Every so often we like to gather the Village14 readers, commenters, contributors, trolls, and spammers together in the real world to meet face-to-face. Thanks to Covid we’re long overdue for one of these gatherings.
You’re invited to join us on Saturday, June 19, at 3 PM at Dunn Gaherins outdoor patio for the next Village14 party. We’ll have two special guests of honor that day.
Gail Spector – We’ll be saying goodbye to our old friend Gail Spector who has been a Village14 contributor for many years. Gail & Dan have just sold their Newton home and are moving to Dennis full time. Gail will be sorely missed in Newton. Aside from her contributions to Village14 Gail has been the editor of the Newton Tab, a candidate for School Committee, an author of a book about Newton, and the person most responsible for the Boston Globe’s increased news coverage of Newton – the Newton Report. Come say goodbye and thanks to Gail and Dan.
Greg Reibman – Village14 was created 10 years ago by Greg Reibman and Sean Roche. For most of those 10 years Greg is the guy who kept it running. While the rest of us contribute sporadically and intermittently, Greg kept it going day-by-day, month-by-month, as well as fielded all of the regular tech issues, political issues, personality issues, and content issues whenever they came up … and they did come up regularly. Greg stepped away from Village14 at the end of this past year but we all owe him a debt of gratitude for creating this permanent community gathering spot. Like Gail, Village14 is just one of Greg’s contributions to life in Newton. Greg was the publisher of the Newton Tab and more recently he has been the president of the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce. Under Greg’s stewardship the Chamber has bloomed and expanded and for the past year has served as a life-line for helping our local businesses weather the Covid storm. Whether you’re a Chamber member or not I highly recommend that you subscribe to Greg’s informative, timely, and often funny Chamber Email Newsletter that’s full of Newton news. Come by on the 19th to thank Greg for all he does for our community.
The thing I most enjoy about these Village14 gatherings is meeting Village14 folks for the first time. Some of them are our readers who read every post and never comment, other are regular commenters or contributors who we’ve never met in-the-flesh before. Many mysteries may be resolved. Is Elmo a person or a muppet? Is FigNewtonville a man, a woman, a cookie, or a very good AI program, Is Mary Mary Quite Contrary not the least bit contrary, Will Mike be packing heat, Are Terry Malloy’s flowing locks really that spectacular, do I look anything like my avatar.
These and many other mysteries may be resolved so put it on your calendar and come join us on V14’s Village Day, Sat June 19 at Dunn Gaherins.
I have it on my calendar.
Hopefully I can attend.
– Jon
SERPCOM
Anyone know how the Wi-Fi is there? Facebook Live Stream?
I’ll find out
I can attest that Terry Malloy’s flowing locks are absolutely spectacular.
Will do my best to be there.
I may have to miss this, but I’ll let you know. I’m currently scheduled to be at the end of a bike trip at that time.
Fabulous! Life is getting back to normal!
I have one wish before I move out of Newton: I want to know fignewtonville’s identity.
Actually, two wishes: Then I want Fig to run for office so I can endorse their candidacy!
It’s funny to see Gloria describe a Village 14 event as “normal.” But since neither Chris nor Chuck invited me to travel with them, so I guess I’ll be there. Thanks for organizing Jerry.
Man, first weekend I’ll be out of town in a year. Sorry I will miss it, but please enjoy and take lots of pics!
Isn’t Fig a teacher in the NPS system? Would he/she be able to run for office and not face political statement backlash? I’d rather keep him/her under wraps as the most balanced of all speakers on V14. BTW, I plan on being at D-G’s and thank you for reserving the venue outside. I will be masked that day, but will gladly tell you who I am anyway!
I’ll be there, hoping to meet the person who’s been posting under my name for all these years. (I suspect it’s Sean, so that he can be on both sides of each issue.) Please wear a red carnation so I know who you are.
Man, woman, cookie or AI…. I’m gonna make out with Fig!!!
Marked my calendar and will try to attend.
PS. Isn’t the 19th also Juneteenth?
>>>> Isn’t 19th also Juneteenth
Yes, I just found that out
After a year when NOTHING was going on and I never had to look at my calendar, I actually will NOT be able to attend the party to fete Gail and Greg. Two wonderful people who have contributed so much to Newton (and continue to). But my absence has a silver lining: At long last my little bird is ready to fly from the nest. As the creator of the first “Blogger’s Ball”(TAB blog) and an organizer of every blog party since from the TAB to V-14, I’m thrilled that the blogosphere social life has survived the pandemic and is being relit (thanks to Jerry?). Sorry to miss it, hopefully there will be many more.
Greg and Gail- I owe you a drink!
@Terry. You can’t say nothing was going on for you during the pandemic. You did manage to tool over to Dickerman Road on your bike and what’s better than a hobnob with Highlands folks at any time and under any circumstance. You will be missed.
Sorry Greg. I had no idea you wanted to spend 4 days on a bike in central New York. You’re welcome to join! I can’t speak for Chris.
Yup, for me it’ll be hanging out with two IT PhD’s, a keyboardist, and a puppeteer in NYC. (There’s a joke here somewhere, but I’ll leave it to someone else.)
I have put it on my calendar and hope to finally make one of the V14 parties. It is Juneteenth so I may have a commitment that day. I should know soon. I do like that it’s in the afternoon rather than at night due to my inability to see in the dark.
Greg, you have done such a superb job as a V14 co-creator and leader all of these years and have been doing such a good job as President of the Regional Chamber during the pandemic. I enjoy your newsletters as an informative and witty way to start my day. Thanks.
Gail, you will also be missed. You’ve done an excellent job connecting your journalism students with the Globe to cover more of Newton.
And thanks to Jerry for keeping V14 up and running.
@Chris Steele – That sounds exactly like the Village14 crowd.
Will try- a busy, busy stretch of time, but I enjoy these gatherings very much and respect the soon-departed.
@Bob Jampol – “soon departed” – Gail’s just going to the Cape, she’s not on death row ;-)
@Jerry Reilly: Where’s that like button?
We’ll be away that weekend, but Gail, Newton will miss you and I hope you intend to visit – at least for blogger social events! Greg – I went to Needham St. the other day to pick up one item. You’ll be happy to know, I ended up going to four stores! The street is coming to life and it’s a result of your commitment to this project.