Staffer Kelsey Moody, right, pours tea for motorcyclists on Wednesday at Blaine House in Augusta. The annual United Bikers of Maine Blaine House Tea was kicked off when First Lady Ann LePage arrived as passenger on a motorcycle. There were remarks by her husband Gov. Paul LePage, other state officials and Sonny Bridges, founding father of United Bikers of Maine. There was a proclamation of May as Maine’s Motorcycle Safety & Awareness Month.
Joe Phelan
Staff Photographer
Joe Phelan is an award winning journalist who makes photos and videos around the capital area for the the Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel and the other Masthead Maine publications. Joe’s first journalism job was as a kid delivering his hometown newspaper, The Blade, in the suburbs of Toledo, Ohio. Then he worked as reporter and editor for the school newspapers in high school and college and started taking pictures to go with his stories for a local running magazine. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a journalism degree. Before getting hired by MaineToday Media he did a photojournalism internship at the The Plain Dealer and worked as an Associated Press stringer in Cleveland.
SNAPSHOT: Cleanup duty
A city sidewalk sweeper cleans sand off a sidewalk on Western Avenue near Macomber Street on Tuesday in Augusta.
SNAPSHOT: Green thumbs
Volunteers, from left, Debbie Clarke, Jane Rau and Molly Wickwire dig weeds and grass out from around a magnolia tree on Tuesday at The Viles Arboretum in Augusta. There were several volunteers working on sprucing up the arboretum on Hospital Street.
SNAPSHOT: Relating to nature
Jen Wright, left, and her son, Sawyer, help Gardiner’s 2013 Artist in Residence, Susan Perrine, build a twig sculpture out of locally sourced materials Saturday at Johnson Hall Mini Park in Gardiner. Perrine began weaving twig sculptures as a way to teach weaving on a large scale. Perrine’s work reflects on her connection to the natural environment. “I grew up on a farm and have always spent a lot of time outdoors, walking the fields and woods near home,” she said. “I try to use methods and materials to reflect the connection I feel towards the natural environment.” Susan will be showing at Artwalk after the reception in the park where her sculpture will reside.
SNAPSHOT: Double take
Kristen Veayo, top, and her sister, Katherine Veayo, perform a song during a school assembly on Wednesday at Windsor Elementary School. The Hall-Dale High School students, who perform as The Veayo Twins, spoke about dealing with bullying between performing covers of hit songs along with several of their own compositions.
SNAPSHOT: Test drive
Riley Lenhart, 3 of Gardiner, takes a test drive with some toy trucks that his mother, Tona Libby, bought for him on Saturday at an charity indoor yard sale in the Knights of Columbus Council 1299 Hall in Gardiner. It was a fundraiser for Jacob Lamoreau to get hearing aids, and the Knights group was donating funds from concession and table rentals.
SNAPSHOT: Greenway gang
Runners and walkers make their way along the banks of the Kennebec River on the Augusta Greenway trail, on the Kennebec arsenal grounds, on Friday.
SNAPSHOT: Ballpark preparations
Norman Barbeau and other volunteers repair a dugout roof at Rivelli Field on Friday in Augusta. The field is used by Augusta Little League, whose season will open in two weeks, on May 4.
SNAPSHOT: Lights up
Tommy Liebel plugs together sections of lighted circus ring on Thursday at the Augusta Civic Center. There will be two rings set up for the annual Kora Temple Shrine Circus this weekend. Shows are at 2 and 7 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday.
PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Sixth annual Central Maine Strongman competition
The sixth annual Central Maine Strongman competition Saturday at the Augusta armory featured five events, including a descending deadlift, an over-the-head press medley, yoke walk, Conan’s wheel and the series stones.