At park, smokers asked to butt out
MOREAU -- Officials in Moreau are thanking you for not smoking.
The Town Board in June approved a measure that prohibits the use of tobacco products in Betar Park and the town beach.
Town Supervisor Preston Jenkins said the ban isn’t a formal law with penalties, but rather a "policy decision" that he said would cut down on litter on town property.
"If someone is smoking we’d ask them to put it out," Jenkins said. "Any other problems we could essentially contact the sheriff and remove them from the park. But there is no law."
Gavin Park in Wilton has a similar policy, as does the Washington County fairgrounds in Easton, where organizers banned smoking in the grandstands last year.
Jenkins, a former smoker of Lucky Strike cigarettes, recalled being influenced by nearly wall-to-wall advertising of tobacco products on television that were commonplace decades ago.
He said smoking around children in a public space shouldn’t be allowed.
"There’s no reason to be getting exercise and breathing in second-hand smoke from other people," Jenkins said. "I don’t think it’s right for this to take place near young kids. If people want to test their own health and smoke they should do it where people aren’t around."
Signs asking people not smoke from Cornell Cooperative Extension will be put up around the park and beach later this month, Jenkins said.
At Betar Park on Saturday afternoon, dozens of people were out enjoying the sunny Fourth of July weather. No one appeared to be using cigarettes, and the only smoke in the air was from barbecues.
"Being a non-smoker, I think it’s a good idea," said Chip Merrithew, a South Glens Falls resident watching a softball game in the park with his wife, Donna. "I would say litter is the biggest problem with it."
His wife Donna added, "If you’re standing next to someone smoking, it is very annoying. We both use to smoke but that was many years ago."
Michael Gaulin, a New York City resident visiting family in Fort Edward, said the ban sounded reasonable and would cut down on litter.
"But I think all these smoking bans are getting a little excessive," he said. "It’s outdoors so I don’t think it will matter."
Jackie Gorthey, a Maryland resident visiting family in South Glens Falls, said outdoor smoking bans made sense.
"I don’t think it should be in public places anymore," Gorthey said. "If you’re going outdoors to want to be able to enjoy clean air and smell the grass." |
