Representatives of nearly every nonprofit in town had fun last month roasting, not toasting, Robin Jovanovich, the retiring publisher of The Rye Record. 

Having never received the actual invitation, Jovanovich arrived at the Jay Heritage Carriage House in a red designer dress and vintage fur-trimmed wrap to find most everyone else dressed in ripped jeans and sporting newsboy caps.   

The reviews are still out on Jana Seitz’s pulsating country/rock ode to the movin’ and shakin’ at the paper. Her former boss gently advised the Louisiana firebrand not to take her act on the road just yet.

“Even the best need editing.” 

A shout out to Rye Record all-stars Tom McDermott and Duke Thrush, who contributed to the evening’s editorial content and design, and to the nonprofit leaders and supporters who orchestrated a very special one-night stand.

– Photos by Anja Porto

Alison Relyea of the Rye Historical Society with Nancy Pasquale, co-founder of RyeACT, and City Councilmember Lori Fontanes
Christine Siller, Executive Director of the Friends of Rye Nature Center
Jamie Jensen, Diana Page, and Lucy Berkhoff, far right, perennial promoters of the Friends of Rye Town Park, with Robin Jovanovich
Jana Seitz, board president of Friends of Read Wildlife Sanctuary and Rye Record columnist, with Betsy White and Suzanne Clary, distinguished board members of the Jay Heritage Center
Jon Elsen, the paper’s new editor and co-publisher, and Denise Woodin of the Rye YMCA, of which he was until recently board president.
Laura Iverson and Caroline Walker with Gretchen Althoff Snyder of The Rye Historical Society, who is also a regular contributing writer at the paper.
Richard Sgaglio and Michele Thomas from The Osborn
Robin Jovanovich arriving at the Jay Center Carriage House for a “casual” gathering hosted by Rye’s nonprofit organizations in her honor on Nov. 9.
Tom McDermott, recently retired editor of the paper, had a few things to say about what it was like to work alongside the honoree on deadline nights.
The witty and wacky “breaking-news” messages placed throughout the room may not win Pulitzers. But the marzipan mockup of the front page draped over the cake has a fighting chance in the “pièce de resistance” category.
Rye Record

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