The season of giving is upon us, mega gyms move into vacant mall space and the CSUB Roadrunners hits it big with a move to the Big West Athletic Conference

 * ... CHARITY: Did you open your wallet and donate to your favorite charity on Giving Tuesday? The day is set aside to put a focus on philanthropy, but giving should not be reserved to one day a

year. If you are part of the CSUB alumni, why not contribute to the university's scholarship fund? Same for Bakersfield College and Taft College. If you are fond of dogs or cats, there is the local SPCA. Want to help the needy? How about the Assistance League or the Boys and Girls Club? Or better yet, volunteer your time at one of our local homeless centers. It will be a gift to yourself.

 * ... HAIL UTAH: And speaking of charity, did you know that Utah is ranked as the most charitable state in the nation? According to USA Today, Utah topped the nation both in terms of money donated and time volunteered. Rounding out the top five were Maryland, Minnesota, Wyoming and Wisconsin. The least charitable state: Hawaii. California, the Golden State, ranked a lowly 43 among all states.

* ... NEW LIFE FOR MALLS? Across America malls are struggling to compete in this new age of online shopping and the demise of local retail. But some are finding new life by converting retail space once devoted to shoes and sweaters to treadmills and weight machines, opening up thousands of square feet to state of the art gyms. In Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, one mall now sports a huge gym in a former department store space next door to a juice bar, restaurant and Trader Joe's. I wonder if the folks who bought the old East Hills Mall have thought about incorporating a gym into the plans for the new project?

 * ... CSUB: Congratulations to CSUB for joining the Big West Athletic Conference, a pure natural fit for the Roadrunners to compete in almost all sports. And the best part? CSUB gets to play its natural rivals, from Cal Poly to UC San Diego to CSU Northridge and Long Beach State. Fans will be able to travel to games and the university saves $400,000 not traveling to far flung destinations like Seattle, Chicago and San Antonio. I am told that President Horace Mitchell, who will retire next year, worked tirelessly to make this happen. That's a big feather in his cap on his way out the door to retirement.

 * ... MAMMOTH: Good news for all you skiers and snow bunnies out there. Mammoth Mountain is getting some snow, as much as eight inches the other night, ushering in a ski season that will be welcomed here in the lower valley.

* ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "The endless expanse of red brake lights on freeways trying to leave Los Angeles for Thanksgiving was our Fall foliage."

 * ... ST. FRANCIS: St. Francis is holding one of its big winter fund raisers on Saturday, December 2, when it presents "A Night in Assisi" at the St. Francis Youth Center. Tickets go for $75 each and that includes wine tastings, local breweries and hors d'oeuvres. You can purchase tickets online at www.adventwine.com or by calling Carla at (661) 327-4734.

Eight Condors spotted in downtown Bakersfield; an omen of good things to come?

* ... RESOLUTIONS: So did you dust off those New Year's resolutions yet? It's never too late to set some goals but don't forget to include charities on your list. Here's what Jayne Hotchkiss of Walker Basin has in mind. "I'm choosing the local ASPCA on Gilmore Street," she said.  "I figure humans can find help if they want it, but animals can't. Through the years I have taken in abandoned dogs, cats and  even horses that would have ended up in an auction. This will be a commitment to other animals that don't live at my ranch! I hope others follow."

 * ...  THE LIST: So what is on your list for giving this year? My list includes the pediatric care unit at Memorial Hospital, the Kern County YMCA, the local SPCA, Covenant Community Services located at 1700 North Chester Avenue and the History Department at my alma mater, Georgia Southern University.

 * ... GOOD OMEN: My downtown neighbor Keith Barnden awoke Sunday to spot what appeared to be eight California condors perched atop two tall pine trees across the street from his house. "I was shocked to look out my upstairs window to see these magnificent birds sitting there," he told me. Considering there are only about 400 known to exist, I'm taking that as an omen of good things to come in 2012. (file photo)

 * ... NEW YEAR'S RIDE: Almost 120 cyclists showed up at Beach Park for the annual New Year's Day ride up Round Mountain, where Kern Wheelmen volunteers were waiting with food and water. Too many people to name but among those I spotted were Danny Kaukola, Richard Picarelli, Greg Riggins, Jim Pappe, Kyle Lacey, Robin Ablin, Bob Smith, Greg Walker, Pete Elieff, Rogers Brandon, Kim Barker, Jack Skaggs, Hank and Patty Pfister, Brent and Cindy Bonetti, Mike Marotta, Anthony Finocchiaro, Carl Crawford, Scott Garrison, Joe Peterson, Tom Morgan, Zane Adamo, Zach Griffin, Frank Lobre, the aforementioned Keith Barnden and so many more.

* ... SPOTTED: When it comes to litter, I am never surprised by the ability of people to disappoint you. Consider this note from  Kim Bean, president of Ultra Star Industries: "Yesterday my husband and I were at the Heart Hospital visiting a family member. We were sitting in our vehicle in the parking lot when we noticed a woman getting into her newer model cream colored Audi sedan. Before driving off, she opened her door and deposited her litter which included a banana peel, a water bottle and other bits of garbage. My husband and I volunteered  five months last summer at El Capitan State Beach. Our primary duty was to pick up trash, and and we are simply amazed at how much people litter, especially here in Bakersfield. Now we notice the trash everywhere."

* ... CAVEAT EMPTOR? : Retired endodontist Dr. Robert Smith dropped me a note about some really bad customer service at the new "Sully's" Chevron gas station over off Buena Vista and Ming Avenue in Seven Oaks. The sign out front advertized $3.59 a gallon for regular gas using cash or a credit card. "So I pull up to the pump, swipe my Mastercard and the price-gallon on the pump reads $3.69 a gallon!" He cancels the sale, goes inside to tell the clerk of the mistake and "she says no, the $3.59 is for cash sale. I say, au contraire, take a look and sho'nuf, she takes a look and the sign is flashing $3.59 a gallon for both cash and credit sales. "The clerk apologizes but then says' the gal who is in charge of that is off for a couple of days so, too bad.'" Dr  Smith eventually took his business elsewhere.  "Make sure the pump price jives with the advertized price!" he said.