18 | Cooperative Living | November-December 2016 Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

ENERGIZING Our Communities

MECKLENBURG ELECTRICCOOPERATIVE

P.O. Box 2451Chase City, VA 23924-2451

Chase City District(434) 372-6200

Emporia District(434) 634-6168

Gretna District(434) 656-1288

Power Failure & Emergencies(877) 632-5688

Office Hours: M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Website: www.meckelec.org

Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative is anequal opportunity provider and employer.

Thankful for the Opportunity to Serve All of You

John C. Lee, Jr.President and CEO

The year 2016 has been filled withmilestone events, advancements andsuccesses for Mecklenburg Electric

Cooperative (MEC). Most likely, ofprimary interest and importance to you,our members, would be the upgrades andmaintenance that have been performedthroughout the year on lines andsubstations ... work that further ensuresthe reliability of your electric service.These enhancements include theinstallation of equipment that offers betterprotection against storm damage, mitigatesoutages caused by “critters” such assquirrels and snakes, the refurbishment orreplacement of aging system componentsthat represent liabilities, and themaintenance required by our perpetuallygrowing nemesis — vegetation located in,and along, our rights-of-way. Make nomistake about it, a wet year such as wehave experienced in 2016 promotes rapidgrowth and has a marked impact on ourright-of-way maintenance, andaccordingly, our costs. As always, and as we are known for, our

line workers and storm-preparation teams

have been “ever ready” for whateverMother Nature has brought our way. MEC is diligent in managing costs; andsubsequently those assigned duties inpreparing for storms have far differentresponsibilities and focus on routine days.Because, when Mother Nature gets nasty,it’s all hands on deck — before, during andafter a storm ... and I mean all hands. Warehouse personnel ensure materials

are available and easily accessible; and ourfleet and garage employees make certainour equipment is ready to roll and that fuelis readily available should gas stations beclosed. They are on duty for the durationof extended outages; and if repairs areneeded to our equipment or trucks, ourmechanics are there to perform the tasksand promptly have vehicles back incommission to continue restoration efforts. When major storms are imminent, our

Engineering and Operations groupconstantly evaluates a number of weatherforecasts and resources, and they work incoordination with our trade association inGlen Allen, prearranging line personnelfrom other cooperatives should we needassistance in restoring your power.The Member Relations team is busy

preparing to communicate with you, thelocal media, emergency servicesorganizations and elected officials onwhere we’ll be working and progress being made. Members of the management team are

arranging for accommodations, meals andlaundry service for those working around-the-clock to get the lights back on, andthis team is standing prepared to deliversupplies and meals in the field so that ourline crews can focus squarely and safely onthe job at hand. When we have a major storm event, our

entire organization turns into a supportteam for our line crews, doing any andeverything possible to minimizeinterruptions to their work of getting linesback up, changing out transformers,

clearing blocked access to reach MECmembers impacted by the storm and anyother tasks necessary to restore yourservice. Each time duty has called, ourcrews have responded swiftly, and withdogged determination, safely restoringpower to our membership. We take great pride in our ability to get your lights back on in a timely manner, and we are dedicated to doing so as efficientlyas possible while following safe work practices. Speaking of safety, our record continues

to be impressive; and, as of Sept. 30 of this year, we have worked an incredible1,241,493 hours without a lost-timeaccident. That streak is particularly notablefor an organization our size and the factthat it began back on June 8, 2011. Now those are numbers we can all take pride in!In another area of significance to you,

throughout the year we implementedmultiple reductions in your electric rates,as well as a minimal increase to recover therising costs of maintaining your system.Overwhelmingly, the news is great in thatthese actions have resulted in residentialrates that are now $5.45 lower per 1,000kilowatt-hours than at the end of 2015. Wealso shifted costs within our rates to moreequitably spread your Cooperative’s fixedcosts to ALL accounts. This action resultedin members who use small amounts ofenergy, or none at all, to contribute more

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dollars toward the facility maintenancecosts the Cooperative expends on theirbehalf. Members using a few kilowatt-hours saw bills increase from $16 to $24;and, for some, this 50 percent increaseseemed somewhat disproportionate.However, your board of directors and staffimplemented this change to ensure yourCooperative adequately recovers costs,regardless of the number of kilowatt-hourssold during any month, given that thosemaintenance costs are incurred whether anaccount uses 0 kWh ... or 6,000 kWh. Aswe never find it comforting to increase anymember’s bill, this shift does lessen the gapbetween the previous $16 ConsumerDelivery Charge and the actual averageexpenditure required to maintain eachservice; and accordingly, this increasereduces the amount our average member-user subsidizes the Cooperative’s low-useaccounts that generally provide noopportunity to recover the maintenancecosts incurred for each account. Early in the year, at each district office

we introduced you to the new technologyafforded by our outdoor payment kiosksthat look and operate much like a bank’sATM (automated teller machine). Installedfor the convenience of the membership,this innovation has made it possible foryou to make your payment whenever it isconvenient for you, anytime day or night... 24/7, and your transaction is posted toyour account immediately. Also, upgradesto our Member Information System now allow us to provide you withunprecedented access to billing, usage andoutage information. Yet another new resource we now offer

for managing your account is our newSmartHub website that enables you toretrieve important detailed informationabout your account with your computer ormobile device and accomplish a number oftasks, including making payments andeven reporting outages. This offering hasdefinitely been viewed by our members asa bonus and useful option, as over 1,500members set up usernames and passwordswithin a 30-day period. Please check it outfor yourself ... it’s great, and we think you’ll be very pleased with its capabilities and convenience. For years the question of how to best

communicate with our members, in nearreal time, has been a major question foryour Cooperative as we strive to maintain

a great relationship with you and keep youwell informed. The emergence ofFacebook, Twitter and Instagram nowprovides a strong answer to that quest. The number of followers on our Facebookpage continues to grow, and we have alsofound that our induction into Instagramhas been a successful communication tool to reach our younger generation of members.I had the pleasure of shaking the hands

of many of you at our annual meeting inJune, and it was great to have theopportunity to say “Thank You” in person.The theme of the event was “DeliberatelyDifferent”; and with that mantra, weemphasized the many advantages thatMEC offers to its members as a not-for-profit organization, i.e., the return ofcapital credits, youth programs offered

(such as college scholarships, Youth Tour,etc.), your Cooperative’s communityinvolvement and support (chambers ofcommerce, civic groups, charityfundraisers, youth sports, etc.), and yourCooperative’s efforts in economicdevelopment (support of the new PowerLine Worker Training School located inSouthside Virginia, etc.). In order to bring value and improve the

quality of life to those we serve, as well aspeople in the surrounding areas, ourorganization continues to take an activeleadership and support role in ourcommunities and wherever our memberscan be found. Your Cooperative iseverywhere, lending a hand, workingalongside other organizations andindividuals who are determined to make adifference. Your staff also establishes and

For Veterans Day, MEC joins our nation in recognizing those who haveserved in our Armed Forces. We honor them for their sacrifices on ourbehalf and send our appreciation for the freedoms we all enjoy. Fromeveryone here at Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, THANK YOU to all whohave served, or are currently doing so, in all branches of the United States ofAmerica military ... we owe you all a debt that can never be fully repaid. We want to recognize and show our appreciation to MEC employees, bothcurrent and retired, who have honorably served their country. They are:

Jeffrey AbbottRobert AndrewsJay BelknapRyland BolickDavid BowlerJohn BowmanMarcus ClaudeW. R. CreedleCharlie GlassChris Gravitt

Clinton GurleyCharles HazlewoodGreg HicksJeff HowertonEuland HoyleJack JenningsHenry LaPraddBarry LangleyJames LawsonW. J. Mann

Reed MayhewSteve PoolC. P. Price, Jr.Warren RutledgePhillip SeamansWayne SheffieldBuck ShellPercy TaylorBill ThompsonSteve Williams

20 | Cooperative Living | November-December 2016 Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

maintains sound working relationshipswith local, state and federal electedofficials and takes strong positions onbehalf of rural residents concerning anymatter that impacts our ability to serve yousafely, reliably and economically.We are extremely appreciative that our

constituents recognize our dedication toservice excellence and commitment tothose we serve, and as such votedMecklenburg Electric Cooperative as the“Best Electric Company” in surveysconducted by three area newspapers. Thisis the fourth consecutive time that MEChas received this award from readers of theSouth Hill Enterprise, the third time fromreaders of The News-Progress and the firsttime from readers of The Brunswick Times.Our customer satisfaction numberscontinue to climb, and our efforts to instillin all of you pride in Cooperativeownership have never been stronger ormore committed ... we not only want to bethe best service organization you deal with,we want to be the bar you set for otherswith regards to customer service.Another honor bestowed on MEC

was The Arbor Day Foundation’sannouncement that MEC was named a2016 Tree Line USA® Utility for its secondconsecutive year. MEC is one of only threesuch utilities in Virginia to receive thisrecognition for its commitment to propertree pruning and planting. This honorsimply represents another commitment byyour Cooperative to do things the rightway ... which seldom is the easy way.It has been a strong year for your

Cooperative; and its future, despite manychallenges on the horizon, is positive andpromising. In March, we’ll enter our 79th year of service to the membership inSouthside Virginia and northern NorthCarolina. Your Cooperative continues to be sound both financially andoperationally. It is guided by a capable and diverse board of directors of yourchoosing and staffed by a group ofexperienced and dedicated employees. A recent study conducted by theUniversity of Indiana concluded thathigher customer satisfaction increasesemployee productivity ... I believe ourCooperative is a perfect example of thatfinding. The happier you are with what we do for you, the more it inspires us to do great things on your behalf. Now that is the kind of cycle that is mutually

Cooperative who work for you. We willnever take that devotion and trust forgranted. It continues to be our privilege toserve you, and we are deeply thankful foryour support. On behalf of all of us here at MEC,

I extend to you our very best wishes for ahappy and healthy Thanksgiving andChristmas, both filled with the warmth offamily and faith. From all of us, to all ofyou ... may you experience peace, love andjoy during the holidays.

Respectfully,

John C. Lee, Jr.Your President and CEO

Educational Scholarships for Seniors

Any high school or home school senior graduating in 2017 whose parentsor guardians are members of Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative andwhose primary residence is served by the Cooperative is eligible to

apply now for a $1,000 scholarship. Applications are due Feb. 10, 2017. Scholarships are awarded by the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association

of Electric Cooperatives’ (VMDAEC) Education Scholarship Foundation. Anapplicant must be entering his or her first semester at a college or technical/trade school in the fall of 2017. Scholarships must be used towards tuition,student fees, room and board or textbooks.

The Foundation selects scholarship recipients based on a combination ofthree weighted criteria: financial need at 40 percent, academic achievement at40 percent, and personal statement at 20 percent. Successful applicants will benotified no later than May 31, 2017. For complete details, select theCommunity Resources tab at www.vmdaec.com.

beneficial and creates a great organization— one that thrives on, and is motivated by,its own success. That said, thanks forsupporting us and for all your comments,suggestions, compliments and complaintsas they all give us guidance on how to bestserve you. We are fortunate and thankfulto work for people who let us know whenwe do well with as much enthusiasm aswhen we fall short of their expectations ...and how could you ask for more thanthat? Please know that we appreciate theopportunity to be your electric serviceprovider. Never hesitate to contact us withany questions or comments you may have... rest assured we’ll take your feedback andinput seriously, and respond accordingly.As always, I would like to express

our sincere appreciation for yourconfidence and loyalty to this organizationand to all of us at Mecklenburg Electric

www.meckelec.org November-December 2016 | Cooperative Living | 21

Vickie Moser Shares Recipe

We thank Vickie Moser of Java for sending her recipe for a cake that she describes

as “awesome!”

Hershey’s Disappearing Cake

1 box Duncan Hines devil’s food cake mix1 small box vanilla instant pudding¾ cup vegetable oil1½ cups milk3 eggs

Combine cake mix and pudding mixwith oil, milk and eggs. Mix well and bakein three 9'' cake pans until done.

Hershey’s Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, softened1 cup powdered sugar1 cup granulated sugar12 oz. Cool Whip3 Hershey’s chocolate

bars, chipped or grated

Mix cream cheese and sugars. Stir inCool Whip and chipped or gratedHershey’s bars. Use icing between layers,on top and sides of cake.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Receive a Free Cookbook!

In addition to having her recipe in the magazine, Ms. Moser has received MEC’s From the Co-op Kitchen cookbook! Send us your favorite recipe and if it isselected for publication, we’ll send you this72-page book containing recipes fromother MEC members!

Co-op KitchenP.O. Box 2451

Chase City, VA 23924

Fax: 434-372-6101

Email: dblue@meckelec.orgwith the subject line “Recipe”

Meet Your Cooperative Employee

When David Holloway sawMecklenburg ElectricCooperative’s (MEC)

advertisement for a job opening in alocal newspaper, he knew it could behis opportunity for a great profession.His father-in-law and grandfather-in-lawwere both linemen, and he admiredtheir dedication and their pride inserving the community. He applied forthe MEC opening and was hired in Mayof 1999.

His current position is the result of ahard-earned multi-step progressionfrom groundman, to apprenticelineman, to journeyman lineman.Obtaining this position requires muchwork and just as much determination. Infact, after entering the apprenticeshipprogram, the number of years it takesto become a certified lineman is thesame as for students obtaining abachelor’s degree in college.

David has become a veteran lineman/serviceman with over 10 years ofexperience; and his day-to-dayresponsibilities include planning andinitiating line construction andmaintenance projects and directinggroundmen and apprentices in their on-the-job training. David and his fellowline workers make certain the power isflowing from the substation to themeters of members’ homes, farms andbusinesses by installing and repairingboth overhead and underground powerlines. Often this requires replacingpoles and associated equipment, suchas insulators and transformers.

On any given day David can be seenperched high in the air atop a 45-footpole or in the bucket of a 50-foot aerialtruck. He wears fire-retardant clothingalong with rubber gloves, sleeves andsafety goggles for his protection whileworking around lines energized to14,400 volts; he meticulously performsevery move to ensure his safety, that ofhis co-workers, and the Cooperative’smembers.

“My job is varied and exciting,” saysDavid, “and I am grateful for it. I lookforward to coming to work. The guysand I are a team; we get the job doneand strive to provide the best servicepossible for MEC members.”

He and his family live on MEC linesin the Freeman area. They built theirhome next to his mom and dad’stobacco farm where he grew up. Hiswife, Stephanie, is employed withMecklenburg County Public Schools asa 7th-grade teacher at Park ViewMiddle School. Their oldest child,Adam, is an 8th-grader; and their twin boys, Bryce and Carter, are in the2nd grade.

David also works alongside hisfamily to raise soybeans, tobacco andBlack Angus cattle on land originallyworked by his grandfather. Adam,Bryce and Carter are learning to dotheir fair share of farm chores, andDavid hopes when they are grown they will continue the legacy ofHolloway Farms.

Although much of his spare time isspent working the fields, he still findstime to coach his boys’ baseball teamsin Brunswick’s recreational league, playa few rounds of golf, and do somelocal hunting. He is a member ofCallaville Hunt Club, which wasfounded years ago by his dad, the late Sonny Holloway.

David has been serving themembers of Mecklenburg ElectricCooperative for 17 years; and with thatkind of dedication, MEC’s membersare in great hands.

David HollowayLineman/ServicemanEmporia District

17 Years of Service

22 | Cooperative Living | November-December 2016 Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

Edmonds Printing Company:Lawrenceville’s Longtime Family-Run Print BusinessMoves Forward with Next Generation’s Technology

by Laura Emery, Field Editor

Aubrey Edmonds, 80, founder ofEdmonds Printing Company inLawrenceville, chuckles when

he says he doesn’t know much about “that computer thing” and “pushing allthose buttons.” That’s what his three sons — Donnie,

Kerry and Calvin Edmonds — are for.They’ve mastered the company’scomputerized printing process because,according to Aubrey, they’ve been doing itsince they were waist-high. But Aubrey does know how to keep a

business afloat through changing times. “As far as we know, we’re the

longest-established businessin Lawrenceville thathasn’t changedowners,” he says.“We’re quiteproud of that.”And it’s all

from reputation,he insists.“People enjoytheir experiencewith us, and theytell their friends and business associates.That’s how we get newbusiness,” he says. “I’ve never hadto go knocking on doors to get business.”This is an impressive feat, considering

Aubrey has seen so many small-townprinting companies go out of business over the last several years. “I’ve seen about 25-30 other printing companies,over the last year or two, close their doors.So it’s a scary thing to be in this industryright now.” It all started when Aubrey was running

a newspaper he founded, The Advertiser, inthe late 1960s. He decided that he’d like to be in the printing business as well. “At first, I just wanted to do it as a hobby,”he says, laughing.

In pursuit of hisnew “hobby,” he

purchased a hand press,among other pieces, at an

equipment auction inChatham. “My wife, who is now

deceased, and I went up there. I bid on ita few times. My wife, Betty, said, ‘Bid onemore time, and don’t bid no more.’ So I bidone more time, and we got it. Then I didn’tknow where to put it, so my father fixedme up a little place ... a little 600-square-foot building.” That little 600-square-foot building

became home to Edmonds PrintingCompany. In 1962, it opened for business,located right off of Christanna Highway.What started out as something “to do onthe side” soon became a thriving full-timeoperation. “Everybody needed us.Businesses didn’t have their owncomputers to print their stuff the way they

do now. At one time, in fact, we weredoing 100 books a year for the SouthernBaptist Association. Business was good,”he says. Edmonds Printing was then a letterpress

operation, a process that has beendisplaced by more efficient processes overthe years. “Back in those days, printingwas a whole different thing,” he says.“A lot harder than what we do now, if youask me.” His son Calvin is operations manager.

Calvin inherited his father’s passion forprinting. “It’s the only thing I know how todo and do well, so I might as well be asgood at it as I can possibly be,” he says,laughing. From dithering to a deckle edgeand CMYK to crossover, printingterminology easily spills off Calvin’s lips.“The printing process is far morecomplicated than most people think. It’sman versus machinery. There are so many

Above: Aubrey Edmonds, 80, is the founder of Edmonds Printing Company inLawrenceville. Thinking he wanted to get into printing as a hobby, Aubreypurchased a hand press (inset), among other pieces, at an equipmentauction in Chatham and that was how Edmonds Printing Company got itsstart. The business has grown since its inception in 1962 and now has an8,000-square-foot facility in the same location on Christanna Highway.

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www.meckelec.org November-December 2016 | Cooperative Living | 23

variables involved that a mistake in anyone of those variables can turn a greatprinting job into nothing more than scrappaper,” he explains. Though the digital age has completely

changed how the Edmondses do business,Aubrey takes it in stride. “In 1992, webegan to use computerized equipment. A small business cannot operate andsucceed unless they change with the times.You have to change, or you’ll be gone,” he reflects. Through it all, Aubrey maintains a

healthy sense of humor. At times, it can bedifficult to discern whether he is joking orbeing serious. He proudly reveals that heonce received a paycheck for $700 for ajoke he submitted to Reader’s Digestmagazine. “I’ve also got two huge filefolders of jokes and funny stories,” he says, just in case he runs out of material. “I carry on a lot of foolishness, but itmakes me happy.”He goes on to reveal the very first

printing job the print shop got. “We had to

print a bunch of postcards. They said,‘If you’re a failure in business, you can always get a job in the government as anexpert.’” He waits for a reaction, his eyes twinkling.Edmonds Printing Company is proud to

be a member of Mecklenburg ElectricCooperative. “We get excellent service andare very happy with them. If we’re everdown, we’re always up in short order,”Aubrey notes. Their business has grown since its

inception in 1962 and now has an 8,000-square-foot facility in the same location.“We print a lot of funeral programs andlarge-scale printing projects for big schoolsystems,” Aubrey explains. “I always say,we’ll print anything but money!” Thecompany has also done printing work forMecklenburg Electric Cooperative. July through September is the busiest

time of the year for the print shop. “Mysons will stay here all through the nightuntil the jobs are done — and done right,”Aubrey says. He holds up a color-printed

funeral program the company received at 3 p.m. the day before. “The customer hadtheir printed programs delivered to themin Petersburg first thing this morning,” heproudly reports. Edmonds Printing Company can handle

any scale printing job, from digital formatto high-quality offset printing. “Our goal is to deliver on time and within yourbudget,” Aubrey says, with a smile. The company can print annual reports,calendars, raffle tickets, napkins,envelopes, booklets, posters, art prints,memo pads, brochures, certificates, flyers,programs, letterheads and more. Aubrey says, “We had to change over

time in order to survive. Some months, it’sall we can do to keep our heads abovewater. But we’re still here and we havehappy customers. That’s what matters.”

For More Information13770 Christanna HighwayLawrenceville, VA 23868Phone: 434-848-2264Fax: 434-848-4412Email: epci@meckcom.netwww.edmondsprinting.net

Above, from left: Aubrey Edmondswith two of his three sons, Donnieand Calvin. Aubrey proudly says thatEdmonds Printing Company is thelongest-established business inLawrenceville that hasn’t changedowners. Right: Connie Tatum, binderysupervisor, has been working forEdmonds Printing Company for thelast 14 years. The company canhandle any scale printing job, fromdigital format to high-quality offsetprinting. July through September istheir busiest time of the year.

24 | Cooperative Living | November-December 2016 Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

MEC Gift CertificateI/we would like to provide a credit of $_________ on the following MEC electric account:

_________________________________________________________________________(Please print) Recipient’s Name Recipient’s Account # or Telephone #

_________________________________________________________________________Recipient’s Property Address

_________________________________________________________________________My Name Daytime Telephone #

_________________________________________________________________________My Mailing Address

For multiple gifts, this certificate can be reproduced.

Instead of another box ofcandy or another gadget orderedfrom a catalog, give your familymembers and friends somethingthey can really use this year —the gift of electricity. It’s as easyas 1 - 2 - 3!

1. Fill out the coupon belowand mail it to us with your checkor money order made payableto Mecklenburg ElectricCooperative. Mail it to P.O. Box2451, Chase City, VA 23924.

2. We will credit the recipient’selectric account and mail apostcard directly to the recipientstating the amount of the giftand who gave it (unless you wishto remain anonymous). Or wecan mail the postcard to you.

3. Your friends and familymembers will appreciate yourthoughtfulness and will enjoy allthe benefits and comfort thatelectricity provides.

Give the Gift of Electricity This Holiday Season

_____Mail confirmation postcardto me.

_____Mail notification postcard torecipient with my/our name(s)as the gift giver(s).

_____Mail notification postcardto recipient, but I/we wish to remain anonymous.

www.meckelec.org November-December 2016 | Cooperative Living | 25

Support Local Events in Your CommunityVeterans Day Service:Veterans Memorial Park,

South Hill. Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. 434-447-4567.Veterans Day Observance:Mecklenburg

County Veterans Memorial Monument, Clarksville.Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. Bring lawn chairs. (FineArts Center in case of rain.) 434-372-3466.

Holiday Living Show:Halifax County High School.Saturday, Nov. 12. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.1-5 p.m. Admission $2. Children under 10 free. 434-579-5528 or www.halifaxbusinesswomen.org.

Lights Out: Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons: The Colonial Center, South Hill.Saturday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.www.colonialcenterva.org or 434-262-4170.

Holiday Bazaar: Dixie Warehouse, South Hill.Saturday, Nov. 19. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 434-447-8320.

Holiday Open House: Clarksville. Sunday, Nov. 20. 1-5 p.m. 434-374-2436.

Downtown South Boston Christmas OpenHouse: Sunday, Nov. 20. 1-5 p.m. 434-575-4209.

Giblet Jog: English Park, Altavista. ThanksgivingDay, Nov. 24 , at 8:30 a.m. Register atwww.altavistaontrack.net. 434-369-5001.

Small Business Saturday: Saturday, Nov. 26.Visit your favorite locally owned businesses.www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small.

Tell Santa: South Hill Chamber Depot.Wednesday, Nov. 30. 4-7 p.m. 434-447-4547.

Clarksville Christmas Parade: Friday, Dec. 2, at6:30 p.m. 434-374-2436.

Keysville Christmas Parade: Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. 434-395-8004.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (C.A.T.S.):The Colonial Center, South Hill. Dec. 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.www.colonialcenterva.org or 434-262-4170.

Lawrenceville Christmas Parade: Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. 434-848-3154.

Santa Breakfast: Elm Acres Community Center,Lawrenceville. Saturday, Dec. 3. 8:30 a.m. 434-848-3154.

Altavista Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 3,at 5 p.m. 434-369-6665.

Chatham Christmas Parade: Saturday, Dec. 3,at 11 a.m. 434-250-1634.

Christmas Bazaar: Estes Community Center,Chase City. Saturday, Dec. 3. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 434-372-0502.

South Boston Christmas Parade: Saturday,Dec. 3, at 5 p.m. Theme: A Dr. Seuss Christmas. 434-575-4209 or www.downtownsobo.com.

Christmas Farmers Market: Market Square,South Hill. Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 434-447-3191.

South Hill Christmas Parade: Sunday, Dec. 4,at 2 p.m. 434-447-4547.

Chase City Christmas Parade: Sunday, Dec. 4,at 6 p.m. 434-372-0379.

Halifax Children’s Christmas Parade: Sunday, Dec. 4. Lineup at 6 p.m. Parade at 6:30. 434-476-2196.

Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade:Danville.Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. Theme: The 12 Days ofChristmas. 434-793-4636.

Boydton Grand Illumination: DowntownBoydton. Monday, Dec. 5, at 5:30 p.m. 434-738-6344, Ext. 21.

Grand Illumination in the Gardens:MacCallum More Museum and Gardens, ChaseCity. Tuesday, Dec. 6. Rain date Dec. 13. 6 p.m. 434-372-0502.

Shriners Seafood Festival: Golden LeafWarehouse, South Hill. Wednesday, Dec. 7. 5:30-8 p.m. Tickets $25. 434-447-3200.

Gretna Christmas Parade: Sunday, Dec. 11, at3 p.m. 434-369-6688.

Bluestone Band Christmas Concert:BluestoneHigh School Gymnasium. Sunday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m.Free admission. 434-372-5702.

New Year’s Eve Giant Silver Star Drop:Market Square, South Hill. 10 p.m. to midnight.434-447-4547.

New Year’s Eve Ball Drop: Family Dollar parkinglot, Chase City. 10 p.m. to midnight. 434-372-0379.

A Warm Holiday Greetingfrom Your Electric Cooperative

As we near the holiday season, your Cooperative’s employees, management, and board ofdirectors wish each of you the warmest Thanksgiving, a joyful Christmas, and the blessingsof health, prosperity and happiness as the New Year rings in. During this special season taketime to celebrate the love of family and friends and be ever mindful that your Cooperative isthankful for each of you and the kindness you share in so many ways.

We stand firm in faithfully serving you as has been our commitment for the past 78 years.Collectively, Mecklenburg Electric’s employees hold you in the highest regard as members ofthis Cooperative but also as so much more — you make up a family that we care for andstrive to serve with the utmost of our abilities.

May each of your holidays be blessed with peace, joy and love as you pass along thosesame sentiments to family, friends and neighbors. Happy Holidays!

YOUR COOPERATIVE’S HOLIDAY CLOSINGSMecklenburg Electric Cooperative (MEC) offices will be closed on the following dates for the holidays:

Thanksgiving — Thursday & Friday, Nov 24 and 25Christmas — Friday, Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 23, 26 and 27

New Year’s — Monday, Jan. 2

MEC crews will be on call 24/7 for emergency service and will promptly respond to your needs.Outage/Emergency Phone Number 1-877-MECK-OUT (1-877-632-5688)