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The recycling drop-off
Saving the world, even this very small part of it, is a tricky business in every sense of the word. Lake Area Disposal is closing its popular recycling drop-off center, at least for a while, after losing money on it for a couple of years.

Report from Paris at halftime
Our first impression is the smell of French bread baking in special ovens constructed for the conference. Next, we are overwhelmed by people everywhere in this vast conference site, some 30,000 diplomats and delegates, 3,000 journalists, plus thousands of others.

Don Blankenship guilty
“Guilty,” declared all 12 West Virginia jurors who pondered the charge that this arrogant and avaricious CEO of Massey Energy Company willfully conspired to violate America’s mine safety laws.

LETTERS
It appears to me that the terrorist attack in San Bernardino was a workplace violence attack committed by a terrorist that lost his focus because of disagreements at work.

Should the Cook County Democratic Party consider a state’s attorney endorsement?
With growing numbers of black and Latino politicians calling for Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to resign, it’s probably time for the county’s Democratic Party leaders to rethink their summertime decision not to endorse anyone in the primary.

DEAD CAT IN MUSEUM
Way back in the 1980s, archaeologists who excavated an ancient burial mound near Jacksonville found the remains of 22 people, plus an infant plus a puppy. Except it wasn’t a puppy.

RESET BUTTON
When the city of Springfi eld in 2014 forked out more than $1.5 million to buy the oversized block just north of the governor’s mansion, civic leaders, to borrow a phrase from The Trumpster, called it huge. A really, really big deal. This was going to be a crown jewel, a spark that would ignite downtown development, perhaps even a renaissance.

Trial of day care worker begins
Cammie Kelly of Springfield is charged with aggravated battery and first degree murder for the death of 11-month-old Kaiden Gullidge of Rochester. While prosecutors allege it’s a case of child abuse, Kelly’s attorney says the child died of natural causes stemming from his history of medical problems.

Park police riddled with problems
That’s the conclusion of a consultant who was paid $12,000 to study the district’s troubled police department and recommend improvements to address deficiencies in recordkeeping, equipment, staffing, training and other areas within the three-officer department.

Paying the heat bill
The Illinois Senate unanimously approved the $165 million for LIHEAP on Dec. 7 after the Illinois House passed the same bill the previous week with only one “no” vote. The funding was part of a larger appropriation for a handful of other programs like lottery payouts and local government services.

Selling off Illinois
Rauner said the downtown Chicago office tower isn’t the only property being eyed for sale as he’s reviewing all Illinois-owned assets, including those in central and southern Illinois. His comments follow a union’s earlier disclosure that Rauner is asking state workers for more latitude to seek private operators for government services.

Don’t raze the Thompson Center
The Daley Center has an active plaza, but its lobby is dead serious as people make their way through security checkpoints before hitting the elevators. At the City Hall/County Building lobby, things barely get above a whisper as workers, offi cials and regular folk pass through.

Holiday calendar
Springfield Lutheran High School Cookie Walk.

Chicago’s art museums add joy to the holidays
A wassailing bowl and a Yule log greet visitors in the Great English Hall, while mistletoe and garlands on the staircase decorate the Virginia Entrance Hall just steps away. Nearby, the Chinese room is filled with shadow puppets and I can almost hear the musical instruments play in celebration of the New Year.

Funny murder mystery
Want to cozy up with a good mystery over the holidays? Meet Mrs. Modine! She’s a mature widow with a snoopy disposition and is the creation of Dency Grubbs, a Decatur author who graduated from Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois Springfield) and teaches English at Lincoln Land Community College.

Cuisine Scene
cuisine from tacos to seafood. We have all of your favorite Mexican fl avors. L & D. $$ Chadito’s Mexican American Grill.

Spirited holiday desserts
These days, for better or worse, celebratory occasions aren’t the only times many of us have the opportunity to overindulge. Regardless, the holidays (including but not limited to Christmas) are a wonderful time to incorporate some extra cheer into sweet stuff.

Choppy Sea fails to engage
On Aug. 12, 1819, the whaling ship Essex left Nantucket with a fresh lease on life. Wanting to keep it operational as long as possible, the company that owned the ship had given it a complete overhaul and expected its captain and crew to bring back more than 2,000 gallons of precious whale oil over the course of a twoand-half-year voyage.

December doings
As we continue into the season with a reason for holiday happenings, we somewhat curb the big events but keep the gigs going with plenty of good music to go around. Please pay special attention to the many benefit shows presented by our hardworking and ever-giving musicians.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | The Love Hogs
Playing only their second show in 15 years, the legendary Love Hogs return to a Springfield stage after coming out of a pen from the past to play the Downhome Music, Art & Beer Festival last year.

PUB CRAWL
Dates, times and locations are subject to change, so we suggest calling before attending an event..

THE CALENDAR
clubs all across the US. $13, $15. donniebscomedyclub.com. 217-391- 5653. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 3455 Freedom Dr., 391-JOKE..

HISTORY | Historic homes for the holidays
Hosted by the Springfield Heritage Sites Coalition, the fifth annual “An Historic Christmas” event highlights six of Springfield’s most beloved historic sites. During the event, the sites open their doors for an afternoon of special tours, holiday cheer, activities, performances, crafts and more.

ART & ARCHITECTURE | Deck the walls with gifted artwork
Gifted is a one-night-only contemporary art exhibition featuring artworks by the six talented leaders of The DEMO Project (Brad Balster, Brytton Bjorngaard, Shane Harris, Judah Johnson, Allison Lacher and Jeff Robinson). Each artist has created 20 works specifically for this show, with the intent of “gifting” each work to a member of the audience.

THEATER & COMEDY | Big chords, big dreams, big hair
This weekend treat yourself or a loved one to a performance of the Springfield Theatre Centre’s production of Rock of Ages,.