Meet Your New Neighbors

Craig and Marsha Huff had been looking for a home in Tehachapi for two years before they found their mountain retreat and were able to move from Bakersfield. Craig still commutes to Bakersfield, where he is Vice President of Merrill Lynch.

Craig was born in Tehachapi. Many people may remember Dr. Troy who delivered him. He attended local schools, and it was while at Tehachapi High School that he showed a great deal of promise as a charcoal artist. Although he no longer draws, a number of his artworks hang in their Bear Valley home. After working in insurance for a couple of years, Craig turned to the financial world and has been a stockbroker since 1986. When he is not working, Craig likes to hike and can often be found walking the mountain trails near their home in the company of Max, the couple’s Husky.

Marsha was born in Mobile, Alabama. Her father spent 45 years in the insurance industry with Allstate but was also with the FBI for nearly 10 years. Her brother currently lives in Atlanta and her sister is still in Alabama. Marsha left home after high school to attend Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma. That is where she met and married Craig. She worked for Dillards in Tulsa for a while. The couple eventually moved to California where she worked for Allstate Insurance until their children were born. At the age of 40, Marsha learned to play the harp. This gorgeous instrument sits in the middle of their living room and I had the honor of hearing her play a new version of “Waltz of the Flowers” that she was learning. Marsha is also a superb quilter. Although she has made traditional quilts, she likes to experiment with design in her upstairs studio/sewing room.

Craig and Marsha have three sons. Nick lives in Bakersfield and is working for Bland Solar. Middle son, Clinton, lives in Chico and is involved with food safety certification. Joel, the youngest, is a chiropractor in Menlo Park and is the father of their two-year-old granddaughter Alyse.

Craig and Marsha will soon be off for a trip to Orlando which will be business for Craig but fun for Marsha. Welcome to Tehachapi and we hope you have a wonderful trip.

Dave and Dale Martin have come to Tehachapi from Arroyo Grande on the Central Coast. They wanted to be closer to Dale’s parents, who live in Hart Flat and their oldest son, Adam, lives in Tehachapi. Dave is currently working for Vanguard Wholesale in Tehachapi, and Dale is a Massage Therapist at Natural Health Massage and Spa on Valley Blvd. in Old Towne.

Both Dave and Dale were raised in the Bakersfield area. Dave went to Bakersfield College to be a land surveyor following in his father’s footsteps. His grandfather and great grandfather were also surveyors. In 1917 his grandfather had four oil wells on Rosedale Highway. He told me that his great grandfather had been murdered over an oil property dispute in Bakersfield. Dave also told me that his mother once moved to the coast and then refused to come back forcing his father to commute. He has a very “colorful “family. Both Martins have always been active members of their church community and Dave spent 10 years as Youth Minister for Calvary Chapel in Bakersfield.

Dale says that she has worked at many things over the years from a barrista to a stockbroker. She loved horses and was a competitive endurance rider. She has ridden a 50 mile ride from Calico Ghost Town and one from Santa Cruz, among others.

For their 25th anniversary, the Martins went on a camping trip to Colorado. They liked it so much that they decided to stay. In 2003 they finally moved back to the central coast of California.

Dale home schooled all four of their children. Adam is a surveyor and owner of Adam’s Tractor. Amy and her four children have moved to Tennessee. Amanda and her two children are in Colorado. Jordan has a degree in geology and he and his family live nearby.

Dave and Dale have both traveled extensively on church missions. Dave has taught in Africa, Romania, Spain, Bolivia and Mexico. Dale has also been in Israel and was involved with the “Reconciliation Walk”, a pilgrimage of atonement for the crusades.

For now they are content getting to know their new surroundings

If you have moved to the Greater Tehachapi Area within the last six months and would like to know more about your new community, call 661-822-8188. We will be happy to make an appointment for a hostess to come by and give you lots of helpful information, some valuable coupons, gifts and much more. Many families and individuals who come to the area are pleasantly surprised with the amount of knowledge they gather about their new home. Publishing your welcome article is completely voluntary and is not a requirement of being welcomed.