How to Thank a Veteran: Have Their VFW Post Closed

[bombardiette]

I wasn't there for it on Friday, 11-11-11, Veteran's Day here in the US, but at some point during the ceremonies at the George Dilboy VFW, my post, officials apparently entered and informed the post commander that code violations (which we've been trying to fix via a new post that about 100 people in the district have so far successfully fought

Comments

[ron_newman]

Do the downstairs and upstairs halls have separate capacity limits or does 95 apply to the whole post? (Just about anything I've attended upstairs has way more than 95 people)

[bombardiette]

As I understood it from the Quartermaster, it's separate limits. I need to edit this. I think we're supposed to be under 95 downstairs.

It's actually pretty rare that we have functions upstairs with more than 95 people though. What have you been attending?! And if there are more than a certain number, a police detail has to be hired. This has been the process for years.

[ron_newman]

The beer festival I went to a couple of years back had way more than 95 people -- it was jampacked. Also I recall a DSLJ-organized band party (I think you were part of this?) with more than that.

[bombardiette]

The Beer-Fest usually is, yes. But a Band Party? Not me.

[pierceheart]

Ron, if you're discussing NERAX, there's always been a fire detail there when I have been there, and they are actively watching the numbers of people who are in the hall - which meets the requirements if the place doesn't have the appropriate central sprinkler system.

Of course, why that portion of state fire code only applies to bars and clubs, and not some of the other placed I have seen go over the limits which require sprinklers is beyond me. How many churches in somerville routinely have more than 100 people present, without an automatic sprinkler system?

[ron_newman]

Thanks. I have no complaints about NERAX -- it seemed to be quite well-managed. Just more crowded than places I usually like to be.

[bombardiette]

What really sucks about this? The Entertainment License (that started this mess) was because we had a jukebox. A jukebox. And someone did some digging and said, "Hey! They have a jukebox but no license! They need to be fined!" And then ALL of the bars in the area that have a jukebox or TV that didn't have a license got the same.

Then, in the course of all of that, the Fire Department was contacted to get involved. And so Pandora's Box was unleashed in the name of harassing one entity, but all of the other poor sods in the area got swept up in the net too. Way to piss in your own backyard.