One month

It's been just over thirty days since I added anything to my blog and last night I heard about it from my friend at my band's show at the Cactus Grill last night so thanks to Marita, here's a flashback:

Trenton Devils try to score on the Elmira Jackals as viewed from a high-up catwalk where no one can hear you scream ;)

Rising waters of the Delaware River spill onto River Road in Yardley, PA.

Princeton (home of Albert Einstein) celebrates Pi Day with pie throwing and one victim grabs a snack.

Film director Jeff Stewart in Downtown Trenton gets the "edgy" treatment in this portrait.

Princeton University wants to develop Alexander Street into a more suitable "gateway into Princeton." The trees bordering the golf course can stay but they want something different than those buildings on the other side of the street.

Ned Hector — Free Black Colonial Soldier, Wagoneer, Respected Patriot, Hero

Ned Hector, a black revolutionary soldier from the Battle of Brandywine (portrayed by Noah Lewis) "charges" a British canon-firing unit (people from the audience) during a program at the Hickory Corner Branch of the Mercer County Library. The program was sposored by the Friends of the Library. Michael Mancuso/The Times

Black history and American history are intertwined and part of our same shared history, if I may paraphrase just a little of what I learned from Noah Lewis' presentation.

A few other interesting items:

People of color fought on the British side as well as American.

All blacks were not poor and enslaved.

The US military would never be as integrated as it was during the American Revolution again until July 26, 1948, when President Truman issued a then controversial executive order that called for equality of treatment for all persons in the armed services, without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.

visit http://www.nedhector.com/ for more

Snow pictures? Snow problem!

I've been with The Times for over a quarter century and every time it snows, I know my job is to get snow pictures. After the latest deposit in the snow bank from Mother Nature, I managed to find two things I'd never photographed before. I went to Waterfront Park to see how things looked at the baseball stadium where NY Yankees Double-A affiliate Trenton Thunder play. While the receptionist, Susanna, was trying to reach public relations director Bill Cook on the phone, he came walking out, camera in hand to make some snow pictures of his own for the Thunder's facebook page. That made my day because it's always nice to have a person in a weather picture. Bill went to work and so did I.

After that, I spotted a really big crew working on clearing the snow around Trenton's War Memorial, home of Patriots Theatre. I never photographed that many people shoveling at once before.

Sad Day in Bordentown

Saturday, January 22, 2011 was the day of the funeral for Army Pfc. Benjamin Moore, who grew up in Bordentown City and graduated Bordentown Regional High School. The young soldier, who was also a volunteer firefighter and certified EMT at Hope Hose Humane Co. #1 in Bordentown, was killed in combat in Ghanzi Province on Jan. 12, in an IED attack. Funeral services were held at Trinity Methodist Church.

Bordentown's Mayor James Lynch greets mourners following services. Benjamin Moore was posthumously named chief of Hope Hose Fire Co. and according to Lynch, he will be officially named honorary mayor of the city at the next meeting of the city commission.

The End of the Road (to vic-to-ry).

This is a picture of air. Two men jumping in the air and the air going out of the Eagles' sails. The momentum was building. The comeback was set. After a game of Packer domination, the Eagles had the ball, a little time and momentum. Riley Cooper was supposed to catch this ball in the end zone and give the over-achieving Eagles the first-round playoff win, but the interception blew all that and left the crowd gasping for air.

Before the game started, the crowd wanted to be happy.

Michael Vick was sacked early and too often.

The Eagles did do some flying.

Or apparent levitation, at least.

I had a feeling Asante Samuel was going to make an interception on this play, so I was ready. He wasn't quite.

At the end, Jeremy Maclin walks off while Packers celebrate.

The Replacements

The Philadelphia Eagles played their last regular season game on Sunday, January 2, 2011 and they could neither hurt nor help their playoff standings. They were already guaranteed a home game the following Sunday, so many of the starters were rested and their replacements got a chance to play.

Eagles wdie receiver Chad Hall was thrilled to catch a TD pass.

So thrilled, he did the "Lambeau Leap" into the stands ...

... and struck a pose after coming back down to earth.

Running back Jerome Harrison picks up 36 yards on a run in the 3rd quarter.

Safety Jamal Adams, who was only promoted from the practrice squad on December 31st, breaks up a pass intended for Cowboys tight end Jason Witten.

Both quarterbacks took turns getting sacked. Kevin Kolb backs up Michael Vick.

The Cowboys weren't resting their regulars, but QB Stephen McGee is a backup to an injured Tony Romo. Next up for the Eagles in the first playoff game are the Green Bay Packers, who beat the Eagles in the season opener, but in that game by knocking Kevin Kolb, who was then the starter, out of the game, they unleashed Michael Vick, who was then the backup, into his starting and starring role.

Xmas Time

If you're Christian, don't be offended. The "X" is an ancient Greek symbol for Christ. Anyway, the Princeton Tour Company hosted a "Party Like A Rockefeller Caroling Fest" involving a tour, pre-show party and a performance of "A Christmas Carol" at McCarter Theatre, in Princeton, New Jersey. They stopped to sing carols at the rectory of Trinity (Episcopal) Church where the pastor's two sons peered out the window to see what heavenly sounds were emanating from outside their residence.