Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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"Bound By War: A Memoir of Love, Friendship and Survival" was released last month, authored by Todd Lander, a resident of Bear Valley Springs for more than 19 years. Just before his 20th birthday, Todd was drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1967. After his initial and airborne training he was sent to Vietnam to be a grunt with the 101st Airborne, to spend a year in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam during the most tumultuous time of the war. Friendships were made and lost that year,...
Not long ago I wrote about my father's purchase of a piano for our family in the amount of $75. It was money given World War I veterans as a bonus for time served. It was called The World War then, "The War To End All Wars." Later, of course, it had the number one attached to it to differentiate between it and World War II. Getting back to the piano, I resurrected this little piece about a piano with a past. On Sunday mornings, when our church choir is practicing and warming up before Mass, we a...
The College is hosting a Veterans Benefit Webinar via Zoom on Thursday, Aug. 6 from 6 to 7 p.m., highlighting information on how to enroll as a student and receive military educational benefits at Cerro Coso Community College. Discussion topics will provide a brief overview of education benefits; processes for the G.I. Bill and CalVet Fee Waiver; college resources and the new MyVRC App. Those attending are encourage to preregister in advance of the workshop at www.cerrocoso.edu/event/virtual-veterans-benefits-webinar. After, registering...
I seem to be stuck in the past. Some, the long past and some just my past. It's so interesting to me, anyway. Besides some good things happened that will be lost if they're not told. Actually, the world would not stop turning if all was forgotten, but I recall reading some U.S. History books in high school that would have been more interesting had they brought in a few side details instead of "just the facts." Later on, I was really rankled when one of my children's high school history books...
Father Wesley Clare, pastor of St. Jude's Anglican Church and Chaplain in the National Guard, commemorated his retirement from service in the National Guard on June 28 at St. Jude's Anglican Church. As with most celebrations these days, the event was delayed a few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several chaplains and other military personnel who served with Father Clare over the years as well as members of his congregation and assorted friends and family attended and enjoyed a delicious...
Jennifer Leigh Williams (affectionately known as "Petes"), 55, of Tehachapi, Calif., passed away on Tuesday, June 9, after a long battle with auto-immune disease and chronic pain. She was born on April 14, 1965 in Panorama City, Calif. to Andre and Barbara Wetta. Originally from Redding, Calif., Jennifer worked in the Antelope Valley as a Financial Consultant for 14 years. She opened her independent office, J. Williams Personal Financial Planning, Inc., in Tehachapi in 2008. Later that year,...
The Kiwanis Club of Tehachapi and partner organization Boy Scout Troop 136 delivered American flags on Flag Day, Sunday, June 14. Shown at a subscriber home, from left, Kern County firefighter Armando Leon and his son Breck, Assistant Scoutmaster Del Baker-Medlock (back row) and his sons Jaden and Kody Baker-Medlock. The Kiwanis Club Stars and Stripes Flag Display Project teams deliver (and pick up) big American flags to the front yards of subscribers within the Tehachapi city limits on six...
Moments after the last notes of "Taps" fade away from a lone bugler, you can hear the "ka-KER-ker" calling of nearby California quail. Two men in spotless military uniforms remove the American flag from a silver casket, triangle-fold it, and present it to a grieving relative. The honor guard is dismissed. From the lower branches of a big valley oak, the liquid warble of a meadowlark drifts upward. Another funeral service has ended at Bakersfield National Cemetery, tucked serenely into the rollin...
Happy 50th Birthday, Bear Valley Springs! That's right. Our community is now 50 years old and counting. In the late 1960s, Justin Dart had a vision of this valley as a great getaway community for people from the city, and at the start, that's what he thought it would be – a recreational community for people to visit on weekends and holidays. But, somehow, along the way, families started to move in and retirees thought this would be a great place for fulltime residence. Now, here we are, 50 years...
This year, 2020, will go down as one to be noted in history. I don't know exactly what will actually take place this Memorial Day, but it will be different. Probably, it will stand out in our memories but quite doubtful that future citizens, not yet born, will even know about unless it be given a paragraph in new history books. I sound cynical but sometimes when I mention on Dec. 7 that it is the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, they say, "Oh, really?" Even President Roosevelt said it...
Caltrans District 5 is joining state and local partners to host a series of webinars for small business owners beginning Thursday, May 7. The SB/DVBE Certification Webinar Series: This introductory series will provide an overview of the state certification options for small business and disabled veterans business owners and an introduction to Cal eProcure, the state’s online procurement website. A facilitator from the Department of General Services will guide virtual attendees through a series of webinars to register businesses on Cal e...
David Schulgen, who made a career in the wind industry starting from its early days in the 1980s, had unambivalent feelings about wind energy when it arrived in the Tehachapi Mountains: "I hated wind turbines. We raised cattle in Oak Creek Canyon, and I liked to explore the hills around Tehachapi, and I didn't like the wind turbines coming in." His feelings toward the wind industry evolved. But it took some time. The wind industry still didn't exist in the area when Dave graduated from...
For the second year in a row, City of Tehachapi employee 23-year-old Tiffany Rea, has been named Miss Kern County for the Miss United States Pageant. In 2019, Rea as Miss Kern County was a first runner-up for Miss California United States. Shortly after she earned this title, she was approached to register as Miss Nevada, where she had resided at one time. As Miss Nevada she placed in the top 10 contestants for the Miss United States title. Rea has been competing in pageants since she was 9...
While doing some research at Beale Library back in 1987, a mere 33 years ago, I could not resist copying some events listed in the old 1920 Tehachapi News. It gave such a delightful glimpse into those days of yesteryear. The dates of the temperatures occasionally skip a day. I searched ahead for February and March. Often people say, "We've never had weather like this in January before." Note the 79 degrees on Jan. 18, 1920. Now we can't say it's not global warming. We can just say, "Yes, we...
I just realized that this week was my deadline week for my column. With the "silent killer" flu lurking around my mind was elsewhere. I have found shopping online is quite interesting but I miss the satisfaction of the personal touch of tossing things in a shopping basket. I've been busy at home, however, praying and keeping track of friends and how they are doing. We stay cheerful and since we have no place to go or meetings to attend we have more time to stop and smell the flowers, so to...
My family and I are praying for health and comfort for our communities and our nation during this unprecedented time. The COVID-19 Pandemic has had far-reaching effects on our health care systems, our economy and our daily lives. The operations of government on all levels, including the County of Kern, has been drastically altered over the past several weeks, and no one knows for sure how long the current situation will continue. As your Second District Kern County Supervisor, I want to assure...
Gary Davies is a lifelong Tehachapi resident and military veteran who has found solace and satisfaction in hand carving assorted animals out of wood. Gary, who was born in Tehachapi Hospital in 1959, has many talents and has spent his life working with his hands. His father taught him to weld when he was only 11 years old, and he worked as a welder for the Navy and in Texas oilfields. He has also worked in vegetation management, landscaping, carpentry and masonry. The Veterans Administration...
Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars facilitates an essay contest called the Voice of Democracy, that allows high school students to express themselves in regards to a patriotic-themed recorded essay. The VFW started this program in 1947 and awards scholarships on a local, state and national level. This year's theme was, "What Makes America Great," in which a high school student from Nebraska won at the national level and was awarded a $30,000 scholarship. At the local level, we are excited...
Officials for Los Angeles County Air Show “Aerospace Valley USA®,” presented by Lockheed Martin, are pleased to announce that the March 21-22 event will feature one of the most robust performer line-ups in the air show industry. Event organizers officially announced additions to the line-up including the U.S. Navy F-35C Airshow Team from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team and aerobatic performer Chuck Coleman. NAS Lemoore was the first West Coast naval installation to host the F-35C. Lemoore’s F-35Cs...
I want to share a photo of Fitz Fulton and Bob Hoover that was taken by Mike Owen at the retirement party held for Dan Sabovich in 2002. These two men, Fitzhugh Fulton and Bob Hoover, are decorated veterans of World War II and Korea and were participants in legendary flight test work with the U.S. Air Force. I love the photos we have of the many illustrious test pilots that have flown in the skies over Edwards AFB, California City, Boron, North Edwards, Rosamond, Lancaster, Palmdale and Mojave....
The monthly Tehachapi Honor Flight Kern County (HFKC) Veterans' Breakfast took place Dec. 28 at St. Malachy Catholic Church's McMullan Hall. Approximately 125 veterans attended and were greeted by Santa. Every veteran went home with a gift. Honor Flight Kern County (HFKC) is one of 136 hubs from around the country that is part of the Honor Flight Network. HFKC is an all volunteer non-profit created to honor veterans of Kern County and surrounding areas and veterans as far away as the San...
Wreaths Across America is an annual national observance celebrated by communities in respect for all deceased veterans, everywhere. This year it was held on Dec. 14. The observance is in REMEMBRANCE of fallen veterans from all wars, conflicts, or police actions. The placement of wreaths HONOR those veterans who served their country, often unseen, with quiet dignity and full allegiance. Generational in its observance, it helps to TEACH the value of freedom. The holding of these national...
Local Native American blues band, Blue Mountain Tribe, recently won their second Native American Music Awards honor for their song, "Children on the Rez." Blue Mountain Tribe was awarded Best Live Performance at a ceremony on Nov. 2 and in 2016, they took the honor of Best Blues Band. The band includes Caleb Hairston on lead guitar, Robin Hairston who plays harmonica and provides vocals, Pat Mata on drums and James Bixler on bass. I'm proud of and so impressed by this local band. According to...
Members of American Legion Auxiliary Tehachapi Unit 221 celebrated the 100th anniversary of The American Legion Auxiliary during the November Veterans Day luncheon. Members pictured - Nancy Palmer, Gwladys Peterson, Cindy Velador, Patty Greenelsh, Linda Carmichael, Pat Gracey, Sandy Phillips, Paula Raboy, Kathryn Johnson, Cynthia Baird and Charlene Sherman....
At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, Tehachapi Veterans joined together in Central Park to honor those who have served our country in uniform. Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District, American Legion Post 221, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 221, Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders Chapter 221 were the event organizers....
