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Hoping to amend the city's new ban on smoking for on and around outdoor patios, smokers, bar owners and their supporters have gathered 1,083 signatures to give to the City Council this evening.

After seeing the council's close 4-3 vote in favor of the new ban, regular Molly McGee's patron and cigar smoker Jim Neal was inspired to circulate the petition in the city's bars. He hopes to sway at least one member of the City Council this evening to amend the ordinance during its required second reading.

If the council votes to approve the ordinance for a second time this evening, the new ban goes into effect in 90 days and prohibits smoking within 25 feet of outdoor patios, windows or doors of workplaces, restaurants and any publicly accessible building where smoking is already banned. That covers wide swaths of the city, including most of Castro Street, where smoking would only be allowed for those walking from one destination to another. Neal said he wants the city continue to allow smoking in outdoor patios attached to bars.

Neal and signers of the petition argue that the ban will force bar patrons to go out into the street or dark parking lots to smoke, which could be dangerous for female smokers, while increasing cigarette litter and the likelihood that smokers would get cited by police for being drunk in public.

"You got adults only, 21 years old, and plus, at night time," said Rob Graham, co-owner of Sports Page, a bar on North Shoreline Boulevard. "These people are not going to stop smoking."

Graham is convinced that he will lose business that comes from visitors to local tech companies from locales where smoking is more acceptable, citing a study in Beverly Hills where smoking bans reduced customer traffic to businesses frequented by tourists. He says he has a 6,000-square-foot patio that will be completely off-limits to smokers, even though portions are more than 25 feet from the building.

"There's nothing here that will reduce exposure to second-hand smoke," Graham said, echoing Neal's assertions. "The reason most people have patios in first place is the 1998 ordinance which prohibited smoking in restaurants. All it does is move people from existing outdoor smoking areas."

While council member Jac Siegel said he based his decision to approve the ban on the effects of second-hand smoke on the employees of business, whom he said had little choice. But Graham claims that his employees do not have to go out into his patio to breathe second-hand smoke, and his customers don't either.

Neal claims that 47 percent of his petition signers were non-smokers, and 37 percent of the bar employees who signed it were non-smokers. The petition was circulated at St. Stephen Green, Fred's Place, Bert's Alibi bar, Francesca's, Sports Page and Molly McGee's.

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Tonight: smokers hope to overturn smoking ban for bar patios

Container gardening is growing smaller.

Suppliers are downsizing this season with easier-to-use trough planters, raised beds, pots or bags. It's an effective way to produce edibles or blooms in tight spaces.

One of the leaders in this less-is-better concept is EarthBox, a Scranton, Pa., manufacturer of self-watering plant containers. A half-size version designed for growing herbs and salad greens outdoors on deck railings, patios, rooftops and fire escapes, or indoors from kitchen windowsills, was introduced in January.

"It was a consumer-driven product," said Frank DiPaolo, EarthBox's general manager. "People told us they were interested in using self-watering technology for leafy greens and herbs and for growing them inside. For that purpose, the original EarthBox might have been too big."

Like the EarthBox original, the compact "Junior" has a water reservoir that wicks moisture to plant roots, reducing the need for daily watering while boosting yields. Junior measures just 23 by 7.25 by 9.5 inches, compared to the original's 29 by 14 by 11 inches.

An estimated 17 percent of gardeners — or about 20 million households — do their growing in containers, often in restricted spaces, said Bruce Butterfield, market research director for the National Gardening Association.

Many people don't have the need or the urge to grow eight or 10 herb plants, DiPaolo said. "Going downsized gives them a chance to grow just a couple of things they desire. Then they can free up their standard-size boxes for tomatoes and larger plants like that."

Containers come in all shapes and sizes and are particularly popular with urban gardeners. They are portable, easy to reach across, and absorb more of the sun's heat for faster plant growth than in-ground gardens do.

"They're also good season extenders," DiPaolo said. "I have mine sitting on the edge of the driveway. If I have tomatoes that are still bearing in late fall, I simply roll them into the garage overnight to protect them from frost, and then roll them back out again in the morning for some sun."

Tiered planters, window boxes, hanging baskets and grow bags also qualify as small space planters.

"Bags can easily be stored from season to season if you live in an urban area," said Maree Gaetani, a spokeswoman for Gardener's Supply Co., in Burlington, Vt. "We have raised beds (kits) now that you can set right on your patio."

Most common garden vegetables can be container-grown, although plant breeders have developed some new dwarf varieties that produce uncommonly high yields. Shallow-root edibles that perform well in pots include lettuces, peppers, onions, carrots, radishes and herbs.

"What really matters when you're growing vegetables in containers is making sure you fertilize," Gaetani said. "It also matters what kinds of soils you use so they aerate properly. Growing the right kinds of plants, giving them the right amount of water and finding locations that provide at least five hours of sun per day also are important."

Using the smaller, lighter containers makes it a great deal easier to move them there.

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Online:

For more information on growing vegetables in containers, try this North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service website:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8105.html

You can contact Dean Fosdick at deanfosdick(at)netscape.net

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Downsizing makes container gardening easier

In the summer time, when the suns temperature is it at its highest, it is essential that there are adequate areas of shade provided around the home`s exterior that will allow for some protection from the suns rays.

Small terraces and patios may benefit from a simple sun parasol, but the majority of homes will require much larger areas of shade to be provided that can accommodate seating areas to allow for alfresco eating with friends and family..

Increasing in popularity, one of the easiest ways to introduce shade around your home is to install sun awnings or patio awnings. With the increase in the awareness of skin diseases from over exposure to the harmful effects of the suns uv rays, it is no wonder homeowners are looking at ways of protecting their families health.

Sun awnings are ideal for home installations as the take up no space on the ground. They are fixed to the wall above head height and when not in use and are barely even noticeable. When the weather dictates, the awning can be easily retracted to provide as much or as little shade is necessary. For hotter climates or where the awning will be used frequently, electric sun awnings are normally specified. For only occasional use, a manually operated sun awning is generally more than adequate.

Sun awnings can be fully customised at the time of ordering. With endless fabric designs to choose from in a wide range of bespoke sizes, there are patio awnings available to meet any shading application. Awnings are such a versatile product that they can be installed into many locations including patios over windows and doorways etc.

Domestic sun awnings tend to fall into 3 categories

The cheapest form of awnings are open cassette awnings. This style is basic in that the fabric roll and mechanism is still visible when the awning is retracted. This means that an open cassette awning is not really suited to being left out over the winter months as the rain and frost can start to rot the fabric over a period of time.

Semi cassette awnings are slightly better at dealing with being left out for prolonged periods. Although still slightly exposed to the elements when closed, the awning fabric is at least protected from the elements.

The premium type of sun awning is the full cassette awning. The full cassette completely covers both the awning fabric and retractable arms from the elements and from view when not in use. Also because the cassette provides protection against the weather, a full cassette awning is ideal for automation using remote controls or wall switches. Full cassette awnings can be left out throughout the year.

You can also now buy sun awnings direct from many online retailers that will be delivered to your door. So why wait, invest now.

Continued here:
Increasing in popularity, one of the easiest ways to introduce shade around your home is to install sun awnings

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Dave Underwood, Matt Jeshurun and Daniel Rainey hanging out after eating lunch at Bar Louie at Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills.

By DEBBIE LEVESKI
Special to The Oakland Press

Chad Apap, General Manager, Bar Louie at Great Lakes Crossing Mall in Auburn Hills.

Music blares from both entrances of Bar Louie, where two patios and an airy feeling throughout invite patrons to sit down, enjoy a drink and some homemade food, relax, have fun and meet a friend or make one anew.

“Bar Louie is the local neighborhood everything,” General Manager Chad Apap said of Bar Louie in Auburn Hills. “We have a scratch kitchen, a private dining room, specialty cocktails, over 40 draft beers and one of the best happy hours around.”

Bar Louie is in District 6 of Great Lakes Crossing Mall in Auburn Hills.

IF YOU GO

Bar Louie is open 11 a.m. to 2.a.m. Monday through Saturday for lunch, dinner and late night dining, and from 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday. Bar Louie is at 4390 Baldwin Road, in District 6 of Great Lakes Crossing Mall in Auburn Hills. For more information call 248-409-0087, or visit http://www.barlouieamerica.com/home.

“We are known for our group gatherings, networking events and parties. Bar Louie is a place to meet old friends and make new ones at the same time,” Apap said.

Bar Louie has two entrances and two patios — one inside the mall and the other outside. With two bars, many booths, pub tables and six black leather couches, the bar/restaurant can seat more than 220 people.

Its décor includes black leather seating, warm wood table tops and walls decked out with black and white pictures of people — some with great faces like that of Rat Packers Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra — enjoying each other's company and having fun.

One afternoon three friends, Dave Underwood, Matt Jeshurun and Daniel Rainey met at Bar Louie to have lunch, relax and wind down a bit. Underwood said he picked Bar Louie as the place to have lunch at because “The vibe is good.” Continued...

Jeshurun said, “Their burgers are amazing.”

Rainey added, “I enjoy eating at Bar Louie's because they will make me a sandwich that I like and they no longer offer on the menu.”

Bar Louie's menu includes small plates or appetizers like meatballs al Forno, Adobo shrimp skewers, spinach and artichoke dip and Louie's signature appetizer — Bavarian pretzel sticks with cinnamon butter, queso and honey mustard.

The menu also includes verde chicken and roasted vegetable flatbreads and salads such as pear and bleu cheese and the BLT wedge.

The Blue Louie burger — made with bleu cheese, bacon, fresh spinach and Buffalo sauce — along with all of the burgers on the menu can be made with chicken breast, turkey burger or portobello substituted for beef.

Large plates on the menu include Drunken Fish and Chips, sesame encrusted ahi tuna, El Burrito Loco, Tuscan chicken pasta and baked mac and cheese.

The dessert menu consists of Louie's oversized chocolate cake and, for anyone 21 or older, Tennessee Whiskey cake — a fresh baked caramel cake soaked with Jack Daniel's whiskey glaze.

Specialty cocktails include Louie's Cosmo, made with Absolut Citron, orange liqueur, fresh lime juice, white cranberry juice and a splash of pure cane sugar; the Strawberry Fizz, made with SKYY, DeKuyper Razzmatazz, strawberry puree and champagne; and the Dirty, made with Belvedere, olive juice and bleu cheese olives.

Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and includes specials on drafts, wines, martinis and half-price appetizers.

Whether it is live entertainment or tunes from CDs spinning there is always music in the air at Bar Louie. On Thursday nights, starting at 8 p.m., listen to acoustic from a local musician, and on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 9 p.m. there is dancing to local DJs and bands.

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Bar Louie in Auburn Hills a great place to meet WITH VIDEO

The city’s Board of Health will consider a 24-hour ban on smoking outdoors on city properties and bar and restaurant patios at a special meeting next Monday.

The Ottawa Board of Health will consider a report that recommends banning smoking on bar and restaurant patios and all municipal properties – including parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields, fruit and vegetable markets and outdoor areas around city buildings.

The report comes after Councillor Stephen Blais asked the Board of Health to consider such a ban – but one that would only be in effect before 8 p.m.

“I proposed the 8 p.m. (version of the ban) as kind of a starting point in the conversation to be pragmatic,” said Blais, adding he was keeping the interests of bar and restaurant owners in mind.

After the Ottawa Public Health consulted with bar owners and the public, the city found there is support for a 24-hour ban as long as it is enforced uniformly, said Blais.

“I think the changes are pragmatic and balanced to make sure that Ottawa remains one of the safest places to live and raise a family,” he said.

If council is to give the recommendations final approval, the ban will first be approved by the Board of Health and the Community and Protective Services Committee.

“Everything should in place before the patio season starts in April,” Blais said.

Blais said he expects some smokers to oppose the plan, adding, “You’re never going to please everyone with every decision you make.”

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City to consider all-day outdoor smoking ban