotbag. Top and bottom heating elements are thermostat controlled to keep foods at a safe temperature for hours. The 14-by11-by-12-inch bag plugs into a vehicle’s 12V outlet. Utensils and condiments tuck inside the bag’s mesh pockets. $189.

(877) 700-2660; tailgatecookshop.com.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

TAILGATE TUNES Use the Tailgater AM/FM portable sound system to track radio broadcasts of your favorite teams in action, then between plays you can dock your iPod or iPhone and get the tunes for a little shagging or twisting. Two‑way speakers let you make important announcements (touchdown!) or lead the crowd in a college fight song. $160. (888) 800-0681; ionaudio.com.

WARM AND SAFE TOASTY TAILGATING Eventually the weather turns chilly for South Carolina football games, but up to 800 square feet of tailgate space can stay warm and cozy with Mr. Heater Hero. Cordless and quiet, this 12-pound, forced-air heater is easy to pack and runs up to eight hours on a rechargeable battery or 12 hours on its 20-pound propane tank. $190.

(800) 237-4444; cabelas.com.

UNLEASHED PRIDE Canine football fans (and their owners) can flash their Gamecock or Tiger pride with Dog-E-Glow team logo dog collars and leashes. Each is illuminated by 100,000-hour LED bulbs, sewn inside high-quality nylon and powered by 150-hour batteries. $26 for collar; $30 for leash. (954) 990-7127; dogeglow.com.

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scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

15

H o m e t o w n P rid e

At home in Marlboro In Bennettsville and nearby communities, they know what makes a hometown special—it’s the people

BY DIANE VETO PARHAM Photography by Milton Morris

F

resh out of journalism school in 1956, Bill Kinney was offered a plum job in public relations in Washington, D.C., working for Sen. Strom Thurmond.

He turned it down for something better: coming home to Bennettsville.

“Marlboro County has always been good to me,” says Kinney, with no regrets about passing up the attractions of a big-city life. “It’s home.”

That’s the mantra for many folks in Bennettsville and the surrounding communities of Blenheim, Clio, McColl, Tatum and Wallace. Marlboro County even built an image on that contentment with its “It’s Good to Be Home” slogan.

Visitors to this Pee Dee community can easily discover what the locals love. Take a tour of some favorite spots and give a listen to the folks who recognize the treasure in their own backyard.

McArthur Farms

Rebecca McArthur followed her dream to the reality of her 380-acre farm and welcoming open-air market in Blenheim.

Born and raised in Blenheim, Rebecca McArthur ventured off to Florence to make her way. For 14 years, she worked as an agricultural sales consultant, helping farmers care for their crops, then five more as a nurse before chasing her real dream.

Now she’s back in Blenheim, farming for herself, on a mission to feed, educate and entertain local residents and visitors from her roadside market on Highway 38. And she’s grateful for the support from “regular folks” in her community.

“People of all ages, all walks of life, will give you that elbow and say, ‘You keep doing the right thing, girl, I’m pulling for you,’” McArthur says.

Starting in 2005 with about 40 acres, a strawberry patch and a modest 10-by-10-foot roadside tent, McArthur has

County expanded to about 380 acres, where she farms a variety of fruits and vegetables to sell at her spacious, red-roofed, open-air market.

“I’ve always loved being outside, working on the land, seeing what the Lord would bless us with,” she says.

Surprised by how little today’s children seem to know about where their food and clothing come from (“You’d be amazed at how many kids have never shucked an ear of corn”), McArthur delights in bringing schoolchildren and tourists out to her farm to see the origins of the products they buy in stores.

She hosts four festivals a year (Strawberry, Peach, Fall and Gospel) and pulls out all the stops. For the Oct. 20 Fall Festival, she will erect a walk-through “pumpkin house” and build one of the largest corn mazes in the state. Her Nov. 3 Gospel Festival will feature a local “Battle of the Choirs” and a family-style meal with farm produce.

This ambitious entrepreneur will soon launch an on-site bakery, a homemade fudge shop, two greenhouses and a permanent “farm fun park.”

And it all started with coming home to Blenheim.

“This is where I’m from—I just see nothing but opportunities here,” McArthur says.

McArthur Farms is at 1708 Highway 38 South, Bennettsville.

Phone: (843) 479-3839.

Historic Downtown Bennettsville Bill Kinney won’t claim the title “historian”—that’s for the professionals. “County history buff” is the best you’ll get from him, but his life is intricately woven into Bennettsville’s and Marlboro County’s history.

Kinney was born in the downtown Victorian cottage that belonged to his grandparents—in the same room and bed his father was born in 29 years earlier. Appropriately, that bedroom is now the children’s room of the Marlboro County Historical Museum, housed in his grandparents’ former home.

With that pedigree, Kinney, the longtime editor of the Marlboro Herald-Advocate, has been one of the community’s most impassioned voices for historic preservation and revitalization. Both his home and his office are in renovated historic Bennettsville houses, and he can hardly speak fast enough to list all the must-see sites in town—the multiple museums in one cultural complex (“very unusual for a town our size”), the civic center, the new Marian Wright Edelman Public Library and the refurbished downtown

Bill Kinney, “county history buff” and editor of the Marlboro Herald-Advocate, is delighted his office is in Shiness, a restored Georgian Revival mansion.

storefronts, to name a few. (See “Visit a Day, See a Lifetime” on p. 18.)

By comparison, local booster Ken Harmon is a relative newcomer to Bennettsville, having arrived 50 years ago when he bought local radio station WBSC. But he is just as passionate about preserving, enhancing and promoting the city’s best features.

As head of the Bennettsville Downtown Development Association (BDDA), he has worked with the city to recapture the beauty of 98 historic downtown building facades and upgrade streetscapes. He’ll preach proudly about century-old structures, the array of locally owned businesses and even plans for the city’s soon-to-be-here 2019 bicentennial.

But the reason he stayed put and raised his family when he moved from Florida a half century ago was not just the local amenities.

“Hands down, it’s the people—caring, loving people,” Harmon says. “I’ve never regretted a day of living in Bennettsville. I love it. This is home.”

The Bennettsville Visitor Center, 304 West Main St., Bennettsville, has maps and details for touring downtown. Phone: (843) 479-3941.

Lake Paul Wallace When they’re ready to retreat to the great outdoors, Bennettsville residents don’t have far to go. Lake Paul Wallace, a 600-acre manmade lake, is situated inside the scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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Visit a day, see a lifetime On your next visit to historic downtown Bennettsville, don’t miss these attractions.

D.D. McColl House/ Historic downtown walking tour More than 30 historic homes, churches and businesses— plus 98 restored downtown storefronts—display the city’s culturally diverse architecture.

The self-guided walking tour begins when you pick up a free map at the D.D. McColl House, the striking 19thcentury, Queen Anne-style brick structure that houses the Bennettsville Visitor Center.

Notable stops on the tour include the Murchison School, a fine example of Italianate style, complete with a threestory bell tower, and Shiness,

The Italianate-style Murchison School and the quirky Confederate monument are two of Bennettsville’s notable landmarks.

a restored Georgian Revival mansion that’s now home to the Marlboro HeraldAdvocate and a gift shop.

The D.D. McColl House is located at 304 West Main St.; (843) 479-3941.

County museum complex Marlboro County’s favorite eccentric was Mason Lee, a wealthy 18th-century

landowner who was struck by lightning at age 30 and became known for his peculiar behavior. See the hollowed-out gum log he used as a bed and the pistol he slept with—to ward off witches—on display at Marlboro County Historical Museum. The complex also features a Medical Museum, Printing Museum, the Bennetts­ville Female Academy (furnished as a 19th-century schoolroom), and the lovingly restored Jennings-Brown House, one of the oldest in town.

123 South Marlboro St.; (843) 479-5624.

A Random quirk Pay a visit to the Confederate monument on the courthouse square, and check the

Ken Harmon came to Bennettsville 50 years ago and fell in love with its people, history and architecture, including the D.D. McColl House, which is home to the town’s visitor center.

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SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

headgear. Notice anything wrong?

The soldier sports a Union army cap, earning it mention in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.” Local history buff Bill Kinney says its mixed-up partner stands in a Vermont town, where the Yankee soldier wears a Confederate cap.

Bennettsville’s statue, Kinney says, was named “Random” after a gun-toting vagrant was arrested on the square and told police he was “shooting at random.”

Vintage accommodations Finish a busy day of sightseeing with a relaxing stay at a local bed and breakfast. Breeden Inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers 13 guest rooms in four 19th-century houses, all with antique furnishings and some with modern whirlpool tubs.

The property also features a swimming pool, winding garden walks and its own rich history.

Breeden Inn Bed & Breakfast is at 400 East Main St., Bennettsville; breedeninn.com.

city limits, just a mile or so from the county courthouse.

“In the winter, when the leaves are off the trees, you can see the courthouse steeple from the lake,” BDDA executive director Ken Harmon says.

And on pretty summer days and warm weekends, you’ll see the lake itself well populated with swimmers, boaters, skiers, fishing enthusiasts, picnickers, cyclists, trail hikers and bird watchers. For hunters, the lake also features a 50-acre public dove field that is open on a first-come, firstserved basis on Saturdays during the season.

Whatever your outdoor interest, Harmon says, no visitor should leave downtown without a stop at Lake Wallace— “It’s one of the greatest assets we have.”

For information about hunting, fishing or boating at Lake Wallace, contact the S.C. Department of Natural Resources office in Florence at (843) 661-4766.

Cindy Stone with her husband, Cam, offers freshly butchered meats along with produce, sundries and nostalgia at Breeden’s Grocery.

Breeden’s Grocery Cindy Stone can spot the newcomers to her downtown butcher shop just by the looks on their faces.

“They look a little baffled,” says Stone, who owns the 86-year-old grocery store on Broad Street with husband Cam. “They can’t believe something like this is still around.”

Thriving in Bennettsville’s downtown historic district, Breeden’s straddles the line between nostalgic past—wellworn wooden floors, homemade sausage, personalized customer service—and modern business. The quaint feel of an old-fashioned grocery remains, but the Stones keep current with updated refrigeration and processing units and marketing savvy.

Breeden’s has carved out its niche as the go-to destination for townspeople and visitors in search of local products, including Breeden’s sausage, prepackaged Stanton’s barbecue and Blenheim Ginger Ale. “We’ve become an icon or something,” Stone says.

“People will have family or friends come visit, and they say, ‘I’ve got to take you to Breeden’s.’”

Cam and Cindy Stone bought Breeden’s from Cam’s grandfather, John “Pop” Thompson, 25 years ago—as “a five-year project.” But they fell in love with the store and the customers who are devoted to Breeden’s, as much for its fresh, local products as for their memories of shopping there since childhood.

Local realtors attract new business with gift certificates to Breeden’s; soon enough, the newcomers are regulars.

The Stones like to get to know their customers. Photos and news clippings of friends and fans are posted on a bulletin board, and Cindy Stone reassures new arrivals that all curious questions—“Where’d you come from?” or “Where do you go to church?”—stem from simple small-town friendliness.

That sense of community is why Breeden’s thrives and why the Stones love their work. Businesses downtown and in nearby communities support each other; residents lend a hand in time of trouble, whether they know the person in need or not.

“You can’t put a value on that. That’s just good people,” Stone says.

Breeden’s Grocery is at 133 Broad St., Bennettsville. Phone: (843) 479-3481.

Stanton’s Bar‑B‑Que and Fish Camp Fly‑In Restaurant If you marry a man named Charles Lindbergh Stanton, it’s fair to expect him to have an interest in flying. And there’s a certain logic in how that hobby tied itself to a barbecue restaurant.

When the late “Lynn” Stanton tired of the hassle of maneuvering his planes in and out of a commercial hangar, he decided to build his own hangar and airstrip in a grassy field near his restaurant on Highway 38 in northern Marlboro County. Soon enough, other pilots were flying in for good barbecue, fresh seafood and homestyle Sunday dinners.

There’s plenty of driveup traffic, too, including beach travelers and motorcycle clubs.

“About the only way you can’t get here is by boat, unless you drag it behind you,” jokes owner Vera Stanton Meggs, who has run Stanton’s since Lynn died in 2003.

The first Saturday of November is a special treat—that’s Stanton’s Annual Fly-in, when pilots “from all over” are treated to free chicken bog, courtesy of Meggs and her Vera Stanton Meggs continues the tradition husband, Larry. The pilots started by the late “Lynn” Stanton of serving fraternize with each other, barbecue to diners, whether they arrive by swap stories and show off plane or earth-bound vehicles. their planes. Some even put scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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was simply a project designed to solve a local problem.

With high unemployment plaguing the county, the Marlboro County Disabilities and Special Needs Board was struggling to find places where disabled citizens could get on-site job training.

“We wanted to create some employment opportunities for our disabled folks so they can go on to other jobs,” Ricky Wallace and Felicia Outlaw are just two the board’s director, Mike Winburn, of the 22 disabled Bennettsville residents who have gained experience in the food says. service industry by working at The Jolly Bean.

Moreover, the board hoped to introduce the community to its disabled neighbors, who “had been mostly invisible,” Winburn says. on a show with aerial stunts or offer rides to bystanders.

Solution: The Jolly Bean. Tim Lee, the owner of While Stanton’s has gained fame over its 40-plus years in Marlboro Drug Company, donated the use of an abandoned business, its tangy, vinegar-based barbecue sauce remains a lunch counter inside his Bennettsville store, and since 2007, secret.

The Jolly Bean has trained 22 disabled citizens for work in “When Lynn died, he left it with me, and that’s where the food service industry. Graduate Felicia Outlaw will greet it’s at,” Meggs says. “I mix up the ingredients, and nobody else knows what’s in it—even my own children don’t know.” you brightly and proudly proclaim that she can take your order, prepare your lunch, Stanton’s is at 2828 Stanton Rd., Bennettsville. Get fly-in coordinates at serve it to you and run the stantonsbarbeque.com. Phone: (843) 265-4855.

GetMore cash register. When graduate Ricky Wallace is on duty, For information on The Jolly Bean he likes to serenade customvisiting Bennettsville or Today, it’s a charming downtown Bennettsville lunch ers with his favorite songs.

Marlboro County, contact the Bennettsville Visitor bistro, the only place in town to get a freshly brewed cafe The Jolly Bean’s modest Center at (843) 479-3941; mocha or caramel latte. But five years ago, The Jolly Bean first menu was just coffee visitbennettsville.com. and cookies—baked fresh on the premises by a rotating crew from the Disabilities and Special Needs Board, with help from manager Tina Tanner. Now its eclectic and health-conscious menu offers As president and CEO of Marlboro Electric Cooperative, Bill Fleming salads and paninis, plus specials like salmon burgers with was well aware of the county’s charms and assets. The challenge was peach mango salsa or chicken tostadas with avocado. getting the community to sing its own praises. So in 2005, Fleming and others in the Marlboro County Economic Development Partnership Whenever possible, The Jolly Bean uses fresh, local hired Columbia marketing firm Semaphore to craft a slogan to inspire ingredients, earning it status as a Certified South Carolina local pride and attract new growth. Thus was born the “It’s Good to Be “Fresh on the Menu” restaurant. Locally, McArthur Farms Home” image campaign. and Breeden’s Grocery supply ingredients. And Clio farmer “We had two goals: First, we wanted to make ourselves understand, Billy Hinson invites disabled crew members to learn how value and recognize why it is good to be home in Marlboro County,” to plant, work and harvest a vegetable garden on his farmFleming says. “And then we wanted to let that spill over into other land, with the fresh produce brought back to make Jolly people.”

Bean sandwiches and salads.

Seems like that’s just what happened. The ubiquitous slogan is “Not only has this provided wonderful S.C. vegetables to well accepted and frequently featured around the county. Marlboro The Jolly Bean, but much more so a sense of inclusiveness Electric Co-op, the county and the Economic Development Partnership and ownership that our challenged neighbors had never felt continue to support the ongoing campaign with projects and events, such as art, essay, photography and poetry contests highlighting why before,” Winburn says.

“It’s Good to Be Home” in their Pee Dee community.

The Jolly Bean is at 113 N. Marlboro St., Bennettsville.

Phone: (843) 479-0115.

Co-op celebrates its Marlboro home

20

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

SCStories

SC Life Market warrior

Miller Gaffney “We’ll keep it a mystery.”

Hometown: Greenville Occupation: Owner of Miller Gaffney Art Advisory (millergaffney.com) Hobbies: Cooking, horseback riding and family croquet tournaments Pet peeve: Rude people. Her coping mechanism: Kill ’em with kindness. “At the end of the day you can smile and say, ‘What did I lose? ’ ”

Web Extra Miller Gaffney shares her best tips on shopping for antique silver in an exclusive web extra video on SCLiving.coop.

Milton Morris

AGE:

Strolling the aisles of her favorite hometown antiques market, Miller Gaffney is the proverbial kid in a candy store.

“What do we have here?” she asks, stopping to admire a heavy wooden dresser. At the next booth, her trained eyes dart to a silver plate, which she picks up to evaluate for telltale markings and the unmistakable feel of antique coin silver.

It’s something of a “busman’s holiday” for the Greenville‑based arts appraiser and advisor, but at least today she’s free to shop without being followed by a four‑person camera crew.

Viewers of Market Warriors, a new PBS reality show airing Mondays at 9 p.m. on SCETV, will recognize Gaffney as one of four experts who travel the country scouring flea markets for antiques to be sold at auction. The program is ultimately a competition—the picker with the highest profit at the end of the show wins—and success requires Gaffney to employ her encyclopedic knowledge of antiques along with some old-fashioned Southern charm.

“I love it. The buying and selling side of the business is what I enjoy most,” she says. “I’m not a mean competitor, but I like to win.”

A graduate of Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York, Gaffney usually works behind the scenes buying, selling and appraising art collections for high-end clients, so stepping into the television spotlight and shopping in flea markets has been adjustment. The biggest challenge? Getting “recognized” in public.

“A lot of times people come up to me at flea markets and ask, ‘Are you an actress?’” she laughs.

“No! Believe me, I am not an actress. That’s the last thing I am.”

scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

21

SCScene

By Mark Quinn

Cracking down on South Carolina’s electric cooperatives partner with Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement

Copper thieves risked fatal electrocution and caused extensive damage during a breakin at a Fairfield Electric Cooperative substation.

22

that offers cash rewards for tips that solve active crimes. Over the next three months, Crime Stoppers, electric cooperatives and law enforcement agencies will execute a public awareness campaign alerting people to the costs and dangers associated with copper theft. The overDillon County Sheriff Major Hulon is slightly surprised on the days he doesn’t get a report of riding goal is to ­encourage ­citizens to report, copper theft. anonymously, anyone associated with the crime.

“It’s incredibly frustrating,” he says. “I mean, “We’ve been the target of these thieves for it just never stops. These are committed thieves too long,” says Bill Fleming, CEO of Marlboro we’re talking about.”

Electric Cooperative. “We’re behind the effort to John Powers, public relations manager team with law enforcement, the media and the for Marlboro Electric Cooperative (MEC) in public to help us deal with an issue that seriously Bennettsville, shares the sheriff’s frustration. jeopardizes our operations and endangers our “Thieves got us four times in August alone,” co-op employees.” he says. “They hit the Dillon Industrial substaLaw enforcement officials attribute the increase in copper theft to a down economy and tion early in the month, and before we were able to make all the repairs, the exact same substation rising prices for scrap metals. For the past four years, rural communities across the state have was robbed again.” experienced a wave of copper thefts, including The incidents at MEC netted copper thieves homes stripped of copper plumbing and whole no more than $200 to $300 according to Powers, air-conditioning units stolen for their copper but repair costs to the co-op, costs ultimately coils. borne by cooperative members, ran into the “In general, when the economy is bad, theft thousands. “Over time, this is real money we’re gets worse,” says Richland County Sheriff Leon talking about. It is a very big concern for us,” he Lott. “Now you have an item [copper] that’s says. readily available, worth more than it used to be, MEC is not alone. Collectively, electric coopand something you can convert to cash. That eratives in South Carolina have spent more than makes copper very attrac$1 million on copper theftrelated incidents since the tive to criminals.”

Report copper theft start of 2011. According to The most dangerous and a 2010 study by the U.S. d ­ amaging cases of copper To report copper theft, contact Crime Stoppers at Department of Energy, theft occur when thieves copper theft costs American steal wire from homes, 1-888-CRIMESC or utilities $300 million a year. utility poles and electrical sccrimestoppers.com To combat copper theft substations. In July 2011, in local communities, the the Spartanburg County All tips are anonymous, and your state’s electric cooperatives Sheriff’s Office reported a information may make you eligible have partnered with Crime 41-year-old man was elecfor a $1,000 reward if it leads to a Stoppers of South Carolina, successful criminal prosecution. trocuted while attempting a nonprofit organization to steal copper from a Duke

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

who are on oxygen. That’s as Energy substation in Cowpens, serious as it gets.” becoming one of the 25 people At Santee Electric nationwide who were killed Cooperative (SEC) in last year during attempted Kingstree, workers are familcopper thefts. The tragedy in Cowpens knocked out power to iar with damage to vital more than 5,000 Duke custominfrastructure. In 2010, thieves broke into a substation and ers, many of whom had to be stole critical neutral wires taken offline while repairs were meant to regulate the flow of made. electricity in and out of the Utility officials warn that structure. The act set off an incidents of copper theft are expensive chain reaction of compromising their ability to events that “wiped out control deliver reliable electricity to their panels, regulators and all of customers. In fact, the concern A campaign by Crime Stoppers to stop our monitoring equipment,” is so great it caught the attencopper theft includes a series of public awareness advertisements. says Adrel Langley, public tion of the Federal Bureau of relations manager at SEC. Investigation. In an unclassified The price tag to repair the damage from this 2008 report, the agency judged that “copper particular incident: more than $100,000. thieves are threatening critical infrastructure by Over the past 12 months, South Carolina’s targeting electrical substations. Theft of copper electric cooperatives report a slight decrease from these targets disrupts the flow of electricity in the amount of incidents involving critical and presents a risk to public safety.” infrastructure like substations. Instead, thieves are targeting less dangerous settings by stealing copper ground wires at the base of utility poles and even ground wires that exist at the base of homeowners’ electric meters.

“We’re seeing a lot more of this lately,” said Phil Monroe, vice ­president of engineering and operations at Lynches River Electric Cooperative in Pageland. “The big problem is this: if the homeowner is missing the ground wire at the meter, in the event of a lightning strike there’s so much less protection for that home against the surge those strikes cause.”

For law enforcement, the partnership between South Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives have donated $15,000 to cooperatives and Crime Stoppers will also serve Crime Stoppers of South Carolina. The money will help provide to help curb copper theft at-large, says Sheriff $1,000 rewards for tips leading to successful criminal prosecution of copper thieves.

Lott.

“Copper theft, for some of our rural residents, it’s just a sad fact of life,” he says. “Hopefully, “You think about our members with serious with this relationship we now have with the health issues who use devices that require elecco-ops, we can send a message that anyone who tricity,” says Doug Wilson, CEO of Broad River has any information about copper thieves can Electric Cooperative in Gaffney. “If someone call Crime Stoppers and give us a chance to put breaks into a substation and causes an outage, it these criminals where they belong.” could turn into a life-or-death situation for folks

Repair costs to the co-ops, costs ultimately borne by cooperative members, run into the thousands.

scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

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scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

25

SCGardener

BY S. CORY TANNER

Growing garden mums decorate indoors, resist the urge to plant them right after flowering. Your container-grown mum may not finish flowering before mid-November, and it might not be ready to face the outdoor cold at that point. Instead, remove the spent blooms, and place

Trimming an inch or two off each branch three times during the growing season will result in a sturdier and more compact mum loaded with autumn blooms.

Photos by S. Cory Tanner / Clemson Extension

Think fall and think flowers, and you’re probably thinking chrysanthemums—or “mums,” as they are commonly known. Colorful potted mums pop up this time of year at grocery stores, florist shops, home centers and nurseries, ready for harvest-themed tabletop arrangements and fall decor.

What many people don’t know, however, is that pot mums grown as annual flowers are not the true garden mums intended for planting in the landscape.

Typical florist pot mum varieties are bred for growing in greenhouses and are generally not intended for perennial, outdoor plantings. When planted in a flower border, pot mums often meet a slow death after the first season. If they survive, they never flower as well as when they were purchased.

Enjoy their excellent floral displays, which often last through autumn, but save yourself some frustration

Too much fertilizer will promote excess growth and inhibit flowering. and simply deposit pot mums in the compost bin when the show is over.

If you want to add mums to your outdoor landscape, look for garden mums at your local garden center instead. Garden mums come in an array of bloom colors and shapes and make handsome, fall-flowering additions to a perennial border, offering years of enjoyment with little care.

When you buy garden mums to 26

the container in a protected site outdoors or in an unheated room. Allow the plant to rest over the winter, then plant outside in the spring.

Select a site with well-drained soil and full sun. Mums will grow in part shade but will tend to be leggy. Before planting, prepare the soil by tilling in a fertilizer based on the results of a soil test. If no soil test was taken, add four pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet and till into the top six inches of soil. Add a two- to three-inch layer of compost at the same time.

Mums enjoy regular fertilization, but too much will promote excess growth and inhibit flowering. A dose of liquid fertilizer every two weeks during the summer will generally suffice. Stop fertilizing after the first of August.

Garden mums need to be cut back

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

two to three times during the growing season to reduce height and encourage branching. This practice will lead to more flowers and a sturdier plant. When the stems first reach six inches tall (early June in my area of the state), remove one to two inches of growth from the top. Repeat again in early to mid-July and one final time in early August, if necessary. Flower buds will begin to develop after this and should not be removed. Spider mites and aphids are the most troublesome pests, but they can be managed with insecticidal soap or a strong stream of water.

Your plant will spread quite nicely in its new home and should be divided every three years in the spring or fall. Conveniently, this is an excellent time to share prized mums with friends. You’ll all enjoy this exuberant addition to the fall garden. is an area horticulture agent and Master Gardener coordinator for Clemson Extension based in Greenville County. Contact him at shannt@clemson.edu.

S. CORY TANNER

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scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

27

SCTravels

BY Marc Rapport

Overlooked Edisto Explore the hidden side of a popular coastal state park Edisto Beach State Park’s 1.5-mile beach is known for its relaxing surf, sun, sand and solitude.

You could spend a whole weekend

GetThere Edisto Beach State Park is on S.C. 174, about 28 miles off U.S. 17 and about 50 miles southwest of Charleston.

The park is open year-round, daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with extended hours during Daylight Savings Time. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cabin check-in time is 4 p.m. and check-out time is 10 a.m.

Hours:

$5 adults; $3.25 for seniors; $3 children ages 6–15; free for children 5 and younger. The park asks visitors to please use the “iron ranger” cash boxes to pay admission when no staff is present.

Admission:

Details: Reservations for cabins and campsites can be made at (866) 345-PARK (7275) and can be made up to 11 months in advance. They also can be made online at southcarolinaparks.com. For more information, call the park office at (843) 869-2156.

28

Seven roomy cabins, as well as the park’s traditional campsites, can be reserved up to 11 months in advance.

to the cabin area where my wife and I spent a mid-September weekend.

We stayed in one of the seven cabins available for rent, all on a beautiful setting right on the marsh.

The cabin area and adjacent Live Oak campground provide easy access to one of the state’s longest handicappedaccessible trail systems. Wide and compacted with a sand mix designed for such use, the 3.5 miles of pathways make for ideal hiking and biking.

On a picture-perfect day, we walked from the ranger station to the Spanish

Photos: SCPRT

at Edisto Beach State Park and never step foot on the beach.

You shouldn’t—no visit to the 1,255-acre property is complete without a stroll or a swim along its shell-strewn mile and a half of shoreline—but you could easily while away two blissful days here enjoying all the other attractions the park has to offer.

“The beach is great, but there’s so much more here,” says park manager Susan Spell. “If you only see the beach, you’ve missed so much.”

For instance, there is Spell’s own “front yard,” as she calls it. That’s an expanse of palmettos and live oaks that graces the front of her ranger’s residence and serves as the greeting

boat on the creek and passed a family of cyclists, but otherwise felt we had the forest—with its live oaks, windmill palms, palmettos, wax myrtles and birds—pretty much to ourselves.

The trail system also carried us to

The Spanish Mount is a 4,000-year-old shell midden that’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mount, a 4,000-year-old shell midden that’s on the National Register of Historic Places. Archaeologists are unsure if the shells were a ceremonial placement or just the debris from hundreds of years of oyster roasts by early human inhabitants. Regardless of how they got here, the shells form a bluff overlooking the tidal creek, and a deck provides an unparalleled view of Scott Creek.

On our afternoon stroll through the maritime forest, we saw a fishing

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

the park’s Environmental Learning Center. A joint state-federal operation, it tells the story of the ACE Basin, the 350,000-acre estuarine area that’s the largest of its kind on the East Coast.

Inside the well-kept center are exhibits that tell both the natural and human history of the area. Tanks with live critters and even the front deck of a simulated boat keep visitors interested, and the price is right: the center is free and open year-round except on Sundays and Mondays.

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29

Recipe

Edited by Carrie Hirsch

Debbi Smirnoff / iStockphoto

MY BROTHER’S BRUSSELS SERVES 8

Kelly Cline/iStockphoto

WHITE CHILI CHICKEN

JEFFREY L. FANUS, MYRTLE BEACH

DOROTHEA PIERSON, ABBEVILLE

1 ½ pounds boneless chicken, cooked and cut into cubes 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 15-ounce cans great northern beans 1 14.5-ounce can chicken broth 2 4-ounce cans chopped green chilies 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon black pepper ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste ½ cup heavy whipping cream ½ cup sour cream (for topping)

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

FUDGE NOUGATS MAKES 40 PIECES

2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup evaporated milk ½ cup butter 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels ¾ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup graham crackers, finely crushed ¾ cup walnuts, chopped 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ½ cup walnut halves

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, evaporated milk and butter.

Bring to a rolling boil, stirring occasionally, and boil hard for 10 minutes. Stir in chocolate morsels, flour, graham crackers, chopped walnuts and vanilla, and mix well.

Spread in a generously buttered 12-by-9-by-2-inch pan and top with walnut halves. Allow to cool. For faster setting, place in refrigerator, then cut into squares.

VIRGINIA PENNINGTON, FOUNTAIN INN

Ina Peters / iStockphoto

In a large pot, combine all ingredients except sour cream. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, on medium heat for 40–45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve each portion with a spoonful of sour cream.

Fill a large pot (about ¾ full) with water. Add Brussels sprouts and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and continue boiling until sprouts are fork tender, about 8–10 minutes.

Remove from the heat, drain and transfer to an ice bath (a medium bowl of water and ice cubes). Allow to cool completely, then drain and set aside. Cut the Brussels sprouts into ¼-inch lengthwise slices and set aside. Add the bacon pieces to a medium saute pan, and cook over medium-low heat until just crispy, stirring occasionally. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the hot bacon drippings in the pan. Add the onions to the pan and saute over medium-high heat until translucent and just beginning to caramelize, about 5–6 minutes.

Add the butter to the pan, then add the Brussels sprouts and saute for 3–4 more minutes. Season with the remaining teaspoon of salt and black pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl, and sprinkle with the reserved bacon and cheese. Serve immediately.

SERVES 6

30

¾ pound Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed, loose leaves removed 2 teaspoons salt ½ pound bacon, thinly cut into ¼-inch pieces 1 ½ cups yellow onion, diced 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Debbi Smirnoff / iStockphoto

Hearty fall flavors

MARY’S MAPLE WALNUT CREAM no-crust PIE SERVES 8

1 8-ounce package cream cheese ½ cup maple syrup 1 12-ounce tub whipped topping ½ cup crushed pineapple, drained ½ cup walnuts, chopped ½ cup dates, chopped

Mix cream cheese and maple syrup together in a blender. Stir in whipped topping, pineapple, walnuts and dates.

Pour into 9-inch pie plate. Freeze for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve frozen.

MARY L. GECHA, MURRELLS INLET

Send us your original recipes! We welcome all

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

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.

Submit recipes online at SCLiving.coop or by email to recipe@scliving.coop or send to Recipe, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033. Entries must include your name, mailing address and phone number.

For our new self-rising flour, we start with soft winter wheat grown in the USA and milled in the South. Then we add a specially formulated baking powder to make it perfect for flaky biscuits, fluffy pancakes and countless other delicious treats. And because we use only the heart of the wheat berry, we never add bleach or other unnecessary chemicals. You might say we’ll rise to the occasion of perfecting your favorite recipes. Now on your grocery shelf, ready for your pantry.

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SCChef’sChoice

BY DIANE VETO PARHAM

Dining underground already reads “Owner/Dishwasher/Bartender/ Where Needed.”

He could easily add “Beer Evangelist.”

Beeby has created an unusual haven—​a Belgian-inspired restaurant and bar, tucked below street level in downtown Greenville. Away from the bustle of nearby Main Street, The Trappe Door is the underground sanctuary in which Beeby preaches the good news that flavorful Belgian foods and beers are meant to be enjoyed together and with friends.

The Trappe

Snowboarder-turnedrestaurateur Josh Beeby created a menu featuring the unique flavors of Belgian food and drink.

Josh Beeby’s ­business card

SERVES 2

2 tablespoons olive oil 2 shallots, finely diced 2 cloves garlic, finely diced ½ cup white wine ½ cup fish stock 2 pounds fresh live mussels Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, diced

23 West Washington St. Greenville, SC 29601 (864) 451-7490 trappedoor.com Serving lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday).

Late‑night menu served 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, with bar open to 2 a.m.

Clean mussels by filling sink with cold water and pulling out any string-like ropes from the shell. Pick through, one at a time, and make sure none are open.

If a mussel is open, tap it gently with your finger; it should close up. A mussel that does not close is dead and needs to be discarded.

Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.

Add the shallots and garlic. Saute, stirring constantly for about a minute or until softened. Deglaze the pot with the white wine, and then add the fish stock, mussels and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cover the pot, and let the mussels steam for about 8 minutes or until all the mussels have opened. Add the butter and parsley and stir until the butter has melted and all ingredients are well mixed.

Serve in bowls with the broth in the bottom, discarding any mussels that didn’t open.

32

“Nothing stuffy about it, just good, hearty eating with good quality beers and good quality people,” he says.

The hands-on restau­ rateur is a native Austral­­ian and former professional snow­boarder who financed his athletic adventures by working nights in restaurants and pubs. He settled with his wife, Rebecca, in Greenville about 13 years ago, eventually becoming owner of Barley’s Taproom and Pizzeria—just upstairs from the basement he would transform into The Trappe Door in 2011.

Beeby birthed the idea for The Trappe Door while dining at a Belgian restaurant back in Sydney. He and Rebecca later visited Belgium’s Trappist monasteries (where monks still make beer), breweries and eateries, seeking inspiration for their restaurant.

“All of our favorite bars and

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

Milton Morris

MOULES MARINIERE

Door

restaurants were down under the ground, in basements,” Beeby recalls. “They had so much character.”

The character of the menu at The Trappe Door is distinctly Belgian, with Beeby’s creative tweaks.

Moules frites (say “mool freet”) is the coastal country’s signature meal.

The Trappe Door offers these steamed mussels in a choice of six broths, including mariniere (white wine, shallots and garlic).

“That’s a pound and a half of mussels in whatever broth you want and fries on the side—frites—all hand cut in house and double fried, the Belgian way,” he says.

Belgians enjoy their frites with a dollop of mayonnaise on top, so Beeby invented 12 different homemade mayo flavors for his menu, including bourbon barbecue, raspberry Dijon, truffle, chipotle, curry and wasabi.

For more authenticity, try the foods with traditional Belgian brews.

Showcasing 150 different bottled beers and 10 more on tap, the restaurant allows guests to explore the flavors of Belgian lambics, sour reds and browns, Trappist ales and more.

“It’s great to be able to show people how beer can go with food, and vice versa,” Beeby says.

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scliving.coop | October 2012 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

35

Calendar of Events Please confirm information before attending events. For entry guidelines, go to SCLiving.coop.

UPSTATE

OCTOBER

14–18 • Starburst Storytellers’ Festival, Anderson County Library, Anderson. (864) 260-4500.

16–17 • The MACK High Tea, McKinney House, Plum Branch. (864) 852-3216.

19–20 • Art’Oberfest, Trinity Street, Abbeville. (864) 391-1485.

19–21 • Oktoberfest, Sertoma Field and Main Street, Walhalla. (864) 638-2727.

19–21 • Euro Auto Festival, BMW plant, Greer. (864) 989-6000.

20 • March for the MACK 4K Run/Walk, McCormick Art Council at the Keturah, McCormick. (864) 852-3216.

27 • Fall Fest, Carolina International Preparatory School, Greenville. (864) 385-6020.

27 • Tales of Union County, Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, Union.

(864) 427-5966.

28 • Sunday in the Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, Gaffney. (864) 461-2828.

NOVEMBER

2–4 • Richland Creek Antique Fall Festival, 542 Richland Creek Rd., Saluda. (864) 445-2781.

2–4 • Balloons over Anderson, Anderson Civic Center, Anderson. (864) 221-0552.

3 • First Saturday at the Price House, Thomas Price House, Woodruff. (864) 576-6546.

9–11 • Intertribal Pow‑Wow, Cherokee County History & Arts Museum, Gaffney.

(864) 489-3988.

10–11 • Civil War Expo, Helen Riverside Park, Helen, Ga. (732) 312-2071.

10–11 • Veterans Day Encampment, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Blacksburg. (864) 936-7921.

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 Oct. 28 • Oktoberfest, Festhalle, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-1908.

First and third Thursdays through Nov. 15 • Women Empowered, David Hellams Community Center, Greenville. (864) 467-4327.

36

LOWCOUNTRY

Second Saturdays • Music on the Mountain Bluegrass Jams, Table Rock State Park, Pickens. (864) 878-9813.

Weekends through early November • Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, Little Cane Creek Farms, Walhalla. (864) 903-1074.

OCTOBER

MIDLANDS OCTOBER

10–21 • South Carolina State Fair, fairgrounds, Columbia. (888) 444-3247.

17 • Wine Pairings, Sumter County Museum, Sumter. (803) 775-0908.

18 • A Taste of Wine and Art, Aiken Center for the Arts, Aiken. (803) 641-9094.

18–21 • Camden Antiques Fair, Rhame Arena, Camden.

(803) 432-6513, ext. 14.

18–21 • South Carolina Jazz Festival, various venues, Cheraw. (843) 537-8420.

18–27 • Western Carolina State Fair, Aiken Fairgrounds, Aiken. (803) 671-0586.

19–20 • Model Ts to Olar Festival, downtown, Olar. (803) 368-8847.

19–20 • HILLarity Festival, downtown, Chester. (803) 385-4803.

19–30 • Boo at the Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

20 • Beyond the Gravestone, Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, Beech Island. (803) 827-1473.

20–21 • A Day to Remember, Living History Park, North Augusta. (803) 279-7560.

25 • S.C. African American Heritage Commission Lectures, S.C. Department of Archives and History, Columbia. (843) 408-7727.

25 • Poetry Slam, Community Performance Center, Rock Hill. (803) 328-2787.

26 • Wine and Spirits Dinner, Living History Park, North Augusta. (803) 279-7560.

26–27 • Star Gazing Quilt Show, Baxter M. Hood Center at York Technical College, Rock Hill. (803) 327-9087.

27 • Spirits of Hallowed Eve, Living History Park, North Augusta. (803) 441-8956.

27 • Beakers & Broomsticks, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 779-3100.

The 10th annual Model T’s to Olar Festival, a family‑oriented celebration of the famous car, takes place Oct. 19–20 in downtown Olar.

27 • Haunted Farm, Kings Mountain State Park Living History Farm, Blacksburg.

(803) 222-3209.

27 • Fall Festival, Gaston Farm Equestrian Center, Chester. (803) 374-6255.

27 • Aiken Fall Steeplechase, Conger Field, Aiken.

(888) 648-9544.

31 • Trunk or Treat, Joe Miller Park, Elloree. (803) 897-2821.

NOVEMBER

2–3 • Pig on the Ridge BBQ Cookoff, downtown, Ridgeway. (803) 337-2213.

2–4 • Craftsmen’s Christmas Classic Art & Craft Festival, SC State Fairgrounds, Columbia. (336) 282-5550.

3 • United Way 10K River Run, Riverview Park Activities Center, North Augusta. (803) 952-7521.

3 • Poochapalooza, Lake Carolina Towne Center, Columbia. (803) 429-6290.

3 • Pine Needle Basket Workshop, Lee State Park, Bishopville. (803) 428-5307.

3–4 • Revolutionary War Field Days, Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, Camden. (803) 432-9841.

9–10 • Underexposed Film Festival, Community Performance Center, Rock Hill. (803) 328-2787.

10 • Woofstock Mutts & Music Festival, Highfields Event Center, Aiken. (803) 522-0471.

12 • Veterans Day, Free Admission for active-duty and retired military with ID, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

15 • Oyster Roast, Sumter County Museum, Sumter. (803) 775-0908.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

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 Mondays • Living History Days, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells.

(803) 684-2327.

Daily, except Mondays and major holidays • Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site, Camden. (803) 432-9841.

Daily, by appointment • Overnights and Night Howls, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia.

(803) 779-8717, ext. 1113.

Mondays through May • Homeschool Mondays, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Columbia. (803) 978-1113.

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 and Garden, Columbia. (803) 978-1113.

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.

Sundays • Sunday Brunch & Jazz Series, Senate’s End, Columbia. (803) 748-4144.

12–28 • Ghost Tours, downtown, Beaufort.

(843) 524-4678.

14–21 • Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival, various venues, Bluffton. (843) 757-2583.

19–Nov. 1 • Active Adult Challenge, throughout Jasper and Beaufort counties. (843) 645-4515.

20 • Loris Bog-Off Festival, downtown, Loris. (843) 756-6030.

20 • Hospice Care of the Lowcountry Benefit Craft Sale, St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, Hilton Head Island. (843) 681-8407.

20 • Charleston Symphony Orchestra Spiritual Ensemble, Battery Creek High School Performing Arts Center, Beaufort. (843) 379-2787.

21 • Mount Pleasant Children’s Day Festival, Park West Recreation Complex, Mount Pleasant. (843) 884-8517.

21 • Hilton Head Island Bridge Run, Crossings Park, Hilton Head Island. (843) 757-8520.

21 • Red Ribbon Fest Picnic in the Park, Old Santee Canal Park, Moncks Corner. (843) 899-5200.

25–Nov. 4 • Coastal Carolina Fair, Exchange Park, Ladson. (843) 572-3161.

26 • Jane Seymour Exhibition, Karis Art & Design Gallery, Hilton Head Island. (843) 785-5100.

26–Nov. 4 • Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, various venues, Hilton Head area. (843) 785-7469.

27 • Coastal Island Horse Show, Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island. (843) 768-5867.

NOVEMBER

1–30 • Works by BAMN’N, North Charleston City Gallery at the Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston. (843) 740-5854.

3 • Pee Dee Blues Bash, various venues, Florence. (843) 762-9125.

3 • South Carolina Pecan Festival, downtown, Florence. (843) 665-2047.

3 • Harvest Festival, Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island. (843) 768-5867.

3–4 • Arts Festival & Pauwau, Waccamaw Tribal Grounds, Aynor. (843) 358-6877.

9 • Dinner Theater: When the Frost Is on the Pumpkin by storyteller Tim Lowry, Charleston Area Convention Center ballroom, North Charleston. (843) 740-5854.

9–11 • Holiday Market, North Charleston Coliseum Convention Center, North Charleston. (336) 282-5550.

10 • Castra Romana, Givhans Ferry State Park, Ridgeville. (843) 437-5587.

12 • Tribute to Our Veterans, Felix C. Davis Community Center, North Charleston. (843) 745-1028.

13 • Identifying Common Garden Pests, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet. (800) 849-1931.

ONGOING

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

Daily • Nature Center, Hunting Island State Park, Hunting Island. (843) 838-7437.

Daily, except major holidays • Parris Island Museum, Beaufort. (843) 228-2166.

Daily, except Christmas • Selfguided Colonial Tours, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston. (843) 852-4205.

Daily, through Oct. 28 • National Sculpture Society Annual Awards Exhibition, Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet. (800) 849-1931.

Daily, through Oct. 31 • God Bless America from Candace Lovely, ARTworks, Beaufort. (843) 379-2787.

Daily, Nov. 9–Dec. 31 • Holiday Festival of Lights, James Island County Park, Charleston. (843) 795-7275.

Mondays through Dec. 31 • Blues Monday, Med Bistro, Charleston. (843) 766-0323.

Tuesdays through 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.

Fridays through Dec. 8 • Hilton Head Farmers Market, Historic Honey Horn, Hilton Head Island. (843) 785-2767.

Saturdays through October • Lawn Mower Racing, MCK/Cyclone Speedway, Bennettsville. (910) 334-6638.

Saturdays through Tuesdays • Mansion Tours, Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, McClellanville. (843) 546-9361.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

Give me crispy, or give me death Mother Teresa and Albert Schweitzer

may have been great humanitarians, but as good guys go, they have nothing on my friend Rick, who has two charitable missions in life: training service dogs for disabled veterans and saving mankind from soggy French fries.

In a world of fast food drive-throughs, the middling masses allow limp spuds to pass as edible fare, but Rick recognizes the demise of Western civilization when he tastes it. Soggy fries mark his line in the sand.

“I refuse to be a human garbage disposal for anyone,” Rick says, vowing to fight the “Vast Fresh Fry Conspiracy” with his last breath— which he may take at a drive-through, where someone is most likely to kill him.

Potatoes have long played a pivotal role in culinary history, even before they started swimming in boiling oil. Back in 749 B.C., or so, the Incas were already cultivating future fries and mutilating close friends when the potato gods got grumpy. There’s nothing like a fresh fried volcano virgin to cheer up a cranky supreme being.

Now, every time Rick ventures into a drive-through, he summons those deities for a miracle: Un-heatlamped, extra crispy, fresh-from-the-fryer fries.

“Welcome. May I take your order?” the squawky voice in the box inquires.

“I want a cheeseburger and large

38

fries. But …” Rick says, waving his finger at the speaker, “The fries must be fresh. They must exit the bubbling oil and come directly to my lips. If they are not pristine, I will know. I am a fry man.”

Rick’s finger is still wagging at the box, but the voice doesn’t see it.

“OK, so you want fries with that.

Pull up to the first window,” the box says.

As the cashier takes his cash, Rick smiles brightly and continues his plea, lest a soggy fry inflict itself on his palate. “Please give me the freshest, hottest, crispiest fries you have. I can spot a dud spud a mile away. I’ll gladly snorkel into that fryer and fetch them myself if you’d like.”

The girl at the window with the freeze-dried smile had at least 10 minutes of training on appeasing peculiar customers, but can’t recall corporate policy on snorkeling.

“I’ll tell them,” she says, without moving her lips.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | October 2012 | scliving.coop

By the time we pull up to the delivery window, a dozen cars have lined up behind us. Rick’s next victim hands him his burger, accompanied by a bag of mushy fries, doomed to flunk inspection.

He shifts the car into park and returns the bag to the clueless employee who has not been privy to one syllable of the fry speech.

“Excuse me, Miss.

These fries are soggy.

Please give me some right out of the cooker,” Rick says, cutting off the engine. “I’ll wait right here.”

No amount of pleading can budge him away from that window. Horns honk while famished, fist-waving families rush toward our car. They don’t seem to realize he’s fighting for their rights. Leaving without fresh fries would only bring the world closer to doom.

“Maybe you should have offered something to the potato gods,” I quip to Rick, who is eyeballing me strangely when he pops an intensely personal question.

“Look, there’s only so much I’ll do for charity. Besides, we’re nowhere near a volcano and I have two kids,” I huff. “Sacrifice something else.”

Next time, we’ll stop for pizza. Let’s hope the crust is hot and crispy. lives in Horry County, where she collects humanitarians and fast foodies. Share your pet peeves with her at HumorMe@SCLiving.coop.

Jan Igoe

SCORE two tickets to the Clemson-South Carolina Football Game Saturday, November 24, 2012

with One winner will receive a flight in the Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon*and two tickets to the Clemson/South Carolina game.

To enter, visit scliving.coop and fill out the online entry form or mail in the entry form below. Entries must be received by Nov. 7, 2012. Contest is open to any South Carolina electric cooperative member, 18 years of age or older, whose co-op belongs to The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc., the Take state association of electric cooperatives.

off, fly high and

touch down in the Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon

Enter To Win Contest Award Entry Form

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Enter today by filling out and mailing this form, or visit scliving.coop to enter. Entry deadline is November 7.

*Weather permitting See complete rules at scliving.coop.

Mail entry form to: Touchdowns with Touchstone Energy 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033-3311

PLEASE PRINT

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Street Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________ City/State/ZIP: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________ Electric Cooperative Name: ____________________________________________________________________________ What have you done in your home in the past year to save energy? _____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

Eighteen electric cooperatives in South Carolina, and more than 700 nationwide, form the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives family, an alliance of co-ops dedicated to high standards of service. From time to time, we’d like to share with you ways to save energy and money and other information. We will never sell, rent or share your contact information. However, you may choose not to receive these notices by checking this box. â??