Publishers past and present enjoyed the Village Alliance business improvement district’s 10th annual Taste of the Village benefit in Washington Square Park on Wed., Sept. 12. The Villager’s new publisher, Jennifer Goodstein, above left, was joined at the food-and-wine-tasting extravaganza by the newspaper’s former publishers, Elizabeth Butson and John W. Sutter. Below, the Village Alliance’s executive director, William Kelley, left, posed with a member of Archangels Security — an offshoot of the Guardian Angels — which helped ensure everyone had a peaceful Taste. More than 30 local purveyors participated in this year’s Taste. Bob Gormley, Community Board 2 district manager, and Jessica Hickey won the event’s raffle prizes from Blue Hill restaurant on Washington Place. Since its inception, the annual fundraiser has donated more than $400,000 for horticultural, sanitation and public safety services in the park. “Now that the bulk of park renovations are complete, more visitors than ever will come to admire and utilize Washington Square Park’s many features,” Kelley said. “These supplemental services are imperative to the success of the park as the city continues to trim its budget.”
