2018|nov•dec 19 After the storm THE MAGAZINE FOR COOPERATIVE MEMBERS VOLUME 72 • NUMBER 11 (ISSN 0047-486X, USPS 316-240) Read in more than 584,000 homes and businesses and published monthly except in December by The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. 808 Knox Abbott Drive Cayce, SC 29033 Tel: (803) 926-3175 Fax: (803) 796-6064 Email: [email protected] EDITOR Keith Phillips Tel: (803) 739-3040 Email: [email protected] FIELD EDITOR Walter Allread PUBLICATION COORDINATOR Travis Ward ART DIRECTOR Sharri Harris Wolfgang DESIGNER Susan Collins PRODUCTION Andrew Chapman WEB EDITOR Chase Toler COPY EDITOR L. Kim Welborn CONTRIBUTORS April Coker Blake, Jayne Cannon, Mike Couick, Anna Gelbman Edmonds, Tim Hanson, Jan A. Igoe, L.A. Jackson, Patrick Keegan, Sydney Patterson, Mike Smith, Belinda Smith-Sullivan, Brad Thiessen PUBLISHER Lou Green ADVERTISING Mary Watts Tel: (803) 739-5074 Email: [email protected] NATIONAL REPRESENTATION American MainStreet Publications Tel: (800) 626-1181 Paid advertisements are not endorsements by any electric cooperative or this publication. If you encounter a di culty 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 o ces. ©COPYRIGHT 2018. 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. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS: $5.72 members, $8 nonmembers Member of the AMP network reaching more than 9 million homes and businesses Ride along with electric cooperative lineworkers as they rebuild the power grid in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. 4 CO-OP NEWS Updates from your cooperative 6 AGENDA The state’s top high school football players face o one last time this season in the 2018 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl. 10 DIALOGUE Fighting hunger from the ground up GrowingSC enlists local farmers in the fight against malnutrition and food insecurity in Allendale County. 12 ENERGY Q&A E cient holiday lighting options With LED lights and decorations, you can let your holiday spirit shine while keeping power bills low. 14 SMART CHOICE Kitchen helpers Whether you’re an award-winning chef or can’t seem to get microwave popcorn right, your time in the kitchen will be more enjoyable with these devices. 16 SC HOME What does it cost to charge an electric car? Electrical engineer Mike Smith breaks down the costs—and potential savings—of charging an electric vehicle at home. READY TO ROLL From left: Pee Dee Electric Cooperative lineworkers J.P. Watson, Mitchell Moore and Jake Handley 19 25 STORIES A winning team Lucas Croft and his dog Belle show o their moves in the competitive world of canine disc. 26 SCENE Ringing in the season Salvation Army bell ringers celebrate Christmas by helping others. 30 RECIPE Around the world cookie swap Be the hit of any holiday party when you bring these international treats to share and enjoy. 34 TRAVELS Get your culture on Explore the Palmetto State’s creative side with a visit to the South Carolina Artisans Center in Walterboro. 40 GARDENER Heaven scent Plant hyacinths now to enjoy a fragrant and colorful spring landscape. 42 MARKETPLACE 44 CALENDAR 46 HUMOR ME Tell it like it isn’t Don’t tell your Facebook friends, but research shows social media posts are more fiction than fact. 30 26 Storm Warriors Co-op lineworkers rebuild after Hurricane Florence Pee Dee Electric Cooperative lineman J.P. Watson is one of the many co-op employees across the state who worked long hours in harsh conditions to repair Hurricane Florence storm damage. Photo by Milton Morris. TOP AND CENTER BY MILTON MORRIS; COOKIES BY GWÉNAËL LE VOT SC SCENE Ringing in the holiday season RECIPE Classic Christmas cookies EXCLUSIVE GAME GUIDE NOV/DEC 2018