Meet Your New Neighbors

When it came time to retire, Stephen and Tina Hankins began to look for a place to retire. The couple has been married for 23 years, and both had lived in Lancaster since the 1980s. Over the years, the couple found many of the neighborhoods had "gone downhill." They also needed to find a place to live that was nice and still affordable. They discovered that Tehachapi fit the bill and moved into their new community in December 2023.

Stephen was born in Inglewood, California and raised in Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley with his sister. He has two daughters and a son from a previous marriage. He joined the military out of school and was assigned to work on Tomahawk missiles. He spent 22 years working for a billboard company before becoming a circuit board designer for a company in Pasadena, California. Stephan said he was trained for that position by his father-in-law. He now spends much of his free time working in the garden.

Tina was born in Hollywood and says that her mother still lives there. She has two sisters and three sons from a former marriage. She and Stephen met online.

Tina said her hobby is the craft of rock painting. She takes smooth river rocks and paints lovely designs and messages on them. She then sells them at craft fairs and other events.

Joining them in their Tehachapi home are their two small dogs, Rocky and Olive. Although they are different ages, they share the same birthday, May 2.

Welcome to Tehachapi, Stephen and Tina. We know you will enjoy your new home with its lovely view of the local wildlife and hope you have many fun adventures here.

If you have moved to Tehachapi within the last six months, Hilltop Welcoming Service has a bag of information about the Greater Tehachapi area, including local 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.