If Jesus is with the 99 percent, where does that leave Denver quarterback Tim Tebow?

 * ... SHERWYN: Ran into my old friend Art Sherwyn the other day and had a chance to catch up on his life since he retired as a teacher last year.  Sherwyn was a beloved art teacher for years and also coached the Stockdale High School girl's tennis teams to back-to-back Valley Championships. (He also taught at Wasco, South and McFarland high schools) He's now teaching a little tennis at the Bakersfield Racquet Club and pursuing his own art career. In fact, next month his own mother's art will be featured at The Metro Galleries beginning on First Friday, February 3.

* ... DRESS BARN: The local Dressbarn outlet on Rosedale Highway in the Northwest Promenade is not closing. That's the word from store manager Susan Schwartz who told me the store will be closed for only two months for a complete remodel. She wanted to put rumors that it was closing permanently to rest. "We are simply shutting our doors for two months for a remodel. Our store sales performance and customer service actually ranks in the top 10 percent of the chain. We will be back in business March 19 and I promise we will be one of the prettiest stores in Bakersfield."


 * ... OVERHEARD: A woman is telling a friend about a panhandler who stationed himself on a busy off ramp on Highway 178. "I always gave him money until one day he wasn't there, so I turned around and came back through the same spot and saw him getting into a black Lexus and driving away."

 * ... SPOTTED: A bumper sticker on an SUV reads "Jesus is with the 99 percent." Guess that leaves out Denver quarterback Tim Tebow, whose $10 million salary certainly qualifies him as a 1 percenter.

* ... GRANTS: Kudos to Mercy and Memorial Hospitals who distributed $227,041 in grants to local nonprofit agencies through the CHW Community Grants Program.  Receiving funding were:  Alzheimer’s Association -  $44,888; CASA - $40,000; Kern Assistive Technology Center - $29,276; Special Olympics - $7,000; Links for Life - $25,000; Mercy Housing California (Madison Place and The Haven) - $19,990; St. Vincent DePaul Stores and Center - $36,000 and the West Side Community Resource Center - $24,888.  In addition to this funding, Mercy and Memorial have contributed another $25,000 in grants to local nonprofit agencies through the Sister Phyllis Hughes Endowment and $180,000 in sponsorship of special events for local agencies.

 * ... EVENTS: A couple of events that are worth checking out. On Sunday, January 29, the Guild House will be presenting a five-course dinner for $100. Proceeds support the Henrietta Weill Child Guidance Center. Call (661) 834-3566 for reservations. Then on Friday, February 3, the Southern Valley Friends of the National Rifle Association hold its annual dinner and auction at the Bakersfield Elks Lounge. Tickets are $50. Call (661) 205-8569 for details.

* ... BAKERSFIELDISM: From my friend Riley Parker: "Most folks who have lived in Bakersfield for any considerable period of time know that Leo G. Pauly School is located at 313 Planz Road.  How many folks know that Leo G. Pauly served as Interim City Marshall from February 4, 1915, until February 28, 1915? This is when you know that you are really a Bakersfield old-timer."

The Haupts celebrate 30 years of marriage, burglars hit Haggin Oaks and high praise for Michael Turnipseed

 * ... BURGLARIES: The folks over in Haggin Oaks are on guard after two recent burglaries left the otherwise quiet neighborhood rattled. One resident returned to find her house ransacked, indicating the intruders had spent some time inside her home.

 * ... THIRTY YEARS: Congratulations to longtime residents Bruce and Jane Haupt, who celebrated 30 years of marriage in grand style this weekend. As a surprise to his wife, Bruce arranged to fly in her mother, Jane Geldermann, from Chicago along with her brother and sister. Bruce's parents, brothers, their four children (all products of Garces Memorial High School) and a couple dozen cousins were also there when Jane showed up at Luigi's Saturday night for a steak and chicken dinner. Sounds like a nice way to kick off the next 30 years of marriage. Bruce is vice president of Independent Pipe and Steel and Jane works at Valley Oaks charter school.

 * ... HIGH PRAISE: Harry Starkey, general manager of the West Kern Water District, talking about Michael Turnipseed, the head of the tax watchdog group KernTax: "Turnispeed should be knighted for the work he has done to bring PGE rates in line."

 * ... IMBIBE: Stopped by Imbibe Wine and Spirits off Truxtun Extension the other day and was treated to some great live jazz. Mark Meyer on the saxaphone and Steve Elsen on the trumpet appear at Imbibe regularly and are worth checking out while treating yourself to wine, specialty beer and a cheese plate.

* ... NEWCOMERS: Received a nice note from LA-area transplants Mike and Tish Burnett, who moved to our town earlier this summer. It's their first summer here and they're loving it, hardly missing at all their old home in La Canada Flintridge. The Burnetts moved here to be closer to Tish's sister, Pam Walker. Her husband, Neil, is a longtime resident and works at Kern Oil and Refining. "I just wanted to close the loop and let you know we are here and loving it, heat and all!" Mike wrote. "Actually Neil tells me it's actually spring like right now." Mike is currently sales manager for Sparkle Uniform and Linen Service, one of our many family owned companies in town.

 * ... GUILD HOUSE: Carole Cohen wrote to let everyone know that the Guild House is reopening for lunch on Tuesday, September 6. The Guild House is located on the corner of 18th and F streets, is staffed by an all-volunteer staff, and everything served is homemade. All proceeds go to benefit the Henrietta Weill Child Guidance Clinic.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Linda L. Smith writes that you may be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember "Toon's Piano store on Chester Avenue near 8th Street." She recalls that a man named Leech was the general manager and later purchased Toon's, renaming it Leech Piano. Linda said this would have been in the 1950s and that the store was later moved to the Westchester area.