50 Shades of Orange

The major story in the Wellsboro Gazette this past week? The Wellsboro borough council denied a sign for a new business, a vape shop. The sign, it seems, is too orange. Too orange? Some suggested a nice burnt orange, but anything other than apricot is just crass. Councilman Mike Wood feels the sign could be better coordinated, but has no problem with a vape shop, or what my generation calls a head shop.

Some members did want to know where business owners Shaun and Kathy Zavetsky got the name “Naked Duck”. I want to know why they are using a cartoon character to promote drugs. Remember when Joe Camel was the advertising mascot for Camel cigarettes? I remember R.J. Reynolds stopped using Old Joe under pressure of Congress and public-interest groups.

So what is a vape shop? It’s where you vape. What’s vaping? You mix some nicotine, food grade flavoring, and vegetable glycerin, then vaporize it in a small battery-powered atomizer. You inhale and exhale this vapor that is created, much like cigarette smoke, hence the term “vaping.” It’s like smoking, except cooler because the nicotine is called e-juice.

Vaping is not proven safe. Nicotine is still nicotine, and nicotine is addictive. It’s a poison that increases blood pressure and heart rate. Vaping and electronic cigarettes are not designed to be completely safe, and the industry is currently unregulated.

It’s promoted as tobacco reduction. It’s a pleasant way for adults to enjoy nicotine with reduced harm but with such flavors as cherry, grape and unicorn blood (some say it tastes like Skittles, others more like Hawaiian Punch). To me, vaping sounds more like a “fun way” to introduce children to the pleasures of smoking.

Council must approve any revision before the sign goes up, but there seems to be a consensus that the duck’s legs and beak can remain the brighter orange—truly a relief. I say if that cartoon duck’s bill is anything except a pleasant tangerine, its poor taste. Perhaps they should consider a unicorn?