Some bar and restaurant owners worry they might lose smoking customers if the ban is enacted with exemptions. ''I'm not trying to take anything away from the clubs, I just want a level playing field,'' said Tony Ciruolo of Sam & Joe's restaurant.

Sure! Level Playing Field......Level the business's all to the ground. Is that what you mean, Tony???!!!

DANVERS:

Some bar and restaurant owners worry they might lose smoking customers if the ban is enacted with exemptions.

Bars and restaurants are already feeling the pain of the fraternal and veterans organizations, as well as fire halls being exempt from the Delaware ban. They weren't exempted so much because of being private - but because of their "charitable fundraising" functions.

But another reason was because their bingo nights have taken such a major hit since the openning of the slots at the race tracks they still needed a bit of an edge.

All well and good - whatever the reason because it was all bogus. Because if any of those reasons (charitable fundraising, falling bingo revenues) were valid - why then was the local Catholic Church denied an exemption for it's charitable fundraising and bingo functions? Since when is a Church more of a public (i.e. taxpayer funded) than a Fire House?

These laws are so scewed as to be utterly ridiculous.

These laws are so scewed as to be utterly ridiculous.

It truely is rediculous, Gabz. And a level playing field? That alone, tells me old Tony is getting pretty worried.

The Catholic Church was exempted??? I had no idea the Church was getting involved in this. ~sigh

As far as I am concerned there is no such thing a level playing field in the hospitality industry when the government starts this type of dictatorial restrictrions.

A level playing field in the hospitality industry is when an owner makes his own decisions as to what type of clientele he wishes to entertain.

The Catholic Church was exempted??? I had no idea the Church was getting involved in this. ~sigh

I guess I wasn't very clear on that. Churches (of any denomination) were not given exemptions for their Bingo and Casino nights the way the Moose, Elks, VFW and Fire Companies were.

My parish applied for an exemption for their Bingo and were denied without reason.

The denials by the state only go to show they never had any intention of granting any exceptions to anyone for any reason.

But the antis were able to get the most important clause in the previously law removed - that of pre-emption. The antis may now go from town to town and get local councils to ban smoking anywhere that has an exemption or even on the streets for that matter.

But the antis were able to get the most important clause in the previously law removed - that of pre-emption. The antis may now go from town to town and get local councils to ban smoking anywhere that has an exemption or even on the streets for that matter.

Sounds like Delaware got a "one-up-manship" on Kookifornia. I sure wish smokers everywhere would get on the bandwagon. Most smokers must like getting screwed. Not the good kind, either.

Most smokers are on a guilt trip. They have been made to feel dirty. You ask someone if they smoke, they hang their head and say "yes." Real sheepish. I just hate that.

Here goes with the level playing field again........ they already have it built in to the system, the majority are non-smokers, that more than a level playing field.

What if stores in the up-scale end of town demanded a level playing field by demanding rents being regulated, whatever happened to good old competition.

Most smokers are on a guilt trip. They have been made to feel dirty. You ask someone if they smoke, they hang their head and say "yes." Real sheepish. I just hate that.

The hell with them.

When the fight gets down to the dirty, I don't want them on my side anyway. I avoided the type on the schoolyard playground, I avoided them in the workplace, and I avoid them in my social circle.

They're the Vichy Government grown large.

They don't speak for me.

I'm not trying to take anything away from the clubs, I just want a level playing field,'' said Tony Ciruolo of Sam & Joe's restaurant.

I told you so.

I told you so.

The joy!

The exhultation!

What affirmation you must be experiencing, down to the depths of your statist soul!!!!

This is a very good moment for you!

Kind of like the rest of your soulmates must have felt right before the fall of the Berlin Wall.

I told you so.

One of these days, "I" will tell YOU something! heh!

I hope your cute, because you sure don't have anything else going for you!

They don't speak for me.

You hit the nail on the head, Madame Dufarge!

What affirmation you must be experiencing, down to the depths of your statist soul!!!!

I hope he's cute. Because he sure doesn't have anything else going for him. That's for sure.

Sounds like Delaware got a "one-up-manship" on Kookifornia.

That's for dang sure - and the conservative majority of the southern protion of the state are going nuclear. Unfortunately the East coast liberal mentality is what populates the northern part of the state and outnumber the other 2 counties something like 2 to 1.

I sure wish smokers everywhere would get on the bandwagon.

More and more are starting to do so. Because Delaware is such a small state there never was a problem picking up the phone and calling your state representative or senator - or even the Governor for that matter. Everyone knew everyone. But there has been an unbelievable influx of the northeast/new england/california liberal mindset and money that it is nearly impossible for those same one on one relationships.

These people love the semi-rural life we have in this part of the state and so decide it is a better way of life - and immediately decide things must change. They don't like the fact that the Amish bring their wares to town twice a week or elsewise use their horse-drawn buggies to work, take kids to school and otherwise go about their daily lives. No - these people insist that the buggies should not be on the road because they are an inconvenience and have been making (unsuccessful, thankfully) attempts to do just that.

It's sickening.

Most smokers must like getting screwed.

As I said - things are changing rapidly around here. After picking up our tree this afternoon we stopped by our favorite place. 4:30 on saturday afternoon and we had our pick of practically any seat in the house. There was no wait staff, the bartender not only had to handle those at the bar, but those who chose a table. There was not enough business to have any additional staff.

Business is hurting badly already, and not just there. while we were there (about an hour) 4 different tables got occupied - the folks at them, some I've seen there before on a saturday for dinner, all ordered drinks and then their meals - all meals were to go.