Bake Sale, Boobies and Busted: it’s Tortelicious

November 16th, 2010. By LucyC

This week’s theme seems to be Adults Behaving Badly…

What’s the betting they become bankers when they grow up…a couple of enterprising 13-year old boys in Chappaqua, NY were shut down by police recently for selling cupcakes, cookies, brownies and Rice Krispie treats for $1 each in a local park without a permit.

They didn’t know they needed a permit—which incidentally costs between $150 to $350 for two hours, not including the $1 million insurance certificate which is also required, according to a local paper. The math was definitely not in their favor. Too bad, because according to The Journal News in Westchester County, Andrew DeMarchis, Kevin Graff, and two other friends, Zachary Bass and Daniel Katz, wanted to make enough money to open their own restaurant. Hey, it’s possible. They made $120 on their first day.

But, a local councilman, Michael Wolfensohn, called the police after discovering the profits were not going to charity. And some poor policeman had the unpleasant task of having to tell the boys to dismantle their stall. Andrew DeMarchis’ mother, Suzanne DeMarchis, was called to the park in response to the police call. She said the officer was extremely pleasant. “He said he was sorry to have to do this, but that he was following up on a report filed over the phone by a Town Board member,” she told The Journal News. “Kevin was so upset, he was crying all the whole way home. He was worried if he was going to get arrested or have a criminal record.”

Well, at least the good citizens and councilmen of the neighborhood can rest easy knowing they are no longer under threat from random acts of capitalism—at least not in their backyard…

Good cause is now cause for a lawsuit. I really don’t know where to start with this one—so here it is. A lawsuit was filed against a Pennsylvania school district recently over freedom of speech. The suit was filed by two mothers whose daughters were suspended for wearing rubber “I ♥ boobies!” bracelets. Ok. Now I really do think the inmates are running the asylum.

Used to raise awareness about breast cancer, the bracelets have become tremendously popular, particularly among students. But the phrase—or more likely the word ‘boobies’—has prompted bans on the bracelets all across the US—from Florida to California.

In fact, the American Civil Liberties Union believes the lawsuit is the first in the country over a school’s ban on the bracelets. According to the ACLU, the district banned the bracelets in October. Up until that point the students had been wearing them without serious incident.

Apparently, school officials argue that the slogan is distracting and demeaning, and that some staff feel it trivializes a serious illness. I would have said that’s their problem, frankly. But apparently it’s not—it’s the children’s. They found themselves hauled into the principal’s office, suspended and banned from school dances for a month. Really.

“The First Amendment does not allow schools to censor students’ speech merely because some students and teachers are offended by the non-vulgar educational message, and silencing the speakers because other students may react inappropriately would amount to a constitutionally impermissible heckler’s veto,” the ACLU said in the suit.

Sounds like it’s the educators who are in need of educating.

How many ways can your luck run out? Ask Wendy Singleton, who was arrested after the monster cruise ship Carnival Splendor limped into port in San Diego last Thursday. No sooner had the ship docked than 40-year old Wendy was arrested by police. She was wanted in Las Vegas on a felony grand theft warrant and is now incarcerated in jail. Oh well, at least there’s power and flushing toilets.

I guess she thought she could jump ship quietly somewhere—but apparently all passengers on international cruises are routinely checked to see if there are any warrants outstanding against them. Good to know…a little late for Wendy though.

Tags: Tortelicious

This was posted on Tuesday, November 16th, 2010 at 11:41 am and is filed under Totally Tortelicious . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.