Once again, it was Festival of the Arts weekend in Saxonburg, and once again my gift shop was singled out for complaint from the Saxonburg Historical Restoration Commission.

It seems the major problem is our placing of sale tables on the sidewalk in front of the store. The commission seems to feel that I am allowing my friends to place their tables there so they can avoid paying the fee that other vendors pay for their sidewalk spaces.

Anyone familiar with my store knows that what is sold on the sidewalk is also sold inside. The two members from the commission who confronted me about this the first day of the festival thanked me for explaining it to them and left.

Imagine my surprise a half-hour later when the police arrived. We were extremely busy, and I had to leave customers standing in line as I was told that “a member of Council” had reported us for a few violations.”

It seems a display was too close to a utility pole, there were too many people on the walk in front of the store and, apparently, we had a sign in the window wishing another local gift shop a happy sixth anniversary.

Those who were in our shop that day expressed their support to us and disappointment toward the commission and its complaints.

We participate in several events sponsored by the John Roebling Historic Saxonburg Society each year and never have had any complaints about using our sidewalk space.

We try to be good neighbors and help promote all events in town.