A job well done â almost
The Chingawassa Days steering committee pulled off another successful weekend in Marion.
I spent most of Saturday in the park taking photos and I didn't hear any complaints.
Congratulations to all of those who helped with the planning process.
However, there was one thing that disappointed me.
I can't begin to count the number of times I saw someone smoking a cigarette.
Yes, I know it's a public park and it is a person's right to smoke if they want to. But obviously they didn't take into consideration the number of children running around the park.
This not only happened over the weekend, but it is something that happens daily.
I am at the baseball/softball complex several evenings a week watching my cousins play ball and, once again, I can't count the number of people I see smoking.
Do these people have no respect for those around them? Yeah, they move off to the side or behind the bleachers, but the smell drifts with the breeze. Even if there is no breeze, the odor goes somewhere.
It's hard for me to believe that these people who think they need to light up every few minutes can't wait until they get home. Or better yet, go sit in your car and smoke your cigarette if it's so important.
All I am asking is for a smoke-free environment for once. Not only are the children affected by the smokers, but the rest of the audience is as well.
So next time you prepare to light up, think about those around you.
Let's keep the environment clean for everyone.
— Jessica Bernhardt
