South Carolina Living March 2021

SC RECIPE

Easter dinner

CHANGEOUT

HUMOR ME

Love at first sit

Trailblazers MARCH 2021

The Palmetto Conservation Corps builds community and leaders

Make your home more comfortable than ever

“To you, it’s the perfect lift chair.

To me, it’s the best sleep chair I’ve ever had.”

— J. Fitzgerald, VA

NOW

also available in Genuine Italian Leather (and new Chestnut color)

Three Chairs in One Sleep/Recline/Lift

ACCREDITED BUSINESS A+

Pictured: Italian Leather chair chestnut color. Chestnut color also available in DuraluxTM fabric

You can’t always lie down in bed and sleep.

Heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches – and dozens of other ailments and worries. Those are the nights you’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in: one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises your feet and legs just where you want them, supports your head and shoulders properly, and operates at the touch of a button.

spinal alignment and promotes back pressure relief, to prevent back and muscle pain. The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support when sitting or reclining. It even has a battery backup in case of a power outage.

Our Perfect Sleep Chair® does all that and more. More than a chair or recliner, it’s designed to provide total comfort. Choose your preferred heat and massage settings, for hours of soothing relaxation. Reading or watching TV? Our chair’s recline technology allows you to pause the chair in an infinite number of settings.

And best of all, it features a powerful lift mechanism that tilts the entire chair forward, making it easy to stand.

You’ll love the other benefits, too. It helps with correct

REMOTE-CONTROLLED EASILY SHIFTS FROM FLAT TO A STAND-ASSIST POSITION

White glove delivery included in shipping charge.

Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of Genuine Italian leather, stain and water repellent custom-manufactured DuraLux™ with the classic leather look or plush MicroLux™ microfiber in a variety of colors to fit any decor. New Chestnut color only available in Genuine Italian Leather and long lasting DuraLux™. Call now!

The Perfect Sleep Chair®

1-888-749-1782

Please mention code 114092 when ordering.

Genuine Italian Leather

Chestnut

classic beauty & durability

Long Lasting DuraLux™

Chestnut

Burgundy

Tan

Chocolate

Blue

stain & water repellent

MicroLux™ Microfiber

Burgundy Cashmere Chocolate

Indigo

breathable & amazingly soft

Because each Perfect Sleep Chair is a made-to-order bedding product it cannot be returned, but if it arrives damaged or defective, at our option we will repair it or replace it. © 2021 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

46556

Footrest may vary by model

THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS VOLUME 75 • NUMBER 3 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240)

Read in more than 600,000 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) 926‑3175 Fax: (803) 796‑6064 Email: letters@scliving.coop

2021 |march 12 On the trail to success AmeriCorps members pitch in to build and maintain South Carolina’s cross-state Palmetto Trail—and gain valuable life and career experiences in the process.

EDITOR

Keith Phillips Tel: (803) 739‑3040 Email: Keith.Phillips@ecsc.org FIELD EDITOR

Josh Crotzer

PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Travis Ward

4 CO-OP NEWS

Updates from your cooperative

ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang

6 AGENDA

Cook up plenty of energy savings with these handy kitchen appliances.

DESIGNER

Camille Stewart PRODUCTION

Andrew Chapman Chase Toler

COPY EDITORS

Try these no-till gardening techniques to reduce the need for power equipment and irrigation in your vegetable garden.

Trevor Bauknight, Jennifer Jas, Jim Poindexter CONTRIBUTORS

Abby Berry, Mike Couick, Dena J. DiOrio, Tim Hanson, Andrew Haworth, Jan A. Igoe, L.A. Jackson, Patrick Keegan, Sydney Patterson, Belinda Smith-Sullivan, Brad Thiessen

10 DIALOGUE Fueling stations of the future

Electric cars are gaining market share at an accelerating pace, but charging stations lag behind. What will that mean for consumers and electric cooperatives in South Carolina?

PUBLISHER

Lou Green

ADVERTISING

16 SC STORIES Remembering the past

Elijah Heyward III has a deeply personal connection to the stories that will be told in the forthcoming International African American Museum (IAAM).

NATIONAL REPRESENTATION

American MainStreet Publications Tel: (512) 441‑5200 Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication. If you encounter a difficulty with an advertisement, inform the Editor.

While the famous Lowcountry landmark undergoes a complete renovation, we explore the music and memories of bygone eras.

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.

22

© COPYRIGHT 2021. The Electric Cooperatives

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

$8 nonmembers

$5.72 members,

Member of the AMP network reaching more than 9 million homes and businesses

RECIPE

Easter dinner

Make your family’s Easter celebration all the more joyous with these recipes for a complete feast, courtesy of Chef Belinda Smith-Sullivan.

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.

18

18 TRAVELS A musical history of the Folly Beach pier

26

GARDENER

Seeing red: coral honeysuckle

Bright red flowers, rich green leaves and easily manageable vines—just three of the reasons this indigenous beauty belongs in your landscape.

22

27 MARKETPLACE 28 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 30 HUMOR ME Love at first sit

Kick back, prop up your feet and learn why you should think twice about accepting hand-me-down furniture from Halloween superheroes.

SC RECIPE

Easter dinner HUMOR ME

Love at first sit

Trailblazers The Palmetto Conservation Corps builds community and leaders

MARCH 2021

Mary Watts Tel: (803) 739‑5074 Email: ads@scliving.coop

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS:

12

8 ENERGY Q&A Efficient, no-till gardening

WEB EDITOR

FRO M TO P : A N DRE W H AWO RTH; DEN A J. DIORIO; M ICH A E L PH I LLI PS

AmeriCorps member Scott Hrinko uses a chainsaw to make way for a new bridge on the Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail. Photo

by Andrew Haworth.

SC | agenda

Fencing clubs across the state teach an ancient combat sport

En garde!

BY HASTINGS HENSEL | PHOTOGRAPHY

SIBLING RIVALRY Cordesville

Efficient kitchen appliances

12

H A M I LTO N B E ACH

powered by gas or electricity, it’s no secret that they consume more energy than smaller countertop appliances like slow cookers and toaster ovens. In addition to efficiency, smaller kitchen appliances can provide faster cooking times and less hassle with cleanup.

Pizza makers are compact and inexpensive, If you’re looking for convenient cooking and they use less energy than your traditional oven. methods with the added bonus of energy savings, here are three appliances to consider: Air fryers use convection to circulate hot air to cook food, meaning little to no oil is required. These units tend to be fairly small, so they won’t take up much of your counter space, and cleanup is a breeze. Air fryers are available in a variety of sizes, and prices range from $40 to $200 and up.

Electric griddles are convenient because you can cook everything at once—like a “one-pan” meal—and the possibilities are endless. From fajitas to sandwiches to French toast, griddles can help satisfy every taste. They consume small amounts of energy and provide quick cooking times, so your energy bill will thank you. Prices and sizes vary, but you can typically find one for about $30 at retail stores.

Pizza makers are compact, countertop machines that use less energy than your traditional oven to whip up faster, healthier pizza pies at home. Most pizza makers are multifunctional and can also be used to cook flatbreads, frittatas, quesadillas and more. You can purchase a pizza maker for about $30 to $150 or more online or at your local retailer. —ABBY BERRY

Win a Classically Camden Weekend Retreat

If you’re ready to get out and play, sign up today for our March Reader Reply Travel Sweepstakes. One lucky reader will be drawn at random to receive a one-night stay at Camden’s Four Oaks Inn and a $100 gift card. For complete details and to register, visit SCLiving.coop/reader-reply.

All entries must be received by March 31, 2021.

6

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | JANUARY

EN GARDE “I always tell says Edge of America people that not everyone is going to be a fencer,” instructor Patrick Lausi. try it. It’s such a good “But I think everybody sport.” should 2021 | SC LIVING.CO

OP

Point taken Thank you for the awesome article on fencing by writer Hastings Hensel and photographer Mic Smith in the January 2021 issue. We also appreciate being included in the roster of fencing clubs around South Carolina. One small correction: the formal name of our club here on Hilton Head Island is ­lowcountry fencers (lowercase, plural). We welcome anyone interested in the sport to join us at the Island Recreation Center, 20 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island. For more information, readers can contact me at (843) 816-0756; wilkenspw@aol.com, or call the rec center at (843) 681-7273.

—PATRICIA WILKENS

WRITE US What’s on your mind? Send us a note by email to letters@scliving.coop or drop an old-fashioned letter in the mail to Letters, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033.

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

Minor

PM Major

MARCH 16 1:16 17 1:46 18 2:01 19 2:01 20 — 21 — 22 — 23 10:16 24 10:16 25 10:46 26 11:16 27 11:46 28 — 29 12:31 30 1:01 31 1:46

Minor

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

APRIL 7:31 8:16 2:01 7:46 9:01 2:31 7:46 10:16 3:16 8:01 — 4:01 8:01 — 5:16 6:46 — 7:01 4:31 — 8:16 4:31 1:31 9:01 4:46 3:01 10:01 5:01 4:01 10:31 5:16 4:46 11:16 5:46 5:46 11:46 6:01 6:31 12:16 6:31 7:16 12:46 6:46 8:16 1:31 7:16 9:16 2:16

1 2:16 7:31 10:46 2 3:01 8:01 — 3 1:16 8:16 — 4 — 3:01 — 5 9:46 3:46 12:31 6 10:01 4:16 2:31 7 10:16 4:31 3:31 8 10:46 5:01 4:16 9 11:16 5:16 5:01 10 5:31 11:31 5:46 11 — 5:46 6:16 12 12:01 6:01 7:01 13 12:31 6:16 7:31 14 12:46 6:31 8:16 15 1:16 6:31 9:16 16 1:31 6:46 10:31

residents

The swordsman’s name is Patrick Lausi, coaches Ian Dube and Annemarie LeDonneand toge of all ages and experienc , he trai Fencing club in North e levels at the Edge of Ame Charleston. One of more than dozen U.S. Fencing member clubs in South America, you might Carolina, say, takes a double-ed ged approa dedicated to promotin g one of the oldest sports in th while also building a competitive club whose membe compete nationwid e.

“Fencing now is the biggest it’s ever been it’s only going to get in Ameri bigger,” Lausi says.

“Our job as a really been to build a community. Not just here in Ch but also in South Carolina.

We’re trying to build the ground up. Our fencin biggest goal as a club is not only affordabl e for people but obtainabl to make fe e, too.”

Part of that goal, Lausi fencing is a “rich person’s admits, is to squash the idea aristocrats using French sport”—the leisure activity o terminology as they dainty swords. Edge daintily tw of America seeks to bring fencing a its benefits to the people.

“There’s no other workout like it,” Annemarie “I like it because it’s LeDonn an individual sport,” the club’s veteran says Bob M fencer and a former Pan-Am games ch pion. “That’s the joy of it—counting on yourself. You can blame someone else for screwing up.”

“There’s a lot of strategy in it,” adds Noah Kern, old who is one of an 18 the club’s best fencers.

“It’s very much mental struggle.”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

WHETHER YOUR OVEN AND STOVETOP ARE

ONLY ON SCLiving.coop

BY MIC SMITH

The masked sword sman attacks me with his blade, aiming for my vital organs — my panting lungs, my pounding heart.

But I have been trainin combat sport, so with g in an ancient a circular flick of my wrist, I parry him away with my own blade. Then I riposte and lunge in, stabbing him once in his chest. When I push in the blade with more force, it flexes in a perfect U-shap angling into his flesh. ed bend, as if Only then does the man remove his mask masked swordsand reveal himself. He’s grinni ng—not like a man mortally wounded, but coach approving the like a fencing technique of his novice student.

3:01 4:01 5:31 7:16 8:31 9:31 10:16 10:46 11:16 11:46 12:01 12:31 1:01 1:31 2:01 2:31

©2021 STIHL/MAS 20MASOS01-12-145350-1

|

SC energy Q&A

Efficient, no‑till gardening

BY PATRICK KEEGAN AND BRAD THIESSEN

Q

It’s almost time to plant our garden, and we’re wondering if there are steps we can take to save energy when planting. How can we make our home garden more efficient?

JACKI E C A STER A

A

GET MORE For additional gardening tips, see these stories under the Home & Garden tab at SCLiving.coop.

Gardening in small spaces—If thoughts of producing fresh, homegrown edibles have you ready to dig in the dirt, it’s time to roll up those sleeves and start a vegetable garden.

Ten vegetables with the best payback— If you’re going to take a shot at growing your own dinner this year, a good place to start is by picking the crops that offer the best return on your investment.

8

p Paths covered in wood chips provide easy access to planting beds that are covered in compost.

LY N N B E T TS N RC S/SWC S

We’re glad you asked! One approach to gardening we’ve been excited about lately is no-till, also known as no-dig. No-till gardens have been gaining ground with farmers in recent years, partly because of the energy savings. The principles behind no-till gardening work well for large farms as well as smaller home gardens.

No-till gardening can be done without chemicals. Research shows that this approach can produce more fruits and vegetables within a few years, and they get better over the long term.

Best of all, this approach to gardening takes less time and effort—and you won’t even have to fire up the rototiller.

Two ideas are at the heart of no-till gardening. First, don’t break up the soil.

We usually think that by breaking up the soil and mixing it up, we keep weeds from growing. But tilling can bring weed seeds that are deep in the soil to the top

When you build up the soil by spreading layers of compost and other mulch on top, the weed seeds are kept dormant. where they can germinate and grow.

Tilling also destroys microbes in the soil that bring nutrients to the plants.

The second idea is to spread thick layers of compost and other mulch on top of the soil. When compost and other mulch are spread on top, they feed the soil from above, the same way leaves in a forest fall to the ground, decompose and turn into rich soil over time. When you build up the soil by spreading layers of compost and other mulch on top, the weed seeds are kept dormant. Mulch keeps the soil moist, so less water is used to irrigate, which means less electricity is used for pumping water from your well or community water system.

Your no-till garden can be planted at ground level or in raised beds. Start by

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

t Cereal rye is one of many cover crops that can be

planted in the no-till garden over the winter to help build soil health.

laying weed-blocking material on top of the old dirt. Sheets of cardboard are often used because they will decompose over time. Then spread at least 4 inches of weed-free soil or compost on top.

If the soil under the cardboard is reasonably loose, you can probably start planting right away. Your garden may be less productive the first year but will grow healthier and have less weeds every season from then on. If the ground is heavily compacted or clay, you may have to till in some compost or healthy soil before laying down the cardboard and give it a year for the new mix to get looser.

In the fall, you can cut the dead plants at ground level and leave the roots in the ground to decompose over the winter. You may also want to plant a cover crop, like peas, fava beans or barley, late in the growing season. Setting up a no-till garden takes a fair bit of work, but it will require less maintenance in the future and get healthier every year.

Send questions to Energy Q&A, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, or email energyqa@scliving.coop.

THE ONE TIME, LIFETIME LAWN SOLUTION!

SAVE OVER 50%

Watering chores,water bills! Sweating behind a roaring mower!

Spraying poison chemicals and digging weeds...

NEW PRE-CUT SUPER PLUGS now available! ...you can end such lawn drudgery – here’s how!

Stays lush and green in summer

Mow your Zoysia lawn once a month – or less! It rewards you with weed-free beauty all summer long.

7 Ways Our Amazoy Zoysia Lawn ™

1

Saves You Time, Work and Money!

CUTS WATER BILLS AND MOWING BY AS MUCH AS 2/3 Would you believe a lawn could look perfect when watered just once? In Iowa, the state’s biggest Men’s Garden club picked a Zoysia lawn as “top lawn – nearly perfect.” Yet, this lawn had been watered only once all summer to August!

In PA, Mrs. M.R. Mitter wrote, “I’ve never watered it, only when I put the plugs in...Last summer we had it mowed 2 times...When everybody’s lawns here are brown from drought, ours stays as green as ever.” That’s how Amazoy Zoysia lawns cut water bills and mowing! Now read on!

5

IT STAYS GREEN IN SPITE OF HEAT AND DROUGHT “The hotter it gets, the better it grows!” Plug-in Zoysia thrives in blistering heat, yet it won’t winter-kill to 30° below zero. It just goes off its green color after killing frosts, and begins regaining its green color as temperatures in the spring are consistently warm.

2

NO NEED TO DIG UP OLD GRASS Plant Amazoy your way in an old lawn or new ground. Set plugs into holes in the soil checkerboard style. Plugs spread to create a lush, thick lawn, driving out weeds and unwanted growth.

Easy instructions included with every order.

3

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY No weeding means no costly chemicals. Since Amazoy Zoysia lawns naturally resist insects, you’ll save money, while helping to protect the environment.

You’ll never have to expose your family and pets to the risk of weed killers and pesticide poisons.

Thrives from partial shade to full sun.

Plant it from plugs.

Your Assurance of Lawn SUCCESS

Amazoy Zoysia Grass is

GUARANTEED

FOR SLOPES, PLAY AREAS, BARE SPOTS AND PARTIAL SHADE You can’t beat Amazoy Zoysia as the low-cost answer for hard-to-cover spots, play-worn areas, places that have partial shade and erosion on slopes.

Guaranteed to grow new green shoots within 45-60 days or we’ll replace it FREE – for up to 1 year – just call us. Guarantee is valid on one order at a time, typically the most recent. We ONLY ship you hardy field grown genuine Amazoy Zoysia grass harvested direct from our farms. Easy planting and watering instructions are included with each order.

Meyer Zoysia Grass was perfected by the U.S. Gov’t, released in cooperation with the U.S. Golf Association as a superior grass.

©2021 Zoysia Farm Nurseries, 3617 Old Taneytown Rd, Taneytown, MD 21787

4

Freestyle Plugs You decide how big to cut the plugs. Each grass sheet can produce up to 150-1 in. plugs. Plant minimum 1 plug per sq. ft.

CHOKES OUT CRABGRASS AND WEEDS ALL SUMMER

7

NOW 3 WAYS TO START YOUR AMAZOY ZOYSIA LAWN!

Your established Amazoy Zoysia lawn grows so thick, it simply stops crabgrass and most summer weeds from germinating!

1) Freestyle plugs come in uncut sheets containing a maximum of 150 - 1” plugs that can be planted up to 1 ft. apart.

Freestyle plugs allow you to make each plug bigger and plant further apart – less cutting and planting – you decide.

2) New Super Plugs come precut into individual 3”x3” plugs ready-to-plant (minimum 1 per 4 sq. ft.). They arrive in easy to handle trays of 15 Super Plugs. Save more time and get your new lawn even faster!

3) Amazoy Approved Seed-As The Zoysia Specialists for 60+ years, we finally have a Zoysia seed available that meets our standards and homeowners expectations.

Learn why at zoysiafarms.com/mag or by phone at 410-756-2311.

ORDER TODAY – GET UP TO

1000 FREESTYLE PLUGS –

Super Plugs Precut plugs 3 inches by 3 inches READY TO PLANT Packed in trays of 15 Super Plugs. Plant minimum 1 plug per 4 sq. ft.

Your PRICE

+ Shipping

SAVINGS

Super Plugs

Free Plugs

Tray

Your PRICE

+ Shipping

SAVINGS

300

—

2

$29.95

$16.00

—

1

$24.95

$12.00

500

+100

4

$50.00

$18.00

— 25% 36% 44% 52%

15 60

+15

5

$90.00

$24.00

— 35% 49% 53% 56%

Max Plugs

Free Plugs Grass Sheets

6

750

+150

6

$66.00

$22.00

1100

+400

10

$95.00

$33.00

2000

+1000

20

$165.00

$54.00

95

+25

8

$110.00

$34.00

120

+30

10

$125.00

$40.00

180

+45

15

$180.00

$54.00

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START AND MAINTAIN A CAREFREE BEAUTIFUL ZOYSIA LAWN

Zoysia Farm

PLANTING TOOLS • PLANT FOOD • WEED AND PEST CONTROLS • ORGANIC PRODUCTS SOIL TESTS • GARDEN GLOVES • EDGING AND MORE . .. ALL AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT:

www.ZoysiaFarms.com/mag OR 410-756-2311

Improving America’s Lawns Since 1953

Harvested Daily from Our Farms and Shipped to You the Same Day the Plugs are Packed

Promo Code

3617 Old Taneytown Rd./Taneytown, MD 21787

Amazoy is the Trademark Registered U.S. Patent Office for our Meyer Zoysia grass.

5692

NURSERIES

Savings shown over aggregate base price and shipping

|

SC dialogue

Fueling stations of the future at what previous generations presumed our lives might be like today.

Some predictions are laughably farfetched—domesticated whales would transport us through the seas, our homes would fly to new locations and (perhaps the most ridiculous) we’d no longer drink coffee.

Some are right on the money.

In 1921, engineering wizard Charles Steinmetz, whose mathematical theories on alternating current helped foster the expansion of electric power, had some surprisingly accurate predictions about the role of electricity a century into his future. He envisioned that electricity would allow us to control the temperature of our homes while being entertained by a “radio-receiving” apparatus. Sounds pretty nice.

He also predicted that by 2021, electric ­vehicles would be affordable and ubiquitous. His prognostication may come to fruition soon.

Over the last few months, major automobile manufacturers have announced ambitious goals for the production of electric vehicles. General Motors plans to sell only emission-free vehicles by 2035, an aspiration promoted in last month’s Super Bowl commercials featuring a burly and surly Will Ferrell.

The ads served notice to Norway—a nation where over half of the vehicles sold are electric—that the U.S. (with our current 4% electric vehicle market share) is coming for them.

Other manufacturers have similar objectives.

Ford says it will invest $22 billion in electric vehicles by 2025. Volkswagen intends to launch 70 new pure electric models by 2030. BMW announced a plan to double its sales of fully electric vehicles, and Tesla, the original “status” brand in the electric vehicle market, plans to offer an affordable $25,000 model by 2023. Volvo aims for half its vehicle sales to be pure electric models by 2025.

With manufacturers starting the engine, it’s easy to predict that widespread adoption of electric vehicles can happen within the next decade, even in South Carolina, where less than 1% of drivers currently own an electric vehicle.

While our state is unlikely to keep pace with California, where they hope to be selling only ­emission-free vehicles by 2035, it’s reasonable to assume that electric vehicle market growth will accelerate here as well. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of electric vehicles registered in South IT’S INTERESTING TO LOOK BACK

MIKE COUICK

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

10

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

Widespread adoption of electric vehicles can happen within the next decade, even in South Carolina.

Carolina doubled. If that trend continues, there will be growing pressure to develop sufficient charging and power-delivery infrastructure for electric vehicle owners.

Currently, there are more than 300 public charging stations in South Carolina, mostly in and around population centers. Of the 678 outlets at those fueling stops, 121 are Level 3 direct-current chargers, ­capable of completely charging the batteries in most electric cars in about 80 minutes. When in use, each of these rapid chargers draws 50 kilowatts or more of ­electricity—the equivalent demand from about 20 mid-sized homes. In contrast, the more prominent, but less powerful, Level 2 chargers—drawing the equivalent of about three mid-sized homes—require six to 15 hours to deliver a full charge.

At present, most electric vehicle owners use public charging stations to “top off” batteries on longer trips, preferring to completely charge their vehicles at home using their own Level 2 chargers or Level 1 chargers. Even Level 1 chargers, which only add about 2 to 5 miles of range to a vehicle per hour, place a higher demand on the power grid.

What happens when hundreds, and someday thousands, of members of a local cooperative are charging their vehicles at home or at cooperativeserved public charging stations? It could make a big impact on the cooperative’s overall load and peak demand.

The rise of electric vehicles presents both a challenge and an opportunity for utilities in South Carolina and across the country. Your electric cooperative is monitoring and analyzing the growth of the electric vehicle market and developments in battery technology in order to better understand how we can serve our members, today and well into the future.

We may not be where Charles Steinmetz thought we would be, but I think he’d be proud of how far we’ve come.

Survival of the Sharpest When it’s you against nature, there’s only one tool you need: the tempered steel Stag Hunter from Stauer—now ONLY $79!

T

hat first crack of thunder sounded like a bomb just fell on Ramshorn Peak. Black clouds rolled in and the wind shook the trees. I had ventured off the trail on my own, gambled with the weather and now I was trapped in the forest. Miles from camp.

Surrounded by wilderness and watching eyes. I knew that if I was going to make it through the night I needed to find shelter and build a fire... fast. As the first raindrops fell, I reached for my Stag Hunter Knife.

Forget about smartphones and GPS, because when it comes to taking on Mother Nature, there’s only one tool you really need. Our stunning Stag Hunter is the ultimate sidekick for surviving and thriving in the great outdoors. Priced at $149, the Stag Hunter can be yours today for an unbelievable $79!

Not shown actual size.

A legend in steel. The talented knifemakers of Trophy Stag Cutlery have done it again by crafting a fixed-blade beauty that’s sharp in every sense of the word. The Stag Hunter sports an impressive 5⅓" tempered German stainless steel blade with a genuine deer stag horn and stained Pakkawood handle, brass hand guard and polished pommel.

You get the best in 21st-century construction with a classic look inspired by legendary American pioneers.

EXCLUSIVE

FREE

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 value-

But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Stag Hunter Knife.

with purchase of Stag Hunter Knife

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the craftsmanship. If you’re not completely impressed, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. But we believe that once you wrap your fingers around the Stag Hunter’s handle, you’ll be ready to carve your own niche into the wild frontier.

TAKE 47% OFF INSTA NTLY! When you use your

BONUS! Call today and you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath!

Stauer

INSIDER OFFER CO DE

êêêêê “The feel of this knife is unbelievable... this an incredibly fine instrument.”

— H., Arvada, CO

Stag Hunter Knife $149*

Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $70

®

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. SHK332-07 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com *Discount is only for customers who use the offer code versus the listed original Stauer.com price.

Rating of A+

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: SHK332-07 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

• 5 1/3" fixed German stainless steel blade (9 3/4" total length) • Stag horn and Pakkawood™ handle • Includes leather sheath

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

AmeriCorps members pitch in to maintain South Carolina’s cross‑state Palmetto Trail STORY AND PHOTOS BY ANDREW HAWORTH

12

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

THE EARLY MORNING PEACE OF THE FRANCIS MARION

National Forest is shattered by the sounds of chainsaws, ATVs and the aroma of bug spray.

A small team of trail builders has trekked into the woods, slogging through muddy pathways, occasionally swatting away the ever-present mosquitoes and dodging spiderwebs that always seem to cross the trail at face-level. As the morning fog clears, work is well underway on a closed section of the Swamp Fox Passage, a 47-mile stretch of the cross-state Palmetto Trail.

The passage has been closed to visitors because of its aging “bog bridges”—long narrow sections of split logs laid out across the ground that hikers can use to traverse flooded and

OVERCOMING MUCK AND MOSQUITOES AmeriCorps member Laryssa Kalbfus, an environmental science student from Connecticut, and Jose Perez, a trainer with Benchmark Trails, clear holes for posts that will support a new bridge on the Swamp Fox Passage.

muddy portions of the trail. The logs have been here since the Palmetto Trail opened in the early 1990s. They are wobbly and rotting in some places, and no longer safe.

The crew of five here on this crisp October morning is pulling out the old logs to make way for wide, safe bridges that not only keep hikers’ feet dry, but elevate the viewpoint over the swampy long-leaf pine forest. This will enable guests to get a better view of burbling streams, ancient trees, and possibly rare wildlife, like the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.

“This forest has always been special,” says Marie Butler, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation’s trail technician for this section of the Palmetto Trail. “Unfortunately, Mother Nature

is constantly dropping trees across our bridges.”

If you’ve ever hiked any of the 375-plus miles of the Palmetto Trail, which crisscrosses the state from the coast to the mountains, you’ve benefited from the efforts of the foundation. The organization, founded in 1989, relies on the work of volunteers to maintain the network of trails, whether it’s clearing brush and removing downed trees after a storm, or repairing and building boardwalks and bridges.

With only three full-time employees, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation has always had to get creative when it comes to finding ways to maintain the trail system. To that end, they formed the Palmetto Conservation Corps, a partnership with AmeriCorps. Each year, a group of AmeriCorps

SCLIVING.COOP | MARCH 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

13

“ This forest has always been special.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature is constantly dropping trees across our bridges.” —MARIE BUTLER, PALMETTO CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

BRIDGING THE GAP Trail technician Marie Butler inspects the construction of a bridge built by corps members on the Swamp Fox Passage of the Palmetto Trail. “They did a good job here, considering this is the first time they’ve built a bridge.”

14

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

members spends six months living and working exclusively on trail projects in the state, says program director Rachel Price.

The AmeriCorps teams and other volunteers “make our mission possible,” Price says. “They have done maintenance, repairs, or trail-building on 22 of our 30 passages, but that does not include the work they have done with our partners in state and national parks and forests that aren’t necessarily Palmetto Trail projects.”

AmeriCorps is a federal program that engages adults in public service work. The partnership has become an integral part of keeping the Palmetto Trail maintained. It also gives participants valuable experience to help them launch careers in conservation, parks and forestry.

“They graduate our program with the tools to be successful in their pursuit of a career,” Price says. “Teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, conflict resolution, project management, time management, and budgeting are just a few of the many skills our members gain experience with while serving in the Palmetto Conservation Corps.”

Taking a break from augering holes and clearing brush, AmeriCorps member Joe Kraft digs into a bag of trail mix and explains his goal to work with the National Park Service. A 2019 graduate of the NPS Law Enforcement Academy, Kraft says the variety of work assignments has given him experience in everything from running chainsaws to properly managing trails.

“It looks good on your resume for the National Park Service, so I decided to give it a try,” the Knoxville, Tennessee, native says. “Just seeing the variety of the parks in the state is really neat—and the different assignments.”

A notable example of the collaboration is the elevated boardwalk on the Wateree Passage, which runs through a portion of Richland County, through the Manchester State Forest in Sumter County. AmeriCorps members helped ­construct the boardwalk to raise the trail out of the flooded swamp, running three-quarters of a mile to connect with the Ed Sellers Bridge.

“It is a beautiful project and allowed our members to gain technical skills in laying stringers, placing deck boards, and building handrails, as well as the ins and outs of safety standards,” Price says.

Those are the types of skills Scott Hrinko hoped to learn when he joined the corps earlier this year.

In March, Hrinko, 45, was making his second attempt at a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail—a 2,200-mile odyssey

BUILDING SKILLS t Jose Perez of Benchmark Trails advises AmeriCorps member Scott Hrinko on how to bring down a tree with a chainsaw. u AmeriCorps member Joe Kraft, left, of Knoxville, Tennessee, helps Scott Hrinko move a small log to make way for bridge construction on the Swamp Fox Passage.

that runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The Garden City native hiked 10 straight days north from Georgia and was near Franklin, North Carolina, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a shutdown of the trail.

Rather than go back to a job in the Myrtle Beach tourism industry, Hrinko decided to join AmeriCorps, and hopes to trail and serving as a trainer to the AmeriCorps members. eventually work for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

“Having extra hands definitely doesn’t hurt,” Perez says “I did a desk job for 20 years. I really wanted to be outside after instructing Kraft and Hrinko on how to safely operate a more,” he says. “It’s nice to get out here and hike, but to chainsaw. More importantly, volunteers on the trails are learnactually build [the trail] and see what it takes to do it, it’s satisfying.” ing how to be good stewards of the environment.

It’s also hard work. The 2020 team sweltered their way “We’re creating safe passage for the public to access public through a typical South Carolina summer, and even as temlands in a way that doesn’t harm these wetlands,” Perez says.

By the end of their workday on this section of the Swamp peratures dropped in the fall, the mosquitoes remained a Fox Passage, the corps members source of frustration. Some have removed the old bog members of the team were bridges, cleared brush and trees, looking forward to getting HOW TO HELP dug holes, and started building out of the swamp and For more information or to apply for the 2021 Palmetto the foundation for a new bridge. heading upstate to their next Conservation Corps program, contact Rachel Price at Butler has been working right assignment. rprice@palmettoconservation.org or (803) 771‑0870. alongside them.

“It’s buggy,” says AmeriCorps Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent and provide a resume, cover letter and professional “They did a good job here, member Laryssa Kalbfus, an reference. Corps members must be willing to make a sixconsidering this is the first time environmental science major month commitment to the program. For additional details, they’ve built a bridge,” she says. from Connecticut. “I’m not visit palmettoconservation.org.

Work like this makes the trails from the swampy areas, the You don’t have to be a member of AmeriCorps to help more accessible to everyone, mountains are probably closer improve the Palmetto Trail. Anyone can volunteer for trail Butler says, and with the panto what I’m used to.” workdays that are regularly scheduled throughout the On the Swamp Fox Passage, demic still affecting life in the year. Help is often needed after storms to clear downed limbs and trees, and to repair washouts and landslides. the AmeriCorps members have state, the trails provide outdoor Announcements concerning closures and workdays are been working with Benchmark recreation with safe social disposted on Facebook at facebook.com/PalmettoTrail.

Trails, a company based in tancing and peace—especially For more information on volunteering, visit Greenville that does contract for children and families. palmettoconservation.org/volunteer or contact the work for state parks, private “It’s a safe place,” she says. “If trail coordinator at gee@palmettoconservation.org; landowners, and groups such you get out and take a leisurely (803) 771‑0870. as Palmetto Conservation walk for an hour, you’re going to Want to hike? Detailed information, maps and directions to Foundation. Employee Jose get exercise, good clean air, and all trailheads of the Palmetto Trail are available on the web Perez has been engineering it’s just a good healthy way of at palmettoconservation.org. bridges on this section of the bringing kids out.”

SCLIVING.COOP | MARCH 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

15

|

SC stories

Remembering the past Elijah Heyward III Chief operating officer, International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston.

EDUCATION: Doctorate in American studies from UNC-Chapel Hill; master’s in religion from Yale Divinity School.

GUIDING PHILOSOPHY: “I was raised to believe that I was born with a purpose and that purpose is to use my gifts and talents to serve others and our society.”

SPECIAL INTERESTS: Art enthusiast who enjoys reading about new artists and new shows.

PLANS FOR IAAM: “We will have an amazing slate of programming, including speakers and performances—all aimed at further interpreting the collections that we will house.”

CLAIM TO FAME:

From the International African American Museum’s construction site, Chief Operating Officer Elijah Heyward III can see the mouth of Charleston Harbor through which millions of Africans passed before being sold into slavery.

“It is hard not to be moved,” Heyward says. “We can see Sullivan’s Island, the first point of quarantine after the long journey across the Atlantic. There is Fort Sumter, where the Civil War started. And you can see the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point, which represents a whole narrative around African Americans who fought in World War II.” Even the museum itself—a 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility set to open next year—is situated on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where enslaved Africans were sold at auction.

The significance of these historical touchpoints has long been a part of Heyward’s worldview. Growing up in Beaufort, these and other subjects were often explored during daily family conversations around the dinner table. Heyward’s father, a high school history teacher, led the discussions about current events and their family’s Gullah Geechee roots.

“There was a wonderful sense of pride that I and my sister, Monica, were imbued with by virtue of those discussions,” says Heyward.

That appreciation for history carried over into school activities.

When he was about 10, he entered an essay contest called Coming to America. He wrote about the slave trade and his ancestors who were brought to North America against their will. “I was really intent, even at that age, to be clear about the historical record,” he says.

Today, of course, Heyward is closer than ever before to the history he knows so well—and is in a position to help share that history with the world. But as he watches the $100 million museum take shape, he often reflects on those who helped him along the way.

Says Heyward: “Where I stand today in Charleston is on the shoulders of my ancestors and my family and all those who sacrificed for me to be able to enjoy an opportunity such as this.”

—TIM HANSON | PHOTO BY MIC SMITH

16 SOUTH

CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

Sacred Stone of the Southwest is on the Brink of Extinction

B.

26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise

C

enturies ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and snatched it up for our Sedona Turquoise C. Collection. Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, oneof-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you aren’t completely happy with your purchase, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price.

The supply of Arizona turquoise is limited, don’t miss your chance to own the Southwest’s brilliant blue treasure. Call today!

ONLY $99

“With depleting mines, turquoise, the most sacred stone to the Navajo, has become increasingly rare.”

–– Smithsonian.com

A. Necklace enlarged to show luxurious color

Jewelry Specifications: • Arizona turquoise • Silver-finished settings

Sedona Turquoise Collection A. Pendant (26 cts) $299 B. 18" Bali Naga woven sterling silver chain C. 1 1/2" Earrings (10 ctw) $299 Complete Set** $747

$99* Save $200 $149 $99* Save $200 $249 Save $498

** Complete set includes pendant, chain and earrings.

Call now and mention the offer code to receive your collecion.

1-800-333-2045 Offer Code STC425-01

You must use the offer code to get our special price.

Rating of A+

* Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.

Stauer

® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. STC425-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

Stau e r … A f f or d the E x tr aor d i na r y .®

|

SC travels

A musical history of the Folly Beach pier

BY DENA J. DIORIO

over the dunes. Families with little children scurry toward the water. Sunbathers lounge in ultimate sunbaked bliss as the faint smell of sunscreen tickles the air. A typical day at Charleston’s beloved Folly Beach.

Endearingly referred to by locals as “The Edge of America,” this 18-square-mile barrier island is a community in transition as the Folly Beach Fishing Pier is being demolished to make way for the next and fourth iteration of the famed island landmark. As we await the Spring 2023 reopening of the pier, let’s pay homage to its storied, and musical, past.

Gershwin’s Folly June 18, 1931. The country was still in the throes of the Great Depression and yet that did not stop a crowd of 800 spectators from gathering at Folly Beach, the site of what was the first pier of its kind. Located at the intersection of Center Street and East Arctic Avenue, the original wooden pier was 97 feet long and 120 feet wide, built of palmetto logs painted white and green.

The neighboring Ocean Front Hotel and a boardwalk were also constructed during this time.

Frequent concerts were held at the pavilion, and music filled the air as revelers danced the starry nights away to a treasure trove of visiting musicians and big bands. Legendary names such as Guy Lombardo, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw performed at Folly. As sweet melodies filled the pavilion, dancers twirled past, showcasing their skills of the jitterbug, the fox trot and the shag (now the official dance of South Carolina) on one of the largest dance floors in the state.

Three years after the pier was built, in the summer of 1934, a 35-year-old George Gershwin arrived in Charleston from New York City by train, on the recommendation of Charleston-based 18

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

author DuBose Heyward.

Coming for a summer sojourn on Folly Island, Gershwin stayed in a bungalow equipped with an upright piano (now on display at The Charleston Museum) at 708 West Arctic Avenue and was bound and determined to complete the score to his opera, Porgy & Bess, based off of Heyward’s novel, Porgy. Inspiration was all around, he found, not only at the beach but in surrounding Gullah cultural sites and gathering places. Enjoying his beach sabbatical maybe a little too much, Gershwin also took the liberty to judge a local beauty contest held at the pier that summer.

It was, after all, summertime, and the living was indeed easy.

For more than two decades, the original Folly Pier and pavilion stood, welcoming beachgoers and revelers for dancing and entertainment. It was to become the social hub for Folly until tragedy struck in 1957, and the pier, pavilion, Ocean Front Hotel and Kokomo’s Lounge burned down.

The Ocean Plaza Years There was little time to mourn the loss as the pier and pavilion were soon replaced in 1960 by Ocean Plaza. It was a new, modern construction that also included a skating rink, bowling alley, amusement park, roller coaster, Ferris wheel and merry-go-round.

Beach music reemerged as the new pier and pavilion welcomed such great musical acts as Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, The Coasters, The Dominoes, The Drifters, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Tams, Doug Clark and The Hot Nuts and the venerable Otis Redding.

Partygoers were doing the mashed potato and the twist on the dance floor under the pavilion, and for those who could not get their hands on a ticket, under the pier itself.

Marlene Estridge, a resident of Folly Beach for over 80 years,

FO LLY PI ER: DEN A J. DIO RIO; POSTC A RD FRO M TH E DIG ITA L CO LLEC TIO N O F U N I V ERS IT Y O F SOUTH C A RO LI N A , SOUTH C A RO LI N I A N A LI B R A RY

WAVES CRASH. THE OCEAN ROARS. SEAGULLS SCATTER

The Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier, above, will soon be relegated to photos and memories.

recalls evenings spent twirling away at the pier. “[We] used to go all the time and dance out there as teenagers. The old pier that is. It was where we all dated 70 years ago and danced the shag,” she recalls.

“Lots of famous bands played: Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone, The Ink Spots, Bob Crosby, who was Bing Crosby’s brother, Earnest Tub.” And the list goes on.

One chilly January night in 1977, the second pier burned down as a result of suspected arson. The dance hall, the neighboring restaurant, and the bait and tackle shop were destroyed, and for 18 long years, the city of Folly Beach was pierless yet again.

It seemed as if the music had stopped for good.

Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier

OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY For those wishing to take home a piece of pier nostalgia, salvaged wood from the current pier will be available for purchase as souvenirs with proceeds benefiting the Charleston County Parks Foundation. For additional information about the construction process, follow along at ccprc.com/pierprogress.

In 1992, Charleston County Parks purchased the 1.4 acres where the f­ormer piers once stood to construct the third, and p ­ erhaps most iconic, iteration.

Christened the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier in honor of the f­ormer owner of the Atlantic House restaurant, it opened to the public in July 1995.

For 25 glorious years, the Folly Beach Pier has been a central point for fishing, bird watching, and recreation, as well as for

SCLiving_HC-half-h.indd 1

taking in the majestic ocean views. Over its lifespan, the pier welcomed 6.6 million visitors, according to Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission (CCPRC).

Known more as a fishing destination than as an entertainment venue like its predecessors, the pier was still a gather­ing place for many. Paying homage to its musical legacy, CCPRC hosted deejayed Moonlight Mixers on an annual basis that were open to the public for a nominal ticket fee.

The Next Chapter

The future pier, scheduled to open in the spring of 2023, will be built of concrete and wood, with reinforced pre-stressed concrete pilings that can with­stand the test of time and Mother Nature.

Some of the design features of the latest pier will remain, including a classic diamond-shaped pier head. The new pier will also offer fishing stations, retail shops, public restrooms and shade stations. The beloved Moonlight Mixers dance series will also return.

As for the beautiful beach music, it has stopped for now, but it will only be a matter of time before it strikes up again.

8/10/2020 11:04:54 AM

SCLIVING.COOP | MARCH 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

19

Girlfriends’ Getaway HAMILTON GARDENS’ BLOOMING AFFAIR April 17 - May 23

Bloomsbury Inn

Eat, Shop, Stay and Play in one of South Carolina’s most historic cities.

Share experiences and make your own new memories in Camden.

VisitCamdenSC.com

HamiltonGardens.org 706.970.0011 96 Pavilion Rd, Hiawassee, GA

L ive (our) HISTORY. We build all kinds of buildings for all kinds of needs.

Quite simply,

Check into Hoover!

www.hooverbuildings.com 1.800.922.3934 Lexington & Greer, SC

we are a reflection of our rich past. Cheraw’s well-preserved history blends the influence of kings from yesteryear with the soulful jazz of our most famous native son. Explore our history and discover firsthand the heart, soul and spirit of Cheraw.

For a free Visitor’s Guide, call 888.537.0014

www.cheraw.com 20

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

R E G I S T E R T O D AY !

o t t n he swi i g t e n i r G ng of sp You could win a $100 gift card and a Classically Camden Weekend Retreat

Spring is here. If you’re ready to get out and play, sign up today for our March Reader Reply Travel Sweepstakes. South Carolina Living and City of Camden Tourism Partners have joined together to offer a getaway weekend.

One lucky winner will be drawn at random from all eligible entries to receive a $100 Visa gift card and a one-night stay for two at Camden’s Four Oaks Inn. To register, use the mail-in form below or visit SCLiving.coop/reader-reply.

All entries must be received by March 31, 2021.

R E A D E R R E P LY T R AV E L S W E E P S TA K E S

Register below, or online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply YES! Enter me in the drawing for a $100 gift card and Classically Camden Weekend Retreat.

Name Address City

By entering, you may receive messages from these great sponsors and you agree to join the South Carolina Living email list. j Camden-Kershaw County Visitors Center j Alpine Helen/White County, Ga. CVB j Cheraw Visitors Bureau j Hamilton Gardens, Ga. j Hammock Coast j South Carolina Living magazine

State/ZIP Email* Phone* My electric cooperative is:

South Carolina Living, RRTS, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033 or travel@SCLiving.coop. Entries must be received by March 31, 2021, to be eligible. *Winner will be contacted to verify mailing address.

SEND COUPON TO:

Register online at SCLiving.coop/reader-reply SCLIVING.COOP | MARCH 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

21

|

SC recipe

Easter dinner

BOURBON APRICOT GLAZED HAM SERVES 10 (WITH LOTS OF LEFTOVERS)

GLAZE

HAM

1 8- to 10-pound spiral‑cut smoked or cooked ham 1 cup liquid of your choice (cola, ginger ale, juice, white wine, chicken stock or water)

½ cup apricot preserves G cup bourbon G cup maple syrup G cup Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves 2 teaspoons grated orange rind/zest (optional) Leaf lettuce, for garnish Orange halves, quarters or slices, for garnish Pomegranate seeds, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 F and adjust oven rack to bottom position. Line a large baking pan with foil and insert a rack. With ham sitting on the rack, gently pull apart the slices and pour liquid over ham. Reposition ham flat side down and cover tightly with another larger piece of foil. Cook approximately 15 minutes per pound (about 2½ hours) until temperature on an instant-read thermometer reaches 120–130 F. Note: larger hams will require more cooking time. Meanwhile, prepare glaze.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add preserves, bourbon, syrup, mustard, cinnamon, cloves and orange rind. Stir and simmer for 3–4 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside.

SAUTEED GREEN BEANS WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS AND MUSHROOMS

Easter is that unique holiday when the food on th e menu differs fro m all of the othe r yearly festive meals. Ham or lamb usually define this celebratio n feast, with a few clas sic side dishes that capture th e spirit of the holiday.

SERVES 6–8

3 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil (more if needed) 1 pound small shallots or cipollinis, peeled and sliced or whole Kosher salt Fresh ground black pepper 2 pounds green beans, trimmed 3 tablespoons garlic olive oil, divided 1 pound button mushrooms, halved or quartered 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves Fresh lemon juice from ½ lemon GW ÉN A Ë L LE VOT

M ICH A E L PH I LLI P S

BY BELINDA SMITH-SULLIVAN

In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add shallots and season with salt and pepper. Lower heat to medium-low and cook, stirring only occasionally, until shallots are a deep brown, 35–45 minutes. Do not move shallots around too much or they will not caramelize. Add more butter/oil if needed, to keep from burning.

Remove ham from oven and increase temperature to 425 F. Turn ham on its side so the slices are exposed. Using a pastry brush, baste ham with glaze and return to oven for 15 minutes. Remove and repeat glaze one more time and return to oven for 15 minutes more. Remove from oven and glaze with remaining mixture and set aside for one hour before serving.

If slices start to separate and fall over, use 2–3 long skewers to hold ham intact during the glazing phase. Once ham cools, before serving, remove skewers. Plate on a bed of leaf lettuce garnished with oranges and pomegranate seeds.

While shallots are cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add green beans and cook until crisp-tender, about 3–5 minutes. Drain and add water and ice to stop the cooking process. When completely cold, drain, pat dry and set aside.

Be careful when adding alcohol to pans and skillets.

When adding alcohol or spirits to recipes, do so very carefully. Remove the cooking vessel from the heat source and then add the alcohol, or add to the pan and incorporate it completely before introducing it to the heat source.

In another large skillet or saucepan, over medium heat, heat 2 tablespoons garlic olive oil. Add mushrooms and cook until brown and all liquid has cooked away, about 10 minutes. Add remaining tablespoon of garlic olive oil, green beans, shallots and thyme. Saute 2–3 minutes and adjust seasoning if needed. Toss with lemon juice and serve immediately.

CHEF’S TIP

22

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

SERVES 8

4 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 pounds leeks, trimmed, halved, white and green parts cut into ¼-inch pieces, rinsed Kosher salt Fresh ground pepper 1 tablespoon fresh chopped thyme G teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg 1 cup heavy cream 3 cups grated Gruyere cheese (more if desired) 3 pounds white sweet potatoes, peeled (or not) and sliced into ¼-inch disks 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

I U LI I A N EDRYGA I LOVA

K A REN H ERM A N N

WHITE SWEET POTATO AND LEEK AU GRATIN

COCONUT CAKE SERVES 12

Have all ingredients at room temperature.

CAKE

Preheat oven to 400 F. Spray 9-by-9-inch (or 2½ quart) baking dish or gratin dish with cooking spray.

FROSTING

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add leeks, sprinkle with salt and cook, stirring until tender, about 20 minutes. Add pepper, thyme, nutmeg and cream; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick) 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted (more if needed to thicken) 7 ounces sweetened flake coconut

In prepared dish, layer one-third of potatoes, one-third of leek mixture, one-third of cheese and 1 tablespoon chives. Repeat 2 more times. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20–25 minutes until cheese is bubbling and top is golden brown. Let rest 30 minutes before serving.

CAKE

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray three 9-inch cake pans with nonstick spray; line bottoms with parchment paper. In the bowl of a stand mixer, on medium-high speed, cream butter until fluffy and a pale yellow. Add sugar and cream another 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a

Safety alert: Use caution when slicing potatoes and vegetables with a mandoline. Either use the finger guard or invest in a pair of cut-resistant gloves. Misuse of this appliance could result in an unplanned emergency room visit.

CHEF’S TIPS

FROSTING

In the bowl of a stand mixer—or using a handheld mixer—combine cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla.

Lower mixer speed and add sugar; continue mixing until thoroughly combined and perfect consistency for spreading (adding small amounts of additional confectioners’ sugar as needed). Place first cake layer on a cake serving platter and frost; continue with next two layers. Use the remainder of frosting to generously frost the top and sides of cake until entire cake is completely covered.

Carefully apply coconut to top and sides using cupped hands or a spatula.

What’s cooking at SCLiving.coop BONUS RECIPE What Easter celebration

G I N A MOO RE

How to caramelize onions, including shallots.

The caramelization process brings out the natural sweetness in onions. When caramelizing onions or shallots, use low heat and do not stir too often.

Depending on the amount of onions in the skillet, it could take longer or shorter than recipe parameters.

Watch carefully for the “color” indication. Caramelized onions will be a dark brown color.

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks) 2 cups sugar 4 large eggs 3 cups self-rising flour 1 cup buttermilk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

time and beat well after each. Lower speed and add flour and buttermilk alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla and beat well; divide evenly between the three pans. Bake 25–30 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

Invert the layers onto cooling racks and let cool completely. Remove parchment from bottom of cake layers.

would be complete without deviled eggs?

Find Chef Belinda’s recipe, as well as guidance on what size ham to buy, at

SCLiving.coop/​food/​chefbelinda

SCLIVING.COOP | MARCH 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

23

Free Graduate Course for S. C. Teachers!

Register for the Institute on Energy, Economics and the Environment — a virtual STEM Course.

Summer 2021 • Learn the latest STEM topics from industry experts • Participate safely from your own home • Earn graduate course credit from the University of South Carolina • Have fun exchanging ideas with your peers

Earn 3 Graduate Credit Hours A $100 deposit is required — refunded upon course completion.

Sponsored by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives

Space is limited. Apply today at www.enlightensc.org/summer-grad-course

|

SC gardener

MARCH IN THE GARDEN

Seeing red: coral honeysuckle

n Want years and years of dependable service from your lawn mower? One of the most important maintenance chores you can do to keep your grass muncher running longer is to change the engine’s oil at least every two years.

For smoother operation—and easier starts—also replace the spark plug while changing the oil.

MENTION THE WORD “HONEYSUCKLE,”

L . A . JACKSO N

For sustained flower shows in the future, snip off daffodil blooms as they begin to fade.

TIP OF THE MONTH Daffodils will perform better in the garden if their energy-absorbing leaves are allowed to fade from green to brown before they are pruned to the ground. Also, as the flowers wane, it’s not a bad idea to snip them off their stems to prevent seed formation, which diverts energy away from the underground bulbs as they are storing up internal oomph for next spring’s flower show. Still curious to see what the seeds will produce bloomwise? Get comfy and settle in for a long wait—it can take seed-grown daffodils five years or more to mature enough to produce flowers.

26

and visions of delightful, sweetly scented, pale blooms dripping from vigorous vines on a summer afternoon pop up in many a gardener’s head.

But to others, bouts with a rampant creeper that threatened to engulf the house, the car, even the family cat if he didn’t move fast enough are also real memories.

The botanical beast that creates such a conundrum of conscience with gardeners is Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), an oriental introduction to southern gardens in the early 1800s that can grow to over 30 feet long and seed about with impunity.

There is a way to enjoy honeysuckle without fear of your landscape being swallowed by its vines. It is simply a matter of substituting the Japanese import with a beauty made in America: coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), which is native to the Southeast. This indigenous vine can stretch to 20 feet in length, but it is less seedy than Japanese honeysuckle, meaning less weedy.

As advertised, coral honeysuckle flowers are a vibrant red, and they dangle in masses off vines wrapped with pleasantly contrasting, rich green leaves.

Unfortunately, unlike Japanese honeysuckle, these bright blooms fail in the scent department with little or no fragrance detected. However, while a nowin for the nose, the crimson waves they can create from late spring into the summer are certified eye candy. As a bonus,

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

BY L.A. JACKSON

HONEY OF A BUSH The native coral honeysuckle is pollinator-friendly, attracting bees, humming­ birds and butterflies.

the tube-shaped blossoms are butterfly, bee and hummingbird magnets.

True to its natural native toughness, coral honeysuckle is a no-fuss plant for your garden. About the only requirements to keeping it happy are welldrained, organically enriched soil and full sun. This honeysuckle will ­tolerate less sunlight, but its flower show will diminish accordingly. Naturally, it will need something to climb on, and this semi-evergreen vine could be just the plant to clothe a naked trellis or doll up an ugly fence.

Although coral honeysuckle grows in the wilds of our state, yanking it from the woods is not an eco-friendly option. If a gardening buddy happens to have one, softwood cuttings taken in the summer can be easily rooted.

And, of course, there are ­commercial choices, including local ­nurseries that have decent inventories of native plants, and online regional sources such as South Carolina’s Park Seed (parkseed.com) and Wilson Bros Gardens (wilsonbrosgardens.com) in Georgia, which also feature tempting variations such as the heavy-flowering Major Wheeler and ­yellow-blooming John Clayton.

L.A. JACKSON is the former editor of Carolina Gardener magazine. Contact him at lajackson1@gmail.com.

L . A . JACKSO N

n With the garden waking up from its winter slumber, it is time to fertilize established shrubs, trees, perennials and roses for better displays this spring and summer. Complete fertilizers such as 8-8-8 and 10-10-10 will do, but in order to stretch out available nutrients over the l-o-o-n-g growing season, applying a time-release fertilizer is a better way to feed your plants’ needs.

|

PALMETTO STATE marketplace

To advertise, visit SCLiving.coop or email ads@scliving.coop

Lifetime

METAL

CALL NOW

TO SAVE!

ROOFING LIFETIME BUILDING SUPPLY, LLC

Steel Mobile Home Roofing Leaks? High energy bill? Roof rumble?

Contact us at 800.633.8969 or roofover.com

Arco Steel Buildings 1-800-241-8339

BBB A+ rating for 40 years!

Highest Quality Low Prices!

Financing Available* Unmatched Durability 40 Year Paint Warranty ESTIMATE Competitively Priced Licensed & Insured Energy Efficient * with approved credit Factory Direct

40 x 60 x 10 • 50 x 75 x 12 60 x 100 x 12 • 100 x 150 x 20 20 x 100 x 8’6” Mini Storage

FREE NO CONTACT

www.metalroofover.com

800-893-1242

All sizes available!

Mobile Home Roofover Systems Since 1983

40

Years

Arco Building Systems

(Buildings not as shown above) (FOB plant-local codes may affect prices)

KILL LAKE WEEDS

CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE ROOF INSPECTION

MobileHomeRoofing.net

by LIFETIME BUILDING SUPPLY, LLC

Proven AQUACIDE PELLETS are sized and work at any depth.

Before

800-328-9350 After

SENIOR CITIZEN T! N DISCOU

FINANCING AVAILABLE! (w.a.c.)

Free No Obligation Estimate!

www.Aquacide.com

CALL NOW! 1-800-767-1591 Our 66th year

Call for specials!

EASTERN

DIVISION

STORAGE BUILDINGS HAY BARNS HORSE BARNS GARAGES

YES! Send 1 year (11 issues) for just $8

www.nationalbarn.com

1-888-427-BARN (2276)

YOU COULD WIN A CAMDEN GETAWAY AND A $100 GIFT CARD! Enter our Reader Reply Travel Sweepstakes. See Page 21 for details.

Order online today, or request free information.

AQUACIDE CO.

PO Box 10748, DEPT 312, White Bear Lake, MN 55110-0748

Spring arrives on March 20. Send a friend a subscription, and put a spring in your step!

*Custom building shown.

Call for pricing.

Hurricane Upgrade E of I-95 • Fully Insured • #1 Metal • Custom Sizes 4/12 roof pitch • Engineered trusses • Local codes/freight may affect prices

10 lb. bag treats up to 4,000 sq. ft. $99.00 50 lb. bag treats up to 20,000 sq. ft. $359.00 FREE SHIPPING! Certified and approved by state agencies. State permit may be required.

Registered with the Federal E.P.A.

YES! Send 2 years (22 issues) for just $15

GIFT TO PHONE ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP

FROM PHONE ADDRESS CITY / STATE / ZIP

NOTE: Co-op members should already receive this magazine as a membership benefit.

Please make check payable to South Carolina Living and mail to P.O. Box 896568, Charlotte, NC 28289-6568.

(Please allow 4–8 weeks.) Call (803) 926‑3175 for more information. Sorry, credit card orders not accepted.

SCLIVING.COOP | MARCH 2021 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

27

|

SC calendar MARCH 15–APRIL 30

Upstate MARCH

11–April 8 Young Women in Art

2021 Juried Virtual Exhibition, virtual event hosted by Converse College’s Department of Art and Design, Spartanburg. (864) 596‑9178 or jena.thomas@converse.edu.

13 The Planets: From War To Peace In Seven Movements, Twichell Auditorium at Converse College, Spartanburg. (864) 948‑9020 or music@spartanarts.org.

18 Opening Reception: “Fiber Filled,” Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg. (864) 582‑7616.

22 Spektral Quartet, Twichell Auditorium at Converse College, Spartanburg. (864) 596‑9724 or boxoffice@converse.edu.

24–26 Clemson Literary Festival, virtual event hosted by Clemson University English Department, Clemson. pursle3@clemson.edu.

APRIL

2–4 2021 Spring Fling Horse Show, T. Ed Garrison Arena, Pendleton. scuec3@gmail.com.

15–17 Pickens Azalea Festival, downtown, Pickens. (864) 301‑1798 or pickensazaleafestival@gmail.com.

29 Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Twichell Auditorium, Spartanburg. (864) 948‑9020 or music@spartanarts.org.

30 24th Annual Blue Ridge Fest, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative, Pickens. (800) 240‑3400 or brfestfacebook@blueridge.coop.

O NG O I N G

Third Thursdays ArtWalk,

downtown cultural district, Spartanburg. (864) 542‑2787.

First Fridays First Fridays Open Studios, Mayfair Art Studios, Spartanburg. (864) 278‑3228 or aheckel@spartanarts.org.

Midlands MARCH

19 The Malpass Brothers,

Newberry Opera House, Newberry.

(803) 276‑6264.

19 Shovels & Rope, Columbia Speedway Entertainment Center, Columbia. contact@colaconcerts.com.

19 Virtual Lunch and Learn: “Just Like an Animal?” Native American Studies Center at USC– Lancaster, Lancaster. (803) 313‑7172 or usclnasp@mailbox.sc.edu.

28

SCLiving.coop/calendar

APR IL

Our mobile-friendly site lists even more festivals, shows and events. You’ll also find instructions on submitting your event.

Please confirm information with the hosting event before attending.

Charleston Harbor Marina, Charleston. (843) 628‑5900 or info@charlestonraceweek.com.

10 Virtual Performance: “Big Band Legacy: The Evolution of the Jazz Orchestra,” virtual event hosted by Charleston Jazz Orchestra, Charleston. (843) 641‑0011 or jazz@charlestonjazz.com.

16 Live at Firefly: “World of Jazz: A Global Experience,” Firefly Distillery, North Charleston.

(843) 641‑0011 or jazz@charlestonjazz.com.

17 “World of Jazz: A Global Experience,” Charleston Music Hall, Charleston. (843) 641‑0011 or jazz@charlestonjazz.com.

23 Red, White and Blue Jean Ball, Founders Hall at Charles Towne Landing, Charleston. (843) 566‑0072.

23–24 Colleton County Rice Festival, Civic Center, Walterboro.

(843) 549‑1079.

23–May 1 ArtFields, multiple venues, Lake City. (843) 374‑1080 or info@artfieldssc.org.

24–25 MCAS Beaufort Air Show, Marine Corps Air Station, Beaufort. (843) 228‑7675 or scmccs@usmc-mccs.org.

25 Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival, Memorial Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant. (843) 884‑8517.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As this issue went to press, South Carolina was still in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing many festivals and events to be canceled or postponed.

Please check with organizers if you plan to attend these events and follow current health recommendations to stop the spread of the coronavirus. For updates on the pandemic, visit scdhec.gov/covid19.

20 Exploring Color in Pastel with Marcia Kort Buike, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill. (803) 328‑2787.

20 The Led Zeppelin Experience, Newberry Opera House, Newberry.

(803) 276‑6264.

21 Tribute to the Guitar Legends presented by Doug & Bunny Williams, Newberry Opera House, Newberry. (803) 276‑6264.

25 “Grounded” Opening Reception, Aiken Center for the Arts, Aiken. (803) 641‑9094.

27 Puccini’s La Bohème, Newberry Opera House, Newberry.

(803) 276‑6264.

27 True to the Brew Trail 10K Run/ Hike (with virtual option), Palmetto Trail entrance on Angella Street, Pomaria. (803) 771‑0870.

ONGOING

Daily through March 19 “Going…

Going… Gone…” Exhibition, Aiken Center for the Arts, Aiken.

(803) 641‑9094.

Daily through March 31 Gretchen Hash-Heffner Exhibit, Aiken County Visitors Center, Aiken. (803) 642‑7557 or lbusbee@aikencountysc.gov.

Daily from March 19 to April 25

Arts Council of York County Members Show, Dalton Gallery at the Center for the Arts, Rock Hill.

(803) 328‑2787.

Daily from March 25 to April 30

“Grounded” Exhibition, Aiken Center for the Arts, Aiken. (803) 641‑9094.

Daily through April 30 Karey Santos Exhibit, Aiken County Visitors Center, Aiken. (803) 642‑7557 or lbusbee@aikencountysc.gov.

APRIL

10 Painting Landscapes with

Bradley Sabelli, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill. (803) 328‑2787.

15 2021 South Carolina Read-In, South Carolina State Library and S.C. State House, Columbia. (803) 545‑4432 or acook@statelibrary.sc.gov.

15–24 Come-See-Me Festival, downtown, Rock Hill. (803) 329‑7625 or comeseeme@comporium.net.

16 Virtual Lunch and Learn: “Madeira to Moonshine: A Drinking History of South Carolina,” USC– Lancaster Native American Studies Center, Lancaster. (803) 313‑7172.

17 Spring Florals (mixed media) with Marcia Kort Buike, Center for the Arts, Rock Hill. (803) 328‑2787.

17–18 Indian Land Fall Festival, Indian Land High School, Indian Land. info@indianlandfallfestival.com.

24 Heart & Sole Women’s Five-Miler, Finlay Park, Columbia. (803) 731‑2100 or info@carolinamarathon.org.

24 Kid’s Day of Lexington, Virginia Hylton Park, Lexington.

(803) 356‑8554.

Lowcountry MAR CH

18–21 The Edisto Players: Dixie

Swim Club, Edisto Beach Civic Center, Edisto Island. (843) 869‑3099 or jademo@live.com.

20 Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Sumter Opera House, Sumter.

(803) 436‑2616.

23 Virtually Speaking: Backyards for Birds and Butterflies, virtual event hosted by Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Charleston. (843) 284‑9227.

25 Sons of Mystro, Sumter Opera House, Sumter. (803) 436‑2616.

25–27 2021 Annual House & Garden Tours and Preview Party, various homes and tour locations, Charleston. charlestonhousegardentours@​ gmail.com.

26 Live at Firefly: “Big Band Legacy: The Evolution of the Jazz Orchestra,” Firefly Distillery, North Charleston. (843) 641‑0011 or jazz@charlestonjazz.com.

26–28 Flowertown Festival, Summerville Family YMCA, Summerville.

(843) 871‑9622, ext. 102 or kimh@summervilleymca.org.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

Festival of Houses and Gardens: Food for Thought Luncheon Lectures Captain James Missroon House, Charleston. (843) 722‑3405 or (843) 723‑1623 APR IL

5 Magic in Small Spaces:

Window Boxes and Container Gardening 6 Mavericks, Mothers and Mavens: The History-Making Women of Charleston 7 Flavors of the Lowcountry: Reviving Gullah-Geechee Cuisine 8 Gullah Culture—Art, Food and History 9 Two Pistols, Two Seconds: Dueling in Charleston 12 On View: The Art of Displaying Historic Garments 13 True Calling: Mary Alice Monroe and Her Lowcountry Inspirations 14 Favorite Parterre Gardens of Charleston 15 Charleston’s Springtime Gardens 16 Ingredients of the African Diaspora: Influences on Lowcountry Cuisine 27 “Big Band Legacy: The Evolution of the Jazz Orchestra,” Charleston Music Hall, Charleston. (843) 641‑0011 or jazz@charlestonjazz.com.

27 Swamp Fox Adventure Race, Francis Marion National Forest, Huger. (803) 292‑1900 or kando1@kandoadventures.com.

8–11 Charleston Race Week,

ONGOING

Daily through April 18 Manning

Williams: “Reinventing Narrative Painting,” Gallery 8 at the Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston.

(843) 722‑2706.

Daily through April 24 “Diversity Endangered” Exhibit, Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, Charleston.

(843) 284‑9227.

Various dates, April 5–Aug. 27

Festival of Houses and Gardens, Morning History Walks, Old & Historic District, Charleston.

(843) 722‑3405 or (843) 723‑1623.

First Thursdays, April through December First Thursdays Gullah

Spirituals (part of the Festival of Houses and Gardens Live Like a Local event series), Unitarian Church, Charleston. (843) 722‑3405 or (843) 723‑1623.

Fridays, April 30–May 21

Festival of Houses and Gardens, Glorious Garden Tours, multiple garden locations, Charleston.

(843) 722‑3405 or (843) 723‑1623.

|

SC humor me

Love at first sit

BY JAN A. IGOE

IT ALL STARTED AT A

friend’s party a few Halloweens ago, in their palatial lakefront home. It had an entire level just for parties.

After chatting it up with ­Spider-Man (the host), some French maids, several zombies and a unicorn—I was all peopled out and sought refuge upstairs with the dog. That’s where I met the beast of my dreams.

No, not the dog. This beast was an enormous sofa that consumed the entire living room.

Plushier than anything I’d ever imagined, it beckoned me to come rest my weary personality on its billowy cushions, the kind you could sink into for days. I was under its spell even before my fingers reached the magic buttons below the armrest. Not only was this the most luxurious sofa in the universe, it was a recliner, too. An electric one.

This was love at first sit.

Spider-Man returned about 2 a.m. to find me and the dog sprawled across the beast in all our snoring glory. The next morning, he told me to take it home “as a gift.” It was almost too good to be true.

The lucky movers I hired were sweating and swearing even before the beast got stuck in my doorway. “If I’d known this thing weighed 6 tons …” one groaned.

The honeymoon lasted three days before the beast’s footrest got stuck in the up position, refusing to budge. Who do you call for that? An electrician? I tried furniture stores, but they only service what they sell, so for the next few years, it stayed that way. A fitting 30

If we airdropped a few thousand recliners on our enemies, they’d surrender by noon tomorrow with their feet up. monument to my escalating sloth.

Recliners have a proud history of tantalizing us that didn’t start with La-Z-Boy. Primitive reclining chairs have been discovered in Egyptian tombs. Dentists used them to coerce unsuspecting patients centuries ago. In the 1800s, Napoleon III had one that served as a chaise lounge, a bed and a chair. Even emperors need to chill after a full day of conquering.

Despite its disability, the beast kept me under its subversive spell. I gave up sleeping in bed to keep it company.

Morning coffee tasted better when

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | MARCH 2021 | SCLIVING.COOP

served on the beast. So did lunch and dinner.

My To-Do lists were becoming To-Morrow lists as the beast fed on my energy and ambition. If we airdropped a few thousand recliners on our enemies, they’d surrender by noon tomorrow with their feet up.

(Somebody call the Pentagon.)

It took a while, but I got tired of tripping over the footrest and came to my senses. I offered the creature to charities and thrift stores, but no one wanted it.

Reluctantly, I hired professional movers to haul the evil thing away. Anywhere but my living room.

“Why is that doohickey up?” The question came from a mountainous mover, a dead ringer for The Incredible Hulk. Before I could answer, he flipped the beast on its back with one massive hand and shot me a look of disbelief, or possibly pity. “It was unplugged.”

The Hulk reclined on the beast to demonstrate the footrest working perfectly. Taunting me. As bad decisions go, this was one of my biggest, at least weight-wise. Only one thing could make me feel better.

“Where is it going?” he asked.

I wrote down the address of a palatial lakefront home. “Ask for Spider-Man,” I said. “Tell him it’s a gift.”

These days, JAN A. IGOE and her dogs only recline on manual sofas. Get comfy, put your feet up, grab some coffee and drop us a line at HumorMe@SCLiving.coop.

1499

$ With 25% off, it’s even easier to stay connected!

month2

Plans as low as**

14 Easier is better with the Lively Flip.

From the makers of Jitterbug. $ 1499 $

™

®

99

Plans as low as 2

EASY TO USE Today, cell phones are hard to hear, difficult to dial and overloaded with features you may never use. That’s not the case with the Lively Flip. A large screen and big buttons make it easy to call family and friends. The powerful speaker ensures every conversation will be loud and clear. A straightforward list-based menu makes navigating the phone simple.

EASY TO ENJOY Wherever you go, a built-in camera makes it easy and fun for you to capture and share your favorite memories. And a built-in reading magnifier and LED flashlight help you see in dimly lit areas. With all the features you need, the Lively Flip also comes with a long-lasting battery, so you won’t have to worry about running out of power.

EASY TO BE PREPARED Life has a way of being unpredictable, but you can be prepared in an uncertain or unsafe situation with Urgent Response Service. Simply press the Urgent Response button to be connected with a highly trained Urgent Response Agent who will confirm your location, evaluate your situation and get you the help you need, 24/7.

The Lively Flip is one of the most affordable cell phones on the market and comes with reliable nationwide coverage. Friendly customer service representatives will help figure out which phone plan is best for you, and with no long-term contracts or cancellation fees, you can switch plans anytime. You can even keep your current landline or cell phone number.

NO LONG-TERM CONTRACTS No cancellation fees

No long-term contracts Available in-store or online at:

Keep your current phone number

100% U.S.-based customer service

SPRING SAVINGS

25

% OFF

1

To order or learn more, call

1-866-409-6652 No hidden monthly fees

P

$

month

The Lively™ Flip, from the makers of the Jitterbug®, the original easy-to-use cell phone, month has big buttons and an exclusive Urgent Response button on the keypad.

Powered by the nation’s most reliable wireless network.

$

Affordable, flexible plans

greatcall.com/Flip

¹25% off regular price of 9999 is only valid for new lines of service. Offer valid 2/28/21 through 4/3/21. ²Monthly fees do not include government taxes or fees and are subject to change. Plans and services may require purchase of GreatCall device and one-time setup fee of 35. Urgent Response or 911 calls can be made only when cellular service is available. Urgent Response tracks an approx. location of device when device is turned on and connected to the network. GreatCall does not guarantee an exact location. Urgent Response is only available with the purchase of a Lively Health & Safety Package. Amazon Alexa integration with Lively Flip requires Alexa registration and is subject to Alexa’s Terms of Use. By enabling Alexa on the Lively Flip, you acknowledge that GreatCall is not responsible for Amazon Alexa’s functionality or services. Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. GREATCALL, LIVELY, and JITTERBUG are trademarks of Best Buy and its affiliated companies. ©2021 Best Buy. All rights reserved.

P

$