Fight the dessert police: Hold a bake sale

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 26, 2007 07:03 AM

Holiday bake sales banned? Yes, really. If you haven’t heard the story, Michael Graham lambastes the Nanny State food cops:

Don’t plan on picking up your Christmas cookies at the annual church bake sale in Salem, MA this year. Why not?

The Salem government has banned them. That’s right: Banned all bake sales. Too dangerous.

The local board of health has voted to ban all bakes sales by churches, schools and senior centers unless they purchase city-issued food permit. And all the food must be prepared in a city-licensed kitchen.

A town in Massachusetts–the land of government-authorized gay marriage, sanctuary cities and voting rights for non-citizens–has criminalized your grandmother’s oatmeal cookies.

The ban began with one overzealous and arrogantly self-important town bureaucrat, Salem Health Agent Joanne Scott. She told the local paper that “it’s her job to interpret the food code for the city and she exempts only places serving baked goods within their own closed community, not to the general public.”

In fact, Agent “007″ Scott is such a zealot that, when she heard about a bake sale at a local senior center, she ordered them to either comply with the proper government authorization–or shut down. Because the Salem Senior Center doesn’t even HAVE a kitchen (supporters donated cakes and cookies baked at home) the bake sale was cancelled. Many schools and churches cancelled traditional holiday bake sales, too.

Same thing’s going on in Maricopa County, Arizona.

It’s not too late to send a message to the overzealous baked goods grinches and treat them to a batch of some of the cookies mentioned in our recipe thread here.

Revenge is sweet.

See what others have said

Note from Michelle: This section is for comments from michellemalkin.com's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that I agree with or endorse any particular comment just because I let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with my terms of use may lose his or her posting privilege.

Trackbacks

  1. Babalu Blog

Trackback URL

Comments


  1. #203096
    On December 26th, 2007 at 7:22 am, ACHefty said:

    I would pit anyone’s private kitchen against a government “licensed” kitchen any day of the week. Chances are pretty good that you will have fewer violations at home than you will at many restaurants. Of course, most restaurants have high standards that are well-maintained.

    But, please. Leave us alone for crying out loud.

  2. #203099
    On December 26th, 2007 at 7:31 am, maine yankee said:

    Next She’ll ban all bar b ques in public parks. And, oh yes! any open area (your own back yard) where more than the residents gather.
    Let’s see her take on the tail gate cooking at a Patriots football game.

  3. #203105
    On December 26th, 2007 at 7:53 am, TMoney said:

    A Jack-booted food thug? What in Sam hill will blue states drum up next?

    If this twit can find a government-licensed kitchen in her entire freaked-out state as clean as Mom’s, I’ll shine her boots for a month and eat out of them!
    Her obvious insecurity is oozing from her pores.

    But perhaps even more disturbing is a church or Girl Scout Troop obeying her assinine decrees. Are there no balls in Massachusetts?

  4. #203112
    On December 26th, 2007 at 8:16 am, ajmontana said:

    Michelle, did you forget to put,
    “Faux News Alert”
    at the top of this story? :roll:
    You have got to be kidding me.

  5. #203115
    On December 26th, 2007 at 8:22 am, meatpieandtatters said:

    In Liberal Fantasy Land the stories always have a crappy ending. When will the liberals come to their senses?

  6. #203123
    On December 26th, 2007 at 8:43 am, frizzbee said:

    Assachsetts……I fear for my grandchildren living there!!

  7. #203124
    On December 26th, 2007 at 8:44 am, frizzbee said:

    Assachusetts…….that is.

  8. #203127
    On December 26th, 2007 at 8:57 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    Ah, the NEW witch hunt in Salem; COOKIES!

    Freaks.

    Feebz, get them out!

    Whisky Tango Foxtrot

    How to fix the problem:

    Cram cookies in your mouths and start bashing the POTUS. Then you can claim they are violating your First Amendment rights.

    That sounds stooooopid but, so does this commie crap in Mass.

  9. #203131
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:05 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    If you feel inclined to give her a call as her number is public record:

    Health Agent Joanne Scott, 978-741-1800

  10. #203134
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:10 am, docflash said:

    Do the public officials in Salem wear those little armbands that were so popular in the 1930’s and 40’s?

  11. #203135
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:11 am, CharliePATpk said:

    Now wait a minute….

    At first I saw this as an attack on the churches and other such groups, since they derive funding from these sales.

    But weren’t we told once that schools had to hold bake sales because evil Republicans in the White House used to cut school spending? Does this Health Agent realize that the education of her own kids is ‘at risk’???

  12. #203136
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:11 am, englishqueen01 said:

    I’m surprised it’s not an “obesity” issue.

  13. #203137
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:11 am, zorro said:

    She is infringing on the home baker’s freedom of expression! Baking is an art form and bakers around the nation have a right to express themselves.

  14. #203141
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:26 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    AJ, I fear your state will be next. Will you leave that place then? Come to South Florida where they will have to pry our cookies from our cold dead hands!

  15. #203143
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:27 am, gandolphxx said:

    Liberals who are dedicated to ‘doing good’ probably don’t have much experience in a home kitchen hence they assume that all others are like them – lazy slobs.

    When do we rebel against the nanny state?

    Where is John Gault when we really need him.

  16. #203145
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:29 am, mojoe said:

    As one of the eight sane people left in Massachusetts, I increasingly want to defend my beloved Bay State, yet I’m less and less able to.

    This is nanny-statehood at it’s absolute worst. From “peanut-free zones” to town and city councils voting to condemn the war or impeach the administration, I just can’t believe the foolishness that goes on at the local level.

    Maybe it’s time to move.

  17. #203146
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:29 am, Go_Fish said:

    I think the time is ripe for a true grass roots movement dedicated to defiance of petty bureaucrats, lilly-livered public school officials, fascist home owners associations and the like. I mean seriously, are they going to send in a SWAT team if you tell some self-important twit to go jump in the lake? I don’t think so.

  18. #203150
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:36 am, DesertLover said:

    Someone please make sure these idiots don’t see our shared “Christmas Recipe” thread … they’ll be telling us we can’t pass those around next …

  19. #203158
    On December 26th, 2007 at 9:45 am, ajmontana said:

    Do they just stay stoned in Mass. or what?

  20. #203169
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:11 am, On-my-soap-box said:

    I say we fly this witch Health Agent over to Iraq or Afghanistan and she can confiscate the cookies sent to the troops. That should take care of the problem as I see it.

  21. #203171
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:15 am, nbarry said:

    Johnny Carson had a memorable complaint about the food gestapo: “Why must it be that everything we like is bad for us? Why can’t they say that liver causes cancer, or cauliflower and Brussels sprouts?”

  22. #203172
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:15 am, CharlieT said:

    If they baked the goods in the shape of anatomically correct body parts and called it an art show, they could probably get away with the sale (call it a fundraiser for Hillary and they would probably get matching funds from these idiots).

  23. #203174
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:16 am, Chief RZ said:

    Her sphere of influence should not extend to Churches. I wonder if she will police all brought foods into offices and gay gatherings? Probably not. The key here seems for money, as usual in the union dominated NE.
    Answer: leave the area or vote in a new official.

  24. #203180
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:27 am, BlameAmericaLast said:

    When will the liberals come to their senses?

    They won’t. They thrive on senseless power and control over your life.

  25. #203183
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:30 am, TexasTiger said:

    The ban began with one overzealous and arrogantly self-important town bureaucrat, Salem Health Agent Joanne Scott

    Do they just stay stoned in Mass. or what?

    Apparently this is what happens when a community stops stoning witches. :wink:

  26. #203194
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:52 am, Stubby said:

    Bake sales are fund raisers. I wouldn’t eat any of the food, but I make a purchase to support the organization sponsoring the sale. It’s another ridiculous waste of time for a tax-sponsored city or state body to think about this sort of thing. How petty and sad. Bake sales are the corner stone of social activity! Well, what’s next? They sure haven’t gone after the “homemade” taco and tamale carts!

  27. #203195
    On December 26th, 2007 at 10:53 am, Sanddog said:

    What in the heck is wrong with this country? This type of behavior should result in public humiliation and the offender being driven out of office by angry citizens. Instead, they meekly submit to Mama Scott.

  28. #203200
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:11 am, max said:

    #25
    Apparently this is what happens when a community stops stoning witches.

    LOL!

  29. #203201
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:15 am, Brian72 said:

    This woman should be strapped down to a backboard just like a spinal injury patient and force-feed her an assortment of Michelle’s best Christmas cookies. Then she should be waterboarded with chocolate milk until she admits she has overstepped her authority, and renounces her pastry fascism.

    We could call it the “Confectioner’s Inquisition”. :-)

  30. #203202
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:16 am, Brian72 said:

    Or maybe the “Pastry Putsch”?

  31. #203205
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:18 am, BRY said:

    Why dont we just send her cookies as some of us sent CBS peanutes when they cancelled Jericho. Sometimes the only way to fight stupidity is with even more stpidity

  32. #203216
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:29 am, Pulchritudinous Patriot said:

    I think that I will send her that fruit cake that I got this year.

  33. #203223
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:34 am, Brian72 said:

    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:29 am, Pulchritudinous Patriot said:

    I think that I will send her that fruit cake that I got this year.

    Now that is torture. :-)

  34. #203224
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:36 am, graysonret said:

    Next time she has company over to her house for dinner, we need to go over and “bust up” the party. Violation of food laws!!!

  35. #203240
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:55 am, madchef said:

    If the looney left can ban nativity scenes from city property by screaming seperation of church and state, then the churches should be able to use the same premise to keep the city out of the bake sales, now where is that pie at.

  36. #203245
    On December 26th, 2007 at 11:58 am, Defector01 said:

    wonder if there’s a market to do some smuggling of cookies into salem? And I’ll be super-devilish and buy them at wal-mart

  37. #203253
    On December 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Come summer, some poor kid with a lemonade stand will be ticketed and hauled into court…

    What a twit.

  38. #203264
    On December 26th, 2007 at 12:27 pm, Blind_Mule said:

    ajmontana said:
    Do they just stay stoned in Mass. or what?

    No, aj if they did they would not be banning bake sale’s, where you find the very best munchies.

  39. #203268
    On December 26th, 2007 at 12:33 pm, Blind_Mule said:

    I have an idea how to get around this nonsense. Just have a bake off competition and let people vote on and make a suggested donation for the paticular product. I dunno that’s the best I can come up for them.

  40. #203271
    On December 26th, 2007 at 12:35 pm, Radiojoe1470 said:

    The way to protest things like this is to not back down. That senior center should have said, “Come in and arrest us,” and so should every other group that runs sales.

    One of three things will then happen. The town will back down. The town will not back down and the utter ridiculousness will be exposed and common sense will prevail. Or the town will not back down, and the community will support it.

    If the third’s the case, then it truly is time to get out, because the inmates are ruling the asylum.

  41. #203274
    On December 26th, 2007 at 12:37 pm, Radiojoe1470 said:

    There are probably ways to circumvent the ruling. Heck, there are probably even ways to compromise, such as putting a note on the goods saying that they do not come from city approved kitchens.

    But compromising or a work-around in this case is just as silly as the ruling itself.

  42. #203283
    On December 26th, 2007 at 12:44 pm, walterc said:

    The real irony here is the amount of time the left spends telling us how the Bush administration has eroded our rights. It seems every time we lose a right (other than the right to consort with known terrorists in overseas phone calls or funneling money to terrorist organizations) it is at the hands of the “liberals”.

    It’s even the left that has taken away my grandkids’ right to play tag at recess.

  43. #203291
    On December 26th, 2007 at 12:55 pm, J S Ragman said:

    When bake sales are outlawed, only outlaws will have bake sales.

  44. #203317
    On December 26th, 2007 at 1:24 pm, maine yankee said:

    To those in Salem; STOP THE HUNT,WE’VE FOUND THE WITCH !!!

  45. #203324
    On December 26th, 2007 at 1:31 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

    This one’s for feebz:

    Taze her!

    I feel better now!

  46. #203393
    On December 26th, 2007 at 2:50 pm, DesertLover said:

    Another Clockwork Orange Moment … brought to you by your local liberal loons …

  47. #203450
    On December 26th, 2007 at 4:24 pm, CC said:

    Fire the idiot. But not before decorating her face with a sour cream pie.

  48. #203454
    On December 26th, 2007 at 4:30 pm, CC said:

    Why do people roll over and obey these socialist self-important little hitlers? As some posters have said, just refuse to comply and then see what happens.

    Don’t capitulate. Don’t roll over. Fight back. People who are against this kind of dictatorial nonsense are in the huge majority. We will win, but we must fight back.

  49. #203499
    On December 26th, 2007 at 5:56 pm, mojo said:

    Should have ignored her and held the bake sale. What’s she going to do, close the Senior Center?

  50. #203530
    On December 26th, 2007 at 7:24 pm, BlameAmericaLast said:

    Should have ignored her and held the bake sale. What’s she going to do, close the Senior Center?

    Yep, they should’ve gone ahead with all the bake sales, and let this go to court.

    It would’ve been worth it to see the judge throw “Ms.” Scott’s butt out the door.

  51. #203638
    On December 27th, 2007 at 1:53 am, RetFireman said:

    Anyone taking bets one what side of the aisle this thug is from? Hmmm…;et me see…removing a traditional holiday festivity, taking away someone’s fun, taking away someone’s rights and freedoms, declaring that it is their job to “interpret” the laws and rules…

    I’m thinking that this is once again, your friendly neighborhood LIBERAL sent to remove yet another right and freedom from you. Yes, all the while she was probably denouncing those evil Conservatives and Bush for all those rights and freedoms that he and they mythically removed, while she herself, destroyed countless people’s Christmas fun and fundraising.

    Yes, leave it to Liberals to spit in your cookies and make children cry. It makes them happy and feel self-righteous, and after all, isn’t that what we are all here for anyway?

  52. #242378
    On February 11th, 2008 at 9:45 pm, 3Steps said:

    …..wow….

    illegal bake sales…

    I think I’ve heard everything now.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Beerestroika: Drinking to distraction

July 30, 2009 10:27 AM by Doug Powers

216 Comments | 20 Trackbacks

Healing time for the Fighting Irish

Guess who wants Asians to change their names?

April 21, 2009 08:53 PM by Michelle Malkin

54 Comments | 2 Trackbacks

Unhinged at UMass

March 12, 2009 12:07 PM by Michelle Malkin

52 Comments | 9 Trackbacks

Holder: “A nation of cowards”

February 18, 2009 03:21 PM by Michelle Malkin

198 Comments | 44 Trackbacks

Speak for yourself.

The Keith John Sampson story

December 26, 2008 01:29 PM by Michelle Malkin

37 Comments | 1 Trackback

Anti-Christmas moron of the day: Ban Rudolph!

December 15, 2008 09:44 AM by Michelle Malkin

114 Comments | 11 Trackbacks

It’s the PC time of year…


Categories: Political Correctness



Mudville Gazette

» When the wind won't blow

Mudville Gazette

» Bad Weather (Part Two)

Mudville Gazette

» Bad Weather (Part I)

Legal Insurrection

» Hacked E-mails or Else!
Follow me on Twitter Follow me on Facebook