The state of California ushers in an expected $7 billion industry next week with legal marijuana, criminals hit local churches to steal and break into cars and animal control officers capture some wild dogs on the bike path

 * ... LEGAL CANNABIS: While the city and county have opted out of regulating the legal sale of cannabis beginning next week, the emerging $7 billion state industry is moving forward. One of the

latest developments: Bill Lockyer, formerly California's top cop as Attorney General, has co-founded a company to distribute marijuana concentrates and edibles to retail outlets. That's right, the same person who was in charge of California's "war on drugs" is now hoping to cash in on the medicinal and recreational use of pot. As Lockyer told The Los Angeles Times:  “For me as somebody who was on the law enforcement side for so many years, I saw the inadequacies of the effort to regulate something just by calling it illegal. I think legalizing will help stabilize and help legitimize this industry and result in better consumer protection and other public benefits. This whole industry has to come from the dark side to the light."

 * ... CRIME: Not sure if this is a trend but car thieves seem to be singling out local churches to steal and break into cars. At least two friends had their cars stolen this Christmas, right from the parking lot of their local churches. Yet another left the service to find his car had been broken into and his wallet stolen.

 * ... DOG POUND: It was nice to see two Bakersfield animal control officers on the bike path near Manor Drive on Christmas Day looking for a pack of wild dogs that has been chasing cyclists and runners. So far they have captured six dogs, mostly pit bull mixes, while two or three remain loose.

* ... SHOPPING MAYHEM: On Christmas Eve every single shopping cart at the Target on Stockdale Highway was in use, not to mention every checkout line was open with a line. I wasn't the only shopper to wait to the last minute.

 * ... CHRISTMAS LAMENT: I spotted this on a friend's Facebook page: "I really hope to wake up to a brand new car with a huge red bow, but I’m pretty sure my husband just got me socks."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "I’m pretty sure that it’s easier to leave most street gangs than it is to cancel a membership to a gym."

 * ... SPOTTED ON FACEBOOK: "Everyone is talking about Star Wars and I'm here thinking about tamales."

 * ... ALARM CLOCK: Local appraiser Gary Crabtree wonders if he is alone in noticing a new alarm clock about town. "Is it just me or has anyone else noticed the new town alarm clock in the form of the 'pile driving” taking place for the Centennial Corridor project over the Kern River. For the last two weeks I’ve been awakened by the 'gong' that starts around 6:30 to 7 a.m.  I can hardly wait for them to begin on the California Avenue and Stockdale Highway’s bridges."

  * ... GOOD FORM: Sandra Morris was dining with friends at Joseph's Italian restaurant recently when a kind looking man eating by himself picked up her bill. "A friend from Nigeria is here for the holidays and we were giving her a going away party and an Italian food experience... My friend from Nigeria always says how good and generous Americans are and she got to see a fine example today."

Target strikes back at those unwelcome solicitors and local kids head off for advanced degrees

* ... TARGET SOLICITORS: One of my pet peeves is being unceremoniously greeted (or harassed) by those in-your-face solicitors outside mainstream businesses. I'm not talking about the Girl Scouts or Salvation Army here, but rather those scruffy looking types asking for money for some obscure organization that may or may not be legitimate. We've all encountered them and it's never a pleasant experience running the gauntlet of their pleadings and "God bless yous." So it was nice to see the folks at Target striking back. On Sunday the new Target store on Stockdale Highway stationed one of its own employees outside advising customers that the "solicitors" were not endorsed by the store. Target clearly wanted to dissociate itself from this questionable crowd and I found it an effective maneuver.

 * ... FUTURE ARCHITECT: Kudos go out to Katie Gilfoy, who is graduating in June from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and headed to the University of Southern California master of architecture program. Katie is a 2005 graduate of Stockdale High School and the daughter of Kelly and Gail Gilfoy. Her mother is one of the staffers at the Bakersfield Museum of Art and dad Kelly is sales director for Specification Sales, a plumbing and safety firm based in Ontario, Ca.

 * ... DAVIS BOUND: Also nice to hear that Camille Horvath, daughter of Alex and Joyce Horvath of Northwest Bakersfield, is heading to UC Davis to spend the next four years. Camille will graduate from Frontier High School and is among a lucky group of local kids to be accepted by a school in the UC system. Alex is head of photographer at The Californian and Joyce is an X-Ray technician at Truxtun Radiology Medical Group. (Camille and proud mother shown below)

* ... MORE TREASURES: Reader Stephen Montgomery responded to my recent post about locally owned eateries with his own list of "hidden treasures" in our community. "When you said 'hidden' I couldn't help but think of one of our favorites. T. L. Maxwell's Restaurant is well hidden in a 19th century building also well hidden behind the Haberfeld Building. While Terry isn't a credentialed chef he has developed his own excellent menu and does a superb job of paring wine with a fine meal. All this in a vintage interior rich in atmosphere. Another is Rosa's Italian restaurant in east Bakersfield. Lucky is the diner who discovers they are serving an-off menu item like lamb shanks. Another favorite eatery is Bit of Germany. The food served here is really German and the place has been a long-time survivor having been burned out. Best wishes and happy dining!"

 * ... REMEMBER BONNIES: I failed to include Bonnies Best Cafe as one of the recommended locally eateries that  never seems to disappoint. Bonnies is located at the corner of 21st and F streets and specializes in sandwiches and dinners-to-go. Laurie Watson is the owner and her daughter Katie is banquet manager over at the new Padre Hotel.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: You know you're from Bakersfield when "you notice your car overheating before you drive it."

Short takes around town: Barry Goldner on the mend, Jeff Newman heads to Montecito and rumors of Panera Bread coming to town

Catching up with some local folks around town and those never ending rumors about what's going in at the new RiverWalk Park.

* ... THE RARE MUTED ATTORNEY: Good to hear that Barry Goldner, a partner in the law firm of Klein DeNatale and Goldner et al, is on the road to recovery after some minor surgery. Barry (pictured) had been spotted around town virtually voiceless and in one case carried on a conversation at Starbucks by writing out his questions and answers. Barry - he is married to Teri Goldner, the former federal judge who is now chief counsel for the County of Kern - is a naturally gregarious sort and being a lawyer who bills by the hour, it must have been a difficult time for him. I asked Barry what was up and he responded:

"I had a growth on my vocal cord, which was removed last Wednesday. I was not allowed to speak for five days. So today is my first day of speaking again. Growth was benign (whew!)."

Good to have you back, Barry, and get well.

* ... GOODBYE BAKO, HELLO MONTECITO: Jeff Newman Jr., owner of Today Cleaners, is letting everyone know that he's moving the family to the tony hills of Montecito. In an email to friends and business associates, Jeff said he'll keep the business but run Today and Sparkle Textile Rental Services from the coast. He said the recession produced some irresistible deals in the always pricey Montecito real estate market that he simply couldn't resist. Jeff says sons Ryan and Matthew will start at Montecito Union School on August 31. Wife Adrienne and their kids will live in a condo until escrow closes October 1. Said Jeff:

"This has been a very difficult decision for me personally! I grew up in Bakersfield and have so many wonderful friends here that I definitely want to stay in contact with. Obviously, my company is located here so I will be spending the required amount of time to make sure it continues to run well."

* ... MEANWHILE COMING TO RIVER WALK: Lots of speculation about what's going in over near the new Target at RiverWalk Park off Stockdale Highway. I spoke with Bruce Freeman, president of developer Castle and Cooke, and he tells me there have been no leases signed but he did confirm the rumor that his company is in talks with Panera Bread company. Panera was interested in the "front pad" near Target but the deal is not final. Meanwhile, Target is expected to open around October 11.