The unstoppable development keeps pushing our boundaries west, another trip to the Wind Wolves Preserve and lamenting some folks who have left us

 * .... WESTWARD HO: The westward march of our town continues without pause, and Sunday I passed yet more development in areas that once were pristine agricultural fields. Headed out for a

hike in the Wind Wolves Preserve off Highway 166, I spotted a new Rite-Aid being built at the corner of Old River Road and Panama Lane, and new housing tracts are sure to follow. It doesn't seem that long ago when you couldn't find a home west of White Lane, but the march toward Interstate 5 continues.

 * ... WIND WOLVES: Speaking of Wind Wolves, the word is apparently out on the 93,000 acre preserve. On Sunday, the parking lot was full as parents with their children and dogs arrived early eager to hike the trials.The good news: Wind Wolves is so incredibly large, with so many diverse trails, some more steep and technical than others, that it never feels crowded. One tip: If you are doing the 10-mile hike to the "Reflection Pond," be advised it is dry as a bone, but still well worth the extra miles.

* ... ATTORNEYS: With apologies to my attorney friends, I lifted this from a tongue-in-cheek memo outlining rules for hunting attorneys in Montana. Among the guidelines: "It is unlawful to chase, herd, or harvest attorneys from a snow machine, helicopter or aircraft. It is also unlawful to shout 'whiplash,' 'ambulance' or 'free Perrier' for the purpose of trapping attorneys."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Politeness has become so rare that some people mistake it for flirtation."

 * ... FAREWELL: Local attorney Tom Anton spoke for many of us when he dropped me this note:  “Last week was a sad week. Jim Murray, Brad Singleton, Lou Etcheverry, Steve Starbuck and my cousin Doris Banducci-Walker all died.  I will miss all of them because they were all wonderful folks with terrific personalities. God was lucky last week with all these great people coming to live with him.”

 * ... POWERBALL: Like a lot of us, Ruth Raney bought some Powerball tickets for the big draw last week. And like most of us, she lost. "We had the number 4," she said. "Our Wednesday Bakersfield Racquet Club bridge club had bought Powerball tickets and when we won we were going to include in our generosity BRC. They need so many improvements and we were going to be in a position to really help. Maybe next time. Or better yet, maybe Chino Hills will feel like a good neighbor and remember us, the BRC. One of them could be a tennis player or a bridge player."

 * ... ADAKC: Catherine Pitcher wrote to commend all the folks who participated in a recent fund raiser for the Alzheimers Disease Association of Kern County. "I attended the fundraiser they held across from Channel 17.  They were selling tasty cinnamon rolls made by Hode'ls. This fund raiser was so organized from the start of the line to end of the line. What I observed were some of the friendliest volunteers. They were energetic, happy, and most of all very thankful for the community attending this fundraiser.  I am thankful for the volunteers who run this organization."