Lady Indians fall in NYS semifinals

Keshequa’s girls soccer were among the best sports teams I covered in New York state. For two straight years, I followed them to the state playoffs and watched an undefeated team fall in the state bracket rounds. Both years, I was the lone reporter and photographer from my media organization. This content was picked up in the weekly newspaper I managed and two affiliated daily papers.

Coach Pete Goho consoles emotional captain and senior Gabby DiAngelo after the team's only loss of the season ended Keshequa's hopes of a state title. In a 3-2 semifinal loss against Friends Academy, the Indians allowed as many goals as they did in the previous 21 games.
Coach Pete Goho consoles emotional captain and senior Gabby DiAngelo after the team’s only loss of the season ended Keshequa’s hopes of a state title. In a 3-2 semifinal loss against Friends Academy, the Indians allowed as many goals as they did in the previous
21 games.
By Les Bowen for Genesee Country Express   |   Nov. 23, 2011   |   Original source

Keshequa girls soccer’s 21-game, season-long, winning streak came to an end in Saturday morning’s Class C state semifinals at SUNY Cortland as Friends Academy advanced with a 3-2 win.

Both Keshequa goals came in the first half, with captain and senior Gabrielle DiAngelo first finding the net in the sixth minute. Nine minutes later, the Quakers’ Heather Maierle tied it up. With seven minutes left in the first half, Keshequa found themselves down by one for the first time all season when Alexis Toles scored on an assist from Maierle. But the Indians reacted quickly and tied it up 2-2 three minutes before intermission with a goal by sophomore Haley Russell. Continue reading Lady Indians fall in NYS semifinals

Sports opinion: Sportsmanship is not just for players

Sports columns aren’t my forte as the lede explains. But as I covered a football game the weekend prior to writing this, I observed some blatantly unsportsmanlike conduct by the home team’s coach. Though I didn’t intend the outcome, this column sparked interest from the school’s superintendent and disciplinary action against the coach.

By Les Bowen for Genesee Country Express   |   Sept. 8, 2011   |   Original source

I am not one to generally comment on sports. I admit, I am not the biggest of a sports fan. I don’t religiously watch college or professional sports and if you asked me whether the Bills have a shot against the Chiefs this weekend, I couldn’t tell you. In fact, I had to look up the schedule just to write that sentence and I had no idea until looking that this is the first week of regular season.

However, I do enjoy the part of my job that gives me a sideline pass to high school sports and I’m actually disappointed that none of the three teams we cover at the Express have a home game of football Friday night. Continue reading Sports opinion: Sportsmanship is not just for players

Recreation program brings Nunda kids together

Features are a key element for small weeklies. Here, I covered a routine summer recreation program.

Taylor Martin puts a spin on the ball in foursquare, eliminating Tessa Gardinier from play. Also pictured are Payton Powers (right) and Ashley Gillen (left).
Taylor Martin puts a spin on the ball in foursquare, eliminating Tessa Gardinier from play. Also pictured are Payton Powers (right) and Ashley Gillen (left).
By Les Bowen for Genesee Country Express   |   July 28, 2011   |   Original source

Each weekday morning this summer, as many as 125 school-age children meet at Nunda’s Kiwanis Park. For three hours, they enjoy a range of crafts, organized sports and games.

The published schedule, available at Nunda town and village offices, lists each day’s organized activity. On Monday, when the Express stopped by the pavilion at Kiwanis Park, more than a dozen participants were creating caterpillars and other bugs using cut up egg cartons and chenille stems — commonly referred to as pipe cleaners. Continue reading Recreation program brings Nunda kids together

Rockets’ red glare

I’ve shot hundreds of fireworks. This image is one of my favorite and demonstrates my ability to use a camera’s advanced settings to capture the shot I intend.

DNV_201100707-092
Dansville area residents commemorated 235 years of American independence by gathering two days early at Brae Burn golf course Saturday night. The fireworks ushered in a weekend of patriotic celebrations and recreation throughout the area.

 

Weekly paper changes state policy

Few stories excite me more than document-driven stories stemming from public records requests. Combine that with an angle of advocacy journalism favoring transparency in government and it’s even better. One such instance happened in the spring of 2011, when I exposed and successfully saw the change of a policy in the New York State Comptroller’s Office that forced local governments to violate state law. It took almost three months and close to 3,000 words in print, but transparency prevailed.

This series of stories contains several articles, each on its own page on this site. Please use the navigation controls below.