Neither restaurant managers nor area residents seem to be fuming about the state smoking ban going into effect Thursday.
In fact, many welcome the new law that forbids lighting up in most workplaces and public spaces, including restaurants.
"We've gone non-smoking about a year in our restaurant, and it's not changed a thing," said Linda Navarro, co-owner of the Triangle Tavern at 300 Shiffler Ave. "Our business is always busy. A lot of people - including customers - were asking for it for a long time."
Most of the customers who frequent the bar area, where smoking has remained in effect, she said, do not smoke anyway.
"Our people have been coming here for years, and I don't think the no smoking will bother them," she added.
Maria Daniele of Franco's Lounge at 12 W. Fourth St., welcomed the smoking ban.
"Well, I think it's going to be a positive change," she said. "We've been smoke-free till 9:30 every night, and people have really appreciated that."
Daniele said Franco's does not have a lot of smokers anyway as the trend seems to be pointing toward healthier lives.
"It will be interesting to see what happens to the establishments that are geared more toward alcohol," she said, referring to the law's provision allowing smoking in bars where food amounts to no more than 20 percent of annual sales.
Kate Meckbach, a bartender at Johnson's Cafe, 334 Broad St. in Montoursville, said restaurant management decided to go ahead and ban smoking this summer.
"We actually went smoke-free July 21, and we have been as busy as we were before. We don't think it will affect us otherwise," she said. "We have some smokers, but it hasn't seemed to bother them. If they want to smoke, they go outside."
She said restaurant employees, for the most part, seem to favor a smoking ban.
"I am glad personally we did it early. I find it much more pleasant."
Tammy Maus, an employee at Hull's Landing in Muncy, said the smoking ban doesn't bother her, even though she's a smoker.
"There are some different places that you will be allowed to smoke."
She said places where smoking will be prohibited will become cleaner.
Under the law, smoking will continue to be allowed in various establishments, including private clubs whose officers agree to it.
Debbie Minier of American Legion Post 104 in Montoursville said officers were to decide the matter for that establishment before Thursday.
"They are having a meeting tonight," she said Tuesday. "We don't serve any food so that's not an issue here."
The law exempts bars where food amounts to no more than 20 percent of sales.
Loretta Day, 37, of Montgomery said she's all for a smoking ban.
"I don't think people should smoke inside a building. They should respect other people," said Day, a non-smoker. "Hopefully it cracks down on second-hand smoke."
Becky James, 39, of Lock Haven is a former smoker with mixed thoughts about prohibiting smoking.
"I don't know if it's a good idea. It kind of takes away their civil rights," she said of smokers.
She said most people who go to bars smoke.
Still, she said she's kind of happy about a smoking ban because now she won't have to smell the smoke.
