Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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The Sisterhood of the Crooked Crown (SOCC) is a local nonprofit, fiscally sponsored by the United Way of Kern County. Their mission is to bring hope to women in recovery. The organization is currently comprised of a board of dedicated women, headed by President Liz Hartgrove. Hartgrove explained the main value the SOCC is to promote a practice of women supporting women. "We're here to straighten another woman's crown without telling the world that it was crooked," she said. Before moving to...
Lori Cisneros, Mrs. C to her students, holds a master's degree in education and has been a teacher for over 19 years. During those years she has taught at public and private schools and most recently in a local homeschool charter setting. She currently teaches at Cisneros Farm Workshops on her very own farm located in Tehachapi's Alpine Forest community. Drawing on her education and nearly two decades of pedagogical and country living experience, she has developed a unique curriculum to teach...
On April 14, Rotarian Marian Stephens gave a craft talk to the Rotary Club of Tehachapi. Stephens has 45 years of experience in public education. She was a teacher, an assistant principal, a high school principal for 21 years and she served as a superintendent for a total of 10 years in both Pennsylvania and California. She was the first female superintendent in Tehachapi. Fifteen years ago, Stephens began what she refers to as her second career as a consultant and expert witness in cases that...
On April 7, Josh Pierce, president of the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council (GTEDC) explained the purpose and focus of the GTEDC to the Rotary Club. The main purpose is enhancing the life of the people who live in the greater Tehachapi area, not just the city. This includes all the outlying areas that play a part in our community such as Keene and Sand Canyon. Pierce said that the GTEDC wants to build strong partnerships with public and private entities. Although the GTEDC will not...
I had the privilege of speaking with a trio of 17-year-old girls who throw negative teen stereotypes out the window. You may already have heard of some of them - it's hard to hide bright stars of promise in a small town like ours. Layla Lujan, along with her brother Milo, was named 2021 Citizen of the Year by the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce and Tehachapi News, in part for starting and working in the Sunday Soup For the Soul soup kitchen at The Shed restaurant since 2018. Trinity...
Father Wes Clare of St. Jude's in the Mountains Church recently shared some of the local church's history and the journey on which God has led them. The church building, located on South Curry Street in Tehachapi was originally built in 1982 by the congregation itself, some members of which were licensed contractors. A fairly modest place of worship, it's a lovely and serene space. There's even a charming stained glass window in the east wall, above the altar, which according to Father Wes...
Caregivers are often overworked and underpaid. They do the menial and backbreaking work of caring for people who lack the ability to care for themselves - things that are vital to promote the quality of living for their charges. Caregivers take on the responsibility of providing for the physical and emotional needs of people who for a variety of reasons need that level of care. Some caregivers are paid for their services, but often they are the friends or family members of the patient and care...
Alcoholism and drug addiction have plagued society for centuries. It's nearly impossible to find someone who has not been affected by this disease, whether personally or through a friend, loved one or coworker. The ongoing opioid crisis has exacerbated an already serious problem. Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon and other 12-step programs have been around for almost a century, bringing hope and healing to communities. Alano clubs were later created to give 12-step groups a more permanent place to...
The last Golden Hills Community Services District (GHCSD) meeting was held in late January and was attended by several community members who were greatly concerned about possible plans for the Golden Hills Nature Park. Recently, there has been some discourse about what to do with the 187 acres that currently make up the park, which used to be a golf course and is currently under the care and management of the GHCSD. However, the GHCSD was looking for community input and feedback on a video they...
On Feb. 10, Tehachapi Mayor Phil Smith and City Manager Greg Garrett were guest speakers at the Rotary Club's weekly meeting. The Mayor spoke first, sharing about several improvement projects the city is working on. "Grant money isn't that easy to get," he said, "but we have a staff that is very dedicated." Thanks to their dedication, grants have funded several city improvement projects, including that of planting 400 trees in an effort to "re-oak" the valley, mitigate greenhouse gases and beaut...
Popcorn is one of those foods that we automatically associate with fun and having a good time. We correlate popcorn with carnivals, the circus and school festivals. I'm pretty sure there's an unwritten law that a movie theater cannot call itself a movie theater unless it offers mountains of buttery, crunchy popcorn at the concession stand. I know I'm dating myself with this one, but who remembers standing on a chair to reach the stovetop and arguing with siblings about who could shake the Jiffy...
You may recognize Fran Cook, a local realtor with RE/MAX Tehachapi, a mom and community volunteer. But what you may not realize is that she is also a USAF veteran, having served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991. She turned 21 overseas. Cook and her unit loaded a C-5 aircraft with all the gear they would need to set up a mobile hospital. When they finally departed, they flew into Goose Bay, Canada for a very quick layover, stopped in Germany for a couple of hours and...
Last summer, I was enjoying time with my family over an informal meal at my parents' house in West Golden Hills. We were using plastic cutlery to save us from having to wash dishes afterwards. I noticed that my plastic fork wasn't white, but a beige color with a greenish-brown tinge. I picked up the container and was impressed to discover that the plastic was completely biodegradable since it had been made using avocado pits. Aside from the color, it looked and felt like any other sturdy plastic...
On Dec. 16, local songwriter and children's book author Rob Saranpa signed his book The Night Jesus Met Santa Claus for patrons and fans at the Tehachapi Christian Store. Adriana and Peter Garthwaite, owners of Tehachapi Christian Store have made Saranpa's book available for purchase in their store. "We love Tehachapi," said Adriana Garthwaite a few moments before the book signing was scheduled to take place. "We always want to support the community and further the Gospel." Saranpa told about...
On the evening of Dec. 18, the community of Tehachapi came together at Freedom Plaza on the corner of Tehachapi Blvd. and Curry St. after laying over 720 holiday wreaths on the tombstones of every veteran in Tehachapi's Eastside and Westside cemeteries for a brief yet moving ceremony. Tehachapi was only one of over 3,000 communities across the country to participate. The mission statement of Wreaths Across America is "Remember, Honor, Teach." Ideals that were embraced that day. Jason Stanley, Co...
On Dec. 14, Tehachapi braced for a winter storm that dumped up to 6 inches of snow in the valley and even more at the higher elevations. Several roads were temporarily closed because of the snow, including Hwy. 58 and Tehachapi-Willow Springs Rd. Tehachapi area schools sent students home when the snowstorm began on Tuesday and remained closed through Dec. 16. Classes resumed on Friday, Dec. 17, just in time for a 2-week winter break starting on Dec. 20....
The Rotary Club of Tehachapi and the Tehachapi Lions Club have been working hard to make sure seniors have what they need to enjoy this holiday season. Both clubs selflessly serve the community's less fortunate residents. Lions Club president Vicki Satalino said that for the last ten years or so, Tehachapi's Lions teamed up with the Bakersfield Christmas For Seniors program, which has been featured on KGET 17 News. "There are so many programs for children," she said, "but we don't have a whole...
There are several changes to the board of the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council (GTEDC) that were announced at their last meeting. Lydia Chaney, president of the board, has stepped down, and Josh Pierce of Adventist Health will be replacing her. In a statement, Chaney expressed gratitude to the GTEDC for five great years serving the business community. "It's time to pass this along to a younger person. Josh [Pierce] has a lot of great ideas.... He's the right person" for the job,...
Most Americans love to ring in each new year by counting down at midnight on Dec. 31 and watching fireworks either in person or on television. Lots of us love to watch the ball drop in Times Square in New York City on New Year's Eve and the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. on New Year's Day. We hug and kiss and dance. We make (often futile) resolutions. And although lots of countries and cultures celebrate when we do, there are many who don't. Perhaps the most familiar is Chinese New Year, which...
I recently went through the McDonald's drive-thru near the corner of Valley Blvd. and Tucker Rd. in Tehachapi. As I emerged I saw a T@B Sofitel teardrop camper hitched to an ordinary car (not a truck), parked with the driver standing nearby, apparently stretching his legs. As a tiny house enthusiast and an admirer of all things mini, I was intrigued. I rolled down my window and called out to the man, "How do you like your little trailer?" "I love it!" he called back. "Do you want to take a look...
On December 4, the Tehachapi Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church officially celebrated the fact that they paid off their mortgage and now own their property and buildings outright. They actually paid off the mortgage last year, but as we all know, 2020 was a pretty tumultuous year and many celebrations were cancelled or postponed. Before the Tehachapi SDA Church was established, Seventh-day Adventists from Tehachapi drove to Mojave to meet and fellowship. But in 1985, they began meeting at the Co...
The Tehachapi Mountain Alano Club had a very successful Thanksgiving dinner and marathon meeting event. According to Alano Club president Jim Walker, "It was beautifully decorated" and "very well attended." The food was good and plentiful and the spirit of recovery and thankfulness was alive and well. Too often for alcoholics and addicts, the holidays from Halloween through the New Year festivities are fraught with isolation, temptation and sadness. That's why it's so important to have a way to...
On Dec. 8, the Bakersfield National Cemetery Support Committee unveiled the Avenue of the Flags, 44 new American flags and flagpoles lining the gently curving road leading to the Upper Assembly Area of the cemetery and also sweeping down away from it. It's a graceful circular drive, lined with stately and gorgeous ceremonial flags. Dick Taylor, president of the Support Committee, stood in front of five rather impressive military branch insignia pillars and addressed those gathered including...
On Nov. 17, the Golden Hills Community Services District (GHCSD) met for their regularly scheduled board meeting. Despite some technical difficulties, I was able to view most of the live-streamed meeting. A proposal to annex a property in unincorporated Tehachapi in the vicinity of Schout Rd. and Hwy. 202 was thoroughly discussed. The property owner has plans to open an assisted living facility, but needs access to water. Although there is currently a well on the property, it has been deemed...
Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley Hospital hosted a gathering on Nov. 18 in the peaceful garden area west of the hospital in honor of Christina Scrivner as she stepped down from her Director of Philanthropy position. Colleagues and friends came together to show their respect and appreciation for her passionate and tireless years of service to the hospital and community. When an attendee asked Scrivner's assistant Peggy Mendiburu if she would be replacing Scrivner, Mendiburu answered simply,...
