Contest: Tehachapi News

Last week to vote in our pet calendar contest!

There's less than one week left to vote for your favorites for the 2008 Tehachapi Tails pet calendar. Votes for your favorites must be in by Friday, August 17, so if you haven't chosen your favorites, time's running out.

Remember that a portion of the proceeds from this project is going to support the Tehachapi Humane Society, so have some fun, dig into that change jar and vote!

Photo contest invites Tehachapi to ‘Take Your Best Shot’

Go ahead, "Take Your Best Shot", then enter it in Tehachapi Valley Arts Association's photo contest!

Categories are: What is it? (Details, Macros, and Extreme Close Ups), Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Nature & Landscapes & Animals (Panoramas included), Architecture, Digital Wizardry (Artistically Enhanced), Odds & Ends.

The photo must be taken by you. Photo sizes cannot exceed 16 X 20 inches. All photos must be matted only (no frames please). All photo categories are open to both experienced and novice photographers. Photos entered will be evaluated by a panel of judges, who will set their own criteria for judging.

The cost is $5 per submission. Submissions are limited to five per person. Submissions will be accepted starting Monday July 23, 2007. The deadline is 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 28.

The contest will show from August 1-18, in the fine arts room at Gallery ‘N’ Gifts on the corner of Tehachapi Boulevard and Green Street. You are invited to attend a Photographers Reception, August 3, from 5-8 p.m. Winners will be announced at that time. Cash prizes will be awarded to the Best of Show winner and each 1st Place category winner. Ribbons will be awarded 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category.

Gallery ‘N’ Gifts along with the Crossroads Gallery (right across the Boulevard) each host a First Friday Reception and Art Walk. Be sure to invite your family and friends to attend to this special downtown event.

Does your pet have what it takes to be a pin-up?

The Tehachapi News is launching our first-ever “Tehachapi Tails” 2008 pet calendar contest! Here’s your opportunity to show off your favorite furry, feathered or scaled friend. The top 13 vote getters will be selected to grace the pages of the 2008 Tehachapi Tails calendar. Best of all, a portion of the proceeds from this contest go to support the Tehachapi Humane Society and their programs.

Here’s how it works:

Send us your very best color pet photo, along with your entry form and $5 entry fee per pet submitted. Photos should feature pets only. One pet per photo, please.

Print size should not exceed 5x7 inches. No Polaroid photos, please. Digital photos must be at least 4x6 inches at 300 d.p.i. (not to exceed 1MB)

Photo submissions must include your name, your phone number and your pet’s name.

Contest is open to persons residing in the greater Tehachapi area.

Additional entry forms are online at www.tehachapinews.com, or in the Tehachapi News office, 411 N. Mill Street, Tehachapi, CA, 93561.

Deadline for entries is July 6, 2007.

Voting will begin in July 2007!

Father's Day Look-Alike contest

Congratulations to the winners, John Pfenings, Jr and the III.

They really do look alike!!!

Good luck!

Mother's Day Contest Winner

Though the Tehachapi News has several great entries for the Mother's Day contest, this submission from Austin Lewis, age 10, was chosen for its thoughtful message. Congratulations, Austin!

Winner of Mother's Day Contest
Austin Lewis
Age 10, 5th grade
This is some of the great advice my mom gave me:
"It is better to have fun than to win"
"Don't stress over it, just try your best"
"Don't bite off more than you can chew"
"When you get an inch, don't stretch it to a mile"
"Use waiting as an opportunity to exercise your patience"
"Honor is earned not bought"
If I have heard my Mom say these once I have heard them a 100 times. Sometimes they irritate me and other times they help but I know they are true and a nuggets of gold my Mom has given me.
Recently when my grandpa was in ICU on life support I applied more than one of these to the situation and my life. They gave me strength to keep my chin up and hope for the best. My grandpa passed on but I was ok having done my best to be there, praying hard and reliving the memories.

Other entries:
Ashlee Lewis
Age 9, 3rd grade
My Mom's best advice she ever gave me and says a lot is "Even if you don't get it perfect, just try your best and pray to ask Jesus for help in whatever you do."
Last week I had end of the year testing at school and was very nervous. I did not know the kids cause we just moved up here and I did not know what to expect on the testing. Before school my Mom sat me on her lap and talked to me about this and said it again.
When she dropped me off at school I made up my mind to try my best and pray. When she picked me up I was happy to see her and had made new friends at school. I did try my best and know it was good enough, even if it wasn't perfect!

Joe Luis Barajas, 13 years old
Blanca Tirado, mother
My name is Jose Luis Barajas. I am 13 years old and my dream is to become a professional soccer player. My mom's advice was to never Dou drugs and to stay in school so that my dream will come true.

Micheala Marshall
Hi, my name is Micheala Marshall and I am entering the Mother’s Day contest. I am 13 and of course I live in Tehachapi. This is the best piece of advice my mom gave me!!
My mom, Mary Rymer, told me I should always be myself it does not matter what other people say or think about you let them be the way they are or even encourage them to be there self and don’t judge others you should always be able to see with your eyes wide open and hear in between all words that are spoken everybody’s beautiful in their own way no matter if it’s inside or out, everyone has their own talent. It just has to be seen and brought out.
This is the best advice my mom gave me so when I grow up and know I will follow this advice and hope my kids will too.

Lynda Leon, Kathryn Drake, Timothy Gough and Joseph Furmidge
Our mother, Mary Furmidge, passed away last year, July 14. Mary was a single mother who loved and cared for her four children the best way she knew how.
The best advice our mother gave us was to work hard and be responsible for our actions. Not to lie; be honest and treat others as we would like to be treated, with decency and respect.
Our mother would teach us to be kind and giving to others, especially to those who were less fortunate.
Her advice for growing up was to do your best in school and work. Pay your debts on time and be financially stable.
At it is written:
“Parents, give your children guidance
And instruction from God’s Word;
Then with wisdom and compassion
Teach them how to love th Lord.”
Mom, we miss and love you very much.

Tamara Haddad
Mama always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.”
No, but seriously, my mom always has told me. Life is about adjusting to your surroundings. This has helped me cope with many of life’s obstacles.
Thank you mom for all of your advice – Happy Mother’s Day! I love you.

Mom always said…

What’s the best piece of advice your mother ever gave you? Share it with the Tehachapi News and you’ll be entered into our Mother’s Day contest, giving you the chance to win some great prizes…just in time for Mother’s Day!

Entries should be no more than 250 words, and photos are welcome. To enter, go to www.tehachapinews.com and submit your entry through our web site, email us at editorial@tehachapinews.com or mail it in to 411 N. Mill St., Tehachapi, CA 93561. Make sure to include your name and contact information.

Entries must be received by 5 p.m., April 27, to qualify. Entries will be published, as space permits, and the winner will be announced in the May 9 issue of the Tehachapi News.

Valentine's Day Contest Winner: Change for a soda pop

It was a spring afternoon on April 5, 1980. I was ready for a ride on my 10-speed and I was outfitted as such with my short white shorts, side french braid, tank top, slip-on Vans and a tan (Remember it's the 80s). No helmet required and a tan was still considered healthy.

I was on a mission to get across town to my friend Rochelle's house and back before dark or I would be in big trouble with my Mom. Well, it was a hot day and I had a couple bucks in my shoe (No pockets in those shorts). I decided to stop for a Mountain Dew, but where? Then I remembered the Alliance Gas Station on the corner of Avenue I and 10th Street West. They had a soda pop machine. I'd scoped it out on one of my other rides. Who could pass that up soda pop sippin' on that hot afternoon?

I waited on the corner to cross Avenue I. Finally, I was at the soda pop machine with no change — just a couple of sweaty bucks. What luck! There was a cute attendant helping some people with their gas. Remember, it was the 80s and gas stations still had attendants. I put my bike down and the cutie flashed me a smile right away.
“Change miss?” he asked.

Great! I was set. A cold bottle of Mountain Dew (25 cents) to sip and a cute guy to while away the time with.

Well, to make a long story short I spent the rest of the afternoon at the gas station and the cute chivalrous guy just happened to have his own 10-speed bike and lived on the same side of town as me. We've spent the last 27 years together since then.

This story is dedicated to my one true love, Mike Estes. Thanks for the ride of my life. Oh, and the change, too.
— All My Love, Suz Estes

Valentine's Day Contest Entry: Suprise proposal

Todd and I had been dating for 3 years when he finally proposed on Valentine's Day in 1999. The night he proposed, his grandmother and his sisters were both over at our house. Todd and I were getting ready to go out for our traditional Valentine's Day dinner, when his grandmother pulled me aside and said, “Kerri, if Todd doesn't ask you to marry him tonight, you need to tell him that you're going to leave him.” Needless to say. I was shocked at this statement!

Anyway, we got back from dinner and Todd's sisters, whom I had no idea were in on everything, asked me what Todd had given me for Valentine's Day. When I said that he took me out to a romantic dinner his sister Tricia exclaimed, “That's it!” and his sister Tracy said, “what a jerk!” I then told them that dinner was our Valentine tradition.

A little while later, knowing what their grandmother had said to me earlier, Todd's sister Tricia said that we should play a joke on their grandmother (keep in mind that Todd was in on all of this). I was reluctant, but went along anyway.

The joke was for me to get dressed up in Tricia's wedding gown, put on her wedding ring and then go downstairs to their unsuspecting grandmother, who was as much in the dark as I was, and tell her that Todd had proposed at dinner.

Not knowing what was going on, their grandmother thought the joke was for real and asked to see the ring Todd had given me. Just as I bent down to show her the ring that Todd had supposedly given me, Todd told her that his sisters and I were playing a mean joke on her. But just as I turned around and started to laugh about the whole thing, there was Todd down on one knee holding out a beautiful diamond ring and uttered the seven words every woman longs to hear. “I love you, will you marry me?”

I was so shocked and excited about everything that I never answered him. That was until Todd came over and said, “So, is that a yes or a no?”

However, seeing as we'll be celebrating our 7th anniversary on April 8. I think you know what my answer was!

Valentine's Day Contest Entry: A different love story

My Valentine’s love story may be different from others, but I know it is the most important love I could have ever found or ever hoped to ask for.

Twenty-five years ago on Valentine’s Day, I met the most important love of my life. He had jet black hair and the most beautiful eyes of anyone I had ever met. He looked at me and I knew, from that moment on that I would never leave him and he would never leave me. Our relationship grew and he was the most important thing to me…although I didn’t make things easy on him.

I was addicted to drugs and alcohol for most of our relationship and that became more important than him. He, being the strong and wonderful man that he is, stood by me, through EVERYTHING. He was stronger and showed more bravery than any other man, or person, I had ever met. I still can’t believe to this day that I never lost him and he never turned his back on me. For this I can never be grateful enough that God blessed me with him. He is everything to me and I will never be able to make amends for all of the mistakes I made with him, but I know in my heart that he knows if I could go back and change everything, I would.

He has managed to become this amazing man and an amazing father, in spite of everything I put him through. I can honestly say that no other man could or would ever mean to me what this man does.

This man I am speaking of is my son, Christopher. He was born on Valentine’s Day, 1982. That was the most important day of my young life. He helped me raise his little brother and he gave me a grandson who is the joy of my life. I have been clean and sober for two years now and I thank God everyday that my son loves me in spite of myself.

And that is my Valentine’s Day love story. Happy Birthday Christopher!

I had lived in Tehachapi for 28 years and moved to San Diego to start my new journey to recovery, but my son and his family still live there. I still call Tehachapi home.

Valentine's Day Contest Entry: Please, Mr. Postman

It was early spring in 1996 when I saw the mailman delivering my mail again. I kept thinking “Wow, he seems really nice and he is not bad looking at all.”

I mentioned to a friend that I had my eye on the mailman. She teased me for a week or so about him, about how she was going to tell him.

Well, one day she decided it was time to take action. She waited at the mailboxes for him and sat there and told him all about me and how I thought he was cute. That afternoon she phoned me and told me that the mailman just got off work and stopped by her apartment and that he wanted to come over to my apartment to meet me.

I about fell over backwards. When I hung the phone up and looked out the window, I saw her and the mailman walking towards my apartment.

He introduced himself and we talked for about a half hour and he asked me out on a date for the following week. I, of course said yes, and we have been together ever since.

We were married Feb. 22,1997, and we have two children together. We have had our ups and downs over the last 10 years and it has not always been easy, but we love each other very much and we are each other's best friend. I cannot imagine my life without him. He is everything to me, and he is a great father to our three children.

Valentine's Day Contest Entry: A big, mean, scary girl

My story of love begins at California City Middle School when I was 12-years-old. A friend of mine told me to tease one of his friends who'd just had surgery, and being an immature brat, I did so.

I remember the look that boy gave me, who at that time was a good few inches shorter than I. He later told me he thought I was a big, mean, scary girl. Little did I know that boy would be my future husband.

We met again later in high school, when I was 15, and he was 16. We'd grown up a bit and he had finally grown taller than me. We became best friends, and through high school and through one of the most difficult times of my life, he was the only one who was truly there for me.

After he graduated high school and I was close to graduating myself, he finally confessed his love for me on Christmas Eve 2000. I had loved him for so long and I was quite happy, as I truly believed he was my soul mate.

But it just wasn't meant to be at that time. His mother interfered, we lost contact and a supposed "friend" tore us apart with lies. After time, I truly believed he hated me.
So I foolishly moved on and ever more foolishly married a man in the military that I barely knew. After four years, two beautiful boys and lies and infidelity I was able to escape from an emotionally abusive and loveless marriage.

I felt I had no one there to talk to. I missed my best friend, the one I could talk to about anything, the one that always made me feel better and lifted my spirits. For years I had felt that half of me was missing. And then by fate, he came back into my life.

We found out about the lies from five years before and our friendship was renewed. And over time, that overwhelming love and the feeling of being complete again came rushing back. He brought me up to Tehachapi, a place I'd always loved, and introduced me to people that became some of the truest friends I'll ever have.
I'd lost myself during my marriage with my ex, and he helped me find myself again.

For the first time in years I was truly happy. He became the best father figure my boys will ever have, he's been there for them and I'm so happy that while I wasn't able to choose the best father for them, they have the best stepfather.

We married in May of 2006, with our closest family and friends there to witness it. It'd taken five and a half years from when we first confessed our love to each other, but we finally made it.

Barely two days after our one month anniversary we found out great news; we are expecting our first child together. As I write this, we're just days from having our daughter, and it amazes me. It amazes me, that what started off as mean 12-year-old girl, teasing a shorter 13-year-old boy, turned out to be a wonderful family and quite the love story. We've been through much, but together we can do anything! My best friend, soulmate, and true love is now and will always be Jason Buck.