Big oil places a big bet on solar, CALM ushers in another year of holiday lights and yes, it's time for those seasonal telephone scams again

 * ... CALM LIGHTS: The California Living Museum (CALM) is kicking off its annual holiday lights show this weekend, and it promises to be the biggest year yet for the popular light show. This

is the fifteenth year CALM has presented this dazzling show, which runs until January 6. Tickets are available at Valleytix and at the door. The show runs nightly from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

* ... OIL PATCH: In the battle for public opinion, the oil industry has done a poor job of telling its story. Instead, environmental organizations have enjoyed free reign to demonize fossil fuels, spread half truths about fracking and demand an end to the production of oil and natural gas. So it was good to see Aera Energy CEO Christina Sistrunk take a more proactive role in explaining the company's plans to build what will be California's largest solar farm to power its oil operations in the Belridge field. This is Aera's first foray into solar and it is a big bet that will provide jobs for more than 500 people. The solar farm is expected to be operational in 2020.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I wish I could enjoy the preppy style and comfortable torso warmth of a sweater vest without looking like the manager of an Office Depot."

 * ... SEASONAL SCAMS: Karen King wrote to remind me this is the season for telephone scams. Said King: "I just had a reminder that the scammers are still at it. I just received a phone call and a man said 'Hi, Grandma... it's your favorite grandson.' I said 'What?' He repeated himself. Since my only grandson is seven years old, this was a no-brainer and I told him off. He quickly hung up and I'm sure he is going down the list of other seniors. Apparently, there are people who think gray hair equals dead brain cells. I just wanted to give a heads up to all seniors NOT to accept any such calls."

* ... DOG LOVERS: If you are a dog lover, take heart. According to a Swedish study, dog owners are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease and death than those who don't own dogs. Scientific Reports had this to say: "Owning a dog was associated with a 20 percent lower risk of all cause death and a 23 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease." It went on to say that "the effect was stronger with certain breeds, particularly pointers and retrievers." The reason? Researchers speculated that owner of these breeds were more likely to get out and exercise more.

* ... BAD FORM: Joe Mitchell sent this reminder about traffic safety. "As I was driving up Wible Road this afternoon and listening to the radio news report the latest pedestrian casualty - 38 this year  a record -  a yellow school bus was stopped ahead with flashing lights and the 'STOP' sign extended.     I waited along with several other autos, traveling in both directions, as a line of students descended onto the sidewalk. These students were not children. They were what I call young adults. High school students... By high school age have they learned not to walk out into the street, and not all drivers are going to be alert and stop for them? I believe these students have been trained from their first day of school that autos are going to stop and wait for them, but unfortunately, not all will stop. That’s when we mark up another pedestrian death!"

 * ... CHRISTMAS: If you are in to the Christmas spirit, you might consider attending a special event this Saturday at St. John's Lutheran Church. It is the annual Master Chorale Christmas featuring your favorite calls and the 80-voice Bakersfield Master Chorale and Brass a la Carte under the direction of Dr. Robert Provencio. Stop by California Keyboards on Brundage Lane for advance tickets ($15) or buy them at the door for $20. The fun starts at 7 p.m.

Celebrating all our young adults who come home during the Thanksgiving holidays, Kiyoshi Tomono is leaving KGET TV for a career in health care, and remembering the giant personality of Norm Hoffman

* ... THANKSGIVING: One of the great joys of the holidays is reconnecting with some of the young men and women who moved away after college but always return home for the holidays. You will see them this weekend at Luigi's, Woolgrowers, Pyrenees and all the haunts that beckon the

young home. I had a chance to catch up with four of them at The Padre the other day and left thinking: a few years ago these knuckleheads were driving their parents nuts in high school, and yet today they are holding down great jobs, buying homes and seemingly on top of the world.

* ... KIYOSHI: KGET TV is losing one of its most popular anchors with the announcement by Kiyoshi Tomono that he is leaving to pursue other interests. The long-time morning co-anchor said only he was leaving the station to go into the health care field, but he did say he was staying in town. Tomono is widely recognized as one of the smartest of the local TV anchors and has worked at the station since March 2004. With two young children, he no doubt will enjoy a new career that doesn't entail a 2 a.m. wakeup call.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "People who say, 'I’ve got your back' are usually looking for the best place to stick the knife."

 * ... GOOD FORM: Here is a note from Wofford Heights residents Dave and Helen Escobedo that is worth sharing in this holiday season. "My wife and I had eye doctor appointments in Bakersfield yesterday morning. After our visit to the doctor we stopped at the Panda restaurant on Rosedale for lunch before our drive back up the canyon for home. As we stood in line a young man behind me asked if I had served in the Navy (he saw my Navy hat( and I said yes I had been in the Navy a long time ago. (I am 78 yrs old, my wife is 74). When it came time to pay for our food this young man stepped forward and paid our bill for us. He would not take no when I said he didn't have to do that. He said that he wanted to. What a wonderful surprise and a beautiful thing for him to do. He brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. His name is Steven. Thank you Steven, whatever discomfort I may have from my service to my country, you and other young people like you makes it all worthwhile. God Bless you and thank you again."

 * ... CALM: I took a bike ride out to Lake Ming this weekend and noticed that the annual Holiday Lights event at CALM is about to open. This Bakersfield family tradition features over three million lights designed by Josh Barnett, and all proceeds benefit CALM. The show opens Nov. 27 and runs through Jan. 2, 2016. IT will be open every day except Christmas from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

 * ... NORM HOFFMAN: And speaking of cycling, I was headed up Fairfax Drive with my friend Scott Rosenlieb the other day when we passed the spot where former Bakersfield College health professor Norm Hoffman was struck and killed by a car on March 1, 2001. Scott and I shared a few laughs recalling Norm, a physical specimen with a huge personality and over-the-top charm. When he was hit by an inattentive driver, Norm was 59 years old and training for the U.S. Masters National Cycling Championship. At the exact spot where he was hit, someone painted the ancient Chinese symbol for yin and yang, a fitting tribute. The paint is faded, but not the memory of Norm Hoffman.

 * ... CHEZ NOEL: Another seasonal event of a different slant is the 28th Annual Chez Noel holiday home tour set fro Dec. 4-5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ticket prices are $40 and all the proceeds go to benefit the good folks over at the Assistance League of Bakersfield. Pick up tickets at the Bargain Box Thrift Store on Q Street, Kern Travel, Christine's, Inspire Salon and Span, SugarDaddy's or Victoria's at the Marketplace.

While OPEC floods the market with oil, U.S. energy producers begin to cut back on production, shutting down some operations and laying off contractors, and recognizing the young people who come home for Thanksgiving

 * … OIL AND GAS: There is a quiet concern and worry among the oil and gas producers that have thrived in Kern County during the energy boom. The benchmark price of oil has now dipped

below $70 a barrel, a four-year low and more than a 30 percent dip since it spiked at $108 not long ago. One thing is certain about the energy sector: the major players don't hesitate to shut down production when the price dips, and already I am hearing of contractors being laid off as the energy sector pulls back. The problem: OPEC has rejected the idea of curtailing production to stabilize the price, putting enormous pressure on the booming U.S. energy business. Keep and eye on this one because it will certainly affect our local economy.

* … THANKSGIVING: One of the great joys of this time of year is catching up with so many of the young men and women who grew up here, left and returned for the holidays. They gather at Woolgrower's, Narducci's, Luigi's and all their familiar haunts, carrying the confidence and swagger that only a few years of living on their own can afford. I spotted a slew of them at the Thanksgiving Day Pie Run out at Hart Park and when I stopped by Woolgrower's the night before. Among those I caught up with were Michelle Keathley of San Diego, Dustin Glentzer of Santa Monica, Thomas Benham of Yountville, Phil Brandon of Martha's Vineyard, Sarah Baker of Flagstaff and Elizabeth Hill of Washington, D.C. Here's to all the kids and their smiles.

 * … BAD FORM: I am constantly amazed, and disappointed, with the amount of trash I see discarded on our local roads. On a recent bike ride on Granite Road I spotted an old (and large) Magnavox television, discarded on the side of the road, as well as two mattresses and an overturned hot tub. Really? Meanwhile, the Goodwill has TV advertisements offering to pick up these large items at no cost. Go figure.

 * … SCAM: Alice Merenbach weighed in with yet another scam from someone posing as an agent from the Internal Revenue Service. Her report: "Another call from someone purporting to be from the IRS, telling me her name is agent Julie Smith and I was to call 415-296-1297 right away.  'Do not disregard this message, or we will be forced to take steps against you,' she said.

 * … SERVICE: I picked up a Honey Baked Ham the other day and was amazed at the excellent customer service. Recognizing this must be the busiest time of year, the Ming Avenue store had no less than five checkout stations manned by some of the friendliest young people I have had the pleasure to encounter.

 * … CALM: Don't forget to visit CALM’s HolidayLights that returns for its 12th year with over three million lights designed by Josh Barnett’s Lightasmic. Money raised from HolidayLights supports CALM’s efforts to grow. In addition, Teen Challenge benefits from the concessions and corporate part tent and catering. The show runs from Nov. 28 through Jan. 3.