FIRST Robotics District Competition

 Members of robotics team 1711 the Raptors from left, Max Golden, Quinn McGinty, Zac Pilarski, Tristan Worthington, and Juline Kotarski Robotics sing and dance at the West Michigan FIRST Robotics District Competition at Grand Valley State University Saturday March 19, 2011.

 Tubes fly into the ring as wirelessly controlled FRC robots try to collect them while also preventing the opposing team's robots from collecting them.

 Members of robotics teams 3357 and 1918 compete in the championship match of the West Michigan FIRST Robotics District Competition.

 High school teams compete using wirelessly controlled FRC robots in the West Michigan FIRST Robotics District Competition.

Cory Fein, center back, and his teammates from Hopkins, MI celebrate a victory in the West Michigan FIRST Robotics District Competition.

Marn E. Walker restaurant

 Kloe Katsma, left, serves Shirley Lurtsema, back right, Mary Koryto,front right, Sally Huey, back far right, and Sharon Salazar, front far right, at the Marn E. Walker restaurant.

Hand tossed pizza made from a special house dough cooks in the Wood Stove brand oven.

Forest Hills high school hockey

 The Forest Hills Northern/Eastern boys Hockey player Alec Miller celebrates a goal against the Forest Hills Central team during the Northern/Eastern's 7-2 victory at Patterson Arena Saturday February 5, 2011.

 Forest Hills Northern/Eastern boys Hockey player Devon Holt, left, and Forest Hills Central player Stephen Logusz, right, collide during Northern/Eastern's 7-2 victory.

 Forest Hills Northern/Eastern boys Hockey player Brad Reiter, left, and Forest Hills Central player Peter Gibson, right, chase the puck during Northern/Eastern's 7-2 victory.

Cute Kittens

Orange and white Tabby four week old kittens taken from a house with 77 cats now at the Humane Society of Kent County Tuesday March 15, 2011.

Family Fitness

Parent Action Leader Anessia Tala does a wall sit  at the Box Tops for Education Family Fitness Night at Harrison Park School K-8 Tuesday March 29, 2011. She said of the exercise, "I hated them in school, but they're good."

Golden Gloves Boxing

Emmanuel Rios, left, points a jab at Allan Hughes during Rios' victory in the 165 pound Sub-Novice bout of the Michigan Golden Gloves West Michigan Semi-Finals Friday March 18, 2011.

Super Full Moon

A super full moon -- a once-every-20-years event where the moon orbits closest to Earth and appears brightest and largest -- was visible over the Basilica of St. Adalbert Saturday, March 19, 2011.

Davenport Rugby

 Davenport University Rugby player Jean Pierre Eloff  from South Africa plays against the Grand Rapids Gazelles at the home game opener that Davenport University won 61-5 Friday March 25, 2011.

Davenport University D1 Rugby team #7  Ryan Hargraves, left, tries to hold off Grand Rapids Gazelles #7 Alex Stutzky, right, during Davenports 61-5 victory at Davenport University Friday March 25, 2011.

Individual Wrestling in Grand Haven

 Holland-West Ottawa high school wrestler Miguel Correa, front, defeats Grand Havens Tyler Rose, back, to win the 285 pound 2011 Division 1-1 Individual District wrestling tournament at Grand Haven High School Saturday February 12, 2011.

Rockford High School wrestler Austin Scogg, back, defeats East Kentwood's Niko Parks, front, to win the 152 pound championship at the 2011 Division 1-1 Individual District wrestling tournament

The Ground Hogs Day Blizzard

 

Hal Brocker a maintenance person for the Grand Rapids Public Museum uses a snow blower to clear snow from in front of the museum during the snow storm Wednesday February 2, 2011.

Grand Valley State University Students Leighton Kyle, 20 right, and Nadine Morcos, 19 left, walk home after class was cancelled along Fulton Street in the storm  Tuesday February 1, 2011.

These are two of my favorite photographs from the Blizzard of 2011.

Preparing for the Blizzard

 Jesse Meerman, 33 right, uses sawdust to push a bull out of way as he prepares for the Ground Hogs Day storm by bedding the cow barn with sawdust at Grassfields Organic Cheese on 60th Ave in Coopersville Tuesday February 1, 2011.

  Grassfields Organic Cheese dairy farmer Luke Meerman, 35,  prepares for the Ground Hogs Day storm, Meerman said of the impending storm, "I get excited about storms because it's a challenge, mostly to see if you can handle it."

Boxers in Golden Glove gym

 Golden glove boxer Ricardo Rios, 19, traisn for the MGGA pre SuperBowl fight night at the Golden Glove Gym Thursday February 3, 2011.

 Golden glove boxer Ricardo Rios, 19 right, spars with Jose Covarrubias, left.

 Golden glove boxers Jordan Shimmell, 22, trains for the MGGA pre SuperBowl fight night at the Golden Glove Gym.

Boxers Craig Schwallier, left, and Gerhart Braho, right, exercise Golden Glove Gym.

Governor Snyder's Inauguration

 Michigan Army National Guard from the 1-119th Field Artillery fire the 19 gun salute at the inauguration of Governor Rick Snyder at the Michigan State Capitol Building.

 Governor Rick Snyder, center, is sworn in as the 48th Governor of Michigan at the State Capitol Building by the Chief Justice of the State of Michigan Marilyn Kelly, left, Saturday January 1, 2011.

 Four A-10 Thunderbolt II Ground Attack aircraft from the 127th Fighter Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base fly over the Michigan State Capitol Building at the inauguration of Governor Rick Snyder.

 Kimberly Batson, center left from Middleville, Nancy Fuller, center from Ottawa County, Bill DeBoer from Conklin, center right, and Charlie Foote, right from Jenison, cheer during the speech by Secretary of State Ruth Johnson at the inauguration of Governor Rick Snyder as the 48th Governor of Michigan at the Michigan State Capitol Building.

 The Michigan State Capitol Building decorated for the inauguration of Governor Rick Snyder.

 Security officers watch from a balcony of the Michigan State Capitol Building at the inauguration of Governor Rick Snyder.

A security officer watches from a balcony of the Michigan State Capitol Building at the inauguration of Governor Rick Snyder.

This was my first inauguration, I ended up becoming obsessed by the security guards on the balcony.  They were spooky because they were dressed like SWAT team members instead of in normal police uniforms. It was cold and windy, and probably colder and more windy on the balcony, so they may have needed the special clothing to stay warm.  However, I still think they were more intimidating than necessary.

Portraits

 Ottawa Hills senior basketball player Dyann Wiley photographed at Ottawa Hills High School.

 Ruth Stegeman is leaving her job after 19 years as the Executive Director of the Disability Network/Lakeshore to a new job as a partner in a consultant.

 Rockford hockey player Mike VanderVelde.

 Chris Cameron the Executive Director of Silent Observer poses by a home that is being repaired after fire damage, Silent Observer helped catch the man who started the fire.

 Entrepreneur Mayra Martinez, 29, is preparing to open her families third location of Garibaldi restaurant, Taqueria, and catering in the 34th street Mall.

 Army Staff Sgt. Amy Gould will sing the national anthem at Gov. Rick Snyder's Inauguration in Lansing.

Jim Heeringa the co-owner of E & R Sales poses with some of his returned cigarette vending machines.
 

Christmas decorations in Grand Rapids

 Chet Maxlow, 16 lower right, reaches out The American Horse sculpture by Nina Akamu at the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park decorated for the Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World Exhibit which will be on display until January 9.

Spectators drive beneath arches of Christmas lights at the NiteLites Drive-Thru Christmas lights show at the home of the Whitecaps 5/3 Ballpark Thursday December 23, 2010. The show is made of about one million lights and has a one mile long circuit.

Christmas is over, but I am trying to change the definition of holiday season, so that holiday lights can last all the way through the season of winter.  I mean if it is the holiday season then it really should last for an entire season.  Yes, I know what you are thinking, and no I have not finished taking down my holiday season lights yet.

Bull Riding

 Professional Bull Riders of the PBR prepare before riding at Van Andel Arena Saturday January 8, 2011.

  Bull Rider competitor Levi Schmucker falls off of Glory Day.

 Red Bull chases Professional Bull Rider competitor Nic Lica after Lica fell off.

Bull Rider John Braska rides Slim Prospect out of the gate.

This was one my all-time favorite assignments because they had a "shark cage" inside the ring with the bulls, and they let me photograph from inside of it.  None of the bulls charged the cage--but they could have.

Zorbing

 Karena Neely, right, rolls down the sledding hill at Van Raalte Farm as her husband TJ Neely, left, runs along to help push the Zorb back up the hill.

TJ Neely the owner of Lunaball adventures pushes his Zorb along a the foot path at the Van Raalte Farm Sledding Hill.

TJ Neely the owner of Lunaball adventures rolls one of his Zorb's a 9 feet diameter inflated ball at the Van Raalte Farm Sledding Hill.

I tried to photograph from inside of the Zorb, but it did not work well.  I was able to focus when I was upside down, but as soon as I did I was right side up, and I had to start all over.

Food and drinks

                             The Wasabi Pea Crusted Tuna at the Everyday People Cafe in Douglas.

             The Build your own Burger with French Fries and a Strawberry Crush at the Ottawa Tavern.

                                      The sizzling fajitas with beef and chicken at the Beltline Bar.

A selection of beverages served at the Beltline Bar; a Budweiser beer, front, and a Famous Beltline Bar Margarita, center right, and a Beltline Bar Cockatoo, back.