The City of Amsterdam’s Buddhist population celebrated Buddha’s Birthday on May 11th. Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi blessed the attendees as they bathed the Buddha signifying the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. The celebration took place in Freedom Square just opposite the Five World Buddha Temple.
Saratoga Arts sponsored a multicultural holiday event at the Grove at Saratoga on Sunday December 2nd. The event featured music, dance and a poetry reading celebrating the holiday season. The event was organized by Bobby Carlton and many local artists participated. It was a very enjoyable evening.
It was a beautiful day for a marathon! On Sunday, November 4, 2018 the largest marathon in the world with a distance of 26.219 miles, was held in NYC. Established in 1970 with the course running through all five boroughs of New York, the marathon’s many categories allow anyone to take part. We arrived about 9am and watched from the 18 mile marker (East 96th Street).
This year’s time did not break the course record of 02:05:05 set in 2011 but came close. In the top spot for the Pro Men was Lelisa Desisa /ETH with a time of 02:05:59, followed by Shura Kitata /ETH 02:06:01, Geoffrey Kamworor /KEN 02:06:26, Tamirat Tola ETH 02:08:30 and Daniel Wanjiru/ KEN 02:10:21.
In the Pro Women’s category the course record is 02:22:31 set in 2003. Mary Keitany /KEN came very close with a time of 02:22:48, followed by Vivian Cheruiyot /KEN 02:26:02, Shalane Flanagan /USA 02:26:22, Molly Huddle /USA 02:26:44 and Rahma Tusa /ETH 02:27:13.
It was my first time at the marathon and I was very pleased to photograph the fastest men and women in the world!
The Amsterdam Lions Club sponsored an International Food Festival at Riverlink Park today. Vendors from Amsterdam’s different ethnic groups served food representing their home countries. Of course I am partial to the delicious Spring Rolls handmade by our hard working Chinese community. NYS Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara also enjoyed them. Please try some at Parkfest tomorrow. The food was great, the waterski team from Scotia were also practicing in the Mohawk River at the park. Unfortunately I only caught the tail end of their practice.
I am a freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer. I retired in 2002 from my job as NYS Correction Lieutenant. I am a single gay man, a Veteran of the US Army who owns his own home in the city of Amsterdam, New York. I do volunteer work for a few not for profit agencies and belong to both the Schenectady Photographic Society and the Amsterdam Photography Club.
