Smoke Free Maryland Concert Brings Activists to Solomons

Local restaurateur, Gerri DiGiovanni, supports a Clean Indoor Air Act for Maryland. On Saturday DiGiovanni’s Dock of the Bay was the location for a Smoke Free MD Benefit Concert. Among those who came to support the cause and listen to the musicians was Delegate Barbara Frush.

Dan Hass sings with Ben’s Bones – The Bay Net photo by Anna Bedford

Musicians Dan Hass with his band Ben’s Bones, and singer-songwriter Angela Taylor, performed at the free concert to bring awareness to the need for the same protection as other workers – a smoke-free environment. Hass said he first contacted SmokeFree a couple of years ago determined to find out what he could do to protect his band members and other workers in bars. Ben’s Bones currently performs at 49 West in Annapolis, which is the only smoke-free bar in the city. Hass says the financial implications are severe, with the band taking home a fraction of what they could earn in a smoke-filled tavern. The band performed several songs to the crowd at DiGiovanni’s, including a creative rendition of “Dock of the Bay.”

“I can’t wait to sing in a smoke-free bar for the rest of my life!” said Hass.  His sentiments were echoed by Angela Taylor, a Baltimore-based musician, who also performed Saturday. “As a singer who cares about my health I have stopped performing in venues that allow smoking and that has really limited my gigs here in my home state,” said Taylor, who is currently pregnant.

Delegate Barbara Frush at DiGiovanni’s Dock of the Bay this Saturday, in support of a Clean Indoor Air Act for Maryland. The Bay Net Photo by Anna Bedford

Delegate Barbara Frush (District 21) was among the listeners and supporters on Saturday. She is an ardent supporter of the Clean Air Act, and has been working to pass State-wide legislation since 1995. “Hospitality industry workers should not be exempt from the legislation that protects other workers from second-hand smoke,” Frush said.

“Where’s Mac?” whispered someone.
Mac Middleton is a pivotal person for the Clean Indoor Air bill because he chairs the committee that will need to approve it. An invitation was personally delivered to him, but there was no RSVP from the Charles County senator.

Smoke Free Maryland is a statewide coalition of concerned organizations and individuals working to reduce tobacco-caused illness and death. In particular, Smoke Free Maryland wants the same rules that protect other workers from breathing smoke in their places of work to be extended to the staff in restaurants and bars.