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March Madness fans raise cash for Catholic Youth Center programs

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<p>The owner and employees at one local business took matters into their own hands Saturday, putting on a daylong benefit to help aid those affected by a tornado that hit Northeastern Pennsylvania last month.</p><p>It&#8217;s been just over the 30-day mark when residents of Pittston Township met face-to-face with a EF-2 tornado, confirmed by the National Weather Service in Binghamton. The NWS later stated that the twirling whirlwind from Feb. 25 boasted winds of up to 120 mph and traveled over 12 miles, toppling trees, ripping out shingles and causing other damage on nearly 30 properties between the areas of Suscon and Moosic.</p><p>While many in the township and surrounding areas have been aiding in the cleanup effort, Bob Henn decided to take the effort one step further by creating a benefit to help those affected by the tornado.</p><p>The owner of Brickhouse Tavern in Dupont, Henn said he wanted to give back to the community that has supported him. Originally from Brooklyn, Henn said that when he came to the area to open his business, area residents were welcoming and optimistic. That kindness inspired him to hold the Suscon Road Tornado Relief Benefit.</p><p>&#8220;I moved up to Pennsylvania two and a half years ago to open the Brickhouse,&#8221; he said. &#8220;All the customers here, the neighbors, the friends &#8212; they greeted me like I was one of their own. They support my business all year round. If it wasn&#8217;t for them, I wouldn&#8217;t have a business. So when this tragedy happened up on Suscon Road with this tornado, the cost of this is astronomical. I decided it was time to give back.&#8221;</p><p>The event began at noon, lasting until 2 a.m. when the bar closes. It included more than 45 basket raffles, 50/50 drawings and numerous live bands throughout the day. A buffet-style lunch was available for $10.</p><p>Henn wanted to make the benefit family-friendly, choosing to ban smoking inside the venue and offering face painting for children as well as a visit from Olaf and other Disney characters. Henn said he is donating a percentage of the day&#8217;s proceeds to the cause, with a goal of reaching $10,000 in donations.</p><p>Tables full of donated goods and services filled the room, ranging from beers and wines to candy, homegoods and even a $500 laser teeth-whitening treatment from Casey Dental. Two of the raffles biggest prizes &#8212; a lift chair and 40-inch HD Smart TV &#8212; were in the center of the room.</p><p>Dupont Youth Baseball Organization member Bobby Breymeier wasted no time making his way across the room to drop his tickets in a few select baskets. He said it was an easy decision to attend the benefit, as he knew many of the people who were affected by the twister and wanted to help in any was possible.</p><p>&#8220;Anything we can do to help these people,&#8221; he said, noting the costs to repair much of the damage to the homes. &#8220;Those people really need it.&#8221;</p><p>Joyce Rembish, of DuPont, attended the benefit with some family members. Affected from the storm herself, Rembish said she was amazed at the amount of support the benefit has received from local businesses and community members.</p><p>&#8220;I had some damage to my house and my car, but not nearly what they had,&#8221; she said, adding that much of her damage was hail-related. &#8220;I just wanted to help out the people right up the road from me that lost a lot. I think it&#8217;s fantastic, I think this is a great idea. There&#8217;s a lot here and I think they&#8217;re going to do really well with helping everyone.&#8221;</p><p><ins>Sitting at a table, Duryea resident Lori Cooper was busy filling out rows of raffle tickets. Cooper attended the benefit with friends Joe and Ellen Velehoski, and all agreed holding a benefit to help aid the tornado victims was a wonderful idea that brought the entire community together.</ins></p><p><ins>Admission into the benefit was free, although there was a voluntary $5 donation fee.</ins></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Ellen and Joe Velehoski fill out raffle tickets at a table in the Brickhouse Tavern. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Tornado-3-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ellen and Joe Velehoski fill out raffle tickets at a table in the Brickhouse Tavern. </caption0><photoCredit0>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Tornado-4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bobby Breymaier drops his tickets into one of the basket raffles. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Tornado-4-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Bobby Breymaier drops his tickets into one of the basket raffles. </caption1><photoCredit1>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Tornado-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brickhouse Tavern bartender Linda Cortes pours a patron a beer during the Suscon Road Tornado Relief Benefit on Saturday at the Brickhouse Tavern in Dupont. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Tornado-1-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Brickhouse Tavern bartender Linda Cortes pours a patron a beer during the Suscon Road Tornado Relief Benefit on Saturday at the Brickhouse Tavern in Dupont. </caption2><photoCredit2>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Tornado-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jesse Piazza, left, and Jeremy LaPorte, of Jesse and the Nightmen, perform during the benefit. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Tornado-2-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Jesse Piazza, left, and Jeremy LaPorte, of Jesse and the Nightmen, perform during the benefit. </caption3><photoCredit3>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Benefit in Dupont aids tornado victims