Scott Baldinger reports from Hudson. Passive-solar housing for people of modest means is a very worthy cause for a number of reasons, both environmental and social. But it’s hard to imagine it generating as much heat as it did Sunday, January 27, at Columbia County Habitat for Humanity’sHome Bass benefit at Helsinki Hudson. The event, to raise money for eco -friendly housing designed by Dennis Wedlick Architects, brought together the town's stellar resident rock luminaries: Melissa Auf der Maur, multi-Grammy nominee Meshell Ndegeocello, and Tommy Stinson as well as other powerfully gifted performers such as Rasputina and Dini Lamot (formerly of Human Sexual Response), all of whom had the audience transfixed for hours; it proved to be a tremendous kick for the morale of the town, and to the region as a whole. Pictured at left before the show: Tommy Stinson, Helsinki owner Marc Schafler, and actor Peter Santora.
Red Dot Restaurant's Alana Hauptmann and Denise Keegan; Melora Creager, aka Rasputina, and fellow musician performing.
Lili and Danusia Jarecka of Skalar Modern; Barry Judd of Hedstrom & Judd, Hudson, and Michele Sodi.
Novelist Ira Sher and Lilthe Sebesta; Juan Cairelero and The Independent's US editor, David Usborne.
Relish Restaurant's Dana Wegener, Cyntha Johnson, Amanda Lefton, and Jeanette Paletta.
RI contributors Robert Warren, Holly George Warren with son Jack; DABA Restaurant's Daniel Nilsson and Anna Nilsson.
Angela Cardinali and Eva Marie; Morgan Jenness and author/Our Town editor Enid Futterman.
Mike "Chops" LaConte and Chris Neumann of The Rooftrees; musicians Joe Moore, John Rosenthal, and Ben Fondis.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
