Florida Currents August 2012

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative

AU G U S T 2012

Turn Lights Off for Turtle Nesting During the Florida Keys sea turtle nesting season from April 15 to October 31, turn lights off near canals, beaches and inlets where mother turtles may lay their eggs. Lights in these areas can confuse the mothers and hatchlings because they navigate by moonlight.

For more information visit www.save-a-turtle.com.

PHOTO BY NIKKI DUNN

Top Energy Guzzlers PAGE 5

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Reduce Summer Power Bills PAGE 6

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Utility Scam PAGE 32

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Energy Smarts

Making the Most of Your Electricity

Florida Currents (USPS PP-81) is published monthly for members for $3.96 per year, plus actual postage, by Ruralite Services Inc., 2040 A Street, Forest Grove, OR 97116—a not-forprofit Oregon cooperative corporation—to serve the communications needs of five consumer-owned electric utilities in Florida. Periodicals Postage rates is Pending at Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 and at additional mailing offices.

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Need More Attic Insulation?

Is there enough insulation in your attic? By adding insulation, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and save money.

This tip from Florida Keys Electric Cooperative can help reduce your energy consumption— and your utility bill.

With adequate attic insulation, your home’s heating and cooling system will operate more efficiently. It will keep you cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter—and it will keep more money in your wallet. See just how much money you can save each year by using the calculator at www.TogetherWeSave.com.

Older homes tend to have less attic insulation than newer ones. An energy audit can indicate whether additional insulation is needed. FKEC offers energy audits free to its members.

Before adding insulation to your attic, you need to determine how much insulation is already installed, what kind it is and how thick

it is. Next, you need to know the R-value— which indicates the insulation’s resistance to heat—of the existing attic insulation. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness.

Once you know the R-value, you can determine how much insulation to add by using the U.S. Department of Energy’s Zip Code Insulation Program (http://tinyurl. com/292q3d).

Now you are ready to decide what kind of insulation to install: loose-fill or blanket (batt and roll) insulation.

Loose-fill insulation consists of small particles of fiber, foam or other materials. Blanket insulation—the most common and widely available type—comes in batts and rolls made from mineral wool, plastic fibers and natural fibers.

Loose-fill insulation is usually less expensive to install and, when installed properly, can provide better coverage. 

Inside All Show, Lots of Go 12

Readers share photos and the stories behind the vehicles that drive them.

Also In This Issue Side Roads 10 In the Kitchen 16 Florida Gardener 18

Proudly serving you since 1940

August 2012 Vol. 1, No. 10

Festival Roundup 22 Outdoor Pursuits 24 Parting Shot 30

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 32

AU G U S T 2 0 1 2

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FKEC NEWS AUGUST 2012

FLORIDA KEYS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC.

W W W. F K E C . C O M

SCOTT NEWBERRY Chief Executive Officer

Member Owned Since 1940

BOARD OF DIRECTORS David C. Ritz District 1, Key Largo • President Gretchen Holland District 1, Key Largo • Vice President

Don’t Let Rising Mercury Get You Hot Under the Collar

Michael H. Puto District 4, Marathon • Secretary Frank N. Hawkins, Jr. District 2, Tavernier • Treasurer James J. Boilini District 1, Key Largo Craig Belcher District 2, Tavernier H.B. Barrett District 3, Islamorada George D. Hertel District 3, Islamorada Karl M. Wagner District 4, Marathon

CONTACT US: (305) 852-2431 (800) 858-8845 toll free www.FKEC.com Mailing Address

P.O. Box 377, Tavernier, FL 33070

Scan this code to be directly linked to our Facebook page...

Download a free “QR Code Reader” app on your smart phone or device to easily link to our Facebook page.

Unless otherwise noted, “FKEC NEWS” writing, design & photography by:

Nikki Dunn • news@fkec.com Edited by: Rebecca Callahan Newman

4

AUGUST 2012

Summer is here, and as the costs by 5% to 25%. You can also have temperature rises so do most electric bills. your air conditioner “tuned up” by a Why? Primarily because there is an qualified professional and help maintain its increase in the energy needed to cool your efficiency by changing the air filter once a homes and businesses. Even if you don’t month.

Programmable thermostats are also lower your thermostat for summer, cooling a big energy saver. can still account for more than half of your electric bill during hotter weather.

Water Heating Fight against heat There are ways to 15-25% exchange by using help offset your higher shutters or awnings to electric bill without Average Cooling Home Energy Refrigeration block the sun’s heat from sacrificing your air freezers) 50-60% Consumption (including entering your home. You conditioned comfort.

25-28% may also consider tinting This month’s your windows with newsletter is dedicated Other thermal tint. Close curtains to sharing information on and blinds during the heat of ways to beat the heat. the day to keep rooms cooler. You can also plant trees or vegetation to Your top priority should be to keep the shade you home from the sun. cool air in and the hot air out. The best way to do this is to seal cracks, gaps and Higher summer bills are great leaks throughout your home. Test for air motivators to implement energy leaks by holding a lit incense stick around conservation. Make efforts to reduce your window frames, doors jambs, attic hatches electric bill by reducing your energy use and similar locations. If the smoke travels (i.e. turn off lights when not in use, only horizontally, you have located a leak that run your dryer with a full load). Find more may need caulking, sealing or weather great tips for saving energy in this issue or stripping. Adding insulation to ceilings, visit www.FKEC.com. walls and attics can also reduce cooling

Take Action

Prepare Your Home

Reduce Energy Consumption

FKEC-Aug2012-final_Layout 1 7/12/12 4:05 PM Page 3

Reduce the Impact of the Top 3 Energy Guzzlers # 1 Air Conditioner In South Florida the average home’s air conditioning system accounts for 50% OR MORE of the monthly electric bill. Reduce the impact by: • Clean and replace filters once a month.

• Shade your outdoor air conditioning unit but do not block air flow.

• Find and seal cracks, gaps, leaks and check insulation.

• Close blinds during the heat of the day and consider tinting windows or planting trees to block direct sunlight.

• Use a programmable thermostat to better manage your settings day and night.

# 2 Water Heater Water heating accounts for an estimated 15-25% of the average household electric bill. Follow these tips to reduce this guzzler’s consumption: • Lower temperature to 120 degrees. This temperature provides suitable heat for most homes.

• When buying a new water heater, look for one with a “super insulated” tank. These will be the most efficient.

• Consider having FKEC install a free load management device to offset power load during peak use and earn you credit on your bill. Visit www.fkec.com/formservice.

• Turn off the water heater if you will be away from home for two or more days.

#3

Refrigerator and Freezer

The average home refrigerator with freezer can account for 25-28% of electricity.

For every extra cold storage appliance, estimate $20 more a month. Lessen the impact on your bill by: • Keep your refrigerator full but do not block air flow. A full refrigerator has less air to cool.

• Consider replacing old refrigerators or freezers with newer more efficient models.

• Allow hot foods to cool before storing and cover any food that will release moisture.

• Clean coils every three months. Blocked coils restrict cooling efficiency.

AUGUST 2012

5

FKEC-Aug2012-final_Layout 1 7/12/12 4:05 PM Page 4

Cut Your Energy Consumption

Low-Cost and No-Cost Ways to Reduce Summer Power Bills SHADE SMART AND REDUCE HEAT EXCHANGE

• Close curtains or blinds on sun exposed windows.

• Use awnings or shutters to block the sun.

• Install window tint or solar screen to reduce heat exchange by 30% • Use trees and other vegetation to shade your home and reduce energy consumption by 20-30%.

• Shade your outside A/C unit but do not block air flow. It is recommended vegetation be 3 feet from the unit.

• Plant trees to shade asphalt driveways and reduce surface heat by 10-12 degrees.

• Before planting, review FKEC’s Proper Planting Guide. Download at www.fkec.com/formservice or request a copy at the office.

minutes after shower and open the window slightly (if possible).

Remember to close the window.

• Turn on your kitchen exhaust fan to remove heat produced while cooking.

Also consider using the kitchen exhaust to remove humidity produced by your dishwasher.

• If located inside, avoid running your dishwasher, washing machine, dryer or other humidifying, heat producing appliances during the heat of the day.

• Avoid opening windows when the humidity is greater than 55% or dew point is higher than 60 degrees. Doing so allows humidity in and defeats the purpose of opening windows.

• Cover aquariums to keep moisture in.

• Remember: high levels of humidity increase a person’s discomfort.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BULB

FIGHT AGAINST HUMIDITY

• Use bathroom exhaust fans to remove humidity when showering. Run the exhaust fan for approximately 20

• When upgrading light bulbs, look for bulbs that have earned the ENERGY STAR mark.

• Use efficient light bulbs and consider

using your lighting in a more energy efficient way.

• Use task lighting to concentrate lighting where needed allowing you to use a lower wattage bulb.

• Use three-way bulbs or three-way lamps for the option to use as little light as needed without losing the option for bright light.

• Install motion detectors for a great energy saving option. In addition to using them outside, consider using them in lobbies, hallways, and other common areas where lighting is only required when movement is detected.

• Use solar exterior lights because they require no electricity and offer the added benefit of not requiring an extension cord, wiring or electrical outlets.

• Use a dimmer switch with electric circuitry to cut energy use by a minimum of 5% even if not used.

When used, it saves even more.

• Remember: the cheapest watt is the watt never purchased. Turn off lights and electronics whenever possible.

Want more energy saving tips and reminders?

Visit www.FKEC.com and follow us on Facebook or Twitter Follow us on Facebook and Twitter and be reminded of ways to save! We post energy conservation and green tips on Facebook and Twitter weekly. We also share community news and local event info via social media. Please direct any concerns or questions regarding electric service to our member service department by calling (305) 852-2431 or emailing member.service@fkec.com.

http://twitter.com/ FLKeysElectric www.facebook.com/FloridaKeysElectricCooperative

For more energy saving tips and energy audit tools visit www.FKEC.com/green.

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AUGUST 2012

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How Summer Temperatures Affect Your Cooling Costs When accounting for your cooling cost, keep in mind that for every degree of difference between your inside temperature and the outside temperature, your cooling cost will increase 6-8%. So while you may not be changing your thermostat, your air conditioner must run longer and consume more electricity with each degree the heat outside rises.

For example, if you keep your thermostat set at 78 degrees and the outside temperature rises from 88 to 90 degrees, this 2 degree increase will result in a 12-16% increase in your air conditioner cooling cost.

Although it may be financially discouraging to know that your electric cooling cost will certainly increase this summer, there are ways to offset your higher bill by conserving in other areas. For example, consider setting your thermostat a little higher when you leave the house or use a programmable thermostat to do this for you. By choosing a setting closer to the outside temperature you will help lessen the work load of your A/C and decrease the energy it consumes when you are not home.

Outdoor Temperature

90o 10o difference = 60-80% increase in cooling cost

80o Indoor Temperature

78o

2o difference = 12-16% increase in cooling cost

Use What You’ve Already Paid For...

Get a Return on Your A/C’s Hard Work: Use the Condensation!

The average single family home A/C can fill two 5-gallon buckets a day

Reap an added benefit from the money already spent on staying cool by collecting the condensation from your A/C and using it to water plants, wash cars or even flush commodes. You may already capture rain water at your home, but unlike rain, which can be sporadic, condensation is produced regularly during our hottest months – when our landscaping needs it the most.

If you doubt the abundance of condensation produced by your air conditioning unit, take our challenge. Place a measured container under your air conditioner condensation outlet and see how long it takes to fill. The average single-family home produces five to 10 gallons of condensation per day. Businesses using commercial size cooling units can produce thousands of gallons daily.

At FKEC’s Tavernier Operations Center all of the condensation produced by the air conditioning system’s chiller is collected in the company’s 30,000-gallon cistern.

During dry months, the energy efficient chiller provides enough condensation to keep the cistern full with a usable amount of water. The Co-op uses the cistern water to irrigate landscaping and wash trucks and fleet vehicles.

FKEC-Aug2012-final_Layout 1 7/12/12 4:05 PM Page 6

N E W E MP LOYE ES

FKEC Welcomes Lineman Jimmy Ash

Mike Anderson Celebrates 25 Years

FKEC welcomes Journeyman Lineman Jimmy Ash. Ash joins the Co-op with 13 years of electric utility experience. He has worked as a Crew Leader, Trouble Man and Foreman.

He was born and raised in Georgia and spent 10 years working for Jackson EMC before working for Xcel Energy in Colorado.

When not working Ash enjoys spending time with his wife Mackinzie and their two daughters. They also love diving, fishing, boating and being on the water together.

Click on the “Your Cooperative” section of www.FKEC.com for more information about career opportunities at FKEC

Check For Your Cooperative’s Current Tree Trimming Locations Florida Keys Electric Cooperative tree crews will be trimming trees and clearing vegetation away from power lines in the following areas: July-August • Tavernier - Plantation Beach to Venetian Shores (ocean and bayside) - Old Road from mile marker 88 to Chili Willie’s FKEC trims vegetation around approximately 200 miles of power lines per year on a three-year cycle.

The cooperative is required by law to maintain certain clearances, but the company varies the amount of

8

AUGUST 2012

pruning by tree and location within the parameters of the legal requirements.

The Cooperative’s trained Tree Crews use natural tree trimming techniques and arborist cuts to maintain tree health and encourage growth away from lines. When pruning is performed, all resulting tree debris is removed by FKEC crews.

FKEC sorts and mulches tree trimmings after clearing power lines. For info about free mulch available in areas being trimmed visit www.fkec.com/FormService/ vegetation-management.cfm.

FKEC congratulates Mike Anderson on 25 years of service. Anderson joined the Co-op as a member of the Tree Crew in 1987 and later worked as an Apprentice Lineman before joining the System Operations Center.

Along with all of the FKEC System Operators, Anderson earned his North American Electric Reliability Council certification. He has also completed a Waste Water Treatment course, the U.S. Army Field COMSEC Repairer Course and Direct Support Maintenance Training. He also completed the L&K International Transmission System Operation Training Program.

Anderson and his wife reside in the Upper Keys and have three children.

Ruralite cookbooks:

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by Ruralite readers from 1995 through 2005.

Seafood. This section of recipes from the first contest features dishes like Poached Whitefish, Scalloped Oysters, Louisiana Gumbo, Baked Scallops and Seafood Shells.

Poultry. Casseroles, salads, main dish and many more chicken and turkey recipes are included here.

Featuring items like Pollo Dorado, Chicken Monterey, Texas-Style Turkey Salad and many more.

Chili. Many varieties here with Angel Chili, Powder River Valley Chili, Tex-Mex Chili, Five-Bean Chili, Elk Chili and Gourmet Vegetarian Chili. Includes recipes with and without meat.

Soups, Stews and Chowders.

Featuring recipes such as Garden Vegetable Soup, Simple Steak Stew, Cauliflower Cheese Soup, Barley Stew and Smoked Salmon Chowder.

Salads. Banana Split Salad, Under the Sea Salad, Chinese Green Salad, Oriental Pork Salad as well as Fruit Dressing and Boiled Salad Dressing are only a few of the recipes here.

Holiday Favorites. More than 300 recipes, many readers share family traditions with recipes like Homemade Cranberry Relish, Carrot Cake, Sweet Potato Casserole and Bluebarb Crunch.

Desserts. Mouth-water desserts abound in this section with Danish Pastry, Waldorf Astoria Red Cake, Devils’ Food Pudding, Peanut Butter Pie, Turtle Cookies and many more.

Breads. The largest of our individual booklets with over 400 recipes.

Recipes like Cream Scones, Bean Bread, No-Fail French Bread, Whole Wheat Bread as well as muffins, buns and many more.

Ruralite Cookbook Special Collectio n

Casseroles. Popular with readers, this booklet contains recipes like Green Rice, Reuben Bake, Venison Bean Casserole, Corn Bread Meat Pie as well as Breakfast Sausage Casserole.

Ruralite Cookbook Special Collection

A tasty collection from nine Ruralite recipe contests.

Seafood These contest-winning recipes are sure to please from Louisiana Gumbo to Chopstick Tuna. $6 Ruralite Cookbook Special Collection When you can’t decide which cookbook you want, this one contains all of the above cookbooks and more! $35 Cooking for Two These contest winners focus on a great variety of smaller portion recipes including salads, breads, desserts and of course, main dishes. $6

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Order online in the cookbook section of ruralite.org with your VISA, MasterCard, AmEx or Discover.

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Side Roads

Discoveries Off the Beaten Path

An Antique Car Aficionado Convention center owner swaps vehicles, stories

By Suzi Harkola

What Day is It?

Play in the Sand Day, August 11

Photo by Mike Teegarden

August 3: National Watermelon Day August 4: U.S. Coast Guard Day August 6: Wiggle Your Toes Day August 9: Book Lover’s Day August 10: S’mores Day August 16: National Tell a Joke Day August 17: National Thrift Shop Day August 20: Lemonade Day August 21: Senior Citizens’ Day August 24: National Waffle Day August 25: National Banana Split Day August 31: Eat Outside Day 10

AU G U S T 2 0 1 2

Just across the Sarasota/Bradenton county line stands the culmination of entrepreneur Oscar Parsons’ life work: the Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center.

Privately owned and operated by Oscar, the convention center has been a boon to the area’s economy and provided a fringe benefit: room to house his cars. Oscar’s real love is—and always has been—cars.

“When I was 16 years old, I was hitchhiking to my uncle’s house,” Oscar says.

“It was a good 30 miles. I stopped at the Tri-Way Roadhouse at about 2 in the afternoon for a cold drink and a break.

Two men drove up in a brand new 1939 black Buick—probably cost about $600 back then. They came into the bar and paid for their purchase with a $10 bill.

Just about knocked my socks off.

“I thought to myself, ‘That’s me some day.’ Sure enough, 10 years later, I bought myself a brand new Buick convertible.”

Oscar—who will turn 90 in October—was born in Kentucky, grew up in a mining community and made his first money at age 12 catching catfish from his uncle’s stream and selling them for 25 cents each to miners in his camp.

“In those days, you could buy a loaf of bread and mail a first-class letter for a dime,” he says. “There was true value in those catfish, and the experience helped me with later business ventures.”

Oscar was a junior in college when he began trading cars in earnest.

“I paid $35 for a 1931 Model A Ford,” he says. A replica of that car, in mint condition, sits on the convention center floor.

Oscar continued to trade cars while in the Army. He was driving home from Texas on a medical discharge in a 1938 Ford. At a stop for gas, he spotted a 1940 Packard convertible—a car he coveted.

“I approached the guy, asked him if he’d be interested in trading, and drove the rest of the trip home in that Packard,” Oscar says. “It was and always will be my favorite car. It cost a penny a mile to drive that car; it got 20 miles per gallon, and gas cost 20 cents a gallon.”

For more than 32 years, Oscar owned a small Oldsmobile, Cadillac and Chevrolet dealership.

“This took some early politikin,” he says wryly. “At first, I was only allotted six Cadillacs and 17 Oldsmobiles per year.

The Chevy folks didn’t want me to sell their cars, although the dealership in town got 48 Chevies per year.

In the early 1950s, GM did not allow Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Cadillacs in one dealership. I worked the system and ultimately became the only dealer to sell all three makes.”

Simultaneously, he opened a limestone quarry. He founded American Fidelity Bank & Trust Co., serving as president for 21 years. He opened Lighting Galleries of Sarasota after he and his wife, Mallie, discovered the area. She died in 1991.

In 2002, just before marrying his second wife, Rose, Oscar bought a 120,000-square-foot building on 20 acres that would become the convention center. A photo and commemorative plaque of Rose, who died in 2010, hangs there.

Memorabilia can be found throughout Oscar’s office and the convention center.

A scale model of a train station and village surrounded by an oval track and a vintage Lionel train are in his office.

Photos of Oscar in his Bonanza A36 hang proudly on the wall. He has sold the plane, but has held a pilot’s license since 1952.

A 1930s-era open cockpit plane hangs

Not Much Love for Those Pesky Lovebugs

Oscar Parsons keeps his 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster, left, and 1930 Ford Model A pickup, right, at the Sarasota Bradenton International Convention Center, which he owns and operates.

from the ceiling just to the right of the red-and-white snack counter.

But prominence is given to the antique cars and trucks, fully functional, that anchor the corners of the hall.

A 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster, a 1930 Ford Model A pickup truck and a souped-up 1974 Baja Volkswagen Beetle with a custom 135-horsepower engine all look as if they just drove off the showroom floor.

Red velvet roping protects them, but Oscar is quick to flip up the rumble seat of his pristine Roadster to take visitors for a ride around the parking lot.

Inside Oscar’s office are hundreds of collectible model cars and trucks that memorialize events in his life.

He has a story about each one.

A replica of that first Packard is showcased proudly, as well as the Model A Roadster and, of course, the Buick.

Oscar lovingly cradles one as he shares personal details. Some stories are nostalgic and some are downright funny.

He picks up a 1923 Model T hearse

replica and instantly launches into a story.

“This one reminds me of a buddy, Abe, from long ago who owned a hardware store,” Oscar says. “Back then, you could buy a casket at the hardware store and the owner of the hardware store was also the local mortician.

“Abe had a customer, Jim, who owed him $7, and Abe wanted the money that week. Jim says to Abe, ‘If I live until Saturday, I’ll pay you.’ Well, Saturday comes and goes, and on Sunday Abe drives the hearse over to Jim’s house. His wife comes to the door, confused.

“Abe says, ‘Jim said if he was still alive

by Saturday he would pay me the $7 he owed me. He didn’t show up, so I figured he was dead, and I came to get him.’ ” Although Oscar swims daily and enjoys his guitar collection, and his cars, he has given up sailing. He still is a regular at the Sarasota Yacht Club, dancing with Teresa Silvestro, who he married in May. Oscar is taking things easier, but goes into the office regularly to keep business on an even keel—and see his cars. n

Despite rumors lovebugs arrived in Florida as escapees from a failed genetics experiment, it is believed these amorous insects arrived from Central America aboard a cargo ship that docked in Galveston or New Orleans around 1920.

First reports of lovebugs in Florida arrived from Escambia County in 1947. By 1974, lovebugs were found as far south as Homestead.

Lovebugs have two flights a year: a spring flight, April to May, and a summer flight, August to September.

Attracted to gasoline fumes, hot engines and automobile vibrations, they congregate in high numbers along highways. Their windshield splatters can block the view of drivers.

By clogging radiator fins, they can cause engines to overheat. Their body chemistry will pit a car’s unwaxed finish if not washed off right away.

Spreading a light film of baby oil or Pam cooking spray over the front of the car’s hood, above the windshield and on the grill and bumper during flight season will allow you to wash off the buggy debris more easily.

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo and warm water works well to wash off the car. Lovebugs can be wiped off with a moistened dryer sheet.

For more information, see http://edis.ifas.ufl. edu/in204.

A pair of lovebugs perch on lantana flowers.

Photo by James L. Castner for University of Florida

AU G U S T 2 0 1 2

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All Show, Lots of Go Readers share photos and the stories behind the vehicles that drive them

1931 Chevrolet In 2004, I found my 1931 Chevrolet four-door special in the woods of Onaway, Michigan. The windows had been shot out by vandals and the rodents called the inside home. I brought it down to the Keys and have been meticulously restoring it, rebuilding the wooden frame. I added some personal touches, and am now restoring the interior. Truly a labor of love and a moving work in progress ... much more extensive than I ever imagined.

—Roger Moll, Tavernier

1964 Chevrolet Impala I spent 12 years on this. I removed every screw, nut or bolt and replaced them or cleaned and reinstalled them. It has been converted to 4-wheel disk brakes for better stopping safety, and I added air conditioning. I built the 383 V8 small block engine from parts traded or bought, yet it looks original. The only work not done in my garage is the paint job. The car should be called “The Jinx.” The front fenders and hood were at the paint shop when Hurricane Ivan came to call. The uninsured paint shop was leveled. The body and frame were in my garage and survived.

The new replacement parts are all made overseas. When they arrived, none of the holes lined up with the original. The interior trim needed to be altered to fit. Everything had to be tried, modified and installed. The fitting process was disheartening, but the final result is fun to drive and people always stop to look.

—Mike Adams, Pace

1971 Chevrolet Camaro The ’70s sort of dominate in this household. Jack and I met in the 1970s, and now that he is in his 70s, finally got his classic car. We have driven it on the Atlanta Speedway track a couple of times. Only Jack could get a reprimand for speeding on a race track. The first year was great. We were in the back third of the pack and were able to really get on it, and advance on the pack. The next year we were behind the pace car. About halfway around the track on the first lap, Jack couldn’t hold it back any long and stepped on it, passing the pace car. He was honked back by the pace car. He held back until a good portion of the pack and passed us, then did his thing.

—Riki Pope, Youngstown

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1940 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Coupe I bought this car used in 1960.

I sold it in 1965. The next time I saw the car was 1969 at a car dealership, restored to its original state. For years, I carried a black-and-white picture—a 2x2 newspaper clipping—of the car in my wallet until coming upon it again at a car show in 2008. After talking to the people at the show about the car, they realized I knew a lot of history of the car and gave me the information of the owner. I contacted the owner and he made the right offer so I purchased the car, which I now take to car shows in northwest Florida and south Alabama.

—Gerald DuBose, Jay

1978 Honda CB750 I have long liked things on two wheels that go brrmm brrmm.

When I first laid eyes on the old 1978 Honda CB750 it looked as if it had been dragged out of the bay. The bike was all crusty and rusty, and her brrmm brrmm sounded sad. So, the motorcycle was torn down to pieces, cleaned up, fixed up, changed up, painted up and put back together. The rebuilt old motorcycle is now called the “Crushh”. I truly enjoy riding her in these, the fabulous Florida Keys, and hearing the happy brrmm brrmm.

2012 Chevrolet Camaro I fell in love with the Camaro when GM came out with the new body style in 2009. My wife, Linda, in the photo, never had much to say about the car. Well, I traded my truck in for a brand new Camaro. After about a week, I had to go out of town for a couple of days and my wife drove the Camaro during that time. That was a mistake. That was the last time I drove it. She decided she looked better driving a Camaro than me. Now I drive a Chevrolet Malibu.

—Maryann Lemak, Tavernier

—Jesse Johnson, Panama City and Chipley

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1958 Ford Fairlane 500 This car was purchased by my grandfather in September 1959. It has been in our family ever since.

The car is in original condition. The only repairs were to the headlight rims, the trunk lid and minor touchup to the paint. It was the 6,045th car assembled in Chester, Pennsylvania. The Thunderbird Interceptor Special is a 352-cubic inch, 300-horsepower V8 with a Cruise-O-Matic transmission. When I inherited it Thanksgiving 2005, it had 63,000 original miles.

—Roland Marpoe, Wewahitchka

1956 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible I had this in Dunedin, Florida, in 1956, and the world was mine! The roaring ’50s was a time in the country when all the rock ’n’ roll was hot. Elvis Presley was getting started along with Fats Domino. Rock ’n’ roll, jitterbugging, the twist and the favorite gathering place was the drive-in movies.

—Johnsie McGuire, Moore Haven

1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Brian Ramirez asked his 8-year-old daughter how he should fix up the old Monte Carlo he bought for $1,000. She suggested the Hello Kitty theme, which he did inside and out. Brian says the car will be her “antique” when she is old enough to drive.

Neighbors Kaylin and Lindsey Purvis, in the photo, also love the car, which attracts a lot of attention.

—Lori Purvis, Lehigh Acres

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1991 Chevrolet Suburban 2500 Our 1991 Chevrolet Suburban ran fine, but the roof rusted out.

Rather than junk it, we cut the roof off and made an eight-passenger open touring car Keys cruiser out of it. It has been used in several parades in the Florida Keys.

—Don and Margaret Gerloff, Islamorada

What Was Old ... Is New Again

1974 MGB I have always been fascinated with cars and began tinkering with them at 14 years old. We had six children in the family so we did a lot of sharing, and this included vehicles. My brothers and I would buy a wreck and spend a lot of time and money restoring them, drive them a while and then have the hankering for another project. We needed the money from the finished project to buy the next. But as we grew, we also went our separate ways.

I decided with all the equipment and tools that I had amassed over the years, why not build my own unique car. I found a kit car company in California that offered a rebody kit for the MGB. It was the California Ace. It had similar lines to the Shelby Cobra of the early ’60s, but used the anemic 4-cylinder of the MGB.

1965 Pontiac GTO See that little boy in the backseat? Well, that’s me and my mom back in 1965, when my father bought a brand new GTO. It was his everyday work car and his weekend race car. He won many races at New York National Speedway and Islip Speedway on Long Island. He really loved that car.

In 1983 he passed it down to me. I towed it out of his garage and began to have it restored. Since then, I’ve participated

Well, that was just the start. I decided to cram an American V8 into a British sports car. The kit itself is basically a body that you fit to the frame and body of the MGB. But putting a V8 into the mix required many hours of metal fabrication and welding.

The final product is far from the original concept. Taking a 2,200-pound car and mating it to a Ford Racing 302-cubic inch engine and 5-speed transmission makes a really quick ride. Total time to fabricate was 2 years and 4 months. Every system on the car—from electrical, mechanical and hydraulics—was built under my stilt home in the Florida Keys. Of course, I received a lot of help from my wife and two daughters, who have asked me not to sell it off for another project. Hmm, I think I’ll keep this one.

—Jim Underwood, Tavernier

in many car shows in New York and Florida. Like my Dad, I’ve got racing in my blood. I’ve raced it in New York and at Bradenton Motor Sports Park at the All GTO Track Day and the Nostalgia Day. Recently, I got a chance to show him some video of me racing the car. I could tell it brought back great memories of his race days. I’m glad we were able to share that moment. Sadly, my dad passed away one month later. I look forward to someday seeing my boys race the GTO.

—Michael Bowie, Parrish AU G U S T 2 0 1 2

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In the Kitchen

Recipes That Satisfy

Family Recipes Around the Campfire

When large families get together for camping, putting together creative meals can be a fun challenge.

The outdoor experiences, along with the food, are often remembered for months afterward. In fact, it can become a contest for family cooks to come up with something to top their presentation from the year before.

Assign each family a meal to prepare for the whole gang. Then everyone else waits in suspense to see what scrumptious delights await them. As meal times approach, the adults pull up their chairs around the campfire and the kids wander in from their activities, ready to get in the food line.

Turkey Mediterranean Scramble This dish was made by newlyweds Chris and Christina Lippert, who enjoy preparing creative and tasty meals together. They mixed all of the ingredients except the eggs together before they left home and stored the mixture in plastic bags under ice.

1 pound ground turkey ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped 16

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¼ cup fresh rosemary, chopped ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1 large sweet onion, chopped 2 tablespoons garlic, minced ¼ cup Tapatio hot sauce 2 dozen eggs Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients except the eggs together and brown. Add the eggs and scramble until done.

Serves 18

Bethany’s Campout Chili Bethany Conklin, also is a newlywed, and this is her first year to be one of the camp cooks. She teamed up with her sister-in-law, Alisa Conklin, to perfect this recipe. The girls prepared the beef and onion before the camping trip and kept it in plastic bags under ice.

2 pounds ground beef 1 large onion chopped 3 finely chopped onions for garnish 2 28-ounce cans stewed tomatoes

To make easy-to-bake dough stick muffins, mix enough milk with Bisquick to make a sticky dough. Form the dough on a a roasting fork or stick and slowly cook over fire coals.

2 15-ounce cans chili beans, drained, reserve liquid 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained, reserve liquid 2 6-ounce cans Spicy Hot V-8 Juice ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup ketchup ¼ cup prepared mustard 2 tablespoons chili powder ¾ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder ¾ cup grated cheddar cheese for garnish corn chips

Brown meat and add chopped onion. Cook until onion is clear. Add remaining ingredients and some of liquid from the beans until you have the desired consistency. Simmer for at least an hour. Serve hot, topped with the finely chopped onions and grated cheese, and corn chips on the side.

Serves 18

Sour Cream Somersault Cake Barb Cournia makes this cake at home before she heads to the campsite. The recipe is ideal for taking on a camping trip because it is better if it sets for three or four days.

1 box yellow cake mix 1 package vanilla pudding 1½ cup sugar 4 tablespoons cinnamon 4 eggs ¾ cup water 1 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla ¾ cup cooking oil 1 cup pecans, chopped

Grease bundt pan heavily with butter. Combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl. Use part of the sugar mixture to cover the bottom and sides of the bundt pan and set the rest aside.

Mix all of ingredients—except the sugar/cinnamon mixture and pecans—until smooth.

Spoon a layer of batter into the bundt pan, then sprinkle a layer of pecans and a layer of the sugar mixture on top. Continue alternating layers of batter, pecans and sugar mixture until the batter is gone, usually three layers. Use a long knife or skewer to lightly swirl through the batter once.

Bake at 350 F. for about 50-60 minutes.

Cool and wrap in waxed paper and aluminum foil. Let the cake stand for three to four days for the

Photo by Mike Teegarden

best flavor and moistness.

Serves 12 to 14

Foil Dinners This meal is fun for kids to make because they get to choose the ingredients and help put the packets together.

1/4 pound ground beef per person Onions, garlic, carrots, celery and potatoes, chopped Ketchup Barbecue sauce Salt and pepper

Place raw crumbled hamburger, and choice of vegetables on two to three sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Add ketchup, barbecue sauce, salt and pepper; season to taste. Wrap foil tightly around food and place in the coals of a fire for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on coal temperature. Rotate as needed. n

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Recipe Contest!

Nothing brings family together like food, and we want to know what foods bring your family together. Whether it’s a dish that is always requested, has been in the family for generations or brings the generations together, we want to know your “Everybody’s Favorite” recipe, which could be featured in our Everybody’s Favorite Cookbook.

To enter, email your name, address, electric utility and up to two original recipes to recipecontest@floridacurrents.org with “Recipe Contest” in the subject line, or mail typed recipes to Cookbook, P.O. Box 558, Forest Grove, OR 97116 by December 15, 2012. Photos of the dish are welcome. Submitted photos will not be returned. Nine grand-prize winners will receive $100 and a copy of the finished cookbook.

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Florida Gardening

Advice From the Front-Yard Farmer

Gear Up For Fall Planting Spring signals the beginning of the growing season and fall is the checkered flag that brings it to an end.

At least that is the way it is for most home vegetable farmers across this great nation. We follow a wildly different road here in the Sunshine State.

Already, Florida veggie growers have crossed the finish line with most of our spring-planted vegetables.

But we have not left the track. Because come August in north and central Florida, the green flag waves again on planting many of our warmseason favorites—and some cool-weather ones, too.

For the best chance of success, most warm-weather vegetables should be planted by mid-August. These include tomatoes, peppers, sweet corn, southern peas, winter squash, pumpkins and watermelon. Each is best planted during the first half of the month so there are enough warm days remaining to produce mature, tasty vegetables.

Other warm-season vegetables—such as beans,

Winter squash, such as these acorn squash, butternut squash and pumpkins grown in first of August for a fall harvest.

Niceville, are best planted the

Photo by Dennis Gilson

cucumbers and summer squash—may be planted later in August and through about mid-September. To extend the harvest, I plant some early and plant more a few weeks later.

Much like NASCAR—where cars perform differently on the same racetrack in spring than they do later in the year— warm-weather vegetables perform in a different way on the downhill side of summer than they do in springtime.

For example, starter plants and seedlings get a gentle start in the spring. Days are warm, not hot, and the days gradually get longer. Humidity is low. Nights are pleasantly cool.

Pressure from pests is minimal.

Dennis Gilson lives and gardens in Niceville.

Widely known as the Front-Yard Farmer, Dennis has successfully grown vegetables, fruits and berries in the Florida Panhandle for more than 30 years. He shares his experience and offers timely advice to Florida home vegetable growers at his website, FrontYardFarmer.com.

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The environment is right for warm-weather plants to thrive and perform at their best.

Fast forward to August.

Conditions are nearly reversed. It is scorching hot, sticky as molasses and the amount of daylight decreases with each day. Nights are warm. Legions of pests are lining up to turn succulent seedlings into concession stands.

Given the additional challenges faced by warm-weather vegetables planted in late summer, it is not uncommon for some never to reach full speed. Also, some may finish with a lesser yield than they would in a springtime setting.

But don’t let the changing track conditions sideline you. It may take a little extra effort to nurture and protect your crops—and they may not produce as much as they might under different conditions—but your efforts always are rewarded.

Surprisingly, like many warm-season veggies, a few of our fall- or cool-weather vegetables can be planted as early as late August. Many more can be planted during September and October.

Broccoli, cauliflower, collards, bunch onions and turnips can be planted in the latter part of August. In September, we can begin planting beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard, bulb onions, parsley and radishes.

Timing is important in north Florida because it can go from hot to cold here more quickly than Kyle Busch.

For the best chance of vegetable victory in your fall garden, plant early enough for cold-sensitive plants to produce their crop before a potential early freeze puts the brakes on your harvest.

Home veggie growers, start your engines! 

Join us This hurricane season, American Red Cross volunteers are ready to go to work, and your support makes it possible.

A click can feed and shelter a child for another day.

A single text can provide a little comfort.

Your call can make sure someone doesn’t go hungry.

Click, text or call today!

1-800-RED CROSS | redcross.org Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 $10 donation to the Red Cross. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder.

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6/17/11 11:00 AM

Travel Journal

Tips for Affordable Family Adventures

Towns of Distinction Apalachicola: Founded the first ice mach

ine in 1851.

A model is displayed at the John Gorrie Museum. Bristol: The Garden of Eden is said to be located just outside the tiny town in Liberty County. The Garde n—the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve—is a refuge of ancient flora and fauna that includes alien plant species, many extinct elsewhere. Carrabelle: World’s smallest police statio n. Havana: Dubbed the “Antique Capital of Northern Florida.” High Springs: Voted the “Friendliest Small Town” in Florida, according to the Chamber’s website. Micanopy: Reputed to be the oldest inlet Florida settlement and home to the 1991 movie “Doc Holly wood,” starring Michael J. Fox and Woody Harrelson. Sanibel Island: Seashell Capital of the World.

The historic district in downtown Milton.

Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Coun ty Tourist Development

Small Towns Offer Big-Time Surprises There is something endearing about visiting a small town.

Though the words “quaint,” “charming” and “integrity of place” may come to mind, many of the hundreds of small towns in Florida offer so much more—from one-ofa-kind events or festivals, to unique or historic landmarks and homes, to amazing outdoor and wildlife experiences you won’t find in cities.

So pack up the car and experience the colorful diversity of surprises these four small towns have to offer.

of Tampa, Brooksville flaunts its old-world charm with an enchanting year-round holiday village, fascinating murals and historic homes situated along cobblestone covered streets. In addition to the Rogers’ Christmas House and Village, other surprises include Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park; Withlacoochee State Forest, where you will find some of the best hiking and biking trails; and Weeki Wachee Springs, where “mermaids” perform underwater in the crystal clear springs.

Brooksville Population: 7,719 Total area: 5.0 square miles

Matlacha Population: 735 Total area: 0.2 square miles

Located in Hernando County about 50 miles north

One of five communities on Pine Island, this tiny burg

Kris Wetherbee is an author and award-winning recipe developer. She writes about outdoor living, travel, gardening, natural health and cooking for numerous publications, including Florida Currents.

Visit her website at www.kriswetherbee.com.

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in Lee County sits roughly 15 miles from downtown Fort Myers. The ambience is reminiscent of an “Old Florida” fishing village, with many brightly colored art galleries, island boutiques and great eats. Other highlights include a walkable neighborhood with history, the mosquito-free Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge and the Matlacha Bridge—touted as the World’s Fishingest Bridge.

Milton Population: 8,826 Total area: 4.6 square miles

Situated in Santa Rosa County on the western end of the Panhandle, about 30 minutes northeast of Pensacola, Milton is magical. There is the Blackwater Heritage State Trail and a 14-mile bike path beginning in downtown, along with rivers north of town and beaches to the south. Known

as the “Canoe Capital of Florida,” the downtown area is located along the banks of the Blackwater River and offers great canoeing, kayaking and innertubing adventures.

St. Marks Population: 326 Total area: 1.9 square miles

This community in Wakulla County, about 20 miles south of Tallahassee, is steeped in history. Enduring reminders include the San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, the Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park (with its paved 16-plusmile bicycle and equestrian trail) and St. Mark Light—the second-oldest light station in Florida. Hiking, biking, birding and fishing are big here, as is the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, where pine forests, coastal marshes, swamps and wetlands are plentiful and wildlife reigns supreme. 

Festival Roundup

Things to See and Do

Submit Events Online Have a family-friendly event to include in the calendar? Go online to the Florida Currents website at www.floridacurrents.com. Be sure to fill out the entire form—with date, town, times, details and a way for readers to get more information.

Please submit the item at least 60 days before the event.

August 3-4, Port St. Joe 16th Annual Florida Scallop and Music Festival Enjoy scallop served fried and other creative ways, live music, arts and crafts, a kid’s zone and great festival foods. Have a good time and bring a cooler to take some scallops home. www.scallopfest.com

www.keywestlobsterfest.com

August 3-5, all of Florida Sales Tax Holiday Back-to-School and Clothing Items No Florida sales tax or local option tax will be collected on the sales of clothing, footwear and certain accessories selling for $75 or less per item, or on certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item. Follow the PDF download below for specific items exempt from taxes during this time. http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/tips/pdf/tip 12a01-02.pdf

August 3-5, Sebring Summer of Love Volkswagen Jubilee Join us for a meet-and-greet, Saturday car show, live music, vendors, food and fun. On Sunday, participants can ride the world-famous Sebring International Race Track. www.summeroflovevw.com

August 4, Bushnell World War II Commemorative Weekend Dade Battlefield Historic State Park hosts Allied and Axis engagement demonstrations, military vehicles, weapon demonstrations, period uniforms, WW II veterans sharing stories, food, drink and 1940s music. Off I-75 and state Road 48. http://tinyurl.com/6t6gz5e

August 4, Wausau 43rd Annual Possum Festival Come Friday night for the Possum king and queen contests and stay for Saturday’s parade and possum auction. Try possum stew, and share laughs when local politicians and celebrities bid against each other for the rights to a live possum. www.wausaupossumfestival.com Photo by Taylor Lilly

Butterfly Census

Want to have a butterfly encounter?

Meet at Chinsegut Conservation Center in Brooksville from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. August 31 and help count butterfly species at Chinsegut and Big Pine wildlife and environmental areas.

Binoculars will be provided to give a close-up of the unique and intricate wing patterns of butterflies. Register online at http://outreach.myfwc.com/ events/event_list.asp.

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August 10-12, Key West Key West Lobsterfest Events include the Duval Crawl on Friday night, a street fair and free concert Saturday, and a spectacular Sunday brunch. The festive feast takes place in the 100 through 500 blocks of Key West’s famed Duval Street.

August 6 to October 10, Tequesta 2012 Florida Craftsmen Annual Members’ Exhibition An annual exhibition of “made in Florida” work at the Lighthouse ArtCenter will showcase the finest contemporary glass, jewelry, fiber, wood, metals and mixed media. www.lighthousearts.org/exhibitions.htm

August 7-9, 14-15, 21-22, Pensacola Blue Angels Practice The Blue Angels perform practice air shows free to the public over the NAS Pensacola area at 8:30 a.m. Following practices on the 7th, 15th and 22nd, there will be an autograph session with the pilots inside the National Naval Air Museum. www.blueangels.navy.mil

August 11, White Springs Craft Rendezvous Visit with Florida’s artists as they demonstrate their skills at handcrafts and studio arts at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park.

Blacksmithing, pottery, stained glass, basket making, weaving and painting are showcased. http://tinyurl.com/7t75f2t

August 11, Lake Placid 12th Annual Grape Stomp From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Henscratch Farms Vineyard and Winery invites attendees to help crush 2 tons of grapes for this year’s “Foot Stomped Vintage.” Participants may preorder the wine with their picture on the label. The day includes cheese and wine tasting, a farm walking tour and all-you-can-eat grapes, feeding the chickens and a four-hour concert. Entrance is $6 a person.

Children 6 and under enter free. www.henscratchfarms.com

August 11-12, Mount Dora 9th Annual Florida Highwaymen Art Show, Sale and Benefit Enjoy the scenic renderings of Florida’s landscape expressed in the classic Highwaymen style at the Donnelly Building in Donnelly Park.

Artists sell their art work from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. http://tinyurl.com/7z5loul

August 18, DeLand Hot Summer Night Come to East Indiana Avenue and Woodland Boulevard from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to see hundreds of classic cars and celebrate summertime. Live DJ, street dancing, shopping, dining and fun.

Free admission. http://tinyurl.com/7nymcbz

August 18, Dania Beach Ukulele Festival of South Florida Learn new techniques, hear great music and pick up (or even win) a new uke and other gear.

Concerts, music workshops, vendors and raffles. www.ukulelefestsouthflorida.com

August 18-19, Clermont 18th Annual Harvest Grape Stomp Bring the family for grape stomping competitions and continuous live music from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. A $2 donation benefits The Boys & Girls Club. www.lakeridgewinery.com

Anything That Floats Regatta Race Grab your oars and anything that floats and head to Key Largo August 17 and 18.

This family fun festival on Blackwater Sound, mile marker 104 bayside, features an on-thewater race of vessels crafted from items around the house.

Motors, inflatable rafts, foam and pool toys are not allowed.

The race is at 3 p.m Saturday, with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. For more information, see www. keylargoanythingthatfloats race.com.

Photo courtesy of Paul Doan

August 23, Venus Green Buildings Tour Explore Archbold Biological Station’s new “green” buildings and their unique architecture, energyand water-savings systems, native landscaping, the Florida scrub habitat and more. www.archbold-station.org; (863) 465-2571 ext. 251

August 23, Clermont NTC Lake Louisa Sprint Triathlon Series Roads and paved trails around the National Training Center at Lake Louisa State Park will be used Thursday evenings. Participants can sign up for one event or the series. Event registration and park admission fees apply. http://tinyurl.com/77w7x54

August 24-25, Amelia Island 3rd Annual Great Southern Tailgate Cookoff Kick off the football season with a barbecue competition at the beach. Get ready for football season and cheer on your favorite backyard team as they battle against other local teams.

Learn new barbecue tricks to show off at your own tailgate parties. www.gstailgatecookoff.com

August 24-26, Sebring Roar and Soar Experience high-energy excitement at this gathering of classic racing and flying machines.

Thrills from land, sea and air combine with incredible food and entertainment for an outing every member of the family will enjoy.

(863) 655-6444

August 24-26, Lake Placid 21st Annual Caladium Festival Visit Stuart Park to buy bulbs and plants, visit arts and crafts booths, enjoy food and entertainment, tour educational displays, learn about the area’s growing grape wine industry, learn about Florida friendly landscape and ornamental plants, and see an antique and classic car show. www.lpfla.com/caladium.htm

August 24-26, Polk City Freedom Festival 2012 Watch historic depictions of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a revolutionary battle play out and meet some of our founding fathers. Listen to speakers and musicians, enjoy a family carnival and see fireworks. www.freedomfestival2012.com

August 25, Bradenton Arts and Crafts at Mixon Fruit Farms Stop by the Groveside Market from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to see arts and crafts and some antiques.

Look for booths out front on Rosa’s porch and in the packinghouse. www.sebring-airport.com; (941) 748-5829

August 25, Kissimmee Kissimmee Sports Arena Rodeo See cowboys and cowgirls compete for bragging rights in bull and bronc riding, barrel racing and roping. Rodeo begins at 7 p.m. www.kissimmeerodeo.com

August 25-26, Tallahassee 23rd Annual Exotic Bird Fair and Festival The family-oriented event features exotic birds, cages, bird toys, special activities for children, educational demonstrations, performing parrots, bargains, food and prizes. www.bigbendbirdclub.com

September 1, all of Florida Saltwater License Free Fishing Day The day not only falls on a holiday weekend, but is during the popular bay scallop and spiny lobster seasons. All other bag limit, season and size restrictions apply. See the website below for fishing tips, locations and rules. www.MyFWC.com/Fishing

September 2-4, Fort Walton Beach 20th Annual Greek Festival Enjoy homemade Greek food, traditional dance performances, live entertainment, arts and crafts, a display of a Greek Orthodox Church and an open auction. New this year is a take-out menu. www.greekfestivalfwb.com

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Outdoor Pursuits

Enjoying the Natural World Around Us

Hunting and Fishing For Bargains Bass Pro Shop, Cabela’s and REI may be the stores of choice for many outdoor enthusiasts, but thrift stores and garage sales are where it’s at when it comes to bagging bargains.

Almost any type of outdoor gear can be found at these nontraditional outlets, and often it is in lightly used or even new condition.

This shopping alternative is especially attractive for outfitting youngsters or fairweather sportsmen, when you don’t want to spend full retail.

It is also a good way to find equipment to use for spare parts for your existing gear.

One strategy is to shop where the activities occur.

For example, if you are looking for bicycling gear, seek out garage sales or thrift stores in communities known for their biking; if you are looking for saltwater fishing rods and tackle, head for the coast.

One last word of caution: Buyers beware, especially when shopping for expensive or potentially hazardous equipment, such as used

It’s not uncommon to find vintage fishing gear such as this at garage sales and thrift stores. More likely, though, you will encounter newer items, often in lightly used or even new condition. No matter what type of outdoor gear you are looking for, don’t overlook these nontraditional sources.

Photo by Joe Dixon

boats, ATVs, gas cookstoves, heaters or lanterns. Whenever possible, take along a knowledgeable friend if you lack the necessary expertise.

If you plan to go it alone, do your homework before you hit the sales.

Stuck On Duct Tape It isn’t pretty or high-tech, but duct tape is every sportsman’s best friend.

It is handy for creating or fixing almost anything: butterfly bandages, flip-flops, blister protection, broken tent poles, broken glasses, cracked waterbottles, minor canoe damage and a million other uses. I have even heard of people using duct tape to quickly debone fish fillets— but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Many of Curtis Condon’s fondest memories involve outdoor adventures with friends and family, whether fishing with old school buddies, backpacking in the mountains of the Northwest with his sons or bird watching along the Gulf Coast with his wife. He feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to write about the outdoors and other subjects for more than 30 years.

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Gray is no longer the only color choice. Duct tape comes in a multitude of colors, including a variety of camo patterns for quick repair of camouflage jackets, pants and other gear.

Don’t leave home without it. If space or weight is a consideration, such as when backpacking, wind a few feet of duct tape around a short length of pencil, hiking stick or water bottle.

World Bragging Rights • Venice, Florida, is the shark tooth capital of the world. The promise of finding prehistoric shark teeth in the area and up the nearby Peace River attracts visitors from all around the world.

• Key Largo offers a host of aquatic life, crystalclear waters, coral reefs and numerous shipwrecks. That is why it is called the dive capital of the world.

• DeFuniak Springs is one of only two naturally occurring round lakes in the world.

A Family Effort Danny Brown of Southport and his son, Josh, display fish they caught during a family outing on the Apalachicola River. The flathead catfish on the right is a 22.6 pounder.

“My son was so excited when we caught it, I thought he was going to fall overboard from shock,” says Jessica Brown. “Nothing better than Florida fish!”

Send us your favorite outdoor photo. If published in Florida Currrents, we will send you $25 for one-time use. Email your submission to info@floridacurrents.com. 

Protect Toddlers From Danger Keep electrical equipment out of reach of kids.

Children love to explore, but the typical home is filled with a host of dangers for tiny fingers and little mouths. When childproofing your home, get down on your hands and knees and look for anything that can be a hazard. These tips will help keep kids safe: • Unplug all appliances when they are not being used.

• Keep electrical equipment and appliances away from the edge of the counter— beyond a toddler’s grasp—and keep the cords out of reach.

• Teach children not to put objects into outlets and not to touch anything with a cord.

• Make sure every socket within a child’s reach has a bulb in it.

James Dulley

Cut Your Utility Bills

Smart, Efficient Kitchen Comfort

Try to match the size of the pot to the range element to reduce heat loss.

To ask a question, write to James Dulley, Energy Report, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH. 45244, or check his Web page, www.dulley.com.

Copyright 2012, James Dulley

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Q: I like to cook, but the kitchen gets uncomfortably warm during summer, even with air conditioning. We plan to remodel the kitchen soon. What are some tips to keep it comfortable and efficient?

A: Heat and water vapor buildup can quickly take the fun out of cooking.

During summer, figure on doubling the energy use of cooking because the air conditioner is using more electricity to remove extra heat and humidity.

Because you plan to remodel your kitchen, there are three basic concepts to consider for efficiency: design/layout of the kitchen, selection of appliances and general kitchen efficiency tips.

Your goal is to use as little heat as possible to prepare your meals. All of the electricity used, including lighting, ends up as heat energy in your kitchen.

When laying out the floor plan for your remodeled kitchen, use the “kitchen triangle” concept for both efficiency and convenience. The three areas used most often are the sink, range and refrigerator.

Try to locate them in an equilateral triangle shape. If your kitchen is small, you may only have to take a step or two to get from one to another.

It might sound obvious not to put hot appliances—such as the range or dishwasher—immediately next to the refrigerator, but I see it all the time.

Although a refrigerator has heavy wall insulation, it uses more electricity to stay cold while a turkey roasts for hours inside the range next to it. A dishwasher gives off a lot of warm, humid air, which reduces the efficiency of refrigerator condenser coils.

Do not place the range under a window that you plan to use for natural ventilation. Even a small breeze can carry away heat, which should be going into the pot and not out the window.

Locating the sink under a window is good for natural lighting and to exhaust warm humid air during mild weather without running an exhaust fan.

In selecting appliances to design an

efficient kitchen, the refrigerator and range/oven are good places to start because they are the two greatest energy consumers in most kitchens.

In general, a top-freezer style refrigerator is the most efficient configuration. The fewer features that penetrate the door, the more energy efficient it is. But a chilled water-toice dispenser in the door may save electricity overall by reducing how often the door is opened.

Select the smallest refrigerator you need. A larger model has more surface area so it absorbs more heat from the room, and the compressor has to run longer to keep it cold inside. Each time you open the door of a larger refrigerator, more warm room air—which must be cooled—flows in than with a smaller one.

Choose a dishwasher and range based on the energy label and features you need. A range with a convection oven cooks more efficiently than a standard oven. The upfront cost is higher, but you will see savings in energy and money.

Ensure you buy the most efficient appliances by comparing the information on the energy label, and look for Energy Star models. That designation goes to appliances meeting efficiency guidelines set by the federal government.

Basic Tips Some basic kitchen efficiency tips can reduce energy use and improve your comfort. Whenever possible, use a toaster oven or slow-cooker instead of the large oven. They might not cook quite as evenly, but heat buildup in the kitchen is reduced. Also, match the size of the pot to the size of the burner or heating element to reduce heat loss.

If you find your refrigerator is seldom full, put several jugs of water in the back.

This holds the temperature steadier and reduces air loss when the door is opened. Set the refrigerator temperature at 40 degrees and the freezer around zero. Setting them too cold wastes electricity. n

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Wendy M. Hernandez’s photo of Tasty won Best of Show in Peace River Electric Cooperative’s 2012 Photo Contest. For a complete list of the winners, see page 4.

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Cyber Security Patrols Electric utilities enhance efforts to protect reliability and security of their systems

By Megan McKoy-Noe, CCC

Your home probably has several security features: door locks, bolts and an alarm system. When it comes to cyber security, electric utilities follow the same principle: building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to safeguard your personal data from attacks.

Securing digital data on an electric distribution system isn’t a “once-and-done” job. It’s a continual process of evaluating and addressing risks, tightening measures, planning and evaluating again.

While it is difficult to thwart a determined computer hacker, with constant vigilance, electric utilities can significantly minimize the possibilities.

“Cyber security for Alaska utilities has reached a whole new level of concern,” says Brad Reeve, general manager of Kotzebue Electric Association Inc. “Not only do we need to be protective of our customers’ privacy, but we have the additional concern of protecting our generation systems.

“Several Alaska utilities have recently experienced incursions into their power plant SCADA operating systems by foreign hackers. KEA has found that cyber security is a constantly moving target that takes regular vigilance. We examine all of our systems annually.”

Kotzebue Electric represents a national trend of cooperatives bulking up cyber security with tools from Cooperative Research Network, the research arm of the Arlington, Virginia-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

CRN’s Guide to Developing a Risk Mitigation and Cyber Security Plan and supporting documents, released in 2011 with funding support from the U.S. Department of Energy, helps utilities of 28

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all types develop a process to shore up cyber defenses.

“Electric cooperatives have made substantial progress in cyber security without additional regulation because they owe it to their members to protect system reliability and prevent unauthorized access to personal information,” explains NRECA CEO Glenn English.

Security Sweep Electric utilities have been working with DOE, the North American Electric Reliability Corp., the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Obama administration and the electric utility industry to strengthen and bolster cyber security.

An assault on a co-op could Sandia’s Red Storm supercomputer is the primary resource for the National Security Computing Center. be a prelude to, or part of, a coordinated cyber strike on the country’s power grid as a plans in place, but more training and whole that could affect electric reliability. updated guidelines were suggested.

Last year, NERC, the nation’s electricCommunication difficulties also were ity reliability watchdog, conducted an identified—a problem NERC will conexercise dubbed “GridEx” to identify front by developing outreach strategies cyber security concerns and encourage for secure information sharing. utilities and government agencies to work To further pinpoint cyber vulnerabilitogether to mitigate the issues uncovered. ties, a seven-year utility system security “GridEx provided a realistic environstudy was conducted by DOE’s Idaho ment for organizations to assess their National Laboratory. Poor “patch mancyber response capabilities,” says Brian agement” was cited as the biggest utility Harrell, NERC manager of Critical weakness. Patches fix publicly known Infrastructure Protection standards, train- security problems. ing and awareness. “Through the interTo prevent would-be hackers from action, participants forged relationships discovering security lapses, teams of grid across the cyber security community.” guardians routinely scour electric distriA report on the test notes that bution systems to find and fix weak spots. most utilities have adequate response “I look for vulnerabilities in control

Sandia National Laboratories computer scientists Ron Minnich, foreground, and Don Rudish have run more than 1 million Linux kernels as virtual machines, an achievement that will allow cyber security researchers to more effectively observe behavior found in malicious botnets— collections of compromised computers, each of which is known as a bot, connected to the Internet. They used Sandia’s Thunderbird supercomputing cluster for the demonstration.

Photos courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories and NRECA

system software,” says May Chaffin, an INL cyber security researcher. “I try to get them repaired before someone takes advantage.”

Lessons learned from the GridEx activity and researchers such as Chaffin are incorporated into CRN’s cyber security toolkit. Based on best practices developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other industry organizations, the guide focuses on procedures co-ops should adopt to continuously monitor cyber threats and enhance risk preparedness.

Andy Bochman, an energy security lead for IBM’s rational division, praises CRN’s efforts. He says that while the IT community waits for practical implementation guides from NIST, CRN’s guide breaks things down into actions and priorities.

“It allows co-ops to travel down a wellmarked path toward better cyber security and risk mitigation planning in the age of the smart grid,” Bochman says.

Regulating Security The possibility of cyber mischief undermining automated digital technologies used by utilities has Congress, the White House and regulators considering the right balance of security and emergency response initiatives.

“There is no question that there will be some kind of legislation,” predicts English. “It’s important that policymakers make a distinction between what’s appropriate security for bulk power versus distribution systems. The question is whether what’s put forward makes sense, if it will be overly burdensome and if it will make electricity less affordable for our members.”

In 2010, the U.S. House considered the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act. A similar measure, the Cyber Security Act of 2012, was introduced in the U.S. Senate in February.

Both bills would provide the federal government with more power to draft cyber security standards, but would

weaken the NERC/FERC partnership that allows industry stakeholders to help ensure standards are technically sound and able to be properly implemented.

NRECA cyber security experts believe any legislation should focus on encouraging federal agencies to routinely provide timely intelligence to utility industry experts to act on cyber threats and vulnerabilities.

“Hackers are getting smarter, and for some, much of the fun is the challenge of beating your system,” says CRN Program Manager Maurice Martin. “Co-ops understand cyber security isn’t a one-time thing.

Improved communications about potential trouble remains key to this effort.”

Electric utilities are building cyber barricades and fashioning plans for addressing current and future dangers. But in a rapidly evolving cyber environment, there is no such thing as perfect security. n Sources: Idaho National Laboratory, CRN, NRECA and NERC. Rob Holt and Jennifer Brown contributed to this article.

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29

Parting Shot

Readers Share Their Special Photos

Wheel Back a Century Left behind in the dust bin of time are a few examples of the early motor horseless carriage. Among these is this one-ofa-kind handcrafted turn-of-the-century carriage, the 1903 Warren Runabout.

“It is not a replica of a Ford, but was built to full scale in size and horsepower to the first production 1903 Ford,” says C.W. Johnson of Palmetto, whose wife, Melissa, is at the steering wheel.

It was built of birch, white and red oaks and other hardwood. Much of the brass is original to the period, such as the bulb and reed horn, the steering wheel and the rein rail trim. The driving lights are now electric. The kerosene tail light—an original from the 1909 Model T—is not in perfect condition, but still burns brightly.

Photo by C.W. Johnson, Palmetto, Florida. n

Florida Currents Wants Your Photos!

Dressing can be a challenge for a youngster. Where does the head go? And the arms? It has the makings of a funny photo—and if it makes you laugh, it probably will entertain other readers.

We are looking for your interesting and humorous shots to feature in Parting Shot: cute kids, animal antics, funny signs, heartwarming expressions ... something special that says “wow” or puts a smile on your face.

Send your best shots, along with your name, address and phone number. Identify the person pictured and all of the details that tell the story. If your photo is printed, we will send you $25.

© Mike

30

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en

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Send your photo and complete caption information to photos@floridacurrents.com.

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Recipe Contest!

Nothing brings family together like food, and we want to know what foods bring your family together. Whether it’s a dish that is always requested, has been in the family for generations or brings the generations together, we want to know your “Everybody’s Favorite” recipe, which could be featured in our Everybody’s Favorite Cookbook.

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To enter, email your name, address, electric utility and up to two original recipes to recipecontest@floridacurrents.org with “Recipe Contest” in the subject line, or mail typed recipes to Cookbook, P.O. Box 558, Forest Grove, OR 97116 by December 15, 2012.

Photos of the dish are welcome. Submitted photos will not be returned. Nine grand-prize winners will receive $100 and a copy of the finished cookbook.

FKEC-Aug2012-final_Layout 1 7/12/12 4:05 PM Page 7

FL-152

Beware of Utility Scam Claiming Government will Pay Bill Florida Keys Electric Cooperative is warning members against a new scam that is sweeping the nation claiming the government will pay your utility bills through a new federal program. Do not fall victim to this scam.

How the Scam Works:

the scam, but we are not aware of any members who have fallen victim,” said CEO Scott Newberry. “We have issued a press release and used our website, Facebook and Twitter to help make our members aware of the potential threat.”

Never provide your social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it unless you initiate the contact

According to the Better Business Bureau consumers are being contacted either in person, by phone, flyers, social media or text message claiming President Obama is providing credits or applying payments to utility bills.

To receive the money, scammers claim they need a consumer’s social security and bank routing numbers. In return, customers are given a phony bank routing number that will supposedly pay their utility bills. In reality, there is no money, and customers believe they have paid their bills when in fact they have not.

“We have received a couple of calls from members about

Avoid Being Scammed:

FKEC reminds you to never provide your social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone or in person unless you initiated the contact and feel confident with the person you are speaking with.

If you do receive a call from someone claiming to be with FKEC and asking for payment, hang up, and call FKEC customer service at 305-852-2431.

For more information about this scam or other scams visit the Better Business Bureau website at www.bbb.org. You can also contact FKEC at 305-852-2431 or visit www.FKEC.com.

Cooperative Outdoor Lighting FAQs WHERE CAN FKEC INSTALL OUTDOOR LIGHTS? Outdoor lights provided by FKEC are installed on existing FKEC distribution poles only, and cannot be installed on meter poles. Also, not all poles are capable of a light installation.

Engineering surveys are required to determine if a new fixture can be installed.

HOW DO I REQUEST AN OUTDOOR LIGHT? Any member can request an outdoor light by calling FKEC at 305-852-2431 or by visiting www.fkec.com and filling out an “FKEC Outdoor Lighting Agreement.”

WHEN WILL THE LIGHT OPERATE? Outdoor lights installed by FKEC operate from approximately dusk to dawn daily. These lights are controlled by photocells and turn on based on the amount of natural light.

3

CAN I ASSUME PAYMENTS FOR AN EXISTING OUTDOOR LIGHT? Yes. If you are a new homeowner and want to maintain the outdoor light requested by the previous owner or if a neighbor has decided to stop payment for a light, you may take over the billing responsibilities. Call FKEC at 852-2431 or visit www.fkec.com to file an “FKEC Outdoor Lighting Agreement.”

DOES FKEC MAINTAIN THE LIGHT? FKEC will repair or replace any malfunctioning light. However, it is the sole responsibility of the member to notify the Co-op when repairs are needed.

For more information or to access the FKEC Lighting Agreement visit www.fkec.com/AccessAct/outdoor-lighting.cfm

305.852.2431 • 800.858-8845 • www.FKEC.com