Meet Your New Neighbors

Jake and Jessica Nelson moved to Tehachapi in September. Although they didn’t move a great distance, they are much closer to Jake’s work with Homeland Security in Bakersfield.

Jake was born in Palmdale. His father now lives in Orange County but his grandparents live in Agua Dulce and he has a sister in Acton. He joined the Army and stayed for nine years. On his release from the military, it was this experience that helped to attract the attention of Homeland Security. He is currently working with I.C.E., Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in Bakersfield and is commuting daily.

Jessica was born in the San Fernando Valley but grew up in Canyon Country. She is a middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. Until the family moved to Tehachapi, she had a career as a preschool teacher. Now she has a new home and two active children to keep track of. Keeping her on her toes is four year old Trenton and two year old Topanga.

When I asked them what their hobbies are, both answered “anything outdoors and anything that will keep the kids busy.” I vaguely remember that feeling from so many years ago. Jake and Jessica are also parents to two French bulldogs who stayed out of the way during our visit.

Welcome, Jake and Jessica, enjoy your new beautiful home and Tehachapi.

Judith Campanaro moved to Tehachapi from Hanford, Calif. last spring at the urging of her daughter, Teresa, who lives in Tehachapi. The busy art teacher considered the proposal and quit everything to make the move. Judith was working with P.S. Arts in Bakersfield and was assigned to an elementary school in Hanford and Avenal. P. S. Arts is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing an arts education to students in rural public schools. Now retired in Tehachapi, Judith is hoping to find her niche in the Tehachapi art community.

Art has always been a part of Judith’s life. She was born in San Jose, Calif. but lived in Santa Barbara through junior high school. Her father was a mechanical engineer who worked for the government. She has a sister who now lives in Hawaii. The family moved to Ojai, in Ventura County, when she was a sophomore in high school and she attended and graduated from Nordhoff High School. Her art abilities caught the notice of her high school principal who asked her to teach art classes.

For ten years she operated The Hobbit School of Art in Ventura. Her personality and teaching methods attracted the attention of psychologist and doctors who began to send her patients. She went back to school and received her BA in Psychology and two master’s degrees in art therapy. She wrote the book “Art for the Soul: The Healing Magic of Creativity”.

Finding that she could not practice therapy in California without further certification, Judith worked and taught all over including Ocho Rios, Jamaica. She worked with social services at the Reno/Sparks Indian Colony, worked with at-risk kids at Child Haven near Seattle, Washington and taught in Tempe, Ariz. She is still teaching online classes at Brandman University. Her work eventually brought her to the Arts Council of Kern. It was through the Arts Council that Judith was connected with P.S. Arts. She also worked with Dignity Health in Bakersfield to start the “Art Cart” at Memorial Hospital.

Judith added that she did once take a break from the art world. When a drunk driver drove his car through her studio, destroying it, she went to massage school and became a massage therapist and for a while she worked with the LA Raiders.

Since moving to Tehachapi, she has begun to connect with the local art community. She has appeared at this summer’s Farmer’s Market and various other community events selling her art and as a face painter.

Judith says that so far she is enjoying the slower pace of retirement. She still loves to write and we are delighted to say that Loop readers will soon have the opportunity to read some new articles that she will be writing for us.

Welcome to Tehachapi, Judith and we look forward to your articles.

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.