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Friends, not food: Fitchburg man battles city in fight for friendly … – Worcester Telegram
FITCHBURG – Joe Smeraldi was not entirely sure where the chicken came from. It simply appeared on his property one summer day.
“She just wandered into my yard,” said Smeraldi. When it was clear she intended to stay, Smeraldi purchased a small coop. The new housing attracted a friend of hers. And another. And another.
A few of his neighbors work on farms and they would bring home chickens from work for either food or eggs. When none of the possible owners made any move to reclaim them, the chickens found themselves in a new home, where they were considered pets rather than livestock, even making friends with Smeraldi’s cats.
“One of the chickens would snuggle up with the cats and sit right on top of them,” he said.
That was almost exactly four years ago, in July 2019, and since then, Smeraldi has had about 12 chickens living in his backyard and garage, though never more than six at a time, he said. Eventually, following a hawk attack, the chickens moved to his garage.
Some, like the first, wandered in, and others were given to him directly. Smeraldi’s reputation for taking in chickens was cemented after a woman was caught on camera dropping one over his fence.
“The woman said she had seen a chicken wandering the neighborhood and assumed it was mine,” he said.
The line between friends and farm animals can be a blurry one, especially in terms of city ordinances. Smeraldi was cited and fined $100 on Feb. 26, 2020, by the City of Fitchburg, stating that he was in violation of the city’s agricultural ordinances by raising livestock on his land.
Smeraldi appealed to housing court and the fine was dismissed. However, the Zoning Board of Appeals stated that he was still in violation by using his land “for the primary purpose of agriculture.” He is now appealing that ruling, with the case slated to be heard July 13.
Smeraldi has argued that the chickens were living on his property as pets, not livestock, but his defense hit an egg-shaped bump. The chickens were bred to lay an egg almost every day, he said.
“(The city) said since you eat the eggs it’s not a trivial source of food,” he said.
Smeraldi said two of the chickens were not laying eggs and he didn’t get much more food from the eggs than he would from a 400-square-foot vegetable garden, which would be allowed under the rules.
Though he may have eaten some eggs in the beginning to avoid wasting food, he said, he stopped within a year. He said he lost his appetite after witnessing the process up close, along with the health complications for the hens that resulted in multiple veterinary visits to take out eggs that were stuck or even broken inside them.
“It’s just been kind of gross,” said Smeraldi, who is now a vegan. Now all eggs are composted.
The hearing is scheduled for July 13 in Worcester, and Smeraldi said he “feels confident.” In addition to not violating zoning ordinances, he is now arguing that the Zoning Board of Appeals acted in bad faith.
“The city tried to change the definition of agriculture (in the zoning ordinance) and they want to ignore the definition … because I don’t meet that definition,” he said.
The chickens have established themselves as valued members of the neighborhood, with local children coming to see and even help feed them.
“One of the kids comes to feed them every morning before the bus comes,” said Smeraldi.
Though friendly with people (and cats), among themselves the chickens have a strong pecking order (no pun intended), with individual friendships and rivalries. Polly, a hen who was used to being the only one with free run of the house, even threw a tantrum when her rival was allowed in the living room, going out to the garage in protest until the offending chicken was ousted, he said.
Smeraldi even said he can recognize them by voice, saying they may even have a wider range of inflection than dogs. While out of town and checking in with a friend who was chicken-sitting, “I heard one over the phone and I said, ‘That chicken does not belong inside. Get her out.’
“The different personalities is what surprised me the most,” he said, but like many pets, what you get out of them depends on the effort you put in. “Like a cat, if you ignore it, they’re going to be boring but if you engage with them, you can see the personality.”
A message seeking comment from Fitchburg officials was not returned.
By Brad Snyder at ringside
In a lightweight special feature, 19-year-old southpaw Abdullah Mason (9-0, 8 KOs) impressively knocked out Alex de Oliveira (20-5, 14 KOs) in the second round. Time was 2:18.
Unbeaten junior wlterweight Tiger Johnson (9-0, 5 KOs) defeated Jonathan Montrel (15-2, 10 KOs) by UD (80-72, 80-72, 80-72) over eight rounds.
Dante Benjamin Jr. (7-0, 5 KOs) exploded out of the gate to score a knockdown, then get a stoppage right after his opponent, Mirady Zola got up. The light heavyweight contest ended with the TKO at the 1:56 mark of the first round. The loss drops Zola to (4-3, 1 KO).
Super middleweight DeAndre Ware (16-4-2, 9 KOs) won by six round unanimous decision (58-56, 59-55, 59-55) over Decarlo Perez (19-9-1, 6 KOs).
Rance Ward touched leather to the face of fellow junior middleweight Husam Al Mashhadi, often, over six rounds. Ward appeared fresh and was able to walk Mashhadi down during the six rounds to take the majority decision (57-57, 58-56, 59-55) victory and improve to (8-5-1, 2 KOs). Meanwhile, it’s back to the drawing board for Mashhadi (6-1, 6 KOs), who suffered his first loss.
Junior Middleweight Nicklaus Flaz (11-2, 7 KOs) won a close fight by majority decision (76-76, 78-74, 77-75) over previously unbeaten Jahi Tucker (10-1, 5 KOs). The fight, which went all eight rounds, had moments where both fighters showed some ability to throw combinations.
Junior Lightweight Tyler McCreary (18-2-1, 8KOs) got the hometown crowd excited by landing strong left hooks to the body, left hooks to the head, and a strong right cross to his opponent, Deivi Julio (26-14, 16 KOs). Julio, who fought hard, did not have enough to sway the judges. The judges all saw the fight in favor of McCreary (59-54, 57-56, 57-56).
Why isnt this garbage on TV anywhere??
It’s on ESPN+
de Oliveira was embarrassing. Just stood there smiling and waiting to be hit. The ref literally had to tell him to fight back in round 1.
As boxing fans we’re all used to shocking mismatches… but ESPN take it to a new level.
I will keep an eye on Mason and see what develops for him.
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Light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov (4-0, 3 KOs) returns against Dodzi Kemeh, (25-2, 23 KOs) in the eight-round co-feature on the next ‘Hollywood Fight Nights’ event set for Friday, June 9 at the Commerce Casino and broadcast live internationally by UFC Fightpass.
The event is headlined by a ten-round super welterweight clash between ‘King’ Callum Walsh, (6-0, 5 KOs) and veteran Carson Jones, (43-15-3, 31 KOs).
Callum Walsh is a good club fighter but will never be a world champion.
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Boxing Hall of Famer and undefeated legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) will hold a press conference this week to announce his latest exhibition fight as he prepares to take on professional boxer and mixed martial artist John Gotti III (2-0, 1 KO), the grandson of famous mob boss John Gotti.
This showdown will headline “Last Names Matter” taking place Sunday, June 11 from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida in an event that will also feature musical performances from Ozuna and more. The event is dedicated to the loving memory of Marikit “Kitchie” Laurico, Mayweather’s longtime assistant who passed away suddenly in April.
Come on mayweather fight a tougher dude than that. Maybe Rosie O’Donnell.
In June 2005 it was Mayweather vs Gatti! Maybe this one will be more competitive! LOL! Loved Gatti but Mayweather was all wrong for him! Gotti best not look at the ref in the first round!!!
He’s retired, he can fight whomever he pleases. His days of proving himself are over. 50-0 against HOFers and world champions.
Wait, that can’t be the same son that took over The Gambino family when John Gotti went to prison. That guy has got to be 55 years old and was a fat fuck that didn’t look like he worked out a day in his life. John Gotti III has to be his son? Regardless, never heard of him and this is going to be a ridiculous fight.
Gotti III is not junior. He is one of Junior’s sons. I said one. JG3’s brother (Charles) is a made guy, and from what I believe, could be doing time as I type. JG3 wanted to live a normal life. That took great courage. I have nothing but love & respect for JG3.
May might need to take a dive with this one 🙂
John Gotti is 5-1 as an MMA fighter and thank God this is an exhibition boxing match because if it was an MMA fight, Mayweather would get pummelled…
Boxing or MMA, Gotti III would get whacked by Money Mayweather. Even at this point.
Damn straight.
We need to hear what Lucy, the resident boxing expert thinks about this.
“We need to hear what Lucy, the resident boxing expert thinks about this.”
– It’s Lucie, not Lucy.
– Lucie knows boxing, and backs up a lot of posts w/BoxRec stats and facts.
– Seriously??
– April Fools on 4/26??
Best outcome would be a bomb falling on the stadium.
Geez this clown at it again?!
Get a life now little Floyd! Find a hobby or just take a walk now on a short pier..
Most OVERRATED fighter ever little Floyd Mayweather. At least his uncle Roger had balls with a wicked right hand.
I’m not really sure how mayweather can convince himself that people aren’t laughing at him these days. That last event in Britain was virtually empty and who would actually pay to go see something like this. If Floyd wants attention like this why not go back to WWE and be an entertainment feature there?
John Gotti III by ko
“John Gotti III by ko”
– John Gotti III by assassination…..
It’s an exhibition folks, Floyd has already earned his stripes years ago calm down. He can fight whomever he wants. Stop whining and don’t watch if you’re not interested. I guess the appeal is fighting John Gotti’s grandson and the mob possibly telling Floyd to sit down or lay down. A smart selection that his previous fight. We all know John Gotti but the last dude I had no idea who he was. Lets see if more than 50 people show up this time.
this is true??? ahhhh
Let me explain how this work. Gotti’s family is still in the mob. Gotti III elected to live and lead a clean life.
John Gotti III is one of Junior’s kids. JG3’s brother (Charles) is in the mob, and from what I understand, is doing time. TIME. Something Delaware Joe needs to start doing. Anyhow, let’s get back to Gotti III.
The very fact he is out of the mob makes him a real winner in my eyes. I wish him all the best.
John Jr. & Kimberly have 6 kids.
They are Charles Herbert Gotti (mob), Frankie, Gianna, Angel, Nicolette and John III.
John III, of course, is Mayweather’s opponent.
WHO cares!!!
I wonder if Gotti makes Floyd an offer he can’t refuse…
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