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Councilman proposes smoking ban at Wilkes-Barre playgrounds 

Councilman Bill Barrett wants smoking prohibited at city playgrounds, a ban that other local communities have passed or plan to implement.

Barrett invited Melissa Rehrig, youth and school health coordinator for Steps to a Healthier Pa. Luzerne County, to a council meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. to discuss prohibiting smoking at playgrounds to prevent children's exposure to secondhand smoke.

Barrett learned of the organization after a co-worker at Luzerne County Community College complained about someone smoking in the playground area at Kirby Park and throwing butts in the mulch. He wants Pennsylvania to have a state law like California, which prohibits smoking in all playgrounds.

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Outdoor smoking at restaurants: Is a ban too much? 

A proposal to ban smoking in outdoor seating areas at Portland restaurants triggered a debate Thursday on the competing rights of individuals.

On one side were representatives of health organizations who argued that diners and workers should not be subjected to secondhand smoke in public restaurants.

On the other were people, including some business owners, who said the ordinance would go too far in limiting the choices made by businesses and individuals.

The City Council's Health and Recreation Committee is considering a proposal to expand the city's 10-year-old smoking ban for restaurants and bars. The restrictions have since become state law.

The latest proposal would prohibit smoking in outdoor seating areas where food is served, though to what extent has not been decided. One proposed amendment would apply the restriction only when the outdoor areas are being used for dining.

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Maine's largest city considers bans on outdoor smoking 

PORTLAND, Maine--Maine's largest city is trying to decide whether to ban smoking at outdoor cafes.

Residents gave an earful Thursday night to the city's Health and Recreation Committee, which is considering a proposal to ban smoking in outdoor seating areas where food is served.

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Outdoor Smoking Ban Mulled 

establishments instead chose to allow smokers to light up on outside patios or outdoor areas that were still part of the bar, but not within the bar's walls. Now a City of Portland committee is supporting an effort to ban smoking on those outside areas as well.

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Councilman proposes smoking ban at Wilkes-Barre playgrounds 

Councilman Bill Barrett wants smoking prohibited at city playgrounds, a ban that other local communities have passed or plan to implement.

Barrett invited Melissa Rehrig, youth and school health coordinator for Steps to a Healthier Pa. Luzerne County, to a council meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. to discuss prohibiting smoking at playgrounds to prevent children's exposure to secondhand smoke.

Barrett learned of the organization after a co-worker at Luzerne County Community College complained about someone smoking in the playground area at Kirby Park and throwing butts in the mulch. He wants Pennsylvania to have a state law like California, which prohibits smoking in all playgrounds.

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Smoking ban in parks up for discussion at public hearing 

Seventy-four percent of those who participated in a city of Wenatchee online poll believe smoking should be allowed outright or with some restrictions in city parks. Only 26 percent of the poll's voters support an outright ban.

Those online voters and the rest of Wenatchee's population will be able to voice their opinions at a public hearing Thursday before the Wenatchee City Council.

Dave Erickson, city parks and recreation director, said he does not anticipate a decision on the issue at the hearing.

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Locals debate ban of smoking in parks  

The York City Council is considering a ban on smoking and using smokeless tobacco in parks at the urging of the York City Health Bureau and the mayor's office.

Outdoor smoking bans are becoming more popular, said Annie Tegen, senior program manager with the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.

As of April, 309 municipalities in the country prohibited smoking in parks, according to the group's Web site.

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No smoking 

The Lincoln City Parks and Recreation Department reminds people the no smoking ordinance on park facilities is now in effect. Signs have been posted

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Carlsbad Council To Draft Beach Smoking Ban Ordinance 

Another county beach is on its way to being added to the list of places where smoking is banned.

The Carlsbad City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to draft an ordinance banning smoking on Carlsbad beaches.

The Council will vote on the ordinance in early June.

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Carlsbad Set To Ban Smoking On Beaches, Parks 

The Carlsbad City Council is preparing to ban smoking on the city's beaches and parks, it was reported Wednesday.

Members of the council voted unanimously Tuesday night to direct city staff to draft the ordinance that would spell out the ban, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The decision comes three years after a group of Carlsbad High School students approached the council and asked for such a ban.

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Richland Twp. agrees to ban smoking in parks 

Richland Township supervisors on Monday banned smoking in public parks, but not before some wavering and a philosophical debate on the role of government.

Smoking in Veterans Park and other township open spaces could result in up to a $600 fine under the ban, which was part of a comprehensive set of park rules enacted by a 2-1 vote.

Last week, a majority of supervisors said they supported the smoking ban, which is similar to an ordinance Quakertown adopted in March. But one of the two, Supervisor Rick Orloff, said Monday he was reconsidering his stance in favor of prohibitions only during the summertime, when cigarettes could pose a fire hazard.

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City gets tough on smoking outdoors 

The City Council took the first step Monday in enacting some of the toughest anti-smoking regulations in the San Gabriel Valley.

If ultimately approved, the new rules would prohibit smoking in outdoor shopping and dining areas, in ATM and movie ticket lines, within 20 feet of building entrances and at outdoor events including the Rose Parade.

The council's vote Monday instructed the City Attorney's Office to draft the new ordinance, a process that typically takes about a month, said Pasadena Health Director Takashi Wada. The council would then vote to approve the new statute, which would take effect about 30 days later.

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City to snuff out smoking in parks  

Over the course of this spring and summer, cigarettes will go out in Bowling Green city parks.

City Manager Kevin DeFebbo has issued a policy to eliminate smoking in almost all locations of the city's park system. It will go into effect at individual parks, said Parks & Recreation Director Ernie Gouvas, as soon as signs announcing the change can be posted.

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City Council to hear report on proposed smoking ban  

CARLSBAD - After three years of lobbying by a pair of teenagers to get the City Council to ban smoking in public places, that push will bear fruit Tuesday.

Not in a proposed ordinance, but in a three-page report.

Angela Caraglio was a junior at Carlsbad High School and a member of the campus environmental club in May 2005, when she first went to the City Council to advocate a ban on smoking at city parks and beaches.

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Town parks and beaches tobacco-free areas 

The Town of Plattsburgh introduced a tobacco-free policy for its parks and beaches Monday.

The regulation says no one can use "any form of tobacco at or on any town-owned or -operated recreational facility, including all areas of park grounds, such as playground areas, spectator areas, athletic fields, park buildings and all beach areas."

The policy, which covers the town's 10 recreation parks and two beaches, grew from a presentation to the Town Council by members of the Adirondack Tobacco Free Network.

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