Bakersfield never ceases to amaze me. With my writing gig at KCFM, I feel pretty informed about the community, but I keep finding these hidden gems that exist in our backyard. I recently spent an afternoon at a magical place on the Kern River: Okihi. When my friend Darron Nilsson invited me to come out and check out the nature preserve, I had no idea what to expect, but it turned into a fun and surprising day.  Stephen and Katherine Winters have taken on the challenge to restore this beautiful riverfront oasis to restore and protect a wild, community space that will be available for future generations of Kern County.

Located off Round Mountain Road, Okihi, which means “Can-Do” in the Chumash language, provides many educational opportunities for adults and children. Once on the property, I met Sky and Spirit, their two fluffy, white Great Pyrenees pups, chickens, turkeys, goats, and sheep. The highlight of my visit was feeding carrots to their two horses, Leroy and Basil. With a permanent amphitheater overlooking the river, they can feature local musicians in concert and an outdoor classroom setting for school-age children. They also host yoga, sound baths, and camping opportunities. This place and staff were so inspiring that I became an Okihi member, and I can’t wait to explore the area more and visit my new animal friends.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love animals, especially dogs, so when I heard the story about how former Mrs. Bakersfield 2020, Leslie Aldridge, saved the life of an elderly dog named Gus, I knew I had to learn more. June is a special pet month celebrated as National Foster a Pet Month and the American Humane Society’s 47th Annual National Adopt a Cat Month. In the article, “From Foster to Forever: How One Dog—and One Mom—Changed Everything,” on page 16, you’ll learn all about Gus’s journey from being found all alone on the streets to being adopted into a forever home. She also recommends keeping your pets safe by making sure they’re either chipped or always wearing a collar with a number to call if lost, or ideally having both.

For this month’s dose of humor, you will laugh at a topic you can relate to in Julie Willis’ Humor at Home article, “Lost in Translation: Receipts and Waiting Rooms.” She writes about how chaotic doctors’ waiting rooms can be and how easily you can mix up the paperwork and billing. To read all about it, turn to page 21.

This month, as summer officially begins, it’s time to celebrate the men in our lives who make such amazing father figures. Callie Collins’ usual Happy Mama column features a local father and role model in her article, “Hello, Happy (Dedicated) Dad: Doc Waller,” on page 12. She writes about how Doc, with his wife Dr. Arlene Waller, not only help his two sons, Kadar & Bentley, succeed in life and college, but with his job as CSUB’s Runner Ready Program Coordinator, he gets to help many scholar athletes as well.

As Bakersfield’s famous triple-digit heat creeps up on us, while you’re out and about, look for animals in need. If you can, keep some water and food in your car. And, if you want to make some new animal friends or enjoy a beautiful nature walk down by the river, visit Okihi! Trust me, you’ll fall in love with this beautiful, wild space just like I did!

Happy Father’s Day! And don’t forget to wear your sunscreen!