Village Independent Democrats club held its 54th Annual Awards Gala last Thursday at the Village Lobster and Crabhouse, at Varick and Clarkson Sts. The event’s four honorees were Dr. Paul Curtis Bellman, “for his contribution to H.I.V./AIDS treatment and courageous patient advocacy”; City Councilmember Rosie Mendez, “for her passionate and progressive democratic representation”; Ellen Peterson-Lewis, “for her lifetime of community activism and enduring love of the Village”; and The Villager newspaper, “for in-depth coverage of our issues and neighborhoods.” City Council Speaker Christine Quinn presented the V.I.D award to The Villager. In her remarks, she said the newspaper’s reporting was always fair and responsible, and that this held true for articles about her, as well — that regardless of whether she felt they were favorable or unfavorable to her, they were fair. Quinn said the city’s daily newspapers often pick up stories that were first reported in The Villager. Yet, she said, as opposed to the dailies, The Villager follows a story through, “from the beginning to the end…and really drills down” into them, in an investigative way. The community is lucky to have a newspaper like The Villager, she said. Quinn presented all four of the honorees with City Council proclamations. The Villager shares content with the East Villager newspaper.
Longtime V.I.D. member Herman Gerson marked his 99th birthday at V.I.D.’s Awards Gala last Thursday, as state Senator Tom Duane, left, and Ron Illardo, right, and V.I.D.’ers helped him celebrate. Earlier in the evening, the father of former Councilmember Alan Gerson called The Villager his “favorite paper.”
