Upper "Wildlife" Park

I love when I get a little free time to roam. Probably my most favorite spot to room is through Upper Bidwell Park. I especially love to roam in the spring time when the wildflowers are in full bloom. I headed up to Horseshoe Lake and came across a family with their dog. They were sitting in a bed of wildflowers. I laid down flat on the ground to get close to the wildflowers for the shot. Yeah, I know, what a hard job I have. I have to lay down and relax... er, work hard, to get photos everyday. 

Tami Woodbeck (left) and Dain Thomas, 9 (right), with their black lab dog Jada find a nice place to sit amongst the wildflowers along Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

While exploring the area I also managed to spot a hawk who just scooped up a meal for himself. I heard a screech behind me and turned around pointing the camera in the air. I managed to snap a quick shot as the hawk flew past. 

A hawk snags a meal near Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Yep, not a bad day at all...

Double Team

I shot the Red Bluff and Chico high school baseball game on Friday. The game went very quick. Because our company also owns the local papers in both Chico and Red Bluff, I needed to get a shot of each team. I couldn't just focus on "my" team. Here are two sets of shots that portray both teams. The first set is a play with both teams in the shot. The second set is a single player from each team. With this whole collection, any number of stories can be written from the photos I took.

Chico High's #9 Tyler Clark (right) slides in safely at home plate to score behind Red Bluff High's #13 Austin Brownfield (left) in the bottom of the second inning during their baseball game at Skip McDonald field on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #1 Pac Moxon (left) applies the tag against Red Bluff High's #17 Maison Etzler (right) who slid late into second base in the top of the fourth inning during their baseball game at Skip McDonald field on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #7 Gavin Marasti (not seen) is thrown out at first base against Red Bluff High's #9 Ej Stanton in the bottom of the fourth inning during their baseball game at Skip McDonald field on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico High's #9 Tyler Clark fields the ball to first base for the force out against Red Bluff High's #10 Cody Gappa (not seen) in the top of the third inning during their baseball game at Skip McDonald field on Friday, April 16, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Tres Hombres Begins Rebuild

Most people think of it as the Tres Hombres Fire, when in actuality, the fire caused more damage to Mr. Pickle, which resides next door. About $675,000 in damage was caused to Mr. Pickle, while about $300,000 in damage was cause to the mexican restaurant, Tres Hombres. The fire devastated the community after starting in the early morning hours. 

     Since then, the community has shown much support to the corner eatery, even with the City Council giving a go ahead for an expansion. I had the opportunity to to visit the construction site to take images of what has progressed. I saw a neat feature of the cleansing process that involved using dry ice blasting to clean the ash and smell of smoke. Workers from Cleanrite have been spending days cleaning the ceiling beams of the smoke damage from the fire. It is always a neat process to see how things are done behind the boarded windows.

Billson Construction worker Randy Corriea hammers in supports on the roof Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Chico, Calif, of what used to be Mr. Pickle after it was destoyed in a fire earlier in the year alongside Tres Hombres restaurant. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cleanrite worker Fred Hoag gathers the dry ice to be used for blasting the ceiling beams inside Tres Hombres to get rid of the smoke smell and ash buildup Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Chico, Calif, after it was destoyed in a fire earlier in the year alongside Mr. Pickle restaurant. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cleanrite worker Justin Natieal applies a dry ice blasting to the ceiling beams inside Tres Hombres to get rid of the smoke smell and ash buildup Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Chico, Calif, after it was destoyed in a fire earlier in the year alongside Mr. Pickle restaurant. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Cleanrite workers Tim O'Shea (left) and Fred Hoag (right) apply a dry ice blasting to the ceiling beams inside Tres Hombres to get rid of the smoke smell and ash buildup Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Chico, Calif, after it was destoyed in a fire earlier in the year alongside Mr. Pickle restaurant. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Billson Construction worker Mike Norton saws supports for the roof Tuesday, April 13, 2010 in Chico, Calif, of what used to be Mr. Pickle after it was destoyed in a fire earlier in the year alongside Tres Hombres restaurant. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

I was told the work would be done sometime during the summer with hopes to open up late August. It would be a nice comeback for the community to see the restaurant opens its doors with some summer events still around. Tres Hombres was always a hot spot to go downtown and enjoy some chips and salsa. Oh yeah, and Mr. Pickles sandwiches too.

Keeping Track of Stars at Track Meet

     I photographed the Chico State Twilight Invitational Track meet this Saturday. Track is generally an exciting sport that is also very challenging. Most of the competitors don't have numbers they wear to identify themselves with a roster. I have to be quick to keep track of who I take pictures of and their accomplishments. I was able to snap a couple shots off real quick. I would have liked to devote more time to the event, but am unable to give it that time commitment due to earlier assignments. I keep my eyes out for some excitement. 

Chico State's Michelle Burley (left) races against Humboldt State's Olivia Juarez (right) in the women's 400m race during their track meet at the CSUC University Stadium Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's Nick Lonnegren (left) takes the anchor from Matt Sloggy (right) in the men's 4x100m relay in their track meet at the CSUC University Stadium Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's Ryan Bertucci clears the high jump in their track meet at the CSUC University Stadium Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's Shannon Jordan (left) and Nichole Brieno (right) race in the women's hurdles during their track meet at the CSUC University Stadium Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Chico State's Aimee Rodgers (center) races against Southern Oregon Chenin Young (left) and Oregon Tech's Nikki Smith (right) in the women's hurdles during their track meet at the CSUC University Stadium Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

     While looking around the track for some events I noticed one of the officials. It was Emily Azevedo, who was a Chico High grad, that went on to compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter games in the bobsled. She was at the track meet helping out with officiating. Since her rise to Olympic fame, she has become a local hero in Chico. The track event was a small event that allowed me to have a casual conversation with Azevedo. She was a very sweet and humble person. It will be exciting to see her career take off as she continues to compete. I was not planning on seeing her at the track meet. 

Winter Olympic bobsledder Emily Azevedo keeps an eye on the men's 1500m race as she was seen helping out with the starts at the Chico State track meet at the CSUC University Stadium Saturday, April 10, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

     It allowed me to capture a couple frames that we will probably be using for a future feature. It goes to show that you must always keep your eyes open. I came to the track meet to photograph the sport, but ended up finding another story while there. 

California Poppies Pop Up

Spring is here and the sun is shining. Poppies are opening up in fields all around Chico. They are so vibrant and go well with a deep, blue sky. I never really look through the camera when taking pictures of the poppies. I can't even get that low. I place the camera on the ground and point it to look up. It is a great viewpoint of the flower. They stand tall towering high in the sky, even though they are only about 6 inches up. I always enjoy taking pictures of them.

A bug's shadow is seen crawling up one of the California poppies that pop up from the sunlight in an open field behind the Chico Mall parking lot Tuesday, April 6, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/staff photo)

Two Sides to Every Story... Happy Easter!

This Saturday I was able to photograph two sides to the Easter Story. On one side was the commercial appeal of Easter eggs and bunny ears, on the other the religious values. I started in the morning taking pictures of many kids racing around to get a bright plastic egg. Later in the day I headed to the Jesus Center for a Easter lunch meal for the homeless. Both are aspects of the Easter holiday, but are very different in nature. Which side do you celebrate? Happy Easter!

Cody Wallace, 5, searches out the best eggs during the CARD Spring Jamboree Easter Egg Hunt at the CARD Center Saturday, April 3, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Corey Ward (top left) and Rich Hartman (top right) mingle with Maria Jaime, Brian Jaime, 3, Julian Chavez, 3, Gerardo Chavez, 9, Andrew Jaime, 8, Rosalina Jaime, and Patricia Silva (clockwise from bottom left) who enjoy a warm meal during the Jesus Center Easter Lunch for the homeless Saturday, April 3, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Thursday Night Market Is Back!

The Thursday Night Market is back for another season in Downtown Chico. I love the market. There is such a great variety of things to see. The opening night had vibrant colors all around. It was great to see every one out even with the threat of rain. For those who love to people watch, the market offers an endless supply. It truly is a gem to have in the community. I remember as a kid coming down and getting lost in the crowd. For those who were here in college, I am sure you remember it too. Hope you enjoy the shots. Do they bring back any memories for you?

Bee Chang (left) hands Alese Cooper, 22 (right) a group of vibrant colored flowers she purchased as patrons walk the streets for the first Thursday Night Market of the season along Broadway in Downtown Chico on Thursday, April 1, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Silvia Manriquez browses throught some candles on display at Cyndi Duensing's Cynsational Candle Creations booth as vibrant colors filled the streets for the first Thursday Night Market of the season along Broadway in Downtown Chico on Thursday, April 1, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Thao Family Farms, Xee Thao (left) and Lee H. Thao (right) await the patrons that filled the streets for the first Thursday Night Market of the season along Broadway in Downtown Chico on Thursday, April 1, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Rosie Greene, 9, picks up some strawberries from RM Farms as vibrant colors filled the streets for the first Thursday Night Market of the season along Broadway in Downtown Chico on Thursday, April 1, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)