Florida Currents November 2023 by American MainStreet Publications

Florida Currents FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

NOVEMBER 2023

OUR SPECIAL SERIES ON THE CRISIS IN RURAL HEALTHCARE BEGINS ON PAGE 12

A Foraging Flock of

Florida Ibis Captured by Florida Keys Electric Co-op member Ray Castenholz, this picture of a flock of Ibis foraging on a flat in Lower Matecumbe took third place in our 2023 Photo Contest.

ALSO INSIDE >> FKEC Returns $1.4M in Capital Credits | Proper Planting Distances

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FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC

Florida Currents November 2023 • Volume 13, No. 1

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 EDITOR Victoria Hampton, CCC ASSOCIATE EDITORS David Herder, Nina Todea PUBLICATIONS PRODUCTION MANAGER Elizabeth Beatty PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Alyssa McDougle Members acknowledge that $4.31 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. HOW TO CONTACT FLORIDA CURRENTS Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $15 U.S. a year; $25 foreign a year. Prepayment required. Allow 4-8 weeks for first issue. Identify local edition desired. Have a problem receiving your magazine? Utility members should contact their utility office. Nonmembers call 503-357-2105 or email mailingdept@pioneer.coop.

FKEC Offers Whole-Home Surge Protection Whole-home surge protection via a device mounted at your electric meter is the first line of defense against power surges that can damage your home’s electrical system, appliances, computer equipment, air conditioners and more. FKEC takes steps to prevent spikes in power, and very rarely is a power surge directly attributable to the failure of the electric utility’s equipment or power supply. However, to help further protect your valuable electronics, appliances and other electric devices, we recommend using meter-mounted surge protection in conjunction with plug-in devices. For more info visit www.FKEC.com or call FKEC at 305-852-2431.

Back issues: Back issues and extra copies are $3 each, prepayment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year. Call first to check availability. Contact Pioneer Utility Resources: P.O. Box 1306, North Plains, OR 97133-1306; 503-357-2105; email: mailingdept@pioneer.coop.

The Great Florida Cattle Drive

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Up Close, Page 10

A Mission of Honor

© 2023 Pioneer Utility Resources. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Direct reprint requests to editor@floridacurrents.com. For more information, visit www.pioneer.coop.

A photo on page 14 of the October magazine was incorrectly captioned. Julia Hutchins took the photo promoting the reading program at DeLand Regional Library.

Veterans share a day of honor at our nation’s memorials Spotlight, Page 12 Photo Hunt 18 Planner Get Outside 20 Before You Go Co-op Pages: 4-5, 8, 25, 28-29, 32

22 30

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In the Kitchen, Page 16 NOVEMBER 2023

GLADES ELECTRIC

FKEC NEWS NOVEMBER 2023

FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC. Member Owned Since 1940

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Karl Wagner District 4, Marathon, President Michael H. Puto District 4, Marathon, Vice President Cale Smith District 3, Islamorada, Treasurer Gretchen Holland District 1, Key Largo, Secretary James J. Boilini District 1, Key Largo David C. Ritz District 1, Key Largo Craig Belcher District 2, Tavernier Joseph H. Roth III District 2, Tavernier George D. Hertel District 3, Islamorada CONTACT US: (305) 852-2431 (800) 858-8845 Pay by Phone 1-855-385-9912 www.FKEC.com Mailing Address: P.O. Box 377, Tavernier, FL 33070

MEMBERS SHOULD KNOW:

FKEC members are represented by nine elected board of directors charged with ensuring a progressive, financially sound utility. You can learn more about the board and access meeting information at www. fkec.com/about-us/ Unless otherwise noted, “FKEC NEWS” writing, design & photography by: Nikki Dunn Cullen, news@fkec.com

N O V E M B E R 2023

www.FKEC.com

The Benefit of Economic Participation As a cooperative, Florida Keys Electric operates according to a set of seven core principles, one of which is Member’s Economic Participation. Under that governing value, co-op members contribute equitably through their monthly electric bills, and the revenue earned in excess of our expenses (called margins) are later returned to members as Capital Credits. Those Capital Credits are your piece of FKEC’s success. We determine our annual margins by taking our total revenue and subtracting all operating costs. Those costs include paying for power supply, improving electrical infrastructure, ensuring continuity of service, as well as providing an emergency reserve. Any resulting revenue is then allocated to each member based on their patronage, which is the amount of electricity the member purchased during that year in proportion to the total amount purchased by all members. Like other electric cooperatives, FKEC retains its Member Capital Credits for a number of years to invest in improvements and maintain the electric system. This practice also helps offset the amount of money we need to borrow, which in turn helps lower the rates on your electric bill. Each year, the FKEC board of directors carefully reviews our financials to approve the appropriate return amount. This year, they supported the return of 100% of the Member Capital Credits from the year 2004, totaling

SCOTT NEWBERRY Chief Executive Officer $1,426,659.96. If you move out of FKEC’s service territory or are no longer an active member, it is your responsibility to keep FKEC informed of your current mailing address. This enables us to properly forward your payment when Member Capital Credits are retired for the year or years of your membership. FKEC has cumulatively returned nearly 45% of members’ equity, ranking us in the top two among Florida’s 16 electric co-ops and the top 10% among the nation’s 800+ electric cooperatives. There are many benefits to being a member of an electric cooperative and equal economic participation is one of them. If you were an FKEC member in 2004, you will receive a credit or information about your Capital Credit with your November electric bill. See the facing page for more details.

FKEC Returns Over $1.4 Million to Members What are MEMBER CAPITAL CREDITS?

Each year, FKEC calculates our annual margins by taking our total revenue and subtracting all operating costs. The resulting margins are then allocated to each member based on their patronage, which is the amount of electricity he or she purchased during that year in proportion to the total amount purchased by all members. Once the margins are allocated to each current member for that year, they are then called Member Capital Credits.

Why do we PAY Member Capital Credits?

FKEC is a not-for-profit cooperative, owned by its members. As you pay your electric bill each month, FKEC uses that money to pay for power supply, improve electrical infrastructure, ensure continuity of service, make payments on any loans and provide an emergency reserve. Any revenues left over after covering FKEC’s operating expenses (also known as margins) are allocated back to you as Member Capital Credits.

What YEAR are these returns for?

This year’s returns represent the margins that were allocated to our members for 2004. If you were an FKEC member in 2004 you will receive either a check in the mail or a credit on your November bill.

Why is my neighbor’s refund MORE than mine?

If your neighbor purchased more electricity than you in 2004, his or her return will be larger.

Member Capital Credits are your piece of FKEC’s success!

Contact FKEC to change the name(s) on the account. We will begin to reissue new checks in May 2024.

bill. If your Member Capital Credit return is $100 or more, you will receive a check. Capital Credit checks less than $20 will only be mailed to former members if it’s the final balance pay-out. Checks are valid for 90 days.

Will I receive a CHECK or a CREDIT on my bill?

Need more HELP?

My NAME has changed, what do I need to do?

If you have an active account and are due a return less than $100, you will receive a credit on your November 2023 electric

Call FKEC Member Service at 305-852-2431 or visit www.FKEC.com. NOVEMBER 2023

Distance Matters

Planting trees too close to power lines can significantly threaten power service to your home, street, and neighborhood. While FKEC implements an aggressive vegetation management program, we ask our members to help prevent outages by planting the right tree the right distance from power equipment. It is critical to consider the mature height and growth rate of a tree before you, or your landscaper, do any planting. By following proper planting distance guidelines, you can successfully landscape your yard without threatening power service to your home or surrounding area.

Planting trees, particularly palms and large canopy trees, too close to power equipment is an increasing problem in FKEC’s service territory. On a calm day, vegetation growing too close to power equipment may not look like it poses a threat, but in windy weather limbs and palm fronds can make contact with electrical lines causing dangerous sparking and power outages. In higher winds, such as a Category 1 Hurricane, a tree with a 3-5 foot tall

trunk, will bend laterally by one foot. The taller the tree’s trunk the more potential lateral movement. Living in the Florida Keys, we know we will experience a storm or high winds at some point. So please consider the wind factor (see below) and follow the setback guidelines before you do any planting. What You Can Do Plant the right tree in the right place. A tree on your property that can potentially grow to touch or blow into power equipment can impact electrical service not only to your home, but your street or

neighborhood. To prevent an outage caused by trees, the top three things to consider before planting are: • Mature size: Small, immature trees planted today can grow into problem trees in the future so please consider the ultimate mature size of a tree before planting. • Rate of growth: Figure out how long until the tree you plant is growing too close to electric lines. • Canopy size: Large canopy trees grow up and out. Plant these trees away from power equipment. Remember, NEVER attempt to trim or prune any vegetation near power lines. If you see vegetation that is, or potentially could, interfere with power equipment, file an online FKEC tree trim request at FKEC.com/services/ or call 305-852-2431. Note, FKEC is only responsible for trimming around co-op electrical equipment.

What FKEC Does To ensure reliable and safe power service, FKEC follows a comprehensive vegetation management program that is critical in maintaining the co-op’s 99.99% reliability. Vegetation in the right-of-way, the strip of land managed by the county or city, is trimmed on a three-year cycle by FKEC crews or contractors. Trees posing an imminent threat to power service that cannot be successfully groomed away from power lines without dramatically affecting their health are removed when necessary. FKEC is committed to being an environmentally sound utility. That is why all our tree crews use pruning techniques and arborist cuts to maintain a tree’s health and encourage growth away from power lines. However, the best way to protect a tree is to plant it the right distance from power lines to start with.

10’ CANOPY CLEARANCE 20’ CLEARANCE 20’ MINIMUM SETBACK

The Wind Factor 1 foot of lateral movement

(also called grey wood)

(in 50+ mph winds)

On a calm day, trees planted too close to utility lines may not look like a threat to power service but trees bending in windy weather are a leading cause of power outages.

N O V E M B E R 2023

Before planting any vegetation near power equipment research the mature height of the tree and growth rate. The tree you plant today can potentially threaten power service in the future if not placed properly. Palm trees can be especially challenging to manage near power lines because it is hard, if not impossible in some cases, to trim the fronds within proper clearance without harming the health of the tree. To help our members, below lists the growth rate and mature height of palm trees commonly planted in our service territory. PALM COMMON NAME

30’ MINIMUM SETBACK

Every 3 – 5 feet of trunk

Commonly Planted Palms

ANNUAL MATURE GROWTH RATE HEIGHT

MALAYN DWARF

6''-12"

30’-60’'

FIJI DWARF

6''-12"

16'-30'

GOLDEN MALAY

6''-12"

20'-40'

KING COCONUT

60’-90’

WEST COAST TALL

1'-2'

100'

PACIFIC TALL

90’

MAYPAN

1'-2'

60'-80’

JAMAICAN TALL

1'-3'

70'-90'

EAST COAST TALL

1'-2'

90'

TIPTUR TALL

1'-2'

90'

GREEN DWARF

6"-12"

16'-30'

MEXICAN FAN PALM

2'-4'

70’-100'

QUEEN PALM

2'-4'

25'-50'

ROYAL PALM

1’-2"

50'-70'

DATE PALM

6"-12"

40'-50'

BISMARCK PALM

1'-2'

30'-60’

Show You Care!

SMALL SHRUB LESS THAN 15’ TALL

MEDIUM TREE 20’-30’ MAX. (MATURE HEIGHT)

LARGE TREE 30’+ (MATURE HEIGHT)

Support healthy trees by planting trees the proper distance from power lines. Learn more at www.FKEC.com/services/

N O V E M B E R 2 023

FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC

N O V E M B E R 2023

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UP CLOSE

The Great Florida

CATTLE DRIVE By Kathy Ann Gregg

In 1521, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon introduced the first herd of cattle to what is now known as the state of Florida. Since then, the Sunshine State has become one of the top cattleproducing states in the country. Fast forward to 2019: The Florida Cow Culture Preservation Committee started planning its quincentennial celebration, including nearly two years of events to celebrate the milestone. First up on the list was painting seven life-size fiberglass bulls dubbed Juan Ponce de Leon’s 1521 Herd of 7. Florida artists were commissioned to use their imagination by painting

these replicas with scenes of Florida’s cattle industry, wildlife, country living and rodeo. These replicas traveled the state and eventually were sold. Their last appearance as a group was at the Trail’s End Celebration of The Great Florida Cattle Drive 2021. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the events were pushed back a year, making it The Great Florida Cattle Drive 2022. This was the fourth such cattle drive, with the initial one in 1995, followed again in 2006 and 2016.

Commencing December 4, 2022, near St. Cloud, the group drove the cattle over four ranches for 68.3 miles. They left Diego Medina’s ranch, near Kenansville, on December 10 for the last 7 miles to the Trail’s End Celebration at Kenansville Silver Spurs Arena. The stories from this journey are as varied as the 350-some horsemen and women who braved the weeklong ride, including those who rode in 14 wagons. They came from Florida and 17 other states. Flags from Brazil, Mexico and Guatemala flew among the riders. The Seminole Tribe of Florida was well-represented. It sponsored 20

Delaney Crosby, dressed in clothing reminiscent of the 1500s, heads out in the morning fog. PHOTO COURTESY OF DELANEY CROSBY

military veterans, paying their entry fees and providing them with horses. It also provided for a group of boys from the Live Oak location of the Florida Sheriff ’s Youth Ranches. The boys helped the veterans and arranged the last set of cattle used for the drive: 500 head of Corriente, with longhorn influence and horns to match. The Seminole Tribe’s flag flew from a Conestoga-style wagon—a specific design of heavy covered wagon used extensively during the late 18th and 19th centuries in the Eastern United States and Canada. Billie Joe and Tara Johns drove the wagon. Their son and daughter-in-law were supposed to make the trip, but they had to leave after three days, returning for the Friday night entertainment: Seminole Indian culture night. This family’s wagon also hosted others. Veteran Mike Hill, of St. Augustine, rode with the couple on the initial day of the drive. Eighty-eight-year-old Ron Wetherington, of Dover, joined them for the final mile of the Saturday drive. While

completing the entire ride had been on his bucket list, he was prevented by emergency surgery just before the start date. The youngest participant was 6-year-old Jayme Wells, of Fellsmere, and the oldest was 90-year-old Al Johnson, of Orlando. Al had served the first three drives as a cow hunter—someone who can track a wild cow through dense woods and return her to the herd—but this time he drove a wagon. Thirty-three-year-old Bennett Lloyd, of Sanford, completed the entire event on foot. As coordinator of the Museum of Seminole County History, he wanted to experience Florida’s history. He was dressed entirely in 1530s-era clothing, most of which he made himself. Delaney Crosby, a high school senior from Baker County, also completed the trip dressed in period clothing. “It ended up being an amazing experience,” she says. “One of my favorite parts was dressing up as they did in that time period.” Several Florida cattle families were

Riders and a wagon cross a meadow on the final leg of The Great Florida Cattle Drive 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF KATHY ANN GREGG

represented on the drive by multiple generations, including the family of the late Imogene Yarbrough from Geneva; and Polk County cattle dynasty Cary Lightsey, his son, Clint, and his granddaughter, Hattie, who served as a cow hunter. Veterinarian LuJean Waters-Stein was joined by her mother and stepfather, her husband and their 12-year-old son. “Reenacting what our ancestors went through, how they were able to move their homesteads into central Florida—after spending just a week with only a fraction of their struggles—is truly moving,” LuJean says. The weather cooperated beautifully— and those who complained about the early morning fog were met with dark scowls from the veterans of the 2016 drive, who endured three straight days and nights of downpours, leaving everything perpetually drenched.  The 2024 Great Florida Cattle Drive Reunion Ride and Gathering is January 26-28 at the Florida Sheriff’s Boy’s Ranch in Live Oak. Visit greatfloridacattledrive.com for more information.

Occasionally, the drive traversed paved roads, where the skills of the cow hunters were tested. PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY MEW MINGER

N O V E M B E R 2 023

A Mission of Honor

SPOTLIGHT

Veterans share a trip of honor to our nation’s memorials Story and photos by Craig Reed

Six small private planes flew 12 veterans from Ohio to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to visit the recently completed World War II Memorial. Since that first trip and the establishment of the Honor Flight Network, the nonprofit organization has flown 300,000 veterans to the nation’s capital to visit the memorials built to commemorate their service and sacrifice. It’s an all-expenses-paid trip for the veterans. “We’re tremendously blessed to have a wonderful network of volunteers across the United States who are all committed to the success of this organization,” says Marion Watkins, chief of staff for the Honor Flight Network. “We’re all committed to our shared mission of honoring those men and women who have proudly worn our nation’s uniform.” Dane Prevatt, a Marine Corps veteran, has made eight Honor Flight trips, the first two as a support guardian for a veteran and the last six as president of Honor Flight of Central Oregon. “I’m very passionate about this program,” Dane says. “Being a veteran, I understand the struggle a lot of these guys have—some with major struggles— so any way we can help them, to put their demons in a box, to make those demons even more of a distant memory so they’re no longer shouldering a burden, is important. I get a lot out of delivering that for them. “If an Honor Flight trip starts the healing process, starts the conversation, gets the ball rolling for a veteran, then it’s a good thing.” Earl Morse, a retired Air Force captain and a physician assistant at a Veterans Affairs clinic in Springfield, Ohio, saw a need for the flights when he talked to patients who were World War II veterans. His passion and concern for veterans started with his father, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, and his uncle, a Vietnam veteran. He asked the veterans if they were planning to see the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Most answered yes, but several months later, when he saw them again and asked if they had visited the memorial, their answer was no. Earl realized a trip wouldn’t happen for most of these veterans without support as travel became more challenging as they aged. He offered to fly two veterans to Washington, D.C., to see their memorial. After seeing the emotions of those two, Earl pitched the idea for more flights to a local airplane club. Eleven pilots volunteered to join Earl on another trip. The pilots paid for the trips and escorted the veterans around to the different memorials. Jeff Miller—a dry-cleaning company owner in North Carolina—was inspired by Earl’s effort to support veterans. Jeff, the son of a World War II 12

N O V E M B E R 2023

Vietnam War veteran Donald Beckett honors his fallen brothers at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. N O V E M B E R 2 023

The Honor Flight group at the World War II Memorial.

veteran and nephew of a B-24 bomber pilot who died in the war, is a charter member of the National World War II Memorial Foundation. “I have a real need to serve the ones who have served me—who have given me my opportunities—and that’s the drive,” Jeff says. Earl and Jeff worked together to establish Honor Flight, and gradually, 125 hubs formed. The hubs coordinate the trips, tours, volunteers and fundraising efforts, so there are no costs or travel concerns for the veterans. Earl and Jeff want veterans to have the opportunity to remember lost friends and the chance to heal and share stories. Earl and Jeff were awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2008 for their extensive work in creating Honor Flight and making it a successful, memorable experience for veterans. Approximately 350 Honor Flight trips are now made annually, bringing about 25,000 veterans a year to the memorials. Despite being older, almost 1,000 World War II veterans made Honor Flight trips in 2022. Due to aging, the number of Korean War veterans has also been dwindling in recent years. This year, most Honor Flight veterans served during the Vietnam War. Each veteran is paired with a guardian who provides support such as pushing wheelchairs, helping with luggage, offering a helping hand when needed and listening if veterans want to share any stories from their military service. “A guardian is a traveling companion who 14

N O V E M B E R 2023

shares in the veteran’s experience,” Marion says. “It’s about the veterans, and oftentimes, the veteran will share stories with the guardian that they haven’t shared with their family. The trip may bring stories to the surface, and the guardian is there to listen.” Jose Lopez, a 21-year Army veteran, made a recent Honor Flight trip as a guardian. “I want to help support our past veterans, to hopefully provide that closure that they missed,” Jose says, specifically noting the negative reception Vietnam veterans received on their return home. “I’m hoping to show those veterans that they are never forgotten. I really appreciate the Honor Flight program providing those veterans who didn’t get closure the opportunity to get it now.” Marion says the Honor Flight trips typically include receptions in the airports the veterans travel through and announcements of their presence. In Washington, D.C., depending on time and weather, stops are scheduled at the Vietnam, Korean War, World War I, World War II, Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine memorials. They also visit the George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Martin Luther King memorials; Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; the National Archives Museum; and the U.S. Capitol. On their flights home, mail call on the airplanes provides veterans with letters and cards that thank them for their service, welcome them home and

wish them well. A final celebration wraps up each trip. It usually features a lightsand-siren procession through town and a gathering of several hundred family, friends and well-wishers where the veterans are individually introduced. Marion says since the World War II and Korean War veterans have aged, Honor Flight trips are now focused on Vietnam veterans. “We honor and appreciate all of our veterans, of course, but for the Vietnam generation, this experience is hard to describe,” Marion says. “It hits them in a much deeper way because they didn’t get the ticker tape parade, the red carpet rolled out for them. Fifty years later, for them to hear ‘Thank you for your service,’ impacts them in an important way. To repay that generation with an Honor Flight trip is important.” Dane says he has seen and heard many reactions to the trips by the veterans he has accompanied. “I’ve had people say, ‘I didn’t know I needed this, but I needed this, and now I can move on. I’ve paid my respect to those who didn’t come home,’ ” Dane says. “I’m extremely proud of what I’ve been able to do for veterans, but there are still men and women out there who have not made the trip and who have not been welcomed home properly. I hope they get the opportunity.”  For more information about Florida honor flights, visit honorflightsefl.org or honorflightcentralflorida.org.

ABOVE: By selling the flags he creates, Lorenzo Liberti, center, raises money to benefit veterans. His first works raised enough for him to donate $2,300 to Turning Points, a Bradenton-based nonprofit supporting veterans. He has since raised much more. LEFT: Each flag Lorenzo produces requires at least 20 to 25 hours of work.

Bradenton man’s flag art benefits veterans’ charities By Laz Denes Starting with a 1-by-2-inch piece of premium wood and simple hand tools in 2019, Lorenzo Liberti set out to change the world. Just 14 years old at the time and working out of his family’s three-car garage in Bradenton, Lorenzo proved to be quite a visionary. Inspired by a church group outing at a local soup kitchen, he dreamed up the notion of carving eye-catching American flags to honor service members and raise funds for those in need, particularly military veterans. Two of his first creations raised $2,300 at a Christmas party hosted by the Bradenton nonprofit Turning Points, which supports area veterans. Now 19 and a recent graduate of the law enforcement academy at the Sarasota Sheriff ’s Office, Lorenzo continues to produce handmade works of art. To date, he’s created more than 1,200 flags ranging from 3 to 7 feet long. He has raised more than $50,000 and channeled it to various veterans’ aid organizations through his company, Heroic Flags, and his nonprofit, Give a Buck. Attention to Detail Each flag takes at least 20 to 25 hours to complete. It starts with the time-consuming task of carving a strip of wood for each of the 13 stripes with a one-sided, two-handled handsaw. That’s followed by torching, gluing, clear coating, staining and finally carving all 50 stars individually with a router and putting them in place. Before shipping, Lorenzo signs and numbers each flag. The flags cost $450 for a 3-footer, $800 to $1,000 for a 5-footer and $2,000 or more for a 7-footer. All proceeds—less the cost of materials and Lorenzo’s time, at roughly minimum wage—benefit various nonprofits. Best sellers among Lorenzo’s designs are the red, white and blue, as well as the more rustic version he calls red natural. He also makes special tribute editions honoring firefighters, police officers, military branches and emergency medical responders. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lorenzo sent a flag to one hospital in every state as a gift to health care workers.

“My hand has touched every single flag we’ve ever made, but it really takes a village to make this all happen and keep it going,” Lorenzo says. “My village is my family. It started out as a fatherson project, but the whole family has been really supportive of everything I do. “My mom, brother and sister help every chance they get outside of their busy schedules. My mom and sister enjoy painting, my brother enjoys torching, and my dad is really good at networking with other nonprofits and looking after the business side. I’ve got to hand it to my mom and dad because they’ve been my real inspiration for why I continue to do this.” A breakthrough moment came early in Lorenzo’s endeavors. Fox News took notice and aired a story about his work in 2020. “That’s when it really blew up,” Lorenzo says. “Less than seven hours later, I had literally 200 orders—more flags than I thought I would ever have to create.” That outpouring of support enabled him to easily achieve his initial goal of raising $30,000 for Turning Points. Spreading the Word On top of the artistry, craftsmanship and relentless work ethic that go into the flag creations he plans to continue producing, Lorenzo has become well-versed in explaining the challenges facing homeless veterans. He even has a growing list of ideas for possible solutions. Lorenzo listens to motivational speakers such as David Goggins and Eric Thomas while he works, fueling his desire to spread his message, particularly among younger generations. “Veteran homelessness is something my age group is utterly blind to,” Lorenzo says. “I didn’t know about it until I started doing research. It’s all about awareness. I want to be able to go to schools—starting here in Florida and all across the country—and let kids know they can be young activists. They don’t have to live in this world thinking, ‘Woe is me. I’ll never be able to change the world.’ Veteran homelessness is a huge problem. I can’t solve it on my own, so I want other kids to know. I want to motivate them to be better young citizens.”  For more information, visit www.heroicflags.com. NOVEMBER 2023

IN THE KITCHEN Cilantro-Lime Rice Bowls Cilantro-lime rice

1 tablespoon avocado oil 1¼ cup basmati or jasmine rice 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 cups water

1 teaspoon lime zest 1 teaspoon salt 1⁄3 cup lime juice 1¼ cup chopped cilantro

Bowls 1 cup black beans, cooked or canned; drained ½ cup corn, roasted, grilled or canned; drained 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed

Tasty Tex-Mex

COMFORT FOODS Salsa Verde Chicken and Poblano Enchiladas 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 poblano pepper, diced 16 ounces salsa verde ½ cup sour cream, plus more for serving ¼ cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, chopped, plus more for serving

Recipes by Gertrude Treadaway PHOTO BY KATIE WILCOX

NOVEMBER 2023

2 cups shredded cooked chicken 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or cotija cheese 6 6-inch corn tortillas, fried lightly in a skillet Salt and pepper, to taste

Heat oven to 350 F. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add diced poblano pepper, and saute until softened. Stir in the salsa. Cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the sour cream and cilantro. Taste for seasoning. Adjust with salt, pepper or more sour cream if the sauce is too spicy. Set aside 1 cup of the sauce. Stir the chicken and half of the cheese into the sauce in the skillet. Grease a 2-quart baking dish. Spread a little of the reserved sauce on the bottom. Add about ⅓ cup of the chicken filling to the middle of each tortilla and roll into a cylinder. Repeat. Tightly line up tortillas, seam side down, in the dish. Spread the rest of the reserved sauce over the tortillas, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil. Bake until heated through, about 15 minutes. Remove the foil. Bake 10 minutes longer, until the cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and cilantro.

½ cup diced tomatoes 1 avocado, cubed ½ cup sour cream Fresh cilantro, for garnish

Lightly toast the rice in the oil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan until it begins to brown. Add the garlic, water, lime zest and salt. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat, and cover. Let simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Add the lime juice and continue to cook with the lid on for another 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in the cilantro, and fluff the rice with a fork. Divide the rice, beans, corn, chicken, tomatoes, sour cream and avocado among four bowls. Garnish with cilantro.

Diner-Style Queso

2 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼ cup diced yellow onion ¼ cup jalapenos, seeded and finely diced 4½-ounce can chopped green chiles, undrained 2 teaspoons minced garlic 1 cup whole milk 2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 pound white American cheese, shredded 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus more for topping 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper Tortilla chips Guacamole Pico de gallo

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion and jalapenos. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add green chiles and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 seconds. Whisk together milk, 1 cup water and cornstarch in a bowl until well combined. Add to chile mixture in the saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add cheese. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted, about 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro, cumin, salt and cayenne pepper. Transfer queso to a serving bowl, small slow cooker or chafing dish set over a flame. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve queso warm with tortilla chips, guacamole and pico de gallo.

Double Bean Burritos

1 can refried beans 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained 1½ cups cooked Mexican rice 1 cup salsa 1 small can diced green chiles

1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed 2 teaspoons cumin Dash of salt 1½ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided 12 10-inch flour tortillas

Heat oven to 400 F. In a large bowl, stir together the refried beans, black beans, rice, salsa, chilies, corn, cumin, salt and 1 cup cheese. Add more seasoning to taste if desired. Place the tortillas on a plate, and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high for 30 seconds. One at a time, lay the tortillas flat. Place ⅓ cup of filling just below the center. Fold in the sides of the tortilla so they nearly touch, then bring up the bottom of the tortilla. Pull the contents tight, rolling the burrito from the bottom up and keeping the sides tucked. Lay the burritos side by side in a 9-by-13-inch pan. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Bake for about 20 minutes until heated through and the cheese is melted and golden brown.

Taco Casserole

1 tablespoon canola oil 1½ pounds ground beef 1 medium-size red onion, diced, divided 1 package taco seasoning 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

15-ounce can diced fireroasted tomatoes 9 8-inch corn tortillas 12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded ½ cup pico de gallo

Heat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add beef. Cook, stirring often until browned, about 6 minutes. Add half of the onion to the skillet. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add taco seasoning and ½ cup water to the skillet. Stir to coat the meat. Add beans and tomatoes, and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring often, until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over high heat, 15 seconds per side. Transfer to a plate, and cover with a towel to keep warm. Place three tortillas in an 8-inch square baking dish. Top with 2 cups of the beef mixture. Sprinkle with ½ cup of the cheese. Repeat layers two more times. Bake until cheese is melted, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Top with pico de gallo and remaining onion. N O V E M B E R 2 0 23

THE GREAT PICTURE HUNT

RIGHT: Kristi Johnson, daughter of Alfred Andrew Arnoldus, talks about how her father loved to act out stories as he read to his children. BELOW RIGHT: The obituary for Alfred that he wrote himself and the Thanksgiving column he kept folded in his wallet. PHOTOS BY DAVE LABELLE

A Humbling

Treasure Like seeds carried by birds to faraway places, our words travel, and we seldom know the impact they might have on another’s life. After her father’s death in September 2019, Kristi Johnson, from Hood River, Oregon, was sorting through her father’s belongings and found in his wallet a folded and worn column I had written about Thanksgiving published in 2012. You can read the column at ruralite.com/bestholiday. When Kristi wrote and told me this story and then sent me the obituary her daddy had written himself, I am not ashamed to admit tears flooded my eyes. No one deserves such an honor, I thought. To add to this already humbling honor, Kristi shared 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.

N O V E M B E R 2023

that she started a tradition of reading the column out loud when the family gathers each Thanksgiving Day. Through phone calls, letters and a visit last winter with Kristi and her husband, Vern, in the Hood River home her father built for them, I learned more about the man who followed this column and often talked with his daughter about what I had written. Alfred Andrew Arnoldus was an avid reader. “He loved books and could quote anybody, anything,” Kristi says. “He read Ruralite magazine regularly and often showed me your columns when we would go to visit. ‘Did you see this one?’ ‘Did you read this one?’ He never showed me the Thanksgiving one, until I found it. “He was the greatest storyteller. He read books to us kids in the wintertime. We would sit as a family, and he would read, and we didn’t want him to stop because he would act them out. He was very dramatic.” Alfred always wanted to be a

NIKON D800, 24-70mm lens ISO 280, f/3.2 at 1/250

dirt farmer. “His dream was to be a great big farmer,” Kristi says. He eventually bought his own place. “It wasn’t much of a farm at all,” she says. “It was the only thing my dad could afford and was considered trash, basically. It was swampy. But he tiled it out.” She remembers how the family lived in a machine shed while her dad built a house next door. “He carpentered in the winter then farmed in the summer because he didn’t have enough money for farming in the beginning.” In time, with the help of her two brothers, the farm became one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in the area. It saddens me that I missed the privilege of knowing Alfred, a man who never flew on an airplane and didn’t drink or smoke, built his own house and one for his daughter, fashioned a dream farm, had faith in God, loved words and had opinions he didn’t mind

sharing. I know I would have liked this farmer poet who could quote Shakespeare. But I am thankful we had a connection. My life continues to be enhanced by people I admire yet never met, many of whom walked this Earth centuries before I was born. n

Reader Challenge This month instead of making a photo, your assignment is to write a letter of thanks to someone who is important to you. Express to them how their actions or support helped you overcome some hurdle or propelled you to success.

A Time of Porpoise A

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AFFORD THE EXTRAORDINARY

GET OUTSIDE

Bass Paradise Steve Niemoeller, of CFL Fishing Charter Service, catches a bass with a SteelShad blade bait. The shiny lure imitates a shad or shiner. PHOTO BY JOHN N. FELSHER

Kissimmee Chain Produces Giant Bass In the fall, bass go on a feeding binge, eating as many baitfish as possible. Some of the best bass fishing in the nation takes place on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Each year, the lakes produce numerous fish in the 10- to 14-pound range. The massive chain spreads across nearly 100,000 acres of wetlands at the headwaters of the Everglades south of Orlando. The Kissimmee River connects all the lakes. The word “kissimmee” comes from the Calusa word for “long water.” Lake Tohopekaliga anchors the northern section of the chain closest to Orlando. Locally known as Lake Toho, or West Toho, the lake covers 18,810 acres. Nearby, East Tohopekaliga—also called East Lake—covers about 13,550 acres. East Lake can provide outstanding fishing, but boaters must launch directly into it from St. Cloud. A water control structure blocks boat access from East Toho to West Toho. Lake Toho borders the town of Kissimmee and receives the most pressure to produce bass, but it can churn out monster largemouth. Most of the lake runs less than 12 feet deep, but anglers can find some holes that drop to about 25 feet deep. West Toho connects to Cypress Lake through a locked canal. The Toho water level stays about 3 feet higher than in the canal. Lined with rocks and offering deeper water than most of the lakes, the Toho-Cypress canal holds big bass. Cypress Lake covers 5,500 acres and connects to the 14,500-acre Lake Hatchineha through the Kissimmee River. The river then flows southward into the 34,948-acre Lake Kissimmee. A lock at the southern part of Lake Kissimmee marks the end of the chain. The 20

N O V E M B E R 2023

river eventually flows into Lake Okeechobee, another lake legendary for producing giant bass. Vegetation dominates the cover throughout the Kissimmee Chain. Huge expanses of floating grass mats clog many coves. Along the shorelines, Kissimmee grass, also called maidencane, and bulrushes growing in shallow water create excellent habitat and good places to catch big bass. For fishing such thick vegetation, many anglers drop weedless jigs into the Kissimmee grass or run soft-plastic frogs over the top of floating vegetation. Rigged with no weight and the hook point inserted into the plastic body, frogs can go through or over virtually any entangling cover. Big bass explode through the vegetation to blast frogs, sometimes engulfing grass as well. “For fishing a frog, I reel it across the lily pads or grass,” says Shaw Grigsby, a professional bass angler from Gainesville. “It’s a tremendous way to fish Florida lakes throughout the year. It’s a very simple bait to use, but it’s a bait that can produce some big fish. Bass come out from under the lily pads or grass beds to eat it.” For the biggest bass, try live shiners. Wild river shiners make excellent bait. Suspend 6- to 10-inch live shiners under floats or free line them near grassy edges. Any cast in this sprawling wilderness system could produce the bass of a lifetime.  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.

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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.

PENSACOLA

November 2

Singing in the Street This event is a captivating addition to Foo Foo Festival, transforming the Pensacola Museum of History into an interactive musical haven beginning at 6 p.m. The event merges the enchantment of Disney, the dynamism of Broadway and thrill of a flash mob. Everyone is invited to join in the spirited singalong experience for free. www.foofoofest.com; 800-874-1234

KEY LARGO

November 2-12

The Play That Goes Wrong Monty Python meets Sherlock Holmes in “The Play That Goes Wrong,” a play within a play that follows the Comley Drama Society’s production of the 1920s whodunit, “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” Despite best efforts, the production rapidly goes from bad to disastrous, with madcap mishaps and choregraphed chaos. Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences. www.thekeyplayers.org; 305-942-4339

ISLAMORADA

November 3

Dia de Los Muertos 2023 Join us in a celebration of ancestors during this annual celebration that reunites the living and the dead. Beginning at 5 p.m., there is a sugar skull station where you can make an ofrenda—altar—for a loved one. AfroMexican folkloric dance and fandango are part of the festivities.

MARATHON

November 4

Joy on the Rock Festival Several churches in the Keys offer a community experience of faith and family from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marathon Community Park. The Corbans and several area worship bands give their time for a free, all-day music festival and fellowship event. Bounce houses, a children’s activity area, a prayer tent, and craft and vendor booths are a few of the activities. www.nlkeys.church; 305-743-7165

HOW TO INCLUDE UPCOMING EVENTS Want to share a family-friendly event with the readers of Florida Currents? Send details in an attached Word document (no PDFs, please)—in the format shown on this page—to info@floridacurrents.com. Include the date, town, times and a way for readers to register or get more information. 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— perhaps from a past year—include it with photo credit information.

LAKEWOOD RANCH

November 4

Fifth Annual Car Show and Cookout This fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is at Angels Catholic Church. In 2022, the Knights of Columbus raised $9,500. This year, they hope to eclipse that mark. There is a $20 fee to show your car, but the event is free to the public. www.knights13341.org; 631-478-9584

PENSACOLA

November 4

Mural Fest Pensacola Mural Fest celebrates the addition of five large-scale murals to the Barrancas Corridor. The festival starts at 10 a.m. and features muralists who have painted across the country. Other offerings include food trucks, a vintage fair and live music. www.foofoofest.com; 800-874-1234

ISLAMORADA

November 5

PHOTO COURTESY OF HIGHLANDS COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

Moose Lodge Bacon Fest From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the old road in front of the lodge to Morada Way, the festival offers bacon dishes from breakfast to dessert. Dishes are made by local chefs. Entertainment includes music, vendors and a dunk tank with dignitaries. islamoradachamber.com; 561-818-2598

PENSACOLA

November 7

East Hill Makers Market Enjoy an afternoon of shopping, food trucks and children’s activities at Cordova Square. More than 30 craft and food vendors feature their goods. This free event begins at 2 p.m. www.myeasthill.org; 850-529-0699

www.communityartsandculture.org/day-of-the-dead; 786-587-6149

KEY WEST

November 10-December 3

LAKE WALES

Headdress Ball Celebrating 40 years of creativity, this event has been the premier LGBTQ+ event of the subtropical island’s 10-day Fantasy Fest costuming and masking celebration since its inception. The ball typically features up to 25 contestants showcasing their unique headdresses, some that tower high above their designers.

November 11

First United Methodist Church Holiday Bazaar The Crafty Cats have been busy preparing handmade gifts for your holiday shopping. Tables are filled with items for fall, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Other treats include Yummies For Your Tummy—a delicious assortment of baked goods, including a Lake Wales Methodist tradition, Mrs. Harvey’s White Fruitcakes.

www.kwahs.org; 305-295-6616

LAKEWOOD RANCH

SEBRING

November 18

Let It Grow Garden Festival and Plant Sale The Highlands County Master Gardeners hold this annual event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bert J. Harris Jr. Agricultural Center. In addition to plant sales, classes are offered, and more than 60 vendors feature a wide variety of crafts, art and merchandise. You don’t want to miss the silent auction, raffles, live music and food. sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/highlands/lawn—garden/master-gardeners; 863-402-6540

November 19

Ponies Under the Palms Mustang and Ford Show In its 31st year, the Mustang Club of West Central Florida brings this event to car lovers from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street. Mustang and Ford enthusiasts from throughout the region compete for awards. Admission is free.

www.fumclw.org; 863-676-2516

www.mustangclubofwestcentralflorida.com; 920-944-8137

BIG PINE KEY

November 25

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Island Art Festival Artisans from near and far come together to celebrate the holiday season while featuring their handcrafted items. These one-of-a-kind artistic items even make the Grinch smile. www.lowerkeyschamber.com; 305-872-2411

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N O V E M B E R 2023

N O V E M B E R 2 023

GARDENING

Holiday Gift Ideas For the gardeners in your life

With Christmas right around the corner, it’s time to ponder what to gift your gardening friends. The classic holiday plant is poinsettia. However, other options are available. Amaryllis is a bulb that produces large trumpet-shaped flowers. It is also a good container plant, and can reach a height and spread of 1 to 3 feet. This bulb needs well-drained soil, has medium drought and low to no salt tolerance. It makes a great impact when planted on terraces, at gate entrances, or as a border plant in groups of 10 or more. Plant this bulb between September and January. Amaryllis performs best in partial shade and well in sun. Propagation is from seeds, cuttings and smaller bulbs attached to the mother bulbs. You can leave bulbs in the ground for years or dig them up and replant them during September and October. Blooms last for several weeks. For more information, visit edis.ifas.ufl. edu/publication/fp255. Gardenias produce fragrant white flowers and have glossy dark green leaves. This plant can reach a height and spread of 4 to 8 feet. Full sun to partial shade provides the best flowering. Well-drained soil amended with organic matter is preferred. This large shrub has medium drought and low to no salt tolerance. It should be fertilized three times each year. After flowering is complete, it can be pruned. However, if you prune after October 1, blooming the following year will 24

N O V E M B E R 2023

Gardenias are one of many options to bring a smile to the faces of the gardeners in your life. PHOTO BY LYNN BARBER

be decreased. You propagate this plant by grafting or cuttings. Gardenias can be used as a hedge or groundcover, and it’s beautiful in mass plantings or as a specimen plant. For more information, visit edis.ifas.ufl. edu/publication/EP338. You can also give a gardening-related gift that isn’t a plant. Consider giving items such as knee pads, a garden cart, a saw or pruner, gloves, seeds, bulbs, pots, mulch, potting soil, perlite, compost, plant hangers, composting bin, a composting worms, microirrigation kit, garden sculpture, garbage cans (I only have 11 and could use more), and dozens of other items gardeners want or need. The University of Florida IFAS Extension

Bookstore, ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu, has a selection of books on gardening, health and nutrition, homes and home maintenance, natural resources and wildlife, and more. Offer your labor for a specific number of hours or tasks to perform for your friends who may not want or are not able to do them. Tasks could include weeding, planting, pruning, watering, propagating, fertilizing, mulching and relocating plants. Wishing all of you safe and wonderful holidays.  Lynn Barber is a Floridafriendly landscaping agent for UF/IFAS Extension in Hillsborough County.

FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC

THE STEPS TO RESTORING POWER

When the power goes out, line crews work hard to restore electricity as quickly and safely as possible. To ensure the process is done efficiently, line crews follow specific steps to restore power. Can you order the steps below to match how power is restored? Hint: Check your work in the answer key.

STEP # _______

Tap lines are inspected. These lines deliver power to transformers that are either mounted on utility poles or placed on pads for underground electric service.

Distribution power lines are inspected. These are the lines you typically see on the side of the road that deliver power to communities.

Large, high-voltage transmission lines are inspected for damage. These power lines deliver large amounts of electricity over great distances.

Service lines are inspected. These are the power lines that run between the transformer and your home.

Distribution substations are inspected. These facilities lower the voltage of power, then send power to distribution lines. NOVEMBER 2023

Answer Key: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Kitchen Cooktop Options By Miranda Boutelle

Induction stovetops use electromagnetic energy to heat the pan, reducing energy waste. PHOTO BY ELA HANEY/PEXELS

items such as dishrags or paper left on the stovetop. Induction cooktops are typically more expensive than similar gas or electric models. They also require you to use specific cookware. Stainless steel and cast-iron cookware are both compatible with induction cooktops. Do the magnet test if you want to test your pots and pans to see if they are induction compatible. If a magnet sticks to the bottom of the pan, it will work on an induction stove. Cooking on induction can take a little time to get used to, but many people have made the switch and enjoy the experience. If you are remodeling and have a gas range, consider running electrical connections to support an induction cooktop in case you change your mind in the future. Setting up the power supply during a remodel can offer significant savings. If you are considering making the switch, keep an eye on any incentives for your state or region. A rebate for replacing your gas stove with an electric one may be available under the Inflation Reduction Act, depending on your state and income level. n

Miranda Boutelle has more than 20 years of experience helping people save energy. She has worked on energyefficiency projects from the Midwest to the West Coast. Today, Miranda is chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively owned energyefficiency company. This content was originally created by Efficiency Services Group LLC under contract with NRECA. NRECA retains ownership of this content. NRECA does not endorse Efficiency Services Group, its views herein expressed, nor any products or services it offers.

LE R B E A FF IL ES O VA R A O T ST O N IN

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Smart Ways to Save

Use new technology to improve energy efficiency and lower electric bills By Franklin Thurlow Electricity is such a large part of our daily lives that we use it without thinking about it. Whether switching on a light to see better, plugging in our phones to charge, starting a load of laundry or turning on the TV to watch our favorite shows, we rarely realize how often we use electricity—until our electric bill arrives. It never feels good to pay for something you don’t remember using, but there are solutions to lower your electric bill. A common lament of homeowners is

their electric bills still seem high when they aren’t home actively using electricity. Remember, even when the house is empty, appliances still use electricity. “Heating and cooling are typically the highest energy use in a home. Thermostat settings are a good area to address, as that’s something people can easily control,” says Miranda Boutelle, chief operating officer at Efficiency Services Group. “The Department of Energy has recommendations for vacation settings that work well.” Installing a smart thermostat is one A smart thermostat paired with a smartphone app can help you manage the energy used to cool your home, which can help you save energy and money. PIXABAY PHOTO BY KAROLINA GRABOWSKA

NOVEMBER 2023

way to get the most energy savings. The device takes the guesswork out of setting the thermostat by allowing users to enable vacation mode, which turns the thermostat up or down a few degrees while running the air conditioner at regular intervals. Smart thermostats can be programmed to adjust throughout the day, making it an easy way to save energy when you’re away from home. If you have a manual thermostat, setting the temperature 5 degrees warmer in the than you normally do will have the same effect. “Essentially, you don’t want to cool the home more than necessary when you’re not there,” Miranda says. When talking with neighbors about electric bills, people are sometimes confused about why their bills are higher than those near them. Many factors contribute to the amount of energy used in individual homes. “A lot of people don’t know or pay attention to their energy use, especially if they have auto pay or equal pay billing,” Miranda says. “So they may think it’s lower than it is.” A neighbor isn’t necessarily the most reliable comparison. The number of people in the household, how often they’re home, the appliances they run and the size of the house all factor

into the amount of kilowatt-hours—a measurement of electricity—used each month. “Instead of comparing to your neighbor, I recommend comparing your energy use from the previous years or the previous months while considering changes in weather and lifestyle,” Miranda says. “Focus on the kilowatt-hours used rather than the cost, and that will help you understand your energy use.” Another area of confusion for homeowners occurs during extreme temperature changes. Even without an adjustment to the thermostat, electricity use can go up. “Even if your thermostat stays at a constant temperature, the change in weather outside causes the air conditioner to work harder to maintain your thermostat set point,” Miranda says. “So even if you don’t change a thing, it runs longer to keep things cooled, using more energy.” Recommended thermostat settings are 78 degrees in warm climates. If this is uncomfortable, consider each degree you raise the thermostat in the summer can save 3% or more on heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Coming in as the second-highest energy user in a typical home, your water heater is another great place to find savings. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a setting of 120 degrees. Most water heaters also have a vacation mode, which helps save more when you are away. If you have any questions regarding your bill, don’t hesitate to contact your electric utility. “The spirit of public power utilities is to help their consumers as much as possible,” Miranda says. “So don’t feel hesitant about reaching out.” 

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Apps to Help Save Energy

There are many reasons people are interested in cutting back on energy consumption. Some are primarily motivated to save on their monthly energy bills, while others may be more concerned about reducing their carbon footprints. Regardless of your interest in using less energy, several smartphone apps can help. FKEC SmartHub app. To easily monitor your home or business’s power usage, log in to your online FKEC SmartHub account. By visiting the “My Usage” section of SmartHub, you can analyze and understand usage trends to find ways to decrease you energy use. With your FKEC SmartHub account, any co-op member can create and track a monthly budget to avoid unexpectedly high utility bills. You can also set a point or range in time to compare differences in use and compare your use and costs. SmartHub is available online and via the mobile app at the App Store or Google Play. If you don’t already have an account, visit www.FKEC.com to register. Smart thermostat apps. Yes, to use a smart thermostat app, you must purchase a smart thermostat. But cooling makes up a large portion of the average home’s energy consumption, so saving in this area can greatly impact bills. Smart thermostats and accompanying apps are handy and promote energy-efficient behavior—and these devices have become much more affordable. You can buy an Energy Star-certified smart thermostat for as low as $100, saving you 8% on annual cooling costs, about $50 per year. The device will quickly pay for itself, and

you’ll gain insight into ways to decrease energy use in your home. Plus, controlling the thermostat from anywhere can equate to real savings. Energy cost calculators. If you want to reduce energy use at home, knowing your consumption is important. Energy cost calculators can help pinpoint your energy use with a few simple steps and identify areas to save. The concept is pretty simple: plug in the wattage of your various appliances and how often you use them to see which are using the most energy. Most energy cost calculator apps are free and can be downloaded to any Apple or Android device. JouleBug app. If you’re competitive and enjoy gamifying, the JouleBug app is right up your alley. JouleBug makes energy conservation simple and fun through personal tasks and badges earned within the app, group challenges you can tackle with friends and communities you can join to learn about local sustainability efforts. The JouleBug app is free and can be downloaded to Apple or Android devices, and it’s an easy tool to make saving energy fun. These are just a few apps that can help you find new energy-saving ways. Smart lightbulbs are typically paired with apps for convenient control of home lighting; smart plugs also come with apps to help you control how you power everyday devices and electronics. Whether you use an app or not, saving energy is always a smart idea that can help you save money on your monthly bills and reduce your carbon footprint. N O V E M B E R 2 023

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