VIVA CONJUNTO! - COSERV.COM
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2003_local covers custom.qxp 2/12/20 10:55 AM Page 3
COSERV ELECTRIC MARCH 2020
Soapy’s Skulduggery Fresh From the Gulf Devil’s Rope Museum
¡VIVA
CONJUNTO!
The soul music of South Texas
reaches far and wide
CoServ Members
Share EV Stories 18
CCF Surpasses
$12 Million Mark 24
performance
MADE FOR LASTING
Let Mueller create a custom steel building that will serve
your needs for decades to come. Put us to work on a
garage, storage building, workshop or combination
of all three. All of our buildings are designed and
manufactured in the USA, featuring commercial grade
steel and limited paint warranties up to 30 years.
That means they’re built to last – and backed by a
company that’s been in business for 90 years.
Learn more at: www.muellerinc.com
877-2-MUELLER (877-268-3553)
Since 1944 March 2020
FA V O R I T E S
5 Letters
6 Currents
18 Co-op News
Get the latest information plus energy
and safety tips from your cooperative.
29 Texas History
The Dirt on Soapy
By Clay Coppedge
31 Recipes
Crawfish, Oysters, Crab and More
35 Focus on Texas
Photo Contest: First Ride
36 Around Texas
List of Local Events
38 Hit the Road
Sharpening My Knowledge
By Chet Garner
Eduardo Garza of Mission
was one of the big winners at
the 2019 Big Squeeze youth ONLINE
accordion competition. TexasCoopPower.com
Find these stories online if they don’t
F E AT U R E S appear in your edition of the magazine.
Observations
8 Soul Music of South Texas Conjunto turns accordions
and 12-string guitars into ambassadors of happy music.
By Joe Nick Patoski
Lessons in Canning
By Joe Holley
Texas USA
Twist in the Wind
14 Texas’ Main Squeeze The accordion has been a beloved
musical instrument since it got here.
By Joe Nick Patoski
By E. Dan Klepper
NEXT MONTH
A Snake To Love An outdoors journalist
comes to admire rattlesnakes, which are not
the evil beings of legend and myth.
31 38
29
G A R Z A : CO U RT E SY T E XAS FO L K L I F E . RAT T L E S N A K E : F I V E S P OTS | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M
35
ON THE COVER Flaco Jiménez brought the conjunto accordion to Amsterdam in 1989. Photo by Frans Schellekens | Getty Images
T E X A S E L E CT R I C C O O P E R AT I V E S B OA R D O F D I R E CTO R S : Alan Lesley, Chair, Comanche; Robert Loth III, Vice Chair, Fredericksburg; Gary Raybon, Secretary-Treasurer, El Campo;
Mark Boyd, Douglassville; Greg Henley, Tahoka; Billy Jones, Corsicana; David McGinnis, Van Alstyne • PRESIDENT/CEO: Mike Williams, Austin • COMMUNICATIONS & MEMBER SERVICES
COMMITTEE: Marty Haught, Burleson; Bill Hetherington, Bandera; Ron Hughes, Sinton; Boyd McCamish, Littlefield; Mark McClain, Roby; John Ed Shinpaugh, Bonham; Robert Walker, Gilmer;
Brandon Young, McGregor • MAGAZINE STAFF: Martin Bevins, Vice President, Communications & Member Services; Charles J. Lohrmann, Editor; Tom Widlowski, Associate Editor; Karen Nejtek,
Production Manager; Andy Doughty, Creative Manager; Elaine Sproull, Advertising Manager; Chris Burrows, Senior Communications Specialist; Grace Fultz, Print Production Specialist; Travis Hill,
Communications Specialist; Qasim K. Johnson, Administrative Assistant; Megan Myers, Food Editor; Jessica Ridge, Communications Specialist; Chris Salazar, Digital Field Editor; Jane Sharpe,
Senior Designer; Kristin Wise, Digital Media Intern; Shannon Oelrich, Proofreader
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 3
SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON
FREE
20%
OVER 5,000
5 STAR REVIEWS g
1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com
WITH ANY PURCHASE
Ideal for Impact Wrench, Finish & Brad Nailers,
Stapling, All Purpose Spray Gun & Blow Guns
SUPER COUPON Customer Rating SUPER BRIGHT LED/SMD
WORK LIGHT/FLASHLIGHT
Handle and
20 GALLON, 135 PSI Protective
135 Max. PSI
• Super-Strong,
Ultra-Lightweight
Shroud
OIL-LUBE
OFF
1.6 Running HP Composite Plastic
AIR COMPRESSOR 4.0 SCFM • Magnetic Base &
360° Swivel Hook for
Oil Lube Pump Hands-Free Operation
Powerful
NOW • 3-AAA Batteries (included)
99 Induction Motor
$1 74
• 144 Lumens
“Won’t trip ANY
your breaker” SINGLE
Large
ALL IN A SINGLE SUPER POWERFUL LIGHT ITEM*
SAVE Rubber Wheels ITEM 63878/63991 COMPARE TO $ 52 *13704843 *
$
75
$
19999 64005/60566/69567 PERFORMANCE
TOOL MODEL: W2364
13 13704843
Easy Access 63601/67227shown Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot
be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside
COMPARE TO $ 99
249 Drain Valve Rubber Foot
Stabilizers
*13700317
13700317
* Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day
Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, storage cabinets, chests or
carts, trailers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Atlas, Bauer, Central Machinery, Cobra,
PORTER-CABLE MODEL: 118903799 *13720481
13720481
* Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented.
CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter,
Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior
Valid through 5/2/20 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day. purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 5/2/20.
ITEM 56241/64857 shown LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20*
SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON SUPER
COUPON
200 LUMEN LED SUPER BRIGHT 50 % #
1 SELLING JACKS IN AMERICA
301 PIECE MASTER ALKALINE PLUS OVER
PERFORMANCE
MORE
RAPID PUMP® 3 TON STEEL
FLIP LIGHT MECHANIC'S TOOL KIT BATTERIES
• Wireless, tool-free Customer Rating
HEAVY DUTY LOW PROFILE
and easy installation AA, AAA - 18 PK
Also available in
FLOOR JACK
• Weighs 78 lbs.
$ 99
Customer Rating
NOW 199 NOW
C - 4 pk, D - 4 pk, and
9 volt - 2 pk sizes Customer Rating
$ 99
3 $1 99 SAVE
$
130 $1 69
9 9 Customer Rating
Item 64490
shown
SAVE $90
COMPARE TO NOW
$9999 $10999
COMPARE TO
COMPARE TO
$ 99 NOW TEQ CORRECT
PROMIER
$ 99
4
SAVE
60%
COMPARE TO
KLUTCH
$
299
MODEL: 43994
99 DURACELL
13
$ 97 8 $6 99 $
189 99
MODEL: T830018Z
MODEL: SW-SWITCH-12/24
ITEM 64189/64723/63922 shown ITEM 63464/63457/45951 shown MODEL: 004133303032 SAVE 49% ITEM 56618/56619/56620
56618/56619/56620//56617
56617shown
*13739035
13739035
* *13750193
13750193
* *13757462
13757462
* *13764435
13764435
*
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20*
SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON SUPER SUPER
Customer Rating COUPON COUPON
30", 5 DRAWER MECHANIC'S CARTS AIRLESS PAINT SPRAYER KIT 72" x 80"
• 700 lb. POWDER-FREE
capacity NITRILE GLOVES Customer Rating MOVING
PACK OF 100 BLANKET
NOW
9 9
$1 64
• 5 mil thickness
Customer Rating
SAVE 59% NOW
Customer Rating
COMPARE TO
$5 99 $
21999 NOW
$5 99
$ 99 VENOM
COMPARE TO 229 YOUR CHOICSE
OF 7 COLOR
99 14
$ 97
$ 99 COMPARE TO
COMPARE TO
BLUE HAWK
Snap-on
BLUE-POINT SAVE $630 $1 99 MODEL: VEN4145 7 SAVE $
299262800
GRACO
19
$ 99 SAVE
70% $ 99
$
830
MODEL: KRBC10TBPES
Item 64031, 56429,
64033, 64059, 64721, 64722, 64720
ITEM 37050, 64417, 61363, 68496,
68497, 61360, 61359, 68498, 64418 shown ITEM 62915/60600 shown
$
134 MODEL:
MODEL: 77280
ITEM 69505/62418/66537 shown 8
*13773866
13773866
* *13779030
13779030
* *13788080 13788080
* *13789838
13789838
*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20*
® SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON SUPER COUPON
AUTOMATIC 1 TON CAPACITY 4 PIECE, 1" x 15 FT. Customer Rating
4375 WATT MAX. STARTING
BATTERY FLOAT FOLDABLE RATCHETING TIE DOWNS EXTRA LONG LIFE GAS POWERED
CHARGER SHOP CRANE • 400 lb. working load NOW GENERATOR • 16 hour run time
Customer Rating
99
•
•
Boom extends from 34" to 45"
Crane height adjusts from NOW $6 99
$329
Customer Rating
$ 99
9 NOW
69-5/8" to 82" Customer Rating
$ 39
12
$499 $
189 99 NOW
99
COMPARE TO $
37999 HONDA COMPARE TO
$139
$ KEEPER
SAVE 90 Wheel kit sold
SAVE $1,739 2,069
$
SAVE 69% 22
$ $ 80
COMPARE TO
3041 SAVE COMPARE TO $
separately.
SCHUMACHER ELECTRIC MODEL: SC1
83% GOPLUS
22999
MODEL: GP-101040150 ITEM 69512
69512//61858
61858shown ITEM 90984/63056/63057/63150/56668/63094 shown
MODEL: 5505 ITEM 63963/63962 shown
ITEM 63960/63961, CALIFORNIA ONLY
MODEL: EM4000SX
ITEM 69955/64284/42292 shown
*13790966
13790966
* *13793962
13793962
* *13806945
13806945
* *13813774
13813774
*
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20*
SUPER COUPON SUPER AMMO DRY BOX TWO TIER
Customer Rating COUPON
14" ELECTRIC Customer Rating Customer Rating EASY-STORE
4-1/2" ANGLE GRINDER STEP LADDER
CHAINSAW • 225 lb. capacity
Customer Rating
NOW
NOW SAVE NOW
49 $1 999
$399
9 44%
NOW $3 $
COMPARE TO COMPARE TO
99 2999
$
49 99 SAVE 80
50%
CRAFTSMAN
$ 74
MODEL: 071-45247
PERFORMAX
17
$ 99
MODEL: 2411-1
$
14 99 $9 COMPARE TO
RANGEMAXX
9
$ 99
MODEL: 1312-92
SAVE
65%
$ 99
5 SAVE
40%
COMPARE TO
WERNER
$
3388
MODEL: S322A-1
ITEM 64498/64497 shown ITEM 69645/60625 shown ITEM 63135/61451 shown ITEM 67514
*13820662
13820662
* *13822208
13822208
* *13823528
13823528
* *13824748
13824748
*
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20* LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 5/2/20*
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 5/2/20. advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others
may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
LETTERS
Scrumptious and Healthy
I am tickled to death to welcome Courthouses as Art
Megan Myers as the new food
As an artist and student of Texas courthouse
editor [New Year’s Resolution,
January 2020]. I have eaten architecture, I loved Sheryl Smith-Rodgers’
healthy most of my life and am
article about architect James Riely Gordon
excited to be able to consult
Texas Co-op Power for new [Gordon’s Gold, January 2020]. Gordon’s
recipes.
iconic structures make some of the most
The January meals look scrump-
tious, so I am already a fan. interesting subjects for my Texas court-
ELAINE FRIEDBERG | BRENHAM
house drawings [Wise County, right].
BLUEBONNET EC
I suspect that there was a rivalry between
When I was in college, I had to
counties for who could commission the grand-
subsist on the meal plan since
money was tight. A vegetable est structure, and Gordon was certainly proac-
that was often served in the
tive promoting his vision of civic buildings.
cafeteria was Brussels sprouts.
I absolutely hated them.
As I have gotten older, I have NORMAN BEAN | MARTINDALE | BLUEBONNET EC
learned how important it is
to eat fresh vegetables.
I can’t say enough good things
about Megan Myers’ recipe for January 2020]. The church inte- will be pluralized by adding “es.” be created where all property
Spicy Glazed Brussels Sprouts. It rior has been redesigned into a MIKE MCEWEN | JACKSONVILLE owners—not just those who feel
was easy, and even my husband taproom for customers. CHEROKEE COUNTY EC like it—contribute, and many vol-
enjoyed the tasty vegetables. The owners invited the priest unteer fire departments receive
NANCY GLASSCOCK | SONORA from St. Isidore Episcopal Church Editor’s Note: Yes, in Spanish, funding via the ESD mechanism.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS EC and the congregation to come the singular is tamal, originally Voters must approve the pro-
and help bless their brewery. tamalli in the Nahuatl language. posed district and tax rate.
MARY VAZQUEZ | MONTGOMERY However, the word has been RON BOERGER | BRUSHY CREEK
MIDSOUTH EC adapted into English as tamale. PEDERNALES EC
Tamalada Tradition Letters About Letters
We used to do tamaladas with Having grown up in a ranching GET MORE TCP AT
my mom and all eight daugh- family, I knew how to change TexasCoopPower.com
ters [The Call of the Tamalada, a tire and drive stick shift early
Sign up for our e-newsletter for
December 2019]. Sadly, we lost on [Letters, January 2020]. monthly updates, prize drawings
Mom [a] few years ago, and this Having taught high school 37 and more!
year we lost one of our sisters, years, I always told my students
but the tradition continues even they needed to know those We want to hear from you!
as our circle gets smaller. two things, even if they never ONLINE: TexasCoopPower.com/share
BETTY KEIPER | VIA FACEBOOK needed to use them. EMAIL: letters@TexasCoopPower.com
CHARLOTTE CASSIN | BATESVILLE MAIL: Editor, Texas Co-op Power,
W I S E CO U N TY CO U RT H O U S E : CO U RT E SY N O R M A N B E A N . SA LA D : M EG A N M Y E R S
Brews and Pews At the risk of coming across too MEDINA EC 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor,
Austin, TX 78701
Back Pew Brewing in Porter is picky, I would like to point out
Please include your town and electric co-op.
D FE
located on acreage that once that the singular of tamales is A reader proposes a “dues Letters may be edited for clarity and length.
belonged to a little country not tamale; it is tamal. In Span- requirement in Texas for VFDs.”
church [Texas Feels a Draft, ish, when a word ends in “l,” it Emergency services districts may Texas Co-op Power
TEXAS CO-OP POWER VOLUME 76, NUMBER 9 (USPS 540-560). Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric Cooperatives (TEC). Periodical postage paid at Austin, TX, and at additional offices. TEC is the
statewide association representing 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is TexasCoopPower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or email editor@TexasCoopPower.com. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE is $4.20 per year for
individual members of subscribing cooperatives and is paid from equity accruing to the member. If you are not a member of a subscribing cooperative, you can purchase an annual subscription at the nonmember rate
of $7.50. Individual copies and back issues are available for $3 each. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power (USPS 540-560), 1122 Colorado St., 24th Floor, Austin, TX 78701. Please enclose label from
this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old address and key numbers. ADVERTISING: Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in other states, contact
Elaine Sproull at (512) 486-6251. Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication. Product sat-
isfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser.
© Copyright 2020 Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Reproduction of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohib-
ited without written permission. Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2020 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 5
CURRENTS
HAPPENINGS F L AS H B AC K
The Box Tops 175 Years Ago
Are Back Congress passed a joint resolu-
tion annexing Texas on March 1,
1845, and on December 29 that
year, Texas joined the union as the
28th state.
A theater from the 1940s brings a soul band from the 1960s to a 2020s
Texas audience.
The BOX TOPS of Memphis, Tennessee, who released a string of hit
singles in the late 1960s, are back on the scene and play a show MARCH 13
at the Brauntex Theatre in downtown NEW BRAUNFELS .
The Box Tops’ heyday was short-lived, but they became a sensation
with hit singles The Letter, Cry Like a Baby and Soul Deep.
SPORTS SECTION
The Brauntex has a storied history, opening a month after the bombing
of Pearl Harbor with a showing of Birth of the Blues, starring Bing Crosby
and Mary Martin. Today, it is a regular stop for touring and Texas acts.
RANGERS ARE MADE
IN THE SHADE
INFO a (830) 627-0808, brauntex.org/tickets.html
Plenty of Texas Rangers fans will
tell you it was the best catch
they’ve ever seen. During a game at
then-Ameriquest Field in Arlington
on July 1, 2006, Mike Lamb of the
WEB EXTRAS Houston Astros sent a shot barrel-
a Find more ing toward the wall in center field.
happenings The Rangers’ Gary Matthews gave
online. chase, leapt and snagged the ball
with his back to home plate, twist-
ing in the air to rob a home run.
“People are always bringing it up,”
Matthews told the Los Angeles
Times a year later. “A few days ago,
I was on deck in Cincinnati, and I
heard a guy in the crowd say, ‘That’s
B OX TO P S : M I C H A E L O C H S A R C H I V E S | G E T TY I M AG E S . G LOV E : ZO RA N O R C I K | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M
the best catch I’ve ever seen.’ ”
Over the course of 26 seasons,
sunny Globe Life Park in Arlington
saw scores of big moments, includ-
ing a perfect game pitched by
Kenny Rogers on July 28, 1994.
But when the Rangers take the field
for the start of the season March 31,
players—and fans—will no longer
have to contend with the sun. The
new $1.1 billion Globe Life Field, just
across the street, features 40,000
BOX TOPS, 1968 seats under a retractable roof.
TexasCoopPower.com
TCP CONTEST a WIN 5 POUNDS OF TEXAS GULF SHRIMP Check out our favorite seafood recipes starting on Page 31, then enter online.
BY THE NUMBERS
; Did you know?
The rubber band was patented
175 years ago. British inventor
Stephen Perry received his
patent March 17, 1845.
More than 30 million pounds
of rubber bands are sold in
the U.S. every year.
T E C H K N OW L E D G E
Powering the World
The average Texan retires when they’re
about 64 years old.
John Goodenough passed that mark
back in 1986, the same year he joined
the University of Texas, after decades
spent developing lithium-ion batteries.
He hasn’t stopped.
Now, Goodenough, who’s 97, is the
oldest person to win the Nobel Prize—
for his battery breakthroughs that
power the smartphones, laptops and
cars we use every day. He shares the
prize with two other scientists.
The largest rubber band ball ever made used
Of course, Goodenough is still going.
700,000 rubber bands and
stood 6 feet, 7 inches tall.
It was made by a Florida man. Some things
He still works 8–10 hours a day, accord-
ing to his assistant at UT, and just last
year announced a breakthrough: non-
flammable, glass powder-based lithium-
BA L L : J I R I H E RA | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M . G O O D E N O U G H : M A R S H A M I L L E R | U T AU ST I N . D O G : J E N N Y S U N | S H U T T E R STO C K .CO M
ion batteries with twice the energy
aren’t always bigger in Texas. density of traditional lithium-ion cells.
Maybe he’ll retire at 100. We hope not.
FINISH THIS SENTENCE Below are some of the responses to our January prompt:
I knew I was grown up when ...
Why do dogs always . . . I could kill my own spiders.
SYLVIA WILLIAMS | NEW BOSTON | BOWIE-CASS EC
a Tell us how you would finish that sentence. Your answers
I sat at the dinner table and realized my feet touched the floor.
can be silly, serious, deep or superficial. Email your short
GEORGE MCNEW | SPRING BRANCH | PEDERNALES EC
responses to letters@TexasCoopPower.com or post them
on our Facebook page. Please include your city and co-op. I realized I could eat ice cream for breakfast if I wanted.
ROBIN HODGES | BANDERA | BANDERA EC
To see more responses, read Currents on our website.
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 7
SOUL MUSIC OF SOUTH 8 Texas Co-op Power March 2020 TexasCoopPower.com
BY JOE NICK PATOSKI
CONJUNTO,
BUILT UPON A POLKA RHYTHM,
TURNS ACCORDIONS AND 12-STRING GUITARS
INTO A UNIQUE SOUND AND SUBCULTURE
arren David Prieto
D played the accordion
in Carnitas Uruapan, a
meat market on the west side
of San Antonio, one Sunday morning in 2016 while
customers lined up for tamales and carnitas. Back then, the mar-
ket hosted a weekly residency with accordionist Santiago Jiménez
Jr., younger brother of accordion legend Flaco Jiménez. The gig
was practice for Jiménez, but for Prieto, it was an apprenticeship
and a steppingstone to a career performing the soul music of
South Texas.
Jiménez introduced the shy teenager from New Braunfels,
then 16, as “mi protegido”—his protégé—and, blushing, Prieto
nodded toward Jiménez and added, “Mi profesor.” This unlikely
venue and early start time was a very big deal for the slight, quiet
young man because as part of a new generation of conjunto accor-
dionists, it was his opportunity to learn from a master.
As Jiménez played his diatonic button accordion, accompa-
nied by a sideman strumming chords on a 12-string guitar called
a bajo sexto, pounding out a rhythm to propel the sounds from
Jiménez’s accordion, the meat market’s owner occasionally
walked out from behind the counter to harmonize with Jiménez
TEXAS in vocal duets. “Margarita, Margarita,” they crooned, faces inches
G UZ M Á N : J O H N DY E R . P R I E TO : CO U RT E SY T E XAS FO L K L I F E
from each other. Sit-ins from the neighborhood were part of the
weekly routine. Grammy Award winner Max Baca of Los Tex-
maniacs walked into Carnitas wearing a football jersey and shorts
rather than his western stage outfit and sat in with the band,
playing bajo sexto.
Opposite: Joel Guzmán at the Alamo.
Above: Teenage conjunto performer
Darren David Prieto in 2015.
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 9
AT A TIME WHEN MOST AMERICAN
ROOTS MUSIC’S POPULARITY
IS ON THE DOWNSWING,
CONJUNTO’S ROOTS
ARE SPREADING.
SA N T I AG O J I M É N E Z J R : J O H N DY E R . LOS T E X M A N I AC S : FO L KWAYS M E D I A . LY D I A M E N D OZ A : M I C H A E L O C H S A R C H I V E | G E T TY I M AG E S . E VA Y BA R RA : L I N DA VA RTO O G I A N | G E T TY I M AG E S . N A R C I SO M A RT Í N E Z : CO U RT E SY A R H O O L I E FO U N DAT I O N
onjunto’s bouncy rhythm, typically a polka, is why and bajo sexto classes are taught weekly at the Conjunto Heritage
C it is also known as música alegre, happy music. Like
blues and country, conjunto—pronounced cohn-
hoon-toe—is indigenous, only regionally specific
to South Texas, with mostly Spanish lyrics. In South
Texas, and anywhere conjunto’s influence extends, the term is
applied to both sound and subculture.
Conjunto has two key instruments: the diatonic button accor-
Taller and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio.
“We get them from 8 to 80,” said Rodolfo Lopez, Conjunto Heritage
Taller director. “Conjunto is us, la gente. This is a unique music
form.” Kids from the taller (workshop) have dominated the state-
wide Big Squeeze youth accordion competition sponsored by
Texas Folklife since its inception in 2007.
Conjunto was born in the late 19th
WEB EXTRAS
dion, which, like a harmonica, changes notes as air is pushed or century when German immigrants
a Read this story
pulled past vibrating reeds, and the bajo sexto, which provides introduced the button accordion to
on our website to
the rhythm and backbeat. Most modern conjuntos also include South Texas. In part because of its rural
learn where to see
drums, guitar and bass. roots, it was known as cantina music.
and hear conjunto
At a time when most American roots music’s popularity is on Conjunto made its commercial debut
music. And check
the downswing, conjunto’s roots are spreading. Public school pro- in the 1920s and ’30s, when Columbia
out our playlist.
grams in La Joya, Los Fresnos, Brownsville and other towns across and Bluebird joined other labels in the
the Rio Grande Valley have added conjunto to their curricula, fledgling recording business, setting up
10 Texas Co-op Power March 2020 TexasCoopPower.comClockwise from opposite page: Santiago Jiménez Jr., who gave Texas conjunto recording pioneers Bruno Villarreal from
accordion lessons to Prieto. Los Texmaniacs have taken conjunto as Santa Rosa, Narciso Martínez of La Paloma and Santiago Jiménez
far as China. With her 12-string guitar, Lydia Mendoza became the first
of San Antonio all eavesdropped on Czech, German and Polish
female star of Mexican American music. San Antonio’s Eva Ybarra is
known as the Queen of the Accordion. Narciso Martínez was one of dances in South Texas and incorporated what they heard into
the recording pioneers of conjunto. their own music.
Conjunto follows neither mariachi nor ranchera traditions,
studios in rooms at San Antonio’s Gunter and Bluebonnet hotels nor is it norteño, the accordion style popular in northern Mexico.
as well as at local WOAI radio to record musicians solicited by “It’s a melding of European music and the Mexican bajo sexto,”
talent scouts. Conjunto accordionists were recruited to San Anto- Rodolfo Lopez explained, noting that Czech redowas, Bohemian
nio alongside bluesman Robert Johnson, western swingsters Bill schottisches, waltzes and polkas all came from Europe. “We just
Boyd & His Cowboy Ramblers and the Tex-Czech sounds of added our jalapeño chiltepin flavor to it.”
Adolph Hofner as well as Texan Mexican singer Lydia Mendoza. Flaco Jiménez, the older of conjunto pioneer Santiago Jiménez’s
The instrumentals by those conjunto accordionists sounded two sons, expanded awareness of the genre in 1973, appearing on
Mexican with additional Bohemian, Czech and German ele- the album Doug Sahm and Band, featuring the rock musician from
ments, reflecting the influence of the immigrant communities San Antonio and an all-star lineup that included Bob Dylan. Sahm
of South Texas. sought out and played bajo sexto with Flaco Jiménez in his back-
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 11yard on San Antonio’s west side. “He could groove,” Jiménez said. Samilpa; a middle-aged Polish import Esteban “Steve” Jordan
Flaco Jiménez would ultimately take conjunto accordion from Saginaw, Michigan, named began playing accordion
at the age of 7.
around the world, recording with Ry Cooder, Peter Rowan, the Bradley Jaye Williams; and Mark
Rolling Stones, Dwight Yoakum and Emmylou Harris before join- Weber, an accordionist from San Anto-
ing the Tex-Mex supergroup Texas Tornados. nio. Another crossover success is Stevie Ray Vavages of the
Esteban “Steve” Jordan of Elsa, a dashing figure with an eye- Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona, who learned the bajo sexto
patch known as the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion, also worked playing the native sound called chicken scratch.
as a conjunto innovator. One record label described Jordan’s Darren Prieto is part of the next wave.
style as acordeón psicodélico. If Jiménez was the standard-bearer, Typical of most Texas kids, he grew up listening to rock, coun-
Jordan was the experimentalist—always pushing the envelope try, jazz and hip-hop. Not typical of most Texas kids, he chose to
until his passing in 2010. play accordion when he was 14. “I was always with my grandfa-
Another notable exporter of conjunto accordion is Joel ther,” he explained. “Around our house, conjunto music was
Guzmán of Buda, who performs with his wife, Sarah Fox, as Aztex; always on. I listened to all types of conjunto, from Los Pavo Reales
plays and records with country rocker Joe Ely; and joined Paul to Ruben Naranjo.” The summer before he entered high school,
Simon on his Homeward Bound tour. One of few professional Prieto picked up his grandfather’s accordion, just as his own
female accordionists, Eva Ybarra earned a National Heritage father once had. By that September, he’d learned some polkas.
Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 2017. “I started falling in love,” Prieto said.
Those Sunday morning performances on the small stage at
Carnitas Uruapan, where he learned from Santiago Jiménez Jr.,
onjunto is no longer exclusively a Texas thing. Japan stoked Prieto’s creative fire. “He helped me learn to get over stage
C has several conjuntos who were inspired by Flaco
Jiménez’s appearance in their country with the
Texas Tornados. Dwayne Verheyden from the
Netherlands mastered Jiménez’s playing style, then
mastered Spanish to better communicate with Jiménez and con-
fright, how to talk to the crowd and even how to be a humble
musician,” Prieto said.
The gigs at Carnitas Uruapan stopped in 2018 when the owner
retired. But Prieto remains tight with Jiménez. “You can hear a
little bit of Santiago Jiménez Jr.’s style in my own playing,” Prieto
JAC K VA RTO O G I A N | G E T TY I M AG E S
junto audiences. After his performance at the Tejano Conjunto said. “Playing conjunto music is so fun. It isn’t like any other
Fest in San Antonio in 2014, fans patiently lined up to have their music. It has that beat that makes you want to dance. It makes
picture taken with him, as if he was the Justin Bieber of conjunto. you feel alive.”
Conjunto’s crossover appeal comes to life in the music of Con- Writer Joe Nick Patoski, a confessed conjunto addict, lives outside Wim-
junto Los Pinkys, an Austin band led by octogenarian Isidro berley and is a member of Pedernales EC.
12 Texas Co-op Power March 2020 TexasCoopPower.comPlant Faster, Easier With NEW SUPER PLUGS!
THE ONE-TIME, LIFETIME LAWN SOLUTION
SAVE
Pre-cut OVER
50%
plugs
are 10x
bigger!
OR... Plant Your Way With FREESTYLE PLUGS!
Cut any Stays
size plugs lush and
from green in
sheets! summer
NOW 3 WAYS TO START YOUR AMAZOY ZOYSIA LAWN!
7 Ways Our Amazoy Zoysia Lawn
TM
1) New Super Plugs come in handy trays, pre-cut as individual 3"x3"
plugs ready to plant. Enough for 60 sq. ft. from $24.95 + shipping.
Saves You Time, Work and Money! 2) Freestyle Plugs come in uncut sheets with up to 150 - 1" plugs. Or for
less cutting and planting, make each plug bigger and plant them farther
apart – your choice. Enough for 300 sq. ft. from $29.95 + shipping.
1 – CUTS WATER BILLS AND MOWING BY AS MUCH AS 2/3 3) Amazoy-Approved Seed – As the Zoysia Experts for 60+ years, we
2 – NO GARDENING EXPERIENCE NEEDED – NO DIGGING UP OLD GRASS finally have a Zoysia seed that meets our standards and homeowners’
expectations. Available in 2-lb. bags, enough to cover over 1,000 sq. ft.
3 – GROWS IN POOR, ROCKY, SANDY OR CLAY SOIL – IT DOESN’T MATTER
4 – FOR SLOPES, PLAY AREAS, BARE SPOTS AND PARTIAL SHADE ORDER YOUR WAY TODAY!
5 – STAYS GREEN IN SPITE OF HEAT AND DROUGHT
6 – STOPS CRABGRASS AND MOST SUMMER WEEDS FROM GERMINATING www.ZoysiaFarms.com/mag
7 – ENDS COSTLY RE-SEEDING AND NEVER NEEDS REPLACEMENT 410-756-2311 Dept. 5516
Zoysia Farm NURSERIES
GUARANTEED TO GROW
Or We’ll Replace Plugs FREE!
Harvested Daily From Our Farms
And Shipped To You Direct!
Amazoy is the trademark registered U.S. Patent Office for our Meyer Zoysia grass.
Improving America’s Lawns Since 1953 © 2020 Zoysia Farm Nurseries, 3671 Old Taneytown Rd, Taneytown, MD 21787
Own Three Scarce Collector Classics!
SAVE
75%!
(Dates our choice)
1913-1938 Indian/Buffalo Nickel 1859-1909 Indian Head Cent 1883-1913 Liberty Head “V” Nickel
with a uniquely American coin design last minted over a century ago from the turn of the 20th century
Long vanished from circulation, you get all 3 of these scarce You’ll also receive our fully illustrated catalog, plus other
collector favorites in this special set for ONLY $4.95 – a savings of fascinating selections from our Free Examination Coins-on-Approval
75% OFF the regular price of $19.95. Order within 30 days and you also Service, from which you may purchase any or none of the coins –
get a FREE Lincoln Wheat cent, last issued over 60 years ago, plus return balance in 15 days – with option to cancel at any time. Order
enjoy FREE Shipping to your home! your 3-Coin Collector’s Set now and SAVE!
Mail coupon today or order online at: www.LittletonCoin.com/specials • 45-Day Money Back Guarantee of Satisfaction
Special Offer for New Customers Only
Order within 30 days for a ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED WITHIN 30 DAYS
Get a 3-Coin Collector’s Set PLUS a FREE Lincoln Wheat Cent!
FREE Gift! ✓ Yes! Please send my 3-Coin Collector’s Set for ONLY $4.95 – regularly $19.95, plus FREE Shipping
❐
(limit 4 sets). Please also send my FREE 1909-1958 Lincoln Wheat Cent (one per customer, please).
Card No. Exp. Date ____ /____
SPECIAL
SAVINGS!
How Many Sets (limit 4): _______
Total Cost at $4.95 per set: $_______
Method of payment:
Original 1909-1958 Add Custom 20th Century Type Coin
❏ Check payable to
Lincoln Cent Littleton Coin Co. Display Folders and SAVE 36% at
©2020 LCC, Inc.
$2.50 ea. (regularly $3.95): $_______
with the Wheat Name ________________________________________________________________________
❏ VISA ❏ MasterCard
Ears reverse
Please print clearly
FREE!
Shipping & Handling: $_______
Address____________________________________________________________Apt# _______ ❏ American Express Please send
❏ Discover coupon to: Dept. 5GS419 Total Amount: $_______
(Date our choice) City _________________________________________________ State_____Zip_____________ 1309 Mt. Eustis Rd
Littleton NH Serving Collectors
E-Mail ________________________________________________________________________ 03561-3737 Since 1945
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 13TEXAS’ MAIN SQUEEZE Chris Rybak continues a tradition brought to Texas by European settlers in the 1800s. Inset: Rybak as an 11-year-old. 14 Texas Co-op Power March 2020 TexasCoopPower.com
BY JOE NICK PATOSKI
THE ACCORDION
HAS BEEN A BELOVED MUSICAL
I N S T R U M E N T S I N C E I T G OT H E R E
f all the musical instruments brought to Texas by
O German, Czech, Polish and Moravian immigrants
in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the accordion
made the most unexpected inroads among Mexi-
can, Cajun and Creole communities who embraced
it as their instrument of choice. Generations later, squeezeboxes
still move Texans.
Chris Rybak, known as the Accordion Cowboy, who hails from
Hallettsville, explains that when he picked up the instrument 30
years ago, at age 11, accordion-playing bandleader Lawrence Welk
was a big thing. “But that also made accordion not so cool,” he
says, adding that now it’s heard in jazz, rock and a wide variety of
RY BA K P H OTOS : CO U RT E SY C H R I S RY BA K . SC H U H M A N N : W I N E DA L E P H OTO G RA P H CO L L EC T I O N | T H E D O L P H B R I SCO E C E N T E R FO R A M E R I C A N H I STO RY, T H E U N I V E R S I TY O F T E XAS AT AU ST I N
other musical genres. “It doesn’t have to be just your grandpa’s
oompah anymore.”
Packing the full-bodied sound of an entire band into one
instrument, the accordion, invented in Europe in the 1820s, pro-
vided entertainment at dances of all kinds as Texas was settled. Accordionist and band Rybak explains that Czech, German,
Without the need for electricity or amplification, its sound car- leader Emil Schuhmann German-Polish, Tejano and Cajun
of Fayette County in
ried farther than stringed instruments. music each embody a distinct style. “On
the 1890s.
The accordion was a key instrument for western swing bands the other hand, when you go to a con-
in the 1930s and ’40s. It remains the most versatile musical junto place,” he says, “the band will
instrument going in Texas, straddling regions and borders and throw in a few Czech songs. And vice versa. The accordion is dis-
injecting its sound into rock, country, blues, jazz and zydeco. It’s tinctive, and it can cross boundaries and cultures.”
the defining instrument of conjunto, the folk music of South The universality of the accordion is celebrated at the Accor-
Texas, and the faster-paced norteño, a folk music of northern dion Kings and Queens at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston
Mexico that is similar to conjunto. on the first Saturday in June, a production of Texas Folklife. All
Without the accordion, there would be no Mark Halata at the bands onstage feature accordions as the lead instrument,
Wurstfest, no Brave Combo playing WestFest, no Ennis Czech but the performers sing in English, Spanish, French, German,
Boys working the National Polka Festival, no Fritz Hodde and Polish and Czech, reflecting each group’s ethnic background.
the Fabulous Six performing at an SPJST hall. Despite those differences, everyone dances the same on the
The European-style accordion, the traditional large instru- dance floor, moving in a counterclockwise direction.
ment with piano keys on the right-hand side that functions like These days, Rybak says he mostly uses a digital accordion,
a glorified organ, is favored by the Bohemians, Czechs, Poles and which has changed his instrument much the way a digital key-
Germans of South and Central Texas; some Zydeco bands around board changed piano playing. He can create blaring trumpets to
Houston and southeast Texas; and Fort Worth’s Ginny Mac and open the Johnny Cash standard Ring of Fire.
Austin’s Debra Peters. It can weigh upward of 30 pounds. “I would say for most shows, I play 70 or 80% with a digital
Conjuntos and some zydeco bands favor the smaller, diatonic accordion,” he says. “And that’s what the new generation really
model of accordion with buttons on both sides that change notes as loves, too. They can do anything on it.”
you push and pull and has considerably faster action. Texas Cajuns Although Joe Nick Patoski gave up piano accordion for violin at age 7,
play an even smaller, simpler diatonic model with fewer buttons. he owns a button accordion autographed by Flaco Jiménez.
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 15Wear the Colors of Italy’s
Legendary Regatta
Raffinato ™
——— Italy
To show exquisite
details, necklace
shown is not
exact size.
T he Regata Storica started in 1489, when the beautiful
Caterina Cornaro, wife of the King of Cyprus,
renounced her Cypriot throne in favor of Venice.
The people of Venice welcomed her with a parade
of elaborately-decorated gondolas, in a rainbow
of popping colors. Every year since, the spirit
Thanks to the Regata, we’ve visited Venice often and
of 1489 is recaptured in those world-famous
made great contacts, which is how we found and
canals when the famous Regata is repeated.
negotiated the best possible price on the highest
Our Cornaro Necklace is the essence quality Murano available. Now’s your chance to
of Venice, with the revelry of the Regata share in the spirit of this legendary event without
channeled into one perfect piece of jewelry. needing to break out your passport.
The gorgeous colors recall the Regata itself,
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.
and the 59 beads of authentic Murano are
Enjoy the gorgeous colors of the Cornaro Murano
the only thing as historic and uniquely Venice
Necklace for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass with flying
as those gondolas. Each necklace is handmade
colors, send it back for a full refund of the item price.
by the legendary Murano glassmakers, where the
proud Venetian tradition has been passed down Limited Reserves. You could easily pay $300 or more for a
from generation to generation, dating Murano glass bead necklace, but at $29, this genuine handmade
back to before the city threw that first famous party Murano won’t last. Don’t miss the boat!
for Caterina. CALL 1-888-444-5949 TODAY!
“...businesses on the crowded little island [Murano] also Cornaro Murano Necklace
$29 + S&P
produce high fashion jewelry found on runways and in
exclusive social settings around the world”. Stunningly affordable at
— The New York Times
• Made in Italy • Murano glass • 25" necklace with lobster clasp • Gold-finished settings
Call today. There’s never been a better time to let your elegance shine. 1-888-444-5949
Offer Code: RFG252-02. You must use the offer code to get our special price.
Raffinato ™
14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. RFG252-02, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.raffinatoitaly.com
A c o l l e c ti o n o f i m p e c c ab l e de si gn & c raftsm ansh i p fro m Ital y .SAVE BIG THIS MARCH
Don’t continue to ignore your old, drafty, inefficient
windows. Learn why we’re your best option for
replacement windows and get one of our best offers
before the summer heat hits! Designed for energy
efficiency, beauty, and durability, our windows are
backed by one of the best warranties in the business.
HURRY! SALE ENDS 3/31 CALL NOW FOR YOUR FREE IN-HOME DESIGN CONSULTATION.
25
SAVE
UP TO
YOUR WINDOW PROJECT
%
OFF
PLUS
0
Please ask about our other amazing finance options.
MONEY DOWN
PAYMENTS
INTEREST
12 FOR
MONTHS*
Minimum purchase required.
CALL (469) 606-5229 ADDITIONAL
ADDITIONALDISCOUNT
Get
An Get
An DISCOUNT
rbaofdfw.com When You Replace 10+ Windows
When You Replace 10+ Windows
*Offer not available in all areas and ends 3/31/20 and appointment must occur within 10 days of the initial contact. Discount applies to minimum required
purchase. $0 payments and deferred interest for 12 months available to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. Financing is provided by federally insured,
federal and state chartered financial institutions without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex or familial status. Any finance terms advertised are
estimates only, and all financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Renewal by Andersen retailers, under terms and conditions arranged directly
between the customer and such lender, all subject to credit requirements. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are marks of Andersen
Corporation. ©2020 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved.Editor’s Note: Did you know the first Porsche built in 1898 was electric? Or that Henry Ford and Thomas Edison collaborated on an electric vehicle in
1913? More than a century later, the novelty has become a reality and electric vehicles are familiar sights on North Texas roadways. We visited with several
EV-owning CoServ Members to hear about their experiences and see what advice they have for prospective EV owners. Got an EV story to share? Email us
at EV@coserv.com.
ALL IN THE
HYBRID FAMILY
S ome auto industry
experts are calling
2020 the year
of the electric
vehicle. In addition to auto
manufacturers producing
more EVs, there’s more
information than ever
available about them online.
But this wasn’t the case
when CoServ Member
Tim Kasprowicz began
researching EVs a decade ago.
Tim ordered a Chevrolet
Volt in 2010—six months
before the car even went
into production. He took
delivery in 2011 and was one
of the first five Volt owners in
North Texas.
Nine years later, he owns
a 2018 Chevrolet Volt and
has passed the 2011 Volt on
to his teenage son, Keegan.
The Colony resident is living
the EV dream: charging for
free at work and using solar
panels on his roof to help
EVs: CoServ Members
power his Volts at home.
tell us what it’s like
to use tomorrow’s
transportation today
Stories by Nicholas Sakelaris | communications@coserv.com
Photos by Ken Oltmann | CoServ
18 texas co-op power | COSERV.com March 2020
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 18 2/7/20 11:07 AMThe Volt is a hybrid EV, Previous page:
which means it runs on an electric Tim Kasprowicz of The Colony was
charge until the battery runs out, one of the first Chevy Volt owners in
at which time a gasoline-powered North Texas. He likes the hybrid vehicle
because he doesn’t have to worry about
generator kicks in.
finding an EV charger on a road trip.
Tim calls the 2011 Volt the
best car he’s ever owned, with low This page:
cost of ownership and very few Jennifer Meinel of Flower Mound
maintenance issues. He typically (below) waited nearly three years
uses gasoline only for road trips for her Tesla with dual motors and an
– in the seven years he drove it, extended-range battery. At left, Jennifer
Tim says he only bought 80 to 90 uses the CoServ SmartHub app on her
gallons of gas. phone to track how much energy she
uses when her Tesla is charging.
“I like the fact that it still had
[a gas-powered engine], too, so I
could just pick up and go to San
Antonio if I wanted to without
having to worry about finding a
charger somewhere,” he said. INNOVATION ELECTRIC VEHICLES
TEXAS TRANSPLANT
TAKES TO TESLA
C oServ Member Jennifer Meinel
is a proud and passionate owner of
a red Tesla Model 3. The Texas
transplant’s love affair with the
all-electric Tesla started in 2012 when she
caught her first glimpse of a Tesla Model S.
reservations for the more modestly priced
Model 3. Jennifer stood in line for three
hours just to put a $1,000 deposit down for a
car she had never seen or touched but knew
she wanted.
Then she waited. And waited.
where she travels from Supercharger to
Supercharger. The 10-to-15 minute charging
stops give her a chance to stretch her legs.
“It was much better than my experience
driving in gas cars,” Jennifer said. “Trust
me, if you can drive a gas car, you can do an
“I remember screaming and shouting and Jennifer’s Model 3 wouldn’t be delivered electric.”
being so excited the first time I saw them on for another two and a half years. She took And most people will get all the power
the road,” Jennifer said. “When Washington possession on Halloween 2018, just a few they need charging at home.
D.C. got its first Tesla store and started months after she moved to Flower Mound. “You just plug it in at night. You’re
offering test drives, I immediately went to Her message to anyone worried about going to have a full battery before you
do that. I was hooked. But at the time I range anxiety: Stop worrying. leave,” she said. “You don’t have to worry
couldn’t even afford a used one.” Jennifer has become a road warrior expert about range, especially driving local.”
In March 2016, Tesla started accepting after several trips to Orlando, Florida,
Continued on Page 20
March 2020 COSERV.com | texas co-op power 19
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 19 2/7/20 11:07 AMContinued from Page 19
C oServ Board Director
BOARD DIRECTORS
Trisha Sheffield and
her husband, Doug, were
researching the Tesla
ON BOARD WITH EVs
Model 3 when he surprised her
with one shortly after she was
elected to the Board. She’s been
driving it since September 2018.
“It’s fast – it’s very fast,” Trisha said. “Lots of get up and go.”
Trisha has taken her car on several road trips and lets the
Supercharger-finding Tesla navigate her routes. She also is not
worried about range anxiety.
“All the major highways I want to travel on have fast chargers
now,” she said. “It would tell me where I needed to Supercharge
and for how long. Most of the driving that I do is around town,
so it’s not an issue at all.”
Fellow CoServ Board Director Curtis Tally and his wife,
Oneta, had a life-changing experience when they test drove their
first Tesla in 2016.
The rocket-like acceleration floored them, and it wasn’t long
before they had their own Tesla Model S.
“When you drive one of those things, you want one,” Curtis
said. “That’s what sold us on it.”
Need to convince friends that EVs are different? Curtis has a
suggestion.
“The coolest thing you can do is get someone to sit in the
passenger seat and you step on the accelerator and watch their
neck pop back,” he said. “If they’ve never been in one, they’re not
expecting it. It’s a real surprise.”
Fun to drive.
WE WANT
Zero tailpipe emissions.
TO HEAR
A design that turns heads.
FROM YOU!
These are just a few of the reasons to own an electric
vehicle, according to a recent survey of CoServ Members.
Their insights will help CoServ develop an EV strategy that
is expected to be unveiled later this year.
Now we want to hear from the rest of you:
Why do As a prospective What EV What can
you drive EV buyer, is details do you CoServ do
CoServ.com/EV
an EV ? “range anxiety” need to help to better
or price an issue? inform your ?
serve you
If not, what is
holding you
decision?
back ?
Send your feedback, suggestions and questions to EV@coserv.com and let’s keep the conversation going!
20 texas co-op power | COSERV.com March 2020
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 20 2/7/20 11:07 AMCoServ Members
Trisha Sheffield of Lewisville
and Curtis Tally of Justin both
serve on the CoServ Electric
Board of Directors.
EV: Electric vehicle
EV 101: ICE: Internal combustion engine
is the technical name for the
gasoline-powered engine in most
cars, SUVs and trucks
Hybrid: A vehicle that uses two or
more distinct types of power
5
Range Anxiety: The fear that
your all-electric vehicle will run out
Quick
ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING AT CHARGER STATION: FABER14 | STOCK.ADOBE.COM
of power before you reach your
destination or a charging station
Terms Supercharger: Tesla’s network
of charging stations across the
country; non-Tesla, fast-charging
stations also are available
For more EV terms and information, please visit CoServ.com/EV.
March 2020 COSERV.com | texas co-op power 21
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 21 2/7/20 11:07 AMINNOVATION LAPETUS SOLAR PROJECT
22 texas co-op power | COSERV.com March 2020
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 22 2/7/20 11:07 AMAbout 50 miles northwest of Midland, more than 340,000 panels
track the West Texas sun. The 100 MW Lapetus Solar project started
generating electricity in December, and CoServ began buying power
from it in January. Visit CoServ.com/News to see more photos and a
video of this 800-acre facility and hear how this addition to our
energy portfolio will benefit CoServ Members.
March 2020 COSERV.com | texas co-op power 23
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 23 2/7/20 11:07 AMT he CoServ Charitable Foundation celebrated
its 15th year by awarding nearly $1.3 million
in grants to worthy causes throughout North
Texas. Since 2004, CCF has distributed $12 million
to over 330 nonprofits and organizations in more
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT than 30 North Texas communities.
It’s a testament to CoServ Electric
Members and Gas Customers who
participate in Operation Roundup, where
bills are rounded up to the next dollar
and the change goes to CCF. More
CCF surpasses than 70 percent of CoServ customers
$12
participate, and the average donation
is $6 per year. CoServ’s Employees
million
also contribute through payroll
deductions and special events
throughout the year.
milestone
These funds support three key
initiatives: meeting basic human
needs, promoting community
in 2019
vitality and supporting education.
CCF does that by contributing to
food banks, education foundations,
volunteer and volunteer-supported
first responder groups and other causes.
“Every penny contributed by a
By Nicholas Sakelaris
CoServ Member or Customer goes
communications@coserv.com directly to nonprofits within their
communities,” said Vicki Sargent, Director
of Community Engagement. “We are fortunate
to see the incredible good that these groups do day
in and day out.”
The money donated by CoServ Employees and
raised at special events goes into the CCF General
Fund, which can be distributed to organizations and
causes outside CoServ’s territory. In 2019, this fund
generated $220,423 in donations.
Visit CoServ.com/News to see how “It is impossible to look around at the good work
CCF is helping your community. being done in any CoServ community and not see
the impact of the CoServ Charitable Foundation –
and the pennies of our Members and Customers,”
Vicki said.
24 texas co-op power | COSERV.com March 2020
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 24 2/7/20 11:07 AMCCF
BY THE
NUMBERS VOICES OF
THE COMMUNITY
2019 Since its creation in 2004,
the CoServ Charitable
Foundation has distributed
more than $12 million in grants. What’s so smart
about SmartHub ?
®
Below is the breakdown for 2019.
OPERATION When storms knocked out her
ROUNDUP GENERAL FUND power in January, Ruthann B.
of Era didn’t panic.
GRANTS GRANTS AWARDED Instead, she pulled up her CoServ
$137,423
AWARDED SmartHub app on her phone.
$1.15
“It was really easy to access the
power outage information,” she
emailed us. “The messages from
CoServ were instant.”
In addition, Ruthann said, “the
MILLION
app is very easy to access. I love
$1.29
having the ability to pay online.
I can monitor my usage easily
on the app.”
TOTAL GRANTS
AWARDED Monitoring her daily usage through
MILLION SmartHub also appeals to Diane W.
of Lantana.
“I can see what happens when I
For a complete list of grants and to find out how your have visitors over to the house or
organization can apply for one, please visit CoServ.com/CCF. the effect a few days of very hot
weather has on our usage,” she
told us. “The best view of all is the
CCF has big plans for 2020, with several first-time hourly usage, where you can see
grant recipients expected to get money in the next few how much energy you’re using at
any point during the day. I now
months. CCF funds are used for: know that when I turn on the oven
to make dinner, our usage spikes.
→ Automatic external → Supporting domestic
“The usage comparison is
defibrillators violence shelters invaluable. For example, I found
out that September 2019 was
→ Lucas Chest → Low-income medical considerably hotter than
Compression Systems facilities September 2018, so it wasn’t
surprising that my bill was higher
→ Jaws of Life → Disaster/violence in 2019.”
recovery organizations
→ Clothing
→ Emergency utility Please visit CoServ.com/SmartHub
→ Toiletries payment support to find out what SmartHub has to offer
you and join the more than 100,000
→ Diapers → Connecting Members CoServ customers who have registered
to social services since January 6!
→ Medications and
vaccinations when needed
S M A R T M A N A G E M E N T.
→ Training programs → Grants to school SMART LIFE.
for developmentally districts through
delayed individuals education foundations
March 2020 COSERV.com | texas co-op power 25
03-20_CoServ_TCP.indd 25 2/7/20 11:07 AMMARKETPLACE
B U Y • S E L L • T R A D E • A C R O S S T O W N • A C R O S S T E X A S
America’s Original
Field and
Brush
Mower!
Towable and
PTO models too!
FIELD... ...and BRUSH!
CLEAR 8' TALL GRASS & WEEDS with 26",
1AC0EX © 2020
30", or 34" cut!
CHEW THROUGH BRUSH including saplings
up to 3" thick!
25 Year Warranty • Easy Bolt-Together Design POWER & PRECISION with engines up to 20
Engineered Stamp Blueprints HP and Power Steering for fingertip control.
FREE SHIPPING 6 MONTH TRIAL
SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY
Go Online or Call for FREE Info Kit!
DRfieldbrush.com
Farm • Industrial • Commercial TOLL
FREE 877-200-6650
RHINO.BUILDERS/TX 940-304-8068
INFO@RHINOBLDG.COM
*Assembled in the USA using
domestic and foreign parts.
FLOATING FISHING PIER
On your pond or lake, with or without roof.
All sizes—installation available.
ELLISON MARINE • FRANKLIN, TX.
45 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE
Call for Free Information • (979) 820-3000
www.ellisonmarine.com • ellisonmarine@yahoo.com
WD METAL BUILDINGS
SKID STEER MOUNTED SHEAR
• 1/2" to 6" diameter trees and brush.
Metal Shops | Barns | Shopdominiums • Perfect for cedar, shin oak, persimmon, mesquite.
800-221-1054 8 a.m.–5 p.m | wdmb.com (512) 263-6830 • www.brushshark.com
Low Cost Pole Barns
26' x 48' x 10'
3 Sides Enclosed
BUILDINGS OF ALL SIZES
Shops • Garages • Barns • Equipment Sheds • Barndominiums
$7,995
POLE, HORSE, HAY BARNS • ALL SIZES Hay/Horse Barns, Shops, Decks, Concrete Work and Pad Sites SHOPS STARTING AT $10,300
CALL ANDY • 512-563-5237 Call Ron: 512-367-0428 Price includes all labor and materials with 4" steel reinforced concrete slab with moisture barrier, one
10"x10" heavy duty roll up door, one 3 foot steel entry door, concrete aprons, electric stub *(Dirt may be extra)
TexasCoopPower.com March 2020 Texas Co-op Power 27One asset puts financial
freedom in your hands.
U.S. Government-Issued
At-Cost Gold Coins
from the U.S. Mint
1/10 oz.Gold
American Eagle
U .S. Money Reserve announces special rock-
bottom pricing on official U.S. government
issued gold coins from the United States Mint.
For an extremely limited time, now is your chance
to own Gold American Eagle Coins with ZERO
markup at the incredible below-cost price of only
$162.00 each—one of the best government-issued
gold coin deals available anywhere today!
Designated as official legal tender, these gold coins At cost, completely free of dealer markup:
are fully backed by the U.S. government for weight,
$
162 00
content and purity. Now, you can convert your
money from a declining paper currency into a
tangible precious metal that is privately held outside
PER GOLD COIN
the banking system—directly in your control. If you
had transferred $50,000 into physical gold in 2000,
you would now have over $285,000 at today’s gold SPECIAL GOLD ALLOTMENT PRICED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
prices. That’s an incredible gain of 475%!* RECIPIENTS OF THIS OFFER! BEGINNING TODAY, TELEPHONE
ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED
This is your opportunity to join the thousands of BASIS ACCORDING TO THE TIME AND DATE OF THE ORDER.
Americans who are protecting their financial future
Official Gold Coin of the United States of America: $5 American Eagle
with the proven hard asset of physical gold.
1 - Gov’t-Issued Gold Coin $ 162.00
CALL NOW:
5 - Gov’t-Issued Gold Coins $ 810.00
1-855-426-7168 10 - Gov’t-Issued Gold Coins $ 1,620.00
Vault No: TX34 MASTERCARD • VISA • AMEX • DISCOVER • CHECK • BANK WIRE
©2020 U.S. Money Reserve. *$263.80/oz. (10/27/00) to $1,562.90/oz. (01/23/20).
The markets for coins are unregulated. Prices can rise or fall and carry some risks.
The company is not affiliated with the U.S. Government and the U.S. Mint.
Past performance of the coin or the market cannot predict future performance.
Prices may be more or less based on current market conditions. Special offer is strictly limited to only one
lifetime purchase of 10 below- or at-cost coins (regardless of price paid) per household, plus shipping and
insurance ($15-$35), and state sales tax where applicable. Minimum order of 5 coins. Price not valid for
precious metals dealers. All calls recorded for quality assurance. 1/10-oz. coins enlarged to show detail.
America’s Gold Authority® Offer void where prohibited. Offer valid for up to 30 days or while supplies last. Coin dates our choice.You can also read
