Seward Meets With Tobacco Prevention Advocates

The Telegram

ALBANY, 01/12/11 — One Ilion teenager and dozens of regional other tobacco prevention advocates met with state representatives at the capitol on Tuesday.

Chelsea Blovat, a senior at Ilion Senior High School, spent the day in Albany with about 25 other youth leaders from Herkimer, Oneida and Madison counties as representatives for Reality Check, a youth-based, adult-mentored group that wants to see the end of tobacco use and advertising.

“We were able to go and see some of our legislators and were able to talk to them and invite them to events in the near future,” said Blovat in a phone interview Tuesday.

State Sen. James Seward, R-C-I-Oneonta, also met with public health advocates in Albany on Tuesday as part of Legislative Day. Among those he met with included Sue Casanova who represents Herkimer County in the Bridges to Prevent Tobacco program.

“The information presented by educators like those with the Bridges to Prevent Tobacco program is enlightening,” said Seward in a news release. “Bridges’ focus on point of sale tobacco advertising is particularly meaningful and illustrates valid concerns.”

Bridges to Prevent Tobacco is funded and overseen by the state Department of Health with prevention activities taking place in Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties.  The group advocates for truth in advertising, labeling and product design and displayed a “mock store” as part of their presentation.

Read the complete story at The Telegram.