Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 12, 2006, edition 1 / Page 3
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Restaurants closing smoking sections BY SANDRA ISLEY THE CHRONICLE Following in the footsteps of other restaurants, (iolden Corral at Hanes Mall has decided to kick a deadly habit At the start of the new year, the restaurant barred smoking. According to manager Terry Nluckenfuss, it was a decision made by owner David (honewoller, who is a smoker. "Wheit you look at the big picture, and that's w hat our owner did, his thought is that more peo ple would be happy with it, even though he knew some wouldn't be," Muckenfuss said. "We're getting more positive feedback than negative." One of the biggest factors that determined the ban of smoking in the family-based restaurant was the presence of children. he said. "We have a lot of children that come into the Golden Corral. It's a family restaurant, so he (Gronewoller) just felt like it would be best for most ot our clientele if we went to nonsmok ing," said Muckenfuss. The Midtown Dessertery also recently banned smoking at its Stratford Road location. The Forsyth County Department of Public Health has been lobbying local restaurants to ban smoking completely. Department officials say that even eateries with nonsmoking sec tions put those who do (lot light up at risk of secondhand smoke exposure. " ? Studies have shown that sec ondhand smoke can cause asth ma, bronchitis and pneumonia. Secondhand smoke has also been linked to premature births, according to J. Nelson- Weaver, the director of the Health Department's Infant Mortality Reduction Coalition. . "Secondhand smoke can cause premature births, and that is the leading reason we have babies die in this community (from pre mature births)," Weaver said. "So, if you're exposed to secondhand smoke while you are pregnant, that can actually cause you to go into labor much too early, and that's very, very dangerous for babies." Weaver believes that most restaurants are hesitant to ban smoking in their facilities because it will have an adverse effect on business Muckenfus* said thai a few patrons have walked away from Ciolden ( orral after learning about the ban, but he remains optimistic about the outcome. He believes m, the long run it will prove beneficial. According to Ellis Wendell Doss, owner and operator of Doss' Old lashion Ice ( 'ream, the bottom line has remained unchanged for his restaurant since he banned smoking last May. He's only seen one change. 'It's changed my clientele," Doss said. "I don't have as many people from 18 to 27 years of Singleton age as I used to have, but I picked up more people that are from the age of 30 on, because they appreci ate the nonsmoking atmosphere." Going into his sec ond year of his second attempt to quit smok ing, Doss feels that the air in the restaurant is cleaner and healthier 'The air quality in the restau rant is 100 percent better You wouldn't believe the difference in the air conditioner filters when I change those monthly, or how much cipher they arc tJtian what they used to be because every body was smoking in here," Doss said. Local cigarette giant R.J. Reynolds has no problem with restaurants making decisions on their own to ban smoking. However, the company doesn't believe that the government should pass laws to create such bans. "If Golden Corral, or other chains for that matter&Jecide that they want to ban smoking for whatever reason, just because of the mix of their customers or just because they're not getting much request for seating in their smok ing section, that's fine," said John Singleton, director of communi cations at R.J.R. "We would still prefer accommodation of both Smokers and nonsmokers." Smoking is a matter of free dom and one of personal choice, Singleton added. For smokers who would like to quit, the Health Department has added a new support line. The quit line is open every day and provides you with one-on-one coaching. It is available in EnglisJi?*Spanish and other lan guages. The number is 1-800 QUIT-NOW or online at www.QuitlineNC xom . Winston named a top digital city SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE . Winston-Salem has been ranked as one of the top 10 most technology advanced cities in Amenta for the fourth-straight year The ("enter for Digital Government 2005 Digital Cities Survey of cities with a popula tion of 125,000 to 249,999 ranked Winston-Salem third. The annual study examines how gpity governments are using digi Til technologies to better serve their citizens and streamline operations During 2005, the city's Information Systems Department supervised comple tion and activation of the new 800 MHz public safety commu nicaUon system, added an online lien, assessment application, and implemented new in-house com puter programs for the Human Resources and Finance depart mcnts. During 2006 the depart ment will update the city's Web site. The city also ranked third among cities of its size in 2004, second in 2003 and 10th in 2002. Winston-Salem was one of the first cities in the United States to oiler a public w ireless hotspot (WiFi on Fourth). The city is also a partner in WinstonNet, the high-speed community computer network that gives all city residents access to the Internet through more than 40 community acccss centers. Examples of other digital services by the city include online requests for services, online payment of water and sewer bills, online job applica tions. and purchase of building permits. News Clips Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful to hold arts fund- raiser Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful is soliciting art donations and selling tickets for "Art Has a Heart," a gala fund-raiser to be held Feb. 10 from 6 to 10 p.m at the Millennium Center, 101 W. Fifth St. Original art feaiuring recycled materials, as well as "recycled" canvases, prints, photos, sculptures, painted furniture and yard art, will be available for purchase. The proceeds of all sales will help create a grant fund for com munity beautification pro grams. The gala will include live music, catered food, free bev erages and a cash cocktail bar. Tickets are $25 per per son. Discounts are available for groups of four or more. Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful is soliciting dona tions of unused or under appreciated art for the fund raiser. Resident artists are invited to donate original art that features recycled materi als. All donations are tax deductible. To purchase tickets or donate art, call Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful at 727-8013. Smart Start receives early intervention grant Smart Start of Forsyth County received an early inter vention grant for $30,000 from the N.C. Partnership for Children through a donation from Bank of America This grant will fund an early inter vention transition coordinator to assist children and their families as they transition from Child Development Services Association (CDSA) into the Winston-Salem Forsyth C?inty school system The CDSA serves children ages birth to 2, and Winston- Salem Forsyth County Schools serves children ages 3 to 5. According to an April 2005 report from the Frank Porter Graham institute. 10,515 chil dren enrolled in 216 child care programs in Forsyth County had 161 children with docu mented special needs and anoth er 155 children referred for evacuation. This does not reflect needs of children who are not enrolled in regulated child care in Forsyth County, which is approximately 18,000 children ages birth to 5. According to estimates, approximately 12 percent of children in this age range are suspected to have spe cial needs in Forsyth County. "Smart Start of Forsyth County is pleased to have the opportunity to assist this special group of children and their fam ilies," said Pamela Wyatt, exec utive director of Smart Start of Forsyth County. These funds will provide assistance in bridging CDSA, Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools, the child and parents in coordinating the transition serv ices and communicating key information to the parties. tor mure uitunuatiuo about this program or other sen ices provided by Smart Start of lorsv th ( ouiii\ . call (336) 725 6011, or visit www snurtstart fc.org 'Color of Love' author to speak On Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Nlalloy Jordan East Winston Henlagc Center, 1110 E. Seventh St., author Gene Cheek will dis cuss his book "The Color of Love: A Mother's Choice in (he Jim Crow South." He will Cheek also answer questions as well as sign copies of his l?ok. His book is about his moth er's controversial marriage in-; the 1960s to a black njan. The interracial couple lived in Winston-Salem, where much of Cheek's book is based. Gov. Easley proclaims January as Mentoring Month RALEIGH - Gov. Mike Easley has proclaimed January as Mentoring Month to empha size the importance of mentor ing, recognize those already involved in mentoring, and recruit new mentors for young people in North Carolina. The theme for this year's national observance is "Share What You Know. Mentor a Child." North Carolina's third annu al "Thank Your Menhir Day" will be held on Jan 25, wheu citizens are urged lu thank and honor those who have encour aged and guided them by coo tacting (heir mentun directly, sending their mentor an e card, becoming mentors themselves, or posting a tribute to their mentor on the campaign Web site, www whomentorjdyou.org State employees are encour aged lo use their community service leave to serve as men tors. Brochures are being dis tributed to government agen cies with information about the community service policy and how to become a mentor. African- American Art Gallery Talk Reynolda House Museum of American Art will host a Gallery Talk on Tuesday, Jan 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The focus of the talk will he the cucrent exhibition. Taper, Leather. Wood: African-American Art of the Twentieth Century, on view through l;eb. 5. The exhibi tion is housed in the new Works on Paper Gallery in the historic house. The new exhibition show cases the works of a range of artists, including Jacob Lawrence, Horace Pippin, Romare Bearden and Lorna Simpson. Allison Slaby, Reynolda House assistant curator, will speak on the museum's col lection of African-American art on Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. A wine reception will follow the talk, and space is limited. For information, call (336) 758 *5150. The cost is $5. A MILLION HERE, A MILLION THERE, W "*> Pretty Soon You're Making Real Progress How much difference can $30 million of targeted investments make in Winston-Salem ? and Forsyth County? Just look around. The non-profit Millennium Fund has invested private sector funds to provide a catalyst for new jobs, new construction, downtown revitalization and a growing arts community. In the last three years. The Millennium Fund has invested in: m ? Sup?prt for the Downtown + Winston-Sale Partnership ? Pied ont Triad Research Pafk a ? Land acquisition and site i prove ents to h^Jp attract Dell's new anufacturing plant mm t ? Nissen Building residential redevelop ent in downtown Winston-Sale * ? Goler/Depot Street Co unity Neighborhood^ revitalization m ? Southeast Gateway ? Land control for a potential new downtown baseball stadiu ? West End Village resident^ develop ent . ? The Alliaj^re Science and TejjJinology Park ? Plans for the dt^ntown Civic Plaza ? The Stevens Center renovation ? Pied ont Crafts en s new shop in the Arts District ? National Black Theatre Festival ? 4th Street Jazz and Blues ? Su er on Trade ? Rock the Block ? Hispanic Festival ? RiverRun International Fil Festival * ? Winston-Sale and Forsyth County's 250th Anniversary ? Support for entrepreneurial develop ent ? Children's Museu of Winston-Sale ? Support for Winston-Sale Business ? Arts Ignite So as you drive around Winston-Salem and Forsytft County , take a look. You will see how The Millennium Fund is helping to make our community a bitter place to work and live. Millennium Fund Oversight Executive Committee Sidney Falken, Sara Lee; Dr. Harold L. Martin, Sr., Winston-Salem State University; Don Flow, Flow Motors; David Neill, The Neill Group; F. Borden Hanes, Bowens, Hanes & Company, Inc.; Jeffrey L. Smith, Smitty's Notes; Redge Hanes, The Encore Group; Steve SnelgrWe, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center; J. Allen Joines, Winston-Salem Alliance; Ralph Womble, Trade Street Partners; Scott Wierman (Ex-ofFicio), Winston-Salem Foundation , WinstonfSalem MILYENNIUMFUND Revitalizing Our City ? Shaping Our Future ? Bringing Us Together
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Jan. 12, 2006, edition 1
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