Smoking or Non-Smoking ??

the Coalition for a Smoke Free Quincy is working to educate local residents about the health risks involved with secondhand smoke and eventually hope to lobby for a smokefree ordinance targeting Quincy restaurants.

The coalition has the support of the Adams County Board of Health and the Adams County Medical Society, although the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors does not support a government-mandated smoking ban.

"We're doing assessments to see what the residents feel like," said Ellen Vonderheide, coordinator of Planned Approach to Community Health and a member of the coalition. "We'll have the results back from that shortly after the first of the year. We're looking at putting some petitions together to have citizens sign, to see the interest for a smokefree ordinance. But (pushing for an ordinance) is a little bit down the road yet."

She says about 30 people are actively involved in the coalition's efforts, and she's received numerous calls of support from community members, although she understands that some smokers and businesses object to smoking bans.

"The goal is not to infringe on the rights of anybody, but to protect the rights of non-smokers so they are not exposed to the secondhand smoke and all the health risks that secondhand smoke can represent," Vonderheide said.

"The goal is not to infringe on the rights of anybody, but to protect the rights of non-smokers ??????