Brentwood musician Ben Benkert rocked the Streets of Brentwood last week with a collection of original songs and cover tunes, but it was 4-year old Madison Gambs, left, of Discovery Bay who stole the show. While Benkert crooned a soulful version of Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” Madison danced on the stage and swayed her hips while sporting some classy sunglasses à la Chevy Chase. Her moves were simple, but she inspired other kids to get up and dance. Before you know it, everyone will be dancing at the Streets (there are concerts every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.), doing the Madison Mambo.

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There’s no telling what thieves will think of stealing – or where. The Brentwood Police Department logs recently told the tale of three enterprising malefactors, one of whom stole two trees – a labor-intensive caper, to be sure. A second miscreant broke into a car and filched a fire extinguisher. So, what’s the black-market value of a fire extinguisher? But a third offender takes the cake for sheer nerve. Seems he stole purses, wallets and a cell phone from an unsecured room … during a church event. Investigators at the scene were hampered, no doubt, because the irony in the sanctuary was just too darn thick.

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Discovery Bay resident and big-game hunter Frank Middleton celebrated a birthday last Sunday in the company of friends, family and ace magician Peter Morrison, who mystified everyone with breathtaking acts of illusion and clairvoyance, but couldn’t do much to make the 100-degree mercury disappear into thin air. Frank himself is almost supernaturally well-preserved, so he didn’t need to pay Morrison extra to make wrinkles disappear.

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Longs Drugs/CVS Pharmacy in Discovery Bay has lost its battle of the signage. The corporate giant petitioned the CSD Board to add two new signs to their storefront windows, advertising liquor and photo services. The board turned them down, citing fear that they might cheapen the look of the Sandy Cove Shopping Center. Guess they’ll have to go with those spiffy sandwich board signs, like so many others do.

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You might need a crystal ball to know when the recession will be ending. In which case, the Oakley Chamber of Commerce might have relocated to the right place. Its new office, at 3510 Main St., was formerly occupied by a fortune teller. Hopefully, the Chamber’s spiritual predecessor left behind some tarot cards, tea leaves or chicken entrails by which the officers will be able to divine a way out of the economic malaise.