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| I’m Smiling Here With Gov. Hogan and His Family But I Wasn’t Smiling Monday When the Law Came Down on Me |
I purposely waited a couple days to tell you about this because I didn’t want to come across as being angry about what happened after the Governor visited Buzy’s Country Store. Here’s the story:
The Monday after Governor Hogan, his wife Yumi and daughter Jamie (above photo) dropped into Buzzy’s, I received a visit from two Sheriff’s Deputies assigned as Liquor Board inspectors.
They informed me that they had watched videos of the Governor’s visit to the Store and observed people drinking in the parking lot and on the front porch. They told me that I was in violation of liquor board regulations that prohibit this. I told them I was aware of the ban on drinking in the parking lot but I thought that the porch was considered part of the premises and that drinking on it was ok. They informed me that I need an “Extension of Premise” authorization from the Liquor Board before folks can legally drink on the porch. They gave me a form to request authorization to do so and told me to turn it into Tammy at the Liquor Board Office.
Tuesday morning I met with Tammy and am currently set to appear before the Liquor Board next month to request the extension of premise. Contrary to rumors that folks have asked me about, I did not get fined nor punished in any way other than having to make this request. The Deputies and Tammy were very professional and nice about all this, but it still torqued me off a little. In a way, I regret having let the Governor visit if it means that I now have to go before the Liquor Board to ask for something that I thought I already had. Plus there is always the chance that the Board may deny my request.
My Dad Buzzy was in business over 54 years. During that time, he never once had to go before the Liquor Board on any alcohol-related issue until 2007 when we both appeared before the Board to request that the license be transferred from him to me. I was hoping to continue his streak of never having to go before the Liquor Board. I made nine years. Guess they may have done me a favor because I was never going to be able to match Buzzy’s record of 54 anyway.
Elvis sums up how I feel about all this: 