The Columbia-Greene Garden Party, in support of the Alliance for Positive Health, was held on Saturday, Sept. 1, which was as beautiful an evening as could be hoped for. It certainly helped that the festivities were hosted in Livingston, New York, on the pastoral grounds of PR guru James LaForce and writer Stephen Henderson. Featuring live music and an elegant silent auction filled with significant pieces, the party was light and jovial. It's an impressive feat to host an event that both captures the elegant casual cool of our region, while also supporting such an important cause. The AFPH does invaluable work in its endeavor to reduce the impact and incidence of HIV/AIDS and other serious medical and social conditions.  

James Aguiar, fashion director of Modern Luxury, with Mark Haldeman, US regional manager at Paul Smith, and party host Stephen Henderson.
The elegant grounds at the home of James LaForce and Stephen Henderson.
Michele Saunders, a realtor at HOUSE Hudson Valley, and Dom Evans Reichardt.
President of Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill Association Amy Breedlove, Market Director for Hearst Design Group Sabine Rothman, Matthew Tolomie and Michael DeLellis.
The silent auction, with its high-end offerings, was tucked quaintly into the well-preserved old barn.
Owen Davidson, Olana Landscape Curator Mark Prezorski and Stephen Henderson.
Aaron Gladd, local NY State assemblymember Didi Barrett and NY State assemblymember from Syracuse Bill Magnarelli.
Landscape architect Mark Strieter, Stonehill Taylor principal Vince Stroop, Tony Machado, Oliver Link and director Guto Barra.
Gallery owner Mark McDonald, yoga instructor Dwayne Resnik and designer Danusia Jarecka.
Jonathan Osofsky, director at Kasuri in Hudson, and Kinderhook Library book sale organizer Mary Margret Cronin.
Smiling through the pain: Doug Wingo was having fun despite being stung in the face by a bee just before this picture was taken. Wingo is the principal and Tim Legg the creative director at Wingo NYC.

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Written by

Jamie Larson
Jamie Larson
After a decade of writing for RI (along with many other publications and organizations) Jamie took over as editor in 2025. He has a masters in journalism from NYU, a wonderful wife, two kids and a Carolina dog named Zelda.