Turnpike Delay

sometimes just driving home on the pike stuff happens. Saturday afternoon just west of the Framingham service plaza this powerboat being towed by a pick-up truck went up in flames.

Farewell to my mom - Janis Sabin Elliot

Janis Sabin Elliot - April 9, 1943 to July 18, 2011

Janis Sabin Elliot passed away peacefully July 18, 2011 surrounded by family, friends and devoted caregivers after a long battle with atypical Parkinson’s disease. Janis was born April 9, 1943 in Gallup, New Mexico. She moved to Oregon as a toddler, where she lived most of her life.

She completed her Bachelors degree in French from the University of Oregon in 1964 and moved east to Connecticut for her first job, teaching French at the high school in Norwalk. It was there she met pharmacist Scott Elliot. The two were married in 1967 and had two sons, Sean and Collin. Scott died due to complications of juvenile diabetes in 1969 leaving Janis a single mother 3,000 miles from home.

She tackled single motherhood with the same determination for which she would be known throughout her life. She met and married Peter Wotton when the two met working in the Religious Education program at the Westport Unitarian Church. The family moved to Waterbury where Peter was an administrator at the local hospital and Janis started working for the state of Connecticut’s social services department. While in Waterbury she completed her Masers in Social Work at the University of Connecticut.

On a trip home to Oregon in 1976 she decided it was time to move her family back to her home state and spent the next three years making that happen. In 1979 the familiy moved to Eugene, Oregon where Janis took a job working for the state Children’s Services Division.

Both in Eugene and back in Connecticut Janis was always reaching out to young women in need of love and support. She had countless unofficially adopted daughters over the years whom she helped get back on their feet, find their purpose and move into adulthood. Her sons benefited from the constant contact with older “sisters” who also provided frequent child care.

She complete her PhD form Oregon State University in 1996, completing a rare feat of being both an Oregon Duck and and Oregon State Beaver, though her athletic loyalties remained steadfast with the Ducks.

In 1987 she met the love her of life, Patti Pomerantz. The two were married at First Unitarian Church in Portland in 1995 and later renewed the union in a legal ceremony in Canada. Shortly after both Sean and Collin were out of high school in Eugene, Janis and Patti moved to Portland to be closer to Janis’ parents Edna and Owen Sabin.

Over the years she served her local church, district and continental Unitarian Universalist Association in many capacities, most recently as a member of the board of Meadville Lombard Theological School.

Janis will be remembered for her wisdom, warmth, hospitality, and for her passionate dedication to justice and a life of service. She is survived by her partner, The Reverend Patti Pomerantz, her brother Wayne(Shirley) and sister Phyllis(Allen) and their families, her children Sean (Melanie) and Collin (Mana), and grandchildren Patrick and Kaitlyn.

Her legacy will live-on through her children, her grandchildren and the countless young men and women who’s lives she influenced through her support, mentoring and care both in her professional life as a teacher and social worker as well as though her work with Young Religious Unitarian Universalist youth groups throughout the northwest and beyond.

A Celebration of life will be held on Sunday July 31, 2011 at 2:00pm, at the First Unitarian Church 1011 SW 12th Ave Portland, OR 97205

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Janis Elliot Fund for Children and Youth at risk. Donations may be made by contacting Cameron Archibald at the Unitarian Universalist Association at (617)948-4655.

Arrangements by Autumn Funerals, Cremation & Burial, Tigard, Oregon.

From the First Kiss Files

My assignment on Friday last week was the homecoming of the U.S. Navy attack submarine USS Pittsburgh. Having shot dozens of submarine homecomings over the years I was struck with the idea to go into the archive and look back at homecomings past.

this is, as best I can tell, the first homecoming I covered:

Baby, Meet Daddy! Lucrecia Mirano introduces her husband, Lt. David Mirano, left, to his 2-month old daughter Barbara at the homecoming for the USS Springfield (SSN 761) after four-months at sea Wednesday, December 4, 1996. Mirano's son Miguel, 4, in his arm.

Lt. Cmdr. Lynn Smith, Executive Officer aboard the USS Trepang, gets a welcoming kiss from his wife Dawn while daughters Sharisse, 8, and Tarin, 6, give their dad a hug Tuesday, November 25, 1997. The USS Trepang returned to the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton after a six month tour in the Mediterranean.

Sometimes the traditional first kiss, which is determined by a drawing, can have a twist:

FT3 Jeremy Ryerson drops to one knee and proposes to his girlfriend Melanie Tabor after his submarine, the USS Hartford, returned to port Thursday, August 24, 2000 in Groton. The Hartford returned from a six-month deployment.

Some first kisses were pretty intense:

Linda Preable kisses her husband, ETC Timothy Preable, as his sub, the USS Memphis, (SSN 691) returns home to Groton from a six-month deployment to the north atlantic Thurs. Dec. 14, 2000.

And some were just ... different:

Macy the dog jumps for joy as Lt. Commander Diego Hernandez and his wife Lisa embrace on the pier after the USS Toledo, SSN 769, returned home to Groton from a six-month deployment to the north atlantic Thurs. Dec. 14, 2000.

And then there was a short hiatus. After the September 11, 2001 attacks we couldn't get on base for over a year.

Couples, Daniel Purvis and Angela Dickau, left, and Michael Benavides and Allison Keck, reuninte on the pier after the USS Connecticut, SSN 22, a Seawolf class fast attack submarine, returned to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton Wed. Nov. 13, 2002 after a six-month deployment.

Many times I have been the only non-Navy photographer on the pier. But sometimes I have not been:

Nicole and Jordan Kahle share the ceremonial first kiss in the spotlight of a ring of TV cameras as the USS Seawolf returns to the Navy Submarine Base in Groton Thurs. Nov. 26. 2003 after a six month deployment.

When the USS Philadelphia returned in November of 2005 I caught this couple kissing amidst the crowds well after the ceremonial first kiss. I can't find their names anywhere now.

and I have the names for this one ...

Christa Wilson embraces her husband Jeffrey Wilson as the USS Philadelphia, SSN 690, returns to the U.S. Navy Submarine base in Groton Wed. Nov. 16, 2005 after a six-month deployment. The Philadelphia was damaged in a collision with a freighter in the Red Sea during the mission.

but it's the background that really has me wondering what I missed.

Sometimes it's much later, like headed back to the PAO's van for the ride off-base, when I spot the moment I'd been missing.

Newlyweds Petty Officer 2nd class Randy and his wife Tiffany embrace on the pier after the USS Toledo (SSN 769) returned to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., Mon.July 31, 2006 after a six-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the background is the USS Springfield, docked at a pier adjacent to the Toledo. The couple were wed just before the ship went to sea.

In addition to the traditional First Kiss, the homecoming includes a First Hug ... for a child and father ... and sometimes that can be the photo:

Kaylee Harmon, 3, runs to greet her father, Petty Officer second class Justin Harmon, with the traditional first hug as the USS Providence (SSN 719) returns to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton Fri. April.20, 2007 after a six-month deployment.

Matthew Williamson, 9, left, races to greet his father, petty officer first class Barry Williamson, as his submarine, the Virginia class fast-attack submarine USS New Hampshire (SSN 778), returns to Naval Submarine Base New London Wed. July 22, 2009 after her first operational deployment.

Which brings me back to last week ... one new baby and a pair of first kisses:

Machinists mate 1st class Zachary Shafer, left, is introduced to his daughter Jesse, for the first time, by his wife Michelle, right, on the pier as his sub, the USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) returns to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., Friday, October 15, 2010 following a six-month deployment. Jesse Shafer was born while her father was at sea.

Traditional first kiss recipients; Lt. Cmdr. Sean Stein and his wife Nina, left, and ET3 Loren Trover and his wife Andrea, right, greet each other on the pier upon the return of the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) to the U.S. Navy Submarine Base in Groton, Conn., Friday, October 15, 2010 following a six-month deployment.

A few more aerials

The USS Annapolis, SSN 760, cruises outbound in the Thames River.

A powerboat passes the out "breakwater" light at Saybrook Point.

The Sea Jet I high speed ferry crosses long Island Sound bound for Orient Point.

An unidentified equestrian center in Lisbon, Conn.

City Hall, downtown, Norwich, Conn.

Downtown Hartford, Conn.

A couple recent flights gave me a chance to do some aerial photography. One trip was to shoot air-to-air photos of an aerobatic act, on a hazy humid day that was not ideal for air-to-ground photography. The second was through the rather thick, but thankfully clean, window of my US Airways flight from DC to Providence.

Not sure I need to caption this image. If you don't recognize this structure do some research.

Clouds over Long Island, New York.

Take a look at the boat traffic on a Sunday along Long Island's south shore.

Gardiners Island off the east end of Long Island.

Downtown Warwick, RI.

Little League fields in Warwick, RI.

Enders Island of Stonington, CT.

Watch Hill, RI.

The Ocean House, Watch Hill, RI.

Sandy Point, Little Narragansett Bay, between Stonington, CT and Westerly, RI.

Stonington Point, Stonington Boro, CT.

Friday, June 18th, busy day at The Day. Three Norwich schools; Greeneville, Bishop at St. Joseph closed their doors for the last time, followed by covering two of six high school graduations in one evening.

My day started with the closings at Bishop, Greeneville and St. Joseph:

Bishop School principal Rebecca Pellerin embraces students as they board the buses to go home at the end of the last day of school.

Greeneville PTO president Dawn Hooper wipes a tear after being presented with an award during a farewell rally at the school.

Second grade teacher Sister Gabriela comforts one of her students, Alexis Stehle as the final school day draws to a close.

Second grader Ryan Jakubielski, 8, breaks-down in tears as he says goodbye to friends gathered Friday in the parking lot at St. Joseph School.

As soon as the school closings were filed it was off to New London for the first-ever off-campus and outdoor graduation for New London High School at the Coast Guard Academy. I had time for about an hour of coverage before I would have to race across the river to the graduation at Fitch High School in Groton.

New London High school seniors Alexis Melendez, left, and Dajanique Epps pose for Jasmine Brisson as the class gathers in Billard Hall before graduation.

New London High school seniors, from left, Kinde Queenan, Cherokeee Loftis, Amani Clinton and Letisha Lancaster duck outside Billard Hall for some cooler air before they march out to graduation.

After about an hour of coverage in New London I was off to Groton where the Fitch graduation had started at the same time. I had left the New London ceremonies as the class president was finishing her speech and arrived at Fitch just as keynote speaker, former Congressman Rob Simmons, was taking his seat.

Robert E. Fitch High school senior Rena Edwards points to principal Joseph Arcarese and says "I did it!" after accepting her diploma.

Graduate Greggory Taylor blows soap bubbles during the ceremony.

Robert E. Fitch High school graduate Michele Williams smells her rose given to her during graduation.

The class of 2010 recesses from the field.

In the end The Day published five of my photos in print, and a couple dozen in online galleries.

The View from On High

On Monday, April 12th U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Tyler Griffin returned home to Voluntown, CT for the last time. Griffin was killed April 1st in combat operations in Helmand province Afghanistan. The Voluntown fire department, with help from ladder trucks from Jewett City and Taftville, draped a giant Stars and Stripes across the route of the procession that would bring him through town.

Since The Day would have two photographers covering the procession, I decided to seek-out an alternate point of view and asked the Voluntown fire chief if he would alright if I asked the Taftville officer in command for access to the bucket of Tower 25 for the duration.

The wind carried the flag out over the procession right up until the moment the hearse reached the edge of the frame and at that moment the flag whipped up out of my composition requiring I quickly re-compose and shoot straight down as the hearse passed the firefighter honor guards flanking the roadway.