User Posts : Tehachapi News

Up, Up and Away for Gracie Girl

Gracie Girl, a purebred Yorkie, couldn't get along with the other female Yorkie in the house and they fought constantly. Life was miserable for Gracie's family and they worried over the dogs hurting if not killing each other.

In desperation, Gracie's family called STOP, Save Tehachapi's Orphaned Pets, and asked if we could find a new home for Gracie. Luckily, we just adopted out a dog so we had a foster home available. But the question was--would Gracie get along with other dogs? Was she adoptable?

Yes. Gracie was fine with other dogs, even other female dogs. So what caused the problem between Gracie and her housemate? STOP consulted several experts in the field of dog care and everyone agreed that the problem was more than likely due to the fact that neither of the dogs had been spayed and that both dogs wanted to be alpha dogs.

Spaying at this late date may or may not have saved this relationship. Certainly, there wouldn't have been peace overnight and Gracie's family couldn't take the chance of the dogs getting into it again and the other female's puppies being harmed.

STOP posted Gracie on www.petfinder.com and told her story. A few days later an application to adopt Gracie came via email. The applicant said she was already in love with Gracie just from her picture and that she wanted to adopt her.

STOP reviewed the application and set up the adoption. On Labor Day at 12:15 PM, Gracie's new mom flew into the Tehachapi Airport
to pick Gracie up and take her to her new home in Santa Ynez.

Gracie's new mom reports that Gracie is doing well and that she is everything she dreamed she would be--a good little dog.

One ramp closure this week, one next week

One ramp closure this week, one next week

Two ramp closures are scheduled for State Route 58 this week and next,
according to William Duford, paving superintendent for Granite Construction,
primary contractor of the current California Department of Transportation
road rehabilitation project.

On Thursday, Sept. 4, the State Route 202 (Tucker Road) eastbound off ramp
will be closed through the morning until 11:00 a.m.

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, the State Route 202 (Tucker Road) westbound on ramp
will be closed through the morning until 11:00 a.m.

Both the closures are scheduled to accommodate asphalting.

Pen In Hand

A vibrant and eye-catching mural celebrating the 100th anniversary of the cement plant at Monolith has recently been completed in downtown Tehachapi, causing motorists on F Street to slow down and admire it as they drive by.

Painted by well-known muralist Art Mortimer with the assistance of several local artists, the large installation covers most of the south wall of the St. Vincent de Paul building on the corner of F and Green Streets.

The mural features a dozen different images from Monolith’s past, from its earliest days in 1908 manufacturing cement for use in the Los Angeles Aqueduct to the plant modernization project in 1990. The resulting collage spreads across the building like a tastefully done page from a giant scrapbook.

Newer residents may regard the plant as a distant curiosity, its towering infrastructure illuminated at night like a strange amusement park. But for longtime residents, Monolith looms large in our consciousness. The plant was the major employer here for about 75 years and thousands of families over the decades depended on Monolith paychecks.

There was once a thriving townsite across the road from the plant (it is depicted on the mural) and some older residents living in Tehachapi today attended school at Monolith Elementary before going to high school in town.

Also included on the mural is an image of the Monolith Store, which was a popular stopping place for gas and groceries and was the only business east of town between here and Mojave. It was owned and operated for many years by the colorful Ed Tompkins, who was basically the Mayor of Monolith. The store persisted until 1971 and its closing rang the final knell for the now-vanished community of Monolith.
The company itself has undergone a few name changes, from Monolith Portland Cement Company in 1921 to Calaveras Cement Co. in 1989 to the present Lehigh Southwest Cement Company beginning in 1995. Lehigh donated $10,000 towards the cost of the mural.

“We were glad that we could contribute,” said Lehigh accounting manager Duana Frerichs Pera, a Tehachapi girl whose grandfather helped build the silos at Monolith in the 1930s. “It’s not about the company, it was done to honor the workers,” she emphasized, “Main Street has done a fantastic job and everyone here at Lehigh is excited.”

Monolith is known for the dedication and hard work of its employees — many don’t retire until they have labored over 40 years in the east end of our valley, making cement used in concrete projects large and small, from the Los Angeles Coliseum to Tehachapi sidewalks, from bridges and roads to the foundations of tens of thousands of homes.

With a plant that operates to some extent around the clock, every day of the year and has always paid good wages, Monolith has historically offered stable employment and a better life for those without much education and even to those with limited English skills.

Many neatly-kept older homes in Tehachapi belong to working class people of Hispanic descent whose families were supported by a wage earner at Monolith. To honor that heritage, an image on the mural depicts members of the Ursua family at one of the Safety Picnics the company once provided for workers and their families. A number of Tehachapi Indian men have also been on the payroll at Monolith over the years.

It is not a job without risk: over the years men have died in quarry accidents and electrocutions and truck crashes and been killed or maimed in machinery. Even with the plant automation in 1990 that reduced the workforce from 450 employees down to 125, working at Monolith (the site continues to be known as Monolith, even though the parent company name changes) can still be a demanding job that is not for the weak or idle.

A large celebration is being planned to dedicate this new mural, which is the eighth in a series of historical murals in downtown Tehachapi presented by the Tehachapi Historical Murals Committee and Main Street Tehachapi. A portion of F Street will be closed for the dedication which will be held on Saturday, September 13 and will feature guest speakers, music from the Tehachapi Pops Orchestra and refreshments and food. All interested people are encouraged to attend, with a special invitation extended to past and present Monolith, Calaveras and Lehigh employees.

Muralist Art Mortimer was assisted by additional artists Terry Asher, Lyn Bennett, Allyson Gray, Caitlin Johnson and Alicia Shabra. Dylan Welch and other scouts from Troop 136 performed the prep work to get the building ready for the mural project, using sandblasting equipment generously loaned by Sunbelt Rentals of Palmdale.

Have a good week.

Airport accolades

Tehachapi Mayor Deborah Hand presents Francis Pugh, right, and Robert Meyer, Jr., left, with certificates of appreciation for their service as airport commissioners. Pugh served for four years; Meyer for three.

“The airport's in great shape, thanks to you,” Hand said as she made the presentation at the Aug. 18 city council meeting. The certificates say that the men, “represented Tehachapi Municipal Airport as an Airport Commissioner during a period of significant growth and numerous improvements.”

Fault not determined in service dog traffic death

A pedestrian traffic accident at Valley Boulevard and Aspen Drive that injured a 62-year-old legally blind woman and killed her service dog remains under investigation, Tehachapi Police Chief Jeff Kermode said.

“We haven't determined fault,” he said. “But the law is pretty strong in favor of a blind person.”

He said, on the other hand, that a seeing eye dog “is supposed to judge traffic.”

The intersection is midway between Curry and Tucker, streets where the closest traffic signal lights are. The section of Valley Boulevard where the accident took place has no painted crosswalk and is where two north-south streets, Aspen Drive and Mountain View, are offset and do not line up.

Diane Deutsch, the injured pedestrian, said in a report on KGET Channel 17 that she had asked the city to put in a cross walk at the location and that she could not bring herself to venture across the street there again.

According to City Manager Greg Garrett, the area is one of the sites the city has identified in its long-term planning and “we are trying to signalize.”

Garrett said he knows of no other accidents that have been reported at the site.

Deutsch and her service dog, a Laborador Retriever named Aki, were crossing Valley Boulevard northbound to Aspen at 7 p.m. on August 23 when they were struck by a westbound Toyota Corolla driven by Alexander John Hughes, 19, of Tehachapi.
Police said that Deustsch received emergency treatment at the scene and was flown by helicopter to Kern Medical Center. Her injuries included a broken wrist and facial bruises.

Police took Aki to a veterinarian, where he died of internal injuries.

Hughes remained at the scene and was interviewed by officers.

Police are seeking additional witnesses to the accident. Anyone with information is asked to call Tehachapi Police Department Senior Officer Scott Ketcham, 661-822-2222, ext. 113.

Public support makes the Tehachapi Depot fundraiser a huge success

The Aug. 23 concert fundraiser held at Marx Central Park was an overwhelming success, netting over $3,700 for the completion of the Tehachapi Depot. Those attending were treated to a concert by local musicians joined by special guests.

Speakers such as Del Troy, local historian, related the history of the railroad and the Depot and added their memories of the days when Tehachapi depended on the passengers and freight that passed through the Depot doors. Donations, drawings for door prizes, and T-shirt sales all helped raise funds.

The event was emceed by City Councilman Ed Grimes. The musical program was put together by Tehachapi Mayor Debby Hand and the logistics were handled by Larry Barrett, of Coldwell Banker Realty. Many other volunteers helped, particularly Claudia Henson, Shane Reed and Holly Hart.

The funds raised at the concert will go to help in the rebuilding and to complete the Railroad Museum to be housed in the Depot. The Museum and park surrounding the Depot will showcase the Stokoe Collection of Railroad items, including the signals that were featured by Huell Howser in a segment of California Gold. Howser plans a return visit the once the Stokoe items are on display in the rebuilt Depot.

Several misconceptions about the funds needed to complete the Depot have been heard lately. While it is true that the City of Tehachapi had insurance on the building, the policy is for replacement value, not for $I million dollars as some have heard. At replacement value, the insurance will help rebuild the Depot to a level of completion at the time of the fire. There is no easy calculation as to what level of completion was reached, although there have been estimates ranging from 85 to 90 percent.

As the planning progresses, the level of completion will be determined. Once the insurance company pays its portion to help rebuild the Depot, RDA funds previously budgeted by the City will be used towards the project.

The “Back on Track” committee, formed to help make up the shortfall in funds, is made up of a of volunteers from the Friends of The Tehachapi Depot (FOTD), the Tehachapi Heritage League, Main Street Tehachapi and other individuals. Collected funds will be transferred to the City of Tehachapi, which is acting as the lead agency in rebuilding the Depot. Funds may be used for construction, landscaping, and installing the Railroad Museum in the rebuilt Depot. The goal for completion is to have the Depot open in time for the 2009 Tehachapi Centennial Celebration.

Donations are tax deductible under the IRS nonprofit status of the FOTD. To make a donation or to plan a fundraiser, contact Charles White, “Back on Track” chairperson at 972-0958.

Mama Hillybeans to host literary discussion group

Mama Hillybeans would like to invite lovers of literature and discussion to reserve the first Monday evening of every month for coffee, community and lively discussion of Nobel Prize winning authors. Come have a cup of tea or coffee and share your impressions of some of the finest pieces of literature written. We’ll start with Hemmingway’s, The Sound and the Fury.

The November selection is Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ One Hundred Years of Solitude. Find your copy from high school or college, swing by the library of stop in at your favorite book store, read and plan to join in with questions and intrpretations. Even if you don’t have time to read or finish the novel, feel free to come and sit in . Mama Hillybeans is located at 426 E.Tehachapi Blvd.

From Tehachapi to Beijing in 2009

With the tremendous interest of the Olympics this past month and the desire to teach the local community about the culture, Father Joel, of St. Malachy's Catholic Church, is leading a tour group to the region October 12-22, 2009. As a former resident missionary in China for 14 years, he has vast amount of common knowledge of the region.

While the event is nearly a year away, Father Joel wants to give the participants plenty of time to get their funds together while preparing those who sign up with interesting factoids about the event. The trip is filling up so he wants to let all of the community in on the fun.

Departing from San Francisco, the group will first visit Beijing, touring the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven as well as the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.

As the trip continues, they will fly to Xian, visiting the Wild Goose Pagoda, Forest Steles and City Wall, Tang Sing and the Dancing Show, Qin Tomb excavation, the archeological ruins of Ban Bo Village and visit Hua Qing Hot Spring for a relaxing mineral bath.

Later in the tour, the group will fly on to Shanghai, visit the Huanpu River, Yu Garden and Jade Buddha Temple. While there, they will see an acrobatic show, have lots of free time to look around the region before heading back to the United States.

The trip's cost will be around $2,500, according to Father Joel. There is a down payment of $200 due by October 2008. Refunds are available only until February 2009. All meals, airfare, hotel accommodations and tour activities will be covered for that price. To learn more about this limited once-in-a-lifetime event, please contact Father Joel Davadilla at St. Malachy's Catholic Church in Tehachapi, 822-3060.

THS alumni named Teacher of the Year

Peggy Buckley, daughter of Phyllis and the late Thurman Belcher, has been selected as Stanislaus County Teacher of the year. Peggy attended Tehachapi schools from second grade through high school. After graduating from Tehachapi High School, she received her Bachelors degree from University of Kansas.

Peggy teaches first grade in Ceres, Calif.

She said, “It's not an exaggeration to say that teaching is in my blood. My grandparents and my parents were teachers. From an early age I saw the challenges faced, the sacrifices made and the struggles encountered by teachers. I chose to teach anyway. For me, being a teacher isn't just a job. It's who I am.”

Along with the honor, Peggy received a $1,000 cash award to use in her classroom

Thunder on the Mountain showers cash upon local charities and scholars

The thunder has faded, the crowds have all gone home. The 11th annual Thunder on the Mountain 2008 Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show is considered by all to be a “roaring” success, raising a total of $16,000 for local charities, scholarships and civic organizations.

A total of 321 registered vehicles ranging in age from a 1905 Horseless Carriage to PT Cruisers and everything in between to satisfy everyone’s tastes.
With almost 90 trophies awarded, there were a lot of happy entrants. With the registration fees, raffle tickets sold and the $50/50 drawing, proceeds of more than $16,000 was raised for local charities. This year two $3,000 scholarships for students pursuing teaching careers and a $1,000 scholarship for automotive education were awarded to graduating Tehachapi High School students.

Lynne Maize won the 383 Stroker motor from Adams Metalizing buying just one ticket. Clinton and Janet Gareis won the stainless steel BBQ from Home Depot.
As tradition demanded, at noon engines were started and revved to create the show’s name sake, Thunder on the Mountain. Everywhere one looked, there were smiles on every face as the roar took over the city.

The work the car show committee members put in was evident everywhere, from parking to trophies, trash cans to portable comfort stations, every aspect of the show planned in great detail, all coming together to host the greatest car show Tehachapi has ever experienced. Hoods up to the men and women of the Tehachapi Car Club who worked tirelessly for 7 months to put on the car show. When asked why they do it, they just smile and ask, if you had a good time... “that’s why.”

Thunder on the Mountain 2008 proceeds will benefit the following charities and civic organizations:
Relay For Life: $5,000
Eileen McPhee Memorial Scholarship: $4,000
Automotive Industry Scholarship: $1,500
Optimal Hospice: 2,000
Railroad Depot Restoration Fund: $1,500
Open Door Christian Ministry: $500
Tehachapi Humane Society: $500
Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce: $500
Tehachapi City Explorers: $300
Tehachapi Moose Lodge: $200
Checks will be presented Wednesday, Sept. 10, at noon, at Railroad Park.

Get in Step for the 2008 Walk for Life

The Family Life Pregnancy Center (FLPC) is celebrating in red, white and blue for the 15th annual Walk for Life slated for Saturday, Sept. 27. This year's theme is “Life, Liberty and Justice for All!”

Registration for the Walk begins at 8:15 a.m. at the Family Life Pregnancy Center located at 112 South Curry Street in the Door of Hope building. During registration walkers and friends will enjoy live music by the Grace Angel Band. The two mile walk starts at 9 a.m.

Sponsor forms for walkers are available at participating churches and at the Center. The FLPC will be responsible for collecting all the pledges.

Participants are invited to set aside a couple of hours, grab their walking shoes, stroller, bicycle or skateboard and join in this community fundraiser. Last year more than 100 participated and raised approximately $13,000. The goal for this year's walk is to double the number of walkers, and surpass the amount raised last year.

This fundraiser is an opportunity to gather sponsors, enjoy an easy stroll with friends, and raise funds to benefit a local organization. All money raised will remain in Tehachapi to assist those in need locally. The services the FLPC provides include: free and confidential pregnancy tests, education on all options, information on prenatal care and nutrition, childbirth education classes, medical and social service referral, parenting education and material assistance through the “Earn While You Learn” program, post-abortion counseling, adoption referrals, assistance during pregnancy, abstinence education, and date rape prevention. The Center is not a medical facility.

This Walk for Life is a community event and open to anyone who would like to join in the fun in support of the Family Life Pregnancy Center.

Computer keyboarding classes for adults

Tehachapi High School's Regional Occupational Program will be offering a 12-week basic computer keyboarding class at the high school on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. beginning Sept.r 23 for adults and high school students between 16-18 years of age.

There is a $20 material fee for adult students. Skills developed in this course will be a planned, step-by-step process that will familiarize and guide students from simple to complex assignments. Individuals will gain useful knowledge in learning to operate the computer itself, especially the keyboard, and continue until the computer can be used as a tool in creating a variety of documents for personal and business usage. Space is limited. To receive further information and/or reserve a seat in the class, please contact Lori Andreasen in the THS Career Center at (661) 822-2148.

4-H offers hands-on learning experience

4-H is an organization for youth, ages 5-19, that promotes hands-on learning and is based on parent and volunteer participation, developing citizenship, leadership, and life skills.

Projects range from rabbits, poultry, horses (large and mini), sheep, goats, steer, swine, arts n crafts, gardening, foods and nutrition, sewing, cake decorating, food preservation, and many more.

For more information please call Brenda Smith at 822-1461, or Debbie Tangren at 822-6308

4-H meets the first Tuesday of the month at the Tehachapi Vetrerans Hall at 6 p.m. next meeting scheduled is Tuesday, Sept 2.

September Chamber of Commerce Mixer

Please join the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce at our September Mixer hosted by RE/MAX Tehachapi in celebration of their 20th Anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be Hors d'oeuvres and a No-Host Bar.

Chamber Mixer's are excellent way to network your business. You have an opportunity to meet other business-oriented people and let them know what you have to offer.
RE/MAX is located at 798 Tucker Rd, Ste 1. For more information, please call the Chamber at 822-4180.

Local REALTOR® e-PRO® agent utilizing technology to provide consumers with state-of-the-art services

As more and more consumers begin their search for real estate related information on the Internet, it is critical that real estate professionals are well educated in the use of technology to the benefit of both the consumer and the agent and/or broker.
Realizing the importance of technology training, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) now offers its members the e-PRO certification course — the only technology certification program offered by NAR. The program is designed to prepare real estate professionals to make the most of Internet technology and to identify, evaluate, and implement new Internet business models. The elite group of course graduates represents only one percent of all REALTORS® in the country including Mary Gilman of Town & Country Real Estate.

"The real estate industry has undergone a fundamental change over the past five years," Mary Gilman said. "Today, more than 70% of all buyers and sellers begin their search online. As an e-PRO certified agent, I have knowledge and tools needed to provide my clients with the information they need and the customer service they demand. It's both hi-tech and hi-touch."

The REALTOR® e-PRO certification course is an educational program unlike any other professional certification or designation course available, comprehensive and interactive. It is specifically designed to provide real estate professionals with the technology tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home.
For more information, email Mary Gilman with Town & Country Real Estate at marygilman@earthlink.net or call her directly at her office, (661) 822-3311, or on her cell, (661) 332-4357