Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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Newer Tehachapi residents who have wondered what it was like back in the old days, when there used to be more snow, don't have to wonder any more: our snowstorm on December 26 was like the winter storms that used to be a yearly occurrence. In fact, the speed of this snowfall would be exceptional during any year, past or present – we went from having no snow at all to having a foot and a half in less than 24 hours. Even in previous decades when we routinely got more snow, it would typically t...
I was involved in the early days of the California Condor Recovery program, prior to the capture of all the remaining birds in 1987 in a last-ditch (and ultimately very successful) effort to prevent their extinction. We suspected that lead poisoning was one of the leading causes of condor mortality, caused by ingesting bullet fragments from carcasses and hunter's gut piles. We wanted to take blood samples and check their lead levels, but there were only 22 birds in existence and the U.S. Fish...
My Dad was in the British Army during World War I. When he was only 19, he got captured by the Germans and taken to a military prison camp in Germany. It was newly built and had wooden barracks surrounded by barbed wire – like the camp in the old Hogan's Heroes television show, though that took place in World War II. My Dad hated being a prisoner and was constantly trying to figure out how to escape. One night when it was misty and kind of foggy he got his chance. He managed to wriggle his w...
A cozy mystery is crime fiction where sex and violence are downplayed with humor and lightheartedness. The story can start with something minor, beginning with a series of small events, such as is found in a short story. I came upon one of these "shorts" recently that I thought would fit the perfect setting for a cozy murder... The Poinsettia Fiasco The poinsettia didn't seem to suffer at all. But it was the harbinger of catastrophe. It started with Uncle Joe bringing his sister a lovely...
Reminding us of snowstorms of years past, the storm on Dec. 26 dropped about 12 inches of snow throughout the Tehachapi area....
Reminding us of snowstorms of years past, the storm on Dec. 26 dropped about 12 inches of snow throughout the Tehachapi area....
Toshimi Kristof took this photo of elk after it rained in Bear Valley Springs on Dec. 8....
The Tehachapi Natural Market is ready to start the new year with a new vibe and wants you to celebrate with them. The Market, located at 20221 W. Valley Blvd., did a soft opening almost exactly two years ago and was warmly welcomed by the community but now they're ready to do a grand opening. Owner Teresa Dunlop is excited about the changes they've made. "I brought on a partner in November with fresh eyes and new ideas. It was just what we needed. We've added seating, brought in new merchandise...
New Year's Day is usually a fantastic day to show up at the Mountain Valley Airport, Tehachapi's local glider port, to see pilots fly an open canopy event or open cockpit flying. However, with all of the snow blocking the runways, it was not possible to do any flying. The airport measured over 32 inches of snow the day after Christmas 2019. Jane Barrett who, with her husband Larry, is the owner/operator of the Mountain Valley Airport, said that this is the most snow they have seen since the...
Why is this question even being asked? Because the obvious answer is four wheel drive (4WD). But, for many people the expense of a 4WD can’t be justified, so chains it is. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of both. There’s little question if you’re driving up and down snowy roads with some regularity that four wheel drive (or all wheel drive as it’s sometimes termed) is the better option. In many countries Subarus are one of the most popular brands, and it’s a common sight (and selling point) to see a Subaru cruising past the ch...
Do you or someone you know have a trailer and love camping in the desert? We are looking for volunteer camp host(s) to stay at Saddleback Butte State Park, near Lancaster at the western end of the Mojave Desert (an hour north of LA). Duties include greeting visitors and campers, selling firewood, light grounds maintenance, light restroom cleaning, and opening/closing gates. It’s a small campground in a quiet park, although spring may be busy if we get a good wildflower bloom. Daily work hours d...
Steve Shaw is a Master Falconer and will speak about how hawks, eagles and owls are different and the use of hawks and falcons in falconry. He will also discuss major threats to raptors and songbirds. Steve will bring a falcon and Harris hawk for the program which is open to folks having a picture taken with a raptor in hand. He will also speak about the Nature Park in Golden Hills (Tom Sawyer Lake) which is a site for falconry. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 and is held at Golden Hills Elementary School, 20215 Park Rd. in...
It was late last year that Jesus (Jess) Lopez, his wife Julia Ramirez Lopez and their three young daughters moved to Tehachapi from Norwalk, Calif. They wanted their little girls to be brought up in the safer and more secure surroundings offered by our mountain community. Over the last ten years, they had been visiting Jess' sister here and thought it was a great place for the kids. They always loved coming here. Jess was born and raised in Long Beach, Calif., with his two sisters. His parents...
In response to the need for more teacher and staff collaboration time in order to more fully meet the needs of their students, the Tehachapi Unified School District has built in eight late-start Wednesdays over the school year that will allow for these two hour planning sessions. In order to allow for the state required number of annual education minutes, each of the schools have had to adjust their schedules to allow for enough banked minutes to cover the planning meetings. The three...
Kern County Public Health Services Department has received confirmation of the first flu-related death in Kern County for the 2019-20 flu season. The Kern County Public Health Services Department encourages residents to get their flu vaccine annually. An annual flu vaccine is the first and best way to protect against the flu. “We encourage our residents to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Matt Constantine, director of Kern County Public Health Services. The flu can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and som...
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve’s two-day volunteer training for the 2020 spring wildflower season will be held on Saturdays Feb. 1 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn about the wildflowers, wildlife, history and volunteer duties at the training, and then meet people from around the world who have come to see our beautiful wildflowers! Volunteer opportunities include staffing the visitor center and gift shop, walking the trails, and/or leading tours. Volunteers may range in age from student to senior citizen and no experience or p...
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Have you thought about your New Year's resolutions for 2020? When many of us make these promises, we focus on ways we can improve some form of our health. We vow to get more physically healthy by going to the gym, or we promise to improve our mental health by learning a new language or instrument. But it's also important to think about our financial health – so it's a good idea to develop some a...
For a fifth year in a row, Kern Community Foundation is hosting Give Big Kern, Kern’s own official online Day of Giving that takes place on the first Tuesday in May and boasts the participation of more than 100 local nonprofits yearly. It truly is “One Day to Celebrate the Giving Spirit of Kern County!” In 2020, we are looking for greater participation from nonprofits in Kern’s rural, mountain and desert communities. Give Big Kern is the recipient of the 2019 Beautiful Bakersfield Award for helping to create “A Better Bakersfield.” In 2019, th...
Maybe you don't want to watch any more of those "how to replace a toilet" videos you had to look up last summer, but YouTube is still recommending them. Or maybe you listened to "Macarena" by Los Del Rio on Google Play to prove a point, but now you're over it. How do you make Google forget? We know Google collects lots of data about how we use their services. Google separates that data into three categories: YouTube search and watched videos; Maps/GPS location info and Web & App Activity. Those...
It's another New Year. Many of us have made our resolutions. We've decided on things we want to do with this new year. Perhaps there are bad habits we want to break, good habits we want to develop, things we want to learn, reduce our clutter, meet new people ... so many things to choose from. And our Tehachapi Library can help us with many of them. Of course, you can go and check out books on a wide variety of topics. Don't forget that when our branch library doesn't have a book you're...
Tehachapi Community Theater and Mazzola Media present Gary Michael Mazzola and Friends with Special Guest Jerry Mulkins. Suzaan Botha - Violin Amy Rodriguiz – Stand Up Bass Bob Schetter - Guitar Maria Weir – Bass Guitar Doug Jockinsen - Cajon Bob Buelin - Guitar Dave Seymour - Drums ONE SHOW ONLY! Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 online at www.tctonstage.com. Gary and Friends have played five concerts since 2013: "Night of the Crescent Moon," "Get Back to Eden," "Night to Remember," "Mr...
According to a recent survey, 76 percent of Americans reported having at least one financial regret. Over half of this group said it had to do with savings: 27 percent didn't start saving for retirement soon enough, 19 percent didn't contribute enough to an emergency fund, and 10 percent wish they had saved more for college.1 The saving conundrum What's preventing Americans from saving more? It's a confluence of factors: stagnant wages over many years; the high cost of housing and college;...
For the last several months, Andi Hicks has been knitting "diversity dolls." The "Buddies," as she calls them, are doing much more than sharing hugs and cuddles. It all started when Andi's friend Judith Campanaro showed her some dolls she had made. Judith called them "Cuddle Hugs." Andi thought her grandson would like the dolls and asked Judith for the pattern. Andi said, "Judith gave me the pattern on one of the windiest days of the year when she was getting on the bus to go to Bakersfield....
The Stallion Springs maintenance crews were kept busy during the Christmas week snow storm. The crew spent the day Thursday and well into Friday keeping the roads in Stallion clear. Thanks to the crews for their fine work. Clean up Day Clean-up Day is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Stallion Springs CSD parking lot. If you have big bulky items, plan on bringing them for easy disposal or recycling. Bulky item pick up for seniors and disabled adults is available. Call...
Don’s Pro Technology Auto Repair (DPT) is on track in January of 2020 to have four ASE Certified Master Technicians employed. These four technicians represent two-thirds of DPT’s technician staff. These master technicians are more than likely the highest concentration of master technicians employed by one shop in Tehachapi. Why this is important for consumers is detailed below. ASE Certification Program helps take the guesswork out of finding a good technician Finding a competent auto technician need not be a matter of chance. Much of the gue...
