San Luis Obispo picked as one of the top five college towns in America (no surprise there) and who knew the Border Collie was the smartest of all the breeds?

* … COLLEGE TOWNS: This is one list that won't come as a surprise to all you Cal Poly graduates, but San Luis Obispo has been recognized as one of the best college towns in America. That's according to a new survey by Travel and Leisure, which ranked San Luis Obispo as the third best college town in America. Running ahead of Cal Poly were Burlington, Vermont, and Charlottesville, Va. Rounding out the top five were Williamsburg, Va. and Harrisonburg, Va.

 * … SMART DOGS: So you think your dog is Smart? Check to see if it makes this list of the smartest breeds. According to a survey of more than 100 veterinarians, the smartest breed is the Border Collie, followed by the German Shepherd, Poodle, Australian Shepherd and Golden Retriever.

* … CHRISTMAS MIRACLE? Here's a local version of a near Christmas miracle, compliments of reader Gina Hayden. "Last Saturday morning Sue Anthony from Youth for Christ and volunteer Lewis Lowe were driving up to Camp Owens bringing Christmas dinner to the boys there. The truck Sue was driving blew a tire, shot up an embankment, flipped and rolled back down. Sue and Lewis were banged up but unhurt, but the turkeys, potatoes and pumpkin pies… scattered across the road. They called for help and rescuers came. While Sue and Lewis were taken to the hospital to be checked out, the food was gathered to see how much could be salvaged. As it turned out, all the turkeys and potatoes were fine and the 20 pumpkin pies… ot even the crusts were cracked! Dinner was a little late but it was all there."

* … GOODWILL: Mark Wyatt is the principal of the Bakersfield Adult School who was recently singled out for his generosity to a student there. He wrote me with this thoughtful message: "Student success stories are the fuel that drive great teachers to do what they do. There is a symbiotic relationship between student and staff and nowhere is it more evident to me than at Bakersfield Adult School.  Difficult for me is to receive or accept any credit for playing such a small part in someone else’s accomplishments.  Please give credit where the credit is due, a tenacious student, dedicated teachers, a hard working staff, and a community who supports adult education."

 * … TOYS: Local Democratic activist Linda Fiddler dropped me a note to tell me about what the local Young Democrats have been up to this holiday season. "They are an energetic group of '20 somethings' that collected over a hundred coats and sweatshirts this fall and donated them to McKinley School for students who needed them. This December they asked people to bring unwrapped toys to all of their events. They have a SUV full of donated toys they are dropping off at the Homeless Center this week. I love these kids!"

Fourth District supervisor candidates Pinson and Couch line up support and remembering the old Canaday Nursery and its monkeys

 * ... CANADAY: Earlier this week I wrote about the monkeys who used to live at the old Canaday Nursery in Pumpkin Center, including one who was fond of hurling fecal matter at visitors. That brought a response from Jane Canaday, who remembers it well. "I was happy to see our old family business, Canaday Nursery, mentioned in Monday's column. I lived at the nursery until I was about 13. I had forgotten about Larry's 'proclivity.' I do remember that even though my father discouraged it, visitors would sometimes give the monkeys lit cigarettes. The monkeys would finish smoking them (and) then eat the butts."

 * ... SMART DOGS: Longtime animal lover and former KERO TV weather forecaster Melissa Dignan turned me onto a webiste featuring the smartest dog breeds. The smartest dog? The Border Collie, which the story described as extremely bright but in need of an energetic owner. Rounding on the list were the Poodle, the German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Shetland Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Papilion, Rottweiler and the Australian Cattle Dog.

 * ... PINSON: One of the hottest and closely followed local political races this year is the 4th District Kern County supervisor campaign where lawyer Harley Pinson is squaring off against City Councilman David Couch. Pinson is holding a fund raiser May 15 at the home of Bryan and Marie Batey. Among the supporters expected to attend are state Sen. Jean Fuller, Ray and Joan Dezember, Gene and Linda Voiland, Bob and Betty Stine, Jay Rosenlieb, Sam and Linda Monroe and John and Beverly Allen.

 * ... COUCH: Couch meanwhile announced his campaign co-chairs. Among them are George and Linda Martin, Keith and Jennifer Gardiner, Paul and Karen Sturgeon, Bob and Judy Hampton, Stan and Bonnie Ellis, Lou and Sheryl Barbich, Mayor Harvey Hall and wife Lavonne, former Sheriff Carl Sparks and former 4th District Supervisor Trice Harvey.  Couch also picked up the endorsement of former city councilman and local political observer Mark Salvaggio. (file photos of Pinson, Couch)

* .. SPOTTED: And speaking of Trice Harvey, he was spotted at the Guild House downtown volunteering. Thanks to Julia Alsup for this submission.


*  ... OUR WORLD: From Californian editor John Arthur's Twitter feed: "In effort to boost oil change recycling, the state notes that 'Kern [is] the state’s fourth-largest DIY (do it yourself) oil change market.'" Who knew?

* ... MEMORIES: Hart Park is beautiful this time of year, and LaVone and Bill Walker remember when it was truly a bustling place. "Families spent summer weekends at the park. There was a zoo to enjoy, as well as a swimming pool filled with dark river water, bumper cars, rings to swing on and a snack bar. Across the street from the snack bar was a small narrow gauge train that adults would ride on with their children; it ran by the rustic waterwheel mill," she said.

 * ... BAKERSFIELDISM: Dean Lemaster told me you might be a Bakersfield old timer if you remember when  the circus came to town in the 1940s and set up on Kentucky Street just off Baker Street.