Local theater artist David Zent suffering from throat cancer, I take some heat on my defense of fossil fuels and a shoutout to a city employee from a local business owner

* ... DAVID ZENT: I was shocked to learn that David Zent, one of our community's great creative talents in local theater, was suffering from throat cancer. Zent shared his condition in a very public way, posting a lengthy update on Facebook that triggered hundreds of prayers and positive comments. Said Zent: "I have stage four throat cancer,

involving the tonsil and tongue area, a condition which began nearly two years ago. It reached this rather dire stage because, although I applied five times for Medi-Cal insurance, I was essentially stonewalled until September of this year.... Now my life is about to change in a most radical way... I want to thank all the people out there it has been my privilege to work in theatre and music with, to know socially, to have been close friends with, to have loved. In fact, I have loved you all in my own way. Even adversaries have given me many welcome life lessons, and made me a better person." Friends have stepped up to help Zent deal with his medical expenses. To participate, go to http://tinyurl.com/pjofafd.

* … ENERGY: There are a handful of issues that seem to get folks' blood boiling (climate change, abortion, immigration among others) and I expose myself to criticism each time I weigh in on one or the other. So it wasn't surprising to get an email from Margie Bell, a retired high school journalism teacher, who rose to defend the folks from San Francisco and Los Angeles who have pledged to show up at a Nov. 9 hearing to protest streamlining local energy regulations. "Your sneering attitude towards people who may come to Bakersfield to protest the oil production fast tracking proposal is unbecoming to you as a journalist and human being. It is apparent (to anyone who knows about valley air quality issues and unacceptable oil industry practices) that you don't understand all the issues. You pander far too often to the oil industry. I'll leave it at that." Thank you Margie, I appreciate that feedback and here is my take, not necessarily directed at you: I don't awake each morning lamenting the fact that fossil fuels have helped create the world's most prosperous society, and my dreams are not focused on demonizing those who work in the sector or profit from it. Proper oversight and regulation? You bet. Hold Big Oil accountable to protect the environment and safeguard our ground water supplies? Of course. But I accept fossil fuels as part of our future until that time - and it is a long way off - when alternative energy is affordable and scalable. Devoting your life to opposing every new pipeline or power plant simply because you don't like the idea of fossil fuels (and in the absence of clear alternatives) seems foolhardy and unproductive.

 * ... NAMES: Did you know that Noah and Emma are the most popular names for boys and girls born in 2014? It wasn't long ago that those names were out of style, but they are now among a long list of "old" names making a comeback. Other classic names making a comeback include Ruby, Rose, Oscar, Josephine, Joel, Hazel, Silas, Max, Stella, Evelyn and Levi.

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason."

 * ... FOODIE: If you haven't tried Quig's BBQ and Catering, head over to the Garces Circle to enjoy some of the best ribs and pulled pork in town. At lunch, the aroma emanating from the brightly colored Quig's trailer makes the circle the best smelling block in town.

 * ... GOOD FORM: Linda Sheffield, owner of the Five and Dime Antique Mall on 19th Street, gave a shoutout to one of our city employees. "I am writing in praise of Bakersfield City Street Cleaning Supervisor, Damon Chow.  I called his office concerned about excessive litter around my business, Five and Dime Antique Mall, on the corner of 19th and K streets.  Within three days, Damon came to our store to personally check this out.He determined that at the time of our scheduled sweeping a nearby bar was open and using the K Street side for parking. This situation was preventing the street from being cleaned.  Also, some trees at the front of the building prevented the sweeper from getting close.  He not only got the city to come and trim the trees, but he changed the sweep schedule to come after the bar closed! This has resulted in regularly cleaned streets on both sides.  Problem completely solved in a matter of a few weeks! What a difference in the appearance of a busy downtown corner!"

Inga Barks show is canceled and more moves in the CSUB development office

*  ... CSUB MOVES: There's been more movement over at the Cal State Bakersfield development office following a period of extreme upheaval. This is the chief fund raising office run by Beverly Byl, the person who was brought in by President Horace Mitchell but who has struggled to establish a local constituency over her own. Under the Byl regime, longtime development officer Laura Wolfe was forced out and others, including Sheri Horn Bunk and Kathy Miller, left on their own for greener pastures. Byl's leadership style has a sharp edge but give her credit but trying to bring on people with connections. First she hired former San Joaquin Bank CEO Bart Hill to a new position to oversee major gifts, and now she has hired Rob Meszaros as head of communications. Both Hill and Meszaros are well connected, smart hires. Meszaros is particularly gifted in the marketing arena. I know  this because he is leaving The Californian to join CSUB. Their gain is our loss.

 * ... INGA BARKS: It looks like we've heard the last from Inga Barks' local talk show, at least in terms of her long-running morning gig on KERN 1180 Talk Radio. The show has been canceled but she is still working at the station and will apparently reemerge in some other capacity. Inga is among the gaggle of local talk show hosts who adopted the FOX News model of angry partisan talk. It appears that like so many before her (remember Bill Manders?) that she simply ran out of runway. Starting Monday, the MoneyWise Guys will run from 10 a.m. to noon and morning host Scott Cox will temporarily add an hour to his program until a new full lineup is announced. Stay tuned.

*  ... VEGAS AWARD: It was nice to hear from Marjorie Bell, the talented and popular retired journalism and English teacher over at Bakersfield High School. She noted that one of her former students, Liz Benston, recently won an award for her reporting on financial problems at a resort complex in Las Vegas. Liz is a reporter at the Las Vegas Sun and the daughter of Carol and Dick Benston, retired English professors at Bakersfield College. Liz graduated from Bryn Mawr College outside of Philadelphia and has won a number of awards in her journalism career.

 * ... DRILLER NATION: Jay  Gauthier is an old friend and work colleague who wanted to share that three of his five children are now in college. They include daughter Taylor at Cal State Fullerton, son Jadon at Biola University and son Zach at Cal State Bakersfield. Another daughter Morgan already graduated from CSUB and daughter Spencer is a sophomore at Bakersfield High. In fact, all five are Drillers. This is the week when all college acceptances should be in hand, so if you'd like to share your good news, drop me an email.

 * ... EASTER WEEKEND: This is a weekend to celebrate with family and friends and to embrace our blessings, no matter your religion or if you are spiritual at all. All of our picnic areas, from Beach Park to Hart Park and the Park at RiverWalk, will be filled to capacity wall to wall. So let's try to make it through the weekend safely and without any bad behavior. If you drink, don't drive. If you are on the road, drive carefully. Enjoy the weekend.

 * ... BAKERSFIELD: You know you're from Bakersfield when "you no longer associate bridges with water."