Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
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"True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul." – Audrey Hepburn Before writing this I asked a friend if she knew Phyllis Belcher. She replied, "Phyllis is a true lady through and through." After meeting Phylis I knew why she deserved such a high compliment. "A lady through and through" isn't all. Phyllis exudes a joie de vivre that is contagious. She has that "je ne sais quoi" so many of us strive for. It comes naturally to Phyllis. Being in her presence was like a breath of fresh air. I h...
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." While attending a gathering of the American Association of University Women, I noticed a striking woman across the room with purple streaks in her hair. I knew immediately she was someone I wanted to meet. Jeanette Crounse is a person you will never forget. Remember the 1959 R&B song "Personality" by Lloyd Price? "You've got personality (walk), personality (talk), personality...
Last month, my friend Jane Zeok and I decided to drive to Arvin and check it out. We were in for a delightful surprise. The hills just past the National Cemetery were full of poppies. They haven’t bloomed yet, but there were dots of orange everywhere – a beautiful site along with the trees and rock formations. Jane kept stopping and taking photos. The drive was a feast for the soul. We drove all through the town of Arvin to see what was there. It was fun exploring, but the highlight of our road trip was lunch. We stopped at Cabellin Mex...
“True friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart.” – author unknown Wilma Paddock Wilma Paddock is a woman to be reckoned with. I only met her recently but I knew right away that she would be a friend for life. Her smile and warm personality engulfed our conversation with an aura of comfort. Wilma is new to Tehachapi but settled in quickly. Her love for our community is apparent and it is obvious she will prove to be a welcome addition. One of her friends said, “As a friend you can’t beat her. She’s a people person thro...
"She considers a field and buys it with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard." – Proverbs 31:16. My interview with Sally Periman didn't last all that long but the words she shared with me spoke volumes. I was reminded of something I had recently read in a journal from Joshua publishing: "She may be quiet but she is a warrior and her prayers can move mountains." Sally made a deep impression. She reminded me of the true meaning of a life well lived. Sally is an example of Proverbs 31 - g...
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." – Galatians 6:9 If you have a friend who is tough on the outside but soft on the inside, treasure them. Gene Dallachie is one of those folks you want to keep and treasure. A former Marine, he may be gruff around the edges but he is a teddy bear inside. Gene has a heart of gold and a willing spirit. He is always ready to be there for others. Strong and secure within himself, Gene shows up with genuine s...
"A Faithful Friend is the Medicine of Life" – Ecclesiastes Charles White is another one of those people who make a tremendous difference wherever they go just by being who they are. His business skills are outstanding, his personal skills are excellent, and he is just so motivated in everything he does. You don't even have to know him personally to experience his gifts to our community. For instance, I like to walk. I often use the benches around town to rest while I'm on a walkabout. The o...
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." – Leo Buscaglia Have you ever met someone who is completely authentic? If so, that is a person you will cherish. Cheryl Wilson is such a person – someone you will never forget. This beautiful woman has a way of making life better for whomever she comes in contact. She cares, she shares, and she is...
"Nobody does me better than me." – Eddie Van Halen I first met Helen McAllister at a Spirit Wind meeting at the local Community Church and we have been friends ever since. Helen isn't just your average senior lady. She is a conglomerate of resilience with a strong core of beliefs and a skeleton of steel, coated over with talent and wisdom that just drips off her. She continually gives back to the community, always thinking of others and taking no credit for herself. She doesn't speak of her a...
"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life or the life of another." –Helen Keller "Delightful" is what came to mind when I first met Joan Cote. She exuded a sense of serenity and joy that permeated the air around us. I knew my intuition was right, after I called the person who recommended that I interview Joan. That person said, "I knew you would love her. She is the cutest thing on this earth. She is just full of joy and exuberance." "Delightful" is not a w...
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." –Maya Angelou When I first met Lewis Brown I felt uplifted and inspired. It was fascinating to feel so impacted by someone I met for the first time. I remember thinking, "This is a man who truly makes a difference in the lives of others. What an honor it is to meet him." I shouldn't have been surprised because so many people had told me that Lewis was "...
Some projects are best to do with adult supervision. You can use them as gifts or decorations. One of my favorite things was to decorate the lid of a jar, fill it with candy and give it as a gift. They were fun and easy to make. I hope you enjoy these other fun ideas. Popsicle Stick Santa Ornament Supplies: popsicle sticks, red, white and black paint, googly eyes, orange and red paper, foam stars, string, glue and cardboard square. 1. place a string for hanging and glue it to top of cardboard pi...
There are 11 Tehachapi downtown businesses that deserve to be recognized: TehachaPIE at Mill Street Kitchen, Four Seasons Cafe, Kohnen's Country Bakery, Tehachapi Flower Shop, Thai-hachapi, The Loop newspaper, Nannette Keller Boutique, Tehachapi Christian Store, Alligator Rose, Tehachapi Treasure Trove and On The Blvd Antiques. Together, with local artist Judith Campanaro, they are helping create a 2022 calendar. The intent is to raise money for the Tehachapi Senior Center. Campanaro learned a...
There are 11 Tehachapi downtown businesses that deserve to be recognized: TehachaPIE at Mill Street Kitchen, Four Seasons Cafe, Kohnen's Country Bakery, Tehachapi Flower Shop, Thai-hachapi, The Loop newspaper, Nannette Keller Boutique, Tehachapi Christian Store, Alligator Rose, Tehachapi Treasure Trove and On The Blvd Antiques. Together, with local artist Judith Campanaro, they are helping create a 2022 calendar. The intent is to raise money for the Tehachapi Senior Center. Campanaro learned a...
If you frequent Farmers Market here in Tehachapi you've probably seen long lines of children waiting to get their face painted. For the last several years, artist Judith Campanaro has been providing this popular entertainment at local events. Along with Farmers Market she has been a regular at the Apple Festival and many other venues, including birthday parties and company picnics. Campanaro said many of the children are regulars. They come back every year and some have even gifted her with...
The Tehachapi Senior Activities Center greeted the community with a soft opening on July 12. The Senior Center provides a safe and secure space where elders can share in nutritious meals, exercise and social activities with other seniors. In order for all the members to feel safe when they enter the center, President Lewis Brown has established guidelines and restrictions to ensure the comfort of everyone. The exercise room will have a maximum of 15 COVID-vaccinated people at a time. Non-COVID-vaccinated people with a mask will exercise in the...
For the past year, local artist Judith Campanaro has been working on a series of 12 scenes of Tehachapi. Recently, with the help of South Street Digital, she compiled the body of work into a calendar. "The paintings were a bit difficult for me because I usually work in an impressionistic style and mostly use bright bold colors. Detail is not my forte but I am glad I tried because I learned so much from this project," Campanaro said. It all started with a photo by Joey Rooney of the row of...
Betty O'Halloran has lived in Tehachapi since 1988. Before retiring 10 years ago, she worked under Winfred Hammonds as a nurse at Tehachapi Hospital. Thinking of those working during the pandemic Betty said, "They are in my mind everyday. Even though I retired 10 years ago they are still my soul colleagues and I feel deeply for them. We can't even imagine what they are going through. They are making extreme sacrifices." Betty felt like she had to do something and had a sign made saluting our hea...
For the last several months, Andi Hicks has been knitting "diversity dolls." The "Buddies," as she calls them, are doing much more than sharing hugs and cuddles. It all started when Andi's friend Judith Campanaro showed her some dolls she had made. Judith called them "Cuddle Hugs." Andi thought her grandson would like the dolls and asked Judith for the pattern. Andi said, "Judith gave me the pattern on one of the windiest days of the year when she was getting on the bus to go to Bakersfield....
I hesitated to write this article about myself for fear of bragging. But bragging isn't what this is about. My intent is to share with you an amazing journey intertwined with insight and "aha" moments. When I turned 70 I thought getting older was the end, but it's not. Aging is only the beginning. First let me tell you about my book "The Wisdomkeepers, Tehachapi Women of Substance." I have so many incredible friends here in Tehachapi and I wanted to document their stories. Everyone has a story...
MediYoga is a form of yoga that uses gentle postures done in a slow and controlled manner. The process of using yoga as a therapeutic tool to treat and prevent health problems was developed in 1995 by Swedish yoga teacher Goran Boll. Scientific research was conducted in collaboration with hospitals in Sweden to prove its medical value. After it was demonstrated that MediYoga reduces the risk of heart attacks, the therapy was integrated into the public health systems in Sweden in 2010 and later...
"When I do art, I feel safe. I'm in the present moment, not the future or the past and that calms me. Creating art is my medicine. It teaches me to be more of a human being rather than a human doing," said Melanie Rivers, indigenous mixed media artist. Mixed media art combines a variety of media in one piece of artwork. According to a blog on the Abstraction of Cubist Collage from www.ideelart.com, the use of mixed media began around 1912. "Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque permanently altered...
Recently Sally Fields was on "The View" talking about her new book "In Pieces." During the discussion, Fields explained how creative arts have made a major impact on her life. Her statement, "when you take the arts out of the schools, you disallow children the place to explore who they are," really resonated with me. I couldn't agree more. When children use paint and drawing materials, their fine motor skills improve. Learning creative concepts teaches them to think outside of the box....
"What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity ... something like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue." –Henri Matisse. The painter Henri Matisse started painting late in life. He was recovering from an illness and used art as a form of therapy. Perhaps comparing art to a "good armchair" was his way of saying that creating art has healing properties. It certainly did for him. But making art isn't the only way to appreciate and glean from the power of c...
The beauty and concept of art surrounds us on a daily basis. Mother Earth, the greatest artist of all, fills our hearts and souls with her mountains, forests, lakes, sunsets and snowflakes. But sometimes, life seems so busy we hardly have time to notice the wonders around us. I invite you to allow the creative process to help you rediscover the importance of simple serenity. As an art educator, I have heard many people say, "I've always wanted to do art but I can't even draw a straight line."...
