Florida Currents
GLADES ELECTRIC
Congressman Greg Steube, left, is pictured with his intern, 2022 GEC Youth Tour delegate and 2023 Glades Electric Educational Foundation scholarship winner Lilly Everett. They hold
Capitol. PHOTO COURTESY
Florida Currents
CEO Michael Shepard
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Noble Sprayberry
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Nina Todea
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Elizabeth Beatty
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Alyssa McDougle
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August 2024 • Volume 13, No. 10 For additional content, search @FloridaCurrents on your favorite social media sites and floridacurrents.com.
Gentle Giants Do
More
Than Pull Their Weight Up Close, Page 10
Running Toward the Future
Rural athletes must overcome hurdles to win scholarships Spotlight, Page 12
18 Planner 22 Get Outside 27 Before You Go 30 Throw a Party With Cold Summer Dips In the Kitchen, Page 16
Picture Hunt
From the Classroom CAPITAL to the
By McKenzie Miller
Lilly Everett was a 2022 Glades Electric Youth Tour winner, a 2023 $4,000 scholarship recipient and in 2024, returned to D.C. to intern with the congressman she met as a Youth Tour delegate.
Lilly attends Florida Gulf Coast University. She commuted from home to class but wanted more out of her college experience. So, she decided to apply for an internship. She met Rep. Greg Steube on the GEC Youth Tour trip at Capitol Hill, and his personable nature stood out to her.
She has followed his social media pages ever since and came across a post about his office seeking interns.
Lilly applied for an internship with Steube’s office and received a call from Washington, D.C., one day while in
class. After class, she performed a phone interview on the spot, securing her position in the nation’s capital.
Shifting to online classes and finding housing for the internship came together perfectly. Lilly moved to the EW Richardson building in intern housing offered by the Heritage Foundation.
Her housing experience felt like a big community of friends all living in the same building. Lilly even became the designated party planner for everyone’s birthdays.
“Being surrounded by like-minded individuals with the same goals and interests was so nice. I grew as a person and learned a lot about myself,” Lilly says. “I was even able to network while making lifelong friends at the same time.
“Saying my goodbyes at the end of my internship was hard, but I knew it was more
of a ‘see you later.’”
While working in Steube’s office, Lilly answered the phones and learned a lot of quick-thinking skills, gave tours of the Capitol and was ready to help anyone who needed her assistance in the office.
Living in Washington, D.C., was a great experience for Lilly. It reminded her of a small town. It felt as if everyone knew each other, the people she encountered were friendly, she could let her personality shine and be herself, and she found a church to attend.
While at a networking event, Lilly learned about the Young Leaders Program offered by the Heritage Foundation. She is excited to be returning to Washington, D.C., in fall 2024 to join their Donor Relations team as an intern, and she will return to the foundation’s intern housing.
Lilly’s goals are to become a CEO, as stated on her 2023 Glades Electric Educational Foundation scholarship application, and she is majoring in business. Becoming a congresswoman also interests her.
“The government is the biggest business in the world, so the two tie into each other,” Lilly says. “Politics and business are also totally different at the same time, but it is not just politics that go into working for the government.”
One of her most memorable experiences was going to lunch with Steube and his chief of staff.
Lilly can’t wait to find out what’s in store for her during her next internship in Washington, D.C.
Rep. Greg Steube, left, pictured with intern and former GEC Youth Tour delegate Lilly Everett.
BELOW: Lilly and her friends attend the 41st annual Evening of Viennese Waltzing at The Organization of American States.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Lilly and other interns from Washington, D.C., pose for a photo after playing spike ball on Sunday in the National Mall and Memorial Parks. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LILLY EVERETT
GLADES ELECTRIC
“Two years ago, when I applied for the Glades Electric’s Youth Tour, I never would have thought that later I would be working in a congressional office. This was an amazing full circle moment for me.”
LILLY EVERETT
RIGHT:
Youth Tour Adventures and Education in D.C.
What is Youth Tour?
Every year, high school juniors whose primary residence is in Glades Electric Cooperative’s service territory are eligible to apply for an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
Two students are chosen and join others from all over our nation for a tour of our nation’s capital, meetings with congressional representatives and endless educational opportunities.
The Youth Tour trip takes place in June following the students’ junior year of high school.
This year’s Youth Tour took place June 16-21. Andrew Murray from Lake Placid High School and Eduardo Ortiz from Clewiston High School were selected to represent GEC.
They had an incredible trip, and we were proud to have these two outstanding young men represent our co-op. Congratulations to you both!
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for 2025 Youth Tour program updates. If you are interested in an application, email communications@gladeselectric.com.
What did they do and see?
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
Arlington National Cemetery.
Monument and memorials: World War II, Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Korean War, Lincoln and Vietnam.
Meeting with a lobbyist.
U.S. Capitol tour and meetings with congressional staff.
Washington Nationals baseball game.
Mount Vernon.
White House.
Washington National Cathedral.
Holocaust Museum.
“I enjoyed meeting new people from other states and learning more about our government and how it works collectively on this trip. My favorite part was going to the White House. It has always been a dream of mine to go see it.”
ANDREW MURRAY
The 2024 Electric Cooperative Youth Tour delegates have a great time at the Lincoln Memorial. PHOTO BY JARED SMITH
From left, Eduardo Ortiz, Chaperone and GEC
Facilities Manager Jared Smith and Andrew Murray visit the White House.
PHOTO BY RYAN WHITE FROM SEMINOLE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
GLADES ELECTRIC
The Sunshine State’s Unique Embassy
By McKenzie Miller
Did you know Florida is the only state with its own embassy in Washington, D.C.? Florida House is our state embassy on Capitol Hill that connects, celebrates and champions Florida. Florida House is one block from the U.S. Capitol.
Florida House on Capitol Hill is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization governed by trustees who are leaders in a cross-section of industries and communities across Florida and Washington, D.C. A seed was planted in the early 1960s when Rhea Chiles, wife of Florida’s former governor and U.S. Sen. Lawton Chiles, was inspired by an idea of a state embassy from one of her young children.
Rhea came across the home in the early 1970s and raised money from friends in Florida and, combined with her own financial support, bought the historic 100-year-old Manning House in the early 1970s. It then underwent restoration and opened as Florida House in 1973.
Florida House on Capitol Hill recently celebrated 50 years of service to Floridians and their guests in 2023 as a home-awayfrom-home in the nation’s capital.
The house is a place to relax during visits to Capitol Hill, where you can take in the restored Victorian house, a glass of orange juice, Florida art exhibits and warm hospitality, just as if you were in Florida.
“I first visited the Florida House as a student on a sixth grade field trip, and after seeing the beautiful foreign embassies on Embassy Row, (I) was so impressed to learn that Florida was the only state with our own embassy,” says Jennifer Koukos, Florida House trustee and Glades Electric chief communication officer. “It was a hot summer day in June, and I remember being thankful for a break from the heat and a refreshing glass of Florida orange juice.”
Florida House welcomes Floridians, students, elected officials and others doing business in the area to take a moment and enjoy what our state and the nation’s capital have to offer, free of charge. They offer tours, wireless internet and other Florida treasures to make you feel at home.
“When Florida’s Electric Cooperative Youth Tour students needed a place to gather to meet with a speaker during their Washington, D.C., trip in 2022 it was hard to find a place because of continuing (COVID-19) restrictions,” Jennifer says. “I thought of the Florida House and reached out to Susanne Clemons from Okeechobee who was the Florida House board president at the time. She connected us with staff to coordinate the visit, and of course, the Florida House was the perfect place to welcome the group to D.C.
“Since then, Susanne recruited me to be a trustee for Florida House. I’m honored to be a part of this organization which ultimately helps amplify Florida’s presence in our nation’s capital and provides a valuable place for educational and advocacy opportunities with a touch of Florida hospitality.”
Florida House further serves its mission of connecting Florida to the world by providing a place for Florida business and industry groups to host meetings and events with legislators. The organization plans events for Floridians living in D.C. to help
keep them connected to their home state. Another component of the mission of Florida House is to provide educational opportunities. Florida House offers internships for students with interests in the operation of nonprofit organizations including event management, hospitality, marketing, education, communications and social media, technology, and government.
Students take on projects designed for their strengths and interests, welcome guests, give tours, complete administrative work, and organize meetings and events such as the Congressional Intern Seminar Series. They also get to spend time in congressional offices.
These internships prepare the next generation of Florida’s leaders and champions in the heart of the capital.
If you’re in D.C., stop by Florida House to learn more, grab a glass of Florida orange juice, and enjoy the southern hospitality that comes with entering Florida’s own embassy.
For more information, visit floridahousedc.org and follow them on Facebook or Instagram @ floridahousedc.
ABOVE: Florida Electric Cooperative Youth Tour students gather at the Florida House in June 2022.
LEFT: Florida Electric Cooperative representatives, from left, Ashleigh Hayes, Jennifer Koukos, Drew Love and Alisia Hounshell stop by the Florida House for orange juice and to admire a Clyde Butcher Florida photography exhibit in April 2024.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEC
Operation Round Up
What is it?
Operation Round Up is a program that allows members to round up their monthly bills to fund projects benefiting community members in need.
Nine members serve on the board of directors for Glades Electric Charitable Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Directors review applications and approve grants.
How does it work?
$138 55 cents to your neighbor in need. The average yearly contribution is $6 per member.
Funds from Operation Round Up go right back into the communities we serve.
$12,465 of Operation Round Up funds helped support individuals and nonprofit organizations in June 2024.
8,266 accounts participate in Operation Round Up or Operation Round Up Plus. Round Up Plus allows members to give even more, adding any set amount, $1 or more, to their bills each month.
45%
How can I help?
Sign up for Operation Round Up in the SmartHub app, stop by the office or call Member Services at 863-946-6200.
raised through Operation Round Up and Round Up Plus in May 2024.
$4,371.02
How can I get help?
Did you know? The participation rate it would take to raise more than $70,000 annually to support our communities. 75%
If you or a member you know needs financial assistance, please complete an application at: www.gladeselectric.com/community/operation-round-up.
Ardis Hammock Moore Haven District 1
Beverly Eaves Hendry County District 2
Kelly Brantley Ortona/Palmdale District 3
Dori Evans Lakeport District 4 Vacant Venus/Hicoria District 5
Lee Andrus Highlands Park District 6
Candace North Lorida District 7
Vicki Pontius Lake Josephine District 8
Paula Byars Okeechobee District 9
Highlands
Glades
Hendry
Okeechobee
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Gentle Giants Do More Than Pull Their Weight
Sweet Southern Horse & Carriage adds a special touch to any occasion
By Pameta A. Keene
Have you ever given a horse a bubble bath? As owner of Sweet Southern Horse & Carriage, it’s a regular occurrence for Arcadia’s Tiffany Murphy.
“These aren’t just any horses,” she says. “They’re white draft horses, and they pull our carriages to transport brides and grooms to weddings or to deliver dignitaries to special events.
“These Percherons and Clydesdales are very gentle and have earned their reputations as reliable workhorses because of their size and ability to pull large and heavy loads.”
In 2017, Tiffany saw the chance to realize her dream of owning a draft horse. At the time, she didn’t envision her life in 2024 as owning 16 draft horses and an additional 19 horses, mostly quarter horses, used for trail riding.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Sweet Southern Horse & Carriage relies on Percherons and Clydesdales. More than 12,000 people took carriage rides from the company last year. Carriages range in size, accommodating from two to 10 passengers, plus a driver. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SWEET SOUTHERN HORSE & CARRIAGE The company’s Percherons and Clydesdales are gentle and reliable, and earn their reputation for being hard workers. PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHY ANN GREGG
Tiffany and her husband, Donald, bought their first Percheron from Donald’s brother, who owned a horse and carriage business in the Florida Panhandle. The purchase included a small carriage and tack: a bridle, halter, reins, harness and other gear.
“His name is Stan, a beautiful black draft horse, and we brought him home in May 2017,” Tiffany says. “We used him around our ranch and put him in parades. He always attracted attention, and people would call us to take carriage rides.”
Harnessing Horse Power
Within a year, Stan and his carriage had morphed into a small business, with clients requesting carriage rides to weddings or other occasions.
“Our next purchase was a white Percheron and a white carriage that could hold more people,” Tiffany says. “Once we posted a photo of a bride in a carriage, my business really took off.”
She gradually added more white Percherons, plus darker Clydesdales, often matching the carriage color or the occasion to the horse. Carriage sizes range from two to 10 passengers, plus a driver.
Carriage styles vary, as well. For weddings, the most popular is the vis-a-vis style, with two seats facing each other. There’s also a vis-a-vis style with the two front seats facing each other and a third seat behind.
Clients can request a surrey—with the
fringe on top, of course—or the wagonette, similar to a buckboard, which is an open carriage with bench seats on each side. A red stagecoach, emblazoned with “Wells Fargo & Co. Overland” on the sides, has roll-down flaps on the windows and recreates the days of the Western frontier.
“We even offer a Cinderella carriage with a pumpkin-shaped frame,” Tiffany says.
One thing has caught her by surprise.
“You won’t believe this, but we do many more funerals than weddings,” she says.
“In fact, the first funeral we did was for my uncle, and we had a horse-drawn hearse. It just felt like the right thing to do for him.
“We’ve been hired for funerals all over Florida for people who want to give their loved one a special send-off with a horsedrawn hearse. It’s quite an honor and comfort to have this kind of tradition.”
Percherons and Clydesdales are among the largest breeds of horses. Clydesdales, slightly larger than Percherons by most people’s estimation, can weigh 1,100 to 2,600 pounds. Tiffany’s largest horse is a white 18-hand Percheron named Leroy.
In addition to their size, Clydesdales’ feet are one of their most recognized features.
“People really get excited to see these amazing horses, especially the Clydesdales with their massive hooves and their feathering, the long hairs at the bottom of their legs,” Tiffany says. “Both are spectacular breeds with long and storied histories.”
A Labor of Love
The busiest season is from November until early January, when Tiffany takes four horseand-carriage rigs to University Town Center Mall in Sarasota four days a week.
“Last year, more than 12,000 people took carriage rides, including a boy with disabilities, who came out of the mall with his father,” she says. “The dad told us that his son had just told Santa what he wanted for Christmas—a carriage ride. It just made us feel so good to be able to give him his wish.”
Stan retired in 2020. The remaining 35 horses live on the couple’s 17-acre farm in Arcadia or at the nearby base camp for trail rides.
Oh, and about those bubble baths.
When Tiffany was 10 years old, she traded mucking stalls and feeding horses for riding lessons from a neighbor. Her work included bathing horses before show-ring competitions.
“They never intimidated me,” she says. “Most horses actually love being bathed. You should see the difference, especially for our white horses, who come in from the pasture all black and dirty. After their bath, they’re all shiny white. By the time we’ve braided their tails and embellished their manes with ribbons, they’re all ready to go.” n
For more information about Sweet Southern Horse & Carriage in Arcadia, call 863-990-2160 or visit sweetsouthernhorseandcarriage.com.
Running Toward
Rural athletes must overcome hurdles to win scholarships
By Drew Woolley
Emily Rollins likes to say her mother got her into soccer for the fashion. Growing up in Wyoming, hockey was her main sport as a child, though she participated in soccer from the age of 3.
“Then my mom actually saw all the pretty bows on the soccer players,” Emily says. “So she was like, ‘I’m going to put my daughter in soccer to wear bows.’”
As it turns out, Emily has a real knack for the sport. She started playing competitively at the age of 12, after her family relocated to Panama City, and it didn’t take long for coaches to notice her talent. As an eighth grader at North Bay Haven Charter Academy, she was the only player in her class to make the high school varsity team.
“I didn’t really think about college,” Emily says. “I just really loved soccer and wanted to keep playing. Then, one of my coaches asked if I’d ever thought about playing college soccer, and I realized that’s something I’d love to do.”
Since then, Emily has joined the thousands of student-athletes across the country pursuing college athletic scholarships. Ultimately, only about one out of every 50 is likely to reach that goal, according to a 2021 study by Next College Student Athlete. That bar can be even tougher to clear for athletes in rural areas, where it can be harder to get the attention of major programs.
That task was even more difficult for Emily, who got a relatively late start on her soccer development, according to her club team coach, Mike Riggle. Emily traveled more than an hour to play for the Florida Roots Futbol Club in Santa Rosa Beach with girls who started playing competitively when they were 6 or 7.
“She was behind the eight ball,” Mike says. “She starts soccer late, but—to her credit—she got extra training and continued to work outside of the game to get better. Some players that aren’t as talented right now ultimately get to a higher level down the road because their work ethic will beat that talent over time. And I think Emily is absolutely on that track.”
Putting in the Work
Entering her senior year, Emily designed her own workout routine outside of her team practices with the help of a nutritionist and trainer. Throughout the week, her days start early with workouts and studying long before the school bell rings.
Rural athletes face many challenges on the road to sports scholarships. PHOTO BY MARK GILLILAND
Toward the Future
Being in Panama City, you have two club teams that are rivals, and that’s it. You don’t have Elite Clubs National League or MLS Next teams where they get a lot of exposure.
— Emily Rollins, high school athlete
She dedicates Monday mornings to legs, Tuesdays to a fullbody workout, and Wednesdays to abs and cardio. Thursday is a push day focused on the upper body, with Friday serving as a second leg day.
Then, there’s the actual soccer. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Emily trains with her school team in the afternoons. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she drives several hours to Jacksonville to train with a team in the Elite Clubs National League, a highly competitive developmental league. When that team is in season, Emily travels for ECNL games. When it isn’t, the weekend offers some rare rest days.
“I feel like staying busy is definitely one thing that’s helped me stay successful,” she says. “It’s helped me stay on the right path and choose the things that I know will help me in the future.”
As an aspiring Air Force pilot, Emily has her eyes on one of the military academies. But barring that, her dream is to play soccer for a Division I school. She takes a proactive approach to reaching out to programs she’s especially interested in and setting up camps where coaches can see her play.
With many coaches receiving dozens of emails from players like Emily every day, it can be a disheartening process. She quickly learned not to take silence as rejection and discovered there are many reasons why a coach may not have responded.
“Sometimes, if you don’t get that response back from the college, it’s kind of discouraging. Like, do they not like me?” she says. “But you’ve just got to keep with it until they say, ‘We’re not interested’ or ‘We are interested.’”
Catching Their Eye
Even in a sport like baseball, where the scouting infrastructure is robust enough to find talented players anywhere, the scrutiny of a full-blown recruiting push can put a lot of pressure on young players.
Kellon Lindsey started playing T-ball at 4 and grew up playing football and baseball with his brothers in Wauchula. Around ninth grade, he realized baseball could be a viable path to college.
“You would think in football, running a touchdown or throwing a touchdown pass is the most exciting thing,” he says. “But for me, being in the box, bases loaded and you need to score a run—it’s a little more exciting. That’s kind of why I wanted to stick to it.”
Like Emily, Kellon attended camps to catch the eye of highlevel coaches, and he immediately stood out. A couple of years ago, the Hardee Senior High School shortstop started receiving serious attention from programs such as his dream school, the University of Florida.
“Nowadays, you have to play summer ball to get your name out there,” Kellon says. “I started in ninth grade with a team in Orlando, and you basically didn’t have a vacation all summer. You were playing baseball the whole time. And I would say the camps were pretty big. I went to a lot of different team camps in Florida, and that’s what separated me sometimes. There are just some things, like my speed, that people have to see in person. That stuff’s big for the coaches to see.”
Since committing to the Gators in November, Kellon has had to redouble his efforts in the weight room and put even more work into his swing and fielding, knowing he’ll soon be facing off against some of the best players in the country. Toward the end of 2023, Kellon even started to get attention from pro scouts, adding to the whirlwind of attention and distractions for him and his Hardee teammates.
“The high school team has been so important to me—the coaches and players,” he says. “All this stuff is new to them as well. There are so many teams trying to reach out to me, and the head coach, Steve Rewis, has directed a lot of their calls and texts. It might seem like a little thing, but for me to be able to focus
Emily credits her work with the Elite Clubs National League, a two-hour drive from her Panama City home, for giving her an edge. PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMILY ROLLINS
on my game and go out there and enjoy it with them has been helpful.”
Maximizing Resources
Social media has become an important tool for getting noticed for athletes who don’t already have coaches banging down the door to talk to them. That’s especially true for someone like Emily, who lives in a small town not known for soccer.
“Being in Panama City, you have two club teams that are rivals, and that’s it,” she says. “You don’t have Elite Clubs National League or MLS Next teams where they get a lot of exposure. It’s not like Orlando, Jacksonville or Tampa where you have coaches swarming them. It kind of puts a restriction on you because soccer isn’t big here.”
To overcome that, Emily uses YouTube, X and Instagram to post highlight reels and training videos to give coaches a clearer picture of her as a player. For a program she’s especially interested in, she’ll include videos and a brief rundown of her profile to stand out from the pack.
“A lot of coaches I’ve talked to say, ‘We’d like to see how you play the game, but we also want to see how you train,” Emily says. “They say you can teach somebody to be better, but you can never teach somebody to work hard. So, through those social media platforms, I show coaches that I can work hard, I’m willing to learn and can change for their team.”
As difficult as that has been, it’s starting to pay off. Emily has already received offers from several Division III schools, some in Division II and a couple of Division I programs. And her club coach has no doubt that more are on the way.
“I think she’ll have multiple Division I offers,” Mike says. “And if she gets one of those opportunities and she gets a scholarship, watch out. Because she’s the type of player to really drive that nail in.” n
Scoring an Offer
1. Know your skill level—find camps, clinics and clubs— and NCAA or NAIA eligibility requirements available on their websites.
2. Compile an athletic resume including:
• Skills video.
• Athletic stats.
• Academic transcripts, ACT/SAT scores.
• Extracurricular activities.
3. Start emailing coaches.
• Include your athletic resume—especially your skills video.
• Subject line: name, position, current grade level and key stat. For Example: “Jane Doe, High School Sophomore, Pitcher, 90 mph fastball.”
• Individually craft each email, clearly stating why you’re interested in that program.
4. Make campus visits and line up meetings with coaches. Keep sending updated stats.
5. Lock down your offer and negotiate your amount. If a program can’t budget for a huge athletic scholarship, don’t discount merit-based, academic or other types.
Kellon says his experience with summer ball and clinics was an invaluable way to get exposure and gain experience.
During his senior year at Hardee Senior High School, Kellon Lindsey began attracting attention from pro scouts and college recruiters.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLON LINDSEY
row a Party WITH COLD SUMMER DIPS
Caramelized Onion Dip
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 yellow onions, sliced
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Chives for garnish
Place oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add onions. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are soft and translucent, about seven minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the translucent onions become brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Onions should be soft, semi-translucent and brown. They should not be crispy or have dark brown spots from contact with the pan.
With a mixer, beat together cream cheese, sour cream and mayonnaise on medium-high until smooth. Add Worcestershire sauce and salt. Stir to combine.
Add caramelized onion and incorporate with a spatula until evenly distributed. Chill for at least an hour. Garnish with chives.
Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway
ADOBE STOCK
PHOTO BY ALEX
BAYEV
Million-Dollar Dip
4 thick-cut bacon slices, chopped
7½-ounce package chiveand-onion cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup mayonnaise
8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
¼ cup thinly sliced scallions
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about eight minutes. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise in a medium bowl until fully combined. Fold in bacon, cheddar cheese and scallions. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to three days.
Creamy Crab Dip
12 ounces fresh lump crabmeat, drained and picked clean of shells
½ cup sour cream
½ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1⁄3 cup chopped scallions
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Chives, for garnish
Stir together first seven ingredients. Top with fresh chives. Chill for at least an hour before serving.
Cowboy Caviar Dip
2 cans black-eyed peas
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 bell pepper red or green, finely diced
¼ cup red onion, finely diced
2 to 4 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced
¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped Vinaigrette
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed
2 tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
Rinse and thoroughly drain the black-eyed peas and black beans. In a large bowl, mix together the black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, bell pepper, red onion and jalapenos. Add the vinaigrette ingredients to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend for five to 10 seconds or until emulsified. Pour the vinaigrette over the bean salad. Toss until well coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Just before serving, add chopped cilantro. Toss to combine.
Ranch Corn Dip
1 ounce ranch seasoning
16 ounces sour cream
14½-ounce can petite diced tomatoes, drained
15.25-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
4.25-ounce can diced green chilies, drained
10-ounce can original Rotel
¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Mix all ingredients together. Chill for one hour before serving.
Creamy Cilantro Cucumber Dip
6 ounces plain Greek yogurt
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup chopped cucumber
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 to 3 stalks green onion
1 clove garlic
¼ teaspoon salt
Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Blend.
Garden Veggie Dip
1½ cups sour cream
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon dried dill
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
½ teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons fresh chopped green onion, plus extra to taste
¼ cup finely grated carrot
¼ cup chopped broccoli florets, no stems
Combine all ingredients. Mix. Adjust seasoning to taste as needed.
Refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to blend.
Spicy Dill Dip
1 cup Greek yogurt
1 cup sour cream
1 large jalapeno
¼ of an English cucumber
2 tablespoons minced fresh dill or 1 to 2 teaspoons dried dill
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
½ tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
Combine Greek yogurt and sour cream in a medium bowl. Remove the jalapeno’s stem, then mince the jalapeno. Add to the bowl. Include all of the seeds for a spicy dip, half for a lightly zesty dip and no seeds for a mild dip.
Coarsely grate the English cucumber using a cheese grater. Wring out excess moisture in a paper towel, then mince with a knife. Add to the bowl.
Stir in dill, green onion, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder and salt.
Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour.
Seeing Light at Home
By Dave LaBelle
Recently, I challenged myself to see and photograph light as I found it entering our home, without any help or interference.
Determining not to move anything for better composition, I watched as morning and afternoon light crawled across tables, chairs, curtains and floors, illuminating things hidden in shadow: dusty furniture, hanging towels, baskets of fruit, our dog, even discarded toilet paper rolls on a window sill in the bathroom.
The temptation to move a towel, a napkin or a banana to create a better composition or add artificial fill light was great, but I resisted in the name of capturing only what I saw naturally.
Photographing the light and those things it touched was an exercise I faithfully maintained for 10 days, posting a picture every day on Facebook.
In the end, this modest exercise accomplished more than anticipated.
To begin, it slowed me down. I noticed a world I had ignored and saw details I had seldom paid attention to before, such as the carvings on a wooden sculpture, a nook for a phone, the glass doorknobs on my bedroom doors.
It helped me truly see light in a new light, as I watched color and intensity quickly change, and deep shadows
open and close again. Though I have always adored light from the time I opened my eyes, a new heightened awareness of its magical healing power and beauty washed over me.
More than once I breathed deeply and brushed away grateful tears. I was reminded that where there are shadows, there is light.
Lastly, the exercise offered me something to look forward to each morning, photography not assigned or driven by a deadline, something visually stimulating and soothing, like soft classical music.
What pleased me most was the response to the uncomplicated images after posting them online. Many friends and photographers whose work I greatly admire were encouraged to capture their own found images of light.
Reader Challenge
Slow down and capture the beauty of natural light as it enters your home. Follow and study the light as it moves, illuminating and exposing. Watch how the morning light crawls through your house as you open your drapes and find things you often don’t notice. See if you can capture an image that celebrates the beautiful light.
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.
Renowned author, photographer and lecturer Dave LaBelle has captured special moments for more than half a century. For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.
A shaft of morning light through a kitchen curtain temporarily reaches a wire basket of fruit my wife put there the night before. BY DAVE LABELLE
NIKON D810, 38mm lens ISO 100, f/4.5 at 1/200
Over the years, you’ve spent a lot of time sitting. Isn’t it time you enjoyed it?
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manufacture a reclining chair with people like us in mind… until now. From the quality construction and the comfortable fabrics to the top-of-the-line features and finishing touches… this chair has it all. Simply put, it will change your life.
To find out how you can get a one of your very own, call 888-852-5248 to speak with a specialist.
&Learning Adapting
By Scott Flood
Unless you’ve just awakened from an especially long nap, you’ve probably been hearing plenty about artificial intelligence. It’s likely that much of what you’ve heard is exciting or terrifying. Movies and TV offer paradises in which technology frees us from daily drudgery—and frightening scenarios in which machines become our overlords.
Venkat Banunarayanan smiles when asked if popular media’s takes on AI are accurate.
“We’re at the stage of discovery with AI,” Venkat says.
What could AI, VR and AR mean for electric co-ops?
“There’s a lot more buzz than reality at this point, and we have a long way to go.”
As the vice president for Integrated Grid Business & Technology Strategies for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Venkat spends some of his time exploring possible use cases with AI, augmented/virtual reality and other technologies, while considering how they might improve the way electric co-ops serve their consumer-members.
“Can AI do things better? Can it handle some of the tasks we have to do today? Can it make decisions for us? The answer to those and most other questions is the same: maybe,” he says.
Industry experts agree it’s impossible to guess where AI will be in another decade or two, but it’s currently not as powerful as the entertainment industry and media seem to think.
AI is being incorporated for specific tasks and activities, including automated solutions such as chatbots that are capable of answering common questions. AI also has the potential to be paired with data analysis, such as retailers using data to better predict customer needs.
Despite what you may have heard, AI is incapable of thinking independently. The functionality greatly depends on programming, how the tool is trained to handle specific tasks and the level of data being fed into the system. AI revolves around learning and adapting to decision-making.
Because these new technologies interface with internal and external systems, Venkat stresses the importance of strong cybersecurity.
“We need to make sure hackers can’t
influence systems,” he says. “When we consider advancements like AI, we need to ensure protection of personal, critical infrastructure, proprietary and confidential data, too.”
Maintaining robust cyber hygiene is important and necessary to deploy any technology reliably and safely—AI is no different.
As electric cooperatives explore the possibilities of AI, they will focus on underlying needs rather than the technology itself. Examining better ways to accomplish tasks and obtain desired results will guide co-ops as they consider AI tools for more efficient processes and approaches.
Despite all the hype, today’s AI is mostly used to make incremental improvements to existing products and services. That’s how electric co-ops are likely to experience the growth of AI in the foreseeable future.
For example, the next generation of smart meters might incorporate AI tools that help homeowners better manage energy use. AI-based systems may also be used to improve management of the nation’s power grid, spotting potential problems before human operators can.
PLUGGED IN AI Put Into Action
Electric cooperatives already use artificial intelligence and augmented reality for key tasks and activities.
Looking ahead, co-ops see great potential for AI and AR as helpful tools for improving grid reliability and the services they provide to consumer-members.
Services for Members
AI tools like chatbots can enhance member interactions and provide a tailored experience based on energy use data.
Weather Forecasting
With the help of AI, weather forecasts will become more accurate, pinpointing areas to station utility crews.
Weather forecasts are likely to become more accurate, pinpointing the areas most likely to experience damage so crews can be stationed there.
Another promising technology being explored is augmented reality, and some co-ops are already testing it, particularly in educational and training opportunities.
For example, apprentice lineworkers can become comfortable with the equipment by working with the AR and VR versions before working with the real thing. Instead of watching a video or a webinar, lineworkers can interact with what they’re doing. Safety training can simulate a hazardous situation, like the aftermath of an ice storm or hurricane, providing lineworkers the opportunity to prepare for the real thing.
AR blends VR with the world around us.
One day soon, a lineworker may look up at a failed transformer
Educational Opportunities
Through augmented reality, lineworkers can experience interactive, lifelike trainings, rather than watching a video or webinar.
atop a power pole. Their safety glasses will instantly recognize the type of transformer, its exact location and when it was installed before displaying a checklist of the equipment the lineworker may need, a guide to diagnosing common problems and 24-hour access to technical experts.
Ultimately, the adoption of AI, VR, AR and other technologies share one goal for electric co-ops. From solving outages more quickly to allowing consumer-members greater control over their energy use to lowering the cost of service, tomorrow’s innovative technologies will continue to help co-ops enhance the services they provide to communities.
FLORIDA CURRENTS
PLANNER
All ages can find something new and exciting around every corner of the state. Filled with rich history, abundant natural beauty and diverse events all year, Florida has something fun for everyone.
PANAMA CITY BEACH
August 1
Open Studio Painting
Come in and choose an art project from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Projects include acrylic paint, canvas and wood, mosaic and resin. The $40 to $60 fee includes instruction, two hours of studio time and materials.
www.sunbeargalleryandstudio.com; 850-588-6861
AVON PARK
August 1-7
Walk the Wildstein
Beat the heat and explore the art of movement and wellness as you stroll through the captivating ambiance of Alan Jay Wildstein Center for Performing Arts starting at 11 a.m. Monday through Wednesday. Don’t miss the opportunity to escape the summer heat and embrace the art of fitness in a setting where creativity and physical activity intertwine. www.sfscarts.org/shows; 863-784-7178
ISLAMORADA
August 1-11
Summer Palette
Get swept away by a wave of vibrant hues and playful compositions that capture the essence of summer at this art show collaboration. The show features the work of local artists from Jessica Anne Art Gallery. www.facebook.com/flkeyshistorydiscovery; 305-922-2237
MIAMI
August 2-4
Boat Rally
Designed as a recreational, nautical and sporting activity for the whole family, up to 100 boats of various sizes and models are expected to meet and safely navigate round trip from/to Miami through staged stops in Key Largo and Islamorada, then on to Marathon for more on-the-water fun and events at Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club. Based on the rally schedule, each boat earns points for timing and activity participation. An awards ceremony with prizes and raffle drawings caps off the fun. www.miamiboatrally.com/florida-keys-rendesvouz; 305-204-1819
PENSACOLA
August 4
Fee-Free Days
National parks are America’s best idea, with more than 400 parks open to everyone. The fee-free day provides an opportunity to visit Fort Pickens and Johnson Beach. The entrance fee waiver for this day does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation or special tours. www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm; 850-934-2600
KEY WEST
August 8-11
Key West Lobsterfest
Seafood lovers can chow down on Florida’s clawless lobster during this tasty “feast-ival” with a savory schedule of events ranging from a traditional lobster boil to special dinners and a lively street fair. Saturday’s free street fair begins at noon with live music and more than 80 vendors selling fresh Florida lobster. https://keywestlobsterfest.com; 305-998-8599
KEY LARGO
August 7
Queen of Hearts and Live Music
Key Largo Moose Lodge hosts live music at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Live music is by Tim Dressing Band, Jenny Newman, Billy Knight, John Possis and Bill Falvey. Genres include rock, jazz and country. Come listen and dance. Key Largo Moose Lodge is at MM 98.5. Admission is free. www.moose2287.org/index.php/calendar; 305-395-2966
PANAMA CITY BEACH
August 7
Veterans Appreciation Day at Man in the Sea Museum
Join us the first Wednesday of every month for Veterans Appreciation Day as we celebrate the history of Bay County and the advances in military diving. All veterans and active-duty personnel receive free admission, their family members are admitted for $6 each. General public admission is $10 for adults; $6 for 5- to 16-year-olds; and free for those 4 years old and younger.
https://maninthesea.org; 850-235-4101
KEY WEST
August 10
Circus of the Sea
Southernmost Beach Resort features a talented family of acrobats performing a pirate-themed acrobatic and aerial show. Enjoy aerial stunts, trampolines, funny skits, drinks, snacks, face-painting and more. Tickets include access at 6 p.m. to the pool party. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. https://www.southernmostbeachresort.com; 800-354-4455
ISLAMORADA
August 15
Morada Way Art Walk
Keys-inspired fine artists, vendors, residents and visitors congregate on Morada Way to celebrate the arts and culture in the Florida Keys. Enjoy perusing art from 6 to 9 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. www.moradaway.org; 305-664-2471
PENSACOLA
August 16
Cinemas in the Sand
Santa Rosa Island Authority invites families and friends, young and old, to unpack their beach chairs and blankets, dig their toes in the sand, and spend a Friday evening cozied up on the beach while enjoying the family film “The Secret Life of Pets.” All movies are free and start at sunset in front of the Gulfside Pavilion stage. www.visitpensacolabeach.com/cinemas-in-the-sand; 850-530-3349
PENSACOLA
August 16
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
Discover the music of Taylor Swift at First United Methodist Church under the glow of candlelight as Palafox String Quartet performs 13 of Taylor Swift’s hits. Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multisensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations. bit.ly/45ScoZn; 402-249-2445
LAKE PLACID
August 31
Summer Pop-Up Market
Visit the farmers market from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There is live music and many fan-favorite vendors, along with new ones featuring local produce, art, artisan foods, herbs, plants and jewelry. lakeplacidfarmersmarket.net; 863-440-7657
HOW TO INCLUDE UPCOMING EVENTS
Want to share a family-friendly event with the readers of Florida Currents? Head online and enter the details at tinyurl.com/FloridaCurrents. Make sure to submit the item at least 60 days before the event (due to press deadline). If you own rights to a print-quality photo promoting your event, include it with photo credit information.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEY WEST LOBSTERFEST FACEBOOK
There is a right plant for every place.
Ground Covers for Shade
Although we live in the Sunshine State, many gardeners strive to grow things in the shade.
Beautiful trees in the landscape provide respite from the heat, but their cooling shade also makes it hard for some plants and turfgrasses to grow. However, there is a right plant for every place.
Ground covers can be an important part of any landscape. A good ground cover provides the perfect backdrop for your other plants to shine. Ground covers help increase soil moisture while preventing weeds and soil erosion. Many ground covers are a good alternative to turfgrass, especially in shade where turf does not thrive.
In areas of your yard with consistent shade, you’re better off planting a ground cover that’s easy to grow in low-light conditions. Many of these ground covers won’t tolerate foot traffic, so you need to plan for walkways or paths.
Before deciding which ground cover to plant, you need to determine what type of shade you have.
Shade tolerant ground covers do well in:
• Fewer than four hours of full sun (preferably during the cooler hours of the day).
• Shifting shade from taller trees, such as pines.
• Partial, mottled shade all day long.
Most plants, no matter how shade tolerant, struggle in:
• Shade from canopies so dense you cannot see the sun from ground level.
• Shade created by the shadow of buildings or fences.
• Wet, dry or heavily rooted areas.
While this is by no means an exhaustive list, the following ground covers can be grown in partial to even dense shade, depending on the plant.
Frog Fruit (Phyla
nodiflora)
Frog fruit’s purple flowers may be small, but they make quite the show when this native ground cover is planted en masse. Frog fruit
is a host plant for butterflies, and the blooms attract pollinators. It doesn’t require much maintenance, but it won’t tolerate long dry periods. Frog fruit thrives in zones six to 11, in partial shade to full sun.
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra
elatior)
If you’re looking for something with more dimension for a shady spot, cast iron plant may be for you. This evergreen perennial has glossy green leaves that grow upright reaching 1 to 2 feet tall. There are multiple variegated cultivars to choose from as well. Cast iron plant is ideal for adding a little tropical flair to North Florida, as it’s also cold hardy. You can grow cast iron plant in zones 7 to 11 in areas that have filtered or deep shade.
Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus)
Mondo grass is an evergreen that is a member of the lily family. This grass has blade-like slender leaves that curve back toward the ground, giving this plant the appearance of turfgrass.
Leaves can be dark green or variegated depending on the variety. It won’t tolerate mowing, which is fine because it only grows to be 3 to 4 inches tall. Its carpeting habit makes it ideal for covering exposed tree roots or preventing erosion on hills. Mondo grass thrives in zones 7 to 11 in most shady areas.
While shady areas can be difficult to grow in, there are quite a few options out there—much more than listed here. Don’t let the shade get you down. After all, a problem spot in your garden is just an opportunity to try something new.
Natasha Atlas graduated from the University of Florida’s Agricultural Education and Communication Program in 2021. She loves writing about unique and new varieties of flowers and plants for the Neighborhood Gardener Newsletter and its 10,000 subscribers. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys tending her own garden on her balcony.
PHOTO COURTESY OF UF/IFAS
SmartHub is getting smarter to help you save
New energy analytics tools are coming your way in SmartHub to help you manage energy use and save money. This includes new monthly use alerts and a breakdown of how much energy each appliance uses.
Check your inbox for emails with more information about the enhanced SmartHub. If you haven’t signed up for SmartHub, visit gladesec.smarthub.coop/Login.html or download the SmartHub app from your mobile app store. As always, SmartHub offers easy 24/7 account management, outage information and more.
1988-90 unclaimed capital credits
In 2021, Glades Electric retired capital credits allocated from 1988-90. Current members who were members from 1988-90 received a bill credit; past members were mailed a check to their last known mailing address. Any credits for any undeliverable checks became unclaimed. Unclaimed capital credits must be claimed within three years of the retirement date.
November 30, 2024, is the last date to claim the 1988-90 capital credits. If you think you or someone you know may have unclaimed capital credits, search our online database of unclaimed capital credits from our 2021 retirement for 1988-90 allocations. Scan the QR code for easy access.
Important hurricane season information
If you have unclaimed capital credits to claim, call us at 863-946-6200 or use the online contact form. Be sure to include your account number if contacting GEC via the form.
Ensure GEC has your current phone number and email for quick outage reporting and important updates. Update via SmartHub, email memberservices@gladeselectric.com, use the web contact form or call 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Following a hurricane, restoration updates are posted at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily at Facebook.com/ GladesElectricCooperative. You do not need a Facebook account to view the page.
Help us restore outages quickly and maintain equipment
Have a gate? Contact us to provide your gate code or get a GEC lock. Call 863-946-6200, use SmartHub to request a lock or share your code, or use the Contact Us QR code to use the contact form.
Notice to members
Glades Electric uses advanced metering infrastructure to enhance service to members, and meters can be reconnected or disconnected remotely. In the wake of a hurricane, turn off or unplug all unattended appliances. In the event your service is unexpectedly connected or reenergized, unattended appliances left on could cause a fire or safety hazard.
Bonus Fish!
Odd but delicious fish make great additions to any outing
While running to the next fishing spot, the sharp-eyed captain spotted a mottled brown object lurking beneath a chunk of floating plywood. He circled back for a better view.
“Looks like someone’s home today,” quipped Dan Van Treese from Perfect Cast Charters of Port St. Joe as he shifted the outboard into neutral. “Don’t throw right on top of it. That might spook a big fish. Cast upwind of it and let the wind carry the cork toward the wood.”
When the cork drifted near the plywood, the angler jerked the rod. The cork splashed and gurgled underwater but never returned to the surface. Milliseconds later, the line began ripping from the screeching reel. After a spirited fight, the angler subdued the peculiar blackish fish.
The long dorsal and anal fins on these odd fish look like two extra tails. Also called blackfish, tripletail in Florida typically range from 2 to 10 pounds. The state record weighed 40.81 pounds, caught in 1998 by Thomas D. Lewis off Fort Pierce.
These unusual fish love warmer waters. In the winter, tripletail drop into the depths offshore, but they return to the surface in spring before dropping again in early fall.
Tripletail commonly float on their sides under buoys, crab trap markers, grass mats or surface debris. Spawning along the lower Atlantic and Gulf coasts peaks during July and August when tripletail gather in larger concentrations.
Few people intentionally target the illusive fish because nobody knows when or where they might show up. They could appear 100 miles offshore or far up a salty estuary such as Apalachicola Bay. People might see dozens one day and nothing for weeks. Many anglers watch for tripletail sunning themselves near the surface as they cruise past floating objects.
“Tripletail are very spread out,” Dan says. “When we’re out fishing or running, we always keep our eyes open to look for tripletail. Frequently, we’ll see them hanging right around the buoys. If we see one, we’ll go after it. It’s sight fishing, but we don’t want to get too close to them or they will disappear.”
Opportunistic feeders, tripletail eat almost anything, including small fish, crabs and shrimp. They will hit some artificial
temptations that resemble natural foods but prefer live shrimp, baitfish, crab or fish pieces.
After spotting one, ease up to it with great stealth. From upwind, let the breeze blow the boat silently into casting range. Only use an electric motor for occasional directional control.
“A popping cork with a circle hook or jighead tipped with a live shrimp or cut baitfish will work well for tripletail,” Dan says. “Letting the cork drift to the buoy is a good way to catch them.” If tripletail disappear or do not bite, return to that location later. They probably didn’t go far. One might just drop down to the bottom for a while and then return to sun itself. These delicious fish make an excellent bonus to any saltwater fishing excursion.
For more information about Perfect Cast Charters, call 850-227-5149 or visit www.perfectcastcharters.com.
John N. Felsher is a freelance writer, broadcaster, photographer and editor. An avid sportsman, he’s written more than 3,500 articles for more than 170 different magazines on a wide variety of outdoor topics. He also hosts an outdoor tips show for WAVH-FM Talk 106.5 in Mobile, Alabama. Contact him at j.felsher@ hotmail.com or through Facebook.
Tripletail, like this one caught by Taylor Warren, might show up anywhere. Taylor made the catch while fishing with Dan Van Treese of Perfect Cast Charters near Apalachicola. PHOTO BY JOHN N. FELSHER
GLADES ELECTRIC
GEC Honors Trustees
Continuing Education and Years of Dedication
In March, Glades Electric Cooperative recognized three trustees—Barney Goodman, District 2, Hendry County; Lee Henderson, District 6, Highlands Park; and John “Jack” Coxe, District 8, Lake Josephine—who have renewed their Director Gold Credentials.
To become eligible for the Director Gold Credential, directors must earn their Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, Board Leadership Certificate and complete three additional credits from the BLC series.
To maintain Director Gold, three credits from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Approved List of Continuing Education programs must be completed within each two‐year period the director serves on the board.
Achieving Director Gold signifies the commitment of a dedicated electric cooperative director. It enhances professional self‐confidence and demonstrates to members, regulators and elected officials the director’s commitment to ongoing education.
The Director Gold program is designed for directors devoted to expanding their knowledge during their time on the board.
Jack Coxe was recognized in April for 30 years of service as a GEC board member. Sadly, Jack passed on June 21, 2024. Jack dedicated three decades of hard work to the co-op as the longest-serving trustee at the time of his recognition. As well as earning
the Director Gold Credential, he also completed the NRECA Director Certificate Programs to earn the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate and the Board Leadership Certificate.
Jack invested countless hours in the electric cooperative.
Continuing education and training are a priority at Glades Electric to ensure we provide the best service to our members. Through many credentials and certificates earned, our trustees are at the forefront of obtaining the knowledge needed to guide the cooperative. n
ABOVE: GEC Chief Executive Officer Jeff Brewington, left, presents Trustee Jack Coxe with an award in April for 30 years of service on the board. TOP: From left, GEC Trustees Lee Henderson, Jack and Barney Goodman receive their Director Gold certificates in March. PHOTOS BY JENNIFER KOUKOS
Remembering Jack Coxe
Board member leaves a legacy of dedication and leadership
We are deeply saddened to announce the death of long-time Glades Electric board President John (Jack) Coxe on June 21.
For more than 30 years, Jack was a tremendous asset to our company through countless hours of dedication he poured into serving the electric cooperative.
He was a native Floridian and retired from Florida Transport Co.’s tallow plant in Miami, where he worked as its general manager. Jack is survived by two daughters, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
During his elementary and middle school years—when many men away at war—Jack entered the work force at 11 years old. He ran a paper route before school. Once older, he delivered fuel for the military during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Jack took advantage of every opportunity, from starting a garage and gas station to buying a Ford F800 and entering the hauling business. This led to his employment as general manager of the tallow plant. Jack introduced practices at the plant to reduce costs and increase efficiency to cut the power bill in half.
He served as president of the Glades Electric board since 2008 and represented District 8, Lake Josephine, since 1994. He also served as secretary of the board of trustees and treasurer on the executive board of the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association. He was a member of the board of the Florida Rural Electric Self-Insurer’s Fund, the Florida Rural Electric Credit Union and Seminole Electric Cooperative.
Jack guided GEC through leadership transitions, significant hurricanes and substantial changes in the electric utility industry.
Some of his many accomplishments were completing the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Certificate programs to earn the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, the Board Leadership Certificate and the Director Gold Credential.
He was active in Florida Lake Watch Volunteers, Highlands Lake Association, Lake
Josephine Association and St. Catherine’s Church in Sebring.
To honor his many years of service to GEC, in 2023 the Lake Josephine substation was renamed the John (Jack) Coxe Substation. Jack will be greatly missed at Glades Electric, but he will forever be remembered.
We send prayers of peace and comfort to his family and friends while grieving the passing of our dear friend. n
Jack Coxe was surrounded by family, GEC trustees and GEC CEO Jeff Brewington at his substation dedication in March 2023.
PHOTO BY JENNIFER KOUKOS
BEFORE YOU GO
The Art of Doing Nothing
Beginning a new school year can be stressful for parents and teachers, but the students take on just as much. They may seem excited to see friends again, but we often forget how draining that first week can be.
Students switch from months of running around outside or playing games to sitting in a chair for hours while paying attention, learning new rules and having to socialize. The mental toll those hours take on students is then brought into the home. Because children and teens are drained after a full day of switching behaviors, a good way for them to spend time after school that first week is to just breathe. Their bodies have been through a boot camp of returning to routine, and the home is best used as their rejuvenation zone. This could simply mean not making big plans during the week or the first weekend. Instead, plan for time relaxing with a movie, ordering pizza or listening to their grievances of the week.
Let your home be their safe space to wind down and rejuvenate.
Photo © David Schrichte
THE MOST PORTABLE MOBILITY SCOOTER MEET ATTO SPORT:
Where engineering excellence meets sleek design - a lightweight, safe, customizable, and stylish scooter for UNLIMITED FREEDOM. Numerous scooters with various features and capabilities are on the market, making it crucial to select the one that best suits your requirements.
At the age of 56, a back operation left me dependent on a cane, significantly impacting my daily life. Simple tasks like going to the store or meeting friends became challenging, and I even had to cancel a long-awaited anniversary trip to Italy. My husband purchased a scooter for me, but it was cumbersome and uncomfortable for everyday use, leaving me feeling more constrained than liberated. However, everything changed when I came across the ATTO SPORT. This remarkable scooter proved to be a game changer. Not only is it robust and reliable, but it also conveniently splits into two pieces, allowing me to effortlessly lift it into my car trunk on my own. I was even able to stow it in the overhead compartment on the plane, enabling us to finally take that trip to Italy! I am now independent once more, able to go wherever I please and do so with a striking sense of style. In fact, I now find that my husband struggles to keep up with me!
Independence and convenience: Easy to use and conveniently folds into a compact suitcase size for simple storage. It easily separates into two parts in seconds, with the heaviest piece weighing just 37 pounds, making it easier to lift into your car trunk.
Go anywhere: Conquer any terrain with puncture-proof, shock-absorbing tires and a 4-inch ground clearance. Equipped with electronic stability control for added safety on descents and turns, it is also flight-approved, ideal for air travel and cruise ships. With a driving range of up to 12.5 miles (25 miles with the XL battery), a top speed of 6.2 MPH, and a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds, this durable scooter is designed for longevity.
Unmatched Stylish Design: You deserve a mobility solution that doesn't just get you from A to B but makes you feel great while doing so. ATTO stands out from the crowd with its stunning design. How did Anna start to enjoy life to the fullest?
Airline approved. Spacious legroom, comfortable seat
Folds in 3 seconds, rolls like a trolley suitcase ROAD TRIPS FLIGHTS
Splits into 2 lightweight parts for easy lifting
Top-Notch Engineering: Guaranteeing both comfort and durability, this scooter offers ample legroom and a big comfortable seat. The ATTO is super portable and lightweight, and still rides like a heavy-duty scooter.
CONTACT US
863-946-6200 (member services) 844-201-7203 (24-hour phone payments) www.gladeselectric.com
OFFICES
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday
26733 U.S. Hwy. 27
P.O. Box 519
Moore Haven, FL 33471
214 SR 70 W. Lake Placid, FL 33852
REPORT AN OUTAGE
Via the SmartHub app
~ 863-946-6200 (24/7 outage reporting)
Please have your account number ready.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
District 8, Lake Josephine, Vacant
Lee Henderson, Vice President, District 6 Highlands Park, 863-633-9281
Shannon Hall, Secretary/Treasurer, District 4 Lakeport and Brighton, 863-946-3242
Donnie Lundy, Trustee, District 1 Moore Haven, 863-946-0402
Barney Goodman, Trustee, District 2 Hendry County, 561-414-8737
Mike Pressley, Trustee, District 3 Ortona and Palmdale, 863-673-9158
Brad Oxer, Trustee, District 5 Venus and Hicoria, 863-441-1866
Fred Tagtmeier, Trustee, District 7 Lorida, 863-214-4994
Angela Hodges, Trustee, District 9 Okeechobee, 863-801-3140
The Board’s next meeting is at 9 a.m. August 29 at Moore Haven Headquarters Office. Any changes are posted in the lobby of both district offices.
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Jeff Brewington, CEO
Courtney Brown, Chief Personnel Officer
Jennifer Koukos, Chief Communications Officer
Jennifer Manning, Chief Financial Officer
Michael Roberge, Chief Operations Officer
CEO Message
Remembering Jack Coxe
Things can change so quickly that it’s impossible to prepare. Events can change the course of life in an instance, such as a cancer diagnosis, a head-on collision or the death of a board president.
It was seemingly just yesterday that we recognized and celebrated Jack Coxe’s 30-year devotion to Glades Electric Cooperative’s board. Two months later, he peacefully went home to his maker. He left as he wished: “I just want to fall asleep and not wake up.”
I thank God he did not have to fight a debilitating disease and was sharp as a tack to the end. His 93½-year-old heart just beat its last. I venture to say it was worn out, not because of age but more for the love he poured out for others and all of life. I was blessed to know that love.
With saddened hearts, we move on.
By the time you read this, the board will have held elections to seat a new president. Whomever that may be, they will have some big shoes to fill.
As set forth in the cooperative bylaws, board trustees will fill this vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term.
It will be a challenge to fill District 8’s vacant seat; a newcomer will also have big shoes to fill as Jack was widely known and cherished throughout his district.
Jack was a huge supporter of our broadband project. He was looking forward to the day he could connect and save $200 a month.
Even at 93, Jack was a big user of technology. He was constantly on his iPad checking on employees and cooperative activity through our Jostle intranet app. Yes, fellow employees, he was always keeping up with your pictures to know you as much as he could. As was said at his funeral mass, he loved you all.
The same is so for all of you out there in the cooperative world.
Jeff Brewington