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  • Meet Your New Neighbors

    Pat Doody, Welcome Hostess|Mar 2, 2024

    Elizabeth Mahurin moved to Tehachapi from California City at the end of December 2023. For the last nine years she had been living in California City while working as a substitute teacher, among numerous other jobs there. She retired on Dec. 22. Elizabeth had heard that Tehachapi was safe, beautiful and a nice place to live so she decided to check it out for herself. Accompanying Elizabeth to her new home is her service dog, a Jack Russell Terrier named Patches and two cats – Fernando, a 2...

  • State of the City presented at Chamber lunch

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Mar 2, 2024

    The first Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce meeting of 2024 was held on Feb. 20 at PDubs Mountain Bowling in Old Town. Following the fajita buffet, President Clare Scotti introduced the four new members of the chamber board. They are John Knight (Knight Building Services), Kristy Vasquez (Valley Strong Credit Union), Mitchell Abrego (1st Priority Auto Registration) and Julia Pence (6 Pence Bookkeeping). The program was provided by the City of Tehachapi. Before introducing the department heads, City...

  • GHCSD discusses solar field lease and sold waste rates

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Mar 2, 2024

    At their Feb. 15 meeting, the board of the Golden Hills CSD approved a $.20 monthly rate increase for residential solid waste collection ($23.68) and $.31 for commercial collection ($36.69). Joe Torres was at the meeting and explained that the increase was mandated by CalRecycle and affects all of California. The rate increases will take effect on July 1. Also being added in 2024 is a 64 gallon greenwaste container with a monthly rate of $11.14 residential and $19.55 commercial. Torres reported...

  • Close call for the Lady Warriors

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Mar 2, 2024

    On Friday, Feb. 23, the Tehachapi Warriors Girls Basketball team had a grand send off to the D-II finals against the Monache Marauders in Porterville. Friends and family waved as the bus reached the Highway 58 entrance lead by a police escort. After a valiant effort, the team fell to Monache, 41-37....

  • Council pledges support for Honor Flight

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Mar 2, 2024

    Vietnam veteran Steve Miles and American Legion Post 221 Commander Lynn Eckert attended the Feb. 20 City Council meeting with a request that the City of Tehachapi approve one $1,500 sponsorship for a veteran to make an Honor Flight trip. Miles and Eckert related stories of their time in Vietnam and a reception on their return where they were afraid to let people know they had served. By the end of their presentation, the pair, as well as the council members and the audience, were in tears. City...

  • Garrett named Honorary Commander

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Feb 17, 2024

    At the Feb. 7 meeting of the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council (GTEDC), Tehachapi City Manager Greg Garrett was named an Honorary Commander of the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base. The award was presented to Garrett by Danny Bazzell, Community Engagement Specialist for the 418th....

  • February is Safely Surrendered Baby Awareness Month

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Feb 17, 2024

    The Tehachapi City Council declared February as Safely Surrendered Baby Awareness Month at their Feb. 6 meeting. April Rincon, Danette Hipp and Antonia Ferer from Kern County Department of Human Services, along with Kern County Fire Chief Andrew Gibson, received a Certificate of Recognition from the Council. Ferer said that since 2006, there have been 98 babies surrendered at local Kern County Fire stations. This is a reminder that any unwanted newborn can be surrendered at any Kern County Fire...

  • Council vacancy, awards and pickleball at Feb. 5 meeting

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Feb 17, 2024

    The City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 5 to direct the city to publish a Notice of Intent to fill by appointment the District 5 City Council vacancy created by the resignation by Councilwoman Susan Wiggins, who is moving out of state. A second option for filling the vacancy would be to hold a special election that would cost the city more than $20,000. In either case the vacancy would be filled only until the next election in November 2024. The cost of the ad is estimated to be about $250....

  • Meet Your New Neighbors

    Pat Doody, Welcome Hostess|Feb 17, 2024

    Carmen Rae moved into her new home in Tehachapi in October, 2023. Her home is adjacent to that of her son and daughter-in-law Robert and Debra who built the home to accommodate a space for her. Robert and Debra moved to Tehachapi in 2021 with plans to build the home and were a part of a Meet Your New Neighbors article in November 2021. For the last several years, Carmen had been living in Palmdale, where her son Scott was living. Other than her two sons in California, she has a son, a daughter a...

  • Markos D1 dazzles on Green Street

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Feb 3, 2024

    On Thursday, Feb. 22 from 4 to 6 p.m., the Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the Grand Opening of their newest chamber member, Markos D1 Salon located at 113 S. Green St. in Downtown Tehachapi. Markos D1 has been distributing his brand of makeup and cosmetics since 2009. He is a Latin American singer and celebrity stylist who has a team of extensively trained hair artists located all over the world. His main headquarters is located in Dubai and he currently has boutique salons in...

  • New president elected at GHCSD

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Feb 3, 2024

    The board of the Golden Hill Community Services District selected a new president at their Jan. 18 meeting. John Buckley, the current president, announced that he would be stepping down. David Benham was nominated by Buckley and unanimously elected by the board. Joe King was elected to a second term again as vice-president. In his report to the board, District Manager Chris Carlson said that the district will be using water from the "Poor Well," a well that pumps only non-potable water, to fill...

  • Meet Your New Neighbors

    Pat Doody, Welcome Hostess|Feb 3, 2024

    When it came time to retire, Stephen and Tina Hankins began to look for a place to retire. The couple has been married for 23 years, and both had lived in Lancaster since the 1980s. Over the years, the couple found many of the neighborhoods had "gone downhill." They also needed to find a place to live that was nice and still affordable. They discovered that Tehachapi fit the bill and moved into their new community in December 2023. Stephen was born in Inglewood, California and raised in Canoga...

  • Capturing Kids Hearts initiative discussed at Rotary meeting

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Feb 3, 2024

    Jennifer Butler, coordinator of Instructional Support and Improvement for Tehachapi Unified School District, spoke to the Tehachapi Rotary Club on Jan. 18 about the Tehachapi Unified School District's initiative called Capturing Kids Hearts. The program is designed to give multi-tiered support to students, helping them deal with mental, social and emotional issues by focusing on developing self awareness, positive behavior and social interaction. Children are taught how to correct their own...

  • Fond farewell to Councilwoman Wiggins

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 20, 2024

    At the Jan. 16 meeting of the Tehachapi City Council, Councilwoman Susan Wiggins announced her resignation. She said she will be moving to Pennsylvania at the end of January with her son and his family. He has taken a job there and she understandably wants to stay close to him and her grandchildren. Susan Wiggins has been a member of the Tehachapi City Council since 2011 and represents District 5. She served as mayor-protem from 2016-2018 and mayor from 2018-2020. She grew up in Mojave and was...

  • Tehachapi Tourism Commission: Making Tehachapi a tourism destination

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 20, 2024

    Those of us who live in Tehachapi are aware of its picturesque landscapes, vibrant community, rich history and that it is now on the verge of becoming the next must-visit destination of Central and Southern California. Our town exhibits a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural richness that is just waiting to be discovered. From the charm of our picturesque downtown, with its museums and shopping, to the wine tasting rooms of Cummings Valley and the breathtaking views from the Tehachapi Loo...

  • Meet Your New Neighbors

    Pat Doody, Welcome Hostess|Jan 20, 2024

    Delores Strider, accompanied by her son Jim Jr. and daughter-in-law Michele, moved into their Tehachapi home in November. Just in time for the holidays. Jim and Michele lived in the bay area at one time but, now retired, moved to Oklahoma City four years ago to be with Delores following the death of her husband, Jim Sr. In 2023, together they made the decision to move back to California. On their way back to the Bay Area, they made a stop in Tehachapi and decided then-and-there that this was whe...

  • A dream holiday train layout

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 20, 2024

    Tehachapi resident John Bell has been a member of the Friends of Tehachapi Depot and the Tehachapi Loop Railroad Club for many years, as well as an active volunteer at the Depot Museum. Every year at holiday time he creates a model train layout that consumes much of the living area of his house. Bell starts constructing the G-scale layout in October, finishing just in time to host a Christmas party for the TLRC. The layout stays up until mid-January and takes him as long to take down as it does...

  • Council approves three planned projects

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 20, 2024

    At their January 16 meeting, the Tehachapi City Council approved a new fence to be located on the north side of the bike path that runs along Tehachapi Blvd. between Hayes St. and Steuber Rd. Development Services Director Jay Schlosser said that workers sometimes run their equipment across the path creating a hazard for pedestrians and bike riders. The fencing will be post and rail and placed one foot north of the concrete path. Openings will be supplied allowing for maintenance vehicles to...

  • TMRA Board of Directors hold first meeting of 2024

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 20, 2024

    On the evening of Jan. 8, the Tehachapi Mountain Rodeo Association (TMRA) Board of Directors held their first 2024 planning meeting. The group discussed the rodeos and other events they sponsor with the goal of finding ways to make the year more successful. Dal Bunn will again head the group as Chairman of the Board. The photo includes: (back row from left) Danny Primrose, Bob Helfritch, Kenny Finch, Lisa Newman, Amanda Plugge and Ariel Anderson, (front row from left) Tom Tully, Shawn Sprague,...

  • New Transportation Impact Fees will help pay for new infrastructure

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 6, 2024

    In a presentation before the Tehachapi City Council at their Dec. 18 meeting, Public Works Director Don Marsh asked that the Council approve updated Transportation Impact fees. The city had contracted with the firm TJKM, Inc. in November of 2021 to prepare updates to the City of Tehachapi/ County of Kern shared Transportation Impact Fee Program for the greater Tehachapi area. The city had used funds available through the state (Local Early Action Planning-LEAP, Regional Early Action Planning-REA...

  • Tehachapi blood drive, Feb. 14

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 6, 2024

    Houchin Community Blood Bank will be holding a blood drive in Tehachapi at the Vineyard Church on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. The blood drive will be sponsored by the City of Tehachapi and Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District. Houchin Account Coordinator Dillon Nunamaker spoke at the Tehachapi Rotary meeting on Jan. 4 and shared some of Houchin Blood Bank's history. Houchin Blood Bank was founded in Kern County in 1951 by Elmer Houchin and has been operating throughout the county ever since in an...

  • And the winners are...

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Jan 6, 2024

    At Jake's Steakhouse, on the evening of Dec. 21, two lucky winners each won a bottle of Macallan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, valued at $1,000. When Jake's owner, Barbara Ferrante, had accidentally purchased the whiskey, she decided to sell chances to win the bottles and donate the proceeds to the Tehachapi Cancer Center. One hundred tickets were printed and sold for $20 each. All tickets for the drawing were sold. The lucky winners were Adanae Faris, whose name was pulled by Jim...

  • Planning Commission updated on state HCD requirements

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Dec 23, 2023

    Every eight years the California State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requires cities to file a housing plan that shows that all levels of housing needs will be met for the next eight years, and include all new housing requirements of the HCD. The 5th Cycle Housing Element was filed in January of 2015. Cities within the state of California have been required to file a housing update every eight years, since the late 1960s, showing that they address housing needs for low, m...

  • Rotary brings Twelve Days of Christmas to seniors

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Dec 23, 2023

    On the morning of Dec. 12, members of the Tehachapi Rotary Club gathered at Mountain Bible Church to put together food boxes for seniors and needy families that had been donated by Tehachapi residents for Rotary's annual Twelve Days of Christmas drive. During the month of November, Rotary asked residents to fill boxes with specific food items for 12 days and deliver the filled boxes to City Hall, the Police Station, Mountain Bible Church, Tehachapi News and The Loop newspaper. According to...

  • Meet TVRPD's new Marketing, Recreation Specialist

    Pat Doody, staff writer|Dec 23, 2023

    Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District has recently added a new Marketing and Recreation Specialist to their staff. Sarai (pronounced Sara-E) Diaz comes to TVRPD from the Village Collective in Downtown Tehachapi, where she had been working as Administrative Assistant since August of 2018. Sarai moved to Tehachapi from the Coachella Valley with her boyfriend following her 2018 graduation from the Palm Springs campus of Cal State San Bernardino. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a...

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