Cyclists show some really bad form on the Kern River bike trail, a shout out to the Westside Parkway and a local connection to country crooner Marty Brown

 * ... MARTY BROWN: Margaret Lemucchi shared this bit of surprising news regarding the sister of country singer Marty Brown.  "Imagine the surprise at Timothy Lemucchi's law office when Tim's

paralegal, Angie, mentioned that Marty Brown, the country composer/singer who is quite a favorite on NBC's America's Got Talent, is her brother. Angie is a recent transplant from Maceo, Kentucky, where she and Marty grew up. Angie assists Tim ably with his personal injury law practice. Marty's next appearance on the show will be the first week of September."

 * ... PARKWAY: An enthusiastic shout out to the new Westside Parkway compliments of Paula Dunaway. "I have cut 15 minutes off my morning and afternoon commute. But, driver beware:  the Bakersfield Police Department who does traffic patrol the parkway is definitely trying to increase its coffers with more revenue. I don't think any of your readers wants a increase of insurance or the large fine for getting a speeding ticket. Instead, follow my lead in entering the parkway, hitting your cruise control at exactly 65 and enjoy the ride!"

* ... BAD FORM: Shame on the driver of the gray Honda Civic who chose to dump his ashtray full of cigarette butts while sitting at the stop light at Oak Street and Truxtun. Really?

 * ... MORE BAD FORM: And who told the group of six to eight cyclists that is safe to ride on the bike trail near CSUB going 30 mph and faster on a Sunday morning? They sped past slower bikers and walkers without verbal warnings, obviously very pleased with themselves. It is a multi use bike trail boys. If you want to go fast, get on the street, or go do some hills.

* ... JESUS SHACK: Hats off to the folks over at Jesus Shack who put on their annual back to school event, serving more than 600 families and 1,300 kids with backbacks, school supplies, haircuts and free medical exams. Donors to the event included Carl's Jr., Sobe and Fastrip.

 * ... ANDRES: Marlene Morales, marketing director over at Chain, Cohn and Stiles, submits this memory from the classic drive in restaurant Andre's: "Known for their signature Big Boy burritos, French burgers, fried pies, crinkle cut seasoned French fries, pastramis, deluxe cheeseburgers, and the slushes that come in so many flavors. The only bad thing: we have to save up calories in order to indulge. But it's worth it and the childhood memories that come along with them too.

* ... MEMORIES: Elinor Grant says you may really be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember the cricket invasion in the 1930s."Going anywhere, shopping, out to eat, wherever you went there were crickets everywhere."

The first hints of fall in Bakersfield and time for another First Friday in downtown Bako

 * ... READY FOR FALL? Don't let the early morning chill fool you. As every local will tell you, a Bakersfield summer is never really over until the Kern County Fair ends. But it has been a terrific summer here, mild and blessed with a river full of water, and I'm sad to see it coming to an end. Still, fall brings high school and Bakersfield College football and a fall farmer's market full of fresh vegetables.

 * ... FIRST FRIDAY: And speaking of the end of summer, don't forget to check out the First Friday activities in the downtown arts district. Remember First Friday is not a street fair, but rather an occasion to support our local businesses by strolling through our growing number of art galleries, antique shops and other businesses and picking up a bite to eat at one of our many downtown restaurants: Uricchio's Trattoria, Mama Roomba, Chef's Choice noodle bar, Mexicali, La Costa Mariscos and the Padre Hotel to name a few. Also make sure to swing by The Metro Galleries on 19th Street, which is featuring an impressive show dedicated to Latino artists and culture. This is a juried show and the winners will be announced. Metro will also have music by Mento Buru and Velorio and a no host bar.

 * ... REITER: A relatively new business called the Reiter Gallery Art Parlor is featuring the paintings of Betty Leonor. The opening reception is Friday and it's worth stopping by on your First Friday tour. The gallery is located at 1914 Chester Avenue.

 * ... OVERHEARD: A 20-something blonde is overheard telling a friend: "I was going crazy because I misplaced the book I was reading. I spent three days looking for it until I realized I had downloaded it on my iPad!"

 * ... SPOTTED: From local Realtor Coleen Peters: "A 1990s dark blue Toyota Camry with middle aged male left a cat lying on the head rest in 100 degree heat in Costco Rosedale parking lot with two windows only rolled down one inch. It must have been 120 degrees in that car. I called 911 and they sent animal control to try to find the car. Thank goodness his shopping list was short. Please remember our furry friends."

 * ... IRENE: Realtor Patsy Sadler wrote with this observation of Hurricane Irene: "I haven't heard one person yell' help me, help me' and no looting reported and people actually trying to clean up their mess and not waiting for help!"

 * ... SERVICE: Some more reader nominations for local retailers who provide great customer service: Snead's men's store near Trader Joe's, White Forest Nursery and Guarantee Shoe Center.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Margaret Lemucchi provided this gem about growing up in Shafter. "You know you're an old-timer from Shafter if you remember picking up your metal canister containing a movie at Stringham's Drug Store. You selected your movies from a catalogue in a shop - near the Nile Theater, I think. Your weekly movie would go to Shafter on the Orange Belt Stage which parked at  Stringham's. You showed your movie to a neighborhood crowd on a screen in your living room with popcorn breaks and when the film broke, the lights went on, and your dad 'spliced it' with Scotch tape. The next day you returned the movie to Stringham's which put it on the bus back to Bakersfield. Great fun."