PIPE SHOP COMPLAINT

I am writing regarding The Journal article, "Strathcona councillors
want bong ban," May 16.

I am not sitting in an office downtown deciding what the Willis's can
sell. I am a working parent, community volunteer, and mother of three
children. I have worked hard to instil values that I believe in;
however, I am not able to leave my work at lunchtime to walk my own
high-schooler to Molly's so that I can make sure that while he is
purchasing pop and chips, that he does not also purchase a pipe.

The owners are not the socially conscious people they profess to be.

Molly's storefront also has a picture of an ice cream cone and a big
smoke logo that says, "Pipes in da Park." Inside the store you will
find a few trinkets, some pop and snack displays, but the major
display is a glass case the length of almost a whole wall of
colourful pipes and bongs beside the cash register.

The picture published in The Journal does not do justice to the
amount of effort that went into creating the display.

Molly's has positioned their store in the middle of several school
zones, not just Father Kenneth Kearns. Salisbury Composite High
School and Archbishop Jordan are just across the street, and Bev
Facey High School is just a few more yards away. There is also the
Kinsmen swimming pool and the Sherwood Park Arena and Shell, not to
mention the Broadmoor park area and the upcoming development, "Centre
in the Park." These are areas where a family should be able to walk
into a retailer and not be assaulted by items for drug use.

The owners of Molly's want to raise a stink that their rights are
being encroached upon. What a crock. Don't videostore owners have to
put the "adult" movies out of sight of minors? Don't liquor stores
have to keep minors from even entering their premises? For heaven's
sake, didn't all convenience stores just recently have to start
putting their tobacco displays out of sight?

I am worried about the choices that my children and their friends
will have to make during their school years.

The proprietor is worried about sales figures. Not to worry. With the
warm weather coming and the knowledge that it is a free-for-all at
your store, I am sure that the high schools will keep you in business
until you can afford a closed-off space for your display, and some
workers who can accurately read the dates on personal identification.

Until then, great job on finding a gold-mine of a location.

Mary Minnoch, Sherwood Park