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Movers, Shakers Eat Cake

by Staff | Sep 16, 2010 11:22 am

(15) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author

Posted to: Media/ Books

Jodie Mozdzer Photo New Haven’s leading typo-catchers, article-commenters, activists, politicians, media mavens, and arts entrepreneurs swarmed into the Elm Street offices of the New Haven Indepenent and La Voz Hispana to toast a new era of online not-for-profit community journalism. Thomas MacMillan Photos

Some 150 people joined the toast to the Independent’s fifth anniversary and to the idea that, in the Internet age, news can be returned to the hands of local communities, away from distant corporate monopolies.

Norma Rodriguez-Reyes, publisher of La Voz Hispana and chairwoman of the Online Journalism Project (which publishes the Independent), hosted the party and led the toast.

Independent reporter Allan Appel served as bartender (and provided the red wine).

Mainstays of the Independent online community showed up in the flesh. Cedar Hill Resident (at left in photo, wearing a “CHR” nametag) conspired with tax watchdog Jeffrey Kerekes and Devil’s Gear proprietor and cycling advocate Matt Feiner.

Gregory “Krikko” Obbott, whose trademark pencil murals are fixtures at Grand Central and Union Stations, took a break from final preparations to open his new museum in the Hill. He mingled among other local arts organizers who make happenings happen, such as Katro Storm and Artspace’s Helen Kauder.

Politicians among them included State Reps. Pat Dillon (pictured) and Gary Holder-Winfield ...

... Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon (pictured being greeted by Wilbur Cross High School senior Sarah Bass, who baked the cake pictured at the story’s top) ...

... Mayor John DeStefano and Aldermen Roland Lemar, Michael Smart (at center in above photo with Westville activist Tim Holahan and reporter Michelle Turner), Justin Elicker, Carl Goldfield, Maureen Sullivan, Alex Rhodeen, Darnell Goldson, and Greg Dildine.

The press was out in force. Some were working, like Editor Eugene Driscoll (pictured) of the Independent’s sister Valley Independent Sentinel edition ...

... Media Nation‘s Dan Kennedy (shown interviewing conservative talk show personality and Tea Party organizer Tom Scott) ...

... and Amanda Aponte and Shayla Ford of Co-op High School’s student paper. They grilled the Independent about whether the site’s crime log makes people feel more—or less—safe in the community.

Other friends from WTNH and the New Haven Advocate (such as Betsy Yagla, pictured)—and, within the Independent/online Journalism Project, Branford Eagle Marcia Chambers and CT News Junkie/ Independent state Capitol correspondent Christine Stuart—simply took a break from their beats to have a good time.

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posted by: Tim Holahan on September 16, 2010  12:35pm

What an event! Congratulations to the hard-working folks at the Independent on five great years. (I had to leave early for bedtime-story duty with my three-year-old daughter. She was disappointed I hadn’t taken her.)

Folks, please sign up for the (relatively) painless monthly credit card/Pay-Pal deduction to enable the NHI to continue providing its excellent coverage and a permanent public forum for conversation about the present, past, and future of our great city.

There are few resources as critical to the progress of New Haven.

posted by: georgia kral on September 16, 2010  1:28pm

Congrats to all! Wish I could have been there!

All my best.

posted by: Cedarhillresident on September 16, 2010  3:38pm

It was a great gathering guys! Congrate’s and thank you for all you do for this city!
REAL REPORTER! Real News! Local issues that shape the nation! And you are the leaders in that!

ugggggggg but the story I want is who is robn! :) you guys are like vaults!

posted by: Paul Wessel on September 16, 2010  4:57pm

Sorry I couldn’t make it.  Hope my monthly automatic Paypal $10 per month voluntary subscription makes up for my absence.

posted by: Edison on September 16, 2010  5:24pm

Happy 5th NHI.

Sorry I could not make it but I had a backlog of work and had to get it done. I’ll be there next year though.

All the best,

Edison

posted by: Truth Avenger on September 16, 2010  5:59pm

The Spanish Rice was bangin’....  Congratulations on 5 years of great reporting..Can you guys post an address(“attention to:”) for those that want to pay subscriptions in a lump sum rather than credit card installments… Thanks..

[Editor’s Note: Send a check made out to “Online Journalism Project,” to PO BOX 3288, Westville Station, New Haven CT 06515. Thanks! It’s tax-deductible.]

posted by: Thomas on September 16, 2010  6:21pm

What a BIG TENT event. Shows why The Advocate has become the MSNBC of local media. Great job guys and keep “Pioneering” local news.

posted by: juli on September 16, 2010  8:23pm

i wish i could’ve made it.

happy birthday NHI! thanks for all the hard work. new haven is better for it.

posted by: Yair on September 16, 2010  9:30pm

Mazal tov!  But why no pictures of Paul??

posted by: Jeffery on September 16, 2010  11:30pm

Sorry…...
This looks more like a self-served listing.  Truthfully,  “who cares” as opposed to “who’s who”.
The NHI , without doubt, is an tremendous asset to the community.
It it’s “community” with the chosen that always takes the reporting down a notch or two.
A photo of our “budget watchdog” ??
Looks a LOT more like a photo op for the “inner circle”  ( where’s “streeber”?) than a celebratory pat on the back.
Good job, though, Paul.
Dial it back on the cronyism and you’ll have it perfected like you did back in the ‘80’s !!!

posted by: jen on September 17, 2010  12:44am

Congrats.  I’ve been reading NHI for 5 years and continue to read it from California to get a little East Rock flavor back in my life…Keep up the good work!

posted by: Tim Holahan on September 17, 2010  11:40am

On the off-chance that anyone’s misled by a recent post, the “in-crowd” was whoever chose to respond to the public invitation posted on the site, Facebook, etc. Here’s the link, for the record:

http://newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/we_turned_5_—_were_aiming_for_10/

Like most in-crowds worth belonging to, this one was defined by showing up.

As far as I can see, Paul and company work hard to be open, inclusive, and non-judgmental in everything they do, be it journalism or anniversary parties.

On that note, I was impressed that Linda McMahon showed up (without handlers, as far as I could tell) and hung out even after Paul’s remarks about corporate control of journalism. Still ain’t votin’ for her, but I was impressed.

posted by: Cedarhillresident on September 17, 2010  12:58pm

Agree with Tim they had it posted all over FB. I went to see if I could meet people I never have in person… put faces to names…and to congrate’s a great group of reporters…. who deserve a ticker take parade from some of the work they have done in this city!

and tim I to was in total shock when Linda walked in….a chicken in a fox den. Not voting for he as well ya see her last flyer?

posted by: robn on September 19, 2010  1:56pm

Its just like an elitist newspaper to invite everybody to the party…wait a minute…everybody?..never mind.

posted by: Tom Burns on September 21, 2010  11:32pm

Congratulations—-you do a great service to our community and have written articles that have actually helped to change things for the better—people are reading and listening and your articles help to start the conversations—keep doing what you are doing—-respectfully, Tom

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