here's some work from the last couple weeks at The Daily Times

...plus one photo shot last month at the end of the slideshow.

also, since this is the last day of 2008, i just wanted to wish everyone a very safe and fun New Year's Eve holiday — whatever your festivities, or non-activity, may be. 

please drive safe, or better yet, take a cab, bus or rickshaw. let amateur night begin!
all set?

61st Post!

i guess i missed commemorating post # 50...oh well. 

here's a story that ran this last Sunday in The Daily Times. it's pretty straightforward. if i had to do it over, i'd definitely change a few things. other than that, it was nice to work on a story , and i wouldn't mind doing more before i leave my short-term post at the DT. 

the story is under the photo here, followed by some shots from the week (the football shots are extra file photos from the Aztec/Los Alamos state semifinal game, which ran this week).

***

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Amy Arnold, an 86-year-old homebound senior citizen, stands with the aid of a walker in her kitchen near food delivered by Bonnie Dallas Senior Center's Meals on Wheels volunteer Don Davis on Dec. 3, 2008.

Program offers more than a meal

By Xavier Mascareñas The Daily Times

Posted: 12/07/2008 12:00:00 AM MST

Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing series intended to promote volunteerism in our community. There are more than 100 programs in need of volunteers. For more information, see the Volunteer! link at daily-times.com.

FARMINGTON — Don Davis has a new old lady.

Amy Arnold, an 86-year-old homebound senior citizen who moves around her house with the aid of a walker, recently was added to his delivery route.

Davis, who is himself a senior citizen at age 67, is a volunteer driver for Bonnie Dallas Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program.

"I only deliver one day, but I let them know that if they need me I can help, too. I'm usually around the senior center playing pool anyway," he said. "When I first started they gave me a map, but I've been doing this long enough I got it down pat."

It takes him about 35 minutes to deliver food to 10 homebound seniors, he said, and one of his last stops Wednesday was at Arnold's home.

"It isn't the easiest way in the world to get around, I'll tell you that for sure," Arnold said, as she steadily scooted toward her kitchen table. Waiting for her in separate hot and cold containers was a meal of warm roast pork and scalloped potatoes and cold carrot and raisin salad, with a tapioca pudding dessert with strawberries. The food was prepared at the Bonnie Dallas Senior Center.

Arnold is one of more than 90 senior citizens who has lunch delivered by volunteer drivers from the Meals on Wheels program, according to Vernita Byrum, the driving force behind the Meals on Wheels program.

As senior center coordinator, Byrum handles new volunteers for the program and manages new requests for meal deliveries. She has worked at the senior center for more than 20 years, and during that time her enthusiasm has not faded.

"We have 10 routes. So that means I need 10 volunteer drivers per day," Byrum said, emphasizing her need of new drivers. "They usually drive once a week. They have the same day, the same route. It's good to have at least one person for each route."

Byrum said it usually takes volunteers less than an hour to do the job, "but once they learn the route, it's like — here we go," she said, adding emphasis with the clap of her hands.

Byrum said the mission of Meals on Wheels is to feed the elderly that are homebound. She said the meal they deliver is the only prepared meal some of them have all day. Yet, there are more benefits to the service they provide.

"A lot of people that are alone, it gives them at least one person they see in the day," Byrum said. "Hopefully we can make them feel better just by seeing another person, if not just to eat. They know somebody's coming."

After delivering Arnold's meal, Davis hopped back in his pickup. He said food can factor into whether or not elderly citizens can live on their own.

"They can't always make it for themselves so good. Lots of them have kids in the area, but there's a bunch of them that don't," he said. "A bunch of the children probably just don't pay much them attention to them either."

Want to help?

To volunteer, call Vernita Byrum at (505) 599-1380. She is looking for people available to deliver food at 11 a.m., Monday through Friday. Drivers with vehicles are in need, but volunteers without vehicles also can be of service to help with deliveries.

***

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Joe Price is one of three people being inducted into the New Mexico School Board Association Hall of Fame.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Monument Valley’s Preston Luna tangles with Shiprock’s Julian Wahnee for the ball during the fourth quarter of Friday’s first round game of the Webb-Toyota 2008 Kirtland Central Boys Basin Tournament.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Leslie Gonzalez, 6, from McCormick Elementary, carries three-and-a-half luminarias to the staging area in the parking lot at Henderson Fine Arts Center at San Juan College on Wednesday. 

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Five-year-old Joseph Duncan of Apache Elementary heads back to get more luminarias after dropping some off at the collection in the parking lot at Henderson Fine Arts Center at San Juan College on Wednesday. 

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Aztec running back Mike Hathcock takes the ball in for a touchdown during the Nov. 22, 2008, seminfinal win against Los Alamos at home.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Aztec wide receiver Jermaine Geter is tackled in mid-air by Los Alamos’ Blaine Lattin after a reception during the Nov. 22, 2008, seminfinal win against Los Alamos at home.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Employees and children on BP’s float greet the crowd downtown during this year’s BP America Farmington Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Parade is a rock ’n’ roll Christmas with Elvis. The parade shut down Main Street between Butler Avenue and Lake Street.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Offensive lineman, from left, Sam Garrison, Dylan Ruiz, Zane Clampett, Matt Hegarty, Zach Frohn and Brennan Charlie after practice Tuesday.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Jasmine Toledo, 6, plays with her glow-ropes while attending the 30th annual San Juan College luminaria display with her family. Earlier in the week, more than 1,300 local elementary school students went to the college to assemble the luminarias.

too tight?

here's a photo from a week ago, but this is a tighter crop i'm considering. let me know what you think (the other photo can be seen in the post before this). maybe i'm just being crop happy, since i can only shoot with a 70-200 mm lens up here — which is not bad, but not my first choice for tight sports shots.

i generally like tightly shot and cropped football shots that show some good expressions and face, but in this case, is it too much cropped from the original? the image stands up, quality-wise...but it feels extreme. any input is appreciated.

happy Dia de los Turkeys Muertos

here's a few stragglers from the Daily Times. hope everybody got back home safe last night. i'll be writing a couple stories for later in the month (Dec.), so check back soon.

here's a portrait using Canon flashes. i had a nice highlight on the right side of his face originally, but the second flash didn't fire for this. oh well, that's about the reliability of the infrared transmitters/receivers in those things. it actually worked for most of the other shots, but, of course, it didn't work for the shot where he had the best expression. 

Bloomfield High School senior linebacker Elias Armenta is a big reason the Bobcats are preparing for a trip to the Class 3A semifinals.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Selena, 10, plays with her adoptive brother, Jerry, 12, at Hartman Park in Aztec on Tuesday. Their mother, Patty, said they bonded quickly since they were roughly the same age, and both very hyper.

back in F-town (didn't you hear, there's only one?)-

-Farmington, N.M. if you don't know, now you know.
actually, i'm not here as an intern this time around — i'm filling in for a photog who's out for a few weeks. "i go where i am called." that sounds noble, doesn't it?
well, here's some updates in photos...enjoy

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

San Juan County Clerk Fran Hanhardt reacts after taking a whipped cream pie in the face during Thursday following the weigh-in of food raised for the Economic Council Helping Others Food Bank in Farmington by San Juan County employees. The events were at the San Juan County Administration Building.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Los Alamos' David Brock is not able to break up a touchdown pass received by Aztec's Jake Espinoza during the third quarter of Saturday's game. The Tigers beat the Hilltoppers 42-8 in Aztec, sending them back to the N.M. state 4A semifinals.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Wade Archuleta of Los Alamos jumps on Aztec's Derrick Williamson in a successful struggle to take him down in the first quarter of Los Alamos' Saturday's 42-8 loss to Aztec on the road.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Aztec seniors Mike Hathcock, left, and Sam Garrison bump fists during the third quarter of their 42-8 win Saturday at home. The win keeps Aztec undefeated this year.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Debbie Kutac adjusts the miniature Christmas village at Ku-tips Nursery on Schofield Lane on Wednesday.

Xavier Mascareñas/The Daily Times

Qamar Carter, 6, inspects the ceiling of the new, $3.4 million Sycamore Park Community Center during Wednesday's ribbon-cutting ceremony.