We hereby deliver: &#8226 ROSES to the people who organized, participated in and attended da Vinci days.

The place was packed Friday, and if you have never seen the sight of tiny electric cars doing laps through Corvallis' tree-lined streets, let's hope you have a chance next year. That was just fun. What's more, it was inspiring.

We can't have the supercharged talent of Pink Martini every year, but we'll savor the memories of their performance.

Say, wasn't this event in trouble a few years ago? You'd never know it. Kudos to one and all who have turned that around. Somewhere, we're sure that Leonardo is smiling a Mona Lisa smile.

And speaking of da Vinci Days:

&#8226 RASPBERRIES to us, for overlooking a stellar winning giant caterpillar in our list of winners of Sunday's kinetic sculpture contest.

The "Winch Worm" won the award for being the "most innovative and almost successful," but Larry Plotkin wrote us a kind and witty reminder that we had not listed the whimsical creature among the 20-plus accolades given to entrants who joined in this this fun event. (You know it's fun when prizes awarded include "Best Bribe," which went to "Patriot Act," along with $25.)

The big winner was Draggin Wagon (a large, "fire-breathing" dragon-esque creation, but the fun really was just in showing up, as Woody Allen almost said.

Larry noted in his gentle rebuke that "our worm was most disappointed" at this slight. We hope this rose, along with our apologies, helps, because this giant caterpillar couldn't really eat a symbolic rose.

&#8226 ROSE-BERRIES to some recent developments on the gasoline price/sale front.

Gasoline prices have fallen statewide, just as we start to realize that we are perilously close to the unofficial end of summer, the Labor Day weekend.

According to AAA Oregon-Idaho spokesman Elliot Eki's weekly update, "In the past week, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline declined by more than eight cents to $2.96; Oregon's statewide average dipped by about four cents to $2.94, the lowest it's been since April 2. For the first time this year, the statewide average price is less than it was one year ago, down three and a half cents."

And what part of that is a "raspberry"? That the price of gasoline dipping to $2.94 a gallon is considered good news.

&#8226 RASPBERRIES to the person(s) who dumped more than 20 cats - most of them kittens - in two produce boxes Saturday night in the driveway outside the SafeHaven Humane Society shelter, just west of the Interstate 5 interchange with Highway 34.

Who ties kittens into a box and leaves them outside of a closed facility in a semi-sealed box - with no food or water - possibly to die in the heat?

Linn County deputies want to know, as this kind of thing amounts to animal cruelty.

At least this person(s) had some sense of decency; the kittens were brought to a shelter, after all. But really … we have to wonder how they could be so callous as to have no apparent concern that cramming the kittens into a box, tying the lid with sheets and leaving them out during the hottest part of summer amounts to torture of creatures that wear tiny fur coats and pants.

Although some of the kittens managed to escape into a field, the boxed ones were in poor shape.

Had it not been for an alert and kindly passer-by who saw the boxes and brought the kittens to an emergency animal clinic here, they surely could have died of heat exhaustion before long.

All that having been said, some adorable stripy and black-and-white "tuxedo" cuties - 6 to 8 weeks old - are up for adoption. They could use a better life than they've had so far.

&#8226 ROSES to Corvallis, for once again bucking the national trend.

Although a 7-year study by Oregon State University researchers indicates that more than half of the farmers' markets that start up here fail (62 markets opened; 32 closed), Corvallis residents support the Saturday market.

Garry Stephenson, an OSU small farms specialist, said Oregon is the first state to study this phenomenon.

In case you've never awakened early to take advantage of the farm-fresh eggs, vegetables, flowers, honey and other products you can pick up at bargain prices at the riverfront during the warm months, here's something else to consider:

In France, people go to farmers' markets because they know that is where the top quality local products can be found, and they understand the benefits of supporting local growers. They show this by paying extra for this. Here, some places prize convenience over quality.

We're fortunate that we get both quality and bargain prices. It may not be as convenient as shopping at a supermarket, but the atmosphere, socializing and fun more than make up for it.

ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.

RASPBERRY (raz'ber'e) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer.