Lately, I’ve been given more newsroom responsibilities but I still enjoy getting out and about with my camera for the Valley News. Here are a few of my favorites over the past few months.

Alice Craft, of Vershire, Vt., rehearses her part in “St. George and the Dragon” at Coburn Park in Lebanon, N.H. It is a performance before “Lighted Candles in the Winter Trees,” a collaboration between Revels North and No Strings Marionette Company.

Leena DeFoe, 13 months, reacts to being spun in the water by her mother Amanda Socha, of Canaan, N.H., during a Parent and Me swim lesson at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction, Vt. Socha has been enjoying lessons at the pool. “This has been awesome for us,” she said.

Regulators pitcher Todd Tewksbury flies out in a game against the Misfits in a Men’s Mountain League slowpitch softball game at the Tunbridge Rec Field in Tunbridge, Vt.

Actor Noor Taher, of Hanover, N.H., speaks about his love of the Tickle Me Elmo gift he received at a birthday party during the rehearsal of “The Elmae,” part of the six-act satire “Loose Canon” performed at ArtisTree’s Grange Theater in Pomfret, Vt. The comedies satirize American consumerism in the style of canonical playwrights.

White River Valley’s Brayden Russ bicycle kicks a shot on goal that sails over Rivendell defender Jameson Gilbert but is caught by keeper Carter Bacon in the second half of their playoff game in Orford, N.H. Russ briefly left the game after landing on his back and getting the wind knocked out of himself.

Stickers on the gym floor at the Hanover Senior Center in Hanover, N.H., encourage social distancing, including for a line dancing class where all participants are masked as well.

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May not be reprinted without permission

As vaccination numbers increase and COVID-19 restrictions ease, following and covering baseball is more enjoyable without my glasses fogging up due to the mask. Here are a few of my Valley News favorites from the spring and summer:

Lebanon Post 22’s Zack Howland hits an RBI double off Keene Post 4 pitcher Aaron Kent as Jaden Phillips catches during the fourth inning of their game in Lebanon, N.H.

Mascoma’s Cayden Marquay reacts to a called strikeout during their game against Lebanon.

Hanover pitcher Wes Stocken and catcher John Hill talk on their way back to the dugout after a successful inning against Stevens in Norwich, Vt.

From left, Lebanon Post 22’s Casey Graham, Wes Stocken, Ian Hedgepeth and Harper Flint play a game of Flip during a 30-minute weather delay.

First baseman William Sullivan, of Troy University, takes batting practice during the Nighthawks’ opening practice in White River Junction, Vt. The New England Collegiate Baseball League canceled their 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nighthawks catcher Parker Haskin warms up before their game against Sanford in White River Junction. Haskin, who is a student at Elon University, is one of 20 players from his college team playing in summer leagues this year.

A spectator ducks as Upper Valley’s Gehrig Anglin pursues a foul fly ball along the third baseline in the first game of their doubleheader in White River Junction.

Upper Valley pitcher Alex Theis fields the ball he overthrew from catcher Raphael Pelletier (not shown) to tag out North Adams’ Brandon Hylton in the fourth inning to preserve their lead in the first game of their doubleheader.

Upper Valley first baseman William Sullivan fields a throw from pitcher Alex Theis (not pictured) on a slow grounder from Sanford’s Pierce Gallo (4) in the third inning of their game in White River Junction. Home plate umpire Connor Hoagland, right, calls the ball fair.

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May not be reprinted without permission

As longer and warmer days turn melt winter’s cold away, I’m feeling hopeful as Vermont’s COVID case counts decline and vaccinations rise. Here’s a look at a few of the photos I did for the Valley News in a winter like no other:

A painting of a student studying indoors is on display in the closed Hopkins Center entryway at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. According to the college’s COVID-19 dashboard, on March 1 there were 122 active cases amongst students, with 120 in isolation.

Elaine Perrault, 83, of Claremont, N.H., takes a cigarette break outside the Earl M. Bourdon Centre where Perrault has lived for the past eight years. Perrault tested negative for COVID-19 and is due to be tested again. In early January, 21 residents and 5 staff have the virus. Residents have been told by intercom to stay in their apartments and communal activities have been canceled. “It’s eery,” Perrault said of the empty halls. “I want to see these people back to smiling,” she said later.

Hunter Leveille waves to a fellow home energy delivery driver while passing each other on Route 14 in West Hartford, Vt., in February. Leveille, who delivers propane for Simple Energy, waved to the over half-dozen trucks delivering propane and heating oil that he passed on the road during his morning route.

While talking on the phone, Lebanon City Council candidate Al Patterson, right, elbow bumps with Bruce Johnstone, of Lebanon, N.H., while standing outside the Ward 1 polls at Kilton Public Library in West Lebanon. Standing with Patterson are Lebanon School Board candidate Barbara Patterson, who is also Al Patterson’s wife, and supporter and volunteer Ramzi Hraibi, of West Lebanon.

Clara Oren, 5, practices violin with her father and brother at their home in West Lebanon. Clara has been taking two lessons a week remotely – one a one-on-one lesson and the other in a group – with the Upper Valley Music Center for about a year.

Hanover High School senior Allison Whitmore places a plate of tea and cookies onto the miniature stage being filmed as part of Finegan Kruckemeyer’s play “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” at Hanover High School in Hanover, N.H. Whitmore is also an actor in the play, as well as sharing the duties of mini-stage operator with senior Johan Berendsen, in background, and others. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Footlighters theater group is producing the play to be seen online for their winter production. The school’s fall and spring performances have been and will be outdoors.

As cardboard cutouts take the place of spectators during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mascoma’s Connor Thompson saves the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of their game against Lebanon in West Canaan, N.H.

Lebanon junior varsity Head Coach K.J. Matte acknowledges the referee’s 10-second backcourt violation call against Mascoma during their game in Lebanon. Matte, who is a senior at Bowdoin College, is leading the Lebanon squad while his college basketball team takes the season off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lebanon-Stevens-MRA’s Griffin Auch, in the foreground, reacts as Berlin-Gorham celebrates tying up their semifinal playoff at 3-3 in the third period in Concord, N.H. After trailing 3-0 at the beginning of the third period, Berlin-Gorham won, 5-3.

Windsor’s John Cook III looks for a teammate to pass to as Thetford’s Nick Gray defends during their playoff game in Windsor, Vt.

Lebanon’s Clara Smyrski, left, and Sally Rainey tie up Hanover’s Caroline Adams for a jump ball in the first half of their game in Lebanon.

Oxbow’s Ellyn Hart hugs teammate Emma Parkin (20) as their season draws to a close in their 62-30 semifinal loss to Lake Region in Orleans, Vt.

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May not be reprinted without permission