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Fortin Park Becomes

A Tobacco-Free Zone

Oneonta Town Supervisor Bob Wood and Town Clerk Cheryl Shackelton, left, stand with Deyanira Cisneros and Bonnie Peck, right, from SUNY Cobleskill’s Research Foundation, who presented them with several signs this morning at Town Hall. The news signs will soon be hung in Fortin Park in Emmons, proclaiming the area a tobacco-free zone. That means no cigarettes, vaping and or chewing. The signs are part of the Advancing Tobacco Free Communities program , funded by a grant from the state Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Control. “Ten years ago I owned a grocery store that sold cigarettes,” said Wood. “If I was to own a grocery store today, I would not sell tobacco at all. (The town) is glad to get ahead of the advancing tobacco technology to protect our youth.” Although the signs throw a little bit of a misconception – vapes are to be shown as crossed out and are therefore banned from being used in these areas, even though vapes don’t contain tobacco, as you can in this Vape Starter Kit. Perhaps nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco that smokers crave, should be the slogan for the poster instead, reading ” This is a nicotine-free zone”. It is a shame to completely ban vapes, as those used with a weed e liquid that gets you high can actually have many health benefits to those using them. A blanket ban makes it easier to enforce, though. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)

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