The Times Advocate, 2004-08-25, Page 44
Exeter Times—Advocate
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
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EDITORIALS
Freedom
to breathe
Fmployees and members of the public can
start to breathe a bit easier Sept. 4, when
Huron County's bylaw banning smoking in
public buildings and workplaces goes into effect.
Once the bylaw kicks in, there will be no smok-
ing in restaurants, bars, bingo halls, bowling
alleys, casinos, Legions, washrooms, lobbies, staff
rooms, buses, taxis and company vehicles.
Smoking rooms are not allowed under the bylaw.
The only exceptions to the bylaw are long-term
care and psychiatric facilities.
While some business owners may understand-
ably not be happy with the bylaw, the bylaw is
great news for those who are fed up with breath-
ing in second hand smoke.
Second hand smoke is loaded with dangerous
chemicals. In fact, the smoke from the lit end of a
cigarette is more toxic than the smoke inhaled
and exhaled from a smoker and contains 4,000
chemicals, 43 of which are cancer causing. Some
of these chemicals include lead, ammonia,
arsenic, butane, formaldehyde, acetone and ben-
zene.
According to information provided by Huron
County, second hand smoke can cause lung can-
cer, strokes, nasal sinus cancer, coronary and
ischaemic heart disease and eye and nasal irrita-
tion, among others.
Obviously, owners of places such as bars and
restaurants have concerns. These concerns are
justified, although studies have shown some peo-
ple who don't go out to establishments because
they allow smoking will go when smoking is
banned. So while bars and restaurants could lose
the business of some smokers, they could gain
new customers in non-smokers.
Some are against the bylaw because they say it
infringes on their freedom. They say in a free
country they should be allowed to smoke in
restaurants, bars and other public places. What
about the freedom of non-smokers who don't
want to breathe in cigarette smoke?
The point is, the health of non-smokers should-
n't be put at risk because of the bad habits of oth-
ers. It's fine for smokers to light up in the comfort
of their own smoke-filled homes, but when they're
out in public they have to respect the wishes of
those who choose not to poison their lungs.
The smoke-free bylaw is welcome news.
About the Times -Advocate
Editorial Opinion
Another great season of local theatre
One of the perks of my job is being able to attend
performances at Huron Country Playhouse and the
Blyth Festival in return for writing a review of the
show.
This summer I have been given the opportunity to
see each of the productions put on at the playhouse
and the majority of those in Blyth and I must
say I had a good time at each and every one.
The latest, and last for this season, was the
Huron Country Playhouse production of 'Man
of La Mancha' and although it was a great
show with passionate performances from the
talented cast, it did not come without a
moment of regret when I realized it was
indeed the last show of the season and I
wouldn't be heading out to Grand Bend for a
while to see another show.
The last show of the season at Blyth was
'Test Drive,' which I thoroughly enjoyed at the
opening Aug. 12.
I would recommend either of these shows to
anyone who still wants to take in some local theatre
this summer.
I think it's great small-town theatres like the Huron
Country Playhouse and the Blyth Festival can not only
survive but thrive in these troubling economic times.
In small towns such as Blyth and Grand Bend,
tourism is a big boost to the local economy and if the
theatres can draw the people in and let them see all
there is to offer in Huron and Lambton counties then
all the more power to them.
Every time I went to see a show, it was practically a
full house and I must applaud guild members who not
only attend the shows themselves in order to support
the theatre but also bring with them countless friends
and family.
I hope I will be able to have the opportunity
to continue attending local theatre for years to
come and see it evolve into something even
greater than it is today.
It is the small-town theatres that give bud-
ding actors their first opportunities on stage
and I was thrilled to see children on stage at
the playhouse. There is talent waiting to be dis-
covered and it's great the theatre gives those
children the opportunity to perform.
Another opportunity for children to explore
their dramatic talents came through the
drama camps offered at the playhouse
throughout the summer.
Similarly, Young Company at the Blyth
Festival gives youth the opportunity to see what it's
like to be part of a theatre company.
In both of these theatre programs, the participants
are able to perform in their own productions in front of
friends and family.
I know that's something I would have loved to have
been a part of when I was a kid.
So, here's to great theatre and another exciting sea-
son next year.
MARY
SIMM
PENNY F
THOUGH
ONS
OR MY
TS
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