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No Smoking Sign

Putnam High School graduate Michael LaRochelle stands with community and HealthQuest Northeast CT coalition partners who helped him achieve his goal of having the town’s Recreation Commission adopt a smoke-free municipal outdoor places policy. Standing left to right, Putnam resident Linda Garcia, Michael LaRochelle, Putnam Parks and Recreation Director Wilfred Bousquet, Putnam Economic Development Director & HealthQuest member Delpha Very, and HealthQuest Coalition Coordinator Linda Colangelo. Photo courtesy of Linda Colangelo.

 

 

PUTNAM — June 15 Putnam High School graduate Michael LaRochelle posted the first town sign designating the St. Marie-Greenhalgh Sports Complex on Wicker Streeta smoke-free area. It was one of 45 signs that will identify other multiple town-owned parks and recreation properties as smoke-free throughout the town of Putnam.

For LaRochelle, this was the culmination of a two-year effort to convince town leaders that shared outdoor municipal areas should be smoke-free. While the Putnam Board of Selectman fell short of adopting an official ordinance in October, 2013, they supported a self-enforcing smoke- free municipal outdoor spaces campaign adopted by the Putnam Recreation Commission.

“As the first sign went up, it was a relief to me knowing that so many people, particularly children, will benefit from this campaign,” said LaRochelle. “I’m really thankful for everyone who supported me through this project.”

LaRochelle, who suffers from asthma, began his smoke-free quest as a Putnam High School sophomore in 2012. He attended the Putnam Board of Selectman meetings on-and-off for the better part of two years to keep the smoke-free effort alive on the town agenda. In addition, along with a few other PHS students, he started a small group called TRIAD (Teens Reducing the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs); met with community and coalition partners, and state lawmakers including Representatives Danny Rovero, Mae Flexer, and  state Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams.

LaRochelle’s efforts were also supported by the Northeast District Department of Health and HealthQuest Northeast Connecticut, a coalition of health and wellness partners who financed the smoke-free signage through a Community Transformation Grant provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Additional smoke-free signage was also installed in community gardens in Putnam, Killingly, and Thompson.

“We applaud Michael’s efforts to make a true difference in our health and well-being,” said Putnam Economic Development director and HealthQuest partner Delpha Very. “Any efforts that support healthy lifestyles will ultimately have a positive impact our town, environment, and the many places in Putnam where people choose to congregate, recreate and exercise.”

As LaRochelle worked with Putnam Parks and Recreation Director Willie Bousquet to install the first sign at the St. Marie-Greenhalgh Track, a small group of children played in the center field. A HealthQuest member in attendance noted that those children represent the generation that will ultimately benefit from LaRochelle’s efforts.

He agreed and acknowledged the long journey to success, saying “I did realize quite early through this experience that if you feel strongly about something, no matter how hard it might seem as long as you keep fighting for what you believe in, it will work out in the end.”

The signs are being posted throughout the month of July – including in Putnam’s Rotary Park – the site of the town’s annual 4th of July celebration. For LaRochelle, that meant independence… from second-hand smoke.