The Hair of the Dog 5K Race at The Silver Decoy Winery in Hightstown, NJ-NJ Photographer

I covered the Hair of the Dog 5K Race at The Silver Decoy Winery back in May for The Messenger Press. This race helped to raise money for local pet rescues. Being a dog lover and former dog owner(R.I.P Canella!) I was in dog love heaven! Here’s a pic of our fur baby family member:

We adopted her when we were living in Los Angeles, this was one of the first times she’s seen snow. This picture is from January 2009. She was a Keeshond mix. She was about 14 when she passed away of complications of diabetes 🙁

 

 

 

A Newfoundland and a English Mastiff go nose to nose. By the way, that Mastiff is only a puppy still!

 

 

 

The First Place winner.

 

The first female winner.

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Eng with his 7 year old Husky, Daisy.

 

Angela Del Vecchio with her Husky, Zoe.


 

 

L-R Humans: Carole Scanzello, Charles Scanzello, Mike Gallagher and Shelia Gallagher.L-R Dogs: Chance(Weimaraner), Gracie(Irish Wolfhound), Niki(Weimaraner) and Jordan(Weimaraner).

 

The 35th Annual Bordentown Street Fair-NJ Photographer

I love that my town has a lot of family friendly and fun events. One of the largest is the Annual Street Fair. This is a full two day weekend event and I love walking through and meeting people who I know, and seeing the kids having fun making sand art, getting their faces painted and going on pony rides.

It’s held every year on the third weekend of May.

Kenny Stahley with Bacon and Vinny of the Obedient K9 Dog Training. www.obedientk9dogtraining.com

 

Jackie Lemesevski of Underground Graphics www.underground-graphics.com

 

Lindsay McClellan chatting with a customer at her Miche Bag booth. http://www.conciergeclubusa.com/

 

Shelley Nelson at the Pampered Chef booth talking to Jay Dively and his wife Vanessa Bianco-Diveley.

 

Randy Now and Chelsea Conte help a customer at Randy Now’s Man Cave tent.  http://www.mancavenj.com/

 

Andrew does his best to dunk Billy Markell of Consolidated Fire Association’s Fundraiser. http://www.consolidatedfire.org/

 

Sand Art tent in the Kid’s section on Walnut Street.

 

Itiel Figeroa and Pedro Gomez working The Beanwood Latin Bistro and Cafe booth.

 

Working  hard at The Beanwood Latin Bistro and Cafe booth.

 

Santiago Aristides owner of Under The Moon Cafe with Tiffany Kovacs. www.underthemooncafe.com

 

Free air guitars were just some of the items on sale at the Bordentown Guitar Rescue shop.

 

Mike Virok owner of the Bordentown Guitar Rescue shop.

 

Local author, Christine Dougherty signs her books for customers.  http://christinedoughertybooks.com Her genre of books are genres of horror, paranormal, and psychological thrillers.

 

The War Memorial Committee members.L-R: Bill Collom, Bruce Throckmorton,SMSGT Chris Hofrichter and Jimmy Brimer.

 

Pamela Dahl of Bordentown Therapeutic Massage and Spa helps a customer at the Wellness Center of Bordentown’s tent. www.pameladahl.massagetherapy.com

 

Kris Byrnes of Winter’s Past Farms, demonstrates how she spins hand dyed sheep’s wool from her farm into fiber that can knitted or crocheted. www.winterspastfarm.com

 

 

Mike Garibay of Phat Head Caricatures, finishes up Matthew’s, portrait. I really loved his work!

 

Doreen Hambro of Seahorse Designs, I love her stuff!
Beth Boyle and Dan Dwyer of Bristol, PA take a moment to rest and admire the Bordentown War Memorial.

Pride of Springfield-NJ Photographer

The Pride Of Springfield Day was a joint effort among the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts of the community to earn badges and learn about helping keeping their town clean.
Christina Drum giving instructions to Cub Scout & Girl Scout family members on safety while picking up litter along the sides of the road and about watching out for vehicles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daisy Girl Scout of Springfield Twp Elementary School.

 

 

Tractor Pull in Burlington County Fairgrounds-NJ Photographer

What is a tractor pull?
Truck and Tractor pulling, also known as power pulling, is a motorsport competition, popular in AmericaEurope (especially in the Netherlands), Australiaand Brazil, which requires modified tractors to pull a heavy sledge (sled) along a 35 ft wide and length of 100 meter or 300 ft+ track, with the winner being the tractor that pulls the sledge farthest. The sport is known as the world’s most powerful motorsport, due to the multi-engined modified tractor pullers.
All tractors, in their respective classes, pull a set weight in the sledge. When a tractor gets to the end of the 100 metre (300 feet) track this is known as a “full pull”. When more than one tractor completes the course, more weight is added to the sledge, and those competitors that went past 300 feet will have a pull-off; the winner is the one who can pull the sledge the farthest.
The sledge is known as a weight transfer sled. This means that as it is pulled down the track, the weight is transferred (linked with gears to the sledge’s wheels) from over the rear axles and towards the front of the sledge. In front of the rear wheels, there is a “pan”. This is essentially a metal plate and as the weight moves over this the resistance builds. The further the tractor pulls the sledge, the harder it gets.
The most powerful tractors, such as those in the 4.5 modified class in Europe, can produce over 10,000 bhp.”
This particular event was with the Central Jersey Tractor Pullers Association. At the Burlington County Fairgrounds in Springfield, NJ, there is a special area and track that was built just for these events.
I must say this event was AWESOME! I love cars and trucks and other mechanical things, so this was a lot of fun for me. I met a lot of really nice people and they took the time to explain what was going on and everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edith Sprague of Borden Dairy who owned Elsie the Cow.

http://www.bordendairy.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsie_the_Cow

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/3316

 

 

 

Princeton University Medical in Princeton Closes Down- NJ Photographer

I was asked by The Princeton Packet to cover the old University of Princeton’s Witherspoon St. location as the last of it’s patients were being transported to the new Plainsboro, NJ building.
The Packet’s staff photographer, Phil McAuliffe was at the new building photographing the patients coming in. The reporter that I was paired with was Charley Faulkenburg, while Phil was paired with reporter, Victoria Hurley-Schubert. Cal Killeen was the Editor.
This was a large 12-page spread insert for all of The Packet Publication papers and was a large project for us photographers, the reporters and editors. I was honored and am thankful for being a part of this assignment.
I have to say that this was no small plan and the organization of the staff and volunteers and the many EMT’s made this run very smoothly and effortlessly.
Craig Gronczeski, the Chairman of the Emergency Department.
The first patient to leave the old hospital was Nicole Williams.

 

Mike Sirignano of GDS Signs, covers up the main sign in front of Princeton Medical.

 

 

 

 

Mike Sirignano of GDS Signs, takes down the Emergency Department sign for the ER entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nurses having a bit of last minute fun with the statues, I bet that they’ve been wanting to do this for a long time!

 

3T MRI machine going through the 10 hour process to shutdown and be prepared to be moved to the new location.

 

X-ray room

 

 

The Admission Waiting area.

 

The Admission areas where patients fill out paperwork before their appointments and other hospital related procedures.

 

The Chaplain’s Office.

 

The Administration floor.

 

 

 

The Chapel.

 

The organ inside the Chapel.

 

The sign outside the Chapel.

 

Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit.

 

Daisy Hubbard, the Senior Unit secretary, she has been with the Medical Center for almost 52 years!

 

Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit

 

 

Transport wheelchairs in the Main Lobby.
Erica Markee sits in her maternity room with her husband, Sam and their newborn baby boy, Hayden. She was the last new mother and newborn to leave the hospital.

 

 

 

Erica Markee, her husband, Sam and their newborn baby boy, Hayden, are the very last to leave the old hospital and go to the new location.

 

 

 

 

Off they go!

 

 

 

 

Jerry Charrney, a Volunteer helps with the main entrance so that only ambulances and other authorized vehicles can come in and out.

Allentown High School’s Half and Half Acapella Choir- NJ Photographer

From The Messenger Press:
ALLENTOWN: Singers hoping for hometown support in TV talent show
DATE POSTED: Thursday, May 3, 2012 1:05 AM EDT
By Rachel Lavery, Special Writer
ALLENTOWN — The lush sounds of unaccompanied harmonies fill the choir room as Half and Half, Allentown High School’s a cappella group, sings its version of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic.
   Led by vocal music teacher Mark Megill, the group, so named because it is made up of 10 boys and 10 girls, will be competing on MSG Varsity’s Talent Show. The group’s first performance will air 8 p.m. Sunday, May 6 on Cablevision. It can also be viewed on the show’s website: msgvarsitytalentshow.com.
   Half and Half’s talent show journey began when Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick heard about the contest and encouraged Mr. Megill to enter. Eight schools from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut are competing in the Vocal Ensemble division in this elimination-style talent show that is now in its second season.
   If the Allentown High students receive enough votes after their first performance Sunday, they will get the opportunity to move to the next round and another performance will be aired.
   Dr. Fitzpatrick said the students were counting on the community to support them by watching the show and voting online.
   ”We know we have the talent, now we need to get the votes as well,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said at the April 18 Board of Education meeting.
   After three rounds, contest winners in each of the show’s categories — Solo Vocalists, Vocal Ensembles and Dance Ensembles — will be announced June 3. The winner of the Vocal Ensemble category will travel to New York City for a theater workshop with actors from the Broadway show “Memphis” and then see a performance of “Memphis.”
   Half and Half filmed their performances for the competition in March at SUNY Westbrook on Long Island. The entire process was professional from the recording and the stage to the make-up artists provided, Mr. Megill said. “Sweet Home Alabama,” Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” and N’Sync’s “Bye, Bye, Bye” made up the group’s set list, but only one of those songs will air Sunday.
   Half and Half is an a cappella group, but for this competition, they have been working with musical accompaniment tracks and have even added dance to their performances. Two AHS students who are dancers assisted with choreography.
   The singers meet weekly throughout the year to rehearse, but had to add extra rehearsals to prepare for the show. They begin each rehearsal with a variety of vocal warm-ups and then continue to work on the songs in their repertoire. The students are focused in rehearsal and obviously have an excellent rapport with each other and their affable director. With Mr. Megill’s assistance, the students, create their own arrangements, adding harmonies and riffs they create together.
   ”This was really a lot of fun for the group,” Mr. Megill said. The students chose the songs they would use for the competition, and if the reaction of the other kids at the taping is any indication, their choices will be very well received, he said.
   Most importantly, this group of talented singers needs their fellow students and community to watch them Sunday and to participate in the voting process, Mr. Megill said.
 Viewers can vote after the performance by going online to www.msgvarsitytalentshow.com.
The members of Half and Half are: Ariana Albarella, Brianna Chin, Hannah Cuffari, Ligia DePompo, Jason Diaz, Jordan Fisher, Angelisa Hinton, Amanda Kilcher, Westin Lohne, Morgan Lubbe, Michael Massey, Eric Mendelsohn, Dylan Myers, Emily Nalbone, Will Olexsak, Michael Olio, Jay Scott, Mary Toth, Kaitlyn Wilhalme and Dave Zarish.

 

 

 

 

Northern Burlington County High School’s Production of Beauty and The Beast-NJ Photographer

Some of these were printed in The Register News.
Reed Schmidt, a Sophomore plays Belle, in Northern Burlington County Regional High School’s production of Beauty and The Beast.

 

Nick Fulfaro, a Freshman, plays Lefou with William Maginnis, a Junior, who plays Gaston, in during Scene Six of Gaston in The Village Tavern.
Tyler Maginnis, a Junior, plays Gaston

 

Josh Knighten as Maurice, Belle’s father.

 

Reed Schmidt as Belle, a Sophomore, in a scene in where the Beast, played by Tyler Sapp, a Sophomore, gives her the choice of freeing her father but must stay with him forever or her father stays as a prisoner.
Grace Heresmann a Sophomore, plays Chip and Shauna Berkeyheiser, a Senior, plays Mrs. Pott.

 

The Beast, played by Tyler Sapp, a Sophomore.

 

Author Joyce Carol Oates At Allentown High School-NJ Photographer

I had the utmost pleasure and honor to meet and photograph Pulitzer Prize for Literature winner,  author, winner Joyce Carol Oates.
Joyce Carol Oates was there for the Enthusiastic Reader Reception in Allentown High School. She read excerpts from one of her books and then did a Q and A with the audience.
It has been such a long time since I have been to anything like this. After I got the photos that I needed for The Messenger Press, I had some time and I sat down and enjoyed the rest of the event.
Thank you to everyone at the Allentown HS in Allentown, NJ and Ms. Oates!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bordentown Elks Easter Egg Hunt- Bordentown, NJ Photographer

The Bordentown Elks Lodge had their Annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Divine Word Seminary in Bordentown, NJ. It was a lot of fun to photograph the event. My daughter was able to participate and this was her first time in a group egg hunt.
They had 2 egg hunts, one for the 0-5 year olds and the other for the 6 and older age group too. This I found nice since the little ones didn’t have to compete with the older kids.
Some of these were published in The Register News.
The 0-5 Age Group race out to find Easter Eggs during the Bordentown Elk’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt The event was held at the Divine Word Seminary in Bordentown.

 


 

 

Jayden finds easter eggs during the Bordentown Elk’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt in the 0-5 age group

 

Margot finds an egg!

 

Mikayla with her Easter basket during the egg hunt.

 

Sean showing off his eggs.

 

Jayden shows me her loot.

 

Travis, age 7 showing me how many eggs he found.

 

After the children find their eggs, they go to the tables and trade them in for a piece of candy for every egg that they find. THose that found hard boiled eggs relieved an Easter Basket filled with candy and toys.

 

 

 

 

Wayne holding up a basket that one of his children received.

 

 

The Pecht Family of Bordentown Home For Funerals.
The volunteer Bordentown Elks:William O’Brian, Ed Foley, Robert Pecht, Stephanie Pecht, David Rooney, Tom Kelley, David Yasko, Casey McCorminck, Lauren Sontupe(The Easter Bunny) and standing with the Easter Bunny is Margot and Giselle.

Relay For Cancer Wrestling Fundraiser-Deirdre Ryan Editorial Photography

“The reason behind the wrestling event was just a fundraiser to help out with the overall Relay for Life fundraising. This year so far, we raised over $81,000 and our wrestling show brought in a combined $3000.
We (my team) chomped at the bit trying to come up with a good idea to raise money. It was my wife’s idea to start, and then a few others agreed that it would be a great idea to fundraise to get me back in the wrestling ring.
I used to be a pro wrestler back in 1998 – 2000. I trained at Iron Mike Sharpe’s School of Professional Wrestling in Asbury Park. One of my trainers, and the promoter, The Jersey Hurricane was who I contacted about the show.
He loved the idea, and he met with the wrestlers, who all agreed to donate their time that night. And the ring rental was waved too. So I got back in training mode, going to the gym, as well as, going to his house to train in the ring…to sorta get the rust out.
The kicker…that very few people know…was I injured myself the day before the show. I pulled some stomach muscles…from practicing a maneuver…and I didn’t bail out or shorten the match…as people paid to see me get in the ring.
I was in a lot of pain throughout that match…but it was all worth it…”
-Layton Dodge, Jr. A.K.A. “Battleship”

Some of these images were published in The Register News, one of the many papers published by http://www.centraljersey.com.

Coach Layton Dodge Jr. faces his opponent “Dangerous” Dom Devito before the event kicks off with the matches.
Atomic Dog
Coach Layton Dodge Jr.’s son, Jack, doesn’t realize Corey Havoc is right behind him.


Surprise!
Atomic Dog and Corey Havoc.
Corey Havoc having fun with the crowd after getting kicked out of the ring.

 

The Freak, and Spanky.
The Freak and JC The Outpatient.
Abe Yusef
The Patch after “stealing” money from a child as he enters.
The kids cheering for The Orphan and booing The Patch.
The Orphan
The Orphan, and The Patch.
 

The Patch because he was the “bad” guy shouting at other kids who were booing him.
Barbado and the Jersey Hurricane.



 

Stacey Fitzpatrick plays during Intermission.



Terry Rivel sang the Star Spangled Banner before the event started and then sang some songs during the Intermission. www.terryrivelsongs.com
The band Volt plays during Intermission.

James Naprawa (Guitar & Vocals) age:18

Jared Hirst (Bass guitar)age: 17

Cody Gonzalez (Drummer) age:17

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Volt/132991313384202




From L-R: Barbado (mask), Big Tony (on mat), Abe Yusef, and Chris (referee)
 
Barbado (mask), Big Tony


20 People Battle Royale Match. Last one in the ring wins. Left to right: Atomic Dog, Damon Force (on ground), Mark Cruz, The Freak, Jersey Hurricane, Corey Havoc, and Big Tony (in corner).



Atomic Dog wins!



“Dangerous” Dom Devito enters.


 Coach Dodge Jr. faces his opponent “Dangerous” Dom Devito. Dodge’s character was Battleship and he used to be a pro wrestler back in the day.
Here he is with his two sons.