, Jan. 21, 2016 — HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley's TFAC program — Tobacco Free Action Communities in Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan — named Ulster County Executive Michael Hein and former county Legislator Jeanette Provenzano "Tobacco-Free Community Champions" for spearheading a major effort to protect Ulster County youth from exposure to tobacco marketing near schools.
"The work County Executive Hein and former Legislator Provenzano have done to make our county a healthier place to live, work and play is an outstanding example of community leadership at its very best," said TFAC Director Ellen Reinhard.
The efforts by Hein and Provenzano led to a county law that took effect Jan. 1 requiring retailers selling tobacco products to be licensed by the county and prohibiting such licenses for retailers operating within 1,000 feet of a K-12 school in the county.
Retailers operating within 1,000 feet of a K-12 school that possessed valid state tobacco sales registration certificates before Jan. 1 are exempt from the "school proximity" rule due to a grandfather clause. But they must still apply for a county license to sell tobacco.
"I want to thank Ellen Reinhard and TFAC for all the work they do in Ulster County, as well as their educational support for the local law we passed that will help protect our children long into the future," Hein said. "I am honored by this recognition, but the passage of this law was truly a community effort and a great example of what can be accomplished when we come together for the benefit of everyone, and I want to specifically thank Jeanette Provenzano, who was pivotal in guiding this measure successfully through the county Legislature. It is that community mindset that will continue to make Ulster County not only one of the healthiest counties in New York state, but also the finest place anywhere to live, work and raise a family."
Provenzano thanked Hein "for working with me in creating this local law to reduce youth exposure to tobacco."
"I appreciate the work TFAC does to educate the community on the dangers of tobacco and the support of the Legislature's Public Health and Social Services Committee members in moving this important piece of legislation to the floor for a vote," Provenzano added. "I'm delighted to know that one day our efforts will create tobacco-free school zones in our county."
The law is intended to reduce youth exposure to tobacco marketing, as well as tobacco sales. Tobacco marketing is a leading cause of youth smoking.
"Every year, more than 28,000 people in this state die from smoking. And 9 out of 10 of them started smoking as children," HealthAlliance President and CEO David Scarpino said.
"We must stop children and teens from smoking," he continued. "This is why we are proud to recognize Mike Hein and Jeanette Provenzano as Tobacco-Free Community Champions. They know the statistics and they know how this law will help change them. Kudos to them for creating and passing legislation that will save lives."
###
About Tobacco Free Action Communities
TFAC, a program of HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, is a leader in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan counties. Its vision is a future free of death and illness from tobacco. TFAC, funded by the New York state Department of Health's Bureau of Tobacco Control, seeks to save lives by advocating for public policies that keep youth from smoking, help smokers quit and protect everyone from secondhand smoke. All TFAC efforts support the state's envisioned tobacco-free norm. For more information, visit tobaccofreeactioncommunities.org.
About HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley®
HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley® is the alignment of HealthAlliance Hospital: Mary's Avenue Campus and Broadway Campus, as well as Margaretville Hospital, Mountainside Residential Care Center and Woodland Pond at New Paltz. As the parent organization with a unified governance structure, the goal of HealthAlliance is to strengthen the quality of care and bring forward enhanced technology to serve the present and future healthcare needs in the Hudson Valley. HealthAlliance and its affiliate facilities are committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care and ensuring patient safety, privacy and dignity to all. For further information about HealthAlliance, visit our website at www.hahv.org.