The fight continues to find a vaccine for Valley Fever, a gunman tries to rob a cyclist at Beach Park and the Audelos say goodbye to Bakersfield

* ... VALLEY FEVER: If you are new to town, you need to learn about valley fever, a potential deadly illness that is indigenous to Kern County and a few other parts of the Southwest. There is no vaccine for it, and in many cases it is easily misdiagnosed. Which is why I was glad to hear that Rep. Kevin McCarthy has created a
Congressional Valley Fever Task Force to find a vaccine for the fungal spore that triggers valley fever in so many people. McCarthy said one of the goals of the task force is to "pursue policies and activities that help encourage the development of a valley fever vaccine through collaboration with the public sector, academia and the private sector."

* ... BEACH PARK: There was an ugly incident at Beach Park Saturday morning that should be shared with anyone who gathers there to run, exercise or ride bikes. A cyclist was getting his bike out of his truck around 5:30 a.m. when a young Hispanic man approached him, flashed what appeared to be a .45 caliber pistol, and demanded his money. "I told him I didn't have any, which was true," the man said. "So he says, 'then I will shoot you' and he pulled up his shirt to show the gun. I told him again I didn't have any and then he asked for my cell phone, which was in the truck. I said I didn't have one. He told me to get on my bike and leave.  Last time I saw him he was walking down the bike path."

 * ... VETERINARIAN: Another shoutout to the good folks over at the Rosedale Veterinary Hospital. Lisa Beason wrote that the vets at Rosedale have care for her two rescued Greyhounds, Dasha and Chloe, since 2005.  "Dr. Sheahan was recommended by my rescue group because of her expertise in caring for ex-racing Greyhounds. Like (other readers), my family has experienced the extraordinary professionalism, empathy and care that Dr. Sheahan and her staff extends to all of their clients.  Our girls are age 10 and 11; and I know the time to say goodbye will come much too fast. But I also know the team at RVH will help and support us. There is definitely a special place in heaven for dogs and veterinarians. Thank you for sharing this story."

 * ... ADIOS: Our community is losing a local couple who have always worked to make this a better place to live. Mimi Audelo, head of special projects at San Joaquin Community Hospital, and husband Joe, a banker at Wells Fargo, have sold their Southwest home and are moving to Santa Barbara. Joe will be working at Wells Fargo on the coast and Mimi will be looking for new work. Good luck to them both.

* ... WATER SLIDES:  Here's a good thought considering the heat this summer. From Betsy Gosling: "I recently returned from British Columbia and noticed several water slides at various locations, mostly small towns. We really need a water slide in Bakersfield. Surely there is a private person and/or company who is willing to build one or two, nothing large, just a place for everyone, especially kids, to cool off in this weather. It is a win-win situation and would certainly be profitable.  Don't you know someone?"

If there really is a heaven, there must be a special place for veterinarians; and my take on the bone headed called by Rolling Stone to run the Boston bombing suspect on its cover

 * ... BELOVED PET: There is a special place in heaven for the veterinarians who care so deeply for our pets. This story comes courtesy of Mark Powell, a colleague of mine at The Bakersfield Californian. In his words: "Last Thursday, I had to put down my dog, Molly, a 15-year-old- Australian Shepherd, due to a combination of just old age and some inoperable tumors. It was a very emotional and scary time for me and my family since we've had Molly since I picked her out at the SPCA when she was 6 weeks old. The staff (at Rosedale Veterinary Hospital) was incredibly helpful, caring and informative, and they made Molly's last few moments of life go from panicked to peaceful. They took great care to see that the procedure was as easy and painless as possible for Molly, even though she hasn't always been the most willing patient. They took very good care of her, and us as well. I cannot tell you how much they helped us through this transition. They even told us Molly would be returned to the earth via a Paso Robles vineyard following a communal cremation. I couldn't have imagined a better way to go through such a heartbreaking situation." (Photos courtesy of Mark Powell)

 * ... OVERHEARD: At the downtown Post Office, a woman is telling the story of a conversation with her 4-year-old grand daughter. "So she comes home from pre school and says, 'Nana, did you know you can't bring guns to school?' I thought: what a world we live in!"

 * ... ROLLING STONE: It is easy to understand the angry backlash to the decision by Rolling Stone magazine to feature an appealing picture of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover. But make no mistake, this is not a First Amendment issue, but rather one of taste. Rolling Stone is certainly within its rights to publish it, but just because it can doesn't mean it should. My take: it is an insult to those who died in the bombing or were left critically wounded. Bad form.

* ... ROAD WARRIOR: Anthony Bulygo is a retired master auto mechanic and wrote to lament how folks drive and maintain their cars today. In a recent trip from Bakersfield to Salem, Oregon, he "witnessed 48 vehicles where one, two, or all three brake lights were in fail mode. There were 62 vehicles with at least one tail light not functioning. And ... 21 vehicles traveling with one noticeably very low tire (these are the ones that may/will fail and cause loss of vehicle control).  One vehicle had a tire that was so bald that the steel belt was causing sparks as it traveled down I-5 in Oregon at about 80 miles per hour. And, Richard, here is the topper for me. While traveling on I-5, the posted speed was 70 miles per hour. I was in the slow lane at 75 miles per hour (flowing with traffic) and the fast lane had slowed to 75 as well. We had traveled about two miles like this when a car came down the shoulder at no less than 85. What's wrong with this picture?  Thanks for allowing me to vent.  This should be a notice to everyone to learn how to check your lights and tires regularly.  The life you save may be mine."

 * ... MEMORIES: David Gallagher not only remembers the old DiRico's restaurant, but the prices as well. And for good reason: he worked there. "A cheese pizza was 85 cents and spaghetti and meatballs $1.50. DiRico's was originally on South Chester and Belle Terrace, they moved for a short time across from Mexicali downtown and then to 4th and Union where the Great Castle is now located.  Scott Hanson and myself (1958-60) made the pizza dough from scratch and occasionally tossed the crust in the air in front of the window. Irene DiRico made the raviolis and Art made the sauce. Two of my brothers also worked there, Dennis and Barry Gallagher. Great Memories!"

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You may be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember when the old PGA tour stopped here for the Bakersfield Open Golf Tournament. John Pryor was involved in helping organize it and said the 1961 tournament was won by Jack Fleck, and the next year by Billy Casper.