It is raining again this evening. I'm listening to "Let's Fall in Love" on my Spotify "Relaxing Jazz" playlist. A homemade vanilla candle glows on my coffee table while I write about spring to come.

Christmas is a big day in the Christian calendar, as it represents the birth of the savior. But as holidays of significance to the church go, Easter has Christmas beat by a far sight.

There are so many diets and trends out there that you can’t click or scroll without encountering a piece of advice or an “expert” offering information on how to eat. That leaves many people in Kern County wondering what is true and what are the keys to a healthy diet.

Dinah Brindley was the kind of person friends would describe as upbeat and healthy. Then, in 2022, her life became extremely stressful, much more than usual. Sometimes the stress would get so bad Brindley wouldn’t want to get out of bed or talk to anyone, which was out of character.

It was a night of celebration Feb. 2 as the Bakersfield branch of the NAACP held its Awards Extravaganza, at Bakersfield Country Club.

Cal State Bakersfield's baseball team scored a home run Feb. 26 with former Dodger Nomar Garciaparra as the guest speaker at the 9th annual Hot Stove Dinner.

Life as a mother is one of the most rewarding jobs many Kern County parents undertake, but it can also be one of the most demanding. As many women are at the center of the family, they are often juggling care of their families — sandwiched between children and aging parents — balancing a job…

As a family practice clinician, Dr. Srilakshmi Madhusudhan works with a wide range of patients and enjoys the opportunity to help people across different life stages.

Amy and Ken Durbin’s love story was not a direct path. They dated in college in West Virginia, then went their separate ways. Amy moved to Maryland. Ken headed out to California.

Starting in the 1980s, Robin Mangarin-Scott became a familiar face in the Bakersfield community as a broadcast news anchor at KERO and, later, KGET. She broke barriers as the first Filipina on local news in California. She traveled the world, reporting from China and the Philippines. She eve…

When Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during a “Monday Night Football” game in 2023, the people of Kern County held a collective breath as they watched the emergency response on the field. That response included CPR and an automated external defibrillator and Hamlin was saved, but many pe…

Spring in Bakersfield is one of the best times to lace up and head outside for a walk. Regular physical activity has numerous benefits: elevating mood, increasing energy and improving quality of sleep are just a few. Walking can be a great choice for just about anyone as it is a low-cost and…

As the Kern County Health Department staff gathered at a potluck dinner at Lowell Park on a sunny July afternoon in 1954, Dr. William C. Buss, county health officer, presented his assistant with a 20-year certificate and a pin for distinguished service. The well-earned retirement came at the…

Local tennis pro Tracy Burrell knows tennis. The nationally ranked junior and collegiate player has also seen it all, narrowly losing matches to the likes of Chris Everett as a young player. Yet to this day, she continues to be amazed and in awe of the production that is the esteemed Bakersf…

February is American Heart Month, a time when heart health receives a significant focus. Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go in cardiovascular disease awareness. A recent Harris Poll conducted on behalf of the American Heart Association, revealed that less than half of all responde…

Whether they are the ones holding the gavel or holding their client's hand through possibly some of the toughest times in their lives, women in courtrooms have made significant waves and change, especially here in Kern County.

Along with nicer weather, spring heralds the return of green vegetables. Make the most of the seasonal greens with this vegetable soup that includes leeks, parsley, asparagus, fennel and snap peas, which cook quickly and are rich in protein and fiber.

Santa Catalina Island, located off the coast of Southern California, is known for its stunning landscapes and maritime influence, creating a distinctive terroir that shapes the grapes grown in its vineyards. Yes, Santa Catalina Island has vineyards.

With so many doughnut shops across the Golden State, a doughnut run is a quintessential part of California life. In a celebration of taking phrases too literally, 800 people are expected to race in March for more than 3 miles, all for the fried and baked treats.

Links for Life celebrated breast cancer survivors and raised funds to provide services and support during its Love Links Luncheon on Feb. 8 at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace.

Giving care seems like an easy concept to grasp, helping those in need. Yet there are many ways in which people can receive care. 

Recently I was asked by a teacher to take part in a journalism event for high school students. Having served as a guest speaker for a class at Cal State Bakersfield last fall, I thought I'd be up to the task. 

Normally when I suggest something from The Criterion Channel streaming service, it's a hard-to-find classic or independent film, more obscure than what's on tap for this month.

When a new restaurant moves into the location of a former dining establishment, sometimes there is only a minimal change in the ambience as the new business establishes a footing before remodeling.

Even while mourning the loss of the great Dot x Ott, we could appreciate the bar and restaurant that followed in its place.

Harrington House, a small fusion restaurant located south of The Park at River Walk, opened last year, joining the series of other new sophisticated, high-end restaurants including Fredo's, The Botanist, Zama, Mango Haus and Buena Vida Tapas & Lounge.

When the summer months leave us feeling like we're in an outdoor oven, many flee to the coast while others enjoy the benefit of lighter crowds at usual hot spots like Luigi's.

Longtime restaurateurs Ronnie and Karla Cope, known for their Knotty Pine Cafe, a popular family-owned gem in Oildale, ventured out in 2022 to purchase Ethel's Old Corral Cafe.

Located about halfway between Mojave and Bakersfield, the Keene Cafe offers a side of history with its home-style potatoes. 

It's rare that Pete Tittl will highlight a chain, not only agreeing with the late Anthony Bourdain's advice to patronize local restaurants but also seeing many chains as cookie-cutter and dull.

Fredo's, which beckoned with its beautiful neon light before it opened in late 2022, caught Tittl's attention last spring during what staff called a soft opening.

Restaurant suggestions go both ways. Just as Tittl recommends places to visit, he also receives emails from readers about other places to check out.

For more than 70 years, Arizona Cafe has served Old Town Kern and established itself as one of Bakersfield's restaurant institutions alongside Luigi's, Wool Growers, Mama Tosca's, Frugatti's, Jake's Tex-Mex and Mexicali.

I'll admit that I am one of those hopeless romantics who loves love and Valentine's Day. And while I can appreciate the various ways we can express our love on Valentine's. I do understand that life rarely turns out as romantically as we hope.