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Currents Suwannee Valley

OPERATION ™ ROUND UP

brings cutting-edge tech to local students

FEBRUARY 2025

RAVINE STATE PARK Explore the beauty of Palatka’s hidden gem AROUND THE COMMUNITY SVEC celebrates MLK Day and Arbor Day

CEO’S MESSAGE

Small change makes a big difference When I think of moments in time and history that have brought positive change, it is often not the work of one individual, but the collective efforts of many who came together for a mutual cause. Such was the case with the creation of our cooperative, where a small group of people believed in a world where electricity wasn’t limited to the urban skylines of big cities. Together, they worked to bring power and enrich the farms and families of rural Suwannee Valley. This same spirit of collaboration continues to thrive in the creation and achievements of our foundation, Operation Round Up. Established in 2019, Operation Round Up aims to help meet the significant funding needs of our local schools. Each month, participating members’ bills are rounded up to the next dollar, with the difference placed into a grant fund that directly benefits local classrooms. While the average monthly donation is just 49 cents, these small contributions have added up in a big way, with nearly $650,000 awarded in the program’s six years. Executive VP/CEO This success is only made possible through the MICHAEL S. MCWATERS continued generosity and support of our members. Your participation in Operation Round Up is investing in the future success of local children by providing essential classroom resources, such as books, online learning programs, lab equipment, and so much more, to support education and enhance their learning experience. In this newsletter, we’re excited to highlight two recent grant recipients who used Operation Round Up to bring real-life robotics and coding instruction to their classrooms. Thanks to their grant, students are gaining hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)—a testament to the impact your contributions are having on brighter futures. This issue also includes details about our annual scholarship for eligible high school seniors. We encourage interested students to review the information and apply by the March 21 deadline. You’ll also find photos from recent community events, including our 7th Annual Arbor Day Tree Giveaway and the MLK Day Parade, hosted by the Suwannee County MLK Committee. These are just a few of the ways SVEC and our consumer-members are making a difference in our schools and our community. It serves as a reminder that when we work together, we can meet needs and create positive change—after all, that is the cooperative way. As always, it is our privilege to serve you. ■

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Suwannee Valley

Currents February 2025

WE BELONG TO THOSE WE SERVE 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 svec-coop.com facebook.com/sveccoop Instagram.com/sveccoop SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. On the cover: Students at Branford Elementary School and Branford High School use robotics and programming to learn about STEM subjects. Those cutting-edge tools are just one of the ways SVEC’s Operation Round Up™ gives back to local students. Read more on Page 4.

Suwannee Valley Currents

SVEC NEWS

Earn up to $30 a year with Cooperative Rewards Join the Cooperative Rewards program today to start earning bill credits! Receive a $20 annual bill credit for enrolling and participating annually and earn an additional $10 bill credit for each year you participate in winter events. Plus, if you stay enrolled and participate, you may also be entered for a chance to win $250 at the conclusion of each program year.

If you are an SVEC member and own a smart thermostat to control your central AC, heat pump or other electric heat source, you may be eligible to participate!

Earn up to $30

SVEC will reward you for conserving energy by making small, temporary adjustments to your smart thermostat during peak energy demand.

Stay in control

You can opt out of thermostat adjustments at any time from your mobile device, web browser or thermostat. Visit svec-coop.com and go to the Smart Thermostat Program link under the Energy Efficiency tab for more information and to start saving today.

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 from a public high school, homeschool, accredited private school or charter school in SVEC’s service territory. Applicants 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. Each applicant must also be a dependent of an SVEC member, but they cannot be a child or grandchild of a current SVEC employee or trustee. The scholarship window opens Feb. 17, and all applications are due March 21 by 5 p.m. For more details or to apply, visit svec-coop.com/community/scholarships.

Suwannee Valley Currents

FEBRUARY 2025 | 3

Robot Round Up

Operation Round Up grants are coding brighter futures through technical skill mastery Carlos Diaz is a passionate STEM instructor at Branford High School, inspiring students to explore and excel in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Last year, his classroom was dedicated to cybersecurity, robotics and coding. He saw the passion his students had for the subject matter, and knew he needed to find a way to keep that interest going. “When you get a bunch of kids like the ones I had last year, who were willing to put in the work and rose up to the challenges they were given, you don’t think twice when they don’t have a device they need. You just go and buy it,” he says. “That’s when SVEC’s grants come in so handy, because you can start building a nice setup so those kids can continue growing their interests and developing their skills.” With his Operation Round Up™ grant, Diaz was able to buy a spot welder for students like Dwight to apply the skills they were learning to repair battery packs like those used in Taylor Carver works with a Micro:bit robot and programming software. PHOTO COURTESY OF LYNSEE DICKS

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Tesla vehicles and even to make repairs to a broken two-wheeled hoverboard. He also bought a series of Micro:bit microcontrollers that allowed his fifth graders to learn how to code behaviors for their own robots. “That was really powerful because, when you come into class, it’s boring to see somebody else code. But when you have your device in front of you, it’s yours. You can experiment and go beyond the lesson plan,” Diaz says. “These devices go a really long way. You can’t imagine how a simple grant from SVEC can benefit so many kids.”

Cutting-edge lessons

Lynsee Dicks, a STEAM instructor at Branford Elementary, is finding creative ways to utilize robotics in her classroom. With the help of Dash robots purchased through Operation Round Up™, she can set up activities where kids navigate robots through mazes or races depending on how well they answer questions about topics they have been learning, like petrology and the three types of rocks. “The kids love it. They cheer each other on and help each other figure out what the answer is,” she says. “There are times that I can really integrate it into whatever we’re learning.” Ultimately, working cutting-edge technology into as many lesson plans as possible sets students up to learn skills that will be essential in the workplace. As coding and programming become bigger parts of even more jobs, teachers like Diaz and Dicks are excited SVEC can help students start building those skills at an early stage. “We are living in a technology-based society. So much of what we’re teaching today is going to be obsolete tomorrow,” Dicks says. “I really love it when we can get Suwannee Valley Currents

YOUR PENNIES ADD UP How much of a difference have SVEC consumermembers made with Operation Round Up?

1,260+ grants awarded

over the life of the program

$647,600 put toward

students in our area

Branford Elementary students use their robots in classroom competitions that teach various subjects. From left are Taylor Carver, Journey Powell, Olivia Whitener, Michael Lugo and Dixie Sterling. PHOTO COURTESY OF LYNSEE DICKS

cutting-edge products that teach kids skills that they will be able to use throughout their lifetimes. I love that I can give them a little taste of that on the elementary level.”

Crossover camp

Last year, Dicks noticed that students in her one-week lab were excited about technical subjects and the arts. But once they reached the middle and high school levels, that engagement appeared to taper off. In an effort to maintain student interest, Dicks collaborated with Diaz on the creation of a summer robotics camp for kids in the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. Students were provided STEM resources and instruction to build their own robotic animal. While the camp relied Dwight Williams, left, and Connor Kirby repair a hoverboard with tools purchased through Operation Round Up™.

on a variety of funding sources, Dicks and Diaz were able to repurpose many of their classroom micro:bits controllers and programmable servo motors, originally purchased with Operation Round Up™ funds, for the camp. “I think it’s important to keep kids interested in things like STEM, coding and robotics so that when they transition to the middle school with a certain amount of electives to choose from, maybe some of them will choose STEM,” Dicks says. “I really love that Diaz and I get to work in tandem like that together to foster a love of coding and robotics and perhaps get more kids in the door to use these types of materials.” ■

BE A ROUND UP CHAMPION Want to do more for local students? Your contribution to Operation Round Up™ doesn’t have to stop at rounding up your bill. Choose a monthly contribution of $1 or more to your bill for Operation Round Up™ or add a one-time donation as part of your next bill. Sign up today using the insert with your February bill or online by clicking the “Round Up Champion” link on the Operation Round Up™ page under the community tab on our website.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLOS DIAZ

Suwannee Valley Currents

FEBRUARY 2025 | 5

RECIPE and SAFETY

Slow-cooker chicken and white bean stew

INGREDIENTS 4 15-ounce cans no-salt-added cannellini beans, rinsed 6 cups unsalted chicken broth 1 cup chopped yellow onion 1 cup sliced carrots 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 4 ounces leftover Parmesan rind, plus 2/3 cup Parmesan, divided

2 1-pound bone-in chicken breasts 4 cups chopped kale 1 tablespoon lemon juice ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley leaves

DIRECTIONS Combine beans, broth, onion, carrots, rosemary and Parmesan rind in a 6-quart slow cooker. Top with chicken. Cover and cook on low until the beans and vegetables are tender, about 4 hours. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board. Let stand until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Shred the chicken, discarding bones. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and stir in kale. Cover and cook on high until the kale is tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in lemon juice, salt and pepper. Discard the Parmesan rind. Serve the stew drizzled with oil and sprinkled with Parmesan and parsley. ■

Safety first Electricity powers modern life, but it can be dangerous if not handled carefully. Check back here each month for new tips on how to stay safe around electric power at your home or business. One of the most important steps to using electricity safely around your house is knowing the signs that something might be wrong. Keep an eye out for any of these issues that could indicate a larger problem and call for an electrician immediately if you experience: • Circuit breakers that trip frequently. • Lamps, outlets or appliances that start to buzz. • Lights that flicker or bulbs that burn out quickly. • Electrical outlets that spark. • Electrical devices that emit strange smells. • Outlets, switches or lamp fixtures that feel warm. • Wires that are torn, have teeth marks or show signs of damage. To learn more about building safe electric habits, click the Outages & Safety tab on the SVEC website, svec-coop.com, and follow us on social media.

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/sveccoop

@sveccoop

Suwannee Valley Currents

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FLORIDA STATE PARKS

For a blooming good time, visit Ravine Gardens State Park BY VISIT FLORIDA AND CYCLEHERE MEDIA 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 nearly 120 feet deep with steep banks at 45-degree angles. The ravines were formed over thousands of years through erosion by natural springs 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 widened and deepened.

A garden park

Ravine Gardens originally opened as a botanical tourist attraction in 1934. When organizers first built the park, they brought in more than 100,000 species of plants. Most of them still exist today, thanks to the work of the Florida State Parks service, which took over care of the park in the 1970s. Rangers work diligently to maintain as many of the plant species as possible. The most famous are the azaleas — currently 18 species of azaleas grow in the park and bloom from January to March, depending on the weather. Suwannee Valley Currents

Three great hikes

Another unique aspect of the park is its suspension bridges, which span the ravines at a height of 30-50 feet above ground. 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 cycling. Check with the park to see if conditions will allow automobiles on the paved loop. There are also two moderate trails that take visitors down into the ravines via narrow pathways with old roots and steep steps. Factor in the elevation change, and the trails can be considered challenging for some.

Historic amphitheater

There are plenty of picnic sites with grills for cooking out, a kids’ playground and a beautiful historic amphitheater to explore. The amphitheater’s claim to fame is that Neva Langley participated in the Miss Florida Azalea Pageant held on the park’s beautiful natural stage and went on to become Miss America in 1953!

Azalea season, festival time

While the park boasts something blooming every month of the year,

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Ravine Gardens was originally created during the Great Depression to boost tourism in Palatka. Peak bloom time at the park is typically in late February and early March. The Court of States features an obelisk dedicated to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the flags of the 48 states that were part of the United States when the park was established.

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 the 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’s plenty for kids to enjoy, with face painting, games, arts and crafts. Pets are encouraged at the Azalea Festival and bringing them in blossomrelated costumes is a traditional part of the celebration.■ FEBRUARY 2025 | 7

SVEC IN THE COMMUNITY

SVEC team spreads Arbor Day cheer

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY TUCKEY/SVEC

Thank you to everyone who came out for our seventh annual Arbor Day celebration. SVEC gave out 130 free Southern red maple trees to co-op members, and it was great to see new and familiar faces alike join in. Special thanks to the SVEC team and Nobles Greenhouse & Nursery for assisting.

SVEC employees, from left, Katelyn Barrington, Crystal Ecker and Raymond Poole share the mini bucket truck at the celebration.

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The SVEC mini bucket truck joined our friends at Rapid Fiber Internet to take part in the annual Suwannee County MLK Day Parade. Thank you to everyone who came out and to the Suwannee County MLK Committee for organizing this wonderful event.

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Rapid Fiber’s Steve Esposito joins in the celebration at the Suwannee County MLK Day Parade.

Suwannee Valley Currents