Men of Zilwaukee -- start your beards (Michigan town requires men to wear beards)

Saginaw News ^ | 12/30/03 | Olivia Muoz

[Tim Osman]

Men 21 and older in Zilwaukee city and township can buy alcohol and tobacco, own a gun, view R-rated movies and vote in local and national elections.

But if the Zilwaukee City Council approves a special proclamation Monday, they can't shave the hair on their chinny-chin-chins.

In honor of the community's upcoming sesquicentennial -- that's 150 years -- the City Council will vote to require all city and township men older than 21 to grow a beard beginning Tuesday, Jan. 6.

The rule would require those opting for the clean-shaven look to pay $10 for a permit.

"I don't expect any strong opposition to this," said Councilman Robert M. Bohnsack, a member of the eight-member committee that's planning the Friday through Sunday, June 4-6, celebration.

Councilman Eugene Jolin Jr. said he hopes the event will bring the community together and promote the spirit of the anniversary.

"This is all about fun and games," he said. "We don't want to make anybody mad."

The planning panel hopes to revive the beard-growing tradition from Zilwaukee's centennial celebration in 1954.

If the rule passes, 636 men from the city and 24 from the township would have to go without a shave or buy a permit to abstain. About 35 percent of residents in the city and township are males older than 21, according to census figures.

The rule, which township officials said they likely would follow, would last only to June, and would serve as a beard-growing contest at the same time. Those wishing to participate in the contest must show up at City Hall clean-shaven to register. Local beauticians will judge different categories, including longest, best well-kept and most original.

The proclamation states that violators are subject to a penalty, but enforcement may prove less than strict.

"The permits and the penalties would mainly be to raise funds for the celebration this summer," Bohnsack said.

"There may be a small fine, but we haven't even talked about it yet," Jolin said.

The committee also is trying to organize a bridge walk across the Zilwaukee Bridge over Interstate 75.

Residents may obtain a permit to abstain from beard-growing for $10 through Saturday, Jan. 17. They cost $11 after that. Permits are available from Bohnsack and Jolin, or at City Hall, 319 Tittabawassee. For more information, call 755-0931.

[Tim Osman]

Glad I don't live in Michigan, I'm a little too strapped for cash to buy that "no beard" permit.

[Cronos]

Wasn't the no-beard trimming one of the rules passed by the Taliban too>?

[Redcloak]

I'm guessing that ZZ Top is still pretty popular in this town.

[clee1]

I'm guessing that the first person fined for not having a "no-shave permit" will sue the crap out of this bucolic little dorf.

Telling me to shave, or not shave, as the case may be, would result in a fecal storm that these backwoods folks could not imagine.

[Gerasimov]

Not in MY town! Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin!

[ReformedBeckite]

The committee also is trying to organize a bridge walk across the Zilwaukee Bridge over Interstate 75

This is a little off subject, if that is the bridge I'm thinking of I'm not really sure I'll want to walk over it, with all the trouble they had building it. I'm sure it's ok now, but the thought of one of it's supports settling while walking across it or even driving across it is scary

[I_dmc]

I don't recall anything about the supports, but the two sides, when they met in the middle, were far, far apart.

[I_dmc]

It does have a sway to it as you drive across, if I recall.

[FreedomPoster]

Lighten up, Francis.

[SLB]

All the folks here need to lighten up some on this.

When Wyoming celebrated 75 years of statehood in 1964 there was statewide legislation requiring men to wear beards. It was done in fun and of course there were those who could not due to wrok requirements. They could buy a permit with the proceeds going to charity.

[11th Earl of Mar]

I have driven across it many times. It is very high.

I would not want to walk across it.

[ReformedBeckite]

I finally found the article form the Detroit News when it opened. It said in Aug 82 a section tilted and nearly fell, crushing a vertical support tower and adding $7million in repair sosts to the project. If I remember it added several more years to the building of the bridge. The newspaper article is dated Dec 24, 1987.

[Cronos]

Sounds like a con game -- YOU MUST GROW BEARDS OR PAY MONEY TO THE STATE! S Heil! But seriously, don't you think it's wrogn to force peopel to do this? If guys WANT to, then let them, why force others? Like a union strike or Taliban tactics.

[SLB]

The taliban shot you if you did not have a beard that conformed to their laws. The city council in Zilwaukee ask you to give $10 to charity. Big difference.

What has changed from the 100th anniversary celebration in 1954? OBTW, I imagine it is not physically enforced, and I do have a full beard so they would be forcing me to shave to enter the contest.

[brewcrew]

When I first glanced at the title of this thread, I did a doubletake. I could have sworn it said Zen of Milwaukee.

[Cronos]

they're FORCING someone to give for charity, that's the difference, more like handing out a tithe. It's not the govt business to make people be charaitable, or are we heading back to medieval times>