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For 12 years, 82-year-old Frances Mirowski has begun each morning the same way---feeding bread crumbs and peanuts to the birds and squirrels in her yard---its relaxing, entertaining and yes, gives her a purpose in life, something to look forward to every day.
But now someone is trying to stop her, remove this pleasure from her, even threatening her with arrest.
That's not right. This kind-hearted woman, mother of five who's been widowed twice is doing nothing wrong and she doesn't deserve to fear a visit from the police.
Frances has had four heart attacks. She can't go out of her yard without a wheelchair. Feeding the birds and squirrels is everything to her but there's a Grinch in Pinellas County again, right in her own homeowners association----she might even end up before the Pinellas County judicial tyrant George Greer if the Grinch has his/her way.
Thousands of people across America are bird watchers and nature lovers just like Frances and take immense joy in feeding the birds and squirrels and chipmunks. Its harmless, its comforting and certainly not illegal.
Frances lives in North Pinellas in the Salem Square subdivision in East Lake. She says one of her few remaining joys in life is feeding the little critters and birds. Every morning there are squirrels waiting for her by the big oak tree where she places their goodies, nor far from her statue of St. Francis of Assissi. St. Francis loved animals, and so does Frances.
For 12 years no one made a complaint but now, one cold-hearted person in the 107-unit subdivision has filed a complaint and Frances has received a letter from property manager Ronald Costa that says "We are informing you to cease and desist feeding the wildlife".
Wildlife?
The letter claims that she's in violation of a county ordinance against feeding wildlife because she's feeding the birds and squirrels, that she's bringing disease to the neighborhood, enticing coyotes to the subdivision. Maybe Mr. Costa needs to learn the definition of wildlife. There's a county ordinance against feeding wildlife, but that's only for wild animals, not applicable to birds and squirrels.
Don't the people in this subdivision have anything better to do, don't they have heftier concerns than a few sparrows, wrens and chickadees? Why aren't they worrying about public officials abusing their powers, violating the law, killing innocent disabled people?
Instead of backing down and apologizing to the octogenarian after realizing that they're the ones in the wrong, now officials are claiming that bread crumbs are considered junk food for birds and that squirrels could cause property damage.
Pinellas County officials didn't seem to be concerned with all the laws being broken in the Terri Schiavo case and the judicial homicide perpetrated. Get real. How can such a thing be happening in our America, threatening an 82-year-old widow with arrest for feeding birds and squirrels. This is Pinellas County where innocent disabled people are murdered by judicial decree, where the judicial tyrant of the year violates guardianship laws, election laws and doesn't qualify for office, where the circuit court judge violates federal subpoenas without fear of penalty, where the state attorney turns his head to neglect, abuse and exploitation of a disabled person, where the sheriff doesn't arrest people for making false statements on their employment applications to the sheriff's department. Has Pinellas County got something against the elderly and the disabled?
Sounds to us like the property manager and the complainer are harassing Frances and violating her rights big time. She has a right to freely enjoy her property including feeding the birds and the squirrels. After all, she's not feeding the bears, the alligators or coyotes. There is no state law or county ordinance against feeding birds or squirrels. Apparently in Pinellas County, officials don't bother to enforce the laws that are on the books and instead harasses and attempt to intimidate innocent people by making up laws that don't exist.
Pinellas County officials have strange priorities. If you're planning on retiring to Florida, you might want to think twice about going anywhere near Pinellas County. Meanwhile, you might want to give Salem Square Homeowners Association, Heritage Property Management Inc. and Mr. Costa a call. Tell them what you think. 11-25-05
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
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