The City of New Carlisle received a Healthy Community Award from the Ohio Department of Health and the Healthy Communities Coalition.

“I’m proud to award this to the City of New Carlisle for taking steps in preventing chronic diseases,” said Elle Evans Peterson of the Clark County Health Department. “This is for your work in the parks, the New Carlisle Farmer’s Market and also for your work in the smoke-free parks.”

Peterson was also instrumental in obtaining a grant to install the baby swings in the parks.

Council also heard a presentation from Wendy Hyde of the Tobacco 21 Initiative. Hyde’s group is working to increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

Hyde cited the example of her 14-year-old son who interacts with 18-year-old students at school. “If an 18-year-old goes to the store before school and buys his tobacco products that morning or his chew or his cigarettes, he has access to share that with my son, or my son can purchase it from him.”

She said that 12 to 14 years of age is when most students are first exposed to tobacco products. Increasing the legal age to purchase tobacco to 21 will eliminate that interaction.

“33.4% of Clark County students reported having tried cigarettes by the age of 18 and 11.3% of Clark County students smoke cigars or little cigars,” said Hyde. “One of the reasons those are big items is because they’re 2 for 99¢.”

She also cited several communities that have passed legislation to make 21 the legal age for buying tobacco.

Council then went into their second work session on the 2018 budget.

The third budget work session will be at 7:00 on Monday, February 12, and the next regular City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Smith Park Shelter House. The public is invited to attend.