Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

Articles written by Nick Smirnoff


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  • Tehachapi bike safety rodeo

    Nick Smirnoff - NPPA, contributing writer|May 28, 2022

    Safety and rules of the road were taught, then emphasized, as young riders were guided by Tehachapi City Police officers through a maze of cones, set up to simulate city streets. The event was co-sponsored by Cal Trans and the CHP. "We want to teach our young kids early on to learn safety and the rules of the road when riding their bicycle. Helmets are a must," said Tehachapi City Police Chief Kent Kroeger....

  • Tehachapi Rodeo schedule announced

    Nick Smirnoff - NPPA, contributing writer|Apr 16, 2022

    "Fifty nine years and still bucking strong," the Tehachapi Mountain Rodeo Association announces its 2022 season. The season starts with a June 4 Sponsor's and Kick Off Dinner. July 4 will once again present "Bad Bulls." Aug. 19 and 20 will be the PRCA Rodeo. In addition to adult rodeo fun, the TMRA also has a long running and very active Junior Rodeo program. Junior Rodeo Chairman Tom Tully stated, "we are excited to again offer our Jr. Rodeo action and competition to our young men and woman of...

  • Down Home Reverse Christmas Parade

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Dec 19, 2020

    After the annual Christmas Parade was canceled due to COVID concerns community members reached out to each other to hold their own parade. "Instead of the people coming to the parade, let's take the parade to the people," stated co-organizer Jenn Michael. And so they did, by word of mouth and in just a few weeks time, the idea of a "Down Home Reverse Christmas Parade" as it was labeled, caught on and grew in community interest. On parade night over three dozen floats, cars, motorcycles, trucks...

  • Living Nativity Scene

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Dec 19, 2020

    The story was attended by some, socially distanced and masked spectators. With the help of Pastor Nancy Bacon's husband Steve, working as a hand held camera man, the pagent was zoomed to those church members not in physical attendance. Alysia Bailey portrayed Mary and her partner Chris Gripkey was Joseph. Their son Quentin was baby Jesus....

  • Annual Tehachapi Menorah Lighting

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Dec 19, 2020

    The outdoor public lighting event this year was for the lighting of the fifth candle on the Menorah. Held Monday night, the fifth night of Chanukah, the Jewish worshipers were hosted on the sidewalk in front of the information office for the Sage Range Development. Led by Rabbi Schmuli Schlanger who sang and led prayers the fifth candle lighting honors went to business owner and long time resident Moshe "Moses" Mizrache. At the conclusion traditional Jewish holiday treats were handed out to the...

  • Curbside ballot drop off at the Tehachapi Library

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA - contributing writer|Oct 24, 2020

    Kern County election workers were busy outside the Tehachapi Library October 17 as Tehachapi residents arrived via foot, bicycle and auto to drop off their ballots. Voters had the choice to place their own ballot in the official election box or drive up and be greeted by an election worker curbside who then placed the ballot directly into the collection box, all without the voter having to exit their vehicle. Curbside drop off services will occur again from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday,...

  • Food service employment opportunities on the rise in Tehachapi

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Aug 29, 2020

    In a recent news release by Tehachapi City Economic Coordinator Corey Costelloe, there are six additional restaurants within the city limits which are currently in some phase of being newly built or remodeled from existing structures. His report cites the following new eateries as places of "potential employment opportunities." This will bring a total of over 25 restaurants and their associated employment opportunities within the Tehachapi city limits. Opening soon: 4 Seasons Cafe – On West T...

  • Missing and exploited children informational march

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Aug 29, 2020

    Human trafficking has long been a Kern County concern. The Hwy. 58 and Interstate 5 corridors, state officials emphasize, have long afforded fast and easy means for this illicit activity to flow from one end of the state to the other. Not restricted to just prostitution, human trafficking includes domestic workers and seasonal farm workers perpetrated by unscrupulous labor contractors. Child abduction oftentimes follows this same route. The informational rally on Aug. 22 was located at the...

  • Equestrian riders enjoy a community horsemanship playday

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Aug 15, 2020

    Old and young alike enjoyed the Summer Equestrian Playday put on by the Bear Valley Springs Buckaroo Club. A number of challenging events were set up for club riders to test their skills and their horse's abilities. Winners were divided into age groups. Some riders were as young as 4 years old. Adults 18 and over were also invited to compete. The next Buckaroo event will be on Sept. 12. Winners by age group were: On Leadline (youngest competitors): Carter Akerly 12 years and under: Elena Perez...

  • Tehachapi's newest Vineyard

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Aug 15, 2020

    These 3,000 newly planted grape vines are located in the Brite Valley area of Tehachapi. Brite Valley Vineyard is owned by Keith Campeau, who will soon be moving into the area to operate the family owned business. A variety of wines will be forthcoming. Plans call for a tasting room to be built at a future date....

  • Yeehaw! Tehachapi Mountain Junior Rodeo 2020 season announced

    Nick Smirnoff, TMRA|Jun 20, 2020

    With COVID-19 mandates and recommendations changing almost daily, the Tehachapi Mountain Rodeo Association announced that they will be able to produce a Junior Rodeo season for 2020. Junior rodeo athletes will be able to participate in all events associated with the Junior Rodeo competition, as in years past. Dates are scheduled for a July 25 and 26 2-day competition which will start out the season. Aug. 15 and 16 would be the next two day’s, and with a fifth, or “finals” rodeo yet to be scheduled. COVID-19 safety recommendations and socia...

  • 'Curbside' Communion Service

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Apr 11, 2020

  • Neighbors encourage neighbors

    Nick Smirnoff|Apr 11, 2020

    A large number of these signs are appearing in front of homes in Bear Valley Springs as "stay at home" orders continue to be in effect during the COVID-19 outbreak....

  • Symphony Orchestra's Spring Concert

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Mar 14, 2020

    What does Antonio Vivaldi and his passion of the Earth's four seasons; Richard Wagner and his love for his wife Cosima; and the 250th Birthday of Ludwig Van Beethoven all have in common? A wonderful musical performance of their works was performed by the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra at their annual spring concert on March 1 under the baton of David Newby. The afternoon started with Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll." It was written as a surprise birthday composition for his wife, Cosima. It was far,...

  • Tehachapi Valley Arts Association Winter Photo Contest winners

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Feb 15, 2020

    Top honors including the Best of Show award for the 15th annual Winter Photo Contest at Gallery 'N' Gifts went to Todd Sherwood. Todd's photo was chosen by a panel of judges from a field of a little over 100 entries in seven different subject categories. Todd took his photo in an area of Nevada known as the Valley of Fire. "I actually saw the image possibility the day before and knew I wanted to shoot the location as the sun rose the next day." Returning the next morning before dawn, he and his...

  • Wind damage at Triassic Vineyards

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Dec 21, 2019

    Two days of high winds in the Cummings Valley area, sustained in the high 20 mph range and with gusts recorded nearing 60 mph at times, left in its wake an assortment of damage to Triassic Vineyards. A 3,000 gallon empty water tank was blown off its footings from a neighboring home the night of Dec. 17 and was carried by the winds across Hwy. 202 through a wooden fence and into Triassic Vineyards’ vineyard. No one was injured but removal will be difficult without damaging the vines. The t...

  • Tehachapi Crèche Festival

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Dec 21, 2019

    This year's Crèche Festival held on Dec. 14 and 15 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints featured two days of musical presentations, a live outdoor Nativity scene and 147 Nativities on loan from local residents and representing the Nativity from locations around the world. Children had the opportunity to participate in a Crèche-themed scavenger hunt....

  • TMJR Awards Ceremony

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Sep 14, 2019

    High point earners this year were Senior Division all around boy, Clay Regner; Senior Division all around girl, Makayla Farkas; Junior Division all around boy, Cody Tognazzini; Junior Division all around girl, Kami Jo Jorian; Buckaroos Division all around boy, Collin Chapman; Buckaroos Division all around girl, Ashley Griffin; PeeWee Division all around boy, Jace Ritchea; and PeeWee Division all around girl, Hadleigh Eyraud....

  • THS class of 1969 holds its 50 year class reunion

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Aug 17, 2019

    Kelcy's, one of Tehachapi's oldest restaurants, hosted the Tehachapi High School graduation Class of 1969. Known to those classmates as both Trusty's and Kelcy's Restaurant, as a change of ownership occurred in 1969. Memories were shared and a traditional teen meal of hamburgers, fries and a milkshake were enjoyed by the guests. For dessert was a slice of Kelcy's signature dish, pie a la mode. "We're very proud to have hosted the class members and, starting with Mountain Festival weekend,...

  • Union Pacific upgrades interior of tunnel 10 near the Loop

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Aug 3, 2019

    After the removal of the old rail and ties, a new roadbed was graded inside of the West Portal of Union Pacific's Tunnel 10 just east of the Loop. Recent rains and ground seepage had made the existing track age unstable for rail operations. Welders pictured below are awaiting the arrival of a section of pre-constructed trackage. As the rail sections are slid along the existing track, a crane attachment (pictured bottom right) will lift it onto the newly constructed roadbed, where the welders...

  • Flag Retirement Ceremony

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Jun 22, 2019

    The 12th annual Boy Scouts of America sponsored Flag Retirement Ceremony was conducted at Coy Burnett Field in Tehachapi on June 14. This celebration coincided with the nation's Flag Day and also included a tribute to the Normandy landings in France that occurred 75 years ago in 1944....

  • 'The Beatles' invade Tehachapi

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Jun 22, 2019

    "The Beatles" tribute band performed on Sunday, June 16 at Philip Marx Central Park as the kick-off of the Tehachapi Valley Recreation & Park District Concerts in the Park series in association with Fiddlers Crossing and MusicMX Entertainment. The performers are members of the tribute band "Ticket to Ride." This is the first of several summer concerts in the park for this year. Corporate sponsorship is by Lehigh Cement and Grimmway Farms....

  • Memorial Day ceremonies

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Jun 8, 2019

    The community joined together on May 27 to honor and pay tribute to the men and women who gave their lives serving the nation. Events included the annual Memorial Day Parade in town, and ceremonies in Central Park and Bear Valley Springs....

  • Western Swing Out

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|Jun 8, 2019

    For the third year in a row, Memorial Day weekend brought Western Swingout to Downtown Tehachapi. Dancers from all over enjoyed the festivities held in venues at both ends of town....

  • Vintage cars visit Tehachapi

    Nick Smirnoff, NPPA|May 25, 2019

    By day's end on Friday, May 17 nearly 80 of these vintage Chevrolet vehicles, driven by members of the Vintage Chevrolet Car Club of America, were in town or had passed through Tehachapi. While visiting town the drivers and riders ate, visited local museums and shopped. They returned to Bakersfield later in the day, readying themselves for a vintage car show in Bakersfield on Saturday....

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