Signs of the Times - Launching Jake Mooney
July 2002
Media 2002: Launching Jake Mooney
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Launching Jake Mooney

Last weekend, Jake Mooney left The Daily Progress for New York City - where he is enrolled in the Columbia School of Journalism.

To help with the send off, friends gathered in an empty apartment in the Linen Building [courtsey of Oliver Kuttner], on the southeast corner of Meade Ave. and East Market Street. The party began around 10 p.m. and I understand went on until around 3 a.m.

   Reed Williams and Jake Mooney

 Reed Williams and Jake Mooney in focus

Reed Williams covers cops at The Daily Progress and collaborated with Jake Mooney on the standoff at the coal tower story.

Kevin Cox with Jake Mooney

Kevin Cox is a former independent candidate for the Charlottesville City Council, now a Republican, and a faithful reader of the paper.

Jake Mooney and Elizabeth Nelson

Liz Nelson will be taking over Jake Mooney's newsbeat at The Daily Progress.

[L-R] James and Austin Graham

Austin Graham is the reigning Best Reporter in Charlottesville, as crowned by Hawes Spencer's old C-Ville Weekly. Jake says that "he planned to give Austin a run for his money in this year's C-Ville Weekly poll", but now that he's gone he sees no reason that Austin shouldn't repeat. Austin covers Louisa, Fluvanna, Nelson and Buckingham for The Daily Progress. [Hawes Spencer has since moved over to The HooK.]

James Graham, who will be living on the Lawn in the coming school year, usually plays drums for the Ones and Zeroes. He's an architecture student at UVa, has studied under Hizzoner Maurice Cox, and sometimes writes for The HooK.

James Graham's 10111 Lincoln Tattoo

The numbers on James' Lincoln tattoo refer to his band, the Ones and Zeroes. They all got matching tattoos, although James has the only one with Lincoln.

As the story goes, when they went to the tattoo parlor in D.C., James saw the Abe picture on the wall and asked about it. Apparently, no one had ever been interested in it before and they gave him a discount.

Don't know what James' political persuasions are but the Abe Lincoln tattoo would make any Republican proud.

Adrienne Schwisow and Peter Savodnik

Adrienne Schwisow covers the courts for The Daily Progress. According to Jake Mooney, Adrienne has written some of the most fun-to-read stories and stayed out way past her bedtime to make it to the party, which he appreciates. I don't know what time Adrienne left, but it was past my bedtime before the party began.

Peter Savodnik covers Albemarle for The Daily Progress, is an expert on the myriad of roads - built and unbuilt - and, according to Jake Mooney, is a walking DISC encyclopedia.

Jake Mooney and James Graham

Who knew Jake Mooney could play and sing at the same time?

Claudia Pinto, the medical reporter for The Daily Progress, told him that he was grinning alot while playing the guitar. Jake says, it's because it was great to see so many people come out to send him off (or to drink free beer), that there's nothing like a good going-away party to take the edge off leaving a place you like alot.

The Band

The band at the party included Jake Mooney (on guitar), Austin Graham (on keyboard), Ben Schwartz (on drums), and James Graham (on bass). Perhaps the most repeated question at the party [apart from 'Where's Waldo?'] was the name of the band [Cumtowel]. And there has been talk of the Creedence Cumtowel Reunion.

The keyboard for the night was borrowed from the rock band Wisher.

The setlist included:

Guided by Voices - Chasing Heather Crazy
Weezer - Hashpipe
David Bowie - Suffragette City
Wilco - Outtasite (Outta Mind)
The Strokes - Last Nite
Bon Jovi - Livin' on a Prayer
The White Stripes - Fell in Love with a Girl
Tenacious D - Fuck Her Gently

Ben Schwartz

Ben Schwartz is a former photographer for The Daily Progress, a videographer for Channel 29 and an aspiring filmmaker. According to Wayne Mogielnicki, Ben is the only person in history to work for the newsrooms of both The Daily Progress and Channel 29.

Ben Schwartz has recently completed the filming of a short film entitled 'Poison,' a short story by Roald Dahl. It was shot entirely at Flagsfield, the former home of Austin Graham. The film is due to be finished and shown later this year.

Stephen Galoob [Foreground] Jake Mooney

Stephen Galoob is a recent UVa law school graduate who is taking a job in D.C., where he will live with his wife, Mindy. The cow, purchased at a recently opened local sex shop was a gift from him and a few fellow schoolmates. Jake needs someone to keep him company on those cold nights in NYC.

    Austin Graham


Comments? Questions? Write me at george@loper.org.