Weekly News (September 22, 2014)

Cigar News

• Arango Cigar Co. Adds CAO Gold to Clasico Series
• Arango Cigar Co.’s Punch Clasico and Macanudo Clasico Get New Chi-Town Vitola
• Ashton Brings La Aroma del Caribe Core Line to Europe
• Black Label Trading Co. Announces Deliverance
• Crowned Heads to Release Arrington Vineyards Double-W
• Cuba Rica Ships Barabbas & Spirit of Art
• Davidoff Releases Mini Cigarillos Platinum
• Espinosa Cigars and Cigar Dojo Announce Sensei’s Sensational Sarsaparilla
• General Cigar Co. Acquires Leccia Tobacco Portfolio
• Gurkha Creates a Private Blend That Sells for $30,000 at an Auction to Benefit The Eric Trump Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — via WKRG.com.
• Hechicera Maduro Ships
• JM Tobacco Adds JM’s Nicaraguan
• La Flor Dominicana Moves Final 2000 Size to Cameroon Cabinet Line
• La Flor Dominicana Ships Capitulo II
• Nomad Cigar Co. Released the Nomad Connecticut Fuerte Lancero
• Oettinger Davidoff Group Becomes the Official Distributor of Royal Danish Cigars in Switzerland — via Virtual-Strategy.com
• Oliva Adds Serie V 5 x 60 as European Exclusive
• Oliva Announced Details on the 2014 Serie V Maduro
• Oliva Ships NUb Café

Trademark News

• Fairmont Holdings, Inc. (Alec Bradley), trademark for ALEC BRADLEY 1600 approved.
• Fairmont Holdings, Inc. (Alec Bradley), trademark for ALEC BRADLEY 1663 approved.
• Fairmont Holdings, Inc. (Alec Bradley), trademark for ALEC BRADLEY DOUBLE BLACK, abandoned

• Cigar Reserve LLC files for CIGAR RESERVE.
• Cigar Reserve LLC files for RESERVE.
• Eduardo Ortega files for SERIE D.
• Espinosa Cigars LLC files for COMFORTABLY NUMB.
• Roma Craft Tobac, LLC files for CROMAGNON.
• Roma Craft Tobac, LLC files for NEANDERTHAL.
• Roma Craft Tobac, LLC files for ROMA CRAFT TOBAC.
• Santa Clara, Inc. files for WITCHDOKTOR.
• Swisher International, Inc. files for DULCE DE LECHE.

Legislation

• H.R. 792 Adds Two New Cosponsors: Rep. Ted Poe [R-TX2] New Cosponsor: Rep. Aaron Schock [R-IL18]. The bill now has 165 cosponsors.
• Abbeville, La. Adopts Smoke-Free Air Ordinance
• Ann Arbor, Mich. Could Enact Smoking Ban at 77 Parks
• Arcata, Calif. Considers Expanding Tobacco-Free Areas in City — via the Times-Standard
• Belmont, Mass. Raises its Tobacco Purchase Age to 21
• Beverly, Mass. Makes Some Tobacco Regulations Changes
• Boulder, Colo. Has Begun Work to Expand Its Smoking Ban
• Columbia, Mo. Looking at Raising Tobacco Purchase Age to 21
• FDA Raised the Monetary Fine for a Retailer’s Sixth Violation of Selling Regulated Tobacco Products to a Minor in 48 Months
• Fayetteville, N.C. City Council Directs City Staff to Revise Ordinance That Would Regulate Tobacco Retailers
• Gilroy, Calif. Could Impose a Tobacco Retailer License to Fund Underage Tobacco Purchase Stings
• Monroe County, Fla. Moved Forward with Plans to Test Employees for Tobacco Use
• Nine EU Countries Object to Ireland’s Plain Tobacco Packaging Proposal
• Pittsfield, Mass. Had New Smoking Regulations Go Into Effect
• Redwood County, Minn. Bans Tobacco on County-Owned Grounds
• Southington, Conn. Board of Park Commissioners Looking at Making Town Parks Tobacco-Free — via MyRecordJournal.com
• Vietnam is Being Pushed to Raise Its Tobacco Tax Significantly — via Thanh Nien News
• Waxahacie, Tex. Had Its New Smoking Ban Go Into Effect on Sept. 18
• Worcester, Mass. Could Grow Its Smoking Ordinance

Colleges & Universities

• Univ. of Cincinnati Students Are Asking for a Campus-Wide Smoking Ban — via WLWT

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.