Tobacco.org

LETTER: Allegan's tobacco ban will lead to healthier nation (Letter) 

Reading Rod Smith's article that Allegan County has banned tobacco use in parks with playground equipment puts a smile on my face. According to facts shared in the article, "the use of tobacco is the most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States… Secondhand smoke, cigarette butts and tobacco spit may be hazardous to people and animals."

These are not facts to be taken lightly. I understand tobacco and smokeless tobacco users may be offended at such a law, and may feel their rights are being invaded. However, what about the rights of those who are being exposed to the harmful chemicals produced by tobacco usage? Furthermore, what about children (who can be most vulnerable) and their invasion of rights? Many children are not asked if they mind the secondhand smoke.

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- POLITICO.com 

Michigan Rep Dan Benishek's office said he had no knowledge of a "scotch and cigars" fundraising event at CPAC Thursday night and won't be attending.

But a spokesman for the One Nation PAC says that's not true and is asking for their contribution to his campaign back.

"They are denying even knowing about the party when the congressman was confirmed," said One Nation PAC spokesman Kelly Eustis. "He attended last year also."

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Parks smoking ban on hold in TC 

TRAVERSE CITY -- City Commissioner Jim Carruthers wants more time to work on smoking rules at city parks.

Commissioners were scheduled Monday to consider a parks and recreation recommendation to ban tobacco products at all city parks. But Carruthers requested the item be pulled from this week's agenda to allow time to revise the proposed ban, which he supports.

Approval for a total ban appeared uncertain. Several commissioners expressed concern that eliminating all tobacco at all parks is too restrictive.

"It just seemed like not everybody understood it," Carruthers said. "Maybe we could develop a proposal that is something that everybody could stomach."

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T.C. Looking At Smoking Ban For All City Parks  

You can't legally light up a cigarette in most Traverse City parks, but some people want to see smoking banned in all parks.

A group of concerned community members brought the issue to the city.

The issue was on Monday night's agenda, but they decided to hold off on their decision.

They want to send the idea back to the parks and recreation commission to look at it further.

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City may not ban smoking in parks  

City Commission support is wobbly for a parks board proposal to ban tobacco at all Traverse City parks.

The city's Parks and Recreation Commission last month asked the city to eliminate tobacco, including smoking, at all city parks. The item appears on the City Commission's 7 p.m. Monday agenda but carries a recommendation from city administration to shelve the plan.

Commissioner Mike Gillman doesn't think concerns about secondhand smoke in outdoor settings are valid.

"That's essentially my position. If we run into a littering problem, that's a different problem," he said.

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Starbucks patio completely smoke-free 

The patio outside Starbucks in the Learning Resource Center is now a non-smoking area.

Faculty and students made many complaints of cigarette smoke entering the building through the air intakes on the exterior walls of the building. Signs of the smoke-free zone are located on the patio and doors leading to the patio.

“Because the patio is down in a bowl, wind is primarily from the west,” said Mike Bath, director of Public Safety. “The smoke blew right into the air handlers and entered the building.”

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Smoking cited in fire that killed Pontiac man, 68 

Authorities say smoking is suspected of starting a Pontiac house fire that killed a 68-year-old Vietnam veteran and General Motors retiree who used a wheel chair.

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ASMSU committee narrowly passes bill to advocate for smoke-free campus 

ASMSU’s committees discussed several controversial bills concerning student safety and security at their Thursday night meeting in Student Services.

ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government. . . .

The committee also narrowly passed a bill supporting the creation of a smoke-free campus, following similar proposals by both the Residence Halls Association and the Council of Graduate Students. With a 5-4 vote, the committee voted in favor of advocating for a smoke-free campus, but several members said such a policy would infringe on students’ rights.

Arab Cultural Society representative Monica Shamass, who introduced the bill, said smoking is a personal decision, but when many students smoke in concentrated areas, the effects can be harmful to people.

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Careless Smoking Blamed For Fatal Pontiac Fire 

Authorities say careless smoking is to blame for a fire in Pontiac that killed a 67-year-old man.

Investigators say the man was rescued from the burning home on Gingell Street around 11: 40 p.m. Wednesday, but died at the hospital. Neighbors actually kicked in the front door to try to help him.

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• Michigan smoking ban pinches bars  

A new state report found that sales in bars that serve food declined in the first year of Michigan's smoking ban, but doesn't shed light on whether more people are smoking and drinking at home, state Department of Treasury officials said.

The department's report, issued in December, was based on sales-tax revenue and actual sales in bars, restaurants, nightclubs and hotel dining rooms, and is not intended to be a full barometer of whether the ban is hampering businesses.

The ban was signed into law by former Gov. Jennifer Granholm in December 2009, and took effect May 1, 2010.

Liquor sales inside establishments dipped 3.2 percent the year following the ban, but increased by the same percentage outside places of business, according to the report.

Meanwhile, cigarette sales declined 6.4 percent, compared to a 3.9 percent decline the year before the ban took effect.

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LETTER: Determined smokers doomed Elks Lodge (VOP letter)  

PLEASANT LAKE -- I find it sickening that the people who belong to the Elks decided to take their money from their club and take it to a casino some 50 miles away because they couldn't smoke while playing bingo. Why can people not go a couple of hours without a cigarette?

How much does it cost for gas to drive to another town to spend their money than to go to their local club and step outside to smoke the cancer stick?

They have taken away money from their club and their city, and outsourced it. Non-smoking is to protect those who do not or cannot be around the amount of smoke that is present in these places.

I would place the blame for the demise of the club on those who took their money elsewhere. Shame on them.

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Kid Rock smoking cigar at Andiamo sparks differing views on smoking in bars after ban 

Detroit musician Kid Rock has literally come under fire for smoking a cigar at the Travis Tritt concert on Friday evening at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren.

Although the musician apologized for his actions, many are still witnessing smoking in bars and restaurants even after the ban on smoking in establishments throughout the state took effect over a year and a half ago.

Followers of The Oakland Press' Facebook page have voiced their differing opinions on smoking in bars and restaurants after the 2010 act went into place.

Yvone Concepcion Whiteley thinks initial action must be taken when she sees someone smoking in a bar or restaurant.

"I would ask the manager to have the patron stop smoking," said Whiteley. "If nothing is done, I would leave the establishment, notify authorities and never return."

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• Kid Rock on cigar: 'I do receive special treatment'  

Local singer Kid Rock had a smokin' time at a concert last weekend — and he wasn't even the star of the show.

Kid Rock showed up for country music singer Travis Tritt's concert at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren on Friday, but he disturbed some of the crowd when he lit up a cigar 15 minutes after he arrived, according to Randy Snell, who was among the crowd.

Rock angered people who were expecting a nonsmoking environment in the 1,000-seat showroom. At least one patron demanded that he stop smoking, and some left, Snell said.

Snell, a registered nurse who lives in Trenton, called the owner on Saturday and plans to file a complaint with the health department.

"It's a violation of a state law, and people paid good money to come to a nonsmoking venue, but they were not treated to a nonsmoking venue," said Snell, 58. "Special privileges were extended in disregarding the law."

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Timothy's Fine Tobaccos to host annual Cigars for Soldiers fundraiser 

Timothy's Fine Tobaccos will have its annual Cigars for Soldiers fundraiser on Feb. 9.

The event at the cigar shop, 115 Center Ave., will be from 6-9 p.m. and feature 50/50 drawings; raffles and special sales. Ten percent of store proceeds will go to the fundraiser.

A representative from Miami Cigars will be on hand and will donate a cigar to the troops for every three sold, said Emily Socier, daughter of shop owner Tim Socier.

Customers will also receive a free cigar for every three bought, Emily Socier said.

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Smoking huts being removed 

Muskegon Township officials are giving six business owners until noon Friday to remove the small enclosed areas they put up for customers to smoke in. The structures vary in size from one that looks like a old bus stop shelter to another typically used as a carport. Most often they can be found on the property of a small bar or restaurant.

The bar and restaurants owners refer to the structures as "smoking huts." The township didn't issue permits to allow the business owners to alter their buildings which violates Michigan's building code.

Muskegon Township Supervisor Dave Kieft Jr. says the township has several concerns with the smoking huts including liability for the township and business owners. Kieft says some of the structures interfere with fire codes and emergency exits.

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