⇒ New managing editor at the Long Beach Press-Telegram: it's John Futch. Also, Jason Gewirtz becomes city editor for business and John Canalis moves to the editorial/opinion pages.

⇒ A new cartoon collection from L.A.'s own Donna Barstow, Love Me or Go to Hell, is out from Andrews McMeel Publishing.

⇒ Amy Alkon continues to personally collect restitution from the thief of her classic pink Rambler. If you never heard or don't remember the story, she found her stolen car in the sprawl of Los Angeles, got it back, had the guy prosecuted and has been hounding him for compensation ever since—all with a minimum of help from the authorities.

⇒ LAist rounds up the options for getting rid of your Christmas tree, which has become rather difficult if you live in Los Angeles.