Sunflowers land homeowner in jail
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:46 pm
Buffalo is about 60 miles west of me.
Sun Aug 6, 1:04 PM ET
TONAWANDA, N.Y. - A homeowner's bumper crop of sunflowers has drawn praise from his neighbors, and a summons from the town. Robert Samson was cited this week for "sight obstruction" at the intersection of his driveway and sidewalk in this Buffalo suburb.
"That's a very busy street with a lot of pedestrians on it," said Michael Hazen, the town's supervising code enforcement officer.
On Thursday, neighborhood children posted signs in support of the towering flowers and had collected nearly 400 signatures on a petition, many from motorists who pulled over near a stop sign.
The offending flowers line Samson's front yard, a few feet back from the sidewalk.
"I drive a tow truck. I can still see when I pull out," Samson said. "You can see through the stalks."
Samson is due in town court Tuesday. Hazen said the town is just looking for compliance with the its rules about sight obstructions but could fine Samson $250.
"I'm just trying to make it look nice," Samson said of the home he bought last fall. "I can't help I've got a green thumb."
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Information from: The Buffalo News, http://www.buffalonews.com
Sun Aug 6, 1:04 PM ET
TONAWANDA, N.Y. - A homeowner's bumper crop of sunflowers has drawn praise from his neighbors, and a summons from the town. Robert Samson was cited this week for "sight obstruction" at the intersection of his driveway and sidewalk in this Buffalo suburb.
"That's a very busy street with a lot of pedestrians on it," said Michael Hazen, the town's supervising code enforcement officer.
On Thursday, neighborhood children posted signs in support of the towering flowers and had collected nearly 400 signatures on a petition, many from motorists who pulled over near a stop sign.
The offending flowers line Samson's front yard, a few feet back from the sidewalk.
"I drive a tow truck. I can still see when I pull out," Samson said. "You can see through the stalks."
Samson is due in town court Tuesday. Hazen said the town is just looking for compliance with the its rules about sight obstructions but could fine Samson $250.
"I'm just trying to make it look nice," Samson said of the home he bought last fall. "I can't help I've got a green thumb."
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Information from: The Buffalo News, http://www.buffalonews.com