Dot's Place

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/29/06
Dot Hewitt, 66 sits outside her food trailer with her niece Chastity Washington, 31 while they wait for the lunch rush to roll in on a Thursday afternoon. Dot's Place currently is on 13805 Orchid Lane, where her old restaurant used to be before the fire. For the past year she has been working out of a trailer selling food and collecting money for the new Dot's Place which has been determined to be in the Windemere Plaza in Pflugerville. She hopes that one day she will still be able to rebuild her old restaurant in its original place again.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/29/06
Dot Hewitt scoops on a large portion of meat loaf for a customer on a Thursday afternoon during lunch hour. Dot's Place currently is on 13805 Orchid Lane, where her old restaurant used to be before the fire. For the past year she has been working out of a trailer selling food and collecting money for the new Dot's Place which has been determined to be in the Windemere Plaza in Pflugerville. She hopes that one day she will still be able to rebuild her old restaurant in its original place again.

State Capital

Early morning

Didn't end up going in the air... wouldn't have been worth it anyhow cuz the doors were closed and the windows are super clear... had fun... lesson learned... on these types of images I can shoot faces and not necessarily have the names... thats why I ended up with lots of back of heads... oh well, next time!

06/27/06 Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Humvees secured the road for the helicopter landings of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade where they were on the field at Fort Hood running deployment training in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq.

06/27/06 Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN
The Troops of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade were on the field at Fort Hood running deployment training in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq.

06/27/06 Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN
The Troops of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade were on the field at Fort Hood running deployment training in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq.

06/27/06 Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Sgt. Clayton Heald of Alpha company, 5/112 BTN, 36 infantry DIV looks at a piece of paper during the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade deployment training at Fort Hood in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq. After searching a set up village at Fort Hood the troops returned with 3 hostages to the side of the road. The Troops of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade were on the field at Fort Hood running deployment training in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq.

06/27/06 Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Troops from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade transport a similated injured comrade to an awaiting helicopter on the field at Fort Hood. The brigade were running a deployment training in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq.

06/27/06 Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN
After searching a set up village at Fort Hood the troops returned with 3 hostages to the side of the road. The Troops of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade were on the field at Fort Hood running deployment training in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq.

06/27/06 Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Troops of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade were on the field at Fort Hood running deployment training in preparation of their September deployment to Iraq.


Francisco and I are trying on the helmets!

Anticipation

So this is the entry of my pre-shoot. Tomorrow... or rather in 5.5 hours meaning I should be sound asleep right now... I am riding with Francisco to Fort Hood to shoot the coast guard in their preparations for deployment to Iraq. Up at 3:30 am, driving by 3:45, hour drive, training starts at 5:30 am...

Two things... I volunteered for this early bird assignment and I'm terrified of heights! (its helicopter training one part of it...)

Wish me luck! :)

Magic Camp!

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/23/06
The Magic Camp for Children had their open house on Friday with a performance by Kent Cummins and afterwards the campers showed their parents what they had learned in the two weeks at camp at the Austin Waldorf School. Cummins with a friend started the summer camp in 1993 and has been holding summer sessions since then for kids ages 6-12-years-old. The school will have its last 2 week summer session on July 10th held at the Austin Waldorf School from 9-3.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/23/06
Nolan Foley, 12 a Counselor in Training peforms the juggling sticks at the Magic Camp for Children during their open house on Friday. It started with a performance by Kent Cummins and afterwards the campers showed their parents what they had learned in the two weeks at camp at the Austin Waldorf School. Cummins with a friend started the summer camp in 1993 and has been holding summer sessions since then for kids ages 6-12-years-old. The school will have its last 2 week summer session on July 10th held at the Austin Waldorf School from 9-3.

Kinky!

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/22/06
Kinky Friedman takes a drink of Jameson to celebrate the announcement that his name will be placed on the ballot. This is the longest list of governors on the state ballot since 1974 with five candidates. Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn are independent candidates are running against GOP Gov. Rick Perry, Democratic Chris Bell and Libertarian James Werner.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/22/06
Kinky Friedman stands next to a poster in his office after the announcement that his name will be placed on the ballot. This is the longest list of governors on the state ballot since 1974 with five candidates. Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn are independent candidates are running against GOP Gov. Rick Perry, Democratic Chris Bell and Libertarian James Werner.

:)

John Kelso has a column where he likes to make fun of the news... this shot was for the five employees that stripped down to their underwears and swarm in the rentention pond at the new Bushy Creek Water Treatment Plant. (They got fired btw)

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/21/06
Magna Sampaio owns Sampaio's on 4800 Burnet Road. The restaurant serves Brazilian cruisine.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/21/06
Paella Brasileira, which is saffron seasoned rice with mussels, sausages, jumbo shrimps, scallion, tomatoes, carrot and peas at Sampaio's on 4800 Burnet Road.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/21/06
Picanha Brelhada, which is grilled flat iron steak served on and order of friend yucca and vegetable at Sampaio's on 4800 Burnet Road.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/21/06
Camarão ao Molho de Cachaça with a Salada de Casa in the background at Sampaio's on 4800 Burnet Road.

Pictures!

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/20/06
Trooper Michael Black holds the door open for tourist at the State Capital. Black has been working at the Capital for 10 years and because of the weather rotates post, staying at each one for 45 minutes.

This one is my select, my editor picked the one below... which do you prefer?

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/20/06
Trooper Michael Black stands outside of the State Capital. Black has been working at the Capital for 10 years and because of the weather rotates post, staying at each one for 45 minutes.

Ricardo is the test subject of the day!


Puppy face?

Intern BBQ!

Don't cry Sarah, it's just onions!

Kellen, the fire starter! (Your white tag is killing me... I wanna photoshop it out or something! :] )

Sarah and Chamni cooking!

Wait if the girls are cooking... what are the guys doing?!

My first police call

What an experience... I end up in a part of town where, apparently the police is really strict and will pretty much toss you in jail... well my call was out there and pretty much thats the entrance to the field below.... a couple hundred yards to the left is where the shooting occured. I shoulda done a bit more reporting... then my captions wouldn't suck so much... I was more in a state of ahh I gotta get this pic! But the story is that this guy was being pulled over for a traffic violation but he never pulled over and eventually led them to a corn field after another attempt at pulling him over. Then he pulled out a gun and was shot by the sheriff's deputy. Thank you Rebecca and Kelly West for helping out of that maze of a place... eek scary!

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/16/06
Police and troopers tape off the entrance to a road that led to a chase and fatality that occurred during the evening in Williamson County.

Juneteenth bands

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/16/06
Mychal Gadison (cq),17 from the Austin All Star Band plays his Tuba on the Congress bridge. Bands from other states such as Louisiana and Mississippi also traveled to Austin to participate in the Juneteenth parade down Congress at 2 p.m.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/16/06
Willis Bowens, 16 of the Jackson Mississippi All Star Band plays the bass drum during the Juneteenth parade down Congress at 2 p.m. His band is joined by bands from Houston, Mississippi, Louisiana and other cities to make up nine bands that will compete later on in the day at the Alvin Patterson Juneteenth Battle of the Bands and Drumline Competition at Nelson Athletic stadium.

Front page!

Yay this lil guy made it to the front page :). it was a story on Austin reconsidering another look at the helmet law for bicyclists.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/15/06
"I don't wear a helmet and I don't want to," Avi Selks, 25 said Thursday while riding in downtown Austin. Under current law, he doesn't have to, and some cycling enthusiasts want to keep it that way.

More pictures please!

I initiated myself as an intern, they were saying in the office how all the interns seem to have car problems... I blew out my tire on the way home from the mall today! so now I'm driving on a donut! No new tire till Sat morn. One paper assignment and 3 others that randomly came up today.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/14/06
GRAMMY nominated Marcia Ball played a few songs for the kids of the Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area. The Hilton Harmony Tour made its stop in Austin as part its year-long eight-city U.S. tour which features a celebrity-signed “Harmony Piano.” For each of the signatures on the piano, Hilton is donating $1,000 to music education. This nationwide program is to inspire kids and to raise money for the GRAMMY Foundation.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/14/06
(left to right) Nate Newman, 8 of Galindo Elementary and Bryce Waites, 8 of Patton Elementary play with the piano during their visit to see Marcia Ball play the piano at the Hilton. The Hilton Harmony Tour made its stop in Austin as part its year-long eight-city U.S. tour which features a celebrity-signed “Harmony Piano.” For each of the signatures on the piano, Hilton is donating $1,000 to music education. This nationwide program is to inspire kids and to raise money for the GRAMMY Foundation.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/14/06
Marcia Ball performed for the 7-11 year olds of the Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area. The Hilton Harmony Tour made its stop in Austin as part its year-long eight-city U.S. tour which features a celebrity-signed “Harmony Piano.” For each of the signatures on the piano, Hilton is donating $1,000 to music education. This nationwide program is to inspire kids and to raise money for the GRAMMY Foundation.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/14/06
Abraham Vargas, 7 of Dawson Elementary receives a signature from GRAMMY nominated Marcia Ball after she performed some songs for The Boys and Girls Club of the Capital Area. The Hilton Harmony Tour made its stop in Austin as part its year-long eight-city U.S. tour which features a celebrity-signed “Harmony Piano.” For each of the signatures on the piano, Hilton is donating $1,000 to music education. This nationwide program is to inspire kids and to raise money for the GRAMMY Foundation.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/14/06
Edd Hendee, the Executive Director of CLOUT (Citizens Lowering Our Unfair Taxes) announced during a press conference that they will be filing a lawsuit against Texas which will require the state government to comply with existing spending limits in the Texas constitution.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/14/06
Albertson has announced that it will be closing some of its stores in Texas.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/14/06
Dr. Ed Racht is the medical director of Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Sunny

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/13/06
Katie Seiders, 2 enjoys the ride while her mother Ruthie Seiders, 30 pushes her along the newly developed Lou Neff Point. This pathway of Lou Neff point in the past years has been closed due to the condition of the pathway. The project, almost 2 years in the making started construction 8 weeks ago and is expected to be finished on Wednesday night.

Monday!

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/12/06
The farmer's market on Burnet road will likely be shut down in 2008. The land has been sold for development and the historical market has been beat out by the other larger markets that have opened up.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/12/06
Mary Lightsey owns a produce stand on at the farmer's market on Burnet road and has been there for 17 years. The market will likely be shut down in 2008. The land has been sold for development and the historical market has been beat out by the other larger markets that have opened up.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/12/06
The farmer's market on Burnet road will likely be shut down in 2008. The land has been sold for development and the historical market has been beat out by the other larger markets that have opened up.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/12/06
Thomas Terbay Jr. was a registered firefighter at Eagle Mountain Lake as well as an EMT and registered nurse in the area when he fell from a ladder at a fire and broke his back and tore cartilage in both knees and ankles. From the accident he contracted a virus in his spinal cord which left his legs useless for about a year. In the last 3 years he's been taking Tai Chi classes and when he first started he could only last 2 minutes but now he is training to be an instructor.

Gov. Rick Perry

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/11/06
(Left to right) Lt. John Keith Wells of the USMC converses with Governor Rick Perry and Assistant Attorney General Jay Kimbrough during a brunch at the Governors Mansion in recognition of the first flag raising at Iwo Jima.

Photo by AP photographer Harry Cabluck. This was a fun assignment! The governor is a really nice man! :) We were comparing cameras... yay canons! Oh and as I said good bye to the Gov, he told me that when I graduate I should come back to Texas because its too cold in Syracuse!

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/11/06
Daniela Rocha and her son Jerry Rocha converse with friends and family after a church mass in remembrance of Daniel Rocha at the Cristo Rey Catholic Church. This is the one year anniversary of Rocha's death on June 9th, 2005.

Thao Nguyen AMERICAN-STATESMAN 06/11/06
4-year-old Lizzie Jones, of South Austin came out to play with clay at the 15th birthday party of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum on Sunday. In addition to free admission and birthday cake with lemonade the Umlauf received a new logo designed by Michael Reese which is mounted in bronze at the entry wall.