TVRPD now offering Lifeguard Certification Classes

At their board meeting on Feb. 20, Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Parks District (TVRPD) announced an upcoming season full of sports and events, and reported on some of their recent successes and hardships.

Registration for co-ed youth baseball and volleyball are currently open through March 14 and Summer Adventure Camp registration will open on March 11. Visit http://www.tvrpd.org/youth-sports for more information or to register.

The Polar Plunge, which was held on Feb. 19, will now become an annual TVRPD President's Day event. Out of the 65 people in attendance, about 50 of them were willing to undertake the frigid plunge into the Dye Natatorium Pool at Jacobsen Middle School. Additionally, lifeguard certification classes are being offered May 1-5 for $150 and TVRPD will be hiring lifeguards in March and May. Call (661) 822-3228 for information and registration.

Meadowbrook Park has had a rough patch of vandalism over the past months. On Jan. 24, a storage shed was broken into and vandalized. Fortunately, the work vehicle normally stored in the shed was out being repaired and the City of Tehachapi brought over some chemical graffiti remover for a fast clean-up. That was however, the first of two hits, with the second one being far worse. The vandals returned to Meadowbrook on Feb. 16, where they proceeded to hit the bathrooms, storage shed and irrigation building with, "some of the worst graffiti we've had during my time here," said Operations Manager Kent Beal.

The city's chemical cleaner was again able to remove all the graffiti except on the irrigation building, which is made of wood and was unable to take the cleaner. The inside of the bathrooms will need a repaint by summer due to the paint-stripping nature of the cleaner. Despite the free chemical remover and aid from the city, the vandalism attack will cost TVRPD $1,500-$1,700 in repairs. The Tehachapi Sheriff Station is looking into the incidents, which are believed to be a group of middle or high school kids. Please call (661) 861-3110 to share any potential tips or information on the case.