Meet Your New Neighbors

Carol Figueria and Jack Tate wanted a vacation home in the mountains and last summer they found their Tehachapi getaway. Since they are only here about two weekends a month and were traveling in Italy in the fall, it took a while for me to give them an “official” welcome. It was almost December before we connected. When they are not in Tehachapi, they live and work in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angelescounty. Jack owns Tate Heating and Air Conditioning, “The Weather Changers”, located in Mission Hills. The business was started 50 years ago by his father. Carol has been in the manufacture of children’s clothing for many years. Her company sells to Target, Macy’s and other large department stores. Their dream is to one day retire and live six months in Tehachapi and six months in Hawaii, a perfect combination in my mind.

Carol was born in Long Beach, California, and her father was in the Navy. She has two brothers and one sister; however, none of them live in California. She also has a twenty four year old daughter.

Jack was born in downtown Chicago. In 1949 his family moved to California and settled in the San Fernando Valley. His mother and one sister live in Arizona and another sister lives in Hawaii. His son and daughter are both grown.

Jack has been coming to Tehachapi to camp for many years. Thirty years ago he purchased 40 acres on Cummings Mountain from the Cummings family. He said that the deed was written on a Ralph’s grocery bag. He keeps a trailer on the property and it has always been his family’s getaway. He built a small lake which he stocks with catfish and feeds them dog food. They seem to flourish. He claims to have the only horseshoe pit with a spectacular view.

Carol told me that she and Jack met at the twenty first birthday party of her daughter’s best friend. She said that she didn’t want to go and had to be convinced. Jack said that she “wowed “ him with her knowledge of football and that was that.

I know you both are looking forward to many years of fun in Tehachapi. Welcome!

After twenty two years of living in the community of West Hills in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles County, Lela Schwark has moved to Tehachapi along with her daughter. Gale is the oldest of her three daughters and was named for the 1950’s television star Gale Storm. Gale moved to Tehachapi to work for LRS Realty, the same company that employed her in Los Angeles.

Lela was born in Decatur, Michigan, and lived most of her life near Flint. She was raised on a farm, had horses and said “that was where she really learned responsibility”. She had to learn to be a handywoman and at one time she even broke horses. She said that she still thinks that the old ways are best. She held her first job at the age of ten, stacking magazines. At twelve she worked as a car-hop. While employed by AC Sparkplugs she was a line inspector and also learned to build a tachometer. Lela married and eventually quit work to raise her three daughters. She taught them to sew and they all made their own clothes. She told me that over the years she and her husband built two airplanes. This very accomplished lady explained that she can “bake a pie or fix a carburetor”.

Eat your heart out, fellas!

These days Lela really enjoys oil painting and some of her work is on display in the house. She still likes to sew and write music. She also likes metal detecting although she hasn’t been able to do that very often due to health concerns. Also, while Gale is at work, Lela is entertained by Sage, the family’s rescued Pit-boxer.

Lela’s two younger daughters are both in the military. Her middle daughter, Dale, is named for actress Dale Evans and is in the Air Force. Joyce, the youngest, has been in the Air Force for 20 years. She married a Marine while stationed in Japan and now lives in Texas.

Welcome to Tehachapi, Lela and Gale.

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.