THAT’S NO SLIEGH: Michael Pless, 58, aka the Surfing Santa, rides waves at the Seal Beach Pier as he’s done every December for years. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
CHURCH: Worshipers hold candles at the close of the Christmas Eve service at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
THANKFUL: Trainer Jorge Periban regularly whispers words of gratitude to racehorses under his watchful eye, such as Stormy Racer at Santa Anita. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
IN YOUR FACE: Nick Berardino, right, general manager of the Orange County Employees Assn., confronts Mario Mainero, chief of staff for Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach, over the county’s layoff plans. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
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SUFFERING IN SILENCE: Destiny Himmel, 16, has long been self-conscious about her family’s situation, and kept their poverty a secret even from her pastor back home in Michigan. “This is embarrassing. . . . I don’t want people to look down on me or think they have to pity me,” she said. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
BATHED IN REFLECTION: Hoffman finds he can relate to his character in “Last Chance Harvey,” in which he stars with Emma Thompson. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
