Currents-February 2023

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE:

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Operation Round Up supports local students

GARDENS IN BLOOM

Explore nature at Ravine Gardens State Park

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Work officially begins for Rapid Fiber Internet

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Powering more than electricity

Being a cooperative member is about more than just the service you receive. Of course, providing safe, affordable and reliable power is always SVEC’s first priority. It’s what we were created to do all those decades ago, and we take great pride in carrying on that mission today.

But our consumer-members also get a portion of their investment back in the form of capital credits. They have a say in how the cooperative is run via the trustees who represent them and by participating in district and annual meetings. And they know that SVEC is committed not just to providing electric service but to making the community we’re a part of a better place to live.

One of our favorite ways to do that is through the Operation Round Up® program. The concept is simple: Each month, participating members’ bills are rounded up to the next dollar and the difference set aside for grants that our local teachers can apply for. While each member’s average monthly donation is only 50 cents, when we all chip in, that small change adds up to big things.

Since the program’s launch in 2019, SVEC’s members have contributed more than $427,000, enabling us to award hundreds of grants that directly benefit classroom learning. Over the course of the program, that money

has gone toward books to encourage a love of reading, lab supplies to help students engage with science and materials to make the classroom a more comfortable place to learn.

I continue to be impressed by the generosity of our consumer-members. This month, we’re taking a look at some of the ways those grants have benefitted students in the last year. It’s just one more way SVEC is proud to support our students as they grow into the future leaders of this community.

We’re also excited to announce that construction on our Rapid Fiber Internet network has officially begun. It’s still early days, but the work being done to prepare our existing infrastructure to carry high-speed internet service across the system is an important first step. Be sure to check future issues of this newsletter for updates as this exciting project continues.

These are just some of the ways SVEC is working hard to serve the community that has given so much to us over the decades. Whatever storms or challenges we might face, you can always trust that we won’t take our community for granted. We were built by, and operate for, the people who call the Suwannee Valley home, and it’s a privilege to serve you each and every day. 

Business Office: 800-447-4509 11340 100th St. Live Oak, FL 32060

Lobby Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday

Drive-thru Kiosk Open 24 Hours

24/7 Power Outage Reporting 800-752-0025

facebook.com/sveccoop @SVEC_COOP_FL

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

Nominations for Districts 1, 2 and

3

It’s time for SVEC members living in Districts 1, 2 and 3 to meet and nominate a candidate to serve on the board of trustees. Each nominee will be voted on by the co-op’s members.

In addition to a nomination, each district meeting will include an open discussion about other cooperative matters. Please plan to attend if you live in one of these districts:

District 1 Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. at the Old Deas Cabin, a quarter mile north of Burnham Christian Church in Jennings.

District 2 Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. at the McAlpin Community Center.

District 3 Meeting: Tuesday, March 14, at 6 p.m. at the Live Oak Garden Club.

Save when you buy a new standby generator

SVEC is a Generac Energy Alliance Partner. That means SVEC consumermembers can purchase Generac whole-house automatic standby generators at special discounted prices.

Extended warranties are also available for 22 kW units — the most frequently purchased size — at discounted prices.

Financing is available through First Federal Bank. Contact the following Generac-certified sales and service partners for more information:

Felknor Electric Inc.

386-362-1441

felknorelectric@gmail.com

Holly Electric Inc.

Phone: 386-755-5944

Email: hollyelectricinc@gmail.com

Need money for college?

SVEC can help!

SVEC is awarding up to 11 scholarships of $1,500 each to deserving high school seniors in our community.

To be eligible, students must graduate in spring 2023 from a public high school, home-school, accredited private school or charter school in SVEC’s service territory. They must have a cumulative unweighted high school GPA of at least 3.5 and plan to attend an accredited postsecondary or vocational education institution this fall.

Applicants must also be a dependent of an SVEC member, but they cannot be a child or grandchild of a current SVEC employee or trustee. Applications are due on March 24 by 5:00 p.m. For more details or to apply, visit svec-coop.com/ community/scholarships.

IN FOR A PENNY

Operation Round Up® makes big change for local students

For a first-year teacher like Ana Palomino, there is a lot about the job that can feel daunting. Finding a lesson plan that will educate and engage, giving students the tools they need to succeed and doing it all within a tight budget can be a challenge.

But one of the first pieces of advice she got from her colleagues at Lafayette High School was to take advantage of Operation Round Up funds offered by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative.

“I heard about it through the grapevine because a lot of teachers here take advantage of it,” Palomino says. “At first it was a little intimidating because writing a grant sounds scary. But they walked me through the process, and it was super easy.”

The Round Up program rounds up participating members’ electric bills to the next dollar. The average contribution programwide is 50 cents per month. But when put together across the entire cooperative, that pocket

change can add up to make a real impact for local students, as Palomino found out.

She put her grant money toward lab materials so her seventh grade earth, space and environmental science students could get a hands-on experience with the subjects they were reading about. Clay and flashlights she purchased let students simulate and study eclipses. She bought lab equipment for a “What’s in the box?” activity early in the year, where students would feel a hidden object and make scientific deductions.

“We were learning about empirical evidence and not making judgments based on what we think something is but what we can directly observe,” Palomino says. “Some of the materials were liquids or something that could dye their clothes, so I had them use the aprons, gloves and goggles, and they loved that. They felt like real scientists.”

As a result, Palomino says, her

students are much more engaged with the material they’re learning about and get excited whenever they see that there’s an experiment listed on the classroom agenda.

“Honestly, it’s amazing,” she says. “I get chill bumps just talking about it. It’s so much more than just read ing in a textbook and taking notes. Obviously, there’s a time and place for that, but as much as possible I try to get their hands dirty so they can grapple with their own ideas and problem-solve. And I think for my class that is only possible through grants like this.”

In focus

Joanne Marcil didn’t apply for an Operation Round Up grant. But Elizabeth Mitchell, her predecessor as special education teacher for the Hamilton County School District, did. After see ing the impact Round

Tammy Michal teaches students how to play the recorder.

Up funds and the supplies purchased with them have had on her classroom, Marcil says it’s an opportunity she’ll definitely take advantage of in the future.

“The special education program has been revamped, and we’re starting fresh. The stuff I used when I moved in is mostly what Operation Round Up bought, because there wasn’t much,” Marcil says. “Some stuff I even bought with my own money because the school can’t afford it. So I’m very thankful to Operation Round Up.”

Many of the supplies the grant paid for are to help Marcil’s students learn life skills that will be useful on a daily basis. Those include sheets for in-class practice making a bed and doing laundry, fake money for learning how to count cash, and toys that teach them how to use zippers and buttons and tie their shoes. There are also learning tools that keep her students engaged, like Hot Dots pens, which make noises when they get an answer right, and an interactive globe.

Maybe the most helpful purchase has been sets of headphones. Because some of her students are autistic, loud noises can be distracting and upsetting. But the headphones help them focus even when loud work is going on nearby.

“The headphones are great, because the kids can go into their own personal apps and not be bothered by the noises around them,” Marcil says. “Right now they’re redoing the gutters outside, and it can be disturbing to some. But when they put on their little headphones, they’re good.”

The sound of music

Until recently, the only instruments Suwannee Pineview Elementary music teacher Tammy Michal could offer her students were percussion. Xylophones, drums and rhythm sticks were helpful, but they could only take her students’ musical understanding so far. And most of the instruments had been around since the school was built in 2006.

That’s why, last year, she used an Operation Round Up grant to buy recorders for her students. Similar

to flutes, these wind instruments are the first many of her students have had the chance to play, and they give the class an opportunity to perform together and individually.

“It’s great to facilitate teamwork and listening,” Michal says. “They’re all putting the musical skills that they’ve learned previously such as rhythm and reading notes together. I think it turns on a completely different switch for them.”

In the past, Michal didn’t want to consider a recorder unit if every

student wouldn’t have the chance to participate.

She also knows the importance of music programs for helping students improve their performance across the board with reading, math, hand-eye coordination, team building and more.

“There are just so many advantages to learning an instrument and being part of a music program,” she says. “So I am very thankful that we have a supportive school board here in Suwannee County and that we’re blessed with grants like this.” 

Suwannee Valley

Ana Palomino’s students use clay and flashlights to learn about an eclipse.

Travis Simmons learns about letters on a LeapFrog.

Kaley and Haley Fowler learn how to make up a bed using sheets and a comforter.

Nutty White Bean and Wild Rice Soup

1/2 cup cashews

1 medium yellow onion

2 celery stalks

3 medium carrots

8 ounces baby bella mushrooms

6 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon dried thyme

1 tablespoon dried oregano

8 cups vegetable broth

1 cup wild rice (not a wild rice blend)

2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2 cans white beans, drained and rinsed (15-ounce)

1 cup water

2 teaspoons dried sage

1 tablespoon soy sauce, tamari or liquid aminos

Place the cashews in a bowl and cover them with water. Leave them to soak while you make the recipe.

Dice the onion. Thinly slice the celery. Cut the carrot into rounds. Slice the mushrooms. Mince the garlic. In a Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and saute the onion, celery and carrots, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the mushrooms and saute for 2 more minutes. Add the garlic, thyme and oregano and stir for another 2 minutes.

Add the broth, wild rice, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered,

bright ideas

When you save energy, you save money. Check back here each month for new ways to make your home or business more energy-efficient.

for 20 minutes. Add the drained and rinsed beans and continue to simmer, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes more, or until the rice breaks open.

Using a liquid measuring cup, carefully remove 2 cups of the hot soup, including broth, veggies and rice, and put it in a blender, along with 1 cup of water. Drain the cashews, then add them and the dried sage to the blender. Blend on high for about 1 minute, until creamy. Pour the creamy mixture back into the soup. Add the soy sauce. Taste and, if needed, add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Adjust seasonings as desired. Garnish with freshly ground pepper. 

If you want to save money on your monthly energy bill, the sun is a great source of free heat. By opening your blinds during the day, you can take advantage of the sun’s rays to naturally heat your home. However, windows can also be a source for heat loss, so you should close your curtains and blinds when the sun goes down to prevent heat loss. A great way to ensure you get your curtains closed in the evening is to purchase smart curtains. These will allow you to schedule when the curtains open and close 

For more energy saving tips, the latest cooperative news and more, follow SVEC at:

©Adobe Stock

For a blooming good time, visit Ravine Gardens State Park

Ravine Gardens State Park is a hidden gem tucked away in Palatka, just off the St. Johns River. The lush park has 60 acres accessible for exploring, including two ravines up to 120 feet deep with steep banks at 45-degree angles.

The ravines were formed over thousands of years through erosion by natural springs located in the park. The underground water bubbling up cuts into the bank and carries the sand and soil downstream to the St. Johns River. Over thousands of years, the ravines have widened and deepened.

A garden park

Ravine Gardens originally opened as a botanical tourist attraction in 1934. When the park was first built, more than 100,000 species of plants were brought in. Most of them still exist today, thanks to the work of the Florida State Parks, which took over care of the location in the 1970s.

Rangers work diligently to maintain as many of the plant species as possible, but the most famous are the azaleas. There are currently 18 species of azaleas growing in the park, which bloom from January to March, depending on the weather.

There are plenty of picnic sites with grills for cooking out, a kids’

playground and a beautiful historic amphitheater to explore. The amphitheater’s beautiful natural stage once hosted the Miss Florida Azalea Pageant, which Neva Langley participated in before going on to become Miss America in 1953.

Three great hikes

Another unique aspect of the park is its suspension bridges, which span the ravines at a height of 30 to 50 feet. You can expect a minimal amount of wobble and swing when crossing.

There’s a 1.8-mile paved loop around the rim of the park that is great for strolling and even cycling. Check with the park to see if current conditions will allow automobiles on the paved loop.

There are also two moderate trails that take you down into the ravines via narrow pathways with old roots and steep steps. Factor in the elevation change and the trails can be consid ered challenging for some.

Azalea season, festival time

While the park boasts something in bloom every month of the year, those famous azalea blossoms are typically seen in late February through early March.

The first weekend of March is when

the area celebrates the blooms with an annual Azalea Festival. Activities at Ravine Gardens include ranger-led wagon rides through the park, music and food.

Downtown Palatka is also abloom during the two day outdoor festival, which includes entertainment on multiple stages, five blocks of vendors, a parade, an antique car show, a beauty pageant and, of course, azaleas.

There are plenty of events for the kids to enjoy with activities such as face painting, games and arts and crafts. Pets are encouraged at the Azalea Festival and blossoming costumes for your furry friends are a traditional part of the celebration.

Construction begins on Rapid Fiber Internet

Crews have officially begun work on existing SVEC infrastructure to prepare it for the installation of fiber optic cable. While it’s still early, this is an important first step, and we are excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. Follow us on social media to get the latest updates on Rapid Fiber Internet and get an inside look at the making of a world-class fiber-to-the-home broadband internet network right here in our community.

SVEC MEMBERS CELEBRATE Florida Arbor Day

Thank you to our members who came out to make SVEC’s 5th annual Arbor Day celebration a success. We enjoyed seeing everyone who picked up their free tulip poplar tree. Special thanks to Nobles Greenhouse & Nursery, UF/IFAS Suwannee County Master Gardners and the incredible SVEC team for helping out.