Then came the gift, no strings attached, from a Vista auto mechanic. It was a used Ford, nearly a dozen years old. The mechanic who gave Tapia the car has made that generosity an annual tradition. For the third year running, TJ Crossman is giving away a used car to a person or family in need, and he is seeking nominations for deserving recipients from throughout the county. This year, Crossman is giving away a blue four-door Nissan Altima.
For the car giveaway, Crossman has assembled a team of three judges, including Tapia, to read through the dozens of nominations and select the next winner. The winner will be announced at the Vista Rod Run , a classic car show held Aug. Tapia knows what it is to need a car. He said his daughter Nina has a rare condition known as Retts Syndrome.
She does not speak, has limited use of her hands and relies on a walker or wheelchair to get around. Tapia is a stay-at-home dad because she requires round-the-clock assistance. His wife is a librarian at an Oceanside elementary school. To submit a nomination, email Crossman at tj tjcrossmansautorepair. Nomination letters can also be sent to him at N. Twitter: TeriFigueroaUT. Figueroa reported on the and wildfires, and covered the criminal cases against Richard Tuite and John Gardner III, as well as war crimes cases.
De Los. Times Everywhere. For Subscribers. All Sections. LA Times Studios. Live Stream. Times Store. About Us. Special Supplements. By Teri Figueroa. Share via Close extra sharing options. The car, seen here at his auto repair shop in Vista on Tuesday, is the third he has fixed up and given away in the last three years. More to Read. In Santa Monica, officials will pay you not to drive your car. A car-less math teacher commutes four hours. Look what his students gave him.
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