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One enterprising 7-year-old girl trying to make a little extra summer cash had her lemonade turned into lemons.
Health inspectors for Multnomah County in Oregon shut down Julie Murphy���s stand, where she was charging 50 cents a cup for Kool-Aid lemonade, according to the Associated Press .
The little entrepreneur got the idea for opening a stand when she saw a TV episode where a cartoon character, Olivia the pig, opened one, according to her mom, Maria Fife. While selling her cold drinks at a monthly fair in northeast Portland last Thursday, a health inspector asked for her license and then said she’d have to close up shop or risk being fined $500.
Lemonade stands require a permit in Oregon, according to OregonLive.com – and while kids who stir up a big pitcher and make a homemade sign might fly under the radar if they set up shop right outside their home, that’s not likely to happen at a large event where county health inspectors are on the prowl.
"I understand the reason behind what they're doing and it's a neighborhood event, and they're trying to generate revenue," Jon Kawaguchi, environmental health supervisor for the Multnomah County Health Department, told OregonLive.com. "But we still need to put the public's health first."
The cost of a temporary license for a stand? A chilling $120.
Since the lemonade stand got squeezed out, the county’s top elected official, county Chairman Jeff Cogen, apologized for the sour treatment Julie got.
“A lemonade stand is classic iconic American kid thing to do,” Cogen told the AP. “I don’t’ want to be in the business of shutting that down.” He also called Fife to apologize.
Cogen noted that the regulations for food stands are aimed at professional food service operators and that the inspectors are expected to use professional judgment. “This isn’t something we need to be using our limited resources to crack down on,” he said. Cogen said he could identify with Julie. After all, he recalls having lemonade stands as a kid.
Health inspectors for Multnomah County in Oregon shut down Julie Murphy���s stand, where she was charging 50 cents a cup for Kool-Aid lemonade, according to the Associated Press .
The little entrepreneur got the idea for opening a stand when she saw a TV episode where a cartoon character, Olivia the pig, opened one, according to her mom, Maria Fife. While selling her cold drinks at a monthly fair in northeast Portland last Thursday, a health inspector asked for her license and then said she’d have to close up shop or risk being fined $500.
Lemonade stands require a permit in Oregon, according to OregonLive.com – and while kids who stir up a big pitcher and make a homemade sign might fly under the radar if they set up shop right outside their home, that’s not likely to happen at a large event where county health inspectors are on the prowl.
"I understand the reason behind what they're doing and it's a neighborhood event, and they're trying to generate revenue," Jon Kawaguchi, environmental health supervisor for the Multnomah County Health Department, told OregonLive.com. "But we still need to put the public's health first."
The cost of a temporary license for a stand? A chilling $120.
Since the lemonade stand got squeezed out, the county’s top elected official, county Chairman Jeff Cogen, apologized for the sour treatment Julie got.
“A lemonade stand is classic iconic American kid thing to do,” Cogen told the AP. “I don’t’ want to be in the business of shutting that down.” He also called Fife to apologize.
Cogen noted that the regulations for food stands are aimed at professional food service operators and that the inspectors are expected to use professional judgment. “This isn’t something we need to be using our limited resources to crack down on,” he said. Cogen said he could identify with Julie. After all, he recalls having lemonade stands as a kid.
I don't see anything wrong with it. Sell it outside your house and you'll be fine. Don't take your stand to the fair to grab cash from businesses that had to pay the fee to be there. The little girl will get a ton of people coming to her stand at the house after they read this article anyway. Happy ending.
you are 100 percent correct. This country is turning to shit and dropping fast. I contemplated moving. Maybe in a few years. Would be a drastic move but i HATE the way this country is ran. I hate 'political correctness' such bullshit... i could rant about this whole subject for hours...... i dont see things getting any better..... awful
-- not trying to offend anybody- this is just my opinion.
I can see if it was a county fair or regional fair, the girl should pay a license fee. But the article says it was a neighborhood fair, not an organized event where people are charged admission. Neighborhoods have rummage sales where a lot of the homes sell household items. Should little girls be charged a large fee in cases like this as well?
I don't feel they should.
Actually this is Multnomah County which is one of the most liberal in the country so it only makes sense that the government would want to get a piece of someone's hard work and discourage free enterprise. That's what liberals do.
George Bush cut taxes on businesses which, of course, helped businesses to thrive which lead to more jobs.
I was looking at that with confusion . thanks for clearing that up. The funny thing is that he was agreeing with someone who was disagreeing with him. LOL
wow! that is curious that the person put ck after their statement, everyone knows that is you trademark. I'd want that checked too. Someone's having a little fun with you.
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