Meet Your New Neighbors

Daryl and Melissa Pereira were looking for a slower paced environment in which to raise their three children. Both of them had been raised in Ventura County and for many years had loved to visit their friends in Bakersfield. During those visits they would often take trips up to Tehachapi, especially after a snow. Early this year, when they learned a house on 2-and-a-half acres in Sand Canyon became available, they jumped at it even though their 12-year-old son might have to miss the last two months of school. They arrived in Tehachapi in March.

Daryl is an experienced CNC machinist, a skill he has had since high school. However, while he is hunting for a new position, he is taking some time to fix up the new house. He has been so successful that some of his neighbors have suggested that he become a handyman since Sand Canyon does not currently have one.

Daryl and his two brothers were raised in Ventura, their parents came from Portugal. Daryl said they were brought up on two different islands in the Azores; his dad on Terciera and his mom on San Miguel. They immigrated to the United States and settled in Ventura where he and his brothers were raised. Daryl is proficient in jujitsu and enjoys riding BMX bicycles.

Melissa was raised in nearby Oxnard and has an older brother and younger sister. The couple, however, did not meet in California. They actually met through friends in Rhode Island. Both of them love music. Melissa plays bass guitar and Daryl plays drums. Daryl said at one time he worked for Drum Workshop. Both he and Melissa enjoy skateboarding and were very excited to learn that Tehachapi has a skate park.

Aside from being kept busy with setting up a new house, they are also busy running after their three very active children, Landen (1 and a half), Sadie (6) and Curren (12). Helping to keep the children entertained is a variety of the most unusual household pets anyone can possibly imagine: two lizards, a tarantula and a rosy boa.

"A big Tehachapi welcome" to the Pereira family and their budding zoo.

Jim and Melanie Hackler moved to Tehachapi from Coarsegold, Calif., a little town in Madera County where they had lived for 25 years. Originally from the Bay Area, they had moved to the Sierra foothills because of Melanie's allergies and to get out of the coastal rat race. On a trip across Hwy 58, they discovered Tehachapi and were impressed by how nice the people were and how clean the air was. It wasn't long before they decided to move here. They arrived in the spring of this year and love the area.

Jim was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His dad was in the Navy so he wasn't there very long. His family moved when he was 4 years old and he became a true Navy brat. He spent his high school years in Hawaii and then he joined the Navy. Years later he ended up in San Jose, Calif.

Melanie was born in Riverside, Calif. but moved to New Jersey at the age of 7. She has five brothers and a sister. She was married and divorced, ending up in San Jose where she raised her two sons. She worked in real estate for 15 years and for part of that time was a mortgage broker. She met Jim who was Parts Manager for a Caterpillar dealership. They became best friends but it was 20 years before they decided to get married.

According to Melanie, she likes to work in the garden and Jim's favorite hobby is working and playing with his dogs. Daisy Mae is a blue tick hound mix who was abandoned as a pup. Poppy they suspect may be part Dachshund and was adopted from the pound. Melanie said that Jim also likes to cook and is really good at it. Of course, Jim said he also likes to ride his motorcycle.

We are delighted to welcome Jim and Melanie Hackler to Tehachapi.

If you have moved to Tehachapi within the last six months, Hilltop Welcoming Service has a bag of information about the Greater Tehachapi area, its activities, events, government and facilities. There are always a few coupons and gifts as well. It is a great way to learn about your new community. Being part of this column is strictly optional. If you would like a visit from the Welcome Hostess contact our office at (661) 822-8188.