Thumbs up to Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant and congratulations for achieving Gold Level recognition from the American Heart Association. Cummins' initiative to be part of the Heart Association's Fit-Friendly program centered on encouraging employees to live a healthier and more active lifestyle and giving them support to do just that.
And in that vein, thumbs up to first lady Michelle Obama and her campaign to encourage families to create kitchen gardens in order to support and create healthier eating habits. Most recently, she wrote a book telling the story of the White House kitchen garden, detailing travails and triumphs. Proceeds from sales of the book, by the way, will go to the National Park Foundation.
We contrast the first lady's proactive and practical approach to teaching lessons in healthy living, to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's bizarre proposal to forbid the sale of soda and other sugary beverages in containers that hold more than 16 ounces. He sees this ban at restaurants, delis, sports arenas and movie theaters as a way to fight obesity - as if people who are used to consuming calorie-laden soft drinks 20 ounces at a time won't simply start ordering two 12-ounce cups. Or will that be forbidden too?
On a different topic, with the confirmation of a rabid bat found in the town of Ellery, thumbs up to everyone who has their pets immunized. A series of free rabies clinics continues today from 9 to 11 am. at the Sinclairville Fire Hall, 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Ashville Fire District Building at Stow, and Thursday, June 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the town of Ellicott Highway garage on East Mosher Street in Falconer. These clinics are sponsored by the Chautauqua County Health Department and local towns.
Need we point out the clinics are examples of helpful things government actually can do to protect the public's health and well being?