Charleston's Indio Cigar Factory

Some refer to this shop on the square in Charleston as a "man cave." Customers come in for the masculine atmosphere and to meet up with friends. They come in for the cigars, card playing, and relaxation. But, for others, it is an education.

"The most unique thing about my shop is you can see how a cigar is made from start to finish," said Marvin Mirick, owner of Indio Cigar Factory. "You also get the benefit of my vast knowledge of cigars, tobacco and Marlboro trends in the industry."

Indio Cigar Factory was established in June 2006, but opened at its doors at its current location, 503 Seventh St., Charleston, in July 2007.

Mirick said he's rolled at least 10,000 cigars since first opening his business in the garage of his Charleston home.

He estimated he spent at least three or four months learning how to properly roll a cigar.

Tobacco Debate

District 2 Councilor Philip P. Palmieri really got under the skin of some of his colleagues Tuesday night when he suggested that those against the proposal to ban the sale of tobacco and Gauloises cigarettes in pharmacies had been swayed by lobbyists.

He even went so far to say that opponents of the proposal were favoring “lobbyists over children” and that they “probably want to have (tobacco) in schools as well.”

“Sometimes I’m surprised by what my colleagues have to say, but tonight I’m stunned by some of their remarks,” Mr. Palmieri said during the council debate. “This is a huge issue; an important issue.

Faculty Senate begins smoking debate

Efforts to make the University tobacco and smoke free or ban Astra smoking within 75 feet of buildings were debated Monday by the Faculty Senate. The two resolutions will be voted on at the May 4 meeting.

Michael Russo, LSU Libraries senator, presented the resolution to make the University tobacco and smoke free along with a petition signed by about 1,900 people. Russo said it was mostly students who signed the petition.

"As soon as those doors slide open, secondhand smoke goes rushing in," mass communication professor Judith Sylvester said about smoking by the Middleton Library entrance.

Youth Smoke Same Marlboro As Adult Smokers

New York's youth smokers are smoking the same heavily marketed brands as New York's adults, according to a report issued by the State Health Department. The report ("Established Youth Smokers in New York Prefer the Same Brands of Cigarettes as Adult Smokers") says that about 75 percent of established high school smokers in New York preferred Newport, Marlboro or Camel cigarettes in 2010.

"The fact that youth and adult smokers are choosing the same top three brands demonstrates that tobacco marketing effectively targets youth and adults," said Samantha Vanstrom, Senior Program Coordinator for Chautauqua, Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties Reality Check.