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.