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Childproofing culture
While visiting an old friend in Evanston last weekend, I attended a Ceremony of Lessons and Carols at Northwestern University’s Millar Chapel.

No more internment camps
Hilda, Ingrid, Helen and her younger brother, Siegfried, were new students. The three girls were placed in my eighth-grade class at St. Alphonsus, a large Catholic school in a blue-collar neighborhood in Chicago which welcomed refugee families in the late 1950s.

Right-wingers, the Red Pope and Jesus
Not war like in Afghanistan. No, no – this is the far right’s God-awful “War on Christmas.” In this season of Peace on Earth, a delusional faction of rightists has cooked up a hokey “cultural crisis” to rally their own followers by fomenting hatred of .

LETTERS
I certainly hope that some way can be found to keep this facility open. If that does happen, then I urge folks to abide very closely to guidance as to what items can and cannot be dropped off, per the signs on the bins. This will help minimize operating costs and increase the chances of the facility remaining open.

Legislative competition up for 2016
Byzantine ballot access laws, a highly partisan legislative district map-drawing process, heavily concentrated populations of partisan voters in Chicago (Democrats) and in the collar counties and Downstate, (Republicans) along with often tireless...

‘Millennials’ report contains advice for local leaders
Sims, who serves as executive director for the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission, authored a report released Dec. 10 on the much-discussed Millennial generation. The report addresses how that generation may affect the future of Springfield and Sangamon County, and how local governments can make the most of that future.

Springfield Art Association and Prairie Art Alliance merge
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, the Springfield Art Association and the Prairie Art Alliance, the two largest arts organizations in the Springfield area, will merge. “The PAA is going to come under the SAA’s umbrella,”explains Art Association executive director Betsy Dollar.

BIG TREES
Did you know Illinois has a registry of big trees? Maintained by the University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the registry lists more than 70 trees that represent the largest examples of native tree species in Illinois.

WE’RE NUMBER ONE!
Gov. Bruce Rauner has been telling us how lousy it is to live in Illinois, what with its awful business climate and terrible economics, for so long that we almost started to believe him.

Pot ads come to Springfield
The website is operated by Health Central Illinois Alternatives, which hopes to open medical marijuana dispensaries in Collinsville and downtown Springfield next month. The company has recently erected 17 billboards in the capital city in preparation for opening day.

City won’t enforce five-foot panhandling restriction
Panhandlers Don Norton, Karen Otterson and Jessica Zenquis filed a lawsuit against the City of Springfield in September after the Springfield City Council approved an ordinance which bans panhandlers from approaching within five feet of potential donors.

Four new holiday films
Beginning with one of many ideas that aren’t fully developed, Russell opens with a scene from a fictional soap opera (starring Susan Lucci and Donna Mills), one that comes to reflect Joy Magano (Jennifer Lawrence) and her family, a group of eccentrics, far from charming.

The tick-tock of Grandma’s clock
We lived in the country during the 1930s when I was a kid. We would do about the same thing every day, all summer long. Brother Jack and I would run to the front yard when we heard a car approaching, just to watch it go by. We’d stand there awhile and see a big cloud of dust dissipate, and then go back to whatever we were doing before.

Maamoul cookies
So why don’t the good Muslims get together and get rid of the bad guys? The easiest explanation is simplistic, for sure, but doesn’t necessitate in-depth study: Islam is not a cohesive religion like Catholicism with one leader in charge. It’s more like Protestantism in that it has numerous sects and even more splinter groups within those sects.

CuisineScene
Open 7am-2pm. 7 Days a week. B & L. $ Krekel’s Custard & Hamburgers.

Sisters a ribald treat
Outraged, the two women return to their old stomping grounds in order to get the last of their belongings and wind up staying longer than they thought when Kate decides they should throw one last big bash at the homestead. Again, as far as plotting goes, Pell is not going to be in any Oscar conversations where her screenplay is concerned.

Christmas music
Here we are full of holiday spirit, and hopefully spirits too, ready to finish off the holiday season with Christmas and next week’s New Year’s Eve. This year our weekend is a bit off as the big day occurs on a Friday, but there are a few shows on Christmas night and then on Saturday and Sunday to make up for the slow Friday music making.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Lowder & Manning
Considered by many as one of our area’s music-making treasures, Jaigh Lowder and Jill Manning play original songs at an exceptional level of composition and performance. Jaigh’s guitar prowess is nothing short of masterful and Jill’s voice reaches into your chest and touches the heart.

PUB CRAWL
Classic Sounds with Roger and Bob.

THE CALENDAR
Twelfth Annual Holiday Interfaith Breakfast.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | A tasty tradition
This Christmas enjoy a hot, delicious meal shared among individuals of all faiths during the 12 th Annual Holiday Interfaith Breakfast at Temple B’rith Sholom. The breakfast consists of scrambled eggs with chile verde sauce, roasted turkey sausages, hot pancakes (chocolate chips or blueberries available upon request), fresh fruit, juice and coffee.

THEATER & COMEDY | Year-end laughs
See some of the Midwest’s top comedians this Saturday during the Best of the Midwest Comedy Showcase. The show features up-and-coming comedians from central Illinois, Chicago and St. Louis.

ART | Reflections on creative spaces
Stop by The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space for a peek at their current gallery show, Neo-Surrealism: Third Eye Exhibit.