FL Currents, Glades Electric Cooperative, December 2024 by utilitypioneers

The Lake Placid Journal Plaza decked out for holiday festivities in 2023. This year’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony is Dec. 3. PHOTO BY JENNIFER KOUKOS

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Florida Currents

CEO Michael Shepard

VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT Leon Espinoza

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mike Teegarden, CCC

DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Noble Sprayberry

SENIOR EDITOR Jennifer Paton, CCC

FLORIDA CURRENTS EDITORS

Chasity Anderson, CCC; Valeri Pearon

ASSISTANT EDITORS Victoria Hampton, CCC; David Herder, CCC

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Nina Todea

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION

SENIOR MANAGER

Elizabeth Beatty

SENIOR PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR

Alyssa McDougle

Members acknowledge that $4.49 a year, plus postage, is the cost to publish 12 issues a year of FLORIDA CURRENTS ISSN 23276304 (USPS 8300). Published by Pioneer Utility Resources Inc., 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy. Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—the magazine serves the communication needs of consumerowned electric utilities in Florida. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, OR 97123 and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to 5625 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Ste. 100, Hillsboro, OR 97124-6422.

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© 2024 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Direct reprint requests to editor@floridacurrents.com or for more information, visit www.pioneer.coop.

December 2024 • Volume 14, No. 2 For additional content, search @FloridaCurrents on your favorite social media sites and floridacurrents.com.

Scottish culture thrives in Florida Spotlight, Page 12

Ahead Holiday Breakfast In the Kitchen, Page 16 All in the Family Cooperative fund provides for children after a tragic loss Up Close, Page 10 From Bagpipes to Kilts

GLADES ELECTRIC

As Floridians watched Hurricane Milton develop into a powerful Category 5 hurricane barreling toward Florida, Glades Electric Cooperative personnel enacted its storm response plan to prepare for a systemwide restoration.

Despite strong winds and tornado damage to many homes throughout the GEC service area and three transmission-related substation outages, only 63% of Glades Electric’s meters were without power at the peak of outages thanks to recent systemhardening efforts.

With a rapid restoration response plan in place, within less than 72 hours after Milton exited Florida, more than 98% of Glades Electric meters were energized.

Oct. 5

Milton by the Numbers

X 11,769 meters—or 63% of the system—down during the peak outage

X 350 non-Glades Electric support personnel

X 203 lineworkers

X 105 vegetation management

X 42 damage assessors

X 142 poles replaced in less than 72 hours

X 33,082 total restoration work hours

X 4,954 meals served to restoration workforce

X 99% of system restored in less than 72 hours

12:37-12:50 p.m. Oct. 9

EF1 tornado lasting 13 minutes of 500 yards moves east of Lake Highlands County, downing 10 poles causing outages for 222 members.

Hurricane Milton: Severe

9:42 a.m. to 12:02 p.m. Oct. 9

EF1 tornado lasting two hours and 20 minutes with a maximum width of 300 yards covers 70.8 miles from south of I-75, through Big Cypress Reservation and Sky Valley to the western side of Lake Okeechobee and into the Brighton Reservation. This tornado broke nine poles on our transmission line in Hendry County on Country Road 835 affecting 1,437 members.

Glades Electric Storm Team begins executing its storm plan to secure additional lineworker personnel and food and lodging resources.

with a maximum width Lake Istokpoga to Lorida in poles on Highway 98, members.

2:24-2:42 p.m. Oct. 9

An EF3 tornado with a peak wind estimate of 140 mph causes substantial damage to homes and properties in Lakeport and the Brighton Reservation in Glades County. This tornado travels 15.46 miles and lasts 18 minutes. At 200 yards wide, the tornado downs lines in neighborhoods and along Highway 78, leaving 941 meters without power.

Severe

Weather to System Restoration Oct. 9

2:04-2:20 p.m. Oct. 9

A 250-yard-wide EF2 tornado lasting 16 minutes and traveling 8 miles destroys homes in Dixie Ranch Acres and neighboring areas in Okeechobee County. This results in outages for 331 members.

2:45 p.m. Oct. 9

Debris from a 300-yard-wide EF2 tornado that destroyed homes on the north shore of Lake Clay and a neighboring solar field causes a fault on the transmission line serving Glades Electric’s Willie Chapple substation in Highlands County. This results in a substation outage affecting 1,465 members.

GLADES ELECTRIC

5 a.m. Oct. 10

Hurricane Milton exits Florida near Cape Canaveral as a Category 1 storm.

7 p.m. Oct. 10

Additional workers arrive from Canada and Mississippi. Nearly 1,500 services are restored.

Oct. 9

8:30 p.m. Oct. 9

Hurricane Milton makes landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key with winds of 120 mph.

Morning of Oct. 10

Glades Electric crews, pre-staged lineworkers, vegetation crews, and damage assessors are deployed throughout the service area to assess damage and begin restoration to 11,769 meters.

8 a.m. Oct. 12

More than 70% of Milton

8 p.m. Oct. 11

Forty-nine additional workers arrive. More than 55% of Milton outages are restored, with 5,327 outages remaining.

9 p.m. Oct. 12

Ninety-eight percent of the system is restored; 496 outages remain.

7 a.m. Oct. 15

Zero outages on GEC’s system.

outages restored, with 3,631 remaining.

Oct. 15

5 p.m. Oct. 13

Only 60 meters remain without service, many of which are affected by extensive tornado damage.

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.

District 7

Howard Lake Josephine District 8

Byars

$6,158.79 in Operation Round Up funds awarded in October 2024 to individuals and local non-proﬁts.

How does it work?

$138 55 cents to your neighbor in need. The average yearly contribution is $6 per member.

9 raised through Operation Round Up and Round Up Plus in September 2024.

Funds from Operation Round Up go right back into the communities we serve.

45%

How can I help?

$4,388.32

Did you know?

8,203 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.

The participation rate it would take to raise more than $70,000 annually to support our communities. 75%

How can I get help?

If you or a member you know needs financial assistance, please complete an application at: www.gladeselectric.com/community/operation-round-up. $137.45 Amount due: Power Bill UP

Ardis Hammock Moore Haven District 1

Beverly Eaves Hendry County District 2 Kelly Brantley Ortona/Palmdale District 3

Dori Evans Lakeport District 4

Carol Roberts Venus/Hicoria District 5

Lee Andrus Highlands Park District 6 Vacant Lorida

Highlands

Glades

Hendry

Okeechobee

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Family Fund helps children after a tragic loss

All in the Family Cooperative

By Drew Woolley

Trent and Betsey Smith met at a country two-step event. He saw her from across the room and decided to strike up a conversation once the music faded.

“He came up to me after the dance, and we talked,” Betsey says. “We ended up dating but never actually danced with each other until after we were engaged.”

They married five months later and had five children over 28 years. Then, on Feb. 6, 2023, just more than a month into a new job as a delivery driver with Fall River Propane—a subsidiary of Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative in Ashton, Idaho—Trent had a medical emergency and died on the job. He was 51.

Several months later, the cooperative contacted Betsey about a new program called the Cooperative Family Fund, which provides financial support for the minor children of cooperative employees who have died. While the program had only been in place for a couple of months, Betsey’s youngest son, Coleman, was eligible for a $10,000 trust.

“I feel like I’m very blessed that he worked for them,” Betsey says. “They didn’t have to be as good to us as they were, considering he had worked there for barely 30 days. The fact that they would put my son into this fund, that they would be willing to do that for him, meant a great deal to me.”

The fund has raised $1.2 million in its first two years and provided 78 trusts for the children of 37 employees across 20 states.

A Gift for the Future

For Cooperative Family Fund Board President Tony Anderson,

providing support for each member of the cooperative family—no matter how long they have been part of it—is what the program is all about. The idea for the fund first came to Tony after a series of funerals for lineworkers across the country.

“We’re really good at funerals in our business, but we don’t do anything after,” he says. “We always talk about being a family in the co-op world, and I believe we’ve proven that over the years. But I felt this would make us a stronger family. And member services, engineers, accountants, managers—we’re all part of that family.”

Cooperative Family Fund Board President Tony Anderson meets with Board Member Anne Harvey. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNE HARVEY

The Trent and Betsey Smith family before tragedy struck. PHOTO

Tony discussed the idea with other cooperative leaders and proposed it to the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation in January 2022. While there are no statistics on how many electric co-op employees are lost annually, the program's goal is to continually raise funds so any children younger than 18 who loses a parent employed by an electric co-op would receive a $10,000 trust. That trust accrues interest until the first day of the month after the child’s 18th birthday. At that point, recipients can put the money toward whatever they choose.

“Every child is going to going to take a different path or has different needs,” says Anne Harvey, one of the founding board members. “If college education is something for them, rather than saying this is for books, maybe they need help with housing. The skilled trades are so needed at distribution co-ops, so maybe they want to go that route, or this could give them a gap year. Each child is going to have a different need, and we just can’t wait to see how they use it.”

While many participating co-ops donate through the board or give employees the chance to contribute from their paychecks, others have found ways to involve their communities. Flathead Electric Cooperative in Kalispell, Montana, held a cookie bakeoff contest, and Beltrami Electric Cooperative in Bemidji,

Minnesota, had a rummage sale. Proceeds from both events went to the fund.

Healing Together

The Cooperative Family Fund helps the cooperative put together a memory book of its time with the employee to give to family members.

For cooperatives mourning the loss of one of their own, offering meaningful support to families has been just as important as financial support. Hollee McCormick, general manager of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative based in Postville, Iowa, recalls her team putting together a memory book for Luke Hackman. An IT broadband technician, Luke died in a car accident the month the Cooperative Family Fund was announced. His two children were the first to receive trusts through the program.

“We were all grieving the loss of Luke, and putting that book together kind of had a healing effect for all of us,” Hollee says. “I always tell Tony there was so little we could do for that family. Being able to talk to his wife and tell her that the nation of co-ops had put this program together and we would be able to help a little bit more was meaningful." 

A portion of the memory book for the family of Luke Hackman, an employee of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Co-op in Iowa.

From Bagpipes

Scottish culture thrives in Florida

By Pamela A. Keene

You don’t need a passport to immerse yourself in Scottish culture. There are at least a dozen Scottish Highland Pipe and Drum bands across the Sunshine State, plus many Highland Games and Scottish events.

games events,” says Nicole Delfino, the city’s strategy and sustainability manager. “The city’s name comes from the Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh, ‘Dùn Èideann.’ It means ‘castle on the hill.’” Streets, parks and neighborhoods have Scottish names, such as Beltrees Street, Louden Avenue, Highland Park, Brae-Moor Estates and many more.

“It’s not unusual to see someone wearing a kilt in Dunedin just about any time of the year,” Nicole says.

Proud Heritage

is Society

No Florida town is more Scottish than the City of Dunedin. Founded by two Scotsmen nearly 140 years ago, the city embraces its heritage. It supports a world-class pipe band and is home to The Scottish American Society and The Scottish Arts Foundation. Scottish music is taught in schools, and Dunedin even has its own adopted tartan.

“Scottish heritage and culture are engrained into the community of Dunedin, from the bagpiper on the welcome sign as you enter the city to our public art, music and Highland

The Scottish Cultural Center is home to the Scottish American Society of Dunedin, which hosts musical performances, dinners, Highland dance classes and other events. The Dunedin Scottish Arts Foundation supports school bands and presents the Dunedin Highland Games, the Celtic Music & Craft Beer Festival, National Tartan Day, and educational programming and cultural seminars.

The City of Dunedin delegation recently visited its sister city, Stirling, Scotland, to celebrate the Scottish town’s 900th anniversary.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN

Bagpipes to Kilts

The Dunedin Pipe Band travels around the world to represent the city and compete in Highland Games and highlevel championships. The city’s global outreach supports its commitment to its heritage as well. With two sister city relationships—Stirling, Scotland, and Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada—city leaders and community organizations actively participate in cultural exchanges.

“Sister city relationships serve as vital bridges that connect communities across the globe, promoting mutual respect, understanding and cooperation,” Nicole says. “For Dunedin and Stirling, this relationship has led to numerous cultural exchanges, educational programs and economic initiatives that

benefit both communities.”

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of Dunedin’s sister city relationship with Stirling, nearly 40 city leaders, staff and

community members traveled in August to Scotland, where they met with officials in Stirling and supported the City of Dunedin Pipe Band at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow as well as the European Championships in Perth.

The Glorious Sound of the Pipes

In 1964—the same year the partnership was formed with Stirling— Dunedin began its pipe band to give local students a chance to play. Since then, the band has grown to about 75 to 100 adult members who compete worldwide, represent the city at Highland Games across the Southeast and serve as ambassadors for Dunedin.

“Having our leadership and community members at the two competitions was a great source of pride for our musicians,” says Iain Donaldson, pipe director for the city. “We are proud to have brought home first place in Grade 4A in the European Championships and

The City of Dunedin Pipe Band leads a parade during the Highland Games in March.

Iain moved to Dunedin from Buffalo, New York, in 2011 to become the city’s director of piping. His work includes managing the town’s pipe band program and teaching bagpiping at city schools.

“Students here can choose from many instruments in the schools’ musical education program, including bagpipes or Highland drums,” Iain says.

Bagpipes are among the most difficult instruments to learn, but Iain says students aren’t daunted.

“These students typically take to the bagpipe right away because they don’t analyze things,” he says. “They just do it.”

Iain plays a key role in the annual Dunedin Highland Games, an event showcasing Scottish traditions from bagpiping and Highland dance to athletic events such as tossing the caber, the hammer throw and tug o’ war.

bagpipes

“Highland Games are multifaceted, with pipe bands, Highland dancers, male and female athletes and strong family bonds of the clans that continue to celebrate our ancestry and all things Scottish,” he says. “Not all people who play the bagpipes or compete in the Highland games have Scots blood in their veins. But you can be sure that they celebrate these fine traditions with just as much conviction, loyalty and passion as those of us who do.”

Scots Across the State

Across the state, nearly a dozen bagpipe bands provide music for special events and march in parades when they’re not busy at competitions. Bands include the Space Coast Highlanders in Brevard County; the First Coast Highlanders in Clay County/ Green Cove Springs; Harp & Thistle Pipe Band of Southwest Florida in Naples; Fort Lauderdale Highlanders Pipe Band in Fort Lauderdale; City of St. Augustine Pipe Band; City of Mount Dora Pipe Band; and the Palm Beach Pipes and Drums.

Drums

Pipe bands are common among firefighting and police organizations as well. Last June, the Orlando Firefighters Pipes and Drums and the Reedy Creek Pipe Band traveled to Normandy, France, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Other fire and police groups include Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes and Drums in Palm Coast, Brevard Police and Fire Pipes and Drums and Jacksonville Fire Rescue Pipes and Drums.

“We are all proud of our Scottish traditions—whether it be music, dance or athletics,” Iain says. "No matter what clan a Scotsman belongs to or whether someone can trace their roots back to Scotland, the truth is we happily accept all who embrace our culture.” 

FROM TOP: People coming into Dunedin via Bayshore Boulevard have no doubts about the city’s Scottish heritage. PHOTO COURTESY OF COREY CONROY PHOTOGRAPHY

City of Dunedin Honor Guard presents the colors, marching ahead of the full pipe band.

The city of Dunedin Pipe Band leads a parade during the Highland Games in March.

A piper and drummer perform on the pier at Dunedin Marina at sunset, concluding their tribute with “Amazing Grace.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF DUNEDIN COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

HOLIDAY BREAKFAST Make Ahead

Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway

Spiced Gingerbread Loaf With Orange Icing

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1½ teaspoons ground ginger

1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon salt

1⁄8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

2⁄3 cup dark molasses

¾ cup hot water (about 100 F)

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1⁄3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 extra-large egg, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt and pepper. Set aside. In a separate bowl or dish, whisk together the molasses and hot water.

In a large bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the brown sugar. Beat on high speed for 1 minute until creamed together fairly well.

On medium-high speed, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until combined. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with the hot water/molasses and mixing each addition just until incorporated. Avoid overmixing. The batter will be thin. Whisk out any big lumps.

Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the loaf is baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the loaf. If it comes out clean with only a few moist crumbs, it is done. Set the pan on a wire rack, allowing the bread to cool completely before removing it from the pan.

To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar and orange juice. Drizzle over the cooled loaf.

ADOBE STOCK PHOTO BY ZI3000

Overnight Breakfast Casserole

1 pound mild breakfast sausage

1 can crescent rolls

6 extra-large eggs, beaten

Heat oven to 350 F.

1 block cream cheese, cut into small cubes

2 cups shredded extra-sharp cheese

Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Brown sausage in skillet. Drain excess grease. Unroll crescent roll dough and press to cover the bottom of the baking dish. Top with sausage, then pour eggs over sausage. Spread cream cheese cubes evenly. Top with cheese. Bake for 30 minutes.

You can prepare the casserole the night before. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to bake.

Spinach and Gruyère Breakfast Strata

8 to 10 ½-inch-thick slices

French or Italian bread

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 2 large shallots, minced 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

1 teaspoon salt

Pepper, to taste

½ cup white wine

1½ cups shredded Gruyère cheese

6 extra-large eggs

1¾ cups half-and-half

Heat oven to 225 F. Arrange bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until dry and crisp, about 40 minutes, flipping slices halfway through baking. When cooled, spread one side of slices with 2 tablespoons butter. Set aside.

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallots. Cook until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add spinach, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is warmed through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Set aside.

Add wine to the skillet. Increase heat to mediumhigh, and simmer until reduced to ¼ cup, about 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.

Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with the remaining butter. Arrange half of the bread slices, buttered side up, in a single layer in the dish. Sprinkle half of the spinach mixture and ½ cup Gruyère evenly over bread slices. Repeat layering with remaining bread slices, remaining spinach mixture and ½ cup Gruyère. Whisk eggs in a medium bowl until combined. Whisk in half-and-half, reduced wine and salt. Season with pepper. Pour mixture over bread layers. Wrap dish tightly in plastic wrap, pressing plastic flush to surface of strata. Weigh down strata with three 16-ounce cans to submerge ingredients. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

Heat oven to 325 F. Remove dish from refrigerator, and let it sit for 20 minutes. Remove weights and plastic. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top of strata. Bake until edges and center are barely puffed and edges have pulled away slightly from sides of dish, about 50 minutes. Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.

Cinnamon Mufﬁns

Paper muffin liners or cooking spray

1 cup packed light brown sugar, divided

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided

1 cup whole milk

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ cup canola oil

2 extra-large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 375 F. Line a standard 12-well muffin pan with paper liners, or coat the wells with cooking spray.

Place ¼ packed cup of light brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon in a small bowl. Stir to combine, breaking up any lumps.

Place flour, baking powder, the remaining 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. Whisk to combine.

Place milk, the remaining ¾ packed cup light brown sugar, canola oil, eggs and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined and no lumps of sugar remain.

Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Stir until just incorporated and no dry spots remain.

Divide half the batter among the muffin wells, about 2 tablespoons of batter per well. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon sugar evenly over each muffin. Divide the remaining batter among the muffin wells. Sprinkle each muffin with the remaining cinnamon sugar, about 1 teaspoon per muffin.

Bake until the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing the muffins from the pan.

Nutella Swirl Banana Bread

Cooking spray

8 tablespoons salted butter

3 medium bananas, very ripe

1 cup granulated sugar

2 extra-large eggs

¼ cup whole milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon kosher salt

2⁄3 cup Nutella, divided

Heat oven to 350 F. Line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, so it hangs off two sides to form a sling. Coat the pan and parchment with cooking spray.

Place 8 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high power in 10-second increments until melted. Mash bananas in a large bowl with a fork or potato masher until smooth. Add the butter, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.

Add flour, baking soda and salt. Stir with a rubber spatula until no dry spots remain.

Transfer half the batter to the prepared pan. Using a spoon, dollop ⅓ cup of Nutella onto the batter. Swirl Nutella into the batter with a table knife. Top with the remaining batter. Dollop the remaining ⅓ cup Nutella onto the batter. Swirl with a knife.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs attached, 55 to 65 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan, then flip the bread out of the pan onto a wire rack. Cool completely before slicing.

joy to the world

By Dave LaBelle

Every year, I create a folder on my computer desktop titled “Best Of,” where I place copies of my favorite images from the year. If it has been a good year, sometimes I end up with as many as 25 images in the folder, but usually there are 10 to 12. This process allows me to do a quick scan of pictures published or those I might want to do more with.

For more of his writings, visit davidlabelle.com and bridgesandangels.wordpress.com.

Recently, while looking through one of these folders from 2023, I was thinking about what I wanted to share this Christmas season— something joyful—and came across a photograph I made during a St. Patrick’s Day parade of a young man named Jake Wagner.

You might remember the name from a column I wrote about Special Olympics and giving of one’s time. Jake has Down syndrome. My heart leapt and my eyes watered as I revisited the first time I met this happy man.

Of the thousands I have photographed, few, if any, cause my heart to smile more than Jake.

Intelligent, loving and

caring, he embodies the pure, unpretentious joy I hunger to document and, more importantly, imitate. He is the greatest gift, the living Christmas card that brings me joy beyond description.

His mother, Betty, shared, “He is such a breath of fresh air. He is such a blessing. He has been making this world a better place since 1984.”

Holding his son’s hand, Jake’s father, Nick, agreed.

“He’s a very loving son,” he said. “He knows when you need a hug, too. He’s the best boy a father could have.”

When Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come to me, for such is the Kingdom of God,” I am confident he had Jake in mind.

NIKON D810, 180mm lens ISO 400, f/4.5 at 1/500

Reader Challenge

This Christmas season, see if you can capture a picture that brings you joy. It can be of happy children or grandchildren squealing with delight as they unwrap presents or somebody whose presence just makes you smile.

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.

Jake Wagner makes the world a better place thanks to his unrestrained love and joy. PHOTO BY DAVE LABELLE

Charles Koger watches his beagles to see if they pick up a rabbit scent during a hunt. Many hunters use beagles to hunt rabbits because the small dogs can go into the thickest cover where rabbits like to hide. PHOTO

BY JOHN N. FELSHER

Bounding Cottontails

Rabbit hunting provides a social experience

“He’s heading your way,” a hunter shouted shortly after we released the dogs. “Get ready!”

A couple of hundred yards away, beagles announced they flushed a rabbit. With anticipation and adrenaline, I listened to frantic howling reverberating across the pine savanna. Anticipating a quick shot on my first rabbit hunt with dogs, I moved to a small, clear patch between two briar thickets where I knew the rabbit must certainly pass. With dogs doing all the work, all I had to do was wait to pull the trigger.

Soon, I heard something about 40 yards behind me. I turned and looked just fast enough to catch a fleeting glimpse of a speedy brown object with a flashing cottony tail vanishing into a thicket. I never saw it again.

Not long ago, with deer populations at low levels, rabbits ranked as the most popular game animal across the Southeast. Then, deer populations rebounded. Now, deer hold the top spot in popularity among game animals, but rabbits still provide excitement.

Everything with teeth, claws or talons wants to eat the “bread of the forest.”

To avoid predators, rabbits seldom stray far from protective cover, such as briar patches, thickets and other places where people cannot easily go. Therefore, most hunters release dogs—particularly beagles—to flush rabbits from their lairs.

“Hunting rabbits with beagles is not as simple as people think, but it’s a lot of fun,” says James Sealy Jr., an experienced rabbit hunter. “A rabbit is hunted day and night on land and from the air by all kinds of predators much more skilled than humans. They can see a person and disappear without that person ever knowing it.”

When dogs flush a rabbit, find a place with reasonable visibility

near where it first took off running and wait. A rabbit likes its home territory and doesn’t want to leave familiar ground. It knows every briar patch, log pile, weed clump and hole in its section of land.

After flushing, the rabbit might circle back and present a shot. Listen for rustling low to the ground, and watch for any movement. Pay particular attention to little paths making tunnels in thickets, briars or other cover.

Unlike other hunting experiences, sportspeople don’t need to stay still or quiet when hunting cottontails. With the dogs hot on a rabbit’s trail, hunters can talk, joke and even tease each other about who has the best—or worst—dog.

Many enthusiasts enjoy the camaraderie and listening to the dogs howling. This social experience makes rabbit hunting an outstanding way to introduce children or novice sportsmen to the outdoors.

Florida conserves more than 6 million acres in wildlife management areas, plus thousands of acres in national forests, national wildlife refuges and other public properties that allow hunting.

Season dates and regulations on various public properties could differ, so always check before hunting.

For hunting seasons, limits and places, visit myfwc.com/hunting. 

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.

Doctor urges seniors to carry medical alert device

Seniors snap up new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills

People don’t always do what their doctor says, but when seasoned veteran emergency room physician, Dr. Philip B. Howren, says every senior should have a medical alert device, you better listen up.

“Seniors are just one fall away from being put in a nursing home,” Dr. Howren said. “With a medical alert device, seniors are never alone. So it keeps them living independently in their own home. That’s why seniors and their family members are snapping up a sleek new medical alert device that comes with no monthly bills ever,” he said.

Many seniors refuse to wear old style help buttons because they make them look old. But even worse, those medical alert systems come with

monthly bills.

To solve these problems Universal Physicians, a U.S. company went to work to develop a new, modern, state-ofthe-art medical alert device. It’s called “FastHelp™” and it instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.

“This slick new little device is designed to look like the pagers doctors wear every day. Seniors love them because it actually makes them look important, not old,” Dr. Howren said.

FastHelp is expected to hit store shelves later this year. But special newspaper promotional giveaways are slated for seniors in select areas. ■

■ NO MONTHLY BILLS: “My wife had an old style help button that came with hefty bills every month and she was embarrassed to wear it because it made her look old,” said Frank McDonald, Canton, Ohio. “Now, we both have FastHelp™, the sleek new medical alert device that our grandkids say makes us look ‘cool’ not old,” he said. With FastHelp, seniors never have to worry about being alone and the best part is there are no monthly bills ever.

Seniors born before 1961 get new medical alert device with no monthly bills ever

The phone lines are ringing off the hook.

That’s because for seniors born before 1961, it’s a deal too good to pass up.

Starting at precisely 8:30am this morning the PreStore Release begins for the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp™ One-Touch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever.

“It’s not like old style monitored help buttons that make you talk to a call center and only work when you’re at home and come with hefty bills every month. FastHelp comes with state-of-the-art cellular embedded technology. That means it works at home or anywhere, anytime cell service is available

(Continued on next page)

whether you’re out watering the garden, driving in a car, at church or even hundreds of miles away on a tour or at a casino. You are never alone. With just a single push of the One-Touch E Button you instantly get connected to free unlimited help nationwide with no monthly bills ever,” said Jack Lawrence, Executive Director of Product Development for U.S. based Universal Physicians.

“We’ve never seen anything like it. Consumers absolutely love the sleek new modern design and most of all, the instant rebate that practically pays for it and no monthly bills ever,” Lawrence said.

FastHelp is the sleek new medical alert device with the best of combinations: a quality, high-tech engineered device that’s also an extremely great value because there are no monthly bills ever.

Better still, it comes with no contracts, no deposits and no monthly bills ever – which makes FastHelp a great choice for seniors, students and professionals because it connects to one of the largest nationwide networks everywhere cell service is available for free.

And here’s the best part. All those who already have an old style monitored medical alert button can immediately eliminate those monthly bills, which is why Universal Physicians is widely advertising this announcement nationwide.

“So if you’ve ever felt a medical alert device was too complicated or expensive, you’ll want to get FastHelp, the sleek new medical alert device with no monthly bills,” said Lawrence.

The medical alert device slugfest was dominated by two main combatants who both offer old style monitored help buttons that come with a hefty bill every month. But now Universal Physicians, the U.S. based heavyweight, just delivered a knockout blow sending the top rated contenders to the mat with the unveiling of FastHelp. It’s the sleek new cellular embedded medical alert device that cuts out the middleman by instantly connecting

you directly to highly trained 911 operators all across the U.S. There’s absolutely nothing to hook-up or install. You don’t need a land line and you don’t need a cell phone. Everything is done for you.

“FastHelp is a state of the art medical alert device designed to make you look important, not old. Old style monitored help buttons you wear around your neck, or

require expensive base station equipment or a landline are the equivalent of a horse and buggy,” Lawrence says. “It’s just outdated.”

Millions of seniors fall every year and spend hours lying on the floor helpless and all alone with no help.

But seniors who fall and get immediate help are much more likely to avoid getting sent to a nursing home and

HOW TO GET IT:

IF BORN BEFORE 1961:

get to STAY living in their own home independently.

Yet millions of seniors are still risking their safety by not having a medical alert device. That’s because seniors just can’t afford to pay the monthly bills that come with old style medical alert devices.

That’s why seniors born before 1961 are rushing to cash in the whopping $150

instant rebate before the 21 day deadline ends.

So there’s no need to wait for FastHelp to hit store shelves later this year because seniors born before 1961 can get it now just by using the $150 instant rebate coupon printed in today’s newspaper before the 21 day deadline ends. If lines are busy keep trying, all calls will be answered. ■

IF BORN AFTER 1961: You cannot use the rebate coupon below and must pay $299 Call: 1-800-330-9423 DEPT. HELP8385

THE BOTTOM LINE: You don’t need to shop around. We’ve done all the leg work, this deal is too good to pass up. FastHelp with the instant rebate is a real steal at just $149 and shipping and there are no monthly bills ever.

PROS: It’s the sleek new medical alert device that comes with the exclusive FastHelp OneTouch E 911 Button that instantly connects you to free unlimited nationwide help everywhere cell service is available with no contracts or deposits. It connects you to the vast available network of cellular towers for free and saves seniors a ton of money because there are no monthly bills ever making this deal irresistible. Plus it’s the only medical alert device that makes seniors look important, not old.

CONS: Consumers can’t get FastHelp in stores until later this year. That’s why it’s so important for seniors born before 1961 to call the National Rebate Center Hotline within the next 21 days. For those who miss that deadline, the sleek little medical alert device will set you back over $300 bucks.

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.

KEY WEST

Dec. 1

Key West Artisan Market: Red Ribbon Edition

PENSACOLA

Dec. 4

57th Annual Snowball Derby

You’re invited to Rock the Red Ribbon Together from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Clarence H. Higgs Memorial Beach. Wear your ribbon or pick up a free ribbon from the volunteers of the Friends of the Memorial Board. Shop a curated outdoor market offering ﬁne crafts, art and jewelry from talented Florida Keys makers. Listen to awesome local musicians, support our featured charity and meet celebrity authors from the Key West Writers Guild. Be sure to tour the Key West Wildlife Center and ﬁnd out more about its Raise the Roof Capital Campaign. Admission is free. www.keysartisanmarket.com; 305-731-3385

LAKE PLACID

Dec. 3

Tree Lighting and Holiday Evening Market

Celebrate the holidays from 5-8 p.m. at the Journal Plaza with an evening of shopping and festivities. This kicks off the three-week run of Holiday Evening markets and will feature extra special guests. Santa and Mrs. Claus stop by to help the town usher in the Christmas spirit with the lighting of the Christmas tree. Meet the festive pair as you enjoy food and drinks from local businesses, vendors and knock out some Christmas shopping as you browse the market vendors and downtown shops. bit.ly/3O09mu6; 863-440-7657

The Snowball Derby presented by Bayou Fox Hooters is a 300-lap super late model stock car race held annually at the Five Flags Speedway, a half-mile paved oval track in Pensacola, Florida. The race has been contested every year since 1968 and is typically run on the ﬁrst weekend in December. The Snowball Derby has a reputation for attracting some of the bigger names in short tract racing, including top series NASCAR drivers because it is run after most tracks and touring series have concluded their season.

www.5ﬂagsspeedway.com/schedules/event/498876; 850-944-8400

ISLAMORADA

Dec. 6

20th Anniversary Holiday Fest

ISLAMORADA

Dec. 7

Lignumvitae Christmas

Friend Raiser

Friends of the Islamorada Area

State Parks offer this annual community event from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park. Tickets are available online, but space is limited. This event takes place rain or shine. Proceeds help Friends of the Islamorada Area

State Parks, a volunteer nonproﬁt, citizens’ support organization to generate public awareness, education, ﬁnancial support, preservation and maintenance of local state parks.

friendsofkeysparks.org; 305-664-4339

Kick off the holiday season from 4-10 p.m. at this annual festival and parade at Founders Park, MM 87. Bring the family and experience magical snow blowing from a 35-foot tree, slide down snow mountain, enjoy live stage performances, visit with Santa in the children’s activity tent, shop for unique gifts, and savor delicious food and wine. Admission is free. Help keep the festival plastic free by bringing your own reusable nonglass drink container.

islamoradachamber.com/holiday-fest; 305-644-4503

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDAKEYSPHOTO.COM

PENSACOLA

Dec. 7

Full Afternoon Tea

This is a festive selection of tea sandwiches, sage and lemon sausage rolls, scones, clotted cream and preserves, mini Victoria sponges, pavlova with fresh cream and fruit, seasonal mousse plus a pot of loose leaf tea, all served on a three-tiered plate and beautiful ﬁne bone china. Reserve a time online to have tea. Tickets start at $50. www.theoldeenglishcreamery.com; 850-542-7969

ISLAMORADA

Dec. 14

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

This event opens at 8 a.m. with the ceremony at 9 a.m. The Florida Keys Community walk begins at 9:30 a.m. at Founders Park, 87000 Overseas Hwy. act.alz.org/FloridaKeys; 305-394-0643

SEBRING

Dec. 14

Fourth Annual Craft and Fun Fair

Start your holiday shopping early from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. while perusing 40 local vendors, Kids Create Corner, Toy Drive for Ag Angels, music and food. This event is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. Admission is free. 863-271-9506

ISLAMORADA

Dec. 14

Florida Keys Community Concert Band

The community band presents Holiday Harmony featuring Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa music joined by the Burton Handbell Ringers from 4-5 p.m. at the ICR Amphitheater in Founders Park. Activities include Santa and his elves passing out sweet treats and snowball games. Bring your lawn chairs or just sit on the benches at the venue. The concert is sure to brighten your holiday spirit. www.keyscommunityconcertband.org; 503-970-2014

SEBRING

Dec. 14

Santa Dog 5K Run/Walk

Put on your running shoes for a fast, ﬂat and scenic course. Proceeds from this event support the Sebring Angels Animal Shelter. Join us at 8 a.m. for an exciting and fun event. With awesome swag for all dog lovers and runners, this race is a sure thing for a great doggy good time. The race is timed and scored by J3 Timing. https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Sebring/SantaDogSebring

KEY LARGO

Dec. 14

Christmas Boat Parade

Join us at dusk for this holiday celebration of decorated and lighted boats starting as they cruise the canals of Key Colony Beach. Boat entries are free. Light up your vessel for the season to win $5,000 in cash and prizes.

www.keylargoboatparade.com; 305-766-0643

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 or use the QR Code for easy access. 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 LARGO BOAT PARADE

GARDENING 5

Herbs to Plant in December

With the holiday season in full swing, it’s easy to forget about updating the garden. However, your herb garden can help you spice up your holiday meals and provide some health benefits. These five herbs are easy to plant, thrive in cool weather and make delicious additions to holiday recipes.

Cilantro

Cilantro is an excellent winter herb to grow in Florida because it waits to flower until the warmer weather of spring. You should plant this herb somewhere that gets full to partial sun and has excellent soil drainage.

Harvesting begins once it’s 6 inches tall and continues until it dies. Although the leaves of cilantro are most highly valued, all of the plant is useful. The roots can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable, and you can dry the seeds to make your own spice: coriander.

For more information about cilantro, visit gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/cilantro.

Parsley

Like cilantro, parsley loves cool weather and doesn’t bloom until spring. You can plant parsley in your garden beds or in containers. Parsley enjoys afternoon shade, so it grows well in partial sun or on a windowsill.

If you grow your plants from seed, you should soak them in water overnight before planting to help speed the process. Once the seeds are in the ground, be sure to keep the soil moist and remove any weeds that sprout.

Parsley root has an even stronger flavor than the leaves, and it works well in holiday recipes. Parsley is also beneficial to your health, containing vitamins A, C and K, as well as several B vitamins, calcium and iron. For more information about parsley, visit gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/parsley.

Fennel

Fennel’s shoots, leaves and seeds are all useful in cooking. This cool-season herb needs full sun and moist soil to thrive. Do not plant this herb near dill or cilantro; it will cross-pollinate and reduce seed production. Black swallowtail caterpillars, too, will love your fennel and use it as a host plant.

After about three months, your herb will be ready for harvest. Fennel works as an addition to sauces, fish, bread and salads. A tea is often made of the leaves that people drink for digestive health.

For more information about fennel, visit gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/fennel.

Thyme

Thyme is another herb that enjoys full sun. It’s extremely drought

Tips for Cooking

 When gathering herbs for a recipe, choose the youngest and most tender leaves for the best ﬂavor.

 If you want to preserve your herbs, harvest them as soon as they begin ﬂowering, then dry or freeze them. To dry them, leave them in a dark, well-ventilated room until they are completely dry. Store your dried herbs in tightly closed containers. To freeze them, place them on a baking sheet in the freezer. Transfer to air-tight plastic bags once completely frozen.

 Dried herbs can be used to make herbal vinegars that will add extra ﬂavor to your holiday marinades and dressings.

tolerant and does best in well-drained soil.

Like parsley, thyme can be added to your windowsill herb garden or garden beds. You can also grow thyme in a hydroponic unit.

If you are interested in beekeeping, bees are highly attracted to thyme and it creates a delicious honey.

For more information about thyme, visit gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/thyme.

Chives

Chives grow well in winter months and are harvested at any time. They prefer plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil, and they tend to grow in clumps of multiple plants. You will need to divide them every couple of years to give them enough space to grow.

Depending on the variety you choose, your chives can add subtle onion or garlic flavor to a dish. Unlike most other herbs, chives are not often used dried. Simply chop the fresh leaves and add them to any recipe. Mix this herb into butter or cream cheese to make a flavorful spread. 

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.

Parsley grows well in partial sun or on a windowsill. PHOTO COURTESY OF UF/IFAS

GEC Announcements

$2,000 iTECH Glades Scholarships and $5,000 College Scholarships for Seniors

The Glades Electric Educational Foundation offers $2,000 scholarships for six iTECH Glades students of all ages—beginning with programs in January 2025—and $5,000 college scholarships to high school seniors. The student’s primary residence must be served by Glades Electric to be eligible.

The deadline for high school seniors to apply for a $5,000 scholarship is Feb. 20. Applications and program details are available at www.gladeselectric.com/community/ student-programs-information.

Deadline for Trustee Nominations by Petition

Trustee elections are in spring 2025 for District 1 (Moore Haven), District 3 (Ortona/Palmdale) and District 4 (Lakeport/Brighton). The deadline for members who wish to be nominated by means of petition is Jan. 9.

Visit www.gladeselectric.com/about-us/board-of-trustees for details and qualification requirements. The elections are in March and April by electronic voting through SmartHub or by mail-in ballot. The 2025 Annual Meeting is April 9. Stay tuned for more details in 2025.

Paperless $100 Bill Credit Winner Announced

Congratulations to our quarterly $100 bill credit winner, Doris Portes. Sign up for paperless billing to avoid mail delays, keep your bills secure, access them with ease at any time with the SmartHub app, and be entered in the quarterly drawing for a chance to win a $100 bill credit.

To switch to paperless billing for a chance to win, sign up in your SmartHub app or online at www.gladeselectric.com/ about-us/contact, or call member services at 863-946-6200.

Connect, powered by Glades Electric Cooperative, is connecting more areas in the upcoming months. Check out the map below and sign up today!

Forest Through the Trees

WMighty Conifer Knife at an Impossible Price!

What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives

“Outstanding knife of high quality and a great price. I now have a number of your great cutlery in my growing collection!”

— Robert F.,

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e know you. You’re not interested in everyday, run-of-themill, common cutlery. You want something with a story, a unique feature that you can brag about. We’ve got just the thing for you. Our Mighty Conifer Knife is a unique tool with a Damascus steel blade and a handle crafted from an enhanced and stabilized natural pinecone. While our competitors are charging hundreds for similar knives, we’re oﬀering the Mighty Conifer for JUST $99! at’s what we call our Stauer Impossible Price.

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e blade is nothing to scoﬀ at either. Constructed of Damascus steel, a modern reworking of the legendary steel forged by ancient swordsmiths, this nearly 5-inch blade features 256 layers of steel that have been folded on top of each other to increase its durability. Our competitors are charging hundreds for boring, run-of-themill knives with no features worth bragging about. We’re asking JUST $99 for a knife unlike any you’ve seen before!

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TWELVE HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS

Keep decorations at least three feet away from heat sources – especially those with an open ﬂame, like ﬁreplaces and candles.

5 6 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 12

If you have a natural Christmas tree water it to keep it fresh and safe.

If you’re using extension cords or adapters that add receptacles, consider having a qualiﬁed electrician add more outlets to your home.

Remember that phones and tablets should stay on your nightstand.

The best decorations are safe decorations, so when you’re decorating, make sure not to run cords under rugs or furniture.

make sure not to run cords under rugs or furniture.

Always turn off your decorations when you leave your home and when you’re sleeping.

Only use electronics in dry areas. As tempting as it is, you just can’t decorate your aquarium with icicle lights.

Only use electronics in dry areas. As tempting as it is, you just can’t decorate your aquarium with icicle lights. Remember that phones and tablets should stay on your nightstand. Every home needs a working smoke alarm in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level, including the basement.

Only use electronics in dry areas. As tempting as it is, you just can’t decorate your aquarium with icicle lights.

Only use electronics in dry areas. as it is, you just can’t decorate your with icicle lights.

Every home needs a working smoke alarm in each bedroom, outside sleeping areas and on every level, including the basement.

If you’re using a space heater, switch it off before leaving the room. Inspect your decorations and

If you’re using a space heater, switch it off before leaving the room.

5 6 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 12 Keep decorations at least three

Keep batteries stored safely in their packaging and out of reach from small children and pets.

Inspect your decorations and discard any that are damaged or worn out.

breakers or outlets. Many electrical ﬁres that occur every year could be prevented by AFCIs.

The best gift for your family is an Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter breakers or outlets. Many electrical ﬁres that occur every year could be prevented by AFCIs.

HOLIDAY FUN WORD SEARCH

Can you ﬁnd all the words associated with holiday fun in the puzzle below? Use the word bank to check your work.

WORD BANK

Happy Holidays from the Energy Explorers!

Jingle Bells

Candy Cane

Santa Claus Mittens Snowman Hot Chocolate

with never a

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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

Lee Henderson, President, District 6 Highlands Park, 863-633-9281

Barney Goodman, Vice President, District 2 Hendry County, 561-414-8737

Shannon Hall, Secretary/Treasurer, District 4 Lakeport and Brighton, 863-946-3242

Donnie Lundy, Trustee, District 1 Moore Haven, 863-946-0402

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

Vicki Pontius, Trustee, District 8 Lake Josephine, 863-414-2917

Angela Hodges, Trustee, District 9 Okeechobee, 863-801-3140

The Board’s next meeting is at 9 a.m. Dec. 19 at Moore Haven Headquarters Office. Any changes are posted in the lobby of both district offices.

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Jeff Brewington, CEO

Renee Bass, Chief Administrative Officer

Courtney Brown, Chief Personnel Officer

Jennifer Koukos, Chief Communications Officer

Jennifer Manning, Chief Financial Officer

Michael Roberge, COO and Assistant General Manager

Resilience, Recovery and 2025 Rates

In my last message, I was grateful that Hurricane Helene just passed us by. However, we were hit by Milton shortly after. For us, Milton’s tornadoes were the big story.

Our territory was hit by at least 15 tornadoes. After the storm passed, 63% of our system was without service. Most of that was restored in less than three days. Our storm team did a fantastic job.

The storm hardening we’ve done was evident with the lack of destroyed infrastructure by this hurricane. In fact, we have a video of an F2 tornado going through a line section and—due to its construction with ductile iron poles—not a single pole went down. Please check out Pages 4-7 for all the details on Milton’s impact and our response.

October brought us Milton, and November leaves us with a new president-elect. I’m certain not everyone is pleased with the result, but regardless of their party, we need our new leader to bring improvements to our energy policy that will allow us to continue the production of reliable and affordable energy.

Make sure your voices are heard on this matter and sign up to join Voices for Cooperative Power at voicesforcooperativepower.com.

In 2025, we’ll continue system improvements to provide reliable service. You witnessed the results of these efforts in Milton’s short restoration period.

Although it was a relatively quick restoration, we estimate the cost at $10 million. With its related finance costs, higher interest rates, a 7% increase in power costs and the inflationary effects on other operating costs, that expense is leading to a tough budget year for 2025.

With the growth occurring in our area, infrastructure costs are also on the rise. This is also leading to additional financing at higher rates. To continue financing all this activity, we have certain debt covenants that must be met. The most restrictive covenant requires us to raise rates. We are looking at up to a 14% increase over our budgeted rate for 2024. As always, we will give back when we can.

As we wrap up a busy fall and look ahead to 2025, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and year full of blessings ahead.

Jeff Brewington