I was fortunate enough to spend a chilly Friday morning at the Marley’s Mutts Rescue Ranch in Tehachapi recently, surrounded by a synergistic community of people rescuing dogs and dogs rescuing people.

Unconditional love that often goes unseen and without words is a commitment made by a pet to its owner. It’s more than enjoyment; it’s an offering of a selfless healing presence.

Pizza joints in Bakersfield are not hard to find. With strong Italian culture and influence in the Bakersfield community, pasta and pizza needs are never more than a stone’s throw away. Though the traditional Italian pie covered in fresh mozzarella is always a winner in my book, I was on the…

Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the world.

Known for providing high-quality artistic entertainment, Cirque Du Soleil has introduced the world to 41 unique creations that push the boundaries of performance and imagination.

The great Michael Jordan once said, “It doesn’t matter if you win as long as you give everything in your heart.”

Most everyone likes a good riddle and on Dec. 2, 1969, Californian reporter Bob Jones asked readers, “What has four legs, blue-grey eyes, is just like an 1,800-pound cuddly puppy, has a digestive tract like a king-size garbage disposal, but still has to worry about constipation?” The answer:…

Don’t be embarrassed to ask. If you are thinking it, you are likely in good company. Just when you got used to the annual chore of gathering your tax information, the rules had to change. Understandably, folks have a lot of tax questions. Here are just a few.

Imagine a coastal destination packed with waterfront restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and entertainment venues without the nuisances of a coastal destination packed with waterfront restaurants, boutiques, art galleries and entertainment venues.

Last month, Highland High sophomore Nico Razo stood in amazement inside the Bakersfield Racquet Club. The first-year tennis player had never seen so many racquets in one place at one time.

Liam and Norman first met on May 7, 2018.

Painting the town gold, purple and green is Mento Buru’s annual Fat Tuesday party March 5 at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace. Fat Tuesday is a tradition that is usually synonymous with two things – the Christian faith and New Orleans.

Local nonprofit Children to Love International was founded in 1993 as an outreach of Laurel Glen Bible Church to the orphanages in Romania, but over the past 25 years, it has grown and evolved into something much bigger than its humble beginnings.

At an early age, Gracie Lyons felt the impact Lauren Small left on the community, inspiring her to help sick children in any way she can as she grew older.

In honor of Women’s History Month, a Bakersfield College committee will host a series of events that are centered around the theme of women and war.

Like a moth to a flame, some of us just gravitate toward bright lights and big cities. Whether it’s a lifelong dream to make it as an entertainer or just a love for the performing arts, nearly 7,000 people converged in New York City for the fourth annual BroadwayCon this winter.

Support local artist and indulge on some of this town’s best eateries at Bakersfield Museum of Arts’ annual ARTMIX on March 21. ARTMIX is BMoA biggest fundraisers, with exposure and admiration of local artists. This cocktail party has been an intricate part of BMoA for over five years. Each …

The month of March marks a transitional time of year when it comes to the local sports calendar.

One weekend in 2006 resulted in Daniel Robinson facing four life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 160 years.

A successful fitness program involves more than exercise. Conventional logic would suggest that if some exercise is good for you, more is better, and this is true – to a point. Long, strenuous workouts, whether that is pumping iron, pounding out miles on the pavement or pedaling for hours on…

   From the rolling hills and beautiful views in the northeast, to the sprawling parks and shopping centers of the southwest, Bakersfield is a growing, diverse city. Many locals live, work and play in one section of town, seldom venturing out and experiencing the dining, shopping, entertainm…

A year ago, Bakersfield’s Arts District founder and champion of all things downtown, Don Martin, sat at a crossroads. The man, whose popular Metro Galleries had become the centerpiece of First Fridays, making it cool again to venture downtown after dark and enticing other establishments to r…

Fifteen years ago, I was a happy, average and somewhat ordinary work-from-home Bakersfield mom. I was working as a life coach, specializing in working with writers and creatives. I also had a weekly radio show, so, when I went on a tour of a local performing arts academy to sign my children …

Tax season officially starts on Jan. 28 – the first tax return filing since the largest Federal tax code overhaul in 30 years. With numerous changes, prepare early. The new law is packed with both positive and negative implications, and many folks are still trying to figure out what it all m…

Living in California has many perks, but storage in homes is not one of them. Most homes don’t have basements, ample closet storage or finished attics. It’s important to use every bit of our homes for optimal storage. Top clutter culprits include: kitchen counters, bookcases and shelves, ent…

Adding an inclusive spin on a famous Broadway play is The Empty Space’s production of “The Last Five Years.”

“Just take those old records off the shelf,

Japanese pop culture will be on full display at the Kern County Fairgrounds, with colorful characters plucked straight from your television, when Bakersfield’s premier anime convention returns Feb. 2-3.

It’s not been long since the new year began, but there’s already been a lot of noteworthy action that has taken place on the local sports scene during the first few weeks of 2019.

Certified Healthy is a new program launched by the Kern County Public Health Services Department that identifies restaurants within the community that provide healthier food options.

Bagel culinary trends have come and gone over the last few decades. Bagels have even broken away from their spot on the breakfast menu and have transitioned to sandwiches and even pizza.

In the midst of the Cold War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower challenged the American people to make a “constructive effort that leads directly toward what we all want: a true and lasting peace.” The way the president believed this could be achieved was through a new program called People-to-People.

Carlos Baldovinos realized his life’s mission while out on the ocean in the Philippines.

This is a letter to the one that nearly got away.

Every four to five years, the Bakersfield Youth Symphony Orchestra embarks on a tour outside the county to share the accomplished group’s harmonies and represent Bakersfield. This April, the group will be taking its talented musicians to Wakayama, Japan, one of Bakersfield’s sister cities.

As a teacher working in urban neighborhoods in the Sacramento City Unified School District, Geoffrey Taylor witnessed firsthand an environment where mindfulness was virtually nonexistent. His students were more worried about their next meal or where the gunshots in their neighborhood where c…

As we move into a new year, our focus is often on meeting physical goals – losing weight, eating healthier, exercising more – but mental health is equally important to establishing and maintaining wellness.

Tupac Shakur once wrote, “Long live the rose that grew from the concrete.”

Throughout its history, many colorful characters have called Kern County home. On Feb. 9, The Arts Council of Kern will bring 11 of those influential and interesting individuals from days past to life as they share their stories during Stories on the Sidewalk, a walking tour through a two-bl…

Yoga studios are a dime a dozen. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Broadway in Bakersfield is back with show-stopping vengeance for its 2018-2019 season. Get a taste of the Big Apple without the bitter cold and join the world-class Broadway ensembles and musicians performing the American classics “Jersey Boys” and “The Wizard of Oz” at the Rabobank Theater …

As December fades with the sunset and January looms over the horizon, we enter a time filled with optimism and promise, eyes filled with hope at the thought of fresh starts and new beginnings.

For anyone who lives in Kern County, coccidioidomycosis is an unfortunate concern. It goes by several names: San Joaquin Valley fever, California fever, desert rheumatism or most commonly, Valley fever.

Houseplants do more than look pretty and add to our home decor.

Cycling is truly the most efficient form of transportation.

It’s too bad we don’t come with instruction manuals for how to take care of our bodies – what to eat, how much should we sleep, how much and what kind exercise, foods to avoid, foods we should crave, supplements to take, etc.

If you want to get Tim Terrio to do something, tell him it’s not possible. That’s what motivated him to go to college, even though his parents and high school counselor didn’t think it was a viable option for him.

The goal of the Kern High School District, Bakersfield College and CSU Bakersfield is simple, yet difficult to achieve: create opportunities for every student to be successful and encourage a college-going culture in Kern County.