|
Wednesday, 18 October 2006 11:30 |
 Restaurant owner responds
to ban on dancing chicken
Two weeks ago, a representative of the City of Asheville stopped by Picnics and asked us to remove our Chicken mascot from the sidewalk outside our Merrimon Avenue location. This came as a shock to us because for nearly 12 years, the Chicken has been a part of our small business, appearing in our parking lot and bringing a smile to thousands of faces.
Over that time, our operation has grown to its current level, attracting customers from all over the United States for our wood-roasted chicken and homemade bakery.
We asked the cityës representative if simply removing the whiteboard sign from the Chicken would comply with the supposed ordinances. The response given was that the Chicken himself was a "walking sign," and therefore not allowed. Has there been a recent change in the law, or is this simply one personës interpretation of an existing law? Why have we been allowed to have our Chicken up until now?
The
young man who currently wears the costume as our Chicken does so with
great joy and spirit, dancing and waving at all those who pass on
Merrimon. He is also an enthusiastic salesperson for our restaurant
even when not in costume, as well as a local performing artist. To
refer to him as a "walking sign" is offensive; he is a living,
breathing, creative soul who just wants Picnics and himself to be
successful. Are the efforts to ban our Chicken a similar contingency to
that which recently tried to silence the drum circles downtown?
Ironically, many
City of Asheville police officers smile, wave and honk at our Chicken
each day, as do firefighters in their trucks and other city employees.
Would this be their reaction if we were in noncompliance with city
ordinances over the past 12 years with our Chicken?
Asheville is a
city known for its artistic, eclectic, inclusive spirit. We believe our
Chicken is a part of this fabric, representing a spirit of freedom,
joy, and pride in our small business. We want to invite the community
to voice their support for our Chicken and help us preserve our right
to artistic self-expression that is meaningful to us and many others in
this community. We believe this world needs more happy dancing Chickens
and less effort to rein in happy, lighthearted diversions and the
ingenuity of small business.
RON SMITH - Owner, Picnics Restaurant & Bake Shop
JASON MARTIN - The Picnics Chicken
Asheville
Charles Taylorës credentials
as small farmer challenged
I do not know
Congressman (Charles) Taylor, though I have learned a little about him
from the media. I understand he likes to call himself a tree farmer but
also is listed as the 5th wealthiest member of Congress. Tree farming
is not like regular farming where you get up at dawn every day, work
hard til dark and go in for supper tired and dirty. Instead you draw up
an agreement with the SCS, and together with the State; a planting crew
is hired who plants your subsidized seedlings. Then you wait maybe 20
or 30 years to cut and sell the trees. But youëd best not forget the
depletion allowance for that forest that was cut. During the 20-30
years, you do two important things, 1) you claim a nice tax deduction
each year, and maybe go out & buy a bank (or even two).
The bank in
Russia is not the ǃÚpeoples businessë and I would prefer to be
represented in Congress by someone who has all their commitments in
America.
ALLEN THOMAS
Asheville
|
