User Posts : Tehachapi News

Boy Scout Troop 135 news

The Boy Scout Troop of Bear Valley Springs participated in the yearly camperall held at Keyesville in the Lake Tahoe area.

The theme for this years’ camperall was “Duty to God and country.”

Five hundred, fifty-eight scouts and adult leaders from troops in Ridgecrest, Bishop, Trona, Lake Isabella, Tehachapi, Wasco, Bear Valley Springs and Bakersfield were present. Each area was represented in competition that included basic first aid, tomahawk throwing, archery, log cabin building, knot tying, monkey bridge, gold panning, fire starting and more.

Points and ribbons were awarded for skills with Troop 135 awarded second place overall, which stresses successful team work.

Michael Minjares and Luke Papac were honored to be “called out” during the presentation. They will be troop representatives at the Order of the Arrow ceremony in June at Camp Kern.

Scouts attending were Michael Minjares, Luke Papac, Ryker Newman, Dylan Welch, Sammy Stephens, Sean Cameron Heller and Mark Minjares. Adults attending were Traci Minjares, Bob Stephens and scout master Tom Lynch.

Troop 135 also conducted the flag ceremony at the Tehachapi First Baptist Church on the National Day of Prayer. Scout Sean Cameron Heller read the pledge to the Christian flag.

A weekend treat for troop 135 was an overnight camping trip to the Thursday Mine near San Diego. Assisted by co-owners Tom Hess, Rick Casey and Bob Papac, the scouts chipped lepidolite, a form of mica, and collected samples of rocks and insects. They camped at the site and cooked outdoor meals.

Those attending were Ryker Newman, Michael Minjares, Sean Cameron Heller, Luke Papac, Eric McMullen, Sammy Stephens, Triston Silva, Traci Minjares and assistant scout master Tom McMullen.

Recently the scouts finished their yearly project of clearing a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.

THS Lady varsity team champs

The THS Lady Warriors varsity softball team has won the league and is now the SSL championship. They are on their way to CIF and all their fans send their best wishes and support.

Legal Eaze

Q. I hired a contractor to turn my two-car garage into a three-car garage. The contractor collected a deposit of 10 percent plus a material deposit and the remainder of the contract was to be paid when the work was completed. After completion of the project by a sub-contractor, I paid the contractor the remainder of the contract price. The sub-contractor later informed me that he had not been paid by the contractor and that he was filing a mechanic’s lien on my house. Can he do that?

Not unless (1) the sub-contractor served you with a 20-day preliminary notice before he began work, or sometime during or immediately after his work was completed or (2) the sub-contractor had a direct contract with you. If a contractor (as opposed to a subcontractor) has a direct contract with you, there is no 20-day preliminary notice requirement. The contractor is allowed to file a lien within 90 days of completion of the project and then has 90 days in which to foreclose on the lien, which can be done in small claims court.

Q. I went to a lawyer for a legal consultation and my girlfriend came with me. I discussed a family law matter with him. My girlfriend knows everything about my marital problems. The attorney warned me that although he was bound by the attorney-client privilege, my girlfriend was not. What did he mean by that?

It means that anything that is discussed in an attorney’s office is a privileged conversation and the attorney cannot discuss it with anyone else who is not affiliated with his own office. However, your girlfriend is not an attorney and she is not bound to secrecy. She does not have a duty to keep what was discussed in her presence a secret. As a result, if you ever have a fallout with her, she might discuss your private affairs with anyone she chooses to discuss them with and there will be nothing you can do about it. Hence, when you go to your attorney’s office, it is not always a good idea to bring someone with you. I realize that you may feel the need for mental support from a friend, but that defeats the purpose of the attorney-client privilege. Anyone else present in the attorney’s office, other than his staff, is not bound by that privilege.

Maxine deVillefranche is an attorney and civil general practitioner with 13 years of experience. She operates her law practice from her Tehachapi office as well. as her Lancaster satellite office. She will answer legal questions posed to her by the readers, to the best of her abilities. Forward your questions to maxinedev@msn.com or fax to (661)825-8880.

Local Optimist receives award, club works with youth

Pacific Southwest District Optimists held their third quarterly recently at the Bakersfield Double Tree Hotel in Bakersfield. Optimist International president Michel Listenberger attended as PSWD guest of honor and was the keynote dinner speaker on Saturday, May 6.

A special tribute to Optimist veterans was presided over by PSWD Governor Doug Smith at a luncheon held on Saturday and also at a banquet honoring veterans in an evening processional ceremony, which included many local area veterans.

Tehachapi honerees who were individually recognized with a special certificate for their service to our country included Sam Raboy, who served in the Navy on a destroyer tanker in the Pacific during 1945 to 1947 and Manny Terrezas, who served in the Army during 1986 to 1987.

Over 50 Optimist veterans attended the weekend tribute. Raboy has been an active member with the PSWD for more than 39 years.

Entertainment was provided on the first evening by the Kern County Mariachi Youth Group and the Bakersfield Deep Treble, who sang a selection of patriotic songs including “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Sunday brunch concluded with the oratorical contest themed “I am Unique Because…,” where two winners were acknowledged. The boy and girl PSWD level winners were Brian Boise, with the greater San Fernando Valley Optimist Club as sponsors; and Keiko Osumi, with the Five Cities Optimist Club as her sponsor.

The two winners each received a $1,500 scholarship. The final level of competition will be held in July at the Optimist International Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

“Bringing out the best in kids” is the Optimist International motto. Among some of the many ways the Optimists support youth are essay contests, oratorical contests and through community support of the Junior Optimist Octagon International Club at the elementary and high school levels. Presently, an area communication contest is being conducted for the deaf and hard of hearing.

If you are interested in volunteering service to youth and community projects, have lunch with the Optimist members on Tuesdays at noon at Kelcy’s restaurant.
For more information, call 854-5140.

CVPA bus tour scheduled

Saturday, June 3, will be the date for the Cummings Valley Protective Association’s scenic bus tour of our beautiful, agricultural Cummings and Brite valleys.

The CVPA normally offers its tour every other year. However, due to the tremendous response to the tour one year ago, when many members and Tehachapi-area residents did not get to enjoy the sold-out tours, another tour is being offered this year.

Make reservations immediately to be sure that you don’t miss out this year. There is a tour offered at 9 a.m. and another at noon. This year, the scenic beauty of our area is featured with visits to the ruins of the Banducci Ranch buildings; a way-station for Sheep Trail travelers; historic Indian Hill with its fabulous views at the bedrock mortars; and the 1870s era marble quarry. Commentary about the history will be provided in a luxury tour bus. The tours are open to all for $15 per person.

To make reservations, call Laurie Rude at 821-1904. Leave a message of the tour time desired, the number in the group and the caller’s telephone number. Payments may be made at least 15 minutes before the tour leaves from the Stallion Springs Properties parking lot on Stallion Springs Drive across from the Woodward West Action Sports Camp. Tours of the sports camp will be available to interested bus tour participants upon their return.

The CVPA is dedicated to maintaining the county’s designation of the valleys as agricultural and large-lot residential areas to preserve the valuable lands.

Orchestra features young artist

On May 14, the Tehachapi Community Orchestra gave its annual Mother’s Day concert at Jacobsen Junior High. The concert featured the winner of the 2006 Young Artist Competition winner, Cecilia Lay. The orchestra and Lay played Symphonie Espagnole by Edouard Lalo.

The audience was stunned at how well Lay played. Despite her age, Lay’s playing was like that of an experienced adult, full of intensity and passion. Lay received spontaneous applause.

Lay is 16 and has been playing the violin for 10 years. She has participated in various school orchestras, ensembles and talent shows, as well as the Bakersfield Youth Symphony. Lay attends Stockdale High School in Bakersfield, where she is a junior. She hopes to be accepted into a good college and become a dentist.

Also included on the program were the Siegfried Idyll by Richard Wagner and Scheherezade by Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov. These pieces were greatly enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience. In Scheherezade, concertmaster Gayel Pitchford played several solos, some with cellist Diego Miralles from the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. Both did the music full credit and both were proclaimed very good.
Pitchford’s solo sometimes went up very high in stratosphere, or nosebleed position, to quote said soloist.

Scheherezade was full of haunting Arabian melodies, jingling bells and crashing cymbals. This piece was a favorite of many listeners.

Needless to say, anyone who missed this concert missed a lot. The Tehachapi Community Orchestra has again thrilled its audience.

New baby Patterson

Samantha Jo Patterson was born to her Shannon and Jeff Patterson on April 3 at 10:35 p.m. at Mercy Southwest Hospital, Bakersfield. She was 8 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 19 inches long.

Letter: Praise for THS choir and band

I would like to let all of Tehachapi know how accomplished our Tehachapi High School Show Choir and Jazz Band are.

They brought home a silver medal from the Heritage Music Festival in Las Vegas last month. Good job kids. They proudly represented Tehachapi with their excellent musical talents.

Thanks to parents, teachers and to Mr. Waldram and Mrs. Sides, Mrs. Dunn and our excellent school bus driver, Kelley Maddox. Our trip was grand.

— Chris Hughes

Letter: Resident content in Tehachapi

It is so peaceful this early Saturday morning: the birds are having choir practice, there's just a slight breeze to move the spring-green leaves and grass, more desert weeds than grass, if truth be told. I just saw “my” three deer, a doe and her two half-grown fawns, grazing along the path that has been a deer run for probably centuries and at least for the several years that I have lived here near Mountain Park.

There's not a bulldozer roar nor the snarl of a huge truck delivering half of a pre-put-together house anywhere within ear shot.

I haven't heard the wailing cry of a siren denoting disaster from either Highline nor Valley Boulevard.

It's too early for the weed-eaters and riding lawn mowers, so there isn't the stench of gasoline polluting the sweet mountain air.

It's like the little town we moved to some 15 years ago.

Thanks, God, for an early weekend morning in Tehachapi.

—Joeann King
Resident Malcontent

Bear Valley Police Department activity log: May 10 and May 17

The Bear Valley Police Department received 138 calls for service during the past reporting period. Thirteen traffic citations were issued. There were no reported traffic accidents during this period.

Arrests

Christopher Jenkins, 20, of Tehachapi, was arrested for two outstanding arrest warrants and fresh charges of possession of narcotics paraphernalia and various vehicle code violations.

July 4 passes

Fourth-of-July holiday passes will be issued June 12 to the 30. As in the past, these passes will be available at the police department front counter.

Summer is here. So are the rattlesnakes. Be like me, and stay away from them.

BVS Church performs acts of charity in Mexico

When it comes to helping others, kids are always trying to help each other — whether it be giving their piggy bank to a charity or giving away some of their old clothes during Christmas. But for a group of kids and their parents from Bear Valley Springs Community Church, giving away their stuff was not enough; they wanted to dig in and actually use their hands and time to help out.

On April 27 through 30, about 35 people caravanned down to Ensenada, Mexico to help out at a battered women’s shelter called Casa Esperanza, House of Hope.

While there, the group helped with a vacation Bible school that Casa Esperanza held for the children of the women living there as well as women and children from a local Mexteco village.

The BVSC group also handed out some instruments and stuffed animals that the Tehachapi kids got out of their own closet and donated to the Mexican children.

“It was great to see the kids we see every day at church interacting with the Mexican kids. Even though they didn’t speak the same language, they loved playing with each other,” said Lisa Papac.

Not only did the group hand out toys and join in on a VBS, they also painted buildings, cooked with the women at Casa Esperanza and continued to work on the bathroom that the Bear Valley Springs Community Church Youth Group had built two weeks prior.

“It was really awesome seeing how others in our church, even the little kids, helped to finish what our youth group had started,” said Lauryn Stone, a senior at Tehachapi High School.

“Faith is not worth spit without a little bit of hard work,” stated Pastor Eric Mock, the leader behind the family trip.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

No other Kern town begins to have the eye appeal of Tehachapi. Any way you come at it, as you roll into the valley you have the visual impact of this green little burg snuggled down into the surrounding mountains.

You’ve got the horses and cattle grazing contentedly when you exit the canyon from Mojave. In the spring, you’ve got the bonus of nuzzling calves and colts kicking up their heels. The lush green meadows of a sometimes Proctor Lake are eye candy after the rocks and sagebrush of the desert.

Climbing up from Bakersfield, you’re surprised by a town you barely see coming. You’ve marveled at the homes built upon the hilltops, but it’s totally a revelation to see Tehachapi for the first time as you finish that last grand climb.

What’s more, while Tehachapi is naturally pleasing to the eye, so much has been done to work hand in hand with Mother Nature.

I’m still struck by the entrances to the city. No other Kern community has created such beautiful gateways to their city. The far eastern entry could still stand to be better, but I’ll take the Benz playing fields at the edge of town as the welcome sign from the east. It sends a warm message to passersby that Tehachapi puts a high premium on its youth.

People tell me Greater Tehachapi encompasses a great number of horticultural zones because of the varying elevations in the region. With four genuine seasons, it’s a sure thing many things that grow in the Central Valley and the Mojave Desert just won’t survive our cold winter nights. On the other hand, it’s equally sure the plants prone to burning up in the hot summers of the rest of Kern County find a much happier home to thrive in here.

Tehachapi has done well to accent its outdoor living friendliness. I particularly love the oversized dining decks at The Bakery/Gifts/Chocolate Factory and the Apple Shed. Let me tell you, you’d think twice about having lunch or dinner in the great outdoors during a Bakersfield or Ridgecrest summer.

The new bike and walking path that will connect Golden Hills and Tehachapi will further encourage getting outside. And I’ve always found Tehachapi’s City Park to be a wonderful oasis from sweltering mid-day heat with its sheltering tall timber. I just saw the schedule for the Sunday Concerts in the Park. If you’ve never been, you don’t know what you’re missing. I’ve often scheduled family get-togethers for Sunday afternoons so we can enjoy both a great picnic and good music.

All those daffodils that announced our spring this year were glorious. I remember the big campaign to plant them. Why not revive the campaign and plant even more? And I couldn’t help but notice all the resplendent lilacs in profusion this year. Warmer towns to the east and west can’t get enough chill during dormant season to grow good lilacs.

Of course, those naturalized California poppies that turn so many hillsides orange are the frosting on the cake.

I really enjoy the nurseries and Mourning Cloak Ranch. They’ve all figured out things grow really well here. I’m particularly taken with Old Town Nursery’s nestled paradise for those afflicted with Green Thumb disease. I love walking around the nursery to discover new species to take home. Trees, bushes, flowers, and vines now adorn my home along with a fountain, planters, wine barrels, and an arbor. These businesses have certainly done more than their fair share to make our neighborhoods even more alive and beautiful.

Recently, I saw a large flatbed truck on the roadside. It had landscape boulders on it with a sign announcing they were for sale. Rocks, oaks, forested mountains, meadows, streams, rolling hills, and four never boring seasons should remind us that Tehachapi is the region’s most interesting place to live.

As well as the most beautiful.

Mark Moore is a Chartered Financial Consultant with Q4 Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member NASD/SIPC. Your feedback is valued. Email Mark at MarkM@Q4Financial.net.

Auto Q & A

Dear Q & A: In connection with your discussion of whether leaving the tailgate up or down in a pickup truck would give better gas mileage, I thought I’d share my experience. On a recent trip to Utah in my Ford F-250 with the 460-cubic inch V-8 engine, I got 15.6 miles per gallon. This was far better than the 11 or 12 mpg I got covering the same route some months ago. The only difference was that this time my truck had a camper shell mounted and I’m assuming this was responsible for the better fuel mileage because of lower wind resistance. You agree?

— P.H.

Dear PH: Agree. Adding the camper shell, despite its extra weight, eliminates the air-dam effect of the vertical tailgate. A fiberglass bed cover would have done the job even better. Yours is anecdotal evidence, of course, so don’t bet the farm on it, but it’s consistent with other reports and with sound science.

Dear Q & A: My husband is a few months short of 80 and maybe a few cards short of a full deck. I say that because he likes to drive (too) fast, 70 on two-lane roads and 80-plus on Interstates. He says don’t worry, he’s always watching for police cars. How can I get him to slow down to normal speeds?

— Scared

Dear Scared: Police cars are the least of his worries. At 80, his reflexes aren’t what they were when he was 40, although his right foot evidently weighs about the same. All it takes at 70 on a two-lane road is a moment’s inattention or a blowout (from that weak spot on a front tire he was unaware of) and his car could wind up a smoking ruin in a ditch or wrapped around a pole. With you in it. He may like to pretend he’s training for Indy, but put it to him this way: Does he care enough about you, who trusted him enough to marry him, to keep you from getting killed or maimed needlessly by a foolish, irresponsible driver? Besides, faster means fewer miles per gallon.

Dear Q & A: How do I convert liters (as in a 3.8 liter engine) to cubic inches and vice versa? Some car engines are described as having cubic inches displacement and other engine sizes are shown in liters, or like motorcycles, in cc (for cubic centimeters). Is there an easy formula, where I don’t need higher math, for conversions between cubic inches and liters?

— Harlan

Dear Harlan: Here’s a quick rule of thumb for converting either one to the other. If the engine size is given in liters (say 5.0), multiply the number by 6.1 to get the equivalent CID of 305 cubic inches. To reverse this, if the size is expressed in cubic inches (say 350), divide that number by 61 to get the size in liters (5.7). It’s not absolutely precise but suffices for practical purposes. By the way, a liter is equal to 1,000 cc, so simply add three zeroes to convert liters to cubic centimeters.

Dear Q & A: Why do some cars have two or four tail pipes? Do they help push the car forward faster through the air?

— Just Wondering

Dear Just: Like the decibel number of the noise emitted through the tailpipe(s), more and bigger pipes are intended to elicit admiration from onlookers. While mostly just a prestige factor, there is a core of reality. Every engine must breathe both in and out and more powerful engines need to be able to vent exhaust gases in greater volume than weaker, smaller ones. If Joe mounts two or four big megaphones under his rear bumper, we’re supposed to think he’s got a mean machine. But things are not always what they seem. And no, the push factor is miniscule.

Welcome baby Wahlstrom

Jennifer and John Wahlstrom welcomed their daughter, Catelyn Marie Wahlstrom, on May 1 at 3:16 a.m. at Mercy Southwest Hospital, Bakersfield. Catelyn weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 18 inches long.

What faith means to us

The 11th chapter of the Book of Hebrews tells us how faith changes us.

Faith gives us confidence that God is real and that His promises are true.

Faith makes us certain about things, even when we cannot see them. Because of our faith we know God and we know that He loves us.

God's word tells us about spiritual heroes who were guided by their faith.

We can read about Noah, who took many years to build a big boat and Abraham, who moved his family to a new home.

We may not think that we have much in common with these heroes of the faith. But the Bible says that these faithful people were just like us.

The people in Biblical times also had difficulties in their life. And they also faced uncertainties about God's will.

Now we are being given faith and guided by God to serve Him. God is coming to us and asking us to live by His will.

The faith God gives us reminds us that our Savior came to this world to live without sin and to die for us. Our Lord paid the penalty for our sin so we can serve God with joy.

Our faith also leads us to want to use our blessings for God. We want to tell other people the good news about Jesus.

Our faith is like a campfire on a dark night which allows us to see what is around us. Our faith allows us to understand that God is with us and to trust Him.

Without faith we would not be able to serve or obey God. We would be led by our sinful desires to live selfish and greedy lives.

May God strengthen our faith and guide us to serve Him with great joy.