Town seeks ban on Silly String

by Rob Peters | January 8, 2008 at 04:07 pm | 1184 views | 17 comments

This is serious. I just hope balloons aren't next.

HUNTINGTON, N.Y. - Town council in Huntington, New York is getting serious about Silly String.

The issue: a claim that the plastic goo mars the finish on the Long Island community's fire trucks during parades.

Town spokeswoman Fran Evans says a public hearing scheduled for tonight will deal with a proposal to ban Silly String "or similar gaseous, liquid or semi-liquid product or substances" during parades, processions, fairs and expositions.

Rob Oram, product marketing manager for manufacturer Just for Kicks, says that while he's not familiar with the fire truck claim, the label includes cleaning instructions.

Oram says Silly String shouldn't be allowed to dry in the summer heat for more than a few minutes, but it's easily removed from clothing.

The stuff also has been used by NATO forces to detect trip wires for booby traps in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Add a comment Comments (17)

jordan

That's just... well, you know.

djstarr

Mummer's Parade 2008 in South Philadelphia. There was silly string everywhere and this girl was completely covered.

djstarr has contributed a photo to this story.

Dale Abbott

Lets all look at it for what it is... SILLY STING......
It is silly and it is string. Are we going to band everything we find hard to deal with? Let me know if we are I have a few silly people I know that we could band.

Dale Abbott has contributed a photo to this story.

vonstanger

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom lends his support in favor of continued "Silly String" use.

vonstanger has contributed a photo to this story.

clarkmackey

Silly string war in a front yard, Madison, MS. December 2007.

clarkmackey has contributed a photo to this story.

mpkillmer

This "silly string" which I believe is Goofy String was found littered in a city park after New Year's Eve. No sign of the left over string, I'm sure it was all over the people that used the can!

mpkillmer has contributed a photo to this story.

sjziemen

sjziemen has contributed a photo to this story.

sjziemen

I took the picture of the tree and silly string.  I think that, once in a while, harmless fun with silly string should be allowed to be harmless fun.  It's difficult to clean up, okay, but don't let it sit around and clean it off as soon as possible, and you should be okay.  Use some common sense, people!

newstylskater

I guess they just ran out!

newstylskater has contributed a photo to this story.

Davo

The man underneath the Silly String is Paul Jakubik and showering our new employees with 12 cans of silly string is a tradition we will continue for years to come. Silly string brings joy to the lives of children and adults alike and the huntington NY ban is...well...uh...SILLY.

Davo has contributed a photo to this story.

ks life

ks life has contributed a photo to this story.

duanel

We have a tradition of playing a prank on teammates on their birthday. Usually it's a "decorated" desk... in this case, it was a decorated... me. All in good fun and vacuumed up promptly afterwards.

duanel has contributed a photo to this story.

Thivierge

This silly string attack was a great birthday gift for my daughter from her best friend. And, gee, we got all of it off of her and the grass no problem. Thank God we live in a silly town

Thivierge has contributed a photo to this story.

triellen

this was after we blasted 4 full cans of silly string at some of the guys while they were playing the wii. seee... very easy to "collect," and if it didn't, we waited until it dried up, and it chipped right off! :)

triellen has contributed a photo to this story.

SnackBiscuit

I would hate to live in Huntington. Once you start banning silly string, I can't imagine what will be next - clowns, balloons, noise?!! Would everyone loosen up a bit and buy the firehouse a loolah for their truck.

SnackBiscuit has contributed a photo to this story.

hollow sidewalks

fm belfast gig @ pianos, ludlow street, nyc. so much for their big dreams of playing in a parade in huntington.

hollow sidewalks has contributed a photo to this story.

fwinstead
good stuff:

Rob Peters, at least the penalty does not involve caning.

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January 8, 2008 at 04:07 pm by Rob Peters, 1184 views, 17 comments

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