Champlain Centre will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary as a ‘Smoke Free property’. In celebration of this anniversary, Champlain Centre will be doing a butterfly release on Tuesday, August 9th at noon in their pollinator garden located by Regal Cinemas. The butterfly is a symbol of change, and the garden is representative of the positive change that occurs when people decide to quit smoking. Tobacco Free Clinton, Franklin, Essex and the Ted K Center partnered with Champlain Centre in this great community project. The Ted K Center kids have been growing the butterflies and will be participating in their release on Tuesday.
The pollinator garden is filled with milkweed, black-eyed susans and other native plants which attract pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. Such gardens support pollinators by supplying food in the form of pollen and nectar.
Following the release, at 1pm Tykes Tuesday will be hosted by Tobacco Free Clinton, Franklin, Essex and Reality Check. Children are invited to create a butterfly themed craft in celebration of the release.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, secondhand smoke has been classified as a class A Carcinogen, placing it in the same category as radon, benzene, and asbestos. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, over 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans and many of which are strong irritants. The Surgeon General has declared that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke; even small amounts of secondhand smoke can trigger allergies, asthma attacks and other breathing problems.
“Providing a healthy environment for our customers and merchants is our goal,” expressed Lisa Getty, General Manager of Champlain Centre. “Offering a smoke free atmosphere goes a long way in positively impacting the well-being of the community.”