South Carolina Living Magazine (May 2013)

Performing

Magic

The music’s the thing at Awendaw Green SC Sto r i e s

A real Renaissance man

May 2013

SC Tr av e ls

All aboard for Aiken Humor Me

Boys will be boys

SIMPLY BRILLIANT Commands lawns. Captures attention. Leads the way. Meet the KOMMANDER. Now available for

$0 down and 0% financing for 36 months.* A.P.R.

www.kubota.com

*$0 down, 0% A.P.R. financing for terms up to 36 months on purchases of select new Kubota equipment from available inventory at participating dealers through 05/31/13. Example: A 36-month monthly installment repayment term at 0% A.P.R. requires 36 payments of $27.78 per $1,000 borrowed.

0% A.P.R. interest is available to customers if no dealer documentation preparation fee is charged. Dealer charge for document preparation fee shall be in accordance with state laws. Only Kubota and select Kubota performance-matched Land Pride equipment is eligible. Inclusion of ineligible equipment may result in a higher blended A.P.R. Not available for Rental, National Accounts or Governmental customers. 0% A.P.R. and low-rate financing may not be available with customer instant rebate (C.I.R.) offers. Financing is available through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A., 3401 Del Amo Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Offer expires 05/31/13. See us for details on these and other low-rate options or go to www.kubota.com for more information. Optional equipment may be shown. © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2013

For product and dealer information, call 1-888-4-KUBOTA, ext. 128 or go to www.kubota.com.

THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS Vol. 67 • No. 5 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240) Read in more than 450,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033 Tel: (803) 926-3 1 75 Fax: (803) 796-6064 Email: letters@scliving.coop EDITOR

Keith Phillips ASSISTANT EDITOR

Diane Veto Parham FIELD EDITOR

Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR

Pam Martin

ART DIRECTOR

Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER

Susan Collins

May 2013 • Volume 67, Number 5

FEATURE

14 Performing magic Wednesday nights in the Lowcountry have never sounded better, thanks to Barn Jams at Awendaw Green.

Explore this unique musical phenomenon through the lens of photographer Mic Smith.

Andrew Chapman WEB EDITOR

Van O’Cain COPY EDITOR

Mic Smith

Neo-acoustic folk-funk artist Jacob Johnson from Taylors starts the lineup at a recent Awendaw Green Barn Jam.

PRODUCTION

Susan Scott Soyars

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 3. The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. No portion of South Carolina Living may be reproduced without permission of the Editor.

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

4 CO-OP CONNECTION Cooperative news

6 ON THE AGENDA

Salute the troops at Hagood Mill’s Armed Forces Day Celebration. Plus: Learn how a new pool pump can lower your power bill and keep your backyard oasis sparkling clean.

POWER USER DIALOGUE

10 Forward thinking

Learn how electric cooperatives are working to make sure they meet the needs of members in the 21st century and beyond.

ENERGY Q&A

12 Clear choices for

replacing windows

Professional advice on choosing replacement windows that can improve the comfort, appearance and efficiency of your home.

SC LIFE STORIES

21 Renaissance man

Whatever Benjamin B. “Bernie” Dunlap decides to do after he steps down from his current job as president of Wofford College, you can be sure of one thing—it won’t be boring.

Printed on recycled paper

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

SCENE

22 Wrap it up

Does your home have enough attic insulation for peak comfort and efficiency? Our guide will show you how to evaluate your home’s thermal barrier and insulation upgrade options.

22

GARDENER

26 Thrillers, fillers and spillers:

Fresh herbs at arm’s reach Add spice to your life with a container herb garden.

TR AVELS

28 All aboard for Aiken

The Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum explores the glory days of South Carolina railroads.

CHEF’S CHOICE

30 Cornering the market

on food and fun

From the handmade milkshakes and classic burgers to the red Formica tabletops and contoured Coke glasses, Betsy’s on the Corner offers a tasty trip to the 1950s.

Do nn a Mo ult on / iSto ck

Becky Billingsley, Mike Couick, Jim Dulley, Carrie B. Hirsch, Magen Howard, Jan A. Igoe, Charles Joyner, Marc Rapport, Brian Sloboda, Susan Hill Smith, S. Cory Tanner

32

RECIPE

32 Salad days

Citrus couscous salad Bobi’s mashed potato salad Best broccoli salad Sweet macaroni salad HUMOR ME

38 Patty Play Pal had it coming

Performing

Jan A. Igoe reflects on a simpler time when boys were boys and girls were girls.

34 MARKETPLACE 36 SC EVENTS

magic

The music’s the thing at Awendaw Green SC Sto r i e S

A real Renaissance man

SC tr av e l S May 2013

Contributors

All aboard for Aiken Humor me

Boys will be boys

Musicians and fans come together at the Wednesday night Awendaw Green Barn Jams.

Photo by Mic Smith.

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

Highlights

MAY 18

Hagood Mill’s Armed Forces Day Celebration

Help pay tribute to America’s armed forces in an afternoon that blends patriotism, history, music, storytelling and folk life at the Pickens County Museum’s Hagood Mill. Military vehicles and battle reenactors from different wars will be on site, including an encampment of “War Between the States” soldiers. Hagood Mill’s historic cotton gin and gristmill will run all day, showing off 19th-century technology. Award-winning fiddler Nick Hallman (left) headlines the outdoor musical entertainment—a variety of old-time, patriotic and roots music, with room for impromptu jam sessions.

For details, visit co.pickens.sc.us/default.aspx or call (864) 898-2936 or (864) 898-5963.

MAY 24–27

Aloft

(formerly Freedom Weekend Aloft) MAY 23–25

Gallabrae

Burly men in kilts—and some women as well—tossing heavy stuff is an annual crowd-pleaser at the Greenville Scottish Games, the Saturday focal point of the three-day Gallabrae event. But heavy athletics are just one piece of the day-long games at Furman University, which also feature competitions in piping, Highland dancing and border collie events. The Scottish spectacle includes a “wee Scotland” area for children, with costumed woods fairies and medieval characters entertaining the bairns; displays by dozens of clans; and hundreds of pipers, drummers and military units parading in opening ceremonies. Thursday and Friday evenings kick off the pageantry with parades and concerts in downtown Greenville.

For details, visit gallabrae.com or call (864) 968-8801.

More than just the name has changed for Greenville County’s annual hot-air balloon festival, now in its 32nd year. Count on the tried-and-true balloon flights, live music and patriotic tributes. Now the reenergized festival is luring thrill-seekers with bungee jumping, zip-lining, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and a professional slack line competition, to pique new interest. Gourmet food trucks, agile parkour demonstrations, magic shows and amusement rides round out the Memorial Day weekend fun at Simpsonville’s Heritage Park.

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

TOP PICK FOR KIDS

JUNE 1

Corvettes at Myrtle Beach JUNE 15

Paddlefest

Enjoy a peaceful kayak float down the Black River in Georgetown County, music by bluegrass bands and a Lowcountry pilau lunch at this fundraising event for Tara Hall Home for Boys. Kids who join in the redneck barrel race are “guaranteed to get wet” and may even win prizes. Kayak and canoe rentals are available on site—plus there’ll be pontoon boat rides for those who like being on the water without doing the work.

For details, visit tarahall.org or call (843) 546-3000 or (843) 546-3666.

6

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

Chevy Corvettes have fascinated devoted fans since the sporty cars debuted in the mid ’50s.

Owners and enthusiasts can gather to admire an array of 250 to 300 ’Vettes on display at Broadway at the Beach, hosted by the Myrtle Beach Corvette Club. Flashy entries from around the country compete for “Best Interior,” “Most Extreme,” “Specialty Corvette” and other trophies. Proceeds will benefit two Myrtle Beach charities—Canine Angels and Hope House.

For details, visit myrtlebeachcorvetteclub.com or call (843) 340-1731.

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

Swimming in savings Looking forward to that first dip in your pool this

summer? You’ll enjoy it a whole lot more if you dive into these smart tips for reducing the amount of electricity it takes to maintain your aquatic paradise.

On average, it costs about $400 a year to run the circulating pump of a residential in-ground pool and about $100 to operate an above-ground pool. Most pools rely on a single-speed, 1.5- to 2-horsepower pump that runs at full speed for eight hours a day or more. More efficient pool pump options include:

High-efficiency single-speed pumps. High-efficiency pumps

use 8 percent to 10 percent less energy and are only marginally more expensive than standard pool pumps—about $10 to $20 above the normal pump cost of $350.

Two-speed pumps. As the name suggests, two-speed pumps are more efficient because they don’t go “full throttle” all of the time. By running at a lower speed for 16 hours per day, you can cut pool-related energy costs as much as 60 percent to 70 percent. A two-speed pump will cost an extra $100 to $150.

Variable-speed pumps. Although variable-speed pumps will cost about $650 more than a basic pump, they use nearly 90 percent less electricity.

Depending on the effectiveness of your filtering system and the amount of use the pool gets, it may be possible to save energy just by running your existing pump less.

The normal target is to cycle the pool’s volume through the filter one or two times per day, but you could try running the pump fewer hours. Although this no-cost measure is appealing, it will not save as much money and energy in the long run as replacing an inefficient pump.

—brian sloboda

Power sources Your electric cooperative gets most of the power it provides to you through Central Electric Power Cooperative. Along with other power system services, Central’s job is to aggregate the supply for all electric

Power mix for Central Electric Power Cooperative

co-ops in the state. Central’s main source of power is through a long-term contract with Santee Cooper, the state-owned utility that operates a network of power plants. These plants are primarily coal-fired, but Santee Cooper also generates electricity in a variety of ways, ranging from hydroelectric dams to certified “green power” generating plants that trap and burn the methane gas produced in landfills.

Nuclear 8.81% Oil -0.01%

Coal 57.84%

Natural gas 17.16%

Hydro 0.99% Methane gas 0.29% Purchases or other 14.92%

Santee Cooper’s Green Power is greater than 99 percent landfill methane gas, less than 1 percent solar, and less than 1 percent wind. For specific information about this form of electricity call Santee Cooper at (843) 761-8000 or visit santeecooper.com/greenpower.

The Green-e Energy Program certifies that Green Power meets the minimum environmental and consumer protection standards established by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions. For more information on Green-e Energy certification requirements, call (888) 63-GREEN or visit green-e.org.

energy

efficiencytip

Keep energy efficiency in mind as you plan spring and summer landscaping improvements. Properly selected and planted trees, shrubs and bushes can create a windbreak that lowers home heating bills in the winter and insulates your home year-round. Before you start, check on the right plants and techniques for your climate at energysavers.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

7

On the Agenda Letters

S.C.RAMBLE!

Barking up the wrong tree

By Charles Joyner, See Answer ON Page 34

E

Sleuth

E

U

L

S

H

T

L

U

T

S

U

L

U

L

L

Milton Morris

Fill in this grid so that each row, each column and each 2 x 3 rectangle contains all six characters of SLEUTH.

S

I find your story regarding the coon hounds (“Up a tree” March 2013) to be unbelievably offensive. I don’t believe this reflects well on South Carolina. Maybe the coons are not killed, but you can’t think that this isn’t terrifying to them. This sort of article might be fine for a sports magazine but certainly not one that is circulated to the general population. Surely, you should be able to find better material for your magazine. carol b. gwynette, bluffton

Your article “Up a Tree” was sad to read. How cruel to use a caged raccoon for such a competition. How frightening it must have been for the animal. Your comparison to an unwilling caged human in shark-infested water was spot on.

H

danielle g. hawley, columbia

Batteries included One of the main obstacles to widespread use of

wind and solar power production is nature itself: The wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine. But electric cooperatives are on the forefront of efforts to develop new technology capable of storing the power produced by these intermittent sources.

Experimental battery storage systems, first developed in the 1970s, continue to improve in both cost and lifespan, says Dale Bradshaw, a senior program manager with the Cooperative Research Network (CRN), the research and development arm of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Battery storage at the utility level will require an enormous investment by local electric cooperatives, so developers are trying to build cost-effective systems that can function through 80 percent discharge for 10,000 cycles—allowing for an operating life of three decades or more.

If battery systems can meet that threshold, they may provide an economical way to utilize wind and solar energy generation while also improving the reliability of the grid.

“Properly managed battery storage systems can reduce wear and tear on baseload power plants, which operate year-round to provide dependable electricity at a low cost,” Bradshaw says. “Co-ops could also use battery storage systems to cut down on blinks—those momentary service interruptions that force you to reset your digital clocks.”

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 clicking on the Contact Us link at SCLiving.coop. You can also email us at letters@scliving.coop, mail to Letters, South Carolina Living, 808 Knox Abbott Drive, Cayce, SC 29033, or send a note by fax to (803) 796-6064. All letters received are subject to editing before publication.

Only on SCLiving.coop Renaissance man: After you read the profile of Wofford College President Benjamin B. “Bernie” Dunlap (p. 21), visit the website to watch his 2007 TED talk. You’ll quickly see why his students love him, and why nobody ever falls asleep during one of his lectures.

Cash for cooks: Share your recipes with our readers online at SCLiving.coop/food/recipe.aspx. For each one of your recipes we publish, we’ll send you a $10 BI-LO gift card.

—magen howard

8

Like us on Facebook

Our Facebook page celebrates all that’s great about living in South Carolina. Join the conversation and share your photos with us at facebook.com/SouthCarolinaLiving.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

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

May

17 11:07 18 8:37 19 9:22 20 2:52 21 3:37 22 4:07 23 4:37 24 — 25 12:52 26 1:37 27 2:37 28 3:37 29 4:37 30 6:07 31 7:37

June

AM Major

Minor

PM Major

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

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

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

Advertisement

Now New & Improved

The Jacuzzi® Walk-In Hot Tub… your own personal fountain of youth. emember the feeling you had the first time you got into a hot tub? The warm water, the energizing bubbles and the gentle hydrotherapy of the jets left you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Aches and pains seemed to fade away, and the bubbling sound of the water helped put you in a carefree and contented mood.

The first time I ever got in a hot tub at a resort, I said to myself “One of these days I’m going to have one of these in my home– so I can experience this whenever I want.” Now that I’m older, I’d still like to have the pain relief and relaxation, but I have to be careful about slipping and falling in the bathroom. That’s why I was thrilled to find out that Jacuzzi, Inc. had combined the safety of a walk-in bath with the benefits of a hot tub. Now that I have one in my home I can have that luxurious resort experience… whenever I want.

The moment you step into your New Jacuzzi® Walk-In Hot Tub you’ll see the superior design and the quality of the craftsmanship. The new entry step is low, so it is easy and safe to get in and

out. The new double-sealing door is 100% guaranteed not to leak. The high 17” seat enables you to sit comfortably while you bathe and to access the easy-to-reach controls. Best of all, your tub comes with the patented Jacuzzi® PointPro® jet system with a new jet pattern– which gives you a perfectly balanced water-to-air ratio to massage

Jacuzzi® Other Brands SEE THE JACUZZI® DIFFERENCE

Laboratory tests clearly show how Jacuzzi® outperforms other manufacturers’ jet systems, producing a deeper and wider plume of revitalizing bubbles.You get the best technology for an affordable price!

you thoroughly but gently. These high-volume, low-pressure pumps are arranged in a pattern that creates swirls and spirals that provide both a total body massage and targeted treatment of specific pressure points. There is even an in-line heater to maintain the

Why Jacuzzi is the Best ✓ Maximum Pain Relief Therapeutic water AND air jets to help you feel your best. ✓ Personalized Massage New adjustable jet placement for pinpoint control. ✓ Easy and Safe Entry Low entry, double-sealing leakproof door that is easy to open and close. ✓ Comfortable Seating Convenient 17 inch raised seat. ✓ Durable and Easy to Clean State of the art acrylic surface. ✓ Worry Free Enjoyment Thanks to Jacuzzi's Limited Lifetime Warranty. ✓ No Hassle Installation Designed to fit in your existing tub space. water temperature. The tub features a high gloss acrylic coating which is more durable, scratch resistant and easier to clean than traditional gel-coat surfaces. It’s American made with full metal frame construction and comes with a limited lifetime warranty on both the tub and the operating system.

Isn’t it time you rediscovered the comfort and luxury of a soothing therapeutic hot tub experience again?

Call now and knowledgeable product experts will answer any questions and you can have one in your home next week. Don’t wait, call now.

New &ved Impro

Jacuzzi®

Walk-In Hot Tub For information call:

1-888-571-9510 Call now Toll-Free and mention your special promotion code 50084.

Third-party financing available with approved credit.

Aging in the Home Remodelers Inc. is neither a broker nor a lender.

Not Available in Hawaii and Alaska All rights reserved. © 2013 Aging in the Home Remodelers Inc.

80446

R

The world’s leader in hydrotherapy and relaxation makes bathing safe, comfortable and affordable.

Dialogue

Forward thinking The problem

Mike Couick

President and CEO, The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina

10

their report, The Electric Cooperative Purpose: A Compass for the 21st Century.

A young mother’s feet hit the cold linoleum These leaders concluded that providing before sunrise to tackle another day’s seemaffordable, reliable and safe electricity is job one, ingly endless household chores. There are but that electric cooperative members deserve lamps to light, stoves to stoke and water to more. They pointed out that cooperatives haul. Her husband is already out the door. are businesses with a higher mission and a It takes long hours of backbreaking labor to unique ability to empower keep the farm going. members to improve the Then the electric coopPatriotic rural quality of their lives. erative (often called the America Improving the quality of “REA”) came, bringing Fact: Although life is our heritage and duty. electric lights, later an rural America accounts It is why our South Carolina iron, a washing machine for just 17 percent of co-ops proudly sponsored and electric stove. Electric the U.S. population, it two Honor Flights within pumps and motors provides 44 percent of the past year— hosting increased the farm’s prothe men and women our d ­ istinguished World ductivity. Suddenly, both serving in the military.

War II veterans on trips the husband and wife had to Washington D.C. It is a few extra minutes each evening to sit with their family, listen to the radio why Palmetto Electric Cooperative created the Operation Round Up program, where co-op and “visit.” Their lives were dramatically better members ­contribute on a monthly basis to help because of the electric co-op. fellow members in need—a program that has Fast forward 80 years. Few families in rural South Carolina can imagine life without the been replicated throughout the state and across conveniences of electricity, but they face new the nation. It is why our cooperatives are providchallenges. Finding adequate health care can be ing scholarships to young people, making grants a problem. Seniors are often going it alone as to local schools and investing in developing indusyounger family members have moved away to trial parks and water infrastructure. It is why find employment opportunities. Parents worry cooperative leaders are active in their churches, about the quality of local schools. local Rotary clubs and Chambers of Commerce.

The very fabric of rural America is unravel­ Over the past several decades, polls have ing. In the past four years alone, more than shown a loss of faith in government, business 50 percent of rural counties lost population. and other institutions on which Americans have The poverty rate for these communities hovers traditionally relied. People are looking for organiat 17 percent—much higher than the rate for zations they can trust. You need look no further ­metropolitan areas. than your local electric cooperative, a business that authentically cares about its members.

The solution The “bottom line” for electric ­cooperatives is not profit, but the benefit of members. It’s a Just as cooperatives transformed the lives of their principle that dates back to the 1930s, but one members 80 years ago, they are still working that will guide us well into the next century to do so today, by partnering with leaders on and beyond. Our members deserve more Main Street and focusing on the broader chalthan electricity. lenges of rural America. During the past year, a dedicated group of electric cooperative leaders from across the country set out to define how co-ops can effectively help their members meet the challenges of the future. They just released

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

Fraud Alert: Phone Scam

Warning! South Carolina’s electric cooperatives want you to

be aware of a telephone scam targeting co-op members. Scammers misrepresenting themselves as co-op employees may call and threaten to turn off electric service if payment is not made immediately. Typically, victims are told to purchase a Green Dot MoneyPak or other prepaid debt card and instructed to provide the card number to the caller.

We’ve Got You Covered

What to do if you get a call: If you doubt the legitimacy of a caller, especially one demanding payment, hang up and call your cooperative directly or visit a local customer service center.

Residential • Commercial Churches • Schools

¡Advertencia! Las cooperativas eléctricas de Carolina del

• Expert installation • High quality metal • Guaranteed for 40 years • Significant Energy Savings

Sur quieren que usted sea consciente de una estafa telefónica contra miembros de la cooperativa. Los estafadores representarse a sí mismos como empleados de la cooperativa pueden llamar y amenazar con desconectar el servicio eléctrico si el pago no se haga inmediatamente.

Típicamente, a las víctimas se les dice que compren una Green Dot MoneyPak u otra tarjeta de débito prepagada e están instruidos dar el número de tarjeta a la persona que llama.

This will be the last roof You will ever need.

¿Qué hacer si reciba una llamada: Si duda de la legitimidad de la persona que llama, sobre todo uno que exige que page, cuelgue y llame a su cooperativa directamente o visite un centro de atención al cliente local.

New ‘LOWER RATES’ Now Available for South Carolina Residents!

EquiSource H O M E M O RT G A G E C O R P O R AT I O N

Lending to SC homeowners for more than 15 years!

Real People...Real Results

Buy direct From the manufacturer And save.

1.800.372.2570

www.equisourcehome.com

100% finanCinG

Applications accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

With approved credit.

Free estimates

WOW! 2.62%

NMLS # 64132

Sample loan

payment*

term*

rate*

apr*

$75,000.00 $125,000.00 $200,000.00

$331.57 $544.01 $870.41

30 yr. Fixed 30 yr. Fixed 30 yr. Fixed

3.37% 3.25% 3.12%

3.75% 3.49% 3.40%

$75,000.00 $125,000.00 $200,000.00

$513.44 $855.73 $1,345.48

15 yr. Fixed 15 yr. Fixed 15 yr. Fixed

2.87% 2.75% 2.62%

3.31% 3.19% 2.98%

*Conforming, FIXED Rate, loan examples for 80% LTV, owner occupied, rate/term, refinance or purchase transactions and 740 preferred score. All products allow principle payments at any time without penalty. Other rates, terms and products available. Call about Scores down to 600, Cash Out, Debt Consolidation, Double Wides with Land, FHA to 97.5% LTV, ARM & JUMBO Loans, Interest Only, Former Bankruptcy, etc. Ask about our 10- and 20-year terms. Rates/Terms are subject to market conditions and experience movement each business day. Certain restrictions apply.

Call TODAY! Don’t miss out on a chance to get the lowest rates ‘EVER’ OffERED!

Headquarters: 410 D Veterans Rd. Columbia, SC 29209 • GA Lender # 15080, NMLS # 64132

No Upfront Fees • Purchase • Refinance Debt Consolidation • Home Improvement Not-So-Perfect Credit • Previous Bankruptcy OK Second Homes OK • Refi Double Wide/Lands

Family owned and operated.

Expert installation, finest materials AffordableMetalRoofingCarolinas.com

800.505.3241

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

11

EnergyQ&A

BY jim Dulley

Clear choices for replacing windows

Q

We’re shopping for replacement windows, but every salesman makes his windows sound like the best and most efficient. How do I choose among the various frame materials, styles and glass types?

A

It can be extremely difficult to sort through the marketing hype to make a replacement window decision. Without telling salespeople who I was, I sat through ­presentations at my mother’s house and was appalled at some of the absurd claims I heard.

Replacing windows is an ­expensive project, so it’s important to note that, from an efficiency perspective, new windows have a very long pay-back period. Don’t buy them expecting dramatic reductions in your monthly utility bills, but do expect improvements in comfort, aesthetics and functionality.

If you need new windows for other reasons, here are the key factors to consider: This aluminumclad wood replacement window can have efficient lowemissivity glass with a special coating for easy cleaning.

Frame material

The four most common frame materials for residential windows are vinyl, fiberglass, wood and clad wood. Each has its advantages.

Vinyl windows are energy ­efficient, virtually maintenance free and made to the precise dimensions of the window opening.

To provide rigidity, vinyl frame extrusions have many webs and chambers inside, which create natural insulation. Plus, vinyl is a poor conductor of heat. For greater R-value, some manufacturers inject expanding foam insulation inside the chambers as the frame is assembled.

Vinyl frames for large windows, especially in hot climates, should have internal steel reinforcements. When vinyl gets hot in the sun, it loses strength and rigidity.

Fiberglass frames are extremely strong and can be painted any color to match your home. Their strength is an advantage for smaller windows, because narrower frame cross-sections are acceptable. With other frame materials, a thicker frame can minimize the glass area.

Because their primary component is glass, fiberglass frames expand and contract with temperature changes at about the same rate as the glass panes to minimize stress. This is an advantage for dark frame colors exposed to the sun, which can create a substantial

GetMore

Peachtree

For more on choosing windows, try these resources: Shopping tips: energy.gov/energysaver/articles/tips-windows Code requirements for new home construction: energy.gov/energysaver/articles/energy-efficient-windows Window ratings from the National Fenestration Rating Council: nfrc.org/WindowRatings/index.html

12

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

temperature range throughout the day and night.

Wood window frames have been around forever and, when properly maintained, have a long life. The drawback of wood is that regular maintenance is required to keep them looking sharp. Wood frames with vinyl or aluminum cladding greatly reduce the maintenance requirements.

Window styles

The style of window you choose depends on the appearance and features you want more than the energy-efficiency characteristics. For example, people often select doublehung windows because they can be tilted in for easy cleaning from indoors.

Windows that close on a compression seal, such as casement and awning windows, tend to provide the best longterm airtight seal. Casement windows also help catch breezes and direct them into the house for natural ventilation.

Glass

Because glass is most of the window, the type you choose is the key to its energy efficiency. Double-pane glass with low-E (low-emissivity) coatings and inert gas in the gap between the panes can reduce energy loss by 30 to 50 percent. Triple-pane glass is best suited to severely cold climates and not recommended for South Carolina homes.

Windows are expensive—energy efficiency should not be your primary reason to buy new ones. You can find ways to make your existing windows more energy efficient at energysavers.gov.

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.

ct

o N tra on C

100 FREE Minutes

Finally, a cell phone that’s… a phone

Lo

FREE

Car Charger

ng Sou Bett er nd er Ba a tt nd er y Li fe

Introducing the all-new Jitterbug® Plus.

We’ve made it even better… without making it harder to use.

All my friends have new cell phones. They carry them around with them all day, like mini computers, with little tiny keyboards and hundreds of programs which are supposed to make their life easier. Trouble is… my friends can’t use them. The keypads are too small, the displays are hard to see and the phones are so complicated that my friends end up borrowing my Jitterbug when they need to make a call. I don’t mind… I just got a new phone too… the new Jitterbug Plus. Now I have all the things I loved about my Jitterbug phone along with some great new features that make it even better!

Monthly Minutes Monthly Rate

Basic 19

50

was 100 NOW 200

$14.99

$19.99

Operator Assistance

24/7

24/7

911 Access

FREE

FREE

No add’l charge

No add’l charge

FREE

FREE

Long Distance Calls Voice Dial Nationwide Coverage Friendly Return Policy1

YES

YES

30 days

30 days

More minute plans available. Ask your Jitterbug expert for details.

minutes– that’s the problem with prepaid phones. Since there is no contract to sign, you are not locked in for years at a time and won’t be subject to early termination fees. The U.S.-based customer service is knowledgeable and helpful and the phone gets service virtually anywhere in the continental U.S. Above all, you’ll get one-touch access to a friendly, and helpful GreatCall operator. They can look up numbers, and even dial them for you! They are always there to help you when you need them.

GreatCall® created the Jitterbug with one thing in mind – to offer people a cell phone that’s easy to see and hear, simple to use and affordable. Now, they’ve made the cell phone experience even better with the Jitterbug Plus. It features a lightweight, comfortable design with a backlit keypad and big, legible numbers. There is even a dial tone so you know the phone is ready to use. You can also increase the volume with one touch and the speaker’s been improved so you get great audio quality and can hear every word. The battery has been improved too– it’s one of the longest lasting on the market– so you won’t have to charge it as often. The phone comes to you with your account already set up and is easy to activate.

The rate plans are simple too. Why pay for minutes you’ll never use?

There are a variety of affordable plans. Plus, you don’t have to worry about finding yourself stuck with no

Basic 14

Available in Silver and Red.

Order now and receive 100 Free Minutes and a Car Charger for your Jitterbug – a $41.98 value. Call now!

Call now and receive 100 FREE Minutes and FREE Car Charger – a $41.98 value.

Try the Jitterbug Plus for yourself for 30 days and if you don’t love it, just return it for a refund1 of the product purchase price. Call now – helpful Jitterbug experts are ready to answer your questions.

Jitterbug Plus Cell Phone

Call today to get your own Jitterbug Plus.

Please mention promotional code 49806.

1-888-774-3510

We proudly accept the following credit cards.

47578

www.jitterbugdirect.com

IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Jitterbug is owned by GreatCall, Inc. Your invoices will come from GreatCall. All rate plans and services require the purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere. Other charges and restrictions may apply. Screen images simulated. There are no additional fees to call Jitterbug’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices and fees subject to change. 1We will refund the full price of the Jitterbug phone if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will apply for each minute over 30 minutes. The activation fee and shipping charges are not refundable. Jitterbug and GreatCall are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Copyright ©2013 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. Copyright ©2013 GreatCall, Inc. Copyright ©2013 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. All rights reserved.

14

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

Thanks to the Awendaw Green Barn Jams, Wednesday nights in the Lowcountry have never sounded better

BY Susan Hill Smith Photos by Mic Smith

Awendaw Green holds its outdoor Barn Jams throughout the year, no matter the season. When it’s cold, firepots help keep the crowd cozy.

Jukebox the goat has munched on more than one band’s set list.

Brooklyn-based Country Mice jams on regardless. From left: guitarist Ben Bullington, drummer and Charleston native Austin Nelson, lead singer Jason Rueger, and bass guitarist Mike Feldman.

My husband and I had heard the buzz about Awendaw Green

and its Wednesday night Barn Jams for years. The roman- place to play. With the support of some well-connected friends, including Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish tic notion of live music performed in a small, outdoor and singer-songwriter Danielle Howle, who serves as artistsetting appealed to us, so we headed north on U.S. in-residence, the idea of an outdoor performance space Highway 17 until we reached the loosely organized town of Awendaw. We turned off the road at Sewee Outpost, the caught on. Over the past five years, Awendaw Green has grown into a nurturing arts community where musicians amped-up country store that hosts the weekly gathering, can write, rehearse and record. It’s also become a launchand parked by the pond out back.

We arrived by evening light, just as the night’s first musi- ing spot for local bands and a destination venue for touring acts, even though White can offer them little more than cian, acoustic guitarist Jacob Johnson, began strumming gas money. away on the stage beneath the barn’s awning.

“It’s all about listening room,” he said. “If To the side of the seating area, volunteers you find people that listen, then that’s what were stoking the grills, the outdoor pizza the artists want.” oven and the fire pots, because even though Each Wednesday is a musical buffet it was the first day of spring, it was still jacket unlikely to be repeated at any other time or weather. It didn’t take long to find the heart of in any other place. This particular Barn Jam this operation. Eddie White—a dentist by day offered Johnson (neo-acoustic folk-funk), and master of ceremonies at Awendaw Green Dr. Roundhouse (medical-grade rock ’n’ roll), by night—was shoveling Bulls Bay oysters into Pierce Edens and the Dirty Work (mountain the steamer and offered a friendly welcome. music mixed with grunge), Country Mice Dressed in a long-sleeved “Staff” T-shirt and (rural middle-America rock for city folk) and jeans, he ran his hands through his wavy, saltTJ Kong + the Atomic Bomb (post-apocalypse and-pepper hair as he explained how it all blues). Then there was blues-Americana-funkcame about.

Awendaw Green founder folk artist Heather Luttrell, who stopped by He wasn’t a musician, just a dad who Eddie White started the to play songs from her first full-length album, wanted to give his son’s band and others a Barn Jams in 2008.

16

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

p Local singer-songwriters

Winston Wooten (left) and Tim Styles come to listen when they aren’t performing. There’s a musical purity to Awendaw Green, Wooten says, because it’s not about making a profit.

p A last bit of evening sun shines on folk and

Americana artist Andrew McKnight during an early spring performance.

Possumdiva. The red-haired singer delivered her clever, story-telling lyrics, played guitar and banjo and was brave enough to whip out a kazoo.

Luttrell grew up in a bluegrass family, has shared stages with the likes of Lyle Lovett, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Patty Griffin, and even competed on a reality show for aspiring rock stars, yet she was happy to be playing in this intimate setting. Stepping off the stage, she joined the crowd to catch the next act and chatted about the unique sense of community musicians feel when they visit Awendaw Green.

“It’s very special,” she said. “I always feel at ease as soon as I get here.”

By the last set, 100 or so guests had turned out underneath the oaks. Whether milling around the shucking table, huddled by the fire pots or sitting a few steps from the artists on stage, we enjoyed the serendipity of it all. For newcomers and regulars alike, there was a sense of being part of something magical.

“People are really there to connect with the musicians and with each other,” White said.

“And it’s a beau­tiful thing.” lll

p Heather Luttrell pops in some

kazoo while plugging her new album, Possumdiva. She also plays guitar and banjo.

t Country Mice’s Jason Rueger

adjusts his electric guitar’s sound mid-song.

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

17

Pierce Edens howls out a song with bass player Jesse James. Their band, Pierce Edens and the Dirty Work, is based in Asheville, N.C.

q Awendaw Green offers a rustic but comfortable space for guests

to connect with a variety of seating (below) as well as a shucking table for buckets of Bulls Bay oysters when they are in season (right).

There’s also play equipment for children (bottom right) such as Izzy Heise, who enjoys a tree swing with help from her father, Kai Heise.

18

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

“ People are really there to connect with the musicians and with each other. And it’s a beautiful thing.” u Front man Chuck Johnson (second from left) and his bluegrass band, The Charlyhorse, look out from under the barn’s awning to the audience members, who are sheltered by a canopy of trees.

Brian Wheat from Minneapolis enjoys some Southern exposure.

GetThere

Awendaw Green Barn Jams 4879 U.S. Highway 17 in Awendaw, adjacent to the Sewee Outpost store.

Time: 6–10 p.m. Wednesdays, throughout the year.

Cost: $5 donation requested for each adult; children 12 and under, free.

Food and drink: Hamburgers, hot dogs or “Awendawgs,” grilled chicken, roasted corn, gourmet pizzas, s’more kits, snacks, soft drinks and roasted oysters (in season) can be purchased on site. You also can pick up grocery items, beverages and boiled peanuts next door at the Sewee Outpost or bring your own.

Alcohol: Allowed for ages 21 and older; available at the Sewee Outpost but not sold on site.

You might also want to bring: Layers or blankets, especially during cold months; bug spray and your own seats during warm months, when the crowds grow.

To see future line-ups and learn more: See awendawgreen.com or visit Awendaw Green on Facebook.

Location:

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

19

TEACHERS, Get enLIGHTened!

SIGN UP TODAY FOR A

FREE

GRADUATE COURSE FOR TEACHE RS!

WHAT:

Institute on Energy and the Environment A STEM graduate course on energy for teachers of grades 6-12

WHEN: June 10-30, 2013 WHERE: THE MOORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, USC Columbia

rs of: Perfect for teache • Science (Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics) • Mathematics • Economics • Technology

Free to first 20 registrants (a $1,500 value!)

Earn 3 graduate hours • Learn from standards-aligned content • Develop project-based assignments for your specific discipline • Develop and apply critical-thinking, problem-solving and inquirybased learning skills

Innovative schedule with classroom days, independent study and a field trip

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER

Call 803-777-8676 or go to www.sceconomics.org to download the registration form

Energy-focused education Sponsored by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives in partnership with SC Economics

SC Life

SCStories

Renaissance man

Benjamin B. “Bernie” Dunlap AGE:

75

HAILS FROM:

Columbia

CURRENT OCCUPATION:

Wofford College

Rhodes Scholar, college football player, ballet dancer, screenwriter, producer, SCETV on-air personality, novelist, poet and professor of the humanities—just to name a few.

SEE HIM IN ACTION: Watch Dunlap’s spellbinding presentation at the 2007 TED Conference on SCLiving.coop.

Milton Morris

CLAIMS TO FAME:

President,

What will Bernie Dunlap do next?

Those who know the charismatic president of Wofford College can be certain of only one thing—it won’t be boring.

The Harvard-educated Rhodes Scholar and quintessential Renaissance man steps down from his administrative post on June 30 for a year-long sabbatical, then it’s back to a teaching position at the Spartanburg school he’s led since July 2000.

“Honestly, the classroom is my natural habitat, so I’m like an amphibian who’s returning home, just kind of crawling back into the sea,” he says.

But don’t be surprised if the 75-year-old Dunlap takes up a new endeavor or three in the interim. After all, he’s already been a college football player (at Sewanee, the University of the South), ballet dancer (principal soloist with the Columbia City Ballet), the writer of Emmy-nominated television scripts, a highly respected on-camera personality at SCETV and a seminar leader for the renowned Aspen Institute.

His notable academic career includes stints as a Fulbright lecturer in Thailand and 25 years as an award-winning professor at the University of South Carolina before becoming Wofford’s 10th president. During his tenure, the Upstate school has enjoyed a renaissance of its own in the form of new academic programs and faculty positions, growing student enrollment and record-setting donations, but Dunlap is quick to share credit with his employees.

“It’s all a collaborative effort,” he says.

“It’s like writing a script. You are very much dependent on the people who will perform it.”

While he leaves an indelible mark at Wofford, Dunlap says he didn’t accomplish all he set out to do, “but if you can’t get it all done in 13 years, it’s time to move on.”

And, he says, “As I told the faculty, if I’m ever going to take up Australian-rules football, now is the time.” —Marc Rapport

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

21

SCScene

BY DIANE VETO PARHAM

Wrap it up Live in a house for a while, and you grow accustomed to some

to look is up: In almost every attic, there’s an insulation problem that needs fixing.

“Even if your home was built yesterday, you should go up there and look at your insulation,” says Michael Smith, manager of energy programs for Central Electric Power Cooperative. “You will find things that need to be addressed, things that will make a difference and that don’t necessarily cost a whole lot.”

A h om eown e r’s g u i d e to at ti c i n su l atio n

idiosyncrasies—drafty pockets near certain walls; that room down the hall that nobody goes in, because it’s always too warm or too cold; the frequent clicking of a heat pump turning on and off.

Those quirks may be your house trying to tell you something: Check your insulation.

Your monthly utility bills may be sending the same message. If they seem too high, your insulation—be it insufficient, poorly installed, aging or absent—may be partly to blame.

Instead of wasting money heating and cooling air that leaks out of the house, spend some time evaluating how well your home is sealed and insulated. One good direction

Know your R-value

If you want to improve your attic insulation, the magic number you need to know in South Carolina is R-38. This is the recommended R-value for attics in our region, says Buddy DeLozier, energy efficiency project manager for Central Electric.

The R-value of an insulating material tells you how well it resists the transfer of heat—holding heat in when it’s cold outside and keeping heat out on scorching summer days.

Manufacturers must show this number on their packaging.

The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

“If installed correctly, R-38 is more than ample in South Carolina,” DeLozier says. “If you go higher than that, you really aren’t seeing more savings.”

Finding out whether your home is well insulated starts with looking around your attic to see what kind of insulation you have, determining its R-value and measuring its depth with a ruler. Just remember to: a flashlight or headlamp. You’ll need to look carefully to know if the insulation is covering well. That means peering into every cranny.

XX Bring

XX Watch

NAIMA

your step. A good look around might mean exploring parts of the attic where you’ve never ventured— and you don’t want to step in an empty space between ceiling joists that will drop you through the ceiling below.

Walk only where there’s sturdy footing.

Safety first: Whether you’re in the attic assessing the state of your home’s insulation or actually undertaking an insulation project, be sure to have solid footing and wear protective clothing and gear.

22

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

What’s in your attic?

Here’s a primer on some of the common materials and types of attic insulation found in South Carolina homes.

XX Protect

yourself. Wear gloves, a

XX Know

your limitations. Avoid the attic when it’s too hot or too cold to spend time up there. If you’re not physically able to crawl around in the attic, call an insulation professional.

Here’s what to look for during an attic inspection. u Insufficient insulation: It’s not uncommon for South Carolina homes to have less than enough insulation to meet the R-38 recommendation for peak efficiency.

If you can see the bare wood of ceiling joists, chances are your home falls short. Ideally, DeLozier says, your insulation should completely fill the gaps between—and cover—the joists.

An exposed joist “is just an inch-and-a-half gap in your insulation” that needs attention, he says.

The older the house, the more likely it is to lack proper insulation. Any home built before the mid-1970s almost certainly has too little insulation, but even newer homes can fall short. State building codes requiring a minimum of R-30 in new construction have only been in place since 2000.

If your attic has batts or rolled insulation, find the R-value printed on the underside of the kraft paper backing, then measure the thickness of the material.

Insulation is supposed to be fluffy, Smith says. If it gets packed down, it loses some of its R-value. An R-19 batt or roll should be about 6 inches deep; R-30, about 9 inches.

Loose-fill insulation should be between 10 to 14 inches deep to provide the recommended R-38 level.

If your insulation doesn’t measure up, consider supple­ menting what’s there. Good news: There’s no need to remove the old insulation. Two layers of R-19, for example,

Batts or rolls: The name reflects how the insulation material is packaged—either in long rolls or in pre-cut strips called batts. The width is sized to fit snugly between joists or wall studs.

Owens-corning

breathing mask and eye protection.

Some insulation materials, including fiberglass, will irritate your skin, lungs and eyes. For more on different types of insulation materials, see “What’s in your attic?” at right.

T ype s

Loose fill: Also called blown insulation, this is the most common attic insulation in newer construction. The material consists of smaller bits of insulating material that are poured or blown into attics using special equipment.

Loose fill is ideal for insulating in oddly shaped areas or around HVAC systems or other obstructions.

Foam: This can be rigid sheathing or foam-in-place that is sprayed into smaller spaces to seal leaks. The rigid form can be more expensive but is well suited to special tasks, such as sealing attic hatches, which often have no insulation.

Mate r ials Fiberglass: Probably the most common insulation, this familiar pink, yellow or white material, made of fine, flexible glass fibers woven together, looks like cotton candy. It’s inexpensive, easily installed and available as batts, rolls or loose fill. It’s also moisture resistant and nonflammable. Contact with it can make your skin itch.

Cellulose: Most often seen as a gray, loose-fill material, cellulose is made from recycled paper products, usually newsprint. Not as common as fiberglass, cellulose is a heavier product, chemically treated to resist moisture, pests and fire.

Rock (or mineral) wool: Less commonly used, this manmade product is made from natural minerals and postindustrial recycled content. Often greenish-brown in color and sometimes said to resemble dryer lint, it can come as loose fill, in batts or in rolls. It can also make you itch.

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

23

SC Scene

Seal the deal Home cozy home:

NRECA

Blown insulation is a good choice for reaching odd-shaped nooks and crannies. A ruler or yardstick inserted into the insulation should measure it at 10 to 14 inches deep to meet South Carolina’s recommended R-38 value.

NRECA

will bring an attic up to R-38, and blown insulation can be layered over existing rolls, batts or loose fill as needed. u Gaps in insulation: It’s possible that your homebuilder overlooked corners or awkward spaces when blowing or laying insulation, usually near the exterior walls. “That’s the edge of a room on an outside wall that feels cold all the time, and you don’t understand why,” Smith says.

Maybe you are missing insulation where a workman pushed it away to access your HVAC system, or maybe air flowing into the attic from the soffits has blown away loosefill insulation and left bare spots. Whatever the reason, a gap in insulation means there’s a gap in your thermal barrier. Filling in small gaps can be an inexpensive do-ityourself job, but if you find large gaps—or no insulation at all—call a professional, Smith advises. u Dark marks on the insulation: These show up as streaks, patches or dark edges, telling you that air is leaking in or out of your house and that insulation is trapping dust and dirt as air travels through it. Find and seal those leaks before adding new insulation. (See “Seal the deal,” on this page.)

“You might have insulation that is acting as no more than a filter,” says Bennie Marshall, owner of Carolina Green Energy Systems. “Insulation does not stop air flow.”

Dollars and sense

Upgrading attic insulation is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to improve your home’s efficiency and comfort. A homeowner might spend about $40 for 24

Attic insulation plays an important role in keeping your home comfortable and your power bills low, but before you head to the local home improvement store to buy more, first make sure your house is well sealed.

“Insulating without air sealing is kind of a waste of money,” says Bennie Marshall, owner of Carolina Green Energy Systems.

Marshall estimates that 90 percent of manufactured homes and 75 percent of stick-built homes leak air through cracks in ductwork, gaps around plumbing, unsealed outlets and countless other small defects. That’s the air you’re paying to heat or cool flowing uselessly out of your home.

The best way to find leaks? Let a professional conduct a comprehensive home energy audit, including a blower door test. This test uses a powerful fan to draw air out of the house, lowering the interior air pressure and allowing higher-pressure outside air to seep in through unsealed gaps or cracks. Once identified, those spaces should be sealed before any other upgrades are considered.

You might spend about $250 to $450 for a comprehensive home energy audit. Be sure to use an expert, such as those certified by the Building Performance Institute or the Home Energy Rating System. Your co-op can recommend local professionals, or you can search for one at bpi.org/ home.aspx or resnet.us.

A professional audit may identify other problems that need attention before adding insulation, and a trained auditor can recommend the most costefficient places to make improvements.

“You need to test before you touch anything,” Marshall advises. “Otherwise, you’re just literally shooting in the dark.”

a few replacement batts to fill in empty spaces, maybe $800 to upgrade an average attic from R-19 to R-38, or up to $1,200 to have a professional blow loose-fill fiberglass into a bare attic. But homeowners should think carefully about whole-house efficiency and the long-term return on investment before investing in a major attic insulation upgrade, Smith says.

If your existing insulation is already at R-30, adding more to get it up to R-38 may not GetMore deliver noticeable savings. But an upgrade from R-19 or below will pay The Energy Star website from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers dividends in short order, he says. a do-it-yourself guide with tips for “If you have minimal insulation sealing and insulating your home. Visit now, you could easily see a return energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=diy.diy_index. on your investment within a few years,” Smith says.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

Gotta Get Away!

in w o t e c n a h c Enter for a in y a w a t e g t h ig a four-n ! o ic x e M , n u c exotic Can

Get out of your timeshare NoW!

Your choice!

Laguna Suites Golf + Spa OR

Ocean Spa Hotel Our winner will receive 5 days and 4 nights deluxe accommodations for two (one room), plus a $500 credit toward airfare.

Please go to quickgetaways.co for full details of the trip, including terms and conditions.

Brought to you by

Winner is responsible for taxes and administration fee (approx $169 total). • One vacationer must be at least 28 years of age.

• Each traveler must have a current passport. Obtaining passports is winner’s responsibility. • All reservations subject to availability.

By entering, you may receive travel information from these great sponsors:

jj Quickgetaways.co jj Pawleys Island Realty/Rentals jj Hendersonville, N.C. jj North Charleston Arts Festival jj Aiken County Parks/Recreation jj Audubon Center at Beidler Forest jj Fort Mill Strawberry Festival jj Anson, North Carolina Tourism jj Historic Bennettsville jj Alpine-Helen/White County, Ga. jj Rock Hill Parks/Recreation jj West Virginia’s Fabulous State Parks jj Blue Ridge Festival, Pickens

jj Anderson CVB, Tourism jj Towns County, Georgia jj S.C. National Heritage Corridor jj Lowcountry Tourism jj Lexington, North Carolina Tourism jj Pipestem State Park Golf Resort, W.V. jj City of Aiken Tourism jj Historic Cheraw CVB, Tourism jj S.C. Farmers Markets’ Plant & Flower Festivals jj The Guest House Golf Resort, Aiken jj Crockett Rocket Striper Fishing on Lake Thurmond

Tr a v e l R e a d e r R e ply

Register below, or online at SCLiving.coop

YES! Enter me in the drawing for a 5-day, 4-night getaway in Cancun, Mexico.

Name Address City

free online Video shows you how!

1-888-461-8111 CaLL NoW

Don’t Pay Maintenance Fees Ever Again

State/Zip Email Phone

March Winner: Judy Patterson, Clover, S.C. PRIZE: 2-night getaway in historic St. Marys, Ga. Stay at Cumberland Inn & Suites; $50 dining credit at Capt. Seagel’s Seafood Restaurant; free admission to St. Marys Submarine Museum.

Send coupon to: South Carolina Living, 133 Yoshino Circle, Lexington, SC 29072 or travel@SCLiving.coop. Entries must be received by June 5, 2013 to be eligible for drawing.

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

25

SCGardener

BY S. CORY TANNER

Thrillers, fillers & spillers: Fresh herbs at arm’s reach C o ry ’ s m u st - h av e h e r b s

S. Cory Tanner

We enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients at my

house, so I plant a steady Basil: pairs great with tomato dishes, such as caprese salad supply of herbs near our Bay laurel (bay leaf): savory flavoring for soups and stews Gold Dust rosemary (with gold kitchen. Growing herbs and green variegated leaves) is the Chives: mild onion flavor, great with potatoes centerpiece of this planter, surrounded in containers on a patio Cilantro (coriander): for salsa and tacos by (clockwise from top) curly parsley, or porch is a great way to Dill: for pickles, salads and fish dishes sage, golden oregano and thyme.

Lemongrass: makes great tea; used in Asian cooking keep culinary flavor­ings Mint: add to beverages and fruit salads at your fingertips. garden center. Look for Oregano: seasons spaghetti and pizza sauces Herbs are perfect for healthy transplants that Parsley: classic garnish; vitamin-rich addition to soups, salads the busy gardener: edible, have filled their containRosemary: strong flavor goes great with pork and chicken drought tolerant and low ers but aren’t root-bound.

Sage: for stews, sausages and poultry stuffing maintenance. Most prefer Annual herbs such as basil, Thyme: versatile; try it in grilling rubs and pasta dishes well-draining soil and full cilantro and dill are easy sun—easy to achieve in to grow from seed in your container. One herb, mint, needs confinement. A brute in ­portable containers. Just about any container with drainthe garden, where its underground stems spread prolifically age holes will work. Use your imagination; with a little and take over, mint behaves better in a container, where ­repurposing, old boots, chair bottoms and wooden pallets its growth is restricted. can be spectacular herb gardens.

Don’t skimp on potting soil—use a high-quality conWindow boxes are great for smaller herbs like thyme, parsley, cilantro and chives, and hanging baskets make a tainer mix of peat, pine bark and perlite, with little or no good display for trailing herbs—prostrate rosemary, for sand or clay. Low-quality soils tend to be too dense and may hold too much or not enough moisture for herbs. example. Shrubby perennial herbs, such as rosemary or As your herbs grow, water as needed by saturating the bay laurel, will appreciate more space and look handsome soil and then allowing it to dry a bit before watering again. in large terra cotta pots.

Avoid using saucers under your containers; too often these Garden writer Steve Silk came up with the simple sit full of water, which will drown your herbs. Most herbs “thriller, filler, spiller” concept for designing container gardens with mixed plantings. First, choose a vertical, spiky will survive if you miss a watering, but a few, such as basil and lemongrass, prefer more moisture. Herbs are not heavy plant to serve as the “thriller”—the centerpiece that draws feeders, so go light on fertilizer. In fact, over-fertilized herbs your eye. Chives, lemongrass and rosemary are good thrillwill have less flavor. The starter fertilizer in fresh potting ers. Next select “fillers”—mounding, spreading plants that mixes lasts up to 10 weeks. After that, apply liquid fertilizer fill the bulk of the container. Basil, oregano, parsley and every three to four weeks. sage fit this role. Finally, choose a “spiller” or two, such as Many container-grown herbs can be brought inside thyme and prostrate rosemary. Spillers flow over the edge during winter to provide fresh ingredients all year. Basil, of the container and grow downward. This three-tiered sage, parsley, cilantro, chives, oregano and thyme will planting scheme makes for lush, attractive herb containers. continue to produce indoors with sufficient light from Buy perennial herbs as transplants from your favorite a south-facing window or grow lights. Since bay laurel and lemongrass aren’t reliably cold hardy throughout Community gardening Clemson Extension has a new South Carolina, they are more easily overwintered indoors publication, Starting a Community Garden, co-authored by Cory Tanner. in ­containers.

The 28-page, full-color guide includes steps to o­ rganizing a community garden, planning information and planting guidelines. The guide is S. CORY TANNER is an area horticulture agent and Master available electronically at clemson.edu/extension/communitygarden Gardener coordinator for Clemson Extension based in or by contacting your local Clemson Extension office.

Greenville County. Contact him at shannt@clemson.edu.

26

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

Travel-tourism advertisers!

Receive a valuable R.O.I. bonus!

Fish Lake Thurmond with Captain Dave Willard

Discover

Hiawassee & Young Harris, Georgia

Every time you advertise in our popular travel section, you receive hundreds of travel leads from our readers. Advertise regularly and you’ll receive thousands of these referrals annually. It’s a free service for our travel partners!

Discover North Georgia Mountains’ Hidden Jewel, Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa

Call Keeg or Dan for details

1-800-984-0887

803-637-6379 crockettrocketstriperfishing.com

experience us for yourself... our Mountain Top is serenely beautiful and adventure abounds!

Located 2 hours from Atlanta, GA Asheville, NC Chattanooga, TN Greenville, SC

Visit our website mountaintopga.com for information & specials

800-984-1543

cook

AT T E N TIO N MOBILE HOME

OWNERS EXPERT INSTALLATION

LIFETIME WARRANTY

REDUCED ELECTRIC BILL

INCREASED HOME VALUE

INSURANCE CREDIT

Every baby is born to do something great.

Help them to be born strong and healthy.

STOP LEAKS

NO MORE ROOF RUMBLE More than 4 million babies were born in the United States last year and March of Dimes helped each and every one through research,

Since 1983

roofover.com

education, vaccines and breakthroughs. With your support we can continue this vital work.

For more details go to imbornto.com.

®

800.633.8969

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

27

SCTravels

BY DIANE VETO PARHAM

All aboard for Aiken

Guests at the visitors center today might recognize the miniature Aiken depot in this scene from 1916. The track where the model passenger train stands still exists outside the center and is regularly used by the Norfolk Southern. The recreated depot faces Aiken’s Park Avenue.

history was the motivation for creating Aiken’s Train Museum, which captures eight S.C. towns along this historic railroad line in incredible miniature detail. Completed in 1833, the line was, remarkably, the longest in the world at the time, at 136 miles.

GetThere Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum is located downtown at 406 Park Ave. SE. From I-20, take exit 18 to U.S. 1 South/York Avenue NE; drive about eight miles to Park Avenue.

The museum will celebrate National Train Day and National Railroad Week on May 11 with special guided tours, exhibits, live music and stories for children.

HOURS: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Groups of 10 or more may request private tours with advance notice.

ADMISSION: Free.

DETAILS: (803) 293-7846 or (888) 245-3672; aikenrailroaddepot.org.

28

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

Dian e Veto Parh am

But for a young man in love, there might have been no railroad through Aiken. And without that railroad, the town’s history—even its name— might have been very different.

The tale goes that Alfred Dexter, a Boston engineer, was sent by the South Carolina Canal & Rail Road in 1830 to map a route for a new railroad line from Charleston to Hamburg (near present-day North Augusta).

Arriving in what is now Aiken County, Dexter saw clearly that the land was too hilly to build rail lines there.

Then Dexter met Sarah Williams, lovely daughter of wealthy local plantation owner Capt. W.W. Williams.

Williams wanted the railroad to come through his property in that region. Dexter wanted Sarah’s hand in marriage. A deal was struck.

“One man got his railroad; the other man got his wife,” says Marty Bailey, a volunteer at the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum.

Dexter later helped design a new town, in precise grids, around the depot. The town was named for SCC&RR president William Aiken, and a new route for shipping cotton across the state was created.

Preserving a critical piece of town

Nine dioramas preserve, in HO scale, the 1916 version of these towns—not only what was, but what is gradually disappearing. Hamburg, the long-gone terminus of the Charleston & Hamburg Railroad, is now just a footnote in history.

More than that, the museum building itself recreates Aiken’s old railroad station in the exact footprint of the 19th-century depot, right down to the flower beds out front.

“So many of our depots across the state are gone or are being used as community centers or libraries,” Aiken tourism supervisor Elizabeth Harm says. Aiken’s own depot was bulldozed in 1954, leaving just an empty lot.

The Friends of the Aiken Railroad

COUPON

Depot located original architectural plans for the old depot and rebuilt it in detail—wooden floors, exposed beams, fireplaces, ticket booth and cupola included.

“There used to be a wall that went from the center of the front desk to the front door and separated the ‘white’ from the ‘colored’ side,” FARD president Tim Simmons says.

“We removed that wall—it’s indicative of the barriers that have been removed over the years with respect to ­segregation and discrimination.”

Downstairs serves as the town’s visitors center. But the mezzanine is where visitors love to hang out.

Circling this level are the dioramas behind glass windows, populated in fascinating detail by homes, businesses and townspeople. Periodically,

COUPON

Paul J. Dolkos/Courtesy of Model Railroader

Nine dioramas preserve, in HO scale, the 1916 version of these towns—not only what was, but what is gradually disappearing.

the lights dim, and streetlamps and windows glow in nighttime versions of each scene. A Southern Railway steam engine runs continuously from one miniature town to the next.

“That’s the one problem we have up there—getting kids to walk, not run, because they want to chase the train around the building,” Simmons says, laughing.

In 1916, towns were ­introducing electricity, so streets feature both horse-drawn carriages and ­trolleys.

In Blackville, residents liked to go swimming in the water tower, so that diorama includes those swimmers. Peacocks were commonly used as “guard dogs,” Bailey says, so the Charleston diorama includes a peacock in the yard (try to find it—​ it’s a challenge).

“People are amazed by the sophistication of it,” says Harm, noting that FARD volunteers painstakingly researched details of each town, down to the paint colors on the shutters of the houses. Every road, fixture and building was custom built to match photos and firsthand descriptions of Charleston, Summerville, St. George, Branchville, Denmark, Blackville, Aiken and Hamburg.

Interactive exhibits and old film clips help tell the story of railroading in the U.S. as visitors guide themselves from depot to depot. The museum has captured the imaginations of tens of thousands of visitors since it opened in 2010. Railroad fans are especially prone to linger.

A national spotlight will shine on Aiken Train Museum in October.

That’s when Model Railroader magazine publishes its “Great Model Railroads 2014” edition, featuring Aiken’s as one of about a dozen model railroads considered among the best in the world.

“Go in with an open heart,” Bailey advises, “and let your inner child come out.”

The Swamp is Calling Pristine... Untouched... Wild...

1000-yr.-old Cypress trees and native wildlife abound.

Nature Center and gift shop. $1.00 Off Adult Admission w/coupon Take I-26E from Columbia to exit 177 or I-26W from Charleston to exit 187, Follow “BEIDLER FOREST” signs.

336 Sanctuary Road, Harleyville, SC 29448

843-462-2150

www.beidlerforest.com

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

29

SCChef’sChoice

BY DIANE VETO PARHAM

Grandma’s Chicken ’n’ Dumplin’s SERVES 8–10

1 whole fryer chicken 1 medium onion, quartered 2 carrots, sliced 2 stalks celery Salt to taste 3 cups self-rising flour 1 ½ to 2 cups chicken broth ½ stick butter 1 cup milk Pepper to taste Hard-cooked eggs, sliced (optional)

Place chicken, onion, carrots and celery in large pot. Cover with water, add salt and cook until chicken is “fall off the bone” tender. Remove from broth; when cool, debone. Strain broth and discard vegetables. Set broth and chicken aside. Mix flour and enough chicken broth to make soft dough. Divide into manageable portions. Knead each portion until not sticky.

Roll out flat on floured board and cut into strips, approximately 1 inch square. Toss strips in flour as they are cut and set aside. Bring remaining broth to rolling boil. Drop dough strips into broth and cook until done, about 15 minutes. Add deboned chicken, butter and milk. Stir in eggs, if desired.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Let simmer another 15 minutes. Add water or milk to adjust consistency to your liking.

30

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

Milton Morris

Betsy Simons’ new restaurant was way too popular on opening day last year.

After six months of renovating a downtown Aiken eyesore on the corner of Laurens and Barnwell streets, Simons planned to ease into business with a “soft opening”— no advertising. But locals who had watched the underA downturn in the loved building real estate market inspired agent Betsy transform into a Simons to turn a quaint retro diner neglected eyesore in were anxious to downtown Aiken into a charming retro diner. get inside.

A line stretched out the door and down the sidewalk, maxing out the indoor seating and outdoor café tables. The crush blew the electrical circuits, forcing some restless diners to wait nearly two hours for their food, and obliged Simons to rewire her entire kitchen.

“It was awful, awful, awful,” Simons remembers. “I sat down and boo-hooed for three hours.”

One year later, Betsy’s on the Corner is still attracting attention. In January, Historic Aiken Foundation gave Simons an architectural preservation award for her eye-catching renovation. Crowds still line up for made-from-scratch comfort foods, especially the chicken and dumplings, even though that’s not on the menu.

Friends have loved her family recipe for years; now diner regulars just know to ask for it.

DIANE VETO PARHAM

DIANE VETO PARHAM

Cornering the market on food and fun

“I’ll do whatever you want, if we’ve got the food—it doesn’t have to be on the menu,” says Simons, a professed foodie.

Simons’ road to running a diner took quite a few turns. A Saluda native, she was a soda jerk at a local snack bar as a teen. She later worked as a home economist with Clemson Extension and Aiken Electric Cooperative. She owned a children’s clothing and toy store, then became a real estate agent.

Meanwhile, friends kept encouraging her to open a restaurant.

“And I kept saying, ‘I am not that stupid,’” Simons recalls.

custoM hoMes on Your lot • our PlAn or Yours

Build it the MAdiSON WAy But when the economy flattened the real estate market, Simons reconsidered. She had fond memories of her soda jerk days and of indulging in good eats while perched on a barstool at the old Tapp’s lunch counter in Columbia. An old-fashioned diner and ice cream counter, she reasoned, might resonate with older folks and charm the younger crowd.

The nostalgic atmosphere at Betsy’s conjures the ’50s and ’60s— red Formica tabletops, terrazzo floor, pressedtin ceiling, Betsy’s on sturdy enamel the Corner dinnerware, 159 Laurens St. NW contoured Aiken, SC 29801 Coke glasses (803) 226-0078 and a bell in Hours : Monday the kitchen through Thursday, window that 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; dings when Friday and Saturday, orders are up.

11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“It’s noisy, it’s busy— but you know, that’s what a diner is,” Simons says. “It’s a fun place.”

Alongside classic burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads are Simons’ twists—grilled cheese with bacon and apple slices; caprese with gouda, avocado and basil mayo; blue-plate specials “with a Southern flair” on Wednesdays; and two freshly made soups a day, one vegetarian.

Fountain treats span the decades— egg creams, phosphates, ice cream floats and malts share the menu with modern smoothies and candy-covered sundaes.

The most popular non-food items sold at Betsy’s are the T-shirts worn by wait staff. “I work this corner” is the slogan on the back, drawing occasional honks from passing drivers for the servers at outdoor tables.

“So many people wanted one, we started selling them,” Simons says.

“Our best customers are little old ladies. They think it’s a hoot.”



No costly construction loan required.



We pay standard closing costs.



No down payment required.



Free site evaluation.



Stick-built homes starting at $66/sq ft.

Madison homebuilders Charlotte, Conover & Columbia

up to in Free $5,000 Free Gr options or anite counte Kitchen rtops

For A Free Brochure With Floor PlAns, cAll us or Visit our WeBsite

Charlotte, NC 1-800-957-9304

Conover, NC 1-866-847-6815

Columbia, SC 1-888-745-1011

www.madisonhomebuilders.net

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

31

Recipe

EDITED BY CArrie Hirsch

Salad days BOBI’S MASHED POTATO SALAD SERVES 6–8

6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish 1 tablespoon yellow mustard 1 ½ cups mayonnaise Salt and pepper

Michael Phillips / iStock

CITRUS COUSCOUS SALAD SERVES 4–6

Prepare the couscous according to directions on the box. Allow to cool, and fluff with fork.

Set aside. In a small saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add carrots and parboil approximately 2 minutes. Remove from heat and drain. Allow to cool. In a large serving bowl, mix together carrots, bell pepper, dried cranberries and the cooled couscous. Mix lightly. Grate the zest from the orange to yield at least 1 tablespoon, reserving orange to be juiced for vinaigrette.

Stir in orange zest, mint and thyme. Prepare 32

the vinaigrette (recipe below). Pour half the vinaigrette over the mixture and carefully mix together. Add remaining vinaigrette to taste or save leftover vinaigrette as a base for an Italianstyle salad dressing or grilling marinade (keeps in the refrigerator several days). Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.

VINAIGRETTE

Juice from orange N cup extra virgin olive oil 1 ½ tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste

Squeeze reserved zested orange to yield about ½ cup juice. In a medium bowl, whisk together the orange juice, olive oil, honey and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with salt, then whisk together (yields about 1 cup).

BETSY HINDERLITER, BEAUFORT

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

LeeAnn White / iStock

1 5.8-ounce box couscous, any flavor 1 cup carrots, finely chopped ½ cup red bell pepper, chopped small N cup dried cranberries, roughly chopped 1 large orange ¼ cup fresh mint, washed and chopped 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, washed and minced Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Place potatoes in a 5-quart pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and continue to boil for 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft. Drain all water from the pot and add 3 hard-boiled eggs.

Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes and eggs until they are smooth, with no chunks. Add relish, mustard and mayonnaise, then salt and pepper to taste. Stir well. Transfer into a medium serving bowl and garnish with slices of the remaining hard-boiled egg. Serve warm or chilled, as desired.

BARBARA GUNNELLS, BAMBERG

Palmetto State Marketplace

CHOIR ROBES EXPERT TAILORING

ABEL BUILDING SYSTEMS

3595

$

Post Frame Buildings Affordable Pricing

& UP

Finest fabrics including permanent press and wash & wear. Superior quality. Free color catalog and fabric swatches on request.

GUARANTEED SATISFACTION

Serving South Carolina with Pride

24x30x8

$9,283

Call Toll Free: 1-800-826-8612

30x30x10

www.rcgown.com

P.O. Box 8988-S Jacksonville, FL 4:32 32211 PM 2011SCstateAd.qxd 2/21/11

9,995

Built $ Price Painted Enclosed

30X50X10

Page

LOW COST CHURCH BUILDINGS! [Nobody beats our Low, Low Price!]

• Hurricane Upgrade E of I-95 • Custom Sizes Available • No Hidden Charges!

• Fully Insured • Codes May Affect Prices • #1 Metal

1-888-427-BARN (2276)

www.nationalbarn.com

SC Lic. #106900

fellowship sanctuaries , Van storages full or half court gyms

Call PEAKE CONSTRUCTION, INC.

864-415-0981 • 864-590-5797 www.PeakeConstruction.com

www.SlipcoverShop.com ...at the touch of a button.

Custom-made slipcovers in 5 days!

Slipcovers for furniture and cushions in any size or shape. Free fabric samples on request.

888-405-4758

E

L

H

S

L

U

T

H

H U T S E

U T L E S

L S E H U

S E H U T L

S.C.Ramble! answer SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

S

T

T

800.928.5434

H

4755 Edmund Hwy • West Columbia, SC 29170

save 10% on any product!

www.SlipcoverShop.com

L

Cacee Enterprises, Inc.

U

We specialize in gates and gate opener installation, and repair service. We offer a full line of automatic gate operators and access controls for every type of commercial and residential gate application.

• Armchair protectors Use • Suede protectors Coupon Code • Pet beds & more! SLC-10 and

E

ACCESS SYSTEMS

– GTO Access Systems & Mighty Mule authorized service center –

34

40x60x12

$13,200

$31,600

Call Us Today!

803-536-1187 803-534-6063 FAX

I I

HOOVER BUILDINGS

INC.

“We build all kinds of buildings for all kinds of needs”

Ask about our do-it-yourself materials kits.

GATES SOLD SEPARATELY.

30x50x12

$22,166

Established 1972 Competitive Pricing Quality Workmanship Solid Reputation SC General Contractor Fully Licensed & Insured

Lexington & Greer, S.C. 1-800-922-3934 www.Hooverbuildings.com

To advertise, please go to scliving.coop or e-mail advertising@scliving.coop

She’s not married...

to a steel building company.

Are you?

Celebrating 17 years of ironclad customer service!

All your metal building design, fabrication and supply needs under one roof.

• Standard and • 18,000 Sq. Ft. Cut-to-length of Quality Metal Roof & Wall Panels Building Inventory • Red Iron Components • Many Items on Our Floor Available • Building Kits & Complete Customized for Immediate Pick-up Building Systems • Buyers Guide • Metal Building Available Accessories Stop by or call us for a quote today.

800-922-8039

www.MetalBuildingSupplyCo.com 1500 Elrod Road, Piedmont, SC 29673

Arco Steel Buildings 1-800-241-8339

24x36x10...................................... $. 6,558 40x60x10...................................... $.10,522 60x75x10...................................... $ .17,150 100x75x12. w/column................... $ .29,522 20x100x8'6".Mini.Warehouse....... $. 8,397

ALL SIZES AVAILABLE!

www.arcosteel.com Arco Building Systems, Inc. (FOB Plant – lOcal cOdes may aFFect Prices)

Here’s a bright idea! Give a gift subscription to YES! Send 1 year (11 issues) for just $8

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

Gift to ____________________________________________________________________________________

Gift from ________________________________________________________________________________

Phone __________________________________________________________________­___________________

Phone ______________________________________________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________________________________________________________

City ________________________________________________________________________________________

State/Zip ___________________________________________________________________________________

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 100270, Columbia, SC 29202-3270.

(Please allow 4 – 8 weeks.) Call 1-803-926-3175 for more information. Sorry, credit card orders not accepted.

scliving.coop | May 2013 | SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING

35

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

UPSTATE MAY

16 • Sculpture Garden Grand Opening, The Arts Center, Clemson. (864) 633-5051.

16–19 • Greek Festival, 406 N. Academy St., Greenville. (864) 233-8531.

16–19 • BMW Charity Pro Am, various golf courses, Greenville, Sunset and Greer. (864) 297-1660.

17 • Shindig at the Cabin with Doug Stone, Limestone Street, Gaffney. (864) 487-6244.

17–18 • Calhoun Falls Whole Town Yard Sale, Calhoun Falls. (864) 418-8672.

17–25 • Greenwood Music Festival, various venues, Greenwood. (864) 337-9852.

18 • Clemson Festival of Arts, Catherine Smith Plaza, Clemson. (864) 633-5051.

18 • Mansion by Moonlight, Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site, Union. (864) 427-5966.

18 • Armed Forces Day Celebration, Hagood Mill Historic Site and Folklife Center, Pickens. (864) 898-2936.

18–19 • Full Moon Artists Spring Studio Opening, End of the Road Studios, Walhalla. (864) 506-6116.

23–25 • SenecaFest, various venues, Seneca. (864) 723-3910.

23–26 • Plum Hollow Bluegrass Festival, 5015 Rainbow Lake Rd., Campobello. (864) 680-0225.

24 • Friday Night Fights Criterium, historic downtown, Gaffney. (864) 487-6244.

24–25 • Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival, Town Square, Ware Shoals. (864) 554-7024.

24–25 • Greater Greenville Scottish Games and Highland Festival, Furman University, Greenville. (864) 968-8801.

24–27 • Aloft, Heritage Park, Simpsonville. (864) 399-9481.

25 • Take Flight 5K, Greenville Downtown Airport runway, Greenville. (864) 634-1380.

25 • Artisan Glass Expo, McCormick Arts Council at the Keturah, McCormick. (864) 852-3216.

JUNE

1 • Enchanted Chalice Renaissance Faire, Greenville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Greenville. (864) 271-4883.

1 • Enabling Citizen Superheroes, 3535 Pelham Rd., Greenville. (864) 249-1441.

5–9 • Greenville International Film Festival, various venues, Greenville. (843) 323-0464.

36

8 • Music on the Mountain, Table Rock Lodge, Pickens. (864) 878-9813.

10–14 • Family Camp, Unicoi State Park, Helen, Ga. (706) 878-4726.

14 • Flag Day Celebration, Limestone Street, Gaffney.

(864) 487-6244.

14–23 • Chautauqua Festival of Free Interactive Theater, various venues, Greenville. (864) 244-1499.

15 • June Tunes Songwriters Showcase, Hagood Mill Historic Site and Folklife Center, Pickens. (864) 898-2936.

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.

Tuesdays through Saturdays through June 1 • Brim Full of History Hat Exhibit, Anderson County Museum, Anderson. (864) 260-4737.

Tuesdays through Sundays through June 2 • The Hunt for Treasure! Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Greenville. (864) 233-7755.

Tuesdays through Saturdays through June 13 • Juried S.C. Artists Exhibition, Pickens County Museum, Pickens. (864) 898-5963.

Wednesdays through August • Reedy River Concerts, Peace Center Amphitheater, Greenville. (864) 467-4484.

Thursdays • Music on Main, downtown on Main Street near the Clock Tower, Spartanburg.

(864) 562-4195.

Thursdays • Downtown Alive!

Main Street at Hyatt Regency Plaza, Greenville. (864) 467-4484.

Fridays through May • Jazz on the Square, Morgan Square, Spartanburg. (864) 562-4195.

Fridays, Memorial Day through Labor Day • Bluegrass Music and Square Dancing, Oconee State Park, Mountain Rest. (864) 638-5353.

Saturdays, May through November • Hub City Farmer’s Market, Magnolia Street Train Station, Spartanburg. (864) 585-0905.

Saturdays and Sundays • Historic Building Tour, Oconee Station State Historic Site, Walhalla. (864) 638-0079.

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

MIDLANDS

1–2 • Colonial Times “Under the Crown,” Living History Park, MAY North Augusta. (803) 279-7560.

17 • Glenn Miller Swings into 4 • Owls of South Carolina with Rock Hill, Community Performance live owls, Birds & Butterflies, Center, Rock Hill. (803) 328-2787.

Aiken. (803) 649-7999.

17–18 • Aiken Garden Show, 7–8 • Ceramic & Handcrafters Aiken County Historical Museum Show, Jamil Temple, Columbia. and off-site private gardens, (803) 359-6401.

Aiken. (803) 642-2015.

8 • Tuomey Foundation 17–18 • Red Rose Festival, 5-Miler, Tuomey Hospital, downtown, Lancaster.

Sumter. (803) 774-9014.

(803) 286-1145.

9–15 • Southeastern Piano 17–19 • S.C. Book Festival, Festival, School of Music at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention University of South Carolina, Center, Columbia. (803) 771-2477.

Columbia. (803) 777-0083.

17–19 • Aiken Choral Society 14 • A Taste of Newberry, Concert, Cornerstone Baptist downtown, Newberry. (803) 321-1015.

Church, Aiken. (803) 846-4628.

14–15 • Great Falls Rescue Squad 18 • Iris Festival Pageant, Rodeo, featuring Uncle Si of Sumter High School Auditorium, “Duck Dynasty,” 2536 James Baker Sumter. (800) 688-4748.

Blvd., Great Falls. (803) 482-2129.

18 • McConnells Tractor Show, 15 • Ridge Peach Festival, Trenton McConnells Community Center, Town Park, Trenton. (803) 275-9487.

McConnells. (803) 230-3658.

ONGOING 18 • Small Mouth Bass Daily • Trail Riding, Tournament, Lake Monticello, Kings Mountain State Park, Jenkinsville. (803) 345-3691.

18 • Craig Glenn-Sims 5K Walk/ Blacksburg. (803) 222-3209.

Run for Stroke Awareness, Gazebo Daily • Trail Riding, Lee State Park, Bishopville. (803) 428-5307.

Park, Winnsboro. (803) 206-6627.

Daily • Trail Riding, Poinsett State 18–19 • Palmetto Pro Birder Park, Wedgefield. (803) 494-8177.

Class, Congaree National Park, Columbia. (803) 256-0670.

Daily, except Mondays • Living 19 • Lilyfest, Landsford Canal State History Days, Historic Brattonsville, McConnells. (803) 684-2327.

Park, Catawba. (803) 789-5800.

Daily, through Sept. 8 • 19 • Carolina Backcountry “Between the Springmaid Springtime, Sumter County Museum, Sumter. (803) 775-0908. Sheets,” South Carolina State 24−26 • Memorial Day Bluegrass Museum, Columbia. (803) 898-4921.

Hoe Down, Lone Star Barbecue & Daily, except Mondays and Mercantile, Santee. (803) 854-2000. major holidays • Historic 24–26 • Iris Festival, Swan Lake Iris Camden Revolutionary War Gardens, Sumter. (800) 688-4748. Site, Camden. (803) 432-9841.

Daily, by appointment • 25 • Flopeye Fish Festival, Overnights and Night Howls, 2534 James Baker Blvd., Great Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, Falls. (803) 482-6029.

Columbia. (803) 779-8717, ext. 1113.

25 • 1800s Food Preservation, Weekdays, June 10– Living History Farm at Aug. 16 • Summer Zoo Camp, Kings Mountain State Park, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Blacksburg. (803) 222-3209.

Columbia. (803) 978-1113.

30–June 1 • Lexington County Fridays, May 24, June 14 and Master Gardeners Volunteers July 12 • Members’ Night Series, Garden Tour, various venues, Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens, Lexington County. (803) 892-3162.

Columbia. (803) 779-8717.

31 • Dinner with William Saturdays • Behind-the-Scenes Bartram, Living History Park, Adventure Tours, Riverbanks Zoo North Augusta. (803) 279-7560. & Garden, Columbia. (803) 978-1113.

31–June 2 • National Trails Second Saturdays • Day Weekend Celebration, Children’s Art Program, Poinsett State Park, Sumter County Gallery of Art, Wedgefield. (803) 494-8177.

Sumter. (803) 775-0543.

JUNE Fourth Saturdays through 1 • Fight for Air Climb, Capitol August • Bluegrass Series, Haynes Center, Columbia. (803) 779-5864. Auditorium, Leesville College Park, Batesburg-Leesville. (803) 582-8479.

1 • Peachtree 23 Yard Sale, S.C. 23 from Batesburg-Leesville Saturdays and Sundays • to Modoc. (803) 275-0010.

Gallery Tour, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia. (803) 799-2810.

1 • Mini Maker Faire, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Columbia. (803) 400-1166.

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

LOWCOUNTRY MAY

1–26 • Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Hilton Head Island. (843) 686-3945, ext. 235.

10–19 • Myrtle Beach Bike Week, various locations, Grand Strand. (336) 643-1367.

16 • A Night for the Children, Hampton Hall Clubhouse, Bluffton. (843) 815-4211.

16–18 • Marion Foxtrot Festival, Main Street, Marion. (843) 423-9918.

17–18 • Walterboro Antiques, History & Arts Festival, various venues, Walterboro. (843) 549-0011.

18 • Makai Luau, Hot Fish Club, Murrells Inlet. (843) 333-2034.

18 • Beach Blast Christian Music Festival, downtown, Myrtle Beach. (800) 965-9324.

18 • Shaggin’ on the Cooper, Mount Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant. (843) 795-4386.

18 • Pinestraw Festival, downtown, Patrick. (843) 498-6994.

18 • Rib Burnoff and Barbecue Fest, Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, Hilton Head Island. (843) 689-6070.

18–19 • Blue Crab Festival, waterfront, Little River.

(843) 385-3180.

18–19 • Sculpture in the South, Azalea Park, Summerville. (843) 851-7800.

19 • Open Land Trust Legacy Live Oak Dedication and Conservation Celebration, Indigo Farms, Edisto Island. (843) 869-9004.

19 • First Flush Festeaval, Charleston Tea Plantation, Wadmalaw Island. (843) 559-0383.

21 • Anthropology Lecture Series, Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, Charleston. (843) 852-4200.

24–26 • Gullah Festival, Technical College of the Lowcountry, Beaufort. (843) 525-0628.

24–June 9 • Spoleto, multiple venues, Charleston. (843) 579-3100.

24–June 9 • Piccolo Spoleto, multiple venues, Charleston.

(843) 724-7305.

25 • Edisto Beach Fire Department Fish Fry, 2907 Myrtle St., Edisto Beach. (843) 869-3867.

25–26 • Art Festival, Shelter Cove, Hilton Head Island. (561) 746-6615.

31 • Moonlight Mixer, Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier, Folly Beach. (843) 795-4386.

31 • The “Real” Taste of Gullah, Waterfront Memorial Park, Mount Pleasant. (843) 856-9732.

JUNE

1 • Corvettes at Myrtle Beach, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. (843) 340-1731.

1 • Reggae Nights, James Island County Park, (843) 795-4386.

1 • Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival, Waterfront Memorial Park, Mount Pleasant. (843) 856-9732.

1 • Green and Lean 5K Run/ Walk, Brittlebank Park, Charleston. (843) 628-1479.

3–7 • Beaufort Garden Club’s Garden a Day, various venues, Beaufort. (800) 638-3525.

3–9 • Coastal Uncorked, various venues, Myrtle Beach. (843) 626-9668.

3–30 • Stain Paintings, North Charleston City Gallery, North Charleston. (843) 740-5854.

5 • Wheels of Destruction Thrill Show, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Myrtle Beach. (704) 792-5999.

7 • Swingin’ Medallions Concert, Jasper County Farmers’ Market, Ridgeland. (843) 726-8126.

7–8 • High on the Hog BBQ Festival, Whitehall Plantation, Lady’s Island. (843) 522-3500.

13 • Celebrate Dad’s Day, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Myrtle Beach. (704) 792-5999.

14 • Taiko Charleston, Northwoods Park & Recreation Center and Felix C. Davis Community Center, North Charleston. (843) 740-5854.

15 • Shaggin’ on the Cooper, Mount Pleasant Pier, Mount Pleasant. (843) 795-4386.

15 • Tara Hall Paddle Fest, Tara Hall Home for Boys, Georgetown. (843) 546-3000.

ONGOING

Mondays through Saturdays, through May • Modern Quilt Exhibition, ARTworks, Beaufort. (843) 379-2787.

Tuesdays through Saturdays • Education Center Displays and Programs, Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach. (843) 238-5325.

Tuesdays through Sundays • Feeding Frenzy, Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet. (843) 237-4440.

Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays • Myrtle’s Market, Mr. Joe White Avenue at Oak Street, Myrtle Beach. (843) 997-1716.

Thursdays • Farmers Market of Bluffton, Calhoun Street, downtown Bluffton. (843) 415-2447.

Thursdays through October • Blues & BBQ Harbor Cruise, Charleston Maritime Center, Charleston. (843) 722-1112.

Every other Saturday, May 18–June 29 • Street Music on Paris Avenue, Paris Avenue, Port Royal. (843) 379-2787.

SCHumorMe

By Jan A. Igoe

Patty Play Pal had it coming My daughter is finally pregnant, so it’s highly

likely that a grand-­ something is in my future. She forgot to ask, but I advised her to have a boy. After many years of shielding major appliances from Mixed Sister Arts battles, I’m pretty sure girls are not the gentler gender.

Besides, I have lots of blue bootie yarn still waiting for male toes.

When I shared this wisdom with my neighbor Paul, who was big brother to four terrified sisters—or “targets,” as he liked to call them—he started to choke.

“You have much to learn, Grasshopper,” he whispered solemnly.

Then he recalled the glory days of taking his baby sister’s Patty Play Pal doll out with his child-friendly bow—and arrows, which were on fire at the time.

For little girls in 1961, Patty Play Pal was the ultimate life-size companion. She was 3 feet tall with long, shiny hair and a perky polka-dot dress. But at $29.95, Patty didn’t come cheap. Fifty years ago, that much cash would put 120 gallons of gas in your Studebaker or 56 dozen eggs in your frying pan. Only the luckiest girls got to claim Patty PP as their BFF. But Paul’s 4-year-old sister had one.

Back in the ’60s, little girls still played with dolls and big brothers still packed plastic weapons. And they specialized in creative ways to use them.

“Dad wouldn’t let me and my

38

brother have BB guns. He thought we’d get into trouble,” Paul said. “And he took away our M-80s after the rug incident.”

The rug incident?

“Yeah. It was raining, so we were setting off fireworks in the living room and torched the Berber,” Paul said calmly. “But we had some extra carpet, so it was just a matter of cutting the bad part out and gluing the new stuff to the floor. Nobody knew until Mom decided to change the carpet. Our patch wouldn’t come up because we used three tubes of Super Glue.”

Clearly, Patty PP was up against some powerful enemies. Even when

SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING | May 2013 | scliving.coop

your older brothers surrender their explosives, arson remains a concern.

“Patty Play Pal had it coming. I never trusted her,” said Paul, who recognized an enemy combatant whenever his sister got one for Christmas. “She was impervious to piercing projectiles. Even full of arrows, her expression didn’t change.”

With Patty wounded, Paul’s sisters retreated to the straw hut that was a nativity scene until January, when it became the family fort.

“We never got the arrows to stay lit until that one flamer hit the hut when my sisters were in it,” Paul said.

“They never went more than 10 feet before that.”

Until this conversation, I knew Paul as the gentle, relatively normal, grandfather of nine. But he used to be a boy—like the one I’m wishing on my daughter. Sure, my girls turned over a refrigerator here and there, but they never set fire to real estate or attacked a manger.

Hopefully, there’s still time to change my order. I already gave all my blue yarn to Paul, in case he gets a sudden urge to incinerate something.

JAN A. IGOE is a writer from Horry County, eagerly awaiting her Official Grandmother card. All advice from professional grandparents is welcome.

Reach Jan at HumorMe@SCLiving.coop.