Tikis are tree mutilation... - General Tiki

F fatuhiva Member Melbourne Beach, FL Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 638	F fatuhiva Posted posted on Wed, May 19, 2004 11:21 PM http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryN0520TIKI.htm I was wondering what the deal was with these half-carved tikis in the middle of town- kinda seemed stupid as the live palm obviously died right after being carved.. oh well- wouldve been neat to have the tikis, but they probably should just mounted some on the ground in between each palm.. right now it stands with two palms carved and one 1/3 carved.. kinda like a guy who dies writing in his journallllllllahahklk;l ;l; May 19, 11:27 PM Tikis are tree mutilation, city says Business must replace palms BY JEFF SCHWEERS FLORIDA TODAY MELBOURNE -- The tiki heads carved into the palm trees in front of the Car Cabana add a touch of the exotic to the used-car lot at New Haven Avenue and Babcock Street. Cocoa Beach artist Wayne Coombs carved two tiki heads into the trees as a favor to Car Cabana owner Don Coffman. But city inspectors stopped Coombs from finishing a third head. They said the recent additions, which stand like exclamation points along the sidewalk in front of the car lot, are a code violation and have to go. They cited Coffman for causing "irreparable or irreplaceable damage" to a live tree, said Dan Porsi, Melbourne's code compliance director. "First thing is for the health of the tree. Second would be a safety issue. Third . . . you're getting into the aesthetics when you start mutilating a tree," Porsi said. Coombs, who's made a living out of carving tiki heads for the last 30 years, said the code violates freedom of expression. And if someone wants a face carved on his tree, that should be his right. "The irreparable damage (Porsi) was talking about, we call art," Coombs said. Coffman must replace the carved trees with healthy trees of the same height, Porsi said. Or Coffman could take his case to the code enforcement board. Coffman said he'll do whatever the city wants him to do. "I'm not gonna fight with the city," Coffman said. "I'm just going to stay here and sell cars."

http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryN0520TIKI.htm

I was wondering what the deal was with these half-carved tikis in the middle of town- kinda seemed stupid as the live palm obviously died right after being carved.. oh well- wouldve been neat to have the tikis, but they probably should just mounted some on the ground in between each palm.. right now it stands with two palms carved and one 1/3 carved.. kinda like a guy who dies writing in his journallllllllahahklk;l ;l;

May 19, 11:27 PM

Tikis are tree mutilation, city says

Business must replace palms

BY JEFF SCHWEERS
FLORIDA TODAY

MELBOURNE -- The tiki heads carved into the palm trees in front of the Car Cabana add a touch of the exotic to the used-car lot at New Haven Avenue and Babcock Street.

Cocoa Beach artist Wayne Coombs carved two tiki heads into the trees as a favor to Car Cabana owner Don Coffman. But city inspectors stopped Coombs from finishing a third head.

They said the recent additions, which stand like exclamation points along the sidewalk in front of the car lot, are a code violation and have to go.

They cited Coffman for causing "irreparable or irreplaceable damage" to a live tree, said Dan Porsi, Melbourne's code compliance director.

"First thing is for the health of the tree. Second would be a safety issue. Third . . . you're getting into the aesthetics when you start mutilating a tree," Porsi said.

Coombs, who's made a living out of carving tiki heads for the last 30 years, said the code violates freedom of expression. And if someone wants a face carved on his tree, that should be his right.

"The irreparable damage (Porsi) was talking about, we call art," Coombs said.

Coffman must replace the carved trees with healthy trees of the same height, Porsi said. Or Coffman could take his case to the code enforcement board.

Coffman said he'll do whatever the city wants him to do.

"I'm not gonna fight with the city," Coffman said. "I'm just going to stay here and sell cars."

Post #92039 by fatuhiva on Wed, May 19, 2004 11:21 PM