December 2020 Chef Dustin Allen, creator and owner of Edge by Chef Dustin Allen is opening a new retail store featuring his homemade pastas, breads, wines and other favorites he offers at the popular Peoria Heights restaurant.Bradley’s Ari Boya tangles with South Dakota State’s Baylor Scheierman under the basket in the first half Friday, Dec. 4, at Carver Arena.Bradley’s Terry Nolan Jr., left, and Ari Boya stop Lewis’s Marquise Jackson under the basket in the second half Monday, Dec. 7, at Carver Arena.Gary Folkerts, left, and Garrett Peterson of Alpha to Omega Movers, Inc. out of Eureka carry a big “Reddy Kilowatt” figure into the new headquarters of the Washington Historical Society on the second floor of the Danforth Building at 128 Washington Square in Washington.Jenny Justice stands with a portrait of her daughter Annabelle Mary Rodgers, 18, at her memorial Christmas tree at Mineral Springs Park in Pekin. Annabelle died of a drug overdose.BRAVES VS. HUSKIES – Bradley’s Tatum Koenig, left, and Northern Illinois’ Mikayla Brandon scramble for a loose ball in the first half Sunday, Dec. 13, at Renaissance Coliseum. The Braves defeated the Huskies 79-71.BRAVES VS. HUSKIES – Bradley’s Lasha Petree, middle, fights for a rebound with Northern Illinois’ Errin Hodges (1) and Chelby Koker (10) in the first half Sunday, Dec. 13, at Renaissance Coliseum. BRAVES VS. HUSKIES – Bradley head coach Andrea Gorski expresses her disapproval with a referee during a game against Northern Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 13, at Renaissance Coliseum.BRAVES VS. HUSKIES – A spectator sits among the cardboard cutout fans during a game against Northern Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 13, at Renaissance Coliseum. Registered nurse Shannon Lesch, right, gives Victor Chan, chief of Emergency Services at OSF HealthCare St. Francis Medical Center, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday, Dec. 15, at Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center in Peoria. Chan was one of five medical workers to receive the vaccine, the first in central Illinois.BRAVES VS. TIGERS – Bradley’s Terry Nolan Jr. (4) uses his leg to block a pass from a Jackson State’s Tristan Jarrett in the second half Thursday, Dec. 17, at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Tigers 83-60.BRAVES VS. TIGERS – Bradley’s Terry Nolan Jr. dunks against Jackson State in the first half Thursday, Dec. 17, at Carver Arena.BRAVES VS. TIGERS – The ball gets away from Bradley’s Danya Kingsby and is recovered by Jackson State’s Wesley Taylor in the first half Thursday, Dec. 17, at Carver Arena.BRAVES VS. TIGERS – An audience of cardboard cutouts fill the seats behind Bradley’s Rienk Mast during a game against Jackson State on Sunday, Dec. 17, at Carver Arena.A large painting of a bright red cardinal by local artist Ken Hoffman fills up a spot at Exhibit A Gallery in as customers peruse for gifts. The Peoria Heights gallery is featuring the work of 55 local artists for sale through the holidays.LETTERS TO SANTA – “Santa Claus” looks over a set of letter he pulled from the mailbox in the front yard of Eric Sparks’ home at 327 N. Kickapoo Terrace in West Peoria. Kids can drop off their letters and Sparks makes sure Santa reads them and responds.BRAVES VS. TIGERS – Eric Sparks’ Goldendoodles keep Santa Claus company as he sorts through a set of letters from hopeful kids at Sparks’ West Peoria home. BRAVES VS. TIGERS – Requests from Santa range from “World Peace” to “Holiday Barbie” in the letters pulled from the mailbox in the front yard of Eric Sparks West Peoria home.Bradley’s Ari Boya dunks over the Miami defense in the second half Saturday, Dec. 19, at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Redhawks 69-68.Annelyse Hattan, 6, of Chillicothe smiles as her dad Casey takes a photo of her and a Santa Claus wearing a face shield Saturday, Dec. 19, at The Shoppes at Grande Prairie in Peoria. The outdoor mall hosted a socially-distanced event for children to meet Santa Claus. Families reserved five-minute blocks of time per visit.WINTER WONDERLAND – The nightly Winter Wonderland traffic jam starts to form Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the intersection of Springfield Road and E. Washington Street in East Peoria.WINTER WONDERLAND – Vehicles travel through a tunnel of lights Tuesday, Dec. 22, at the Winter Wonderland drive-thru display in East Peoria.WINTER WONDERLAND –The Peoria skyline stands out in the background as a line of vehicles moves through the Winter Wonderland drive-thru display Tuesday, Dec. 22, in East Peoria.Kathy Belcher’s glasses fog up as she goes for a brisk walk in the falling snow Tuesday, Dec. 29, in Peoria Heights.George Manias of George’s Shoeshine & Hatters paints a new brick for the new year Wednesday, Dec. 30, at his business in Downtown Peoria. The act is a Greek tradition intended to bring good luck. George has done this every year he’s been in business, amassing a collection of 75 bricks.