This is very close to where we live above Pittsburgh, up and over a few hills and there the farm is.

Must look into this.

The owners of a Pennsylvania farm to the Sewickley Heights Borough;

"Go F yourself."

Bagster

From the article:

"The Independence Law Center filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the farmers against the borough alleging an egregious violation of the U.S. Constitution.

According to the lawsuit, the Fetterolfs were threatened with fines of $500 per day plus court costs for having Bible studies at their home, having meetings where religious songs are sung, conducting any religious retreats for church leaders or seminary students or conducting any religious fundraisers.

“The borough has no business overseeing a group of people reading and discussing a book together on private property – even if that book is the Bible,” attorney Randall Wenger said in a statement.

The lawsuit accuses the government leaders of violating religious freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and equal protection.

“Government should not target religious activities for punishment, particularly when similar secular activities are permitted,” attorney Jeremy Samek said. “In America, no government can categorically ban people from assembling to worship on one’s property.”"

They should counter sue the town for attorney fees and stress. This isn’t anything but harassment.

Heh Bagster, check this out from the comments section. Somebody has a warped sense of humor. ;-)

******

MOCass48

Sewickley Heights is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 810 at the 2010 census. Sewickley Heights is one of the wealthiest municipalities in Pennsylvania.

I believe we found what they worship.

*******

LOL

We're about five miles from this farm. My wife and I just may go visit it.

"The owners of a Pennsylvania farm to the Sewickley Heights Borough;

"Go F yourself.""

______________

LOL ...... I'd hope they'd use a slightly different verb.

“This is very close to where we live above Pittsburgh, up and over a few hills and there the farm is.”

And you didn’t even know you had something menacing so close by.

They should put up some balloons and a sign that says “Party Here” and throw some booze and beer bottle around at the end of the driveway to throw them off track. (Sarc off)

Crap like this makes my head want to explode. My grandmother would have been in jail because she was always having people over to sing hymns and pray in between church meetings.

Back in the 1970s after Nixon announced the War on Drugs the Leftist started a meme “Nixon wakes up at night in a cold sweat thinking somewhere someone is having fun”

Today the meme for the Left is “(the Sewickley Heights Borough council) wakes up at night in a cold sweat worrying that somewhere someone is praying”

I’d have to get more information about this before I pass judgement. There’s more than just a fine line between the free exercise of religion and a public nuisance. I’ve dealt with this sort of thing up close, and the facts don’t always match the media coverage and allegations in the legal filings.

Paraphrased from the PPG (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)

1. According to the borough’s website, Theresa and Scott Fetterolf, own Dundee Farm and Fields LLC ………

It is an 83-year-old farm located at 528 Scaife Road, and is located in an Historical-Rural Residential District

2. Katie Stringent, borough manager and zoning officer, said the farm was being used improperly as a place of worship, a place of assembly, and as a commercial venue and “special studio or school.” According to the borough’s website, those activities are not permitted on the property, or only permitted as a conditional use.

3. Mrs. Fetterolf and her husband, a local home builder, purchased the 32-acre farm about two years ago and began providing commercial activities, including a yarn and wool shop, sales of cut flowers and fresh honey, a weekly produce stand, educational classes, and other programs. Mrs. Fetterolf has also hosted private events, including bridal showers, prayer groups and church fundraisers. In October 2017, Mrs. Fetterolf was informed by the borough that she was holding too many events and would need permits — costing $500 each— to continue offering many of the activities.

4. Mrs. Fetterolf has said she intends to stand up for her rights as a farmer. “I don't seek to sue my borough and cause taxes to go up, I'm just trying to live my life,” she said, noting that the amount of farming she currently performs is minuscule compared to other farms. “There could be a lot more smells and a lot more traffic.”

******

Ms. Fetterolf dropped a little "stink bomb" to the local officials there at the end of her remarks.

lol

"And you didn’t even know you had something menacing so close by."

LOL! We have to go over and see this farm.

West Alexander, here.

Allegheny county is SO f'd !

“The owners of a Pennsylvania farm have been ordered by the Sewickley Heights Borough to cease and desist holding Bible studies on their private property.

Borough leaders accused Scott and Terri Fetterolf of improperly using their 35-acre farm as a place of worship, a place of assembly and as a commercial venue. They were served a cease-and-desist order in October 2017, the Post-Gazette reported.

Sewickley Heights is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States.”

Allegheny County voted heavily for Clinton in the last election, no surprise.

"In October 2017, Mrs. Fetterolf was informed by the borough that she was holding too many events and would need permits — costing $500 each— to continue offering many of the activities."

_________

The three articles I've read on this so far do not mention if the Fetterolfs have gotten these permits. It doesn't sound like a lot of money.

"I’d have to get more information about this before I pass judgement. There’s more than just a fine line between the free exercise of religion and a public nuisance. I’ve dealt with this sort of thing up close, and the facts don’t always match the media coverage and allegations in the legal filings."

____________

See post 10 ....... a few more details.

I'm very familiar with this area a little northwest of Pittsburgh. It's very beautiful, rolling well-kept hills, lots of wealthy people and mansions, and probably a few who want these people off the land so that they can put up 4 or 5 homes (no praying).

;-)

Back around the early 1900's and later many of the extremely wealthy people in the steel, coal, glass, etc. industries went up the Ohio River and built their homes there. A lot of their grand children, etc. are still lingering there, taking in the beauty that their ancestors created.

We’ll be driving through that neck of the woods on our way to Buffalo in a few days. We Must be vigilant to avoid of any of these evildoers who might cross our path. Bible Study People... how menacing.

(However, covens wouldn’t be a problem, probably.)

Apparently the argument is against free enterprise.

The Fetterolf's are making money .... a LOT of money ..... TOO MUCH money .... and not giving the gummint a cut.

We in Donegal township fought against a coup by the old township supervisors to install new zoning ordinances...... and won.

Not only that, but we went to a Class 1 township (from 3 supers to 5) and installed four conservative Patriots on our township supervisory board.

Not only CAN you fight city hall, you can build a new one !

"Allegheny county is SO f'd !"

________________

Thanks for your heart-felt and intellectual assessment.

;-)

Just a reminder.

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

ocated in an Historical-Rural Residential District

There's the rub. My guess is that the area is full of upper middle class and wealthy gentry who purchased lifestyle farmettes for their exurban escapes. They don't want energetic neighbors commercializing what they now consider a residential area. There can be some mighty fine lines drawn in such disputes. It's a quarrel among hobby farmers.

The District was presumably in place before the Fetterolf's bought the place, so unless there was a pre-existing business on the property, grandfathering would not seem to be in play. One would have to start by looking closely at the District rules. It's really just a glorified HOA, and that can be trouble.

We have some friends who moved out to Waterford, VA, which is a famous preservation story running back to some far-sighted people in the 1930's who anticipated urban sprawl before urban sprawl was invented. The surrounding area is very tightly controlled. It's what you pay for when you move there.