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Oshkosh Restaurants To Go Smoke-Free Starting April
19
by Bob
Lowe
April 13, 2004
By
a margin of 6,307 to 6,123, Oshkosh voters on April 6 approved
the state’s most inclusive ban on smoking in restaurants.
Under the measure, smoking will be prohibited in any establishment
with more than 30% of its annual sales coming from food. Establishments
like bars, where 70% or more of sales come from alcohol, would
be exempt.
The
new ordinance goes into effect on April 19, according to Paul
Spiegel, Oshkosh Health Director. The referendum was promoted
by a group called Breathe Free and opposed by the Citizens
for Freedom of Choice, Inc. and Pat Purtell, president of
the Oshkosh Tavern League. "I think everybody is just
sick and tired of small groups telling other people what to
do," Purtell told the Oshkosh Northwestern in an interview.
Purtell is the owner of Terry’s Lounge, 688 N. Main
St. Breathe Free supporters countered that health concerns,
including the danger of second-hand smoke, takes precedence
over restaurant owners right to allow smoking.
Voters
also defeated a second referendum question that would have
called for banning smoking in private businesses unless the
federal or state government moved to institute such a ban
first. That vote was 6,301 to 6,196.
Voter
turnout was about 33 per cent. The Oshkosh Health Department
will be sending notices to more than 200 establishments seeking
financial disclosure forms to show whether they should be
included or excluded from the ban before it can take effect.
The
only exception to the ban is if a restaurant has a full-service
bar that is separately ventilated that can be completely enclosed.
Under those conditions, indoor smoking will be permitted.
Otherwise, smokers will have to take their puffs outside the
premises.
***
The Fox Valley Symphony has selected Marta Weldon, 44, of
Richmond, Va., as its new executive director. Weldon was chosen
from among 50 applicants from across the country. She begins
her tenure with the 85-member symphony on June 1.
Weldon
most recently served as director of education for the Richmond
Symphony. She also was tour manager of the Richmond Woodwind
Quintet and a conference coordinator for the Regional Orchestra
Players Association. A clarinetist with the Richmond Symphony
Orchestra for many years, she taught clarinet at the Interlochen
Arts Camp in Interlochen, Michigan, and at the University
of Richmond. She is a 1981 graduate of the Oberlin College
Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio and has a masters of
music degree from the University of Michigan. In addition,
she holds a graduate certificate in non-profit management
and leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
Weldon
will be officially introduced to the symphony, its patrons
and the audience at the April 25 concert in which the FVS
will perform with The Temptations at the Fox Cities Performing
Arts Center. Weldon succeeds Carley Miller Stuber, who was
appointed to the post in September 2000. She resigned late
last year to accept a position with a hospital foundation
in Shakopee, Minn.
Federica
Doeringer was appointed interim executive director in early
January while the search-and-screen committee sought and interviewed
applicants for the position. Doeringer has been a FVS board
member for four years and most recently worked as public relations
director at Lawrence University.
***
WHBY-AM 1150 began a new line-up with its on-air talent on
April 5 and renamed some of its programs. Jay Van Stiphout,
program director, is now teamed with newswoman Jeanne Anthony
and sportscaster Jim Caston for the 5-9 a.m. weekday morning
show.
Veteran
morning host Mike Diamond will appear with Kathy Keene in
the 9-11 a.m. time slot in a program now called "Good
Morning Fox Cities."
Bob
Salm, assistant program director, joins the midday team of
Mad Dog and Merrill for the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. broadcast.
Diamond
returns to duty with Salm for the new show, "Goin’
Home," which airs from 4-6 p.m. weekdays. "Goin’
Home" replaces Van Stiphout’s "Jay Talking."
The
management also announced that Shane Sparks will be featured
on WHBY’s sister station, WSCO-AM 1570, from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. weekdays with Caston in a show entitled "The
Press Box." Sparks can also be heard from 4-6 p.m. weekdays
on WSCO.
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