The O-town Scene

March 03, 2011

The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY

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R.o.B.S. A. Be Tea Party patriot, buy pizza, owner says MADISON, Wis. _ Ray’s Pizza owner Ray Manzero said he has not yet gotten an order for one of his right-wing “anti-protest pizzas,” but he’s not giving up yet. Ray’s has been advertising pizza specials in support of the Republicans in the state Legislature, including a “Tea Party Express” pizza and a “Patriot Pizza,” each priced at $8.99 for a large pie. The pizzeria began offering free delivery to any Republican leg- islator’s office in the Capitol about a week ago after hearing about the success of both a political and professional rival. Ian’s Pizza, on State Street, has recently been profiled by National Public Radio, the New York Times, Huffington Post and other media outlets for its unlikely role in the state workers’ protests against Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to do away with collec- tive bargaining for public employees. The pizza chain claims to have taken orders for pizzas from all 50 states and 30 countries, and has shut down its regular business to cater exclusively to the protesters. Manzero, who said he is not registered with a political party but described himself as conservative, got the idea to throw his 26 O-Town Scene March 3, 2011 support to the other side of the aisle. “I figured, why not reward the guys who are actually sticking around and trying to do their jobs?” Manzero said from his restaurant kitchen on Tuesday. “These are the people who I want to support.” Despite newspaper advertisements and a sign at the cash register touting his “Patriot Pizza” _ featuring red peppers, white sauce and blue cheese _ few of Manzero’s potential customers seemed aware of what he was trying to do. Sheila Adolfsen of the Madison Tea Party Patriots said she hadn’t heard of the Ray’s Pizza specials, but was appreciative of the gesture. “The other side of this debate has been getting plenty of free publicity with their pizza stunts,” Adolfsen wrote. “I will remember Ray’s Pizza as a supporter of the Tea Party.” A spokesperson for the office of state Sen- ate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the office would not turn away free pizzas for any member, regardless of party, but that “the senator has better things to do” than worry about what’s for lunch. It’s hard to tell what’s true these days. Take a gander be- low, and guess if A. and B. are Real or B.S. (Answers at the bottom of the page.) No more cookie sales B. at Girl Scout house SAVANNAH, Ga. _ Girl Scouts are no longer able to sell their famous cookies outside the historic Savannah home of the woman who founded the organization almost a century ago. A complaint last year ended the longtime practice of selling the cookies on the public sidewalk outside the home of Juliette Gordon Low at the busy intersection of Bull Street and Oglethorpe Avenue. Peddling on a public sidewalk is a violation of city ordinance. One city alderman said he thinks the city should consider a temporary exception for cookie season. The city’s zoning administrator, Randolph Scott, said he investigated the matter and tried to find a solution. He said he called for a survey, hoping there would be some private space between the home and the sidewalk. He said there wasn’t any. Scott said they also looked at allowing the Scouts to sell from a small courtyard on the side of the house, but fire marshals told the Scouts they would block an exit route. The home is a National Historic Landmark open for tours. “I know it doesn’t look good,” Scott told The Savannah Morning News. “However, other businesses won’t care if it’s the Girl Scouts or March of Dimes. They’re going to say, ‘Why can’t I sit out front and solicit busi- ness?’” City Alder- man Van Johnson said he thinks the city coun- cil should consider a variance to allow tem- porary sales during cookie season, which usually happens in the first few months of the year. “Juliette Low brings thousands of tourists from around the country. Juliette Low is known for Girl Scouts, and Girl Scouts are known for cookies,” Johnson said. “Let’s be reasonable. Let them sell their cookies.” Scouts have since started selling near some other high-traffic intersections. Girls used to be able to sell about 250 boxes in three hours outside the Low home, said Jan McKinney, who heads product sales for the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. But she says it’s impor- tant that the girls learn the larger lesson of the change. She says the cookie sales are intended to teach the girls money manage- ment, public speaking, customer service and business ethics. “We try to teach them that in business you have to adjust to things that happen, adapt to the market and follow the law,” she said. “It’s a real-world experience.” The executive director of the Low house, Fran Harold, said tourists loved buying cook- ies from the girls at the home. “It’s kind of sad for the girls, too,” she said. “There’s nothing cuter than some little Brownie Girl Scout selling cookies on the sidewalk in front of the Juliette Low house.” Low founded the Girl Scouts in Savannah in March 1912 after meeting Sir Robert Baden- Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides, and helped expand the organi- zation worldwide. A. is B.S., by Emily Popek; B. the story and photo are real by The Associated Press.

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