Florida Currents April 2014

Glades Electric Cooperative

A P R I L 2014

Restoring the Reefs A diver with Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coral Reef Science and Monitoring Program attaches a piece of staghorn coral to the reef tract near Big Pine Key. Read about the effort to increase the population of coral in the Keys and beyond on page 12.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORY

Valuing the Power in Your Home

PAGE 4



Powered for a Cure on the Tees PAGE 6

Are you in love with your home but afraid of your stairs?

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Remember the days when you woke up, jumped out of bed, threw on your clothes and ran down the stairs to greet the day? Yeah... me neither... that was years ago.

Now, everyone from my doctor to my kids are telling me I need to avoid using my stairs. The problem is, I’ve lived in this house for years, and if I don’t use the stairs I either have to sleep in my family room or live in my bedroom. Why should I risk my safety just to get around? Then, a friend told me about an innovative solution, the Easy Climber®. It’s basically a chair lift for your stairs... and it’s given me back my home.

Why this is the safest and most reliable product on the market Safety: Easy Climber features a swivel seat and footrest that are powered to enable you to get in and out of the chair safely and easily. Sensors automatically stop it immediately if it hits an object.

There’s even a EZ Clip buckle on the seat belt and no slip handles for added peace of mind.

Quality and Simplicity: This company has been making these products for a long time– they do it right. This exclusive model features innovative design and quality components. It’s simple and reliable, with the least need for maintenance and repair.

Warranty: This system is backed by Easy Climber exclusive limited lifetime warranty - the best in the business.

Flexibility: Easy Climber is designed for easy installation on either side of the staircase. The seat-mounted controller can be placed on either side and the call/send controls can be mounted wherever you want them. When you’re not using it, simply park Easy Climber at the top of the stairs and out of sight.

and created the safest stair climber on the market today. Easy Climber has exclusive safety features and design innovations as standard equipment.

This exclusive product was designed with one overwhelming goal: safety first. From a seat that won’t let you get out the wrong way to a battery backup for power outages, this stair climber has the features you want and the safety you need. Why risk your life on the stairs when an easy and affordable solution is only a phone call away. Call now and a knowledgeable product expert will answer any questions you may have.

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At the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris, the company that makes the Easy Climber was inspired by the lift used in the Eiffel Tower and later created a lift of their own. In 1961 they introduced the first seated stair lift, and now they’ve taken their knowledge and expertise

Glades Electric

Neighbors Working for Neighbors

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Give Your Appliances Breathing Room If your microwave oven, refrigerator, TV and decorative lamps are too close together, they could overheat, cause a fire or die an early death.

The problem: Even appliances need breathing room. Space your heat-generating appliances far enough away from each other that air can easily circulate between them.

Don’t cover them with decorative sleeves or knick-knacks. Avoid storing cloth, paper or

plastic items on top of the fridge, microwave or other appliances that produce heat.

Likewise, keep appliances away from sinks, bathtubs and locations with standing water. If you use a hair dryer, electric shaver or another electric device in the bathroom, don’t operate it while standing on a wet floor. If your kitchen and bathroom outlets do not have ground-fault circuit interrupters, have them installed immediately. 

Inside

April 2014 Vol. 3, No. 6

Restoring the Reefs 12

Scientist works with Mote Marine Laboratory to increase coral populations in the Florida Keys and beyond.

Also In This Issue Side Roads 10 In the Kitchen 16 Florida Gardener 18

Festival Roundup 22 Outdoor Pursuits 24 Parting Shot 30

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32

APRIL 2014

3

Glades  Electric

Neighbors Working for Neighbors

Valuing the Power in Your Home Compared with the increased cost of other commodities, electricity remains a bargain

Can you imagine using a kerosene lamp to light a hallway in your home? What if, instead of your refrigerator, you relied on an icebox to keep your food cold?

Before electricity, families were accustomed to this way of life, and used these items as main resources in their homes.

Today, it is hard to envision our lives without electricity. With a simple touch of a button or flip of a switch, we use electricity without giving it a second thought.

When you look around your kitchen, living room, even your garage, how many devices run off electricity?

From household appliances to personal electronics, most, if not all of these items, are powered by electricity.

When computers flash “low battery,� we plug them in to charge.

When a summer day in Florida gets too warm, the fan and air conditioner power up to cool us down.

While we use electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we do not always think about the amount of reliable electricity we use in our home until we receive the bill. Glades Electric

Cooperative and its wholesale power provider, Seminole Electric Cooperative, work diligently to ensure electricity is flowing to your home when you need it, while keeping it an affordable commodity.

Despite the fact the cost of living continues to increase, the cost of electricity has increased the least compared to other items we use. For example, in the last five years, the cost of gasoline has increased 33 percent, the cost of ground beef has increased 17 percent, the cost of eggs has increased 13 percent and the cost of electricity has increased only 4 percent.

Considering how energy dependent our lives have become, this slight increase only confirms that the electricity we use every day remains a good value.

When you look at how the way of life has changed from the days before power, you will find that electricity plays an important part in shaping our lives and powering our future.

GEC and Seminole work together to maintain that value and provide you reliable and affordable electricity. n

Average Annual Price Increase (2009-2013) Electricity 1 kW

4%

Gasoline

33%

1 gallon

Beef

17%

1 pound

Eggs 1 dozen

4

april 2014

13%

Household Energy Use in Florida* Air conditioning 27% Heating 50%

Water heating 9% 14%

Appliances, electronics, lighting * Based on a 2009 EIA study

april 2014

5

Glades Electric

Neighbors Working for Neighbors

Powered for a Cure on the Tees Inaugural golf tournament in Sebring raises money for American Cancer Society

Above, Paul McGehee, director of business development for Glades Electric Cooperative, lines up a putt as his playing partners look on. At left is Glades CEO Jeff Brewington. At right are Roy Lumsden, south territory account manager for Gresco Utility Supply, and Tracy Vaughn, GEC’s director of operations.

6

APRIL 2014

Survivor, caretaker, research, cancer, birthdays and celebration are terms that almost immediately bring to mind Relay For Life—the American Cancer Society’s primary fundraiser and awareness campaign.

Adding terms such as mulligan, par, birdie, eagle and handicap and you have a formula for success.

That’s what Chelsea Lowder, organizer of the GEC Team Powered for a Cure Golf Tournament learned as she and her crew of volunteers recruited players, gathered sponsors and awarded prizes at the inaugural event.

“I couldn’t have done it without the help from many of my coworkers and team participants,” said Lowder.

“Everyone pulled together to make this event a success.”

Mike Tuohy, golf pro at the Country

Club of Sebring, helped keep track of the technical aspects of the game as 66 players comprising 16 teams teed off February 22.

“There were just the right number of players,” said Glades Electric Cooperative CEO Jeff Brewington, who was one of the players. “The pace of the play was great.”

Early morning clouds threatened the start of play, but the sun quickly appeared.

Cash prizes were awarded to the top three teams. Goodie bags were given to all players and raffle prizes were available for items ranging from golf balls to flatscreen televisions and a fire pit.

Thanks to the players and the hard work of the volunteers and staff, everyone had an enjoyable time and made the Powered for a Cure Golf Tournament a success.

Clockwise from left, Glades Electric Cooperative’s Chelsea Lowder, the tourney organizer, with raffle prizes collected for the Powered for a Cure Golf Tournament. GEC’s Sandra Padilla passes out raffle prizes. The tourney’s gold sponsors are recognized at the first tee.

“It was a lot of work, but everyone seemed to have a good time, so we are looking forward to it again next year,” said Lowder.

GEC Team Powered for a Cure thanks the sponsors of the golf tournament: • Gold sponsors: Glades Electric Cooperative, Gresco Utility Supply, PIKE Corporation and Lewis Tree Trimming Services.

• Additional sponsors: Budweiser (Bernie Little Distributors), Cohan Radio Group, High Quality Repair and Heartland In the Field Magazine.

• Hole sponsors: Montz Builders, Barney Goodman, Ken and Shannon Hall, John Dean and family, Gilbert Ford, Gilbert Chevrolet, Creative Designs Hair Color Studio, Budget Bi Rite Insurance and Draper Consulting. n

American Cancer Society Relay For Life In 1985 one man, Dr. Gordy Klatt, a Tacoma colorectal surgeon, invited his friends to join him and raise money for his local American Cancer Society office doing something he enjoyed: running marathons. That May, friends ran or walked 30 minutes with him as he circled the track at Baker Stadium at the University of Puget Sound during a grueling 24-hour period in which he logged more than 83 miles.

He raised $27,000. That led him and a small committee to organize the first team relay event which has grown into today’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

Today, the event not only raises funds to support cancer research and help the lives of those who have been affected by cancer. It also gives communities around the world a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost and fight back against the disease.

Join GEC Team Powered for a Cure and other participants at the Lake Placid Relay For Life Event Friday, April 4, at the Lake Placid High School football stadium to celebrate less cancer and more birthdays, or find an event in your local community at www.relayforlife.org.

Source: American Cancer Society www.cancer.org

april 2 0 1 4

7

Glades Electric

Neighbors Working for Neighbors

Operation Round Up Monthly Report More than 70 percent of Glades Electric Cooperative members participate in Operation Round Up. This program helps people in GEC’s service area who have exhausted normal avenues of financial assistance. Sign up today, and your electric bill will be rounded up to the nearest dollar. The extra is placed in the fund for deserving individuals and organizations.

As of March 4, your Charitable Trust Board of Directors has approved $817,287.25 in disbursements. These funds have provided assistance with food, emergency lodging, disaster relief and specific

emergency needs for 541 individuals and/or families and 112 community organizations.

The trust does not fund utility bills (electric, phone, water and gas) or budgets of organizations.

Organizations in our service counties may apply for funding for a specific need or project.

The Charitable Trust Board of Directors meets monthly to review applications for funding.  If you know of people who need and deserve assistance and live within our service area, encourage or help them to complete an application. Applications can be picked up at each of our three offices: Moore Haven, Lake Placid and Okeechobee.

High-Quality Surge Protection Offered by GEC Glades Electric Cooperative is proud to offer members a new choice in home surge protection with Meter Treater, manufactured by M-Ti. This Floridabased company’s meter-base protection devices have been protecting Florida homes since 1986. M-Ti also manufactures superior surge protection devices for commercial and industrial applications. The company has earned a reputation for innovative design, high-quality workmanship, and friendly, responsive customer service. Our members deserve nothing less! Contact a GEC office for more information.

Barbara Hughes District 1 Moore Haven Beverly Eaves District 2 Hendry County Kelly Brantley District 3 Ortona/Palmdale Dori Evans District 4 Lakeport Lori Thompson District 5 Venus/Hicora Lee Andrus District 6 Highlands Park

$25

Credit Winners

Jerry Chasteen District 7 Lorida

Clifford J. Nault No. 1145-001 Edward & Carolyn O’Berry No. 77786911-001

David McCadam District 8 Lake Josephine

Winners should call (800) 226-4024 or sign their name on this page and mail it to:

Angela Hodges District 9 Okeechobee

Florida Currents $25 Credit Glades Electric Cooperative P.O. Box 519 Moore Haven, FL 33471

8

Charitable Trust Board of Directors

APRIL 2014

Church of the Month New Life Holiness

109 Hallmark Ave. Lake Placid, FL 33852

The next meeting of the Charitable Trust Board of Directors is April 24 at 1 p.m. in Moore Haven.

Co N nt o ra ct

r d ife tte an y L Be nd ter u at So r B e ng Lo

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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 the longest-lasting– 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.

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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 minutes carry over and are available for 60 days. If you exceed the minute balance on your account, you will be billed at 35¢ for each minute used over the balance. 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 GreatCall phone and the activation fee (or set-up fee) 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 be deducted from your refund for each minute over 30 minutes. You will be charged a $10 restocking fee. The shipping charges are not refundable. Jitterbug and GreatCall are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ©2014 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. ©2014 GreatCall, Inc. ©2014 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

Side Roads

Discoveries Off the Beaten path

Minding Butterflies’ Business Breeder collaborates with Mother Nature to create the ideal environment to raise her winged creatures

By Pat Raia

Postcards From Florida

Wonderworks, Panama City Beach

m Blair

photo by pa

at Wonderworks, the laws of nature and probability interact with human skills and perceptions to create mindboggling, head-scratching virtual, mental and physical challenges. More than 100 exhibits and challenges await in this four-story interactive fun lab housed in an eye-catching upside-down building. For more information, see www.wonderworksonline.com.

10

april 2014

In a corner of Constance Hodsdon’s backyard, a giant black swallowtail caterpillar feasts on the leaves of a fennel plant. Nearby, an Eastern black swallowtail caterpillar is nestled in a low-growing patch of vegetation.

“Most people would have pulled this out of their gardens,” Constance says, picking through the plant’s leaves to reveal the cocoon.

“But we’re working with A Monarch caterpillar munches on vegetation at Flutterby Gardens Mother Nature here,” she says. in Bradenton.

Knowing how to work with nature to produce butterflies Constance says. Permits to transfer butis Constance’s business. terflies are good for three years.

Since establishing Flutterby Gardens in There is no cost for the permit, but Bradenton in 2001, Constance has proa separate one is needed for each state. vided the butterflies used in everything Permits are issued by the state to which a from weddings, anniversaries and breeder is sending butterflies. children’s landmark birthday celebraThe regulation is intended to ensure tions to an advertising campaign for incoming butterflies do not negatively national retailer Target. affect the environment into which they “We sent them to Chicago to be are released. Controlled cultivation is photographed,” Constance says. good for the species, Constance says.

According to Constance—who “Only one in 200 survives in the wild,” serves as vice president of the she explains. “Here, 99 of 100 survive.”

International Butterfly Breeders Flutterby Gardens’ extensive operaAssociation—there are 120 buttion includes a laboratory that serves terfly farmers worldwide. as a kind of nursery for butterflies in Most are small business entre- their cocoon and chrysalis stages. Three preneurs who raise butterflies screened-in spaces, or houses, allow for sale directly to clients or mature butterflies to mate, lay eggs, feed into the wholesale market, where they and stretch their wings before shipment. are purchased for resale. Larger breeders Constance breeds six butterfly varietserve a more specialized market. ies: Gulf fritillary, monarch, giant swalMost of Constance’s butterflies are sold lowtail, Eastern black swallowtail, painted to individual clients for release during lady and the zebra longwing, Florida’s special occasions. She also provides butstate butterfly. terflies to other farmers for resale.

During her busiest times, she ships The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s about 150 butterflies to clients in Florida Animal and Plant Health Inspection and nationwide each week.

Service grants transfer permits and reguConstance also cultivates the plants lates which butterflies can be released the butterflies use to mate, lay their eggs where and during what time of year, and feed. These days, she is focused on

Above, a monarch butterfly feasts on milkweed at Flutterby Gardens. Left, Constance Hodsdon cultivates plants the butterflies need for food and shelter.

making sure her Monarch butterflies are well-fed, and that those passing through have a quality place to stop, rest and nourish themselves.

“It’s a matter of knowing what kind of plants the butterflies like,” Constance says. “For example, the monarchs like milkweed.”

To ensure there is enough of the plant, Constance propagates her own. She experiments with growing techniques, such as hydroponics.

All of the plants growing at Flutterby

Gardens are cultivated and maintained organically without the use of pesticides.

“You can buy plants, including milkweed (at retail stores), but they’re full of pesticides,” Constance says.

“I do everything by hand because I want to produce vital, quality butterflies.”

Constance is particularly focused on the monarch butterfly migration recently threatened, in part, by the disappearance of hedgerows in the United States.

Monarch butterflies are native to warmer climates in Florida and California, but in the fall, they migrate from Canada to Mexico, Constance says. In the United States, the increasing use of pesticides and destruction of natural habitat is frustrating that migration, she notes.

“In the past, people didn’t use pesticides and hedgerows were found along

roadsides,” Constance says. “Now, because corn and soybeans are used in fuel products, farms come right up to the road and farmers are using pesticides that don’t bother corn and soy plants, but destroy everything else.”

To alleviate the situation, Flutterby Gardens has become an official way point for monarch butterflies headed south for the winter. Constance encourages people in Florida to plant milkweed, butterfly bushes, purple coneflower and meadow blazing star in their own gardens.

“We also ask that people avoid using pesticides and help to protect natural monarch habitats,” she says.

Ultimately, their beauty and transformation symbolism make butterflies so attractive to human beings, Constance says.

“In fact, now that you are aware of them, you will see butterflies more often than you ever did before,” she says.

Constance says she has no regrets about leaving a lucrative career in the insurance industry to pursue butterfly breeding.

“It gets crazy around here, but I don’t even feel like I’m working,” she says.

“This is what I’d do if I didn’t have to do anything.” n april 2014

11

Side Roads

Restoring the Reefs Scientist works to increase coral populations in the Keys

By J.M. Garlock

When Erich Bartels switched from surfing to scuba diving, an undersea world opened up to him—and he discovered his life’s work: restoring coral reefs.

“I didn’t have a clue about corals or coral reefs until part way through college,” says Erich, manager of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coral Reef Science and Monitoring Program.

Erich enjoyed surfing in the New Jersey coastal community where he grew up.

“I hoped to study physical oceanography and perhaps work with issues like coastal erosion,” he says.

Erich enrolled at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.

“I had my first experience scuba diving, and quickly realized that coral reefs were where my interest was,” he says.

Scuba diving in the Keys has attendant risks: “jellyfish stings, fire coral,

cold water and scrapes,” says Erich. “Not as safe as sitting at a desk, but certainly more fun.”

Erich has been involved with a variety of marine research projects since 1992.

His first few experiences out of college were in the marine aquaculture business, working with biotechnology companies that were developing anti-cancer drugs from marine organisms.

He joined Mote as a research assistant in 1999, and has been conducting coral research ever since.

“Staghorn coral was historically a major reef-building coral species found in the waters off Florida and throughout the Caribbean,” says Erich. “However, since the late 1980s, significant declines in coral coverage worldwide have occurred due to a variety of threats, including bleaching, disease, hurricanes, increased predation, algae overgrowth, direct human disturbances and climate change.”

Above, a diver with strings of coral prior to planting. Top, snipped staghorn is attached to the reef tract.

Photos courtesy of Mote Marine Laboratory

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april 2014

Researchers from Mote and The Nature Conservancy harvested 50 staghorn coral fragments from Mote’s coral nursery near Looe Key Marine National Marine Sanctuary and planted them on a reef in 20 feet of water south of Big Pine Key. To plant staghorn, researchers drive a nail into a hard surface on the reef tract, scrub the surface next to the nail with a brush, place a small glob of epoxy on the clean surface, stick a coral fragment into the epoxy and attach the coral to the nail with a cable tie.

Staghorn populations have declined by up to 97 percent in the U.S. Caribbean.

Staghorn and elkhorn were the first coral species to be listed in 2006 under the federal Endangered Species Act. In 2008, they were listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species. They are two of the most important corals because they are fast-growing reef builders.

Florida has the third-largest living coral reef in the world and the only living reef in the continental United States.

Coral reefs provide habitat, food, breeding grounds and protection for fish, dolphins, turtles, manatees and much of the life that inhabits Florida’s waters.

Elkhorn and staghorn corals reproduce in two ways. Asexual fragmentation occurs when fragments are broken off, reattach to a hard surface and start a new colony genetically identical to the original. Broadcast spawning occurs when coral colonies release millions of gametes that contain sperm and eggs. The

gametes burst and the sperm of one colony fertilizes the eggs of another colony.

“One to two meters is the optimum distance for two unrelated corals to crossfertilize each other when they spawn,” says Erich. “You need corals from different parents in proximity to maintain genetic diversity.”

Timing is critical, he says, noting fertilization has to occur within the first few minutes of spawning.

“That only happens if the colonies are close enough,” Erich says.

The coral is monitored after planting to make sure fragments are properly anchored, and predators—such as snails—are removed.

“These fast-growing corals form dense, three-dimensional thickets, contributing significantly to reef growth, island formation, coastal protection and fisheries habitat diversity,” Erich says. “Juvenile reef fish, schooling bait fish, large herbivorous and predatory reef fish, and invertebrates are all found associated with staghorn reefs.”

Mote is developing methods and technologies needed to produce other slowergrowing species of coral for eventual reintroduction to degraded reefs around the world, Erich adds, noting efforts include restoration on reefs from Brevard County to the Dry Tortugas and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The project is financed by a $3.3 million grant to The Nature Conservancy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Thirty thousand coral fragments are in nurseries. The goal is to outplant 8,000 of those coral fragments this spring.

“This project has real potential to contribute significantly to the recovery of these threatened species, restore some of America’s most significant coral reefs, and the fisheries and tourism-based economies they support,” says Erich. n Want to help? Buy the Protect Our Reefs specialty license for your car or boat trailer. Every penny of the $25 annual use fee goes directly to Mote Marine Laboratory. Nearly $6.5 million has been generated since 2004 for the conservation and rebuilding of the state’s reef systems.

Top, a diver snips coral for replanting. Above, Erich Bartels places nursery-grown coral fragments at an outplant site offshore of Big Pine Key. april 2014

13

Pet Smarts Pet intelligence is hard to measure and compare, because different animals have different aptitudes

By Chandra Orr

Many people think their pet is a genius.

A dog’s or cat’s ability to adapt to training, learn new tricks and solve problems reveals a lot about them, but determining just how smart your furry friend is can be trickier than you might think.

“Our ability to measure a dog’s intelligence, even in the most ideal of circumstances, is still limited,” says trainer and dog behaviorist Jonathan Klein. “I’ve been training professionally for more than 22 years and still don’t feel comfortable in confidently saying that a dog is smart or dumb.”

He says it is similar to going to a country where you don’t speak the language.

“I could interview five locals, and if I were asked to rank their order of intelligence, it would be a total guess on my part,” he says.

All animals, including humans, have inherent aptitudes and hard-wired traits to aid in their survival. We excel at reasoning and problem-solving, but gauging a dog’s or a cat’s intelligence based on the same criteria may not be the smartest way to go.

“Measuring animal intelligence is controversial because any way we look at it we are coming at it from the human perspective,” says veterinarian Jean Hofve, co-author of “The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care: An Illustrated Handbook.”

When gauged by criteria unique to 14

april 2014

Photo by Iztok Noc

each species, animals are pretty sharp.

“It turns out that crows use tools, chimpanzees plan activities ahead of time, prairie dogs have their own language, and dogs can learn hundreds of nouns and verbs,” Hofve says. “Every animal has intelligence and ability. It’s up to us to find those qualities and help our pet express them.”

Your dog may not be able to correct the error if he wraps his leash around a pole and your cat may not come when called by name, but that doesn’t mean they are not intelligent in their own right.

It is just that different species and breeds have different aptitudes.

“A border collie is considered extremely intelligent because he is able to learn very complex signals and routines that take advantage of the traits bred into him, such as the tendency to herd,” Hofve says. “But a pug knows how to get a laugh and when to snuggle to make his guardian feel better at the end of a long day. He has special talents that are just as valuable.”

The secret behind a “smart” pet is playing to its unique traits and tapping into natural motivators.

“All dogs—just like all people—have different aptitudes,” Klein says. “There are brilliant mathematicians who can barely write a letter and novelists who can’t do basic division.

“With dogs, it’s more about their drive to pursue a certain task than it is about their intelligence. Let’s say you have two dogs, and you throw each a ball into a field with tall grass. One may look for that ball for an hour, while the other may give up after a couple of minutes. This doesn’t mean that one dog is smarter than the other, but that one is more motivated to find the ball.”

Pet owners can make the most of those motivations and unique traits with engaging activities. As with humans, exposure to a wide range of stimuli helps pets’ brains form new connections, especially when they are young.

New people, new social situations and new training routines help dogs and cats flex their brain muscles.

“Think of it this way: If you snooze on the sofa all day, you’re not doing anything to develop your mind,” Hofve explains.

“Stimulation from the environment

“Stimulation from the environment creates new pathways for the neurons in your pet’s brain, allowing new ways of thinking.”

Dr. Jean Hofve Veterinarian and author

creates new pathways for the neurons in your pet’s brain, allowing new ways of thinking.”

Interactive, puzzle-type toys— especially when paired with food—are great for boosting brainpower in both dogs and cats. The treats offer substantial rewards that tap into a natural motivator and allow pets to use their inherent abilities to solve the problem.

Cats will employ their manual dexterity and a keen hunting instinct, while dogs can tap into their extraordinary sense of smell to extract the treat. Some pets will catch on more quickly than others, but all pets will benefit from the mental challenge.

Diet also plays an important role in mental acuity. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is crucial for brain development.

It is the primary fat in the brain, and a critical element for lifelong brain and vision function, Hofve says.

Because of their carnivorous nature, cats and dogs are not good at converting plant-source omega-3s into usable nutrients, so look for marine-based supplements such as cod liver oil and fish body oil formulated for pets.

“There really is such a thing as brain food,” Hofve says. “Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties that protect the brain from the degenerative effect of aging and prevent cognitive decline and senility.”

Recognizing and understanding these important factors will help you bring out the best in your pet, no matter its type, its breed or its intelligence quotient. n © Creators.com

Seven Tips for Capturing Your Pet’s Photogenic Side

By Mike Teegarden Photographing pets is a lot like working with toddlers: They don’t hold still, they don’t smile on cue and they have a short attention span.

Try the following tips to increase your odds of capturing memorable photos of your family’s pets.

XX Get ready. You never know when a pet is going to do something cute or funny, so have your camera ready at all times.

XX Get close. Don’t lose sight of your pet among the clutter. Get close with your camera or use a longer lens, so every whisker is a sharp detail.

XX Get low. Photograph pets at their eye level or lower. The lower angle makes the eyes easier to see and gives

picture viewers a stronger emotional connection to your pets. It also creates more interesting compositions.

XX Get the right light. In general, do not use a flash when photographing pets.

The flash on your camera will give your pet’s eyes that crazed-animal look. Window light is much more flattering and enhances the texture of their fur. For outdoor pets, take pictures early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

XX Shoot lots. To increase your odds, shoot more than one or two photos.

Fast-moving animals often make for blurry photos. Some smartphones feature a burst mode that acts like a motor drive to shoot several frames at once and will increase the odds of capturing the perfect moment.

Candid or posed? Posed photos will try the patience of both pet and photographer. Opt for candid photos that show off the animal’s personality.

Pets at play and at rest are fair game.

XX Add humans. Make sure some of the photos include your pet’s favorite humans. Long after your pet is gone, those photos will spark loving memories.

XX

april 2014

15

In the Kitchen

Recipes That Satisfy

Welcome spring and celebrate Easter with an elegant meal.

Photo by Liliboas

Extraordinary Easter Dinner Bring elegance to your Easter feast with a classic ham served in one of these easy variations and complemented with a potato dish.

Baked Ham with Sweet Mango and Ginger 6- to 7-pound bone-in ham, with natural juices 1 to 2 cups mango nectar or juice 1½ cups mango or apricot jam ¾ cup light brown sugar 1½ teaspoons fresh ginger root, grated ½ teaspoon cloves

Let the ham stand at room temperature for 90 minutes. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Set the oven rack at the lowest position.

Rinse the ham and pat it dry. Using a sharp knife, score the skin of the ham 16

a pr i l 2 0 1 4

in a crisscross pattern. Place the ham in an oven-safe skillet with high sides, or a large pot or Dutch oven. The ham should fit snugly with about two inches all around.

Pour the mango juice into the pan.

Add additional water, if necessary, to bring the liquid to ½-inch deep. Cover the pan tightly with foil.

Roast for 1½ to 2 hours (about 15 minutes per pound), or until the ham’s internal temperature reaches 100 degrees.

While the ham is cooking, prepare the glaze. Combine the jam, brown sugar, ginger and cloves in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the glaze is thick and sticky. Turn off the heat and set the pot aside.

Take the ham out of the oven when it is done roasting. Turn the oven to 425 degrees.

Brush the ham with about ¼ of the

glaze. You should have some mango juice in the pan. If not, add additional mango juice or water to reach ¼-inch deep. Once the oven reaches 425 degrees, uncover the ham and return it to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, until the liquid is bubbly and the ham is a deep golden brown. The internal temperature of the ham should be 140 degrees.

Remove the ham to a cutting board and let it rest for 15 minutes. Add about 1/2 cup of the mango juice to the remaining juice in the roasting pan and whisk.

Adjust with either more juice or jam to create a slightly thick glaze. Carve the ham and serve with the glaze.

Serves 12 to 14

Kale and Potato Salad 1 pound petite Yukon Gold potatoes, halved

¼ cup olive oil, divided 1 shallot, halved and sliced ¾ pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar ¼ cup fat-free Greek yogurt Salt, pepper and sugar to taste 7 cups (1-inch pieces) green curly kale, tough ribs and stems removed ½ cup scallions, chopped ¼ cup walnuts, chopped 1 ounce smoked or traditional gorgonzola cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with the rack in the upper third of the oven.

Toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil, half of the shallots, salt and pepper.

Evenly spread the potatoes on a baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes, then add the asparagus to the baking sheet. Roast for 10 minutes more, or until the potatoes are golden brown and tender.

Puree remaining olive oil, remaining shallots, vinegar and yogurt in a blender or small food processor. Season to taste with salt, pepper and sugar.

While the vegetables are cooking, place 1 inch of water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and then add the kale. Cook for 1 minute, or until kale is bright green and lightly wilted, tossing constantly with tongs. Drain excess water.

Place the baked vegetables, kale and scallions in a serving dish. Pour the pureed ingredients over the top and toss.

Top with walnuts and gorgonzola.

Serves 6

Garlic-Roasted Ham 3- to 4-pound boneless ham, fully cooked 2 to 4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced 1/3 cup molasses 2 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Using the tip of a paring knife, cut slits in the ham.

Insert garlic slices into the slits.

Stir together the molasses and pepper.

Spread the molasses mixture over the ham. Wrap the ham with heavy-duty foil and place in a roasting pan.

Roast for 1½ to 2 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees.

Serve warm or refrigerate until completely chilled.

Serves 10 to 14

Mediterranean Mashed Potatoes 1¼ pounds russet, red or yellow potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes ½ cup nonfat plain yogurt ½ cup fat-free milk 1½ tablespoons heart-healthy buttery spread ¼ teaspoon sea salt (or ½ teaspoon garlic salt) ½ cup reduced-fat Italian blend cheese, shredded 1/4 cup julienne sundried tomatoes, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh basil, snipped 2 green onions, sliced 2.2-ounce can sliced ripe olives, drained Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook for 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain well.

Transfer the potatoes back to the pot and mash well. Stir in the yogurt, milk, buttery spread and salt. Gently stir in remaining ingredients. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes more to heat through.

Serves 4

Honey Dijon Ham 6- to 7-pound smoked ham, rump or shank portion 2/3 cup honey 1/3 cup Dijon-style mustard ¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Place the ham in a large, shallow roasting pan. Bake until the ham’s internal temperature reaches 125 degrees, about 1¼ hours.

Remove the ham from the oven and trim off the rind, leaving a thin layer all around. Score the skin of the ham by cutting diamond shapes ¼-inch deep.

Combine honey, mustard and cloves in a small bowl. Spoon honey mixture over the ham and into the diamond cuts.

Continue baking for about 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees. Serve with additional warm glaze, if desired.

Serves 12

Spinach and Artichoke Heart Two-Potato Casserole 1 pound red potatoes 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes 1¼ cups vegetable broth or stock ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded 1 teaspoon garlic salt 4 ounces Neufchatel cream cheese 4 ounces fat-free cream cheese or ½ cup fat-free cheddar cheese, shredded 7.5-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 6-ounce bag baby spinach, coarsely chopped ½ cup green onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 425 degrees and coat a 9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, then place them cut-side down on a board and slice thinly. Place potatoes in a large bowl and set aside.

Heat broth, garlic salt, cheeses and artichoke hearts in a medium saucepan until cheeses are melted. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted. Stir mixture into potatoes. Add green onions. Mix well to coat potatoes as evenly as possible.

Spread the potatoes in the prepared dish and bake for 30 minutes. Cover loosely with foil and reduce temperature to 375 degrees. Cook for 1 hour more, or until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

Serves 8

Ham recipes courtesy of the National Pork Board.

For more information about pork, visit www. porkbeinspired.com.

Potato recipes courtesy of United States Potato Board: www.potatogoodness.com a pr i l 2 0 1 4

17

Florida Gardening

Advice From the Front-Yard Farmer

Be Careful Selecting Fruit Trees Given the massive number of deciduous fruit trees available at local nurseries and gardening departments at the box stores in north and central Florida, it is no secret anymore that we can successfully grow apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums and other fruit throughout much of the state.

The difference between success and failure begins at the nursery: Only selected varieties will thrive and regularly produce fruit in Florida.

In most instances, we don’t grow the same varieties of fruit found at the grocery store, and that we have grown up eating and enjoying.

Lots of us love Red Delicious apples and Elberta peaches.

While both are popular sellers at the local supermarket, the trees perform poorly in our climate and neither is a good choice for Florida.

Instead, we grow apple varieties such as Anna and Tropic Sweet, and peaches with names like Flordaking for north Florida and Flordaprince for central Florida.

Anna, a low-chill apple variety, grows well in much of the state. These Anna apples are growing in Niceville. Do some local research and seek out the advice of local growers and your county extension office before purchasing fruit trees so you make the right selection for your area.

Photo by Dennis Gilson

To avoid buying the wrong tree for your area, do some local research and seek out the advice of people who know. Check with your county extension office or speak to an experienced local grower or nursery operator.

One of the deciding factors in selecting the right fruit tree is its chilling requirement. All deciduous fruit trees lose their leaves and go into a period of dormancy each year.

To produce fruit buds and fruit in the spring, the tree must be exposed to a certain number of chill hours—time between 32 and 45 F—during the dormancy period.

Northwest Florida has 400 to 650 chill hours during a normal winter. A Red Delicious apple tree requires

Dennis Gilson lives and gardens in Niceville.

Widely known as the Front-Yard Farmer, Dennis has grown vegetables, fruits and berries in the Florida Panhandle for more than 30 years. He shares his experience and offers timely advice at his website, FrontYardFarmer.com.

18

APRIL 2014

about 1,400 chill hours to produce fruit. A Tropic Sweet apple requires only 250.

The number of annual chill hours experienced in our state during a normal year decreases as we move east and south. North central Florida has about 400 to 500 chilling hours; central Florida, 300 to 400; south central Florida, 200 to 300; and the southern part of the state, 50 to 100.

The lack of cold is why such fruits as apples and blueberries do not grow well in South Florida, just as the colder temperatures in the Panhandle explains why exotic fruits do not perform well in Northwest Florida.

With so many stores selling fruit trees, one might expect to see fruit-laden apple, peach, pear, plum and nectarine trees growing in every neighborhood. But it is not something you see often.

Perhaps the amount of attention deciduous fruit trees require has something to do

with that. Most need an abundance of care, with rigid feeding and spraying regiments.

Without proper care and maintenance, fruit will quickly fall prey to insects and rot.

Most will be lost long before it is ready to be harvested.

When choosing which fruit trees to grow in your yard, make sure you understand how much care they will need before you make the purchase.

In my case, I have had an interest in growing fruit since my first bite of Froot Loops. But after several years of growing and caring for a small dooryard orchard of apple, pear, peach, nectarine and plum trees at my home, I now opt for fruit that requires less attention.

Lower-maintenance fruits growing in my yard include persimmons, loquats, figs and blueberries. It is not the same fruit I grew up eating, but I enjoy it even more because I grew it myself—and it doesn’t get any better than that. 

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Travel Journal

Tips for Affordable Family Adventures

How Well Do You Know Your State?

Exploring Public Gardens Have you ever wanted to go somewhere to simply relax and enjoy the view?

Florida has a wealth of beautiful gardens. Some may be within an hour or two of where you live.

Spending an afternoon surrounded by a garden of aromatic herbs, colorful native plants, a Japanese garden, a rainforest garden or a butterfly garden is a great way to relax and learn something new.

You may even take away tips and a few ideas on garden design or plants to use in your own outdoor space.

To find public gardens near you, visit www.floridaplants. com/flgardens/regional.htm and click on a region, or go to www.garden.org/publicgardens for a list of inspirational gardens to visit.

Each garden has a special feature, event or focus that makes it unique. Some have plant sales, festivals or celebrations at specified dates or throughout the year.

Once you select the gardens you want to see, go to their

 Where is the world’s deepest

freshwater spring?

Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee  What is the name of the longest river sailboat race in the world?

Annual Mug Race of Florida  What city is know as “The Heart of Florida”?

Haines City

uninhabited swamplands.

Only 5 to 10 percent of the 2,000 or so plants in existence actually bloom.

The giant sphinx moth is said to be its sole pollinator. gh the Bok Towers Gardens daily.

Concerts from a 60-bell carillon echo throu

ns Photo courtesy of Bok Tower Garde

websites to plan your trip.

To get started, here are a few to consider.

• Naples Botanical Garden (www.naplesgarden.org) features 70 acres of themed cultivated tropical gardens.

• Bok Tower Gardens (www.boktowergardens.org), a National Historic Landmark built on Iron Mountain north of Lake Wales, has 157 acres of gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.

• Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (www.selby.org) has 15 distinct garden areas on the historic estate in Sarasota.

Kris Wetherbee is an author and award-winning recipe developer. She writes about outdoor living, travel, gardening, natural health and cooking for numerous publications, including Florida Currents.

Visit her website at www.kriswetherbee.com.

20

APRIL 2014

Call ahead for hours, entrance fee (if any), available food services or picnic areas.

Wear your most comfortable shoes. Some gardens are so beautiful, intricate and extensive you may find yourself spending an entire day strolling through the grounds.

A Rare Find Florida’s iconic ghost orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii) is so unusual it only grows wild around the Everglades. This rare find is worth the hunt.

The Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve on the northern boundary of Everglades National Park is one of the few places it still can be found.

Finding the ghost orchid in bloom may be a challenge as it blooms intermittently in hard-to-access areas of

Did You Know?

The largest all-masonry fort in the United States is in the Dry Tortugas about 70 miles west of Key West.

Fort Jefferson was built in the mid-19th century to protect the nation’s gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. The unfinished coastal fortress is composed of more than 16 million bricks, but was not completed due to fears any additional load on the structure would result in further settling and additional stress.

Tell Us Your Travel Tip What’s your favorite activity in winter, spring, summer or fall?

Where’s the best beach and why? Where do you like to go for a weekend getaway? What is your go-to hidden gem or family-friendly activity?

Send your photo and travel tip in 100 words or less to info@floridacurrents.com. 

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Festival Roundup

Things to See and Do

Every Monday through summer, Key Largo Monday Night Trivia Test your knowledge from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Monday night at the Key Largo Civics Club. Bring a six-member team or join one. Business teams and families welcome. Food and beverages sold.

April 5, Marathon 33rd Annual Seven Mile Bridge Run Some 1,500 runners participate in the foot race across the longest of the 43 bridges that help comprise the Florida Keys Overseas Highway. www.7mbrun.com; (305) 395-7040

Gary Beaucage, (305) 451-3385

April 2, Panama City Beach Spring Break 5K Get in on the final race in this series at Frank Brown Park. Admission for the noon race is $25.

Register online or at 10:30 a.m. race day.

April 5, Belle Glade 36th Annual Black Gold Jubilee Country singer Rose Falcon takes the stage at Torry Island Recreation Center at 5:45 p.m., with Bush Hawg at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 9 p.m. www.facebook.com/blackgoldjubilee

www.5kspringbreak.com; (850) 890-4775

The Museum of Florida History exhibit includes a collection of 24 citrus labels that represent the thousands used in Florida between the late 1800s and the 1960s.

Citrus Label Art on Exhibit in Sebring In celebration of Florida’s rich citrus heritage, Highlands Museum of the Arts is hosting exhibits of Florida citrus and crate labels March 1 through May 1. In conjunction with the exhibits, local artists will refurbish and paint farm equipment and machinery, displaying it outside around the Highlands Art League Village. Art classes with citrusinspired themes also will be offered.

For more information, visit www. highlandsartleague.org or email casey.wohl@yahoo.com.

April 3, Key West Spanish Colonial Coins Author Carol Tedesco talks about the coins found at the shipwrecks Atocha and Santa Margarita at 6:30 p.m. in a free lecture at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum Coin Gallery, 200 Greene St.

April 5, Panama City Beach 4th Annual Furry Friend 5K Bring your pets to run or walk the race during the Humane Society of Bay County event at Frank Brown Park. Pick up registration information from 7 to 7:45 a.m. The race starts at 8 a.m. Admission is $25. Registration closes April 3.

www.melfisher.org; (305) 294-2633 extension 20

http://tinyurl.com/oyfg37q; (850) 691-2725

April 4-5, Milton 17th Annual Emerald Coast Flower and Garden Festival Flowers, guided garden tours, plant sales, a floral design demonstration, a quilt show and artisans with garden-related items are featured noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Milton campus of Pensacola State College.

Admission is free. Sales support scholarships to students seeking horticulture-related degrees.

April 5-6, Islamorada 23rd Annual Florida Keys Island Fest The event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Founders Park, MM 87 bayside, hosts a world-class art show, live music and a competition featuring Upper Keys restaurants. Admission is free.

www.friendsofthegardens-nwfl.com; (850) 587-2621

April 4-5, Pensacola Festival on the Green From children to seniors, the festival at the University of West Florida has something for everyone: fine arts, music, children’s crafts, a motor enthusiasts’ showcase and more. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. www.uwf.edu/festival; (850) 474-3000

April 4-6, Palmetto Sarasota Bradenton Home and Garden Show Explore vendor booths related to consumer home and gardens at the Bradenton Area Convention Center Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors and free for children younger than 16. www.sarasotabradentonhomeshow.com

April 5, Pensacola Opera in the Park This first-time event from 9 a.m. to noon at Community Maritime Park features a special performance of the educational children’s opera “Little Red’s Most Unusual Day,” by John Davies.

Other activities designed for kids and families include arts and crafts and story time.

(850) 433-6737

22

april 2 0 1 4

www.islamoradachamber.com; (305) 664-4503

April 10-13, Clewiston 28th Annual Clewiston Sugar Festival The annual celebration of the end of the sugar cane harvest for Hendry County starts with Seminole Heritage Day on Thursday. A Friday night street dance is followed by a 5K walk/run Saturday, with entertainment, arts and crafts, a car show, a rodeo and food. A bass tourney is Sunday. www.facebook.com/sugarfestival

April 11-12, Pensacola Pensacola Quilts! 2014 Quilt Show See the latest work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds. Cost of admission is $7 or $10 for a two-day pass. www.pensacolaquiltersguild.org; (850) 293-7927

April 11-13, Palmetto 8th Annual Gulf Coast Rhythm and Ribfest Last year’s winners try to defend their titles at the Manatee County Fairgrounds. Enjoy games, rides, prizes, entertainment and an interactive kid’s zone.

The event benefits United Community Centers, which provides programs to at-risk youths. www.gulfcoastribfest.com

April 12, Sebring Saturday Night Cruise Cruisers gather at the downtown circle from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see classic cars, listen to live entertainment and enjoy food. www.sebringcruise.com

How to Submit Your Events Want to include a family-friendly event in an upcoming listing?

Send it to info@florida currents.com. Include the date, town, times, details and a way for readers to get more information.

Please submit the item at least 60 days before the event. If you own the rights to a high-resolution photo promoting this year’s event, or from a past year’s event, please attach it along with photo credit information.

Photo by Carl Roy

Vietnam Memorial Wall Travels to Key Largo A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be at Key Largo Community Park Friday, April 11, through Monday, April 14. Admission is free. The site is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The opening ceremony is at 10 a.m. Friday. The closing ceremony is at 6 p.m. Monday. Reasonable accommodations will be made for people with disabilities. The memorial honors those who served and lost their lives with the U.S. armed forces during the Vietnam War. For more information, or to volunteer during the event, visit www.vietnamwallfloridakeys.com or call (305) 852-3872.

April 12, Anna Maria Island Island CityFest See the famous Wallenda high-wire act at 5:30 p.m. Friday and 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, along with music, arts and crafts, a car show, a kids’ zone, food and beverages. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

April 20-27, Key Largo Key Largo Conch Republic Days Presented by the Upper Keys Business Group, the family-friendly, lighthearted independence celebration showcases the unique historical and cultural characteristics of Key Largo.

April 26, Islamorada Pops in the Park Bring blankets or lawn chairs to Founders Park, MM 87, bayside, and listen to the Florida Keys Community Concert Band. The free performance begins at 4 p.m. www.keyscommunityconcertband. org; (305) 853-7294

April 26, Panama City Beach 4th Annual Beaches, Bugs and Buses The public is invited to the German Metal VW Club car show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Spinnaker Beach Club. Awards are at 2 p.m. Admission is free for spectators. The entry fee for participants is $10 by April 1 or $15 the day of the show. www.beachesbugsbuses.com

www.keylargoconchrepublicdays.com

www.annamariaislandchamber.org

April 27, Sarasota 25th Annual Earth Day Celebration Oscar Scherer State Park hosts live music, funfilled activities for kids, and environmental and informational booths from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

April 12-13, Okeechobee 5th Annual BikeFest Okeechobee Bingo, rides, a poker run, a balloon toss and more highlight the gathering of motorcyclists and classic, custom and antique car owners.

April 23-27, Panama City Beach 16th Annual Seabreeze Jazz Festival Thirty award-winning artists hit the stage at Aaron Bessant Park for a nonstop, performancepacked weekend of music. Tickets are available for one, three or all four days.

www.bikefestokeechobee.com

www.seabreezejazzfestival.com; (800) 653-7519

April 19, Sebring Music in the Park Rick Arnold entertains with oldies from the 1950s through 1970s from 7 to 9 p.m. at Highlands Hammock State Park. Admission is $5 a person.

Bring blankets, flashlights. Food available.

April 26, Avon Park 4th Annual Blueberry Festival Blueberries are the star from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Donaldson Park in the fundraiser for the Avon Park Rotary Club. Whether food or crafts, all booths must feature blueberry items.

April 30-May 4, Panama City Beach 16th Annual Thunder Beach Rally Share stories, see great bands and live entertainment, experience a scenic ride, and find the hottest custom motorcycles and motorcycle accessories with bikers, vendors and exhibitors from around the country during the free Bike Week event at Frank Brown Park.

www.floridastateparks.org; (863) 471-5324

www.aprotaryblueberryfestival.com

www.thunderbeachproductions.com

www.floridastateparks.org

april 2 0 1 4

23

Outdoor Pursuits

Enjoying the Natural World Around Us

Color: One Way to Make Bass See Red Cruising the bait aisles of a sporting goods store is like walking through a candy store. There are so many colorful choices. You can’t help but wonder if all of those lure colors and combinations really make a difference.

The answer is yes ... and no.

Color is not as critical as once thought. Location, timing, bait selection and presentation are more important. However, color does give anglers an edge, particularly when matching bait for two types of conditions: water clarity and forage menu.

A general rule of thumb is to use dark, bold colors in murky water and subtle, translucent colors in clear water conditions. This principle applies whether you are using spinnerbaits, crankbaits or plastics.

Good colors for lowvisibility conditions include grape, red, blue or black. For example, spinnerbaits with these basic colors can be paired with bright yellow or chartreuse skirts to attract fish.

In clear water, start with base colors such as motor

Color is an important criteria when selecting the right lure for a given situation, particularly when water clarity or forage is a consideration.

When buying new lures, stick with triedand-true options, avoid the temptation to buy one of every color and purge your tackle box of ineffective colors on a regular basis.

Photo by Andrew Scrivener

oil, pastels, metal flakes and natural patterns. Then experiment with some of the wilder colors and patterns to see what works best.

Natural is the only way to go when trying to match baits with local forage. Crayfish, bluegill and shad colors are three good standbys to always have in the tackle box. Keep in mind the forage you try to mimic will depend a lot on location, time of year, and whether you are fishing spawn or pre-spawn.

Helpful Hints for Hydration Bladders • Fill the bladder with equal portions of ice and water to keep water cold longer. This works especially well for long, hot day hikes.

Many of Curtis Condon’s fondest memories involve outdoor adventures with friends and family, whether fishing with old school buddies, backpacking in the mountains of the Northwest with his sons or bird watching along the Gulf Coast with his wife. He feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to write about the outdoors and other subjects for more than 30 years.

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APRIL 2014

• Use a mild flavor enhancer—such as Nuun tablets—to mask the plasticlike taste of some bladders.

• Always carry the bladder in a protected area of the backpack, away from other gear, to protect against punctures and ruptures.

• If a puncture occurs, it is easy to repair on the trail with duct tape.

• Invest in a cleaning kit.

Most come with a brush, drying hanger, and cleaning tablets or solutions.

• Detach the hose and mouthpiece, and store them and the bladder open, in a dry, dust-free place.

There is no corresponding rating system for UVA. To get protection from both, look for a sunscreen with a high SPF rating and one or more multi-spectrum ingredients to protect against UVA. These include avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, sulisobenzone, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.

Outdoor 101: Beyond SPF It used to be easy. To find a sunscreen with maximum protection, all you had to do was look for the highest SPF number.

It’s not that simple anymore.

There are two types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB. Unfortunately, SPF only applies to UVB protection.

Got a Tip or a Whopper?

Send us your favorite outdoor tip, photo or story. If selected for publication in Florida Currents magazine, we will send you $25 for onetime use. When sending a photo, identify people and pets, and tell us the story behind the picture. Email your submission to info@ floridacurrents.com.

Did You Know?

• Mosquitoes are attracted most to the color blue.

• Rats can survive without water longer than a camel.

• Opossums are resistant—but not necessarily immune—to rabies.

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25

Glades Electric

Neighbors Working for Neighbors

Progress Continues on New Metering System Meter installation begins in April, with substation equipment coming in May

Implementation of Glades Electric Cooperative’s new automated metering infrastructure continue.

GEC is making preparations to install approximately 800 of the new powerline carrier automated meters in April.

Although the meters will be in place throughout the GEC service territory, they will not be fully functional until equipment is installed and online in the co-op’s substations. GEC’s substation employees

will attend training prior to the installation of the new equipment in May. Powerline carrier automated meters transfer information through the same lines that carry electricity to your home.

This technology will improve the reliability and efficiency of the electric distribution system.

For more information on the advanced metering infrastructure, go to www. gladesec.com or call (800) 226-4024. 

GEC Introduces Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Glades Electric Cooperative is transitioning to new powerline carrier automated meters also known as AMI. The system uses two-way digital communication through power lines between GEC and its meters. The new system will bring many benefits to GEC members.

EFFICIENCY With remote meter reading and reconnection, we can save time and money (and reduce air pollution).  With more detailed data about demand and usage we can distribute power more efficiently. 

RELIABILITY New meters help us locate— and respond to—outages faster and more safely.  New meters can help us improve power quality, reducing surges and blinking.  New meters mean consistent billing periods. 

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APRIL 2014

AFFORDABILITY

new technology to help us serve you better

Operating more efficiently can help minimize cost increases.  GEC can use the new data to help our members address high bills.  Improved detection of power theft decreases the impact of cost for all our members. 

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27

Glades Electric

Neighbors Working for Neighbors

GEC Emphasizes Employee Training Co-op’s McGehee completes six-week Management Internship Program “One of the most professionally challenging and fulfilling endeavors I have experienced” is the way Glades Electric Cooperative Director of Business Development Paul McGehee describes the Robert I. Kabat Management Internship Program.

McGehee recently graduated from the intensive six-week program targeting contemporary management issues.

In keeping with the fifth cooperative principle—Education, Training and Information—McGehee joined a group of cooperative employees from around the country at the University of Wisconsin in Madison for three two-week units that focused on advanced proficiency in critical areas of cooperative management.

Each program topic is facilitated by industry experts, including CPAs, electrical engineers, professional communicators and cooperative CEOs. Topics include strategic planning, business planning, financial reporting and analysis, presentation skills, leadership traits, board and relations, government relations, grassroots advocacy, safety, power supply and generation and transmission functions and technology implementation.

In addition to classroom participation and after-hour’s bookwork, each participant must complete team and individual projects that are presented to the instructors and classmates.

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april 2014

Glades Electric Cooperative Director of Business Development Paul McGehee, left, accepts his Management Internship Program certificate from the program’s director, Gary Pfann. McGehee is the second GEC employee to complete the intensive training at the University of Wisconsin, shown covered in snow, below.

“The quality of instructors, knowledge level and diversity of classmates, and the desire to become a better employee for our members led us all to push the limits of our comfort levels,” McGehee said. “It was fascinating to see the individual project presentations, as each participant’s strength, experience and situation was on display.

“We challenged and encouraged each other through each topic, formed lasting bonds and reinforced our belief that the cooperative business model of members first is the most rewarding way to serve our communities. Our own CEO, Jeff Brewington, is a graduate of MIP and I can’t wait until other employees of the cooperative complete the program.”

Keeping pace with the ever-changing industry is one of GEC’s strategic goals. It remains our commitment to our members to be the best “Neighbors Working for Neighbors” we can be. n

Living the Cooperative Principles

Supporting Our Youth and Community Our future as a community and as a country depends on how well we support and prepare our youth. At Glades Electric Cooperative, we look for ways to support local educators and students to ensure they have opportunities and resources to be as successful as possible.

As we near the end of the school year, graduating seniors are preparing for their first steps as independent adults by continuing their education or entering the workforce. GEC looks forward to presenting scholarships to several of those students through the Glades Electric Cooperative Charitable Trust.

Our support of students and educators in our neighborhoods started at the beginning of the school year when GEC Safety Director Megan Randolph began visiting elementary schools to talk about electrical safety. Her energized model of Safety City is a hit with the preschool and elementary school students.

GEC also sponsors the Moore Haven Elementary School Safety Patrol.

Throughout the year, GEC sponsors school sports teams through the Labelle Quarterback Club, Moore Haven Booster Club, Lake Placid High School Athletic Association, Okeechobee Booster Club and others.

GEC supports individual schools, including Moore

Haven Elementary, Lake Placid Christian School and Clewiston Christian School.

During the spring, GEC participates in youth livestock sales that educate young people in our neighborhoods about agriculture and community development.

GEC employees are represented on the educational foundations in Okeechobee, Highlands and Hendry and Glades counties. These organizations provide valuable services, including scholarships to graduating seniors, funding for student programs in and out of the schools and mini-grants to teachers.

This summer, GEC will send one lucky high school junior on a tour of our nation’s capital. The Washington Youth Tour provides an opportunity to see the monuments and legislative buildings up close, learn about the political process and interact with elected officials.

GEC’s commitment to our educators and youth is just one of the ways the co-op supports local communities and brings to life the seventh cooperative principle, Concern for our Community, which focuses on the sustainable development of our communities.

To learn more about our community involvement, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ GladesElectricCooperative. n

Washington Youth Tour Winner Selected Sara Hurst of Okeechobee High School will represent Glades Electric Cooperative and her home community as the winner of the 2014 Washington Youth Tour contest. She will travel to Washington, D.C.—all expenses paid—June 12-20.

Sarah will join 1,500 other student leaders from across the country to talk with our representatives and senators; tour museums, memorials and monuments; and experience history being made in our nation’s capital.

Sara Hurst Sarah, the daughter of Matthew and Tiffany Hurst, plans a future as an international missionary in children’s ministry.

She says she hopes to learn “more about what americans can do through the government to help not just environmental, but human, needs for strengthening our nation.” Sarah also is interested in seeing “how government officials communicate among themselves and with different affairs.” She hopes to apply those communication skills to her future goals.

Sarah’s teacher and coach at Okeechobee High School said the thing that impresses her the most about Sarah is “her moral compass and maturity. For someone so young, she understands the fact that a successful future will be founded on good decisions made now.”

GEC is certain this future leader will represent her family, school, community and the cooperative with maturity and enthusiasm. Congratulations, Sarah!

april 2014

29

Parting Shot

Readers Share Their Special Photos

Rule Breaker!

Mendy George of Key Largo said she chuckled when she saw a photo in a previous issue of Florida Currents that showed birds following the instructions on a sidewalk closed sign.

A bird she encountered in the Keys was not as law-abiding.

“I took this photo at Pelican Cove in Islamorada,” says Mendy. “These birds clearly CAN’T read!”

The great egret almost seems to be taking the young seagull to task for perching on the no parking sign. n Photo by Mendy George, Key Largo

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Offices Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday 26733 U.S. Hwy. 27 East/P.O. Box 519 Moore Haven, FL 33471 (800) 226-4024 or (863) 946-6200 Fax: (863) 946-2150 214 SR 70 West Lake Placid, FL 33852 (800) 226-4025 or (863) 531-5000 111 SW Park St. Okeechobee, FL 34974 (800) 226-4023 or (863) 467-5111

Power Interruption Number Moore Haven..............................(800) 226-4024 Phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and holidays.

Please have your location or account number handy when you call.

Board of Trustees John “Jack” Coxe, President, District 8 Lake Josephine, (863) 655-3056 James “Jim” Aul, Vice President, District 7 Lorida, (863) 441-0441 Russell Henderson, Sec./Treas., District 3 Ortona and Palmdale, (863) 946-0865 Donnie Lundy, Trustee, District 1 Moore Haven, (863) 946-0402 Barney Goodman, Trustee, District 2 Hendry County, (863) 983-7324 Shannon Hall, Trustee, District 4 Lakeport and Brighton, (863) 946-3242 Ladd Bass, Trustee, District 5 Venus and Hicoria, (863) 441-2227 Lee Henderson, Trustee, District 6 Highlands Park, (863) 633-9281 Irene Lofton, Trustee, District 9 Okeechobee, (863) 467-1219 The next meeting of the Board will be at 9 a.m.

April 24 at the Moore Haven headquarters office. Any changes to this schedule will be posted in the lobby of all three district offices.

Executive Staff CEO Jeff Brewington CFO Jennifer Manning Dir. of Business Development Paul McGehee Dir. of Employee Services Yvonne Bradley Dir. of Information Technologies Bradley Hill Dir. of Member Services Margaret Ellerbee Dir. of Operations Tracy Vaughn

32

april 2 0 1 4

FL-153

CEO’s Message

Join the Rural Team

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association just completed its 2014 Annual Meeting. NRECA operates for the good of all electric cooperatives across the United States. Its main battle right now is combating all the regulations that add to our ever-increasing energy costs. For the sake of our pocketbooks, we need to stand strong with our national partner.

Regulations to restrict carbon dioxide—a basic requirement of all life, yet declared the demon climate change greenhouse gas— compounded with so-called renewable energy mandates will lead Jeff Brewington to doubling, tripling and even quadrupling of your power bills.

Take some time to investigate what has happened to European energy bills as a result of imposed regulations and renewable energy mandates.

The mantra from Washington, D.C., has been income inequality, yet as these regulations and mandates are pushed through, I wonder who they think will pay the bill.

It will be you and me. And when our power bills have quadrupled, just how will that improve income inequality?

Join the battle with us and NRECA for reliable, affordable energy. So far through www.action.coop and www.tellepa.com, 302,192 messages have been sent to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding these issues. Only 4,720 have come from Florida, 158 of them from us. Ask your family and friends to join you in sending a 13272_CAN_Postcard2up_Layout 1 10/9/13 2:26 PM Page 1 vital message to the EPA and let them hear loud and clear from rural Florida.

STAND WITH US AS WE FIGHT TO KEEP ELECTRIC BILLS AFFORDABLE. PLEASE PRINT

FIRST NAME ____________________________________________________LAST NAME________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS _________________________________________________________________________________________ MOBILE PHONE ( ________ ) ________________________________________________________________________________

SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS

STATE____________________________________________________________________________________________________ I AM A MEMBER OF ______________________________________________________________________________CO-OP/PPD I authorize America’s Electric Cooperatives to communicate on my behalf regarding America’s electricity challenges.

SIGNATURE ___________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, including our privacy policy, please visit

ACTION.COOP

STAND WITH US AS WE FIGHT TO KEEP ELECTRIC BILLS AFFORDABLE. PLEASE PRINT

FIRST NAME ____________________________________________________LAST NAME________________________________