The long slump in the energy sector continues with more layoffs, more on that nasty run of car break ins about town and a Zippo lighter tells a soldier's story about Vietnam

 * ... ENERGY: It looks like the long slump in the energy sector is not about to end anytime soon. The big oil service companies like Halliburton and Baker Hughes (they plan to merge) are signaling

yet more layoffs as the price slump continues. Energy prices are down 20 percent over the past six weeks, thanks to expectations that new Iranian oil make flood the market. Said The Wall Street Journal: "Oilfield service providers have announced job cuts deeper than initially declared and warned of more layoffs to come. Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes Inc.... disclosed last week that they cut 27,000 jobs between them, double the 13,500 announced in February. ConocoPhillips has already cut nearly 1,500 jobs so far this year but is planning more layoffs this fall that could number into the thousands... The impact of low oil prices isn’t limited to U.S. energy companies. Firms world-wide have shelved $200 billion of new-project spending, the Financial Times reports."

* ... CRIME: A resident in the Northwest awoke to find the windows smashed in on his daughter's car parked in front of the house. When the repair people came out to replace the window, they said this is happening a dozen times a night across town.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Might wake up early and go running but I also might win the lottery. The odds are about the same."

 * ... VIETNAM: Making the rounds on Facebook the other day was a picture of an old Zippo lighter inscribed with this bit of wisdom: "NAM 71-72: We the unwilling, led by the unqualified to kill the unfortunate die for the ungrateful."

 * ... SCAMS: I have mentioned this scam before, but it is worthy of a reminder. This from Judy Hanson: "My elderly parents live in central California. Someone called their home phone saying they were from Microsoft. They said that my parent’s computer was messing up a lot of other people’s computers. Microsoft needed to fix it. They convinced her to give them numbers off of her computer. They also tried to convince her to give them her credit card to charge her $150 to fix the problem. They didn’t get her credit card, but they did remotely wipe her computer and my parents had no back-up. They lost everything, address book,  photos, everything."

 * ... GRANTS: The Bakersfield (family) Foundation is now accepting letters of inquiries for its fall grant cycle. The foundation will award three grant amounts: one at $100,000, a second at $50,000 and a third at $25,000. All applications are due on Friday, August 28. There is no particular theme for this grant cycle, though the foundation is primarily interested in capital projects as opposed to funding operating expenses. The winners will be announced in November. For information go to the www.bakersfieldcalifornianfoundation.org.

 * .. DUTCH FRONTIER: I was stunned by the number of messages I received after writing about the Dutch Frontier restaurant in Ducor. It seems almost everyone from Bakersfield has visited it, and folks universally rave about its local ownership. I am told there are still some tables open for Thursday, August 6, when The Mark restaurant pays tribute to the Dutch Frontier by recreating its menu.

Remembering the great poet and thinker Maya Angelou, Uricchio's Trattoria gets a facelift and some random acts of good form break out about town

 * … GOOD FORM: Here's your pick-me-up story for a Friday. Debbie Lewis was downtown last weekend, celebrating her birthday, when she lost her wallet while getting out a cab. She called the cab company who could not locate it. "Fast forward to Sunday morning, my mom sent a text explaining that a young man named Colton had driven across town to my parents' house and had returned my

wallet to their address, which was listed on my driver's license. Not a single credit card or cash dollar was out of place. Whomever you are, sympathetic mystery person, THANK YOU and I will be happy to buy you lunch at Moo Creamery. You made my birthday weekend wrap up with a heart hug and smile."

* … FACELIFT: I dropped by one of my favorite locally owned restaurants the other day - Uricchio's Trattoria - and was pleased to see the family has given it a fresh new facelift. New paint, new trim and striking new carpeting has spruced the place up, and of course its food, service and wine remain some of the best in town.

* … ANGELOU: I was saddened to hear of the death of Maya Angelou, one of our nation's outstanding poets and thinkers. One of her poems - Still I Rise - is a powerful poem that I shared with students when I read at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School where my daughters attended. The opening phrases: "You may write me down in history … With your bitter, twisted lies… You may tread me in the very dirt… But still, like dust, I'll rise."

 * … SCHOOL: Benny de la Cruz wrote to wonder if anyone remembers St. Joseph's School,across the street from Washington School on Baker. "It would be nice to have a school reunion, but I'm afraid there are only a few of us alumni left," he said.

* … MORE GOOD FORM: Joan Muller submitted this bit of good form after a 30-foot tree fell on her house last week. Neighbors alerted her and in the 20 minutes "it took me to get there my fantastic neighbors (on Redwood Meadow Drive in Oildale) had used their hand saws to cut away some branches so I could at least get my vehicle into the garage as the front door was completely blocked. My gardener, Tino Olvera of Olvera's Trimming (661-444-9992), came by that night to make sure I was okay and assess the situation. He returned bright and early on Friday morning and worked all day to clear the tree. He had the whole yard cleaned up by the time I got home from work. He even took pictures of the damage to the roof for me. I am beyond blessed to have all these extraordinary people in my life and am now trying to think of an appropriate way to thank them for all their support. "

 * … VIETNAM: In keeping with the spirit of Memorial Day, Charlie Wilmot updated me on some statistics on the Vietnam War Memorial: Originally the Wall had 57,939 names on it when dedicated in 1982… Since then 361 names have been added, with the latest 14 additions being dedicated May 11, 2014; 1,642 names on the wall are missing in action; one soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was only 15 years old.

Bakersfield Observed sends out a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all

 * ... MERRY CHRISTMAS: In this special time of the year, make sure you reach out to all those folks who are struggling with emotional, family or physical issues. There is no better present than the gift of friendship and a soft place to land.

 * ... KIND WORDS: My thanks to Superior Court Judge David Lampe, who dropped me an encouraging note the other day. "The First Amendment is the most profound embodiment of rights we enjoy as citizens. News organizations are absolutely essential to a good society. They are the little angel on our shoulder. I remember the first day on the job as a judge I thought about jaywalking across L Street to the Metro Courthouse. I stopped and went to the light. It will help all of us in our public lives if we stop and think for one minute-- how would this look printed in The Bakersfield Californian?"

* ... BAKERSFIELD OPTICAL: Hats off to Jack and Sharon McGee, owners of Bakersfield Optical who are celebrating 30 years in business. Locally owned family businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and Bakersfield Optical specializes in intimate customer service and value. The store is located at the corner of Oak and 19th streets. And speaking of Jack, he still has the picture, circa 1956, of him sitting on Santa's lap along with twin brother John at Brock's Department store.

 * ... HICKORY FARMS: It's never too late to say 'thank you,' as Vicki Utt reminded me. "At Christmastime in 1969 my husband was a combat infantryman serving in Vietnam and I was waiting at home with our newborn son (Dennis shipped out when our first-born was 2 1/2 weeks old), and Hickory Farms was in Valley Plaza. There was scant public support for our troops at that time, but lots of war protestors. I'll always have a soft place in my heart for Hickory Farms as they had a promotion that the first 100 people who provided an APO address for a soldier in a combat zone would get a free Hickory Farms gift pack shipped directly to the loved one free of charge. I was No. 5 in line early that morning. These days the troops are receiving the respect they so greatly deserve, and the Vietnam veterans are beginning to get their just due as well - but Hickory Farms was the ONLY merchant who reached out in 1969."

 * ... THE DOORS: Charlie Wilmot wrote to correct an earlier post on when the rock band The Doors visited Bakersfield. "Just reading your blog in the Californian this morning, as I religiously do, and the reference to The Doors in 1968 is incorrect.  The correct date was August 21, 1970.  I was back from Vietnam and enrolled at Bakersfield College at the time.  It was a GREAT show. Also of note, you know you are from Bakersfield if you saw The Rolling Stones at the Civic Auditorium July 24, 1966. They performed two shows, a matinee and evening. Totally awesome!"

* ... SEQUOIA: If you're one of the thousands of college students home for the holidays, chances are you are broke, hungry or both. If that's the case, head over to your closest Sequoia Sandwich shop for a free fountain drink and cookie, courtesy of the owners. With so many kids home, the manager of the southwest store on Ming Avenue, Valerie Damron, had the idea to treat the students to a drink and cookie if they wear their college sweatshirts and shirts. Hats off to Sequoia for the nice gesture. The offer is good for Friday, December 23, only.

 * ... DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that the original Cal State Bakersfield offices were located in a state-owned building on Kentucky Street?

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