Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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Two years ago, I needed to restore a badly damaged rental house in Tehachapi in order to sell it. I decided to contact the Mountain Group at Coldwell Banker for help. The three realtors in this group, Annie Mulkins, Sue Chandler and Nicole Nicely, were skilled and knowledgeable. They also went above and beyond for me in many ways. One example was that when I was ill they watered the rose bush and shrubs at the house. They showed a real gift in referring me to many sub-contractors who could...
Years ago, my husband George and I took college groups to Teriaroa Island in French Polynesia twice through Glendale Community College's Study Abroad Program. We were able to visit Marlon Brando's primitive home with its circular bed and his many collections. We ate delicious food including fresh palm hearts, all served on plate-sized green leaves. There were many flies there caused by the many cats on Tetiaroa, according to an extensive Smithsonian study we read while sitting on Marlon's bed!...
"Thelma and Louise," "A Walk in the Woods," "Our Souls at Night," "Age of Adeline," "Legends of the Fall," "Everest," "Maestro" and "Society of the Snow." Hope you enjoy these! Happy Spring! Anne Marie Novinger is a fifth generation Californian and has contributed many stories to The Loop newspaper. She has lived in Tehachapi for over 40 years. She has recently moved to La Crescenta to live with her daughter. She wanted to recommend these movies to our readers because she enjoyed them so much....
Hawaiian and Tahitian music, dancing and food was superb at the Red House Luau on Aug. 6. Mano and MeiMei Lujan hosted the event and Mano even roasted a pig the Hawaiian way and served it with a smile. The evening commenced with drinks for all, even fancy pineapple drinks from the bar. Divine music and dancing entertained the big crowd, accompanied by tasty pupus (Hawaiian appetizers). The dancers were coordinated by talented Director Marnie Kawailehua Pfeffer. You can learn more about them at...
Having lived in Tehachapi two months shy of 40 years, I was asked to write about Tehachapi Then and Now. I was delighted! THEN: One weekend back in the early 1970s, my husband George flew us up to the Tehachapi Airport in our Cessna 172. We walked into the quiet town, found a pay phone and called my Uncle Jake and Aunt Rhea Dawn Jacobsen who were planning to come pick us up. The line was busy, and it continued to be busy no matter how many times we tried to call them. We decided to walk to their...
On July 11, Tehachapi resident Mano Lujan drove his daughter Layla and son Milo back east, a trip of over 5,500 miles. They drove through 22 states and visited friends, family and national historic places. (View the stops on the map!) They visited Flagstaff, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Monument, Colorado and the Rockies; Laramie, Wyoming; Custer's Battlefield, Montana; Black Hills and Mount Rushmore, South Dakota; Dyersville, Iowa; Cleveland, Ohio; Auburn, New York; stopped off at Layla's...
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) covers 2,663 miles of rugged terrain following the ranges of California, Oregon and Washington. Most hikers start at the Mexican border and, if they finish, complete the hike at the Canadian border. They gain significant altitude as they cross the towering Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. The National Park Service designated the route as a National Scenic Trail in 1968. It was completed and dedicated in 1993. The trail goes through western Antelope Valley and over...
Years ago, in Australia, my late husband George and I experienced "no room at the inn" and lack of money. We were helping with a college credit class of 22 students. We had already visited Fiji and New Zealand, carrying only what we could heft onto on our backs. Finally we reached Sydney and rented cheap rooms in Queen's Cross, at that time a red light district. What an eye-opener! Our two leaders told us ahead of time that there was barely enough money to fly us to Cairns and back, near the...
Charles White spoke and showed photographs of the history of Tehachapi at the AAUW (American Association of University Women) monthly meeting on April 13. He included stories and descriptions of many interesting subjects such as the moving of buildings into town in the 1880s and 1890s, early downtown buildings including hotels, shops and a bank. Train tunnels were described along with the brave builders in the late 1800s. Monolith was pictured from the beginning when it served as a small town...
We want to thank you all for the many blessings, prayers, flowers, cards, food, caregiving, rides and all the other things you have given to us from far and wide! There are too many folks to name. You know who you are; you comforted us. We want to invite all of you to our Celebration of George Novinger's Life at our home on Saturday, April 16 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. We hope you can drop by and bring memories and stories. Your presence will warm us greatly. For 67 years George nourished and...
On Feb. 9, Dean Nicole Griffin speaks in person about Cerro Coso Community College at the monthly AAUW meeting. Her talk will describe the transformative power of education for all, especially women and those in marginalized groups. This important meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at the Friendship Hall at Tehachapi Community Church on Green and E streets. The entrance is 100 East E St. and parking is free. Face masks are highly recommended and the public is invited. Nicole Griffin is Dean of Caree...
Caregiving has become a way of life for some of us. My husband George, whom I help care for, and I have now engaged two amazing and loving caregivers to help out at home as health issues march on for us steadily. There are many ways to find a caregiver – word of mouth was the way we found our angels. There are also caregiving groups in most communities, and most churches can refer, too. Home Health Care programs (completely Medicare funded) are available for those about to be released from a h...
Something untoward happened to me in 2006. One January night about 8 p.m. I felt pain behind my right lung, back side of scapula. It kept getting worse. My husband George went to bed (not feeling very well) and then I packed a bag. I sat in a lounge chair and hoped it would go away. But the pain just got worse and moved around to the front of my chest, so at 2 a.m. I drove myself to our local Tehachapi Hospital five miles from our house. Dumb? We are on a dark street – no street lights – and...
George and I watched “Crip Camp” on Netflix recently. Boy, did that bring back memories! My daughter Barbie and I experienced a very similar camp experience during that same era (early 1970s), and the behavior of all involved was very similar, too. All campers were severely disabled. Many in our country at that time were not interested in making life livable for disabled people. The camp counselors at both camps were young “hippie” types. I was called by the camp director in early July and ask...
Cerro Coso Community College is located in Downtown Tehachapi. Classes for this semester began Jan. 21, and some of the classes have spaces left if you meet their deadline. It's easy to go to their main office at 126 S. Snyder, just west of the football field. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you enroll. (Modest charges apply per unit.) Cerro Coso classes are increasing each year and now include exciting subjects such as Anthropology; Administration of Justice and Police...
A weird and wordy gourmet luncheon was held in Tehachapi on Feb. 20. The theme was WORD ORIGINS and each guest was asked to bring a word and explain its origin along with a dish corresponding to the word selected. Stories were written by guests using all the words submitted. The menu included Ebullient Enchilada Appetizer, Hilarious Hot Cider, Gaudy Garden Salad, "To Die For" Delicious Hyperbole Bread, Essence of Chili, Piquant Pulled Pork, Namaste Fruit Platter and Rice Pudding, Gooey Chocolate...
I have to tell you about our horrible heating situation for TWO MONTHS of very cold Tehachapi weather! Ground squirrels got into our attic and chewed the wire cluster that controlled heat, air conditioner and fans, causing them to touch and short out. ALL THREE ran almost ALL THE TIME AND AT THE SAME TIME for those two months! No wonder we were cold. And our gas and electric bills went through the roof. Finally our trusty furnace man returned from his huge job in Bakersfield and fixed...
In late August, George and I took a Norwegian fjord cruise for two weeks, with the expert guidance of Travel by Jenni. But that ship was too big for us - 3,000 passengers! We had to take long, long walks to get around. Norway is a beautiful country though. We included stops both ways to visit my brother and his family in the east and we were gone three weeks. My favorite fjords and scenes on the cruise were the world-famous Gerainger fjord and the fjords east of Bergen along with their Alp-like...
Looking at a tiny plane flying across our valley this week brought to mind some harrowing landings in George's small Cessna! Although we flew all over the United States without incident, and he flew all the way to Oaxaca, Mexico with two buddies without any problems, we did have a few white knuckle experiences. We found ourselves landing at remote Meling Ranch in the interior of northern Baja California years ago. The short grassy strip sloped uphill and ended at the face of a mountain. Just as...
George "Tom" Novinger passed away with his wife Gladys at Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii. After growing up in La Crescenta, this fifth-generation Californian became Student-body President at Crescenta Valley High School. He studied Music at Occidental College in Los Angeles earning BA and MA degrees. He became a Math teacher and coached Swimming (just like his father) at Hoover High School in Glendale. He lived in Japan for nine years, and he and his former wife Michiko backpacked all over Asia...
Where is Onyx? It's east of Lake Isabella on the south side of Highway 178. From Tehachapi drive north on Highway 14, and turn left (West) on the 178! Onyx is west of Walker Pass and east of Weldon. Why go there? To explore the area and check out the unique Old Onyx Store with its unusual gifts, treats, old fashioned candies, and delicious sandwiches! You will feel like you have gone back in time as you browse through this interesting store. Kindly owner Gaye Honeycutt makes customers feel...
Friday, July 14, was National Cow Day. This made me think of a story. Here goes. Did I ever tell you about the time George and I were volunteering at Wildlife Waystation in the mountains north of Los Angeles? The Montrose Mountain Search and Rescue Team had signed up and brought three RN's with them, all Rescue Wives. I was asked by the sexy blonde French owner Martine Collete to go out in the cow pasture to the storage shed there and pick up some burlap bags for her. Well, as I approached the...
The Pacific Crest Trail Hikers are coming through Tehachapi now in large numbers, most on their way from Mexico to Canada! They come from all over the world and carry heavy packs including their water. They make their way into town from the two different trailheads at Tehachapi Willow Springs Road and at Cameron Canyon at the 58 Freeway (both nine miles from town). Most use their cellphones to call PCT Angels for rides to downtown, to the Airport, to the markets, to lodging, to the US Post...
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) covers 2,663 miles of rugged terrain following the ranges of California, Oregon and Washington. Most hikers start at the Mexican border and, if they finish, complete the hike at the Canadian border. They gain significant altitude as they cross the towering Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges. The National Park Service designated the route as a National Scenic Trail in 1968. It was completed and dedicated in 1993. The trail goes through western Antelope Valley and over...
George and I spent a week this October touring beautiful little-known spots in Southern California: Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve, Calloway Winery, White Water Preserve, Mt. San Jacinto State Wilderness, Palm Springs Indian Canyons, Palm Desert Living Desert Garden and Zoological Park, Wildlands Conservancy - Oak Glen Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, Rancho Jurupa Regional Park, California Citrus State Historic Park, and Little Petroglyph Canyon near Ridgecrest. We returned home wit...
