This year’s successful Newtonville Village Day (NVD) spanned 78 booths – a mix of nonprofits, artists, local businesses, food vendors, and some political parties and candidates. According to Village Day organizers, around 4,000 people attended the event throughout the day.
It all came together after four months of planning by Dana D’Agostino and her Village Day Team – Sherry Klein, Nancy Goldberg, Marcela Reyes, Kate Dulit, and Suzanne Cuccurullo – hosted by the Newtonville Area Council. They recruited 22 local business sponsors, including Village Bank in its 10th year as a platinum sponsor. The team also signed up and managed 50 volunteers (including 20 high-school students who helped set up and break down booths) – and gave away 200 NVD T-shirts.
Street chalk mural organized by New Art Center 
Three-tiered cake by local bakery Icing on the Cake (photo: Elizabeth D’Agostino) 
Newtonville Area Council President Jennifer Bentley and Treasurer Dana D’Agostino, City Council President Marc Laredo, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Councilors-at-Large Tarik Lucas and Pam Wright, and Ward 2 Councilor David Micley (photo: Nathan Persampieri) 
(photo: Elizabeth D’Agostino) 
Officer Lau, Officer Leo, and friends (photo: Nathan Persampieri) 
Betsy Harper and Nathan Persampieri (photo: Elizabeth D’Agostino) 
Tami Gambiza, Stephen Comey, and Bruce Henderson
Music was provided by the Newton North Jazz Ensemble (in its second decade of opening the NVD musical program!), Tiger BeBop, the Porch Rockers, and Cross Street. City Councilor Tarik Lucas marked his 5th year as music emcee. The music stage was powered by electricity from the Cooper Center for Active Living construction site.
Over 1,000 spectators gathered on Austin Street to see performances by Giroux Brothers Martial Arts, O’Shea Chaplin Academy of Irish Dancers, Dance Stream Studio, Creative Steps Dance Studio, and Jammin with You Music Studio.
The Village Day Team worked with Icing on the Cake to design a custom, three-tiered cake. After the ceremonial cake cutting, the cake and 500 cupcakes quickly disappeared.
The Newton Masonics provided free train rides and gave tours of their historic building. Aji gave out free food. Midi donated gift cards for the volunteers. The New Art Center offered caricatures, face painting, and sidewalk chalk murals. And Cabot’s sold scoops of ice cream for $5, with all proceeds going to benefit the Newton Boys & Girls Club.
