Weekly News (Dec. 11, 2017)

Cigar News

• Agio Takes Over U.S. Distribution
• Chogüí Dos77 Toro Shipping
• Dunhill, Limited Editions Headline C.Gars Ltd.’s Winter Auction
• Flor de Selva Year of the Dog Heads to Hong Kong and Macau
• H. Upmann Robustos Añejados Slated for Release
• Hirochi Robaina Denies Involvement With Burmese Tobacco Trading Co.
• José O. Padrón Passes Away at 91
• La Flor Dominicana Ships Factory Press (2017)
• La Flor Dominicana Ships La Volcada
• Viaje Holiday Blend Christmas Tree Returns for 2017
• XIKAR Announces Scented Candle Trio

Legislation

• 29 Congressmen Send Letter to OMB Urging Cigars to be Exempt from FDA Regulations
• FDA Responds to Cigar Groups Motion for Summary Judgment
• Why The Government Spending Bill Is Important to Cigars, An Explainer

• Idaho Legislator Will Introduce Statewide Tobacco 21 Bill to 2018 Session — via LMTribune.com

• Dana Point, Calif. Passes First Reading of Smoking Ban, Second Reading Scheduled for Jan. 16 — via OCRegister.com
• Dublin, Ohio Approves Increase of Tobacco Purchase Age to 21
• Dutchess County, N.Y. To Consider Raising Tobacco Purchase Age to 21 — via MidHudsonNews.com
• Fort Collins, Colo. Leaves Downtown Smoking Ban in Place, Reduces Fines — via Coloradoan.com
• Long Beach, N.Y. Will Make 21 New Tobacco Purchasing Age
• Onondaga County, N.Y. Moves Towards 21 Tobacco Buying Age
• Robbinsdale, Minn. City Council Votes To Restrict Sale Of Flavored Tobacco — via Minnesota.CBSLocal.com
• San Antonio, Texas Delays Tobacco 21 Vote to Jan. 4, 2018 — via TheRivardReport.com
• St. Louis Park, Minn. Bans Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products
• Swanton, Ohio Bans Smoking in Parks
• Topeka, Kan. to Raise Tobacco Purchase Age to 21
• Wausau, Wisc. Parks & Recreation Committee Trying Again to Get Smoking Banned in Parks — via WSAW.com

Colleges & Universities

• University of Pennsylvania Removes Smokers’ Poles from Campus — via TheDP.com

Deals From Our Sponsors

• Atlantic Cigar Co. — Caldwell 6-Cigar Sampler ($34.95)
• Cigar Hustler — Cyber Monday Sampler (22 Cigars, $149.99)
• Corona Cigar Co. — Camacho Diploma Special Selection (Box of 18, $324.95)
• Elite Cigar Cafe — Tatuaje Event (Black Friday, Addison)
• JR Cigar — Vegas Cubanas Coronas (Box of 25, $143.55)
• Payless Cigars & Pipes — Casa Magna Domus Magnus II Optimus (Box of 10, $54.99)
• Smoke Inn — The T Lonsdale (Pack of 5, $52.50)
• STOGIES World Class Cigars — 1502 Ruby Lancero (Box of 25, $207.50)

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.