MAYOR’S COLUMN

 In 2013, the Voorhees Township Committee adopted an ordinance that prohibits smoking on all Township owned land. Previously, the ban covered only public school property.

Studies have shown that breathing environmental tobacco smoke is a significant health hazard for children, the elderly, and individuals with cardiovascular disease, impaired respiratory function and asthma. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), a class A carcinogen. According to the U.S. Surgeon General 2006 report, SHS aggravates and increases the risk of chronic diseases including asthma, allergies, heart disease, pneumonia, emphysema, lung cancer, chronic bronchitis and diabetes.

The Township Committee believes that the general health and well-being of our residents is a top priority and this prohibition benefits everyone. It is in our best interest to refer to all Township owned land as “Smoke Free Zones.”

The ordinance bans smoking within the boundaries of any Voorhees Township owned land or any property which is owned, maintained or in the possession of the Township, including all parks, playgrounds, active and passive recreational facilities, the Municipal Complex, Police Department, Fire Department and the Department of Public Works. Any person found to be in violation of this ordinance will be issued a Summons and subject to a fine of $100 to $150 for the first offense, $150 to $250 for the second offense and $300 to $500 for any subsequent offense.

Voorhees is proud to join other local communities in instituting such a ban to protect the health of our residents, especially our most precious asset, our children.

** The third show in our Summer Concert Series will be Thursday, Aug. 24, and will feature Long Live the Beatles, the premier Beatles cover band. If you want to know what the Beatles experience was all about, this is the band to see. This mind blowing performance takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles. The show is free and starts at 7:30 p.m. at Connolly Park. The “Beer Garden” and food trucks will open at 6:30 p.m.

** Voorhees Township is offering discounted tickets to Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. Tickets are available in the Municipal Clerk’s Office at Voorhees Town Hall. Prices vary according to the type of ticket and several options are available to residents and non-residents. For more information about tickets visit www.voorheesnj.com.