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Winners crowned in first Miss Greene County pageant

CATSKILL — This past weekend top finalists competed for the titles of Miss Greene County and Miss Greene County Teen 2009 in the county’s first pageant.

Founded and independently owned by Astara Enterprises, this competition definitely “wowed” the audience, judges and everyone involved. The intensity of the pageant started Saturday evening during the Preliminary Evening Gown and Event Wear Competition and kept going all the way up to the crowning of Miss Greene County 2009 and Miss Greene County Teen 2009 Sunday afternoon.

Emcees for the weekend were Astara Enterprises co-owner Danielle Teresa Lanuto and 98.5LiteFM’s Michelle Taylor. The top finalists that competed were Meghan Baxter, Drew Bradford, Bianca Cancel, Amanda Cettina, Kaylee Marie Milller, Maria Cullington, Marchella Frascello, Casey Leigh Mabee, Samantha McArthur, Samantha Mead, Katie Riley, Tess Robinson, Rebecca Lynn Ross, Brittany Smith, Michelle Suttmeier and Danielle Szajer.

The finalists began the competition Friday evening with rehearsals in preparation for Saturday and Sunday’s big event. During rehearsals the ladies got a chance to get to know each other, staff and the owners of Astara Enterprises. One of the finalists said that it was a memorable experience and she gained so many new friends that she would have never met if it weren’t for competing in the pageant.

Saturday afternoon each finalist participated in one-on-one interviews with each of the judges, had more rehearsals, and then got ready for the competition to begin at 7 p.m. The Miss Greene County/Miss Greene County Teen 2009 pageant took place at the Scarlet Lounge in the Friar Tuck Resort, Spa and Convention Center to a packed house of audience members on both days of the competition.

Family and friends were very excited to see the young ladies compete in such a prestigious event and were anxious to see who was going to be the first to win. On Saturday evening, immediately following the Preliminary Evening Gown and Event Wear Competition, the Miss Greene County Organization awarded Michelle Suttmeier with the Interview Award, Meghan Baxter with the Style Award, Tess Robinson as Miss Photogenic 2009, and Casey Mabee as Miss Congeniality 2009.

On Sunday afternoon the Final Competition began. This consisted of the Evening Gown category and on-stage interviews with each contestant in front of a live audience. The questions were randomly selected by each finalist and were created by the judges and staff. After hearing all the ladies speak the judges decided the top three finalists for Miss Greene County and Miss Greene County Teen. Those young ladies had another chance to answer a question on stage. Following that the winners were announced:

First Runner-Up for Miss Greene County Teen 2009 is Tess Robinson from East Windham. First Runner-Up for Miss Greene County 2009 is Drew Bradford from Catskill. Miss Greene County Teen 2009 is Brittany Smith from Earlton. Miss Greene County 2009 is Michelle Suttmeier from Round Top.

After being crowned the first Miss Greene County 2009, Suttmeier, 19, of Round Top, said she couldn’t contain the excitement.

“It’s beyond words, I really can’t explain it,” Suttmeier said. “I just didn’t expect it ... It’s amazing.”

Going forward, Suttmeier hopes to be a role model for the community and intends to do her best to set the bar for next year’s Miss Greene County. She said she hopes to do a lot of charity work and participate in awareness walks in Albany. “I really want this (pageant) to last and set a good example for the next girl,” she said.

Miss Greene County Teen 2009, Brittany Smith, 16, of Earlton, was at a loss for words after her coronation.

“Oh my God!” she said. “I’m very excited. ... The whole pageant was very good, I made a lot of new friends.”

Smith also said that she hopes to pursue a lot of the other contestants’ dreams and live up to her role as Miss Greene County Teen 2009.

Astara Enterprises would like to congratulate all of the winners and finalists for a job well done. It would also like to thank the judges: Brad Cummings, partner at Pattison, Howe, Koskey and Bucci CPA PC; Peter Dockery, media executive at The Daily Freeman; Tracy McNally, executive director at the Greene County Chamber of Commerce; Cathy Monteverde, owner of Adam and Eve’s Beaute Centre; Julie Slaughter, regional sales coordinator at Aflac; Bill Williams, facilities manager and on-air personality at 98.5LiteFM; and pageant historian Joel Weidner. A special thank you also goes out to all the sponsors, including: Adam and Eve’s Beaute Centre, Douglas Koch Exquisite Floral D/cor, Metro Force Sound and Studio, Divine Enlightenment, Captain Kidd’s Inn, Sterling Trophies, Panini Caf/ and Pizzeria, HillCrest Press, V. James DiPerna Photography, 98.5LiteFM and The Greenville Press.

Pictures from this year’s pageant were taken by V. James DiPerna Photography and can be viewed at www.vjdipernaphoto.com. Douglas Koch Exquisite Floral D/cor provided the floral arrangements for the weekend and Adam and Eve’s Beaute Centre’s staff were on site all weekend doing hair and makeup touch ups for the finalists. Pictures and information can also be obtained at www.MissGreeneCounty.com.

The titleholders of the Miss Greene County and Miss Greene County Teen 2009 pageant will personify the combination of intelligence, beauty, poise and success all while becoming a role model for the aspiring. The winners are sponsored by Astara Enterprises, Inc. to participate in the Miss New York USA and Miss New York Teen USA 2010 pageant and received a multitude of prizes, including a $1,000 scholarship to Eagle U’s Success Seminars and opportunities to participate in local events throughout the year.

Titleholders will also be working with the MS Society to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis in the community. Miss Greene County 2009 and Miss Greene County Teen 2009 will be helping 98.5LiteFM at its annual “Stuff the Bus” to help raise food for local pantries. Come visit them and get your picture taken with the winners from 10 to 11 a.m. in front of the Wal-Mart in Catskill.

Will you be crowned the next Miss Greene County 2010 or Miss Greene County Teen 2010? The application process has begun. Those interested in applying for Miss Greene County Teen must be between the ages of 13 and 17 and those applying for Miss Greene County must be between the ages of 18 and 27. For more information on how to apply please visit www.MissGreeneCounty.com, e-mail info@MissGreeneCounty.com or call Astara Enterprises, Inc. at 973-229-6875.

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