Stone cold fun!

While you're out and about at this year's Mountain Festival be sure to stop by the Tehachapi Valley Gem and Mineral Society's 14th annual Jewelry, Gem and Mineral Show at the Tehachapi SENIOR CENTER. Vendors will be showing and selling beautiful showcase minerals, fossils, polished rocks, beads and handmade jewelry. With a variety of vendors and displays, visitors will have the opportunity to investigate lapidary techniques, minerals and gems, silversmithing, a variety of unique jewelry and fossils. Come out and enjoy the Gem Show on Aug. 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tehachapi SENIOR CENTER, 500 E. F St. in Downtown Tehachapi.

Back by popular demand, TVGMS is again selling raffle tickets for several great prizes: two gorgeous purple, crystal Amethyst pieces and an Orthoceras fossil (pictured). The show will be your final opportunity to purchase a ticket. Remember, the proceeds fund our annual scholarships given to Tehachapi High School students. The winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3 p.m. You do not need to be present to win. There will be additional raffles featuring many beautiful and distinctive items from the various show vendors.

In addition to shopping the wares of the vendors and investigating TVGMS, kids (and adults) will have the opportunity to spin the always popular spinning wheel with many exceptional prizes such as fossilized shark's teeth, ammonites, beautiful minerals and polished rocks. We are definitely family-friendly so bring the kids by for a fun and educational experience as there are always interesting things for children to see and do. Be sure to check out "Geode cutting" on the patio – let's see what's inside!

This year TVGMS will be holding several silent auctions over the weekend. Be sure to stop by the Senior Center patio and bid on gorgeous rock slabs from the local area, lapidary tools, handcrafted jewelry and other rockhounding items.

TVGMS will have drinks available for a nominal price as well as TVGMS t-shirts.

See our ad in the special Mountain Festival edition of The Loop on stands Aug. 9, clip and bring the coupon to the show for a free fossilized shark's tooth!

If all this sounds like something you would like to be involved in, join TVGMS for its regular meetings the fourth Thursday of each month at Tehachapi SENIOR CENTER, 500 E. F St., at 7 p.m. TVGMS is a nonprofit organization of rock hounds interested in lapidary studies such as rocks, fossils and jewelry making. Follow us on Facebook or at http://www.TVGMS.org. Come out, get involved and make some friends!