SEARCHThe global authority in superyachting Credit: Sunpower Yachts InternationalAustralian dealer acquires Alva Yachts in bid to become "world's largest solar-electric yacht company" 30 April 2025 • by Dea Jusufi Australian yacht dealer and designer Sunpower Yachts International has announced its acquisition of German builder Alva Yachts The merge aims to establish the brand as "the undisputed leader in the solar electric yacht industry" combining Sunpower's experience in solar yacht production with Alva Yachts' technological expertise Once the two brands are fully assimilated, Sunpower aims to offer clients "everything from mid-sized electric catamarans to ultra-luxurious, transoceanic solar-electric megayachts," with the Australian designer also teasing the possibility of hydrogen builds. "This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the yachting industry," explained Grant Hudson, director of Sunpower Yachts International. "Alva Yachts has been a key innovator in sustainable yachting with 11 yacht sales to date, and by bringing their expertise under the Sunpower umbrella, we are not only expanding our portfolio but redefining what is possible in the world of clean, luxury maritime travel." Sunpower Yachts International "supervises and controls" the production process for its models, employing designers, naval architects, engineers and builders from Australia, the UAE and Europe. Yes, please send me BOATPro News email newsletter, delivered every Wednesday. SubscribeSign up to our newslettersSign up to BOAT International email newsletters to get the latest superyacht news Boat International Media Ltd © 2008 - 2025 Content presented under the "BOAT Presents" logo is an advertising feature and Boat International Limited has been paid to include this content Game Recap: Baseball | 4/26/2025 7:35:00 PM | Jon Chidester Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here An Alva and North Olga land-use change from agricultural to residential which has been years in the making after being cattle ranchlands for almost a century took place March 5 with Lee County commissioners approving it unanimously a Lakewood Ranch-based company hired by members of the Cary-Duke-Povia families received approval to build 1,099 homes on 305 acres pledged afterward to work with neighboring property owners He expected at least two to four years to pass before breaking ground on the project There will be 483 adjacent acres that will be preserved or turned into 15 water retention ponds with the homes clustered for an average of about 3.6 homes per acre That density did not sit well with nearby Alva residents about 30 of whom spoke in public against approval noting many of the surrounding homes lie on 5- to10-acre ranches wore a T-shirt with a gopher tortoise cartoon on the back of it that said “victim of urban sprawl.” Kennedy compared the Neal Communities proposed layout to a hallway “The wildlife corridor — when you put a door in a hallway you’re really blocking the corridor,” Kennedy said “Hallways and corridors are the same thing You have things that break up that corridor All you’re really doing is putting doors in the middle of the pathway you’re isolating these wildlife communities.” Lee County commissioners approved the developer to build a sewer system for the project at the developer’s expense The approval occurred following a cluster of separate private meetings between county commissioners Brian Hamman Kevin Ruane and Ray Sandelli that occurred Nov Representatives of Neal Communities met with each of those commissioners who is also the campaign manager for all of the commissioners except Pendergrass Miller met with each of the commissioners except for Ruane during those two days Ruane was absent from the March 5 hearing and did not vote His company recently demolished former bar L.J.’s Lounge which was bought by Neal Communities to make way for a different housing project Mulicka said he did not have to recuse himself from voting because he received no direct benefit from this rezoning case He said he voted to approval in following the law I don’t look at this as a debate,” Mulicka said which means it’s a legal hearing for zoning letter-of-law procedure that we have to follow But we can’t opine about how we feel about the law The private meetings that took place and the working relationships were conflicts Alva residents who are opposed to the rezoning under the current plans who received more votes than Greenwell in District 5 voting and in their shared voting precinct lost the November election to him because of at-large votes Just prior to Cochran’s turn to speak at the rezoning hearing Pendergrass asked her to refrain from walking forward as he first wanted to get clarification from County Attorney Michael Jacob on their guidelines for voting Jacob co-wrote Lee County’s new land development codes with attorney Neale Montgomery according to emails reviewed by Gulfshore Business When Cochran had her 3-minute turn to speak “This proposal is fundamentally inappropriate It does not belong next to established 5-acre ranchettes there would be no need to protect from seeing it from the road.” began the hearing with a presentation showing buffers that would serve to separate and hide the subdivision from its neighbors a longtime Lee County judge and Alva resident said it was no longer economically feasible to operate the properties as a cattle ranch and the changes were brought on with the ongoing buildout of nearby Babcock Ranch The new Neal Communities subdivision was the best course to bridge the gap between suburban and rural living we came together and looked at our options,” Cary said “They were building 788 individual ranchettes with septic tank systems — or partnering with a developer on building more clustered homes on a smaller amount of land with sewer systems “Even though our family has deep roots in North Olga we all have to face the reality that the character of State Road 31 has changed,” Cary said State Road 31 isn’t even called that anymore Our property is only 1 mile east of Babcock Ranch Road And that town literally lies across the street from this property We feel as a family by partnering with Neal Communities we are bringing the property back in multiple ways.” Typical ebbs and flows of the single-family home market do not have much of an impact on the ultra Four restaurant chains and a cake shop will join seven other businesses coming this year to the new Tree Farm.. the May 5 opening of the Hospital for Special Surgery at NCH takes the health care.. Not only has Chef Brian Roland physically and emotionally returned to public life in Southwest Florida after his life-altering tragedy.. Beeline is counting on thirsty folks making a beeline to its new upscale cocktail bar at Mercato in North Naples... The 72-unit Verandas III opened and is fully occupied on Airport Road marking the final phase in the redevelopment of.. You don't always go from step one to step two and step three I'm a great example of reinventing yourself or needing to take time for your family and then finding another path for your life just depending on where you are on that journey.” 30 strong: 25 Women for 2025: 30 stories of inspiration and determination That servant’s perspective has led her to work in the classroom to nonprofit management to higher education and ultimately to a treasured role on the Leon County School Board She originally ran to provide a voice for teachers when she was teaching at Deerlake Middle School “After volunteering in our schools for several years then becoming a paraprofessional and a teacher I knew I wanted to continue to invest my time in education and helping students succeed in life,” she says “And now that my daughter is a teacher at a Title I school it's really given me a renewed sense of commitment to advocating for our teachers.” Class of 2025: 25 Women for 2025: Lauren Perlman makes difference for pets, people at Animal Shelter A prime example of Alva's understanding and advocacy for the needs of the most vulnerable in our community is her recent effort: a book drive for Title I schools Seeing a disparity in classroom library books among elementary schools Alva spearheaded a fundraising initiative that resulted in $30,000 raised and over 3,000 books donated for classroom libraries That was enough to provide each of the 13 Title I schools in Leon Country with a check for $2,000 to purchase books This initiative not only enhanced literacy resources in underfunded schools but also fostered a sense of community engagement and support for education She finds her inspiration in children.”All children,” she says emphatically to students at schools in districts throughout our community we serve such a diverse student population and seeing children excel through the variety of pathways that we provide and all the extracurricular activities we ensure remain in place makes me feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in my work as a school board member.” Beyond her service on the Leon County School Board Alva also serves as the Executive Director of the Tallahassee Bar Association overseeing a membership of over 400 attorneys and judges from the Second Judicial Circuit Alva served as the Executive Director of the Stoops Center for Law & Business at Florida State University expanding educational opportunities and addressing the needs of adult learners seeking to enhance their skills in a rapidly changing job market and as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend “My time as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters really opened my eyes to the needs of children in all parts of our community,” she said “I am thankful to have been a living kidney donor,” she says I knew I had a kidney that I didn't need and found out I was a spot-on match to be his donor My kidney gave him an extra 10 years of life and it's a decision I will never regret.” the fact that we're an hour or two from the most beautiful beaches in the world you can be sure of one thing: she is present and looking for the next opportunity to help our community be a better place for everyone This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page when my hometown of Alva comes alive with two one-of-a-kind events but I also know that a fine spring morning out our way is food for the soul though the good people of the Alva Garden Club will make sure the rest of you gets fed Saturday That's when the club throws its annual plant sale/strawberry shortcake social at the historic Methodist church, while across the the street, the also historic Alva Library Museum hosts an open house and quilt show Both events highlight what's precious about small-town Southwest Florida: connections and caring – at a time when both seem to be in increasingly short supply here's my annual disclosure: When I’m reporting and my opinion is that Alva and its nonprofits including the Alva Garden Club and the Alva Library Association are doing important work preserving our town’s history hotels and — most importantly — a river crossing Fort Myers didn't have a bridge until the 1920s but Alva did — a wooden swing bridge that lasted until a barge bound for the Kennedy Space Center crashed into it in 1966 We got another one — a fine metal drawbridge — but by then Alva had been overshadowed by Lee County's other cities ma'am" and garden club members who serve strawberry shortcake from scratch One of those connections I'll miss terribly is Nina Rigby's with Nina was a garden club stalwart who used to send me charming As fellow garden club member Liz Ingram said always with a can-do approach to challenges She started the strawberry shortcake sales for our club to raise money for our projects was instrumental in pursuing getting the Alva Library Museum noted as a Lee County Historical Site and served as the club president for several years." including her hefty homemade pies and the strawberry shortcake with fruit from produce stand Rooster's on Route 80 just down the road made with Nina's old family recipe (pro tip: If you want to be sure to get some arrive earlier in the day; demand is high and sometimes it sells out) Even though I'd heard the same pitch for years I was always happy to hear it again and pass it to readers Because what Nina was selling was the real thing: community and it's what she wanted to share with the rest of Southwest Florida From rangeland to RV resort? Rural Alva grapples with pressing development I once asked Nina to tell me what Alva meant to her “You come here to our little village and it’s just country living You get here and you look around," she said the museum is fascinating and the quilt show will be too It's a chance to enjoy a sweet little town and its culture And to be grateful for Nina and her commitment to preserving and sharing Alva life the info came via email from garden club president Liz Ingram who pointed out that the club's membership includes a retired botanist master gardeners and the type of folk who brings a fresh-baked pie over when somebody new moves to town "a wide assortment of plants easily outnumbers the town’s population," she wrote "We sell hundreds of plants within the four-hour sale." The festival grounds at the historic Alva Methodist Church are packed with cuttings from members’ yards and donations from several professional area growers The only problem — “We sell out of popular varieties early,” Ingram said browse a large collection of gently used books and visit craft and food vendors On-site free parking and wagons are available to haul the plants to their rides to their new homes Proceeds from the event enable the club to continue providing civic contributions in the community In addition to creating community enhancements club members meet monthly between November and May for educational meetings and to attend area field trips to garden-related destinations Across from the sale, our museum will be filled with quilts both antique and modern as the Southwest Florida Quilters Guild has a show that will include a chance to win a raffled quilt Both of the museum's buildings will be open as well which give visitors a chance to rummage through the town's proverbial attic One thing I can promise: There are treasures Both the Alva Garden Club's plant sale and strawberry shortcake social and the Alva Library Museum's open house and Florida Quilters Guild show are Saturday Saving our wildlife: Injured manatee rescued near Fort Myers Beach Best SW Florida reader photos include Pine Island, Peace River, nature pics Bigger beaches across Southwest Florida have many benefits for people, wildlife Game Recap: Softball | 4/22/2025 7:18:00 PM | Jon Chidester Thanks for visiting 2024 at Briarwood Assisted Living.  Born February 7 she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Esther (Foote) Ackerman.  Alva was dedicated to the students and athletes of the Allegan area as evidenced by her years of commitment to youth sports.  Throughout her years of involvement volleyball and tennis and was even named the 1997 Assistant Tennis Coach of the Year by the MHSTeCA.  Alva’s dedication to Allegan sports did not end with coaching however; she was also a volleyball and basketball referee and a member of the Allegan Sports Boosters.  Alva was also an advocate of the arts and a member of the Allegan Arts Council.  She participated year after year in the Cabaret Band Show donating countless hours of her time and talent helping to raise thousands of dollars while entertaining hundreds of crowds for Wings of Hope Hospice and the Allegan Arts Council.  Alva also gave willingly of her time as she led the First Congregational Church Choir as their director.  She owned and operated AJ Framing and worked as an Instructional Assistant for Allegan Public Schools for many years prior to her well-deserved retirement.  Alva was a mother coach and teacher to many kids and young adults in the middle and high schools that had contact with her.  She will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her Alva is survived by her significant other of the past twenty-one years Joshua (Shay) Morgan and Dana (Desman) Spurgeon; siblings and Cashton and Lennix Spurgeon; numerous nieces and nephews; and the Morgan family who has remained near and dear to her heart throughout the years.  Along with her parents A memorial gathering will be held at Gorden Funeral Residence 2024 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers Wings Home530 Linn Street, Allegan MI 49010Tel: 1-269-686-9232Web: https://wingshome.org/ They dotted the rural landscape with signs expressing favoritism of cows over condos They’ve unsuccessfully attempted to unseat a developer-friendly County Commissioner with someone more like-minded -- and they’ve attended public hearings en masse imploring decision makers to hit the pause button on drastic eastward expansion of clusters of homes in rural Lee County Wednesday residents of Olga and North Alva — many opposed to more development in that area — will get to speak their minds again when the Lee County Board of County Commissioners meets to decide on a zoning application in the commission chambers on downtown Fort Myers At issue are close to 800 acres of rural pasture and wetlands that are up for sale is interested in buying and developing the land but first it needs the blessing of Lee's commissioners A hearing examiner sided with those rural land owners who are looking to sell to the developer after three days of public meetings in September the bulk of speakers said the planned community of more than 1,100 homes does not fit in with the rural landscape of Alva and Olga The hearing examiner’s recommendation has been passed along to the commission the number of people in these small rural enclaves will more than double from the 2,000 or so people there now WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now + regional college spotlight with Northwest Missouri State women's tennis' Alva Norberg D1Baseball's Eric Sorenson chats the latest in college baseball & LC's Delayna Reese joins the program (KMAland) -- Upon Further Review Podcast No we attempt to be accurate in our reporting please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting Alva was a graduate of 1959 Graham High School She completed her education at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene Tx Alva was a kind woman who served alongside her husband in many churches throughout Texas and Louisiana She was an excellent cook who enjoyed sewing She loved listening to Sunday morning church service via the internet and was a First Baptist Church Minden Alva worked in childcare most of her life and delighted in helping her daughter with school productions and costuming for her musicals Manning Franks (Kimmie); three granddaughters She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband A memorial service will be held on March 29th © 2025 Hamilton's Funeral and After Life Services Alva Marie Iverson went to sleep in Jesus on February 10 She was at her beloved home and surrounded by her cherished family.  Alva is survived by her son,Terry (Sheri) Iverson; daughters Diane Iverson and Debbie (Joe) Hepp; granddaughters Larissa (Lowell) Harris and Mindy (Ryan) Thompson; grandson Casen and Holden Harris; and great granddaughters She also leaves behind many special nieces and graduated from Great Falls High in 1949 on June 9,1949 and they shared 58 years of marriage as best friends with rarely a day apart They worked side by side and raised their three adored children on the family ranch and farm in Eden They persevered through the tough times and rejoiced in the fun times on the land they loved She had a way with all animals and Gene brought many orphans home for her to care for There was never a dull moment between  the farm and ranch work and all the family and friends she hosted during the summers Whether it was her egg route or feeding her family she did all with a perseverance and love that has inspired many She was still plowing fields into her late 70’s and took a 4-wheeler ride to see how the harvest was progressing at the age of 92 She could make an adventure out of anything and loved to go on rides to find bluebirds or explore where a new road would take her She was deeply loyal and ever the peacemaker She made an impact on everyone she met with her spunky good humor and kind hearted listening It is impossible to summarize what this sweet and spirited lady means to all who LOVED and ADORED her She treasured her family and held them close all her life; we who are left will hold onto her precious memory until we reunite with her again.  COASTSIDE BUZZ PRESS RELEASE. From Cabrillo Unified School District on Friday I am writing to inform you that the Cabrillo Unified School District has accepted Superintendent Amber Lee-Alva’s resignation Superintendent Lee-Alva expresses her sincerest appreciation for the opportunity to work with the students and will take time to focus on her recent health concerns The Board of Education also expresses its gratitude for the Superintendent’s time with the district and wishes her success in her future endeavors In order to ensure the smooth functioning of the District the Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Ramon Miramontes to serve as Interim Superintendent for the remainder of the school year Miramontes comes to Cabrillo with an outstanding record of teaching and leadership assistant superintendent and superintendent He’s described by former colleagues as a natural leader committed to the success of his students and has earned the unconditional recommendations from those who have worked with him The Board also wishes to thank Interim Superintendent Dr Harding’s status as a retiree caps his ability to complete the school year but he leaves us in much better stead then when he arrived We are most grateful to have had his experience expertise and calm demeanor helping lead our organization.  we will begin a comprehensive search to find the next permanent Superintendent More details will be shared in the future as we weigh this important decision Selecting a Superintendent of our school district is the most important action a Board takes and we are committed to ensuring we find and select an outstanding educational leader who represents our district’s values Carmen DanielPresident of the Governing BoardCabrillo Unified School District The Cabrillo Unified School District School Governing Board is comprised of five school board members who are elected by the local community The role of the school board is to provide leadership and oversight of the district The Board ensures that the district is responsive to the values The term of office for school board members elected in regular elections is four years beginning on the second Friday in December after their election.  The board meets at least once a month at the District Office Meetings are open to the public and are usually held on Thursday nights at 6:30 pm.  A portion of the board meeting consists of a “closed” session for the purpose of discussing confidential matters CUSD residents can visit this map and type in their address to learn which Trustee Area represents them on the CUSD Governing Board Trustee Area A:  Carmen Daniel (Term expires: 2026)Trustee Area B:  Kimberly Hines (Term expires: 2024)Trustee Area C:  Lizet Cortes (Term expires: 2026)Trustee Area D:  Sophia Layne (Term expires: 2024)Trustee Area E:  Mary Beth Alexander (Term expires: 2026) The Board works with the Superintendent to fulfill its major responsibilities From Cabrillo Unified Teachers Association (CUTA) on July 30th ALSO Cabrillo Unified School District Labor Negotiations web… From the Montara Water & Sanitary District (MWSD) General Manager From KHMB’s Coastal Windage recorded on Friday Thanks for visiting Fla — When traffic backs up at Alva School pickup some parents pull through the church next door’s lawn to wait off North River Road - and you can see all the damage it's caused - part of the lawn has been turned into a large sand pit but with all the traffic on the two-lane road Fox 4's Alva Community Correspondent Austin Schargorodski works in the area daily so people there know him That’s why he got a call about what’s happening there and the push for solutions Watch what parents and the church pastor told Austin about the traffic problem: At pickup time cars line down North River Road with nowhere else to wait You could even see some even block a full lane while a truck swerved into the grass just to get around Paige Adams says every time she waits here "I've been hit almost a few times by cars coming through here I've seen many people almost hit by dump trucks that are coming through here,” said Adams Pastor Frank Jones runs the church next to the school and says this has been an issue for over a decade was created by parents of students picking up and dropping off He shared a photo - it showed that at one point it got so bad cars were getting stuck in the sand until a neighbor brought out a skid steer to flatten it He says the school has asked parents to stay off the lawn it's just drive over it and continue on,” said Jones and tractor trailers have just increased so much in our area on this two lane road that it makes it dangerous between 1:30 and 2:30 Jones tells me he's been talking with the school district about the problem — and now A Lee County School District spokesperson said a temporary road on school property is expected to be built in April to help with backups long-term plans include two permanent roads that could hold up to 300 cars "The district has been so accommodating and gracious,” said Jones “I am just so thrilled to hear they're making the effort to make us whole and help us." View Visitation & Service details > 2024 at Oak Leaf Manor South in Millersville They had shared 65 years of marriage this past December 5th Alva served in the US Army from 1958 to 1959 in the Armor Corps as a private and also in the Ohio National Guard and US Army Reserves until 1961 He worked as a film processor at RR Donnelly and Sons for 43 years until his retirement Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and enjoyed hunting and fishing He is survived by his children: Rhonda Wertz of Kersey Sharon married to Michael Moore of Lancaster and Barbara married to James Krouse of Coto de Caza CA; 9 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren He was preceded in death by his infant children Stephen and Elizabeth along with siblings Ralph Services will be private and at the convenience of the family please make contributions in Alva’s memory to St Condolence Message: Be sure to include your name Please note that your condolence will not appear on this page until it is reviewed Condolences usually appear within 24 hours of being submitted Our seven funeral homes in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties makes it easy and convenient to make arrangements and host services close to home Fla — Lee County commissioners approved a plan for 1,100 new homes in rural Alva despite years of pushback from neighbors Fox 4's Austin Schargorodski went to the old Lee County Courthouse where residents made their case one last time saying developments like this will change Alva forever Some of the people pushing back on the development brought their horses to Downtown Fort Myers for the meeting Sue Koffman told me it was a symbol of their rural life at risk.Watch what Alva residents told Austin: More than 30 people spoke out at Wednesday’s meeting This is reckless over-development that puts profit over people,” said Amanda Cochran Austin first reported on this project in 2023 when the group Alva Strong petitioned against it saying: "You’re not just changing the density you’re changing the identity of the area." they approved sewer lines to support higher density the developer Neal Properties met with neighbors to explain how they planned to address concerns with a revised application "This plan allows more open space than would typically be required,” said the developer the developer has reapplied with changes: three access points to ease traffic larger setbacks and more conservation space and a plan to monitor sewer impacts on water quality which was just horrible,” said Bill Redfern But commissioners say their decision was based on facts and impact studies—not emotions "I didn’t hear any findings of fact or errors in law that I see that I could use to overturn this today that’s why I happily second the motion,” said Brian Hamman And they voted in favor of the development it’s a sign that the Alva she knows may soon disappear "We’re gonna ride around the city,” said Koffman Australian Sunpower Yachts International acquires Alva Yachts GMBH becoming the world’s largest solar electric yacht company In a move that redefines the future of luxury yachting Sunpower Yachts International has announced the acquisition of Alva Yachts GmbH This landmark deal establishes Sunpower Yachts as a leader in the solar electric yacht industry merging two pioneering brands to create the most advanced and innovative solar-powered vessels on the market Sunpower Yachts International strengthens its commitment to delivering high-performance eco-friendly luxury yachts that revolutionise the maritime industry The combination of Sunpower’s expertise in solar yacht production and Alva Yachts’ cutting-edge technology creates an unmatched synergy in design Sunpower Yachts has been at the forefront of solar electric yachting for years high-end solar-powered catamarans has made it a leader in the luxury eco-yacht market has been a trailblazer in solar-electric yacht design integrating advanced battery storage and hydrodynamic hull technology to optimize efficiency and performance Sunpower Yachts International is set to accelerate the transition to zero-emission yachting offering elite clients an even broader range of cutting-edge “This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the yachting industry,” said Spokesperson Grant Hudson “Alva Yachts has been a key innovator in sustainable yachting with 11 yacht sales to date and by bringing their expertise under the Sunpower umbrella we are not only expanding our portfolio but redefining what is possible in the world of clean we will lead the charge toward a fully sustainable future on the seas.” The integration of Alva Yachts’ cutting-edge technology into Sunpower’s already state-of-the-art lineup will allow for the creation of even more powerful longer-range solar yachts with enhanced efficiency and luxury This merger positions Sunpower Yachts as the first true global powerhouse in the solar-electric yachting sector offering everything from mid-sized electric catamarans to ultra-luxurious transoceanic solar-electric and even hydrogen megayachts Australia/Asia and key yachting hubs worldwide Sunpower Yachts International is dedicated to ensuring that every yacht owner can experience the freedom of limitless solar-powered cruising The company’s investment in cutting-edge battery technology and ultra-efficient solar panels and now hydro will further solidify its leadership in the sector Sunpower Yachts International’s acquisition of Alva Yachts GmbH is more than a business move; it is the next chapter in the evolution of luxury Sunpower Yachts International SINCE 2018 is a global leader in luxury solar-electric yachts self-sufficient vessels designed for ultimate comfort With a mission to revolutionise the yachting industry Sunpower continues to push the boundaries of what is possible on the water while reducing the environmental impact of luxury travel For more information about Sunpower, visit their website HERE Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" « Back OK – A two-vehicle crash claimed the life of an Alva woman Thursday night in Custer County The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the wreck happened around 8:14 p.m Clem of Camargo was driving a 2019 Ford Edge westbound on OK-73 when she failed to stop at the T-intersection Clem was taken to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City by Sinor EMS She was admitted in stable condition with injuries to her arm was also transported to OU Medical but was pronounced dead by hospital staff Troopers said both women were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash The cause was listed as unsafe speed for the curve The driver was reported to be in apparently normal condition A 61-year-old Alva man died at a hospital after a car struck him when he attempted to retrieve a trash bag that flew off a trailer attached to his pickup according to a Florida Highway Patrol incident report the driver of Ram pickup was traveling west when a trash bag flew off the pickup's trailer The pickup pulled into the inside shoulder partially blocking the inside lane with flashing lights on Officer-involved shooting: Polk County man wanted on six warrants identified as suspect in officer-involved shooting was traveling west on Palm Beach Boulevard approaching the pickup when troopers said the car failed to move over for the pickup The car collided with the passenger side mirror of the pickup The pedestrian was flown to Gulf Coast Medical Center It was unclear before publication if the driver of the car received any citations Sauceda talks with Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva founders of the indie trio Girl in a Coma and the punk band Fea about their childhood memories of hearing tejano music without understanding the lyrics and about leaving room to grow as artists while getting the band back together “I think we’re just going to always look at ourselves as outsiders and geeks and not cool enough to be with this crowd.”—Phanie Diaz (Read a transcript of this episode below.) Viva Tejano is produced by Ella Kopeikin and Patrick Michels and produced and engineered by Brian Standefer Graphic design is by Jenn Hair Tompkins and Victoria Millner for access to The Johnny Canales Show archives; keep an eye out for the upcoming documentary Take It Away which chronicles the rise and fall of Tejano Hollywood and welcome to another episode of Viva Tejano a Texas Monthly podcast about tejano music told by the people who make it and live it This week I drove to San Antonio to meet the founding members of two of the great South Texas indie and punk bands: Girl in a Coma and Fea Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva were friends growing up in San Antonio in the early 2000s when they decided to start a band They signed on Phanie’s younger sister Nina as lead singer and got to work with their musical heroes like Joan Jett and Morrissey got the whole indie music world looking at San Antonio and claimed their space in the scene as an all-girl trio but by then Phanie and Jenn were getting onto their new project whose lyrics are a mix of English and Spanish Girl in a Coma reunited with a run of live shows and rumors about a new album Girl in a Coma and Fea wouldn’t typically be defined as tejano acts right at that moment in the nineties when it was big and getting bigger When young women from South Texas could play a set on The Johnny Canales Show and a whole new world would open up you’ll hear us take a trip back to The Johnny Canales Show in 2000: an outdoor show in Nuevo Laredo with Zayda—an eighteen-year-old rising star from Matamoros who wrote tejano songs on some very emo subjects Here’s my conversation with Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva we were bonding over the mutual experience of loving and listening to tejano music in a house where your parents didn’t want you to learn Spanish and so they’ll give us a hard time about our kids not knowing it y’all are the ones that chose not to teach us.” It was like “This is kind of on y’all.” Jenn Alva: We wrote a song about it.  where we do the “Si Una Vez” cover We have a song called “No Hablo Español,” but it’s about that It’s about the reason why we can’t speak Spanish is because it was. .  “You can’t move forward if you’re a minority.” That’s what they were taught Jenn Alva: And it’s ridiculous because it’s like another language is just another form of intelligence So I think that’s where our generation gap. .  And it was like there was this effort to separate themselves in a way And I am not trying to put words in my parents’ mouth but it felt that way in some respect to like.  I remember her telling me that my grandma would be like “If you’re gonna. . .” Because she wanted me to go to college it’s like the Spanish kids all stuck together There was already separation and. .  Phanie Diaz: And then that’s why it was like Jenn Alva: You mean we can’t be friends My wife talks about this a lot because she grew up down in Sharyland and she goes into a place and they’re immediately ready to talk to her in Spanish can you say that slower?” Or ask them to say it in English but it wasn’t as immersive as being here in San Antonio or the Valley So it might not have been our choice of music Phanie Diaz: Tejano was the background to everywhere Sauceda: I’m going to have you guys just say your name and introduce yourselves so that way the listeners know who’s speaking my name is Phanie Diaz and I’m the drummer for both Fea and Girl in a Coma and I’m the bass player for Fea and Girl in a Coma So did you watch Johnny Canales growing up because I was living in the first house that I remember because she was showing me somebody else’s story about growing up with Johnny I did the same thing when I heard the music Dancing around in the living room and hearing the catchphrase “Take it away.” And my grandma always wanted to see certain groups that he had on there And I remember him walking around doing the grito to whatever was playing Sauceda: Can I play a clip and get y’all’s reactions I would be totally just nodding along with my parents and they’re all stoked about whoever it is let’s watch this.” Everyone’s just happy That’s the crowd I want to play in front of all the time [Zayda y Los Culpables perform “Tú Sauceda: The style of performance is also what sticks out to me too it’s so much more understated than what you’re used to seeing on TV now And what’s coming up next for y’all?” Phanie Diaz: The drummers don’t get ignored Sauceda: I also like that half the time he was walking around with his notes in his hand He’d have the big piece of paper and it’s like he was kind of figuring it out on the fly Phanie Diaz: I could appreciate that though Sauceda: You said that it wasn’t your music of choice Phanie and I were best friends in ’94 I’m not pushing away my parents’ music anymore I’m starting to like classic country tejano.” And now it’s meaning something else you start understanding your culture as you get older and instead of trying to shun away from it And that’s what you do when you grow you start learning about yourself and you start embracing where you’re coming from So this becomes relevant and you want to do research about it And knowing that it was a South Texas thing too I think that’s what I liked about watching all those videos Phanie Diaz: We’re just hanging out at the house We’re all drinking and listening to music JB Sauceda: So before y’all got here who is the “Queen of Accordion,” was here And she was talking about how hard it was for her because my experience watching—and I use the term Tejano like a big umbrella—but there were But what was y’all’s perspective Did you feel like it was a man’s music Jenn Alva: We were just talking about that suddenly he’s declaring you’re the queen because we’ve done the Tejano Music Awards with our cover of “Si Una Vez,” and stuff and it’s like the women are just a whole other class sometimes they’re not going to know how to play their stuff.” It’s already that Jenn Alva: And it didn’t feel like that and then suddenly just more confidence in the relationship they had with each other Phanie Diaz: And he made people feel comfortable which is why you watch that progression through the years of just hanging out Jenn Alva: So even if it was a male-dominated Sauceda: I feel like Selena is the brand in some ways And I say that mostly from an outsider’s perspective For people who know nothing about the music And her music in a way kind of made it palatable to other people who didn’t grow up listening to it because she grew up still having trouble with speaking Spanish and it’s going back to the whole point of learning about yourself and embracing it and growing with it Sauceda: How do you describe tejano music to people or try to explain to people who don’t know what it is Jenn Alva: I don’t think we get asked about it too often But I guess I would say it’s deriving from different Jenn Alva: . . .like a cooler country music it’s a blend of where you grew up from Sauceda: It is funny to hear you call it a “punk rock polka” though she was talking about her conjunto music being progressive “Why is it progressive?” And she said “I use inverted scales and. . .” I’m going to add the D-E-F-G to that and that’s what makes it. .  Jenn Alva: And that’s probably what it needs to stay alive and relate with these kiddos that are coming up and trying to blend everything now and there’s all kinds of things happening Sauceda: How do you all think about that in your genre Jenn Alva: I think I’m the wrong person to ask you’re not punk enough.” Or I don’t know “Okay.” I kind of just feel like we love the music and it’s not necessarily fashion I am going to play what I want and I don’t care what people think And I think that’s what kind of keeps it punk Or they’re going to keep using samples Sauceda: A few different people have mentioned the importance of touring It’s like an immediate feedback loop about what they’re writing or what they’re working on And the conjunto artists that I’ve talked to have talked a lot about how influential the touring piece of their career was on both how their music was written and the communities that they built that would help support their music not only because you’re. .  and playing in North Carolina where they don’t hear too much of this kind of style And we always made it a point to say we are from San Antonio let’s teach you what’s going on here.” But that’s good it’s like we get “fee,” we get “F-E-A” so much Phanie Diaz: And then we get to teach them what Fea means I like them even more because now it’s mine hopefully it’s something that cannot be replaced It’s not like AI can come in and. .  Phanie Diaz: That’s where you show your true talent You have to go out there and show them what you’re capable of doing Jenn Alva: And it’s a lot of learning too so it’s like we’re trying to see what this new crowd “Did they like it or do we need to make some changes?” It helps us to see with preproduction and recording and everything “I’m fine with just doing YouTube.” And if that works for them But I feel like you cannot replace touring Phanie Diaz: You gotta build that relationship with the audience You gotta see your audience and learn from them Phanie Diaz: Fea’s just more hard-hitting punk So we see more of the feminists come out and punk rock fans Jenn Alva: I think a lot of older punks too Phanie Diaz: And Girl in a Coma was just a mix of everyone Jenn Alva: I think Girl in a Coma feels like homegirls And I think that was what was special about Girl in a Coma Phanie Diaz: We’re not these Barbie-cut girls and we always showcase we are proud of that [Girl in a Coma performs “Static Mind.”] Phanie Diaz: I think a lot of people related with that and see us doing something and breaking barriers Jenn Alva: And now we’re getting that and I used to listen to you when I was eight. . .” Now I’m here with my kiddo.” I’m like how long have we been together?” But cool And we saw people fly out from all over the country and give us these stories Jenn Alva: Let’s just get back together Phanie Diaz: “. . .I guess we still have gas so let’s do this.” And we had a talk and now here we are again I think Phanie and I would kind of get zapped What do you mean?” And it’s like I think about a band like the Linda Lindas Phanie Diaz: That’s what happened to Nina because there’s so many higher standards for women Phanie Diaz: You get picked on for how you look “You’re getting older and you look weird.” It’s the stupidest things that we read Like a guy can roll out of bed and show up and play indie rock she’s letting herself go,” or “She must be on something.” Just because we didn’t feel like putting on eyeliner today and that’s why we called the band Fea We tried to turn ugly girl into this rock-positive thing of Jenn Alva: You could predict any negative comments Jenn Alva: And so our fans are awesome and genuine and appreciate the music [Girl in a Coma play “Clumsy Sky.”] I’m constantly intrigued by San Antonio I feel like it’s not trying to be cool but it’s easily one of the coolest cities I’ve ever been to And I don’t even really know how to explain it but there’s something about it that everything it does I think it’s because we are that melting pot We take everything in and we make it our own we’re from San Antonio.” Why do you all feel so passionate about it for yourself Jenn Alva: We’ve always advocated for that because of the fact that Girl in a Coma had that beautiful growing fan base Phanie Diaz: The community was just always great Sauceda: What are the aspects of touring and live performance that you were happy to leave behind and what are the parts that you hope come back the lifestyle is crazy because you’re going into the late nights and there’s a lot of bad things around you and you can pick and choose what path you’re going to go down And just learning how to take care of yourself and I know that I have really terrible ADHD “You didn’t read the email?” “No I just kind of went through it real quick.” And I would get in trouble all the time we’ve got to do that.” “Okay and we’ll work on it.” And thank God for that Jenn Alva: . . .I’m tired of getting in trouble Sauceda: It is funny how many people discount how much It’s like with all that Oasis reuniting stuff “Why haven’t they just buried the hatchet?” Like and then you cram them together in high-stress environments for a long time Phanie Diaz: “We declare we are the Mexican Oasis.” No.  If you haven’t been together or you haven’t been touring That’s why we’re taking these local shows first And then we’re doing our first tour in over ten years because it’s like back then it’s like you couldn’t say exactly. .  Everything just felt like we’re agitated with each other Phanie Diaz: Now we can talk about the.  Phanie Diaz: “I don’t want to talk right now we were on the go so much and things caught up with my sister we were just working and we were pissing each other off There was a lot of things that were happening Jenn Alva: But she really wanted to try new music and we were a little bit opposed to it She needed growth for herself because she started at twelve and she didn’t ever have that moment Jenn Alva: Because Phanie’s like a manager Phanie Diaz: It’s okay not to play this show that you wouldn’t be able to capitalize on getting back together Or that the next thing wouldn’t work it’s not going to happen.” We weren’t even really talking with Nina Jenn Alva: And it wasn’t until we did the final shows and we could see the beauty and the evolution of the audience And now it just seems like we’re all in a good headspace Phanie Diaz: We wouldn’t have done this if we didn’t think we could Jenn Alva: When we first started with Girl in a Coma I asked a naive question: “Will we be famous just stay together.” It was as simple as that Phanie Diaz: “Just stay together.” Phanie Diaz: It’s such a simple thing “Duh.” But then it’s like Sauceda: Was there a period that you look back on that you feel like everything was just hitting in the right way Phanie Diaz: There’s a lot of moments We’re called Girl in a Coma—it’s a Smiths song—and then we went on tour with Morrissey Jenn Alva: We did late night with Carson Daly it always seems like there’s little problems at the moment that you’re focusing on that was really cool.” We did a lot of cool stuff Sauceda: Did y’all benefit from the kind of celebrity fandom of Girl in a Coma Like do you feel like that y’all were more a product of the kind of small venue kind of build-up Or were there moments where there were like Phanie Diaz: I think we were more that we worked really hard to get there Because the Morrissey crowd was . .  and they would just boo her and heckle her every day So when we had first jumped on the tour in New York City we were getting ready for our own show in New York And suddenly we get this phone call from Boz Phanie Diaz: “Come tonight.” We’re like Jenn Alva: “Let’s cancel our show,” and just like freaked out Phanie Diaz: From a two-hundred venue.  They’re going eat us up alive.” But no because Fea was fortunate to also open up for heroes And we didn’t want to be the band that was annoying We usually leave them alone unless they come to us I remember when we toured with Tegan and Sara “You know you guys can come out of the dressing room and hang out and talk to us.” “Are you sure?” We were just scared of everybody Jenn Alva: We just got off the Morrissey tour Sauceda: Do y’all still feel like outsiders or trying to break into anything at this point I think we’re just going to always look at ourselves as outsiders and geeks We’re just always admiring and grateful Even though the audience likes us or it’s our show Jenn Alva: You still have to be hard on yourself we were talking about really just how much more pervasive it feels like the Spanish language is in music what felt like the most viral moments for me was watching Grupo Frontera play at Coachella with Bad Bunny is this huge movement of hosting Saturday Night Live I feel like tejano played a role in some ways with this.  Phanie Diaz: Maybe it’s the whole thing of earlier talking about going back to your culture and learning your roots I think the new generation is now not ashamed to know who they are So they’re quick to now already bring on samples of old songs and collaborate with older artists So it’s like Bad Bunny had created a following to where someone that doesn’t speak Spanish is trying to sing along to one of his songs Jenn Alva: I love that Letty doesn’t we’re going to write a Spanish song.” It just naturally comes to her We have a song called “Feminazi” and she says “I’m a feminist,” in five different languages.  and it was interesting because a lot of people really wanted to make it about you’re the first Tejano.” There’ve only been four hosts in all fifty years What does that mean?” It means a lot But I also wasn’t trying to make it be the only thing that I was kind of seen as he’s doing well because of this.” Or that is the one line Do you all feel that way at all about being Latina Is it something that you’d love to hang your hat on Is it something that you’re kind of like. .  But I think it’s also smart on our part but to enjoy the benefits of the different.  we’re a novelty because we’re all women.” But we will take advantage of the fact that we are singled out into this we have to take advantage of it because it puts us by ourselves sometimes where we can stand out Phanie Diaz: People are curious because it’s something else that they’re unfamiliar with So you take that opportunity to . .  And you really had to love the music to know that this is La Sombra and this is this band and this is this band But if you are already standing out because you are a woman we’ve got to get our music out there Because I was thinking it’s in both bands we’re passing it to other younger women Phanie Diaz: We see that when the moms bring their little girls she’s trying to be a drummer.” And then my head’s like Phanie Diaz: So they can remember that moment Jenn Alva: Because that’s what happened to us Phanie Diaz: That’s what happened to us We went to a show at Sunken Garden here in San Antonio We hadn’t started a band or anything and we saw how in charge they were of the stage Jenn Alva: And they only played like six songs They got upset because a guy was groping a girl we’re going to stop.” And she did And we went to see White Zombie and it’s like I couldn’t tell you anything about that show “We got to start making plans.” Your mom picked us up we need to find a drummer.” And we were already making plans Phanie Diaz: But that’s what’s important especially when it’s younger kids that are inspiring to be I don’t have to look like these cookie-cutter skinny girls on TV Sauceda: It is interesting how much more I feel like kids why don’t I see somebody that’s like this I feel like there was a little bit of a keeping of the peace for a long time that people just didn’t speak up about not seeing something that was similar to them or whatever And it’s like the whole thing with Spanish language and scared to embrace that But that’s what also goes back to The Johnny Canales Show Jenn Alva: There was a lot of Spanglish on the show you kind of sound like my family.” They go back and forth Phanie Diaz: You have just to look at it like They talk about it like it’s no big deal [Girl in a Coma performs “Si Una Vez.”] that was my conversation with Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva Thanks so much to them for joining me in the studio And thanks to Harter Music in San Antonio for the recording And thanks to all of y’all for listening I’ll be back next week with an interview with El Dusty the DJ and producer who has helped lead the revitalization and reimagination of cumbia music all while creating space for a music community in his hometown of Corpus Christi.