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Unruly kids, inconsiderate parents prompt Ohio winery and live-music venue to ban children from premises
BETHEL, Ohio — The owners of Harmony Hill Vineyards in southern Ohio strived for years to make their winery and live-music venue family-friendly, welcoming parents and children to their entertainment events and picnic grounds.
No longer.
In a posting that could be described as half notification and half rant, winery co-owner Bill Skvarla announced on the Harmony Hill Facebook page that children are now banned from the winery’s grounds. Too many kids were simply unruly — and many of their parents were either indifferent or confrontational when asked to make their children behave, Skvarla said. (I visited and profiled Harmony Hill in 2007 in this Uncorked piece.)
The announcement set off a firestorm of response in the form of comments on the Facebook post, with most of the customers — but not all — standing squarely behind the decision by Skvarla and his wife Patti. Others objected to the tone of the notification or suggested that Skvarla should have addressed the issues firmly with the offending parents rather than issuing an immediate and total ban on children at the winery.
“You all have no idea how long Patti and I anguished over this decision,” Skvarla said in a comment on his own post, after some customers questioned the decision. “Do you not think that I had tried to reason with the parents? I have been called everything from an ‘inconsiderate SOB’ to an ‘anti-children businessman.’
“I recently reprimanded a 7-year-old for throwing rocks at the cave doors and was not only told by the child that ‘I don’t have to listen to you’ to having his parents support him: ‘He’s being a boy.’ I’m sorry, but that’s BS, and neither I, my staff, nor my customers should have to put up with it. … Dogs on a leash are welcome…Should we establish something like this for those kids?!!!!!!!!!”
The unruly behavior, Skvarla said in his original announcement, included running through the crowd, climbing walls, pulling vineyard netting from vines, pulling fruit from the trees, pulling grapes from the grapevines, throwing rocks at other children, and what Skvarla called “the straw that broke this camel’s back,” throwing rocks at the donkeys that are kept on the winery’s grounds.
“Patti and I have never been blessed with children, and maybe that’s a good thing. But I can only imagine what our parents would have done if we were caught engaging in some of the behavior that is suddenly running rampant (at the winery),” Skvarla said in his original announcement. “We are sorry that the actions of a few have adversely affected the rest, but we must act for the overall good of our business, loyal guests and friends.”
Here’s a sampling of the 30 comments the announcement triggered:
“We understand your decision and completely agree with the final outcome. It is not your job to watch people’s children at your establishment. When people take their children to dinner do they expect the staff to watch them while they eat? Oh wait….some really do!!!! People’s disregard for others is amazing.” — Angelique Hope
“This letter could have been more professional in my opinion. A respectable decision from a business stand point. However your “letter” to your customers is a RANT rather than a informing letter. A RANT on what you hated about your customers. Not professional at all.” — Amie Rollins Bender
“I am very disappointed to hear that. Harmony Hill was one of the very few places that my son could see us (perform). Though I do not blame you folks one bit. Parenting is a very difficult job, and if people are not up to the challenge of having children in public, then they should not take their children out into public. What a shame.” — Tony Hall
“I don’t think everyone should be punished.I agree (that) the parents should be told ‘don’t come back.’ There are parents that do teach their kids respect and they should be allowed to bring their kids if they choose to do so.” — Jeanette Bargo West
“That’s too bad. I enjoyed spending time there with my family. That’s been the birthday hangout spot for the last couple of years. Although I respect your decision, it seems like a less drastic step could have been taken first.” — Mandy Hetzer Wright
“I will not be returning to (Harmony Hill). Please delete me from the fan page.” — Becky Gibson Reinert
“I sure wish people could comprehend the magnitude of the effort and commitment it takes to establish and maintain a small bonded winery. Perhaps then they could understand the frustration that comes from having the fruits of your labor treated so disrespectfully. Bill and Patti have more than earned the right to protect what they worked so hard to build, both in terms of the winery’s property and the winery’s image.” — David Specter
For his part, Skvarla — in the height of the Facebook brouhaha — posted another comment that said, “As an FYI, I have had 211 responses to my email (announcement of the ban), and 206 of those responses were totally supportive of our decision. I’m just saying.”
Update: On Friday morning, Sept. 30, Skvarla wrote that the email response he has received has jumped to 315 supportive, to 13 opposing, his decision. And he shared some of the supportive emails, including the following:
— “Good for you! It’s about time that someone speaks up. Too many parents aren’t teaching their kids how to act in public places.” — CMSkaggs
— “Understand your decision! We always enjoy the peace and quiet, when we drink wine, and listen to music! We’re grandparents now, but they ‘Don’t make parents like they use to!’ (don’t make their children behave in public!!) Glad we know a place, where we may still come and enjoy the atmosphere!! Your place is lovely, and you have the right to protect it~ Thanks for sharing it!” — Marsha and Chuck Dunn
“Good for you! My husband and are totally sickened by the behavior tolerated with today’s children! No one will discipline their children anymore, and we are going to have serious problems down the line. We do not blame you at all. Plus you know what, get a babysitter! If you can’t find one, then don’t go out and ruin everyone else’s time. You had them, you sit home with them. Sometimes you can’t have ‘it all’.” — Snodell7
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