> Steve -
> 
> You should not believe everything you read in the 
> newspaper... especially if it relates to honey bees.  The 
> Illinois State Beekeepers Association showed a great deal of 
> support by attending meeting and making presentations. 
> Illinois beekeepers - and others - wrote city officials in 
> support of beekeeping.  We even made appearances on the 
> Chicago radio shows.  It seemed that the committee that was 
> drafting the ordinance had a significant change in attitude 
> after they had a chance to listen.  I have excerpted a short 
> piece from the email sent by the mother of the 14-year-old 
> who wanted to keep the bees....
> 
> hi friends, neighbors & nature lovers-- 
> 
> my head is still spinning after last night's City Council 
> meeting...the back and forth was fascinating, the whispered 
> translations of what was happening enlightening, and it was 
> hugely entertaining to see our polite little old mayor 
> struggle with a citizen commenter who wouldn't stop talking 
> until the mayor finally shut off the mic, but the upshot was...
> 
> only a reasonable ordinance passed! i can't remember every 
> piece of it, but it does NOT involve the 25 foot setback, it 
> does NOT require a 6 foot high solid fence, and it does NOT 
> mandate an 8 foot high platform...it also does not 
> grandfather in current beekeepers, adds a 
> registration/licensing fee, and includes a stiff fine for 
> beekeepers who do not comply with the regulations. so, in 
> effect, it places responsibility on the beekeeper instead of 
> trying to control the bees.
> 
> i am so proud of Evanston, for not going the way of Oak Park 
> and Berwyn--for staying true to its progressive stance and 
> pledge to be a green city...
> 
> neighborhood bee party soon...
> 
> and thank you all for the good wishes, showing up at 
> meetings, contacting aldermen, sharing your thoughts and 
> ideas, stopping by to introduce yourselves and chat, and 
> basically being there to support this important and complex 
> issue. it has been a gift to have been involved in this 
> endeavor and to meet and make friends with the amazing people 
> we have encountered.
> 
> and i hope we have honey to share soon.
> 
> best
> Susan
> 
> Steve... the situation here turned out well.  A resource for 
> others in this situation is the ISBA website - www.isba.us.  
> Support is available there.
> 
> Larry Krengel

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