Forde Shorts

Determined director – Ten-year-old Phoebe Morgan-VerHagen of Tehachapi co-directed two of the 10-minute plays recently presented in Tehachapi Community Theatre's Playwright's Festival. Phoebe's mom, Tanya White, said her daughter began asking her when she was four years old how she could get on television. "It's a phase," White thought, and agreed to take her to auditions in Los Angeles and find an agent. One day as they were at Sony Studios, they shared an elevator with Steven Spielberg. The renowned director and White traded smiles and he exited. "Mom, who was that? Did you know him?" Phoebe asked. White explained who he was and what he does. Phoebe considered for a moment and said, "That's what I want to do." While her ultimate goal is to be a doctor, she's been learning stagecraft at TCT, including lighting, acting and sound, and has appeared in five plays in a year and a half. Phoebe got the opportunity to direct when Playwright Festival producer Kenny Chugg asked her to try it. White and husband Patrick homeschool Phoebe (stage name Phoebe Morgan) and her eight-year-old sister Elyse Nicole Morgan-VerHagen. White said Tehachapi offers opportunities to children. "We live in a town that sees a child and just goes with it," she said. Phoebe co-directed the charming "Pig Tail" by Joe Godfrey with Monica Nadon and "Braided" by John Nase with Emily Marin and Brynn Turpin.

New rules...coming soon – Waste Management (WM) will be introducing new requirements for recycling and trash pickup as it takes over the Benz operation in Tehachapi. At the Buy-Back Center on Dennison, where you can take in plastic and glass in return for money, no official rules have been posted, although it helps to separate different color bottles and different types of plastic. Public Sector Solutions Manager Josh Mann told Forde Files that according to WM District Manager Barry Brunenkant, who oversees the facilities and operations in Tehachapi, no official changes have been made yet at the Buy-Back Center. "All of the Benz facilities and operating policies are being reviewed for safety, efficiency and ease of use by both employees and customers," Brunenkant said. Forde Files did discover, however, that people bringing recyclables into the center will need to wear close-toed shoes. No flip-flops, people!

Energy plus – Forde Files spotted Michelle Vance at Central Park on the morning of July 5, helping crews dismantle some of the structures left from the July 4th festivities and collect banners. "I love to do this," she said, as she plucked banners off the bandstand. "It's peaceful." Vance is leaving her position as Tehachapi's Economic Development Coordinator to become manager of the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District.

Hospital update – Tehachapi Valley Healthcare District CEO Eugene Suksi told the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council on July 5 that a lot of people want to see the inside of the new hospital, which is going through inspections and licensing. It's not possible to open the doors to the public, he said, until OSHPD (Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development) says it's OK. Adventist Health will be operating the hospital. "We are moving into landlord status," Suksi said. "We spent $3.5 million in the last two weeks on final construction claims."