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Barbara Bedell: Cigar lovers raise $9,500 for wounded soldiers
Posted: March 10, 2010 - 2:00 AM
One incredibly successful event took place at 1 p.m. Feb. 27 despite the region's powerful storm that caused many power outages and road closures. It was a cigar lovers' dream event, the fifth one in as many years. It brought 145 of the 180 expected to the Meadowbrook Lodge in New Windsor. They traveled from as far away as California, braving the weather even when planes were grounded. Because the popular catering house had no power, like thousands of other structures throughout the region, the group elected to host the event in the parking lot. More than $9,500 was raised for the Warrior Transition Unit/Family Readiness Group — Wounded Warrior Program at West Point, where 100 soldiers are being cared for. For the fifth year, the fundraiser was chaired by cigar lover and patriot Charlie Baranyai of Cornwall, who is a 20-year-plus Army veteran currently employed at West Point. As in past years, he worked closely with Uptown Cigar Shop in Kingston, where manager Israel Markevitz and Michelle Tuchman sent out fliers about the event to their customers. Glynna Schlesinger, who owns the Hudson Valley Cigar Shop next to Schlesinger's Steak House in New Windsor, also sent out fliers.
Baranyai can be reached at stogieman69@hotmail.com.