With the beginning of spring, the Dutchess County Historical Society's Events Committee is pleased to present its first luncheon speaker series. It will be held on Saturday, April 26th at 1 pm at Coppola's Restaurant, 825 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY. Our first speaker is Poughkeepsie's own Ellie Charwat. Nathaniel Rubin practiced law in his hometown of Poughkeepsie for more than 58 years - from 1931 to 1989, the year he died. As a trial attorney, he defended murderers, gamblers, corrupt policemen, hit and run drivers and burglars. He also handled more mundane cases like divorce, accidents and real estate. His daughter, Eleanor Rubin Charwat, has recently published Small Town Lawyer, a remembrance which highlights several of her father's most notorious cases. The book also gives a good flavor of what Poughkeepsie was like during that period. Ellie has spent most of her life in Poughkeepsie, graduating from the Poughkeepsie Day School and Poughkeepsie High School. She received her bachelor's degree in government from Cornell University and later a master's degree in public administration from Marist College. Ellie has worked as an administrator at Marist College, a free lance journalist, a teacher of English as a Second Language, a Town Councilman, and a community volunteer. She has received numerous awards for her community involvement: the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill medal in 2002, Woman of the Year from the American Association of University Women in 2005, the New York State Senate 2005 Woman of Distinction, and Community Service in 2007 from New Horizons. Her husband, Martin, is an attorney and financial planner. The Charwats have two children and five grandchildren. Reservations are required by Tues April 22 - contact Dutchess County Historical Society http://www.dutchesscountyhistoricalsociety.org/index.html - 845-471-1630 for details.