On Saturday, July 5, 2014, at the Joseph Lawrence Park in Bordentown Township, hosted by The Foundation for Bordentown Traditions, held the 2nd Annual Independence Day Firework Celebration. The Foundation for Bordentown Traditions has spent the last 12 months fundraising to bring back the fireworks.

I volunteer for this wonderful organization. That day I was stationed at the 50/50 tent at the entrance of the park, welcoming everyone and encouraging them to help raise money for next year’s fireworks with a 50/50 ticket. This year’s winner bought theirs during The Street Of Dreams Car Show in June and won $1107.50! I love being a part of this group of volunteers, it’s one of the ways that I can help to give back to my community.

That night they had a local celebrity Dunk Tank; the money to dunk your favorite Bordentown Resident into the Dunk Tank. All money raised from the Dunk Tank went directly back to the Foundation. 50/50 tickets were sold and the winner was announced that evening around 8PM. This is one of the only ways the Foundation was raising money the night of the fireworks. There were free face painting, inflatables, live music, and local restaurants in the food area.

Florence High School, in Florence, NJ held their graduation ceremony for the Class of 2014 on Friday, June 20th, 2014. I have photographed this event before for The Register News and so far each time, the weather has been gorgeous. It’s always held outside on their football field.

Each time I am assigned to a graduation ceremony, I’m reminded of mine from 1991. How could you not be thinking about this? Sure I was thinking of the correct exposures for shooting into the sun with my camera and flash. But I see how these young adults are going out into the real world and wonder about their future. Some had scholarships to college, while others were entering the military, or starting to work right away before they decided what they wanted to do next. Their world is their oyster and they have a lifetime to make something of it.

Principal John M. Corgan gives his Welcome speech to everyone.

Bordentown City, NJ is a town rich in history and offers a lot of events that happen every year. It’s where I was born and raised. After living in MA for college, Philadelphia for work and then Los Angeles for 10+ years, I’ve been back home since October 2008. It’s a little town that has a good quality of life to raise a family, great schools, and centrally located to NYC and Philadelphia and just a 3 hour drive(give or take) to Washington, DC.

Every year we have our Annual Street Fair in May and thousands of people come to my town to stroll down the main street that is closed off to buy handmade goods, eat from our local restaurants and listen to music, and have fun with the kids.

L-R: Guy DeRosa on harmonica and Phil McAuliffe sings original songs performed in front of Randy Now’s Man Cave on Sunday, May 18th, 2014 during the annual Bordentown City Street Fair.

The Foundation for Bordentown Traditions is a non-profit started by members of the community. They were organized to plan, develop, organize and fund community events in Bordentown. It is their goal that these events will raise funds to bring back the Fireworks. I volunteered a couple of hours at this booth getting donations and people to purchase 50/50s. It was a lot of fun talking to people and catching up with friends.

Above, Foundation for Bordentown Traditions members L-R Christopher Nunn, Suzanne Wheelock and Katy McGowen discuss the fundraising board in front of their booth. Below Suzanne “models” with the board, Vanna White style, she is so cute isn’t she?

Jenn holds her pet named Buddy that is a Sun Conure parakeet with her mother, Patty.  Jen is a member of the Bordentown Regional High School Marching Band and was volunteering at their booth to raise money for the band.

Children blowing bubbles through a bubble wand that they created at the Mad Splatter Booth. Mad Splatter is a non profit organization in Bordentown that creates parties for children to help make a difference for charitable causes.

The Honor and Remember Flag was raised on Saturday, April 27, at 2PM, at The Bordentown Elks, 2085 on 11 Amboy Road Bordentown, NJ. The Honor and Remember Flag was raised on Saturday, April 27, at 2PM, at The Bordentown Elks, 2085 on 11 Amboy Road Bordentown, NJ. This flag recognizes the sacrifices of our military who have been killed and their families.

Patrick and Amy Moore’s son, Army Spc. Benjamin G. Moore, age 23, of Robbinsville, N.J.was killed in action on January 12, 2011 in Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 7th Engineer Battalion, 10th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. The Mores belong to a group called Rolling Thunder, a group of people who educate and help others to never forget our POW, MIA and Deceased military men and women.

Past Exalted Ruler, Jeff Becker, assists Patrick and Amy Moore with raising the Honor and Remember flag. 

Patrick and Amy Moore saying a few words of thanks after the Honor and Remember flag has been raised.