North Shore Exponent

Michael Zippel's childlike wonder at his favorite holiday continued into adulthood, where he would help his mother decorate the Christmas tree. This year, Michael's twin sister, Michelle Zdroik, had to help with the decorating instead.

During 2009, the economy got beaten up, and so did Milwaukee's mayor. But the biggest story of the year was the Journal Sentinel's series of revelations of fraud, corruption and even ties to drug dealing in child care centers being subsidized by taxpayer dollars.

A tasty little fish traditionally smoked and spread on crackers during the holidays has disappeared from Lake Michigan to the point that it's scarcely available in area fish markets this New Year's Eve.