In a fairer world, war veterans would have all of their medical needs taken care of by the government. Most of us have been led to believe that this is already the case, but alas, it isn’t. The inability of many vets to pay off medical debt has inspired a campaign with a $50 million goal called RIP Medical Debt, and an organization called UlsterUnited4Vets is working to raise both awareness and funding. The local fundraising goal is $5,000.
To get there, Casey Kurtti and Jacob Sherman are organizing a series of charity events. They’ve recruited Kurtti’s husband, Bardavon/UPAC executive director Chris Silva, and his longtime friend and fellow arts impresario, Mark Morganstern, owner of the Rosendale Café, to hold a competition they’re calling the Cabin Fever Showdown. “Word-to-word and arm-to-arm combat” are promised, suggesting that prowess in both poetry slams and arm-wrestling will be put to the test. Also on the menu: “never-before-revealed backstage stories,” guest bartenders, surprises, games of skill and prizes.
The fun for a good cause goes down from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, February 24 at the Rosendale Café, located at 434 Main Street in Rosendale. The suggested donation at the door is $5, and the Café will throw in $1 for every beer and every burrito ordered through February 24. For more information about the charitable campaign, or to make a donation, visit www.ulsterunited4vets.org.
Cabin Fever Showdown, a benefit throwdown to abolish veterans’ medical debt, Sunday, Feb. 24, 6-9 p.m., $5, Rosendale Café, 434 Main Street, Rosendale, (845) 658-9048
Join the family! 
