TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

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1. 

   Big-bird alert: Ostrich ranch throws a party

   BY STEFANI DIAS Californian assistant lifestyles editor

   Wednesday, Jun 19 2013 12:36 PM

   Ever heard that tale about ostriches hiding their heads in the sand? That's likely to ruffle some feathers over at Indian Point Ostrich Ranch.

   "Put their heads in the ground? They don't. It's a myth," said David Brust, spokesman for the Tehachapi facility. Celebrating 21 years in business, the popular tourist destination will host a second "thank-you" event on Saturday for the community and guests who have helped it thrive.

   Brust has a lot to discuss on the subject of ostriches, the largest living species of bird, with close ties to the dinosaurs, including the aforementioned tall tale.

   "Now it's used more often to talk about politicians than ostriches. They (birds) are known to lay their head flat on the ground when a predator is...

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2. 

   This volleyball tourney is spiked with mud

   It's time to get down and dirty for a Kern County tradition that's good clean fun. The 21st Annual Mud Volleyball Tournament to benefit the Epilepsy Society of Kern County takes place Saturday at Stramler Park. The venue, best known for...

3. Cool stuff in the southwest? Put your prejudice aside

   Downtown may be home to the Arts District, but it's not the only place in Bakersfield where shoppers can find unique, artsy merchandise, and Dominique Curl is determined to prove it by presenting to Flea Market Super Weekend Mania. The...

4. THE DISH: Texas barbecue joint rolls into Bakersfield

   There's nothing slow and low about the competition for Bakersfield's best barbecue, which is about to get hot. Make that smokin' hot. Dallas-based Dickey's Barbecue is breaking out the brisket, fried okra and sweet tea Thursday for the...
5. 

   HERB BENHAM: The dime I can spare, brother, but not the guilt

   March of Dimes sent me a solicitation. In the envelope was a shiny dime. An attractive, shiny dime. What made it more compelling was that the envelope contained address labels, too. A shiny dime and address labels. Usually, you get one or...

6. The Dish: Restaurants have specials for Dad

   Today being Father's Day, many restaurants will be running specials to help you honor dear old dad. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse not only will be giving a limited-edition Father's Day pint glass to every dad all weekend, but you can enter...
7. 

   HERB BENHAM: 'A' is for her 'attitude,' and she's 'amazing' too

   Juliana Martin is confident but hasn't always been. Life has been a challenge for the 12-year-old, a recent graduate of Columbia Elementary in northwest Bakersfield. She was born with a heart murmur, a congenital heart defect and had her...
9. 

   RICHARD SHIELL: Turn your garden into a natural salad bar

   Making salad is a great way to incorporate garden produce and herbs. Sliced fruit, nasturtium petals, a sprinkling of finely chopped rosemary, mint or lavender all liven up the first course. Softer-leaved herbs like tarragon and cilantro...
10. 

    HERB BENHAM: S. Barbara wedding? Priceless; cost of forgetting tie? $100

    Santa Barbara. A Santa Barbara wedding. It had been awhile since I had been to either. Last weekend, we attended the wedding of Jessica Hall and Harl Asaff of Dallas (the bride is the daughter of neighborhood friends). Monsignor Craig...
11. 

    It's a bird, it's a plane ... it's Edwards AFB?

    If buzz and anticipation are any indication, the new Superman is about to conquer the world. But first he had to survive Edwards Air Force Base. "Man of Steel," which hits Bakersfield screens at 12:01 a.m. Friday, was shot on location at...

12. Chili and classic cars: You're welcome, dad

    Although there are plenty of activities vying for your attention this Father's Day weekend, Tehachapi makes its case with red-hot chili, cool weather and even cooler cars at the sixth annual Tehachapi Chili Cookoff & Car Show. If last year...
13. 

    SCOTT COX: Dark and twisted? Right up my alley, brother

    This week's coolest thing, believe it or not, is an e-book. I think. I'm not really sure what those are, and I've never had one before. I'm an old-fashioned actual-book kind of guy. Here's how it happened: I was watching "The Colbert...

14. Clogging sets the preshow mood

    The Centre Stage dancers, led by owner and instructor Pat Gosch, will perform in Sunday's Beale Band concert preshow. The performers, whose ages range from 15 to "70-ish," will perform tap and clogging routines that took about six months...