photo by: National Archives

The U.S.S. Shaw explodes after it was attacked by Japanese pilots at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the attacks on the American Pacific Fleet, which brought the United States into World War II.

photo by: John Young

Spectators taking part in the 2011 Holiday Homes Tour crowd into Steve and Lori Myrick’s home, located 3207 Nottingham Ct., to see the holiday decorations on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011.

photo by: Richard Gwin

The Ludington-Thacher House, at 1613 Tenn., is owned by Terry and Elaine Riordan, who have spent countless hours and resources restoring the 1800s home.

photo by: Nick Krug

Tony Schmidt, president and developer of Lawrence-based CoolProducts.com and Gift Professor, is pictured Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011. Schmidt described Gift Professor as an online gift-finding tool by which a customer completes a survey designed to generate and select items from an online catalog for a friend or loved one.

photo by: Nick Krug

"All those people (family members) were standing there crying because of me. That was the worst part of it all," said Barbara Sufian, 62, who came home on Nov. 30 after suffering two heart attacks on Oct. 24. Sufian, who says her family has a history of heart attacks and bypasses, would like more women to have themselves checked for heart problems.

photo by: Nick Krug

Mike Doering, funeral director at Lawrence Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 3821 W. Sixth Street, is pictured Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. Doering took over as funeral director in August and has been in the business for 25 years.