If it's a new day, it's time for a new telephone scam making the rounds in Kern County, some really great customer service at Albertson's and recognizing the folks who care for our pets

 * … SCAM: Our nation is awash in telephone scams and Kern County residents continue to be targeted. Consider this note from reader Wes Wells: "I just wanted to share a recent telephone scam that really upset my wife today. When I came home she was on the phone with a representative from the

Department of Legal Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Treasury who was threatening her with a bench warrant over unpaid taxes from 2007 in the amount of $9,875. They were trying to get her to take out an 'Instant Text Voucher'" in the amount of $3,948 as a settlement and provided a call back number to confirm. Upon calling back, the person on the other end had a strong accent and in English challenged us to call any law enforcement authority. So we did. An officer at BPD said they have received hundreds of similar complaints. So I filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (the real one) and then contacted a Congresswoman (a real one, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren) who represents a district covering the (408) area code in the San Jose area to report the same information. It seems that these scams should be easier to stop if the phone companies that serve these areas could act more quickly to discontinue service to the offending numbers. Someone, somewhere has got to pay a phone bill when they sign a contract for a land line or a cell phone contact."

 * … GOOD FORM: Here's your "feel good" nugget for the day, this one compliments of Caroline Read. She took an elderly friend shopping recently to the Albertson's at the corner of Gosford Road and Stockdale Highway. All the woman wanted was three bananas. "I parked the car to run in and get them," she said. "She wanted me to lock her in and not roll the windows down.  I couldn’t leave the car running to provide air conditioning … so I opened the windows a crack, locked the car, ran in, found a clerk, handed her $5 and said, 'I need three bananas. I have an elderly friend in the car and I can’t leave her there.  It’s too hot.'  I ran back to the car and turned the air conditioning on and watched for the clerk. Pretty soon, she came running out, waving the change and the bag of bananas! Now I ask you, is that local and personal service? ?

* … PETS: Kudos to the folks over at the Coffee Road Animal Hospital who took care of my ailing cat recently. Kern County is blessed with many competent veterinarians, and I have always felt there is a special place in heaven for those among us who care for our pets, whether they be veterinarians, vet techs, receptionists or volunteers at animal shelters and rescue organizations.

 * … DROUGHT: In all the discussion about our long drought, many folks are going to drought tolerant landscaping to save water. Kathy Beck wrote to say the California redwood trees are simply wrong for this area of our state. "The poor trees are stressed, turning brown, dying or dead. Here is what this tree requires: 20 gallons a month PER INCH DIAMETER of the trunk. That's right… read it again. So a 12 inch diameter trunk requires 240 gallons of water a month to be happy, healthy and green. They are a northern California tree and they do not require thinning .. .it only stresses out the tree more and makes them branch out funny. The city needs to remove all of them… those who continue to survive will only require more water. We just removed our tree in our front yard, as it was turning brown, the math on our tree said it required 720 gallons a month to be happy."

 * … SERVICE: I haven't met Rick Chesire over at Hearing Aids Today, but he sure has a big fan base. Consider this note from Connie Stewart: "Rick is always happy to help with any problem you might be having.  Beside being a good business man he is an outstanding, caring young man. I would recommend Rick to anyone."