~Whao!!!! You actually make jelly with jalapeno peppers? I bet that jelly has quite a kick! LOL 
Posted on 07/15/2006 7:30:05 AM PDT by SheLion
The Pennsylvania Restaurant Association has thrown its support behind a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants, bars, casinos and private clubs.
So why couldn't we find any local establishments who agree with them?
Admittedly, we used a small sample, but when staff writer Jeff Pikulsky talked to owners of Mon Valley clubs and restaurants last week, he found angry opposition to the proposed ban.
Monessen Elks Club Steward Marcy Zites estimated that 70 percent of her club patrons smoke and feared that a ban would be bad for business.
Those sentiments were echoed at the Foster House in North Belle Vernon, where bartender Lisa Vestrat said customers have been complaining about the possibility of a ban.
At the High Point restaurant in Coal Center, Loretta Sepesy lamented, "People like to have a drink and cigarette. They take away all of your rights anymore."
The proposal to ban smoking in public places was introduced by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, a Republican from Montgomery, and is currently being considered by the Senate's Public Health & Welfare Committee. Similar legislation in the House died in committee last month.
The ban is being offered out of concern for the health and welfare of employees who work in those facilities and are exposed to second-hand smoke. A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General brands second-hand smoke as a health risk and recommends that it be banned from public gathering places.
We understand the concern of the state's Restaurant Association and its desire to be on the politically correct side of the smoking argument. But we think the organization should have contacted more of its members to see if they feel the same way.
It's our position that in a free society, this decision should be up to the individual restaurants, not the government. Restaurants who want to ban smoking should be welcome to do so, and customer response will determine if they are right or wrong.
"The sun does more damage to peoples' bodies than second-hand cigarette smoke," said Monessen Elks Club trustee Brian Mears. "What is the government going to do next, shut down the sun?
Shh, Brian, don't give them any ideas.
Well, good luck with fighting the anti's there in Virginia. What a mess.
How is it fair to dictate a business owner's clientele?
As to clean air.......how come a place can burn candles, incense, a fireplace or a big smoky BBQ but can't permit folks to light a cigarette or cigar? Smoke is smoke.....if it's clean air you want you better eliminate all the other sources of smoke or else you are being hypocritical.
Ruh Roh..........I guess I can count you out as a potential customer for my specialty jellies.......jalapeno jelly is the mildest of my pepper jellies. But you might enjoy my wine or garlic ones.
LOLOLOL!!!!!
~Whao!!!! You actually make jelly with jalapeno peppers? I bet that jelly has quite a kick! LOL
Tell me aboutit.
But what really makes it all the more unpalatable is that it is a VERY tiny minority that has taken control....they control the media and the message, because they also control the MONEY.
Nearly everyone on this site screams bloody murder about the homosexual agenda.....let me tell you all something, that is peanuts compared to what the nanny-state anti-smokers are doing to our children, and obviously many so-called adults.
Individual businesses always have had the option to declare their particular establishemnt a non-smoking facility. No law is/was required to do this on an individual basis.
With legislation, though, no one has the option of letting their customers smoke.
Just another case of passing a law to do something any business with stones could have done on their own, and imposing it on everyone who did not want it as well.
No, I don't. And I would favor choice. I'd be happy with signs saying this is/is not a smoking establishment.
I think these laws are a lot less about smoking in eateries and more about discouraging smokers. I was at one time up in arms about that, but not anymore. When you have family members dying from smoking - related illnesses, I pretty much feel society could use a little help from the bully pulpit to stop/curb it. I'm sure you will disagree, and you're entitled, as I'm entitled to my opinion, so put that in your pipe and smoke it (JK).
I don't smoke pipes, thank you.
Because they are aromatics verses smelling like an ashtray. I have yet to walk into a tabacco store where they are pumping smoke from in Marborlo country!
There is no hope for some people.
They choose to remain blind.
The smokers in this case were the majority of the group, yet it was the smokers who wished to accomodate the non-smokers.
My tolerance for prissy anti-smokers is getting very thin of late. Yesterday we were out, with the above mentioned friend, enjoying a few beers at one of our favorite waterfront places. We were sitting at the bar, OUTSIDE, with a nice crisp 20knot breeze blowing, and some jagoff started whining about cigarette smoke blowing in his direction. They were sitting at a table, not at the bar, and the waitress offered to move them to a different table. He refused because "they liked the view" from where they were sitting, but wanted the smoking stopped. The waitress informed him that smoking was permitted and they were welcome to move to a different table or inside to the non-smoking section.
He told her they would leave if the smoking wasn't stopped and she told him that was his perogative, but the people at the bar (nearly 30) were not doing anything wrong.
Long story short.......the entire bar broke, and surrounding tables, out in a round of applause as he and his 2 companions got up and left. The waitress got far more in tips than she would have from that table, because all of us at the bar tipped her, including the non-smokers.
And we also work together to make everyone happy.
When we got home yesterday evening no one was in the mood for leftovers so hubby suggested takeout and that didn't appeal to me because it still meant having to go out and then do dishes so I suggested the local Chinese Buffet instead (it's actually cheaper than take-out and there's no mess or leftovers in the fridge).
We love the place because the food is so good and it's cheap.....and we don't give a hoot that it is non-smoking. It's the owner's decision, not the government's.......and therein lies the difference.
BTW, the "anti-smoking" law in NY is universally ignored in Herkimer.
Interesting.
Added my favorite keyword, "TOBACCOPHOBICS," to the thread.
and.....BUMP!!
You've got that right. I can't believe my "baby" is now 8.
We've kept them at bay, by exposing their lies, for 2 years now, but I have a feeling they will be stepping up their campaign by the fall once again. I actually had as many non-smokers as smokers working to kill it this past year........
My state Delegate told me he received close to 1,000 calls and emails in opposition to the ban and also told me our state Senator received even more.
It truly sickens me that it is Republicans in the state Senate pushing for it, and the Dem Governor is not real supportive. Go figger.
OK fine, it was meant as a joke. I'm disconnecting from this thread and conversation now. Over and OUT.
LOL!!!!!
Actually it's more sweet than hot. The habanero jelly is an entirely different story.
I rarely make the kind of jelly you would use on a PB&J sandwich.
Most of my jellies are for appetizers or condiments. The garlic and wine jellies are fabulous on steak or a roast beef sandwich. The pepper jellies are great with cream cream cheese on crackers, or as a glaze on poultry or pork.
ROFL.........you don't actually believe that do you?
I will take the aroma of a fine cigar over some kissy-prissy incense or candle any day.
there are only 3 real circumstances under which I will light candles in my home (other than birthday cakes) - when the power goes out, or after I have cooked hot peppers or certain types of seafood and for that purpose I only use vanilla scented candles.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.