‘A Picnic for Victory’ raises $18,000 for Obama’s re-election campaign

WARWICK — On Sunday, July 17, more than 100 people gathered at the home of Geoff and Carole Howard in the village of Warwick to hear great music and inspiring speakers and to support the re-election of President Barack Obama. The fund raiser, which raised about $18,000, was called “Forward With Obama: A Picnic for Victory,” and was patterned after concerts in Tanglewood, Mass., at which people bring a picnic and a blanket, sit back, and hear beautiful music. There were two performances - one by the Hudson Valley Jazz Festival Ensemble and one by four musicians from the New York Philharmonic performing Mozart’s Flute Quartet. U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey said that, since he is retiring from the Congress, he wants to do whatever he can to ensure that Obama is re-elected to a second term and that he works with a Democratic Congress. Suzanne Braun Levine, the first editor of Ms. Magazine and noted author, spoke of the improvements in the lives of women and families that she has observed in her lifetime and of her fears that those gains could easily evaporate should Obama be defeated. Even Mother Nature seemed to be on board as dark clouds loomed and thunder could be heard all around, but the threatened downpour held off until the event had ended. “A close one, but it turned out OK,” said Geoff Howard. “Let’s hope we’ll be saying those same words in November.”