Cherry Blossom Festival Draws Thousands To Wooster Square Park

This is a wonderful event, but this report has been "sanitized for your protection".

No mention was made of the protesters carrying a 6 foot banner around the park because there table was not permitted inside, while Pups without Partners were.

I have nothing against puppies, but I think humans without homes are equally deserving of a space and a forum.

And surely NHI readers would like to see the big black SWAT vehicle that was gleefully overrun by children who lovingly patted it and used the horn.

The real event was as surreal as the culture we fish swim in.

Yes, the music, food and people just having a good time in a beautiful park was worth reporting.

But more went on and was not deemed news worthy by someone.

Way more than 1,000 people there yesterday.

Shame on NHI cause you left the homeless out, the people who have to sleep in the park.

Our bought and paid for pols have done NOTHING to house the homeless. This is left to hapless and pathetic non-profits. Yale does nothing.

Mr. Iovanne got me started researching homelessness in NH when I met the man he woke up and threatened (with his pitbull) who was sleeping on a bench behind Conte magnet school. This prince of the neighborhood told me 2 years ago he doesn't want to see anyone sleeping outside. But he didn't mean it the way I do.

I got about 10 homeless friends from Sunrise Cafe (soup kitchen) to assist me. I sent a young man out to scout up any press coverage. Meanwhile I gave away books and beverages and raised a little money for Robert the homeless Marine (20 years of service) who I met when he slept in the park. He has lived rough for 5 years and refuses handouts but this year he's feeling ill. He's almost 50, always together and sober.

I pissed off some of my neighbors but we did the right thing alongside the many venders and groups. Malloy and Blumenthal didn't show. You can blame me. I did ask John D. for money since he too is a multi-millionaire like Rosa. He laughed.

@Dwightstreeter and @wendy1, I want to thank you for holding me accountable on this story. I made the decision not to include the protesters after I witnessed the group shouting over Tuxedo Junction as they played a free set to the community, and trying to disrupt Congresswoman DeLauro's remarks about her mother, who remains in my esteem and regardless of her daughter or Mr. Iovanne's career a woman worthy of kindness and respect. As a New Haven resident and an active volunteer in the community, I am acutely aware that homelessness does not ever take a day off and do not wish, now or in the future, to sanitize coverage of pressing social issues that we need to discuss and try to rectify. The NHI exists because Paul Bass wanted a forum for that, and I do too. Yesterday, I made a call based on time and place. I don't know if I would do the same thing again, but I have certainly been given reason to think more critically about it in the future.

On a personal note, I would caution that laying a hand, however lightly, on a physically disabled, 100-pound reporter and yelling in her face may not be the most efficient way to get the press' attention.

I didn't see the protesters disrupt the performances as claimed above however, I am appalled to hear that. So many people devote their FREE time and energy for a GOOD cause. I am a deep supporter of reform of policies that benefit our State's homeless at the State level, however, I think that our pioneering the cause missed the mark yesterday: if you protest everything and anything, even the good events with good, genuine volunteers that are some of the staunchest supporters of communitarian causes, then what will there be left?

Ms. Gellman has conflated Wendy's comments made in front of the band stand when Mr. Iovanne was speaking with Rosa DeLauro's later presence there with her mother.
I saw the protest group and Wendy to one side of the bandstand holding their 6' long banner when the tribute was made to Cong. DeLauro's mother.
At NO time did Wendy or any of her group speak out or make any attempt to interfere with the program. They stood in silent witness, a long Quaker tradition. Wendy and her supporters were no where near the front of the bandstand and it did not happen as Ms. Gellman alleges.
This needs to be cleared up and I hope Wendy and Ms. Gellman will speak to each other.

The only people I touched were my friends and I hugged them. I had a park full of witnesses not to mention a couple dozen cops including 2 swat, one of whom could have wrestled Arnold S. to the ground.

Yes, I yelled because the police who I respect told me my sound system would get me arrested. I am not violent either. I yelled and exhibited a banner while Iovanne WITH a sound system announced a band. Also I wouldn't know Ms. DeLauro's mom if I fell over her. What I heard is that Rosa D. has 24 million and I read in the TIMES or the Yale Daily News that she is one of the 50 richest congresspeople (out of 435 of them). Maybe it was New York Magazine...I don't remember. The rich around here don't do much for homeless...you're lucky if you find a bench without a bar in the middle to prevent napping. Nothing changes in NH. The wealth gap widens. No one sticks their neck out maybe because they're afraid Lucy will be reporting. And by the way, the press never gets it right.

By the way I admire what Rosa's family did for social justice, labor rights, and the neighborhood and I stopped complaining when They built a monument to themselves in a corner of the public park (without asking the neighbors). What gets me is people with more $$ than God who talk a good game. I miss Bella Abzug and Ramsey Clark and Malcolm X.

posted by: wendy1 on April 27, 2015 1:54pm


I miss Bella Abzug and Ramsey Clark and Malcolm X.

Now they were leaders.Now all you have are sell out Judas Goats Leaders who are in the pocket of the Plutocrats.

That's right, we can't have a neighborhood gathering in the park without Wendy and her team trying to disrupt festivities. Perhaps she didn't get approval because she showed up with a bullhorn last year to shout down people.

Wendy, your tactics do more harm than good. People are sick of your need for attention all the time.

Yes Theodora last year I had a bullhorn, briefly, when I tried to ask Senator Blumenthal if he could share some of his 86 million with our poor city. If you gave a damn about social justice, you'd be out there too. I suspect you're another selfish boomer.

While previous posts about this haven't passed muster with the NHI censors, let me say this:

Some of us have longer memories. Ms. Gellman, and do NOT hold the honoree in such high esteem.
It's there for those that care to find out why.
(Maybe this makes it in....)

While I too have a long memory, and have never missed an opportunity to vote for any opponent of Rosa, her mother Luisa was an outstanding Alderman, and a really nice lady.

The Westville Man's really vague fact-less insult to Mrs. DeLauro would have been better if omitted again by Editors.

Walt, it's certainly not factless. if NHI will allow- do some research on why she left her job. That'a as vanilla i can be. Some of us dont forget or forgive that easily. And I for one wont honor that!

PS the facts were published in the Hartford Courant and NH Register.