AFTERMATH

Recycling enables Christmas trees to keep bringing joy

There's something a bit sad and forlorn about seeing a discarded Christmas tree at curbside. Just a month or so earlier, it had been lovingly and gaily adorned and admired. Now, it's been denuded, kicked to the curb.

But take heart: It did bring joy to girls and boys, to kids from 1 to 92. And in the circle of tree life, treecycling the pine or Douglas fir will mean mulch help for other growth.

To that end, the city is urging residents to recycle their Christmas trees after the holidays. Bare trees—without flocking, ornaments and tinsel—can be placed curbside as part of the normal green waste pickup.

Those without curbside green waste collection can drop off trees at any refuse convenience center or directly to the composting facility for free. See www.opala.org and click on “;holiday trash tips.”;

THIS ONE'S FOR TED

Sen. Byrd casts vote for his friend

Partisan politics reached what Democrats understandably regarded as a new low as the health care bill was on its way to the Senate.

On Thursday, Sen. Tom Coburn, a Republican doctor from Oklahoma, declared that “;what the American people ought to pray is that somebody can't make the vote.”; Many assumed he was referring to Sen. Robert Byrd, the 92-year-old Democrat from West Virginia.

Bundled in coat, scarf and hat, Byrd made it to cast his vote in favor of health care reform: “;This is for my friend Ted Kennedy. Aye!”;