Florida Currents September 2014 by American MainStreet Publications

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

S E P T E M B E R 2014

A Historic Opportunity Washington Youth Tour delegates made a lifetime of memories during their trip to the nation’s capital in June. Three students from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s service territory were part of Florida’s delegation: from left, Breanna Clemmons, Jessie West and McKenna Waters. Jessie and McKenna won GCEC’s Youth Tour contest. Breanna won the statewide essay contest for children and grandchildren of cooperative employees and trustees. Among their stops were Arlington National Cemetery, below, and the U.S. Capitol, background. To read more about their trip and the 2015 contest, see pages 12 and 28. PHOTOS BY PAM BLAIR

Where Heroes Gather PAGE 4



GCEC Improves Tyndall Water System PAGE 7

Gulf Coast

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Inside

September 2014 Vol. 3, No. 11

A Historic Opportunity 12

Washington Youth Tour delegates make a lifetime of memories during their trip to the nation’s capital.

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

Festival Roundup 22 Outdoor Pursuits 24 Parting Shot 30

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32

SEPTEMBER 2014

Gulf Coast

Where Heroes Gather Warrior Beach Retreat born out of personal experience

SEPTEMBER 2014

When Joshua Cope signed his have made in the lives of the U.S. Army service contract, soldiers who have attended,” he never could have predicted says Philip. “They’ve been the explosion that would able to connect with other Funded largely through the generous claim his legs. soldiers who are going support of the community, Warrior Nor could he have prethrough similar difficulties Beach Retreat is offered at no cost dicted the impact that loss and have encouraged each to veterans—a small gesture of would make on his surother. They are able to help appreciation in exchange for the rounding community and the each other cope with their sacrifice these men and women made countless other veterans who struggles. for their fellow countrymen. have undergone similar expe“The support and appreciaDonations are accepted to cover riences during their time in tion our community expresses retreat expenses. Checks made payable the service. to these soldiers while they to Warrior Beach Retreat Inc. may be “He truly is a miracle, and attend these retreats is awemailed to P.O. Box 19555; Panama City God has a vision for him,” some. Some of these soldiers Beach, FL 32417. Donate online at says Joshua’s mother, Linda. have never been shown the www.warriorbeachretreat.org. “He’s a fighter.” appreciation they received Warrior Beach Retreat is a 501(c) That fighting spirit inspired while attending the retreat. (3) nonprofit corporation. It is not Linda to found Warrior Our community is a great affiliated with Wounded Warrior Beach Retreat five years ago. supporter of the military.” Project. Donations are tax-deductible. The retreats give warriors Despite the primacy of her wounded in the most recent role in all of this, Linda still military campaigns and their considers motherhood the caregivers a chance to relax, recharge and connect most important job she has ever held. with people going through similar struggles. “Praying and interceding for your children ... God “Caregivers are the unsung heroes as they take gives (mothers) that role,” she says. “Whether they’re care of these soldiers who have sacrificed everything on the battlefield or not, we need to always be standto give us our freedom,” Linda says. ing in the gap for our children.” Her impassioned speech bears witness to the Linda’s experience as a mother—watching her son heart she carries for this project, for her country, its struggle through the loss of his legs, the terrors of military and the God who has instilled her seemwar and the transition back to a normal life—have ingly unwavering faith. not dulled her faith. Her son is a living testimony. Faith certainly is the cornerstone of the Cope “Initially, they thought he was dead,” Linda recalls family. With support from her two younger sons of the aftermath of the IED explosion that threw and her husband, Philip, Linda has brought together Joshua from his Humvee in a ball of fire. “He was in wounded veterans and their wives or caretakers in pieces. The medics rushed around looking for peoways that forge long-lasting, healing relationships. ple who looked like they could be saved, and they Soldiers from across the nation have been touched thought he was dead. They only knew Joshua was by the retreats, both as participants and volunteers. alive when he lifted his hand up to God. He thought “The healing that even Vietnam vets have experihe was going to die.” enced is amazing,” says Linda. “I had no idea that it Joshua and his wife, Erica, participate in the would make such an impact for them. God’s heart for retreats, blessing the people they meet (see Erica’s this is beyond what I had imagined. I’m just a vessel in story on page 6). His hands, and I want to be available and obedient.” Held at some of the most picturesque locations Philip has witnessed how much the events have along the beach, the retreats provide a perfect environcontributed to emotional healing. ment for the warriors and their caregivers to recharge. “I have seen firsthand the difference these retreats The week includes welcome gifts upon arrival, a

Say Thanks to Those Who Served and Sacrificed

day of pampering for the spouses/caregivers of combat-wounded veterans and other activities, such as fishing excursions and movie outings. There is time for connecting, healing and quiet— time for the men and women who come to find support in one another, to be reminded they are appreciated for all they have done and continue to do. “When a soldier goes to war, a family goes to war,” Linda says. Despite everything she has seen, Linda has not lost her faith in the military. If anything, it seems to have been strengthened by her family’s experiences. The day of Joshua’s injury, November 13, 2006, never will be forgotten by the Cope family. It will forever be a part of their history as the day when Joshua lost his legs, the day God began to carry him in a direction he had never imagined, the day the entire family found a different footing, a different way of walking—ultimately walking stronger and taller. “There are so many heroes in this great nation, so many families we can encourage,” Linda says. “My vision as a mom is to bring wounded warriors and their spouse or caregiver to Panama City Beach for a week of rest and relaxation.

“This retreat will be a time that can give them hope to carry on, a feeling that their sacrifice was not in vain, a knowing that we as a nation are truly grateful for their service and sacrifice.”  For more information, visit www.warriorbeachretreat.org, search for the organization’s page on Facebook or call Linda Cope at (850) 625-0736. Liesel Schmidt contributed to this article, which is reprinted with permission from Warrior Beach Retreats.

Linda and Philip Cope, front center, with participants in a recent Warrior Beach Retreat. Photo illustration courtesy of Tim Allen

Parade Begins Salute on September 18 Two retreats are held each year in April and September. Warrior Beach Retreat hosts its next retreat September 16-23. The Wounded Warrior Salute is at Lynn Haven United Methodist Church Thursday, September 18, at 7 p.m. The guest speaker is Air Force Chaplain Major General Charles C. Baldwin. Admission is free. The event is open to the public. A parade precedes the salute. It begins at 4 p.m. on Hutchison Boulevard and travels down Thomas Drive, then across the Hathaway Bridge. The veterans travel down 23rd Street to Highway 77. The group turns onto Highway 390 and then Transmitter Road, arriving at the church. The public is encouraged to line the route and show its appreciation to the veterans and their caregivers.

SEPTEMBER 2014

Gulf Coast

The Strength

of Love

“There is a comfort in the strength of love; ’twill make a thing endurable which else would overset the brain or break the heart.” —William Wordsworth By Erica Cope

I wasn’t even out of bed when the doorbell buzzed. I assumed someone had just rung the wrong doorbell. But when I opened the door, two soldiers asked if I was the wife of Sgt. Joshua Cope. Their faces showed no signs of good news. Being a young military couple was tough, but we were always willing to work through our problems because we loved each other. Now barely in our 20s, we had promised each other to stay together for life, and our baby, Laney, needed her father. I let the soldiers in, fighting my hand to shut them out. They asked me to take a seat. My lungs refused to breathe. “Your husband, Joshua, was injured yesterday at approximately 11 a.m. after his vehicle ran over a roadside bomb in Baghdad, Iraq.” Erica and The chaplain continued, “He is in critical but Joshua Cope. stable condition.” Photo courtesy I looked to him for more answers. of Tim Allen “He will likely lose his legs and possibly his right hand.” Joshua started trying to sit up, and I urged him to lie back “But he’s going to live?” down, but he refused. He managed to get up. His eyes grew I thanked God. wide, and his jaw dropped when he lifted his legs and found A few hours later, my friend drove me to the hospital where only stumps. Seeing my husband, a head-strong sergeant in the Joshua had been transferred. The chaplain walked with me into U.S. Army, break into tears made me want to melt away. But I the room. White sheets covered Joshua’s legs, but it was clear that knew I needed to stay strong and comfort him. the sheets went flat where knees and feet should’ve been. The I told him that he—that we—would be alright, that there thick bandages on his hands were shaped like crab claws. He was were hundreds of soldiers who had lost limbs, and that many of swollen almost unrecognizably, and he was dripping with sweat. them were up and walking with prosthetic legs. He tried to focus on me, but his eyes kept drifting upward. “You will walk again ... everyone is just happy you are alive ... The chaplain asked him, “Do you know who this pretty lady we will get through this together,” I told him. is?” He looked again and nodded yes. To my surprise, he nodded yes. I couldn’t help but smile and blush a little. I moved closer Every day afterward would be a challenge, for both of us. and looked into his eyes, knowing now was not the time to cry. But I would do it for the man I loved. Love pushed me miles I kissed his forehead and told him I missed him so much and when I could only take steps. Through everything, I found, and that Laney and I loved him. would never forget, the strength of love.  6

SEPTEMBER 2014

GCEC Improves Tyndall Water System In June 2011, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative was awarded a 50-year utilities privatization contract at Tyndall Air Force Base. The contract creates a partnership between the Air Force and GCEC. It outlines specific points of demarcation along the electric and water distribution systems that GCEC owns and is responsible for maintaining and operating. The utilities privatization contract allows GCEC to use the company’s knowledge of electric and water distribution systems to cost-effectively maintain the utilities at Tyndall Air Force Base to all industry standards. Upgrades to the electric and water systems are made daily. Some are minor, while others are much larger. The water system infrastructure at Tyndall Air Force Base is up to 70 years old. Upgrades and expansions have been made due to an increase in demand, but the system requires capital improvement. Older lines can lead to water breaks, which can cause traffic issues, facilities without water, unreliable fire hydrants and water loss. In 2012, GCEC began replacing some of the old lines. The Suwannee Avenue 12-inch cast-iron water lines were replaced with a less-corrosive PVC line. That was completed in the spring of 2013. This year the focus has been on upgrading the water system to meet standards

and provide a more efficient water system on the base. The Mississippi Road water line improvements are in phase two, with an estimated completion date of October 2014. The 6- and 8-inch cast-iron lines are being replaced with a less-corrosive PVC pipe. The upgrade has given GCEC the opportunity to add isolation valves along both the Suwannee and Mississippi systems. Isolation valves can drastically reduce the amount of facilities affected during outages. The time needed to isolate specific areas also will be decreased by this addition. Fire hydrants along both roads have been replaced with more reliable ones with proper flow rates. These improvements and many others are being planned and completed to both the electric and water distribution systems to create a more efficient and reliable system for years to come. “Utility privatization allows GCEC to maintain and improve the electric and water distribution systems while allowing the Air Force to concentrate on their core mission,” says GCEC Manager of Military Affairs Jim Vickers. GCEC also is building a potable water distribution system to provide the Silver Flag facilities with water from Bay County Utilities. Additionally, GCEC is refurbishing the 150,000-gallon elevated tank to meet state Department of Environmental Protection

and American Water Works Association standards. To switch the Silver Flag area from the elevated tank to Bay County Utilities, GCEC is installing about 9,000 feet of 3-inch water main and new service lines to existing facilities. The new connection will require less flushing to maintain water quality and will improve water pressure. The Silver Flag water tower also is being restored. It was built in 1990 and was due for maintenance upgrades. GCEC is blast cleaning and

recoating the tower to prevent deterioration. A control valve will be installed to maximize its capacity, and to monitor and control the tank’s water level. The main purpose of the water tower will be to provide adequate flow for fire protection. “The distribution system upgrades were strategically designed to provide better availability to quality water, while also providing the necessary flow ratings needed by the fire department,” says Stephen Price, GCEC’s consulting engineer. n

PVC pipe is installed along Mississippi Road to upgrade the water system. september 2014

Gulf Coast

GCEC’s Peak Earns Security Certification Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative Member Relations Specialist Lindsay Peak recently completed the Center for Development of Security Excellence’s JPAS/JCAVS Virtual Training for Security Professionals. The eight-hour course provided an overview of the Joint Personnel Adjudication System and a detailed explanation of its subsystem, the Joint Clearance and Access Verification System, used extensively by Department of Defense personnel security managers and contractor facility security officers. The target audience for the course is Department of Defense civilian, military and contractor

personnel who support the agency’s personnel security program. GCEC works with the Department of Defense through a utilities privatization contract at Tyndall Air Force Base. To successfully complete the course, Lindsay had to pass a final exam. The Center for Development of Security Excellence provides security education and training to Department of Defense security professionals through formal classroom and distributed learning methodologies, such as computer-based, web-based and tele-training. 

Lindsay Peak

Help Reduce Demand for Electricity

Considering Solar? Please Call Us First We know some of our members are considering installing solar applications. Please be aware that all solar applications must be preapproved and inspected to ensure they meet specific engineering codes and criteria. If you are considering solar, please contact Sid Dykes in Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s engineering department. Sid will schedule a time to meet with you either on-site or in one of our offices. Sid Dykes (850) 265-3631 ext. 3013 sdykes@gcec.com

SEPTEMBER 2014

H2O Plus, a program offered by Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, has the potential to dramatically reduce the demand for electricity. We just need your participation. Using energy wisely has never been easier. A device is installed on your electric water heater that allows our power supplier to cycle your unit for short periods. By managing energy use when demand is high—when you and your neighbors use the most electricity—our

supplier can reduce demand when electricity is most expensive, delaying the need to build facilities to generate more power, pushing those costs out to the future. An added benefit is reducing greenhouse gases. You still will have enough hot water for showers and

household chores. You should notice no difference in the amount of hot water available. For more information, call GCEC Energy Services Representative Manuela Heyn. She will take down your information and, after ensuring the program is a good fit for your household, schedule an installer to visit your home and install the device at no cost to you. For participating, we will make a one-time credit of $25 to your electric bill. 

Trimming Necessary to Ensure Safety, Reliability Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative has about 2,600 miles of distribution line. If vegetation comes into contact with power lines, it can interfere with your electric service and cause a dangerous situation. Vegetation must be cleared from power lines to provide reliable electric service and prevent a hazardous condition. When a person signs up to be a member of the cooperative, there is an agreement between the member and

GCEC to allow right-of-way maintenance. The agreement gives the co-op the legal right to remove from the right of way anything that could interfere with the GCEC’s ability to ensure safe, reliable electric service for all members. If the cooperative’s rightof-way clearance is not maintained, tree limbs and other growth coming into contact with power lines would increase the number of outages experienced by members.

GCEC tries to work with landowners to preserve landscaping when maintaining rights of way. The co-op realizes most people regard trees as an asset. However, federal law requires GCEC to eliminate hazardous conditions. During September, GCEC will clear rights of way in the Wewahitchka area. The cooperative appreciates your patience and understanding as GCEC works to bring you quality, reliable service. 

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Side Roads

Discoveries Oﬀ the Beaten Path

Brothers Fill Sailboat Niche Precision Boat Works of Palmetto produces about 200 vessels a year By Pat Raia

Postcards From Florida

Fudpucker Trading Co.

m Blair

Photo by Pa

A vintage Volkswagen van juts out of the side of Fudpucker Trading Co. in Destin. The multidimensional business features a beachside bar and grill, a free alligator exhibit and unique shopping. Among its claim to fame are T-shirts. Locally owned and operated since 1982, Fudpucker’s has two locations, both in Northwest Florida: Destin and Okaloosa Island. 10

SePTeMBeR 2014

In 1978, brothers Bill and Richard Porter took over a small fledgling sailboat manufacturing operation. After more than 35 years, the two are still making sailboats. Precision Boat Works has evolved into a player in a niche recreational boating industry market. The Palmetto company was born when the brothers joined another of the firm’s founders in a small manufacturing start up. “He had bought a set of parts for a boat and just wanted to finish it,” Bill says. Neither of the Porters had yachting experience when they bought Precision, but both had worked as boat builders. The brothers decided their desire to be in business for themselves outweighed their lack of on-the-water expertise. “I had done some recreational sailing, but very little, and Richard had done very little,” says Bill. “But I had experience with a boat called the Seaforth that the company had lost interest in, so I had a vested interest in the molds we were looking at.” Eventually, the Porters bought out their partner and began manufacturing eight sailboat models. Prices range between $10,000 and $35,000. Each sailboat is handmade at the firm’s headquarters. “Many of the people who work here making our boats are members of the same family,” Bill says. “They take pride in what they do and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.” The Porters and their team of employees produce about 200 boats a year from a 15,500-square-foot facility. Models range from the 15- to 23-foot Precision sailboats to the 26-foot Colgate 26 specifically made for the Colgate Offshore Sailing School—a Fort Myers-based firm that provides instruction for recreational sailors.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy also use the Colgate 26 to train their personnel. In fact, 30 Precision-made Colgate 26 sailboats are used in the U.S. Naval Academy’s basic sail training program provided to all 1,200 incoming fourth-class midshipmen (plebes or freshmen) during Plebe Summer each year. When the boats are not in use for training, any qualified Naval Academy personnel can check them out for recreational use near the academy. “Everybody has to know how to sail now at the Naval Academy,” Bill says. Precision Boat Works competes in markets in the United States, Canada and Japan, focusing on the sailboat segment of the recreational boating industry. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, sailboats account for 3 percent of the overall recreational boating market. In 2011, 4,600 new sailboats were bought in the United States, compared to 143,000 power boats. Bill admits the niche is small. But he says it is an active one among boat buyers. “People who purchase our sailboats are passionate about sailing,” he says. Most of Precision’s clients are young families just discovering the sport, says Bill. The vessels are especially appealing to those with limited cash to invest in a boat or its related expenses, Bill says. “Sailboats like the ones we manufacture are perfect for them because these boats are easy to move around from lake to lake, and because they don’t require the expensive docking fees other boats do,” Bill explains. “They appeal to

Cemetery Reflects Quirky Heritage

The Porter brothers, Bill, left, and Richard have been building sailboats for 35 years. Right, Juan Cervantes cleans up the pattern area where boat components are cut.

people just getting started in the sport.” Precision’s annual sales had tallied around $2.5 million. The recession slashed that to about $1 million a year. “A cut (in sales) like that can put a company out of business,” Bill admits. He says Precision has stayed afloat by being adaptable, weathering the economic storm by taking on special projects, including fabricating parts for other boat builders. “It’s part of the survival plan,” Bill says. “It’s been 35 years without a boss—taking the credit and the blame. It’s been something.” n

In a 19-acre park-like setting in the heart of Key West’s Old Town, people of all ethnicities and walks of life rest side by side: Bahamian mariners, Cuban cigar makers, Spanish-American War veterans, Catholics, Protestants, Jews. Among the estimated 100,000 people buried in the city cemetery are soldiers and civilians, millionaires and paupers, and people of all races. Some graves are elaborate, with monuments shipped to the island to mark the resting place of the wealthy and prominent. Others were produced locally of brick, cement or tile. Many graves date to the mid-1800s and are weathered, illegible and broken from settling of the earth. Located on the highest point on the island, the cemetery opened in 1847, a year after a hurricane washed bodies from a beachside cemetery. It remains an active cemetery, with about 100 interments a year. A self-guided map is available at the cemetery’s front entrance. A popular stop is the grave of B.P. “Pearl” Roberts (1929-1979), a reputed hypochondriac, who had “I told you I was sick” inscribed on her marker. The cemetery is open daily at 7 a.m.

The cemetery features varied artistic styles and burial methods. Newer graves are put in above-ground vaults. As space becomes more limited, crypts are stacked four high. Photo by Pam Blair

s e pt e mb e r 20 1 4

Washington Youth Tour

A Historic Opportunity “If one thing comes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents.” —Lyndon Baines Johnson

By Pam Blair

The early morning excitement and noisy buzz of anticipation melts into silence as the Florida contingent of 31 students and nine adults are among a packed crowd watching the slow, rhythmic movements of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. In the bustling area around Washington, D.C., the quiet is eerie and deafening. You can hear a pin drop. No one encourages the silence. It is instinctive. It is an understanding of history and place, and a show of respect for those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms Americans enjoy today.

Above, capturing selfies of themselves in front of the Lincoln Memorial are, from left, Bailey Creighton, Savannah Woodall, Christine Boettcher, Richear Polinice and Meagan Yopp. Opposite page, students are focused as a guard marches in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. 12

september 2014

“I am thankful today for the Founding Fathers who stood for what they believe in and created the nation that I live in today,” says Savannah Woodall, Clay Electric Cooperative representative. Arlington National Cemetery is the first stop in a day filled with somber, reflective moments as history comes to life for the students and adults. “When you are younger, you don’t appreciate a trip as much as you do when you become an age where you can understand the price of freedom more,” says the 17-year-old, who traveled to Washington, D.C., as a fourth-grader. A Fifty-Year Tradition More than 1,600 students from 43 states converge on the nation’s capital each June for an awe-inspiring, life-changing, physically and emotionally exhausting one-week trip known as the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Washington Youth Tour. Participating electric cooperatives select students who have just completed their junior year of high school for the all-expense-paid trip of a lifetime. Washington Youth Tour was inspired by then-Sen. Lyndon Baines Johnson. “If one thing comes out of this meeting, it will be sending youngsters to the national capital where they can actually see what the flag stands for and represents,” the future president said in a speech at the 1957 NRECA Annual Meeting. The idea grew. By 1964, NRECA was coordinating activities for state delegations. While much has changed during the program’s 50 years, students remain amazed, inspired, humbled and grateful. They see the roots of American history in visits to monuments and never-ending Smithsonian museums. They meet with their elected

representatives and senators in a civics lesson they believe by seeing. They learn about electric cooperatives, grassroots advocacy and the importance of assuming leadership roles. They dance during a cruise down the Potomac, making lifelong friends with people who were strangers the day before. They walk miles and sleep little, packing as much activity into every waking hour as possible. “I knew we were going to see the sights and meet our congressmen, but I had no idea just how much we were going to be doing,” says Courtney Bailey, Tri-County Electric Cooperative representative. “I was surprised by how much we could see and get done in one day.” While every state contingent develops its own itinerary, everyone converges on Monday morning for Youth Day—a time to learn about grassroots politics and listen to motivational speakers. For the past decade, students have heard the inspiring story of Paralympian Mike Schlappi, a star athlete who was paralyzed from an accidental gunshot as a teen. “He encouraged us students to believe in ourselves,” says Baylee Rolling, who represented Central Florida Electric Cooperative. “He advised us to always have confidence and never give up, no

Tell a future Youth Tour candidate

“Attending Youth Tour was the best thing that I did in high school. If the opportunity arises for you to do this, take it. I promise it will be one of the best decisions you make.”

—Savannah Woodall

matter the circumstance.” The speakers all stressed that this generation is made up of future leaders. “Even though now we’re young and may not know what we want to do career-wise, we have the ability to do whatever we want,” says Tori Raught, who represented Escambia River Electric Cooperative. “No goal too high, and nothing is impossible.” An Action-Packed Schedule After flying into Washington, D.C., midday, the first stop on the Florida group’s itinerary was the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Among the exhibits was

a container filled with thousands of pairs of shoes worn by victims of the Holocaust horror. Following the Father’s Day visit to Arlington National Cemetery, the delegation went to the U.S. Marine Corps Iwo Jima War Memorial, the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Smithsonian complex on the National Mall. All of that was day two. “As the daughter of a military veteran, I was moved by the veterans at the different war memorials,” says Courtney. Savannah says the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was one of her favorite stops. “Almost three years ago, my dad passed away,” she says. “Standing in front of a memorial covered in roses, laid by children who experience the same fatherlessness that I do, I was reminded that I was not alone.” Day three included the Youth Day program, a tour of the Washington National Cathedral, a visit to the Newseum and the Potomac boat cruise. “While exploring the Newseum, I picked up a brochure entitled, ‘Great september 2014

Southerland and Ted Yoho, exploring places of interest in small groups on the National Mall and a performance of “The Lion King” at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. “This trip will blow your mind,” says Richecar Polinice, who represented Peace River Electric Cooperative. “Yes, it’s a lot to take in in five days, but you will love it.”

The frantic schedule wore people out. Hanna Robson, left, and Raychel Thomas support each other as they rest prior to a tour of Mount Vernon. Photo by Candace Croft

Ideas Belong to Everyone,’” says Christine Boettcher, Clay Electric Cooperative representative. “Instantly, my imagination was sparked. I want to become a part of America’s rich history.” Day four included a visit to George Washington’s ancestral home of Mount Vernon, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center—a companion to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum—and the U.S. Marine Corps Sunset Parade. Day five included a tour of the Capitol, photos with Reps. Vern Buchanan, Steve

A Lasting Impression While the delegation covered lots of territory, the trip was about much more than sightseeing and building patriotism. It was about building relationships. “What I expected from this trip was to learn more information than I had in my high school history course, and I did,” says Breanna Clemmons, the statewide representative from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s area. “What surprised me the most was all the friends I made and the relationships we developed. I never expected to grow so close to my fellow Youth Tour candidates in just one week.” Baylee was surprised how easy it was to become friends not only with her group, but with students from other states. “Everyone acted like they already knew each other,” she says. “I had to socialize with complete strangers on this

McLane Edwards, front center, with the 2014 Florida Youth Tour delegation.

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trip, and as a result I can now interact better with new people I meet. I made so many friends and I hope we all continue to stay in touch.” Brittany Fite from Talquin Electric Cooperative also was moved by the people she met during the trip. “The students I came with and had never met before, even ones from states I’d never gone to, they all wanted to include me, talk, hang out, share backgrounds and make friends with ME!” says Brittany. “The trip showed me that it’s OK to be outgoing and want to change others’ minds.” The trip also helped students see themselves and their futures differently. “Before I went on this trip, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do after high school,” says Baylee. “I wanted to study food science. However, I have now found an interest in history and government.” Bailey Creighton, Clay Electric Cooperative representative, says she never expected the life-changing opportunities presented by the trip—the thought-provoking questions she has tried to answer for a long time: What do I want to do with my life? How can I make the most positive impact?

“Go for it! Get as excited as possible because everything was a million times more exciting when we actually got there. I got to meet Steve Southerland and we took selfies together. It was the most fun thing I’ve done all summer.” —Brittany Fite

“Looking around, I saw the combined efforts of thousands of people throughout history who worked hard to build Washington, D.C., and the government it houses,” she says. “I couldn’t help but wonder if I wanted to serve my country in a similar way, by working with legislation and politicians. “I’m still pondering these questions. I’ll remember this trip for the rest of my life, and I’ll always be grateful to the people who made this trip possible.”

Tori says the trip gave her a new perspective on her future. “I learned that even though I’m just one of a billion people, I still have a huge impact on the future,” she says. “I now know that with hard work and determination I could be the next congressman, or successful lawyer, or even a member of the World Health Organization. I can truly do whatever I set my mind to.” For Julie Hester from Escambia River Electric Cooperative, the trip to Washington offered a major first. “A few previous Youth Tour participants from my area had told me that I would love the experience and always remember it, but I didn’t spend much time thinking about what the trip would be like—except that I would be completely psyched to take my first airplane ride,” she says. “I was just willing to see what would happen on the trip. “I was moved by seeing and learning about so much history in one place. I felt as if there was history everywhere around me, and that I was connected to it. I hope to never forget how fortunate I am to live in the free country of America and to never forget its history.” n To see more photos of the Washington Youth Tour trip, visit www.floridacurrents.com.

Ashley Wallace searches the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall for the name of a soldier who died during the war. After publicly reading a card telling his story, Ashley paid tribute by placing a rose at the base of the wall and saluting him.

From Washington Youth Tour to Capitol Hill In 2012, McLane Edwards of Quincy, who had just finished his junior year of high school, was selected by Talquin Electric Cooperative to travel to the nation’s capital as a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Washington Youth Tour. The brief visit he had with his congressional representative during the trip changed the direction of his life. It led to an internship with Rep. Steve Southerland this summer. “I expected to see monuments, maybe meet some people, maybe see some big time politicians, etc.,” McLane says of his Youth Tour experience. “I really wasn’t expecting the trip to have that big of an impact on me.” He says he was surprised by how different everything seemed since had been to the nation’s capital as an eighth-grader. “I started to appreciate everything about American history during this trip,” McLane says. “I was moved by Arlington National Cemetery. Seeing the price of freedom is an incredible feeling. That feeling cannot be comprehended unless you see it yourself. “Another part of the trip that to this day has had an effect on me

is seeing the Declaration of Independence in the National Archives. Seeing the document that started it all really puts into perspective the vision that our Founding Fathers had for this nation.” McLane says the trip made him want to be in Washington, D.C. “I love how government works, but mostly I love this country,” he says. “Knowing how your government works keeps you educated and keeps you informed, so if you need to speak out you are able to. I’ve always had a calling for politics, so the trip really solidified in my mind that D.C. is where I want to be in the future.” McLane is entering his sophomore year at the University of Florida, where he is double majoring in history and political science. What advice does he have for future Youth Tour participants? “Appreciate it. Enjoy it. Never forget it,” he says. “The first time I met the man that I work for was on the Youth Tour, right on the steps of the Capitol. The Capitol building has always been special to me, as it is probably the most recognizable building in America as well as a symbol of hope and freedom, and now I have the pleasure of giving tours of this great spectacle of America.”

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In theâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; Kitchen

Recipes That Satisfy

Enjoy fresh tomato soup in a warm bread bowl topped with cubed cheese.

Soup, Salad and a Slice of Pie Savor the season with simple and flavorful dishes Broiled Fresh Tomato Soup 2 pounds tomatoes, fully ripe 3 medium onions, cut into halves 6 garlic cloves 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 13-ounce can chicken broth 4 large Kaiser rolls 1 cup Muenster cheese, cubed Basil or parsley for garnish

Core and cut the tomatoes into halves. Preheat broiler. On a shallow pan, arrange the tomato 16

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and onion halves cut side down. Place garlic cloves around the vegetables. Mix the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Brush the mixture over the vegetables, coating completely. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat source until lightly charred, about 10 to 15 minutes. Turn the pan around for even cooking, removing cloves as they brown and soften. Turn over the vegetables and broil until lightly charred and tender, about 10 to 15 minutes longer. Remove the pan from the broiler and cool. Peel skins from the tomatoes. In a food processor or blender, puree tomatoes, onions and garlic with pan juices until fairly smooth. Pour into medium saucepan. Stir in chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to mediumlow. Cover and simmer to blend flavors, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and keep warm.

To make bread bowls, preheat oven to 400 degrees. With a sharp knife, cut off and set aside the top of each roll. Pull out the soft centers, leaving half-inch-thick shells. Discard the soft bread. Place bowls and tops on baking sheet. Bake until crisp, about 5 to 8 minutes, turning once. To serve, place rolls on soup plates. Ladle hot soup into and around bowls. Top with cheese cubes. Garnish with basil or parsley. Place tops partially over the bread bowl and serve immediately. Serves 4

Courtesy of Florida Tomato

Autumn Acorn Squash Soup 1 small onion 1/4 cup celery, chopped 2 tablespoons sweet cream butter

1/4 cup peanut butter 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup flour

Peanut butter and thinly sliced apples come together for a tasty fall dessert. 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon 1/2 teaspoon dill 1/4 teaspoon curry powder Dash cayenne pepper 2 cups chicken bone stock 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk 3 cups acorn squash, cooked and mashed Salt and pepper, to taste 6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

In a large saucepan, saute the onion and celery in the butter. Stir in the flour, bouillon, dill, curry and cayenne pepper. Gradually add chicken stock and sweetened condensed milk. Boil for 2 minutes. Add the squash, salt and pepper. Place in a blender, and blend in batches until smooth. Pour into bowls and garnish with bacon. Serves 6

Courtesy of Eagle Brand

Spinach Apple Salad with Toasted Walnuts 2 apples 5 ounces baby spinach 1/3 cup dried tart cherries 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed)

1 teaspoon lemon zest, freshly grated Salt and pepper, to taste 1/3 cup (about 2 ounces) goat cheese, crumbled ½ cup walnuts, chopped and toasted

Core the apples and cut into thin slices (about 16 per apple). Place the spinach in a large bowl; remove long stems and any bruised leaves. Add the cherries and half of the apples. Set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, thyme, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Toss the spinach, apples and cherries with just enough dressing to coat. Top with remaining sliced apples, goat cheese and toasted walnuts. Serves 4

Courtesy of Opal Apples

After School Peanut Butter Apple Pie 9-inch prepared pie crust ¼ cup chopped peanuts (optional)

Filling: 7 apples, peeled, cored and sliced 2/3 cup sugar 3 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Crumble: 3/4 cup rolled oats 1/4 cup butter

Place the crust in a 9-inch pie pan and crimp edges. Use dried beans to weigh down the bottom. Bake crust for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crust is lightly browned. Mix all filling ingredients together and place in the crust. Using hands, mix crumble ingredients until in pea-sized pieces. Top the apples with the crumble mixture. Don’t worry if it is high; apples will cook down and the pie will be perfectly proportioned. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes. Keep the edges covered with foil until the last 15 minutes. Garnish with chopped peanuts. Serves 8

Courtesy of Southern Peanut Growers

Table Talk The more kids learn about the foods they eat, the more likely they are to eat them. Spark some dinnertime conversations with some fun and interesting food facts. XX The Spanish conquistadors encountered tomatoes when they arrived in the New World. The Aztecs called them xitomatl. XX Peanut butter was introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 and became a source of delicious protein during the first two world wars. XX Apples have grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe. They were brought to North America by European colonists. XX Spinach is a native plant of Persia (modern-day Iran). It was introduced to China in the 7th century. It was likely brought to Europe around the 12th century and to the U.S. in 1806. XX Squash was introduced to European settlers by American Indians.

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Florida Gardening

Advice From the Front-Yard Farmer

Veggie Growers, Rejoice! September is the happiest time of the year for many home vegetable gardeners in Florida. And why not? It’s the beginning of the coolweather planting season for much of the state—and the time we get to plant some of our favorite vegetables. In north Florida, vegetables commonly sown in September are beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, endive, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, parsley, radish and turnips. The mere mention of the names has images of fall dancing in my mind. Planting dates can be slightly different in central Florida, where September is the beginning of planting time for broccoli, cabbage, endive, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard, onions, English peas, radish and turnips. Other coolweather vegetables are sown in October, such as beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi and parsley. Spinach and strawberries are commonly planted in

Florida’s fall weather gives home gardeners the opportunity to grow a number of vegetable varieties that thrive in cooler conditions, such as this Romaine lettuce grown in Northwest Florida. Photo by Dennis Gilson

October throughout the state. October also marks the beginning of the cool weather gardening season for many of the cool-weather vegetables grown in South Florida. If you are near a coastal area, for best results look for salt-tolerant varieties of beets, broccoli, cabbage and spinach. Some cool-weather crops—such as Brussels sprouts, celery and head lettuce—do not perform well because the region does not receive enough cold weather. While planting dates are slightly different throughout the state, most cool-weather crops are sown while it feels more like summer outdoors than fall, regardless of location. So, it is still best this time of the year to work around the midday heat.

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

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Before long, though, the summer heat will fade and those cool fall days will make caring for your growing garden a pleasure. No matter where you reside in the Sunshine State, you will have a greater chance of gardening success by preparing your garden about a month early and planting your coolweather crops at the right time. Preparing your garden is far less complicated and requires less effort than you might think. All it really involves is clearing the garden and working in some compost to add nutrients to the soil. We should do this each time we plant to replace nutrients used during the previous growing season, or those that have leached through our sandy soil beyond the roots of our vegetables. About 30 days before planting, remove any vegetation growing in your garden because the vegetation harbors pests that have had all summer to multiply and mature. We want to start with as few in the

garden as we can. For the same reason, clean the area around your garden and either work in some compost or spread compost on the soil surface. If you prefer to dig in the compost, begin by spreading a 2-inch layer on the soil and then turn the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. If you prefer the no-dig method, leave the 2-inch layer of compost on the soil surface. Use your own garden compost or commercially available composted cow manure or mushroom compost. Dried grass clippings and leaves worked into the soil a month ahead of planting will suffice. Whichever composting method you choose, cover with a few inches of mulch once the compost has been applied. My favorite is pine straw. Regular straw also is popular with Florida home vegetable growers. The mulch will nearly eliminate weeds and hold in moisture. When you are ready to plant, rake back the mulch, work in a little fertilizer if you like and put the mulch back in place after planting. 

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Travel Journal

Tips for Affordable Family Adventures

Capture the Beauty of Butterflies September is prime season to see Florida’s butterflies. More than 180 species have been recorded throughout the state, and most species migrate within the state. No matter where you travel, be sure to bring your camera as you will find plenty of opportunities to catch them on the wing. Look for groups of butterflies converging on masses of nectar flowers or fruitfilled shallow dishes, where you can watch them uncoil their tongues as they feast. Even more mesmerizing is when they bask in the sun and remain nearly motionless. Such moments allow you to see every detail—from the intense colors on the wings to the complex patterns. Butterflies are most active on warm, sunny days. You will find them fluttering along hiking and biking trails, at state and national parks, botanical gardens or any natural area abundant with nectar plants for adults or host plants, which serve as incubating stations. Females can lay their eggs and the larvae

or caterpillars have a ready food source to fuel their prodigious growth. To learn about butterflies, visit a public butterfly house, such as the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville or the Butterfly World in Coconut Creek. It is an interactive adventure, with butterflies fluttering or converging at feeding stations, puddling sites and basking areas. You may find a butterfly or two checking you out, landing on your nose, finger or shoulder. Watch where you walk. They often rest on or alongside the pathways. For a list of butterfly houses, visit www.butter fly-houses.com. Wartime Airfields During World War II, Florida was home to numerous airfields established by the U.S. Army Air Force for antisubmarine defense in the

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.

SEPTEMBER 2014

western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Remnants of these wartime airfields still exist, with some as modern-day U.S. Air Force installations. Most have been converted into municipal airports. Hurricane Happenings September is the height of hurricane season. Florida endures more of these storms than any other state. Stay safe while traveling this month by monitoring television and radio broadcasts for weather conditions, hurricane predictions and the storm’s progress should a hurricane watch or warning develop. Before heading out on a road trip, bring plenty of cash and keep the gas tank full. Once you reach your destination in hurricane-prone areas of the state, be sure to locate evacuation routes. Reader Tip “There is so much to do at Myakka River State Park and we have only just begun to explore. Camping, hiking,

Be prepared for a close encounter with winged creatures at the Florida Museum of Natural History’s Butterfly Rainforest in Gainesville. Photo by John Jernigan

airboat tours and a bird walk that goes over the water are a few of what the park has to offer. You can easily stay for a week and do something different every day. For our day trips, our family especially enjoys the canopy walkway. Once you get to the walkway, you climb up above the tree tops and you can see everything for miles around. Afterwards we often go to the picnic playground area and play with the kids for the rest of the day.” —Jamie Roger, Riverview Tell Us Your Travel Tip What is your favorite activity in fall or winter? Where do you like to go for a weekend getaway? What hidden gem or family-friendly activity is your go-to? Send your travel tip in 100 words or less to info@ floridacurrents.com. 

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Festival Roundup

Things to See and Do

September 5, Pensacola Emerald Coast Beer Festival Home brew clubs and more than 150 craft, domestic and international beers are featured at Rosie O’ Grady’s Goodtime Emporium, 130 E. Government St. Proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida and Seville Rotary.

September 12-14, Panama City Chasin’ the Sun Music Festival Legends of surf music and renowned tropical rock artists perform, including Beach Boys Al Jardine and David Marks. The event starts at 4 p.m. at Aaron Bessant Park, 600 Pier Park Drive. www.visitpanamacitybeach.com

www.emeraldcoastbeerfest.com

September 6, Statewide License-Free Saltwater Fishing Day This is your chance to get someone hooked on saltwater fishing, without the cost of a license. www.myfwc.com/fishing

September 13, Port St. Joe Beach Blast Triathlon & Duathlon Well-marked courses wind along white sand beaches and pine forest between Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe on Highway 98. Participant costs vary depending on individual or relay registration and event. General admission is free.

September 6, Perdido Key Kayak BBQ and Blues Festival Athletes compete for more than $5,000 in cash during races at Hub Stacey’s, 5851 Galvez Road. Blues music, arts and crafts, barbecue, flyboarding demonstrations and a fireworks show also are held at the event.

www.beachblasttriathlon.com

www.VisitPerdido.com; (850) 492-4660

www.miraclestripcorvette.com; (850) 375-6993

September 12-13, Port St. Joe 18th Annual Florida Scallop and Music Festival Celebrate the scallop buttered, fried, sautéed and breaded at 406 Marina Drive, along with a kids’ zone and music Friday and Saturday night. Joe Diffie headlines. Admission is $5 a day.

September 13, Live Oak Hernando De Soto Adventure Visit the Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center to relive the Hernando De Soto Trail of 1539. Explore an ancient encampment. Admission is $12 with lunch included.

www.scallopfest.com; (850) 227-1223

info@campweed.org; (386) 364-5250

September 13, Pensacola Vettes at the Beach Car Show More than 300 Corvettes compete for trophies at 735 Pensacola Beach Blvd. Registration is $35. Admission is free.

Submit Your Event Want to include a family-friendly event in an upcoming magazine? Send all of the details to info@ floridacurrents.com. Include the date, town, times, details and a way for readers to get more information. Please submit the item at least 60 days before the event. If you own the rights to a high-resolution photo promoting this year’s event, or from a past year’s event, please attach it along with photo credit information. September 13, Blountstown Archaeology Day Panhandle organizations offer information about archaeology, preservations and heritage tourism and identify artifacts brought in by the public. Craftsmen, vendors, old-time games for children and hands-on activities are featured from noon to 4 p.m. at the Panhandle Pioneer Settlement. bhines@uwf.edu; info@panhandlepioneer.org

September 13-October 24, Cedar Key Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street Relive America’s work history with displays designed to offer a deeper understanding and spark conversation about history. The Cedar Key Historical Society Museum and city of Cedar Key host the event at 609 2nd St. www.MuseumOnMainStreet.org; (352) 543-5549

September 14-15, Lakeland FIRExpo Reptile Show See cold-blooded, slithering creatures at the Lakeland Center, 701 W. Lime St. Vendors sell reptile pets and merchandise. Live reptile shows and raffles are featured. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 children 5 to 12, 4 and younger are free. www.repticon.com/lakeland.html; (863) 268-4273

Photo by Charlotte Sun

Fishermen’s Village Fall Festival Watch the fur fly during the Weiner Dog Derby Saturday, September 13, at Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, in Punta Gorda. Also enjoy live music, dance and a nautical fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Peter and Edith Mueller headline a German-style music showcase from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information about the event, visit www.fishville.com or call (941) 639-8721.

September 18-20, Islamorada 2nd Annual Alligator Reef Lighthouse Swim The race is on Saturday at 8 a.m., but participants can attend the Artwalk, meet swimming coaches and partake in the Full Moon Party featuring specialty acts, a junkanoo band and fireworks show. Admission fees vary. www.swimalligatorlight.com

September 19, Destin International Talk Like a Pirate Day Embrace your inner pirate with kids’ interactive shows, games, entertainment and a fireworks display at Destin Harbor, 66 Harbor Blvd. The event starts at 7 p.m. General admission is free. info@harborwalk-destin.com; (850) 424-0600

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September 19-21, Pensacola Taste of the Beach Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s “The Chew,” gives a cooking demonstration on Friday with a meetand-greet from 5:30 to 9 p.m. for $60 at Gulf Side Pavilion on Casino Beach. Admission is free Saturday and Sunday. www.tasteofpensacolabeach.com; (850) 932-1500

September 19-21, Sebring Sebring Classic Car Show Car enthusiasts gather downtown for a car show, burnout contest and barbecue. Registration is $25. General admission is free. www.sebringcruise.com; (863) 381-5296

September 20, DeLand Cars of the World Car Show Car enthusiasts enjoy vintage imported cars such as micro cars, British cars and collectables showcased at W. Indiana Avenue. Registration is free, but space is limited. Admission is free. www.mainstreetdeland.com; (386) 738-0649

September 23-28, Big Pine Key 16th Annual Birding and Wildlife Festival Experts lead trips to Dry Tortugas National Park, the National Key Deer Refuge, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock State Park and other national, state and private natural areas. Other field trips focus on kayaking and boating ecotours, natural history, botany, photography and butterflies. Register in advance. Many trips have limits. www.keysbirdingfest.org

September 26-27, Marianna 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Marianna Commemorate this historic event with a re-enactment, living history demonstrations, guided tours, open houses, memorial services and more. Admission is free. www.battleofmarianna.com

September 26-27, Wewahitchka Florida Catfish Classic Throw in a line and catch some flathead or any freshwater catfish at Gaskin Park Landing. Registration is $50 and the kids’ classic is $20. Proceeds benefit Wewahitchka Search & Rescue. www.floridacatfishclassic.com; (850) 814-1346

September 26-28, Pensacola 37th Annual Seafood Fesitival Mouthwatering seafood dishes are available at the Fiesta of Five Flags event, along with more than 150 arts and crafts vendors, a children’s area and cooking demonstrations. Admission is free.

Photo by Stephen Ramsey

25th Annual Lobster Festival and Tournament Lobster divers compete in a variety of categories including Spiny Lobster, Shovelnose Lobster and Big 6 at Schooners, 5121 Gulf Drive in Panama City, Thursday, September 18, through Sunday, September 21. Spectators enjoy lobster prepared in various ways and the 15th Annual Schooners Sand Sculpting Contest. Proceeds benefit the Florida Aquatic Marine Institute and Toys for Kids Foundation. For more information, visit www.schooners.com or call (850) 235-0737. The show includes entertainment, craft demonstrations and children’s activities. The event starts at 10 a.m. Admission and parking are free.

https://rookerybay.org; (239) 530-5940

www.delandcraftandquilt.com; (386) 738-0649

info@fiestaoffiveflags.org; (850) 433-6512

September 27-28, DeLand DeLand Craft & Quilt Show A street-fair style show features artists from across the state on Woodland Boulevard.

touch tank, live animal presentations, kids’ games and crafts, tours of science labs, food and more. Admission is $5.

September 27, Naples National Estuaries Day Join the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve for a day of aquatic learning. Families can enjoy boat tours, kayak trips, a marine critter

September 27, Pensacola National Public Lands Day Enjoy a day of free admission at Perdido Key, Johnson Beach and Fort Pickens in honor of National Public Lands Day. www.publiclandsday.org september 20 1 4

Outdoor Pursuits

Enjoying the Natural World Around Us

Be a Citizen Wildlife Scientist The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission can use your help. It seeks help from Floridians to expand its knowledge of the state’s fish and wildlife. That includes helping the FWC with research and management efforts. There are plenty of opportunities to be a citizen scientist, and you don’t have to be a biologist or have any special training to help. Just share what you see and experience when you are participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, biking, bird watching, fishing, boating, photography, or even just sitting in a backyard or on a park bench. The information you provide is valuable, giving FWC staff an enhanced, up-todate picture of the status of Florida’s fish and wildlife. Citizen science is a smart, cost-effective strategy that enhances the FWC’s ability to conserve Florida’s diversity of fish and wildlife species and

The elusive Florida panther is one of many species the FWC is closely monitoriing with the help of the public. Photo by bephotographers/istock.com

their habitats, but it also can be fun and educational for citizen participants. Here are three ways to help: • Wildlife sightings— Help document sightings of particular species. • Surveys—Help gather information about particular species or projects. • Hotlines—Notify the FWC about incidents and issues you observe. Get started by clicking the “Sightings,” “Surveys” or “Hotlines” links on the FWC website, www.myfwc.com. Source: FWC

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.

SEPTEMBER 2014

A Taste for Catfish Catfish are found throughout Florida, including white catfish, channel cats, and yellow and brown bullheads. Channel cats are the largest, averaging 5 to 10 pounds and approaching 40 to 45 pounds in the extreme. Since catfish locate their food by smell, use baits that have a strong odor, such as chicken gizzards, shrimp or store-bought stinkbaits. Earthworms work, too. Use a heavy split-shot sinker rig and #2 or #4 hook to angle along the bottom. Catfish are most active as dusk approaches, so that is the best time to pursue these tasty fish. Celebrate the Outdoors National Hunting and Fishing Day is the fourth Saturday of September. This year it is observed September 27.

Know Your Gators • Alligators use their teeth for grabbing and ripping prey, but not for chewing it. They swallow their food in large chunks. Powerful digestive acids in their stomachs break down the food for absorption by their bodies. • Alligators never run out of teeth. As old, worn teeth fall out, they are replaced by new ones. Got a Tip or a Whopper? Send us your favorite outdoor tip, photo or story. If selected for publication in Florida Currents magazine, we will send you $25 for one-time use of the item. When sending a photo, identify people and pets, and tell us the story behind the picture. Email your submission to info@ floridacurrents.com. 

Gulf Coast

Trading Post For Rent Two-bedroom, one-bath cottage in Meeks subdivision. No inside pets. Smoke-free. $650 a month. (850) 271-9040. Four-bedroom, one-bath, 1,800-sq.-ft. home in Scotts Ferry. Fully furnished. Rents weekly or monthly. (850) 265-0872 or (850) 674-6409. Horse barn with five stalls, paddock and about 4 acres of pasture in Wewahitchka, one block from the old courthouse. Lease by the stall, with discount for multiple horses. (740) 334-0341.

For Sale Singer sewing machine in wooden case, dated 1908, books are still in the box, excellent condition. Singer sewing machine treadle in excellent condition. Singer sewing machine; one of the first electric sewing machines Singer made. (850) 703-7266. Approximately 500 ft. of 8-ft. commercial chain link fence, wire only. (850) 814-1512. Pomegranates, figs and lemons. (850) 639-9698. Muscadines, scuppernongs and scupperdines. Great for snacking and jelly. Season should last through early September. (850) 722-4226.

Yamaha YPG-225 music keyboard. 76 keys, 116 voices plus headphones, user DVD and lesson books. Asking $250. (850) 722-4476.

½-acre lot in the Deer Point Lake area on a quiet cul de sac, no heavy traffic. Half mile from the Highpoint boat ramp. $45,000. (850) 832-9402.

2004 26-ft. Gulf Stream Conquest camper. Sleeps up to six people. Slide out in living room, full bath/shower, separate master bedroom (queen) and full kitchen. $10,000 OBO. (850) 774-6509.

½-acre corner lot. (850) 639-2220.

Miniature donkeys. Jacks and Jennys, black, brown, gray and paints. All ages. $300 and up. Make great pets. Also standard donkeys. Betty, (850) 899-7424. Quarter horses. Ride well on trails, very gentle, good for lessons. (850) 773-1957.

Real Estate Furnished singlewide mobile home on 1-acre cleared lot at Willis Landing. Large septic tank, power pole, deep well and propane gas tank. Reduced price. (850) 785-6398 or (850) 832-8215. Two- or three-bedroom cabin. About 1,200 sq. ft. with large screened porch. 150 ft. on West Arm Creek in Meeks subdivision. (850) 271-9040. 2010 SW Class III mobile home. Two bedrooms, bath and a half. Like new on two waterfront lots on Dead Lakes within the Wewahitchka city limits. Reduced to $64,500. (850) 639-5441.

Three-bedroom, two-bath doublewide mobile home on 5 fenced acres in rural Calhoun County, near the Highway 231 and Highway 276 intersection. All electric, metal roof, central air, two years old. Used as vacation home. $65,000. (561) 531-2020. Commercial property. Half an acre at the intersection of Front Beach Road and Joan Avenue with 150 ft. of highway frontage. Has three-bedroom, two-bath block home that is currently rented. Prime business location. $210,000. (850) 722-9303. One-acre lakefront lot in the Leisure Lakes gated community. Located on the largest lake. Pete, (850) 722-4886. One bedroom furnished cottage on 1½ acres with 82.26 ft. on Burgess Creek. Metal roof, deep well, fence along highway and no high-water problems. Good hunting and fishing, with access to the Chipola and Apalachicola rivers. Price reduced to $75,000, with possible financing. (850) 227-6905.

Trading Post is a FREE service to members of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative. GCEC reserves the right to edit or reject ads. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE. Please circle the category that applies: For Rent

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Mail your ad to: The Trading Post; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409; return with your electric payment; or email ad information to tradingpost@gcec.com.

SEPTEMBER 2014

Gulf Coast

What is Climate Change About? Not about the environment, but a new global order Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held public comment forums on its proposed greenhouse gas emission standards for existing electric generation plants across the country. Advocates for both sides of the proposal were present and demonstrated that regardless of the seriousness and potential economic and environmental impact of any issue, public forums are akin to circuses. Some groups called for abolishment of EPA and all environmental standards. Others called for immediate abandonment of coal, nuclear and natural gas use. The former could potentially commit us to an uninhabitable environment and the other to a world of darkness and no transportation. Both are ridiculously untenable. By EPA’s own standards, the GHG rule, when fully implemented, will only result in an improvement in global temperatures of less than 1 degree. That small effect will do nothing to change the adverse reactions so many of the anti-coal protestors rant about. If all this is not about a measurable change in the global climate, what is all the fuss about, and why is the Obama administration so determined to pursue it? I offer the following quotes primarily from a Minority Report of the U.S. Senate 26

SEPTEMBER 2014

Environment and Public Works Committee that provide some light on the subject. “On one hand, as scientists we are ethically bound to the scientific method. On the other hand we are not just scientists, but human beings as well. And like most people, we’d like to see the world a better place, which in this context translates into our working to reduce the risk of potentially disastrous climatic change. To do that, we need to get some broad-based support, to capture the public’s imagination. That, of course, entails getting loads of media coverage. So we have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements and make little mention of the doubts we might have. Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest.” —Stephen Schneider, author of “The Genesis Strategy” and lead author on parts of three sequential IPCC reports “No matter if the science of global warming is all phony … climate change provides the greatest opportunity to bring about justice and equality in the world.” —Former Canadian Minister of Environment,1988 “We may get to the point where the only way of saving the world will be for industrialized civilization to collapse.” —Maurice Strong, organizer of the first U.N. Earth Science Summit in Rio De Janeiro,1992

Commentary

“We have got By Gary Smith to ride the global President and CEO warming issue. PowerSouth Energy Even if the theory of global warming is wrong, we will be doing the right thing in terms of economic policy has to free oneself from the and environmental policy.” illusion that international cli—Timothy Wirth, former U.S. mate policy is environmental senator from Colorado and policy. This has almost nothformer U.S. undersecretary of ing to do with environmental state for global issues policy anymore.” —Ottmar “A global warming treaty Edenhofer, IPCC official such as the Kyoto Protocol So what is climate change all must be implemented even really about? Maybe the people if there is no scientific eviat the EPA hearings are no cradence to back the enhanced zier than those setting national greenhouse effect.” —Richard and global policies on the Benedick, former deputy assisissue. It should be obvious that tant secretary of state and head with global temperatures not of the policy division of the increasing the past 15 years, State Department this is not about the climate. “For the first time, humanity It is not about the environis instituting a genuine instrument. It is about a new global ment of global governance, order—all at our expense. one that should find a place I close with a quote from within the World Environment Patrick Moore, Greenpeace Organization, which France co-founder and former activand the European Union ist for curbing anthropogenic would like to see established.” carbon emissions: “We do not —Jacques Chirac, former presihave any scientific proof that dent of France, at the 2000 U.N. we are the cause of the global Conference on Climate Change warming that has occurred in “First of all, developed the last 200 years. The alarmcountries have basically ism is driving us through expropriated the atmosphere scare tactics to adopt energy of the world community. policies that are going to creBut one must say clearly that ate a huge amount of energy we redistribute de facto the poverty among the poor peoworld’s wealth by climate ple. It’s not good for people policy. Obviously, the ownand it’s not good for the enviers of coal and oil will not be ronment. In a warmer world enthusiastic about this. One we can produce more food.” 

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sep t ember 2 0 1 4

Put YOU in Youth Tour Attention, high school juniors. It is time for Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative to recruit students to participate in its 2015 Youth Tour competition. High school juniors whose parents or guardians are members of the cooperative are eligible. Each student nominated to participate in the competition wins a T-shirt and a two-day trip to Tallahassee to tour the state capitol. Next, students will participate in a 10-minute interview with three judges. The judges will choose two students to travel on an allexpenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in June. After the judging, students and their families attend a banquet and the winners are revealed. In November, application forms will be mailed to the high schools and civic organizations that are listed at left.

For more information, please see your guidance counselor, contact GCEC at (800) 5683667 ext. 3002 or email kevans@gcec.com. n

Above, the 2014 Florida delegation at the Lincoln Memorial. Top, Manny Arreguin, left, and Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative representatives Jessie West and McKenna Waters at Youth Day with the Florida delegation.

At the end of their free time on the National Mall, the girls get together for a final photo, making a heart to convey how much they loved the Capitol and their Youth Tour trip.

Breanna Clemmons exits a simulator at the Steven F. UdvarHazy Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a companion to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

McKenna Waters, right, at the Washington National Cathedral.

Jessie West takes a photo of roses laid in honor of those who gave their lives in Vietnam. sep t ember 20 1 4

Parting Shot

Readers Share Their Special Photos

A Moving Tribute

Florida’s 2014 Washington Youth Tour delegation visited many of the memorials in the nation’s capital on Father’s Day. There was a special ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Every year, volunteers join sons and daughters of those whose names are inscribed on the wall and affix longstemmed roses with messages of love and honor, sent from across the country to those lost in the war. Each message is read aloud and each rose is touched to the loved one’s name on the wall before being placed at the base of the memorial.  Photo by Pam Blair

Want to See Your Photo Printed? Florida Currents pays $25 for interesting and humorous photos printed in the magazine. We are looking for images of kids in entertaining situations, animal antics, funny signs, heartwarming expressions ... something special that says “wow” or puts a smile on your face. Not all photos are suitable for this page. The image needs to be high resolution, at least 700KB in size. Smaller file sizes are too small for good reproduction, and will not be considered. The image also needs to tell a story just by looking at it—although the odds of your photo being selected also improves if you elaborate in your submission so we understand the complete story behind the picture. Remember: Other people are sending in photos, too. What makes yours stand out?

SEPTEMBER 2014

Teegard

Email your best shots (one photo per email message), to photos@floridacurrents.com. Include your name, address and phone number. Don’t forget to tell the story behind your picture. If your photo is printed, we will send you $25.

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A simple idea… made possible with sophisticated technology. If you have trouble understanding a call, the Captioning Telephone can change your life. During a phone call the words spoken to you appear on the phone’s screen – similar to closed captioning on TV. So when you make or receive a call, the words spoken to you are not only amplified by the phone, but scroll across the phone so you can listen while reading everything that’s said to you. Each call is routed through a call center, where computer technology – aided by a live representative – generates immediate voice-to-text translations. The captioning is real-time, accurate and readable. Your conversation is private and the captioning service doesn’t cost you a penny. Captioned Telephone Service (CTS) is regulated and funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is designed exclusively for individuals with hearing loss. In order to use CTS in your home, you must have standard telephone service and high-speed Internet

connectivity where the phone will be used. Callers do not need special equipment or a captioning phone in order to speak with you. Finally… a phone you can use again. The Captioning Telephone is also packed with features to help make phone calls easier. The keypad has large, easy

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Do you get discouraged when you hear your telephone ring? Do you avoid using your phone because hearing difficulties make it hard to understand the person on the other end of the line? For many Americans the telephone conversation – once an important part of everyday life – has become a thing of the past. Because they can’t understand what is said to them on the phone, they’re often cut off from friends, family, doctors and caregivers. Now, thanks to innovative technology there is finally a better way.

FL-154

Offices 722 West Highway 22 P. O. Box 220 Wewahitchka, FL 32465 (850) 639-2216 or (800) 333-9392 9434 Highway 77 P. O. Box 8370 Southport, FL 32409 (850) 265-3631 or (800) 568-3667 6243 East Highway 98 Panama City, FL 32404 Phone: (850) 481-1188 www.gcec.com

CEO/General Manager Michael E. White

Trustees President Kinneth Daniels Vice President Gary Cox Secretary Eddie Jones Treasurer Robert Byrd Doug Birmingham Jimmy Black Rupert Brown Waylon Graham Betty Moore Trustees normally meet the third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. CST. The board meets at the Wewahitchka office in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and the Southport office in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September and November). The mission of GCEC is to continually evaluate and implement technologies and seek solutions that fulfill a diversified memberships’ changing expectations for cost-effective, dependable utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce. 32

september 2 0 1 4

GCEC President’s Message

Climate Rules Matter

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released regulations to limit carbon dioxide emissions at new power plants that will lead to more expensive electricity for members of electric cooperatives.That is why we are asking everyone to send comments to the EPA through www.Action.coop. This easy-to-use online tool directly sends your thoughts to Washington so regulators understand the potential harm of these rules. We are concerned because the EPA chose to write regulations that rely on technology for reducing CO2 emissions that has Kinneth Daniels not been proven at commercial power plants. Carbon capture and storage might look good on paper or in the lab, but unlike Washington, we are not willing to take the risk with your electric bills. In case you wonder whether the EPA actually will read these comments, consider this: By law, the EPA is required to ask the American public how a proposed rule would affect costs to consumers, the quality of life and the economic future of their communities. That is why electric cooperatives are leading the charge with 42 million members nationwide to raise our voices collectively so we will be heard loud and clear. Already, tens of thousands of folks from across the country have expressed their concerns. The country has not yet climbed out of the recession; many Americans are hurting financially. We need to tell the EPA that cost matters. Anyone can send a comment at www.Action.coop—even if they do not live on co-op lines—so please encourage your family and friends, regardless of where they live, to join us. No matter where our energy comes from, we all have a responsibility to keep electricity reliable and affordable. Like energy policy itself, the regulations proposed by the EPA are technical, but an increase in your electric bill is personal. That is why we need you to speak up. Jobs, budgets and the future prosperity of our communities are threatened by electric bills going up. That is why we must stick together. We care about the price of electricity because we are a cooperative and we look out for you, our members. We think about our members with every decision we make. And we are concerned the EPA is making a decision that will force an increase in what we have to pay for power. That is why we all need to take a stand and urge our families and friends to join us. Please visit www.action.coop. Just as important, get out and talk to people about what we are doing and why we care about electricity prices. Electric cooperatives are powering the future, driving economic growth and fostering innovation. We won’t stand for ill-considered regulations written without regard to your economic well-being. Please join us in this important fight today.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day. We wish our members a safe and happy holiday weekend.