Best of the East is a monthly gallery that features some of the top photojournalism made by AP staff photographers and freelancers based in AP's 10-state U.S. East region.  

This month’s selection begins with an unusual sight at a place we routinely cover — the New York Stock Exchange.  Traders on the floor are seen concentrating on the business of the day,  their foreheads marked with crosses on Ash Wednesday.

In Boston, people struggled as they walked in blowing snow conditions during wild March weather.

Other seasonal coverage included New York’s St. Patrick Day’s Parade and March Madness at the Patriot League’s women’s finals in Pennsylvania.

President Donald Trump spoke in neighboring Kentucky, a South Region state we help cover.

“Fearless Girl” made herself known on Wall Street.  An inscription at the base of the statue reads, “Know the power of women in leadership. She makes a difference.”

In New York the mother of Kayla Cuevas, 16, wept as she reacted to the capture of her girl’s suspected killers.

In sports, basketball shot with a remote and at floor level in Philadelphia and Boston were standouts.

Finally, the frosting of late winter cold  n western Pennsylvania and the majesty of ferries, industry and the Statue of Liberty at sunset round out our March 2017 selects.

This gallery was curated by Jacqueline Larma, Regional Photo Editor/East for the Associated Press.

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