Lincoln: What defines 'special amusement'?
12/15/08 | 7 comments

Lincoln: What defines 'special amusement'?


By Nick Sambides Jr.
BDN Staff

LINCOLN, Maine — Town Councilor Thora House doesn’t want an adult entertainment center on Main Street.

That’s why the planning board tonight will discuss and possibly reword the town’s special amusement permit to specify what businesses are allowed to offer, she and council chairman Steve Clay said Sunday.

“They might specify what is not ‘special amusement,’” Clay said Sunday. “It came up because every year we give special amusement permit renewals to [town businesses] and Thora was concerned that there was nothing in the ordinance that prohibited anything.”

Peter Phinney, the board’s chairman, did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Sunday.

At House’s request, the council referred the matter to the board at the council’s meeting earlier this month, Clay said.

Lincoln has no adult entertainment centers, such as businesses that feature exotic dancers or sexual paraphernalia. Nor were Clay and House aware of any such businesses with plans to open in Lincoln. Some town convenience stores sell adult magazines.

Businesses must apply for special amusement permits in order to offer karaoke, live music and jukeboxes, among other things, House said. She has voted against the last two special amusement permits the council approved because she believed the ordinance lacked definition.

House is not necessarily against adult entertainment centers such as strip clubs in town, she said, but would want them at least placed in discreet locations — definitely not on Main Street.

She asked that the board consider rewriting the ordinance to reflect three entertainment levels. Jukeboxes and G-rated entertainment would be first; then more restrictive live and more adult-oriented entertainment, such as comedians who use adult language; and adult, or X-rated, entertainment, she said.

“When somebody comes to me for an entertainment license, I want to know what that means,” House said. As it stands, “There is nothing there; they can do whatever they want.”

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Comments
7 comments on this item
On 12/15/08 at 8:16 AM, Bangorian wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Why have I read a headline about Lincoln 3 days in a row? Day 1: Spy Camera's coming to Main Street to ward off evil teens, Day 2: Evil teens might blow up soda bottles (if they first learn how on the youtube site mentioned in the article). Day 3: Ban Jukeboxes! (they might attract evil teens, if it were still 1950 & anyone had juke boxes, of course).

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On 12/15/08 at 8:29 AM, Alexander_Hunt wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Lincoln is a happening place! The rest of the country might be fading away but Lincoln is growing!

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On 12/15/08 at 9:50 AM, LincolnMOM wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Lincoln is growing but we do not need this type of adult entertainment...they can drive to Millinocket to see the trampy strippers if they wish. Thank you Mrs. House for being so careful in chosing whom to give permits to. This type of place would promote even more teen trouble and strife in some marriages etc. I feel if a married adult seeks this kind of entertainment...they should look at home in their own bedrooms.

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On 12/15/08 at 10:15 AM, RealCherry wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

There are probably plenty of trampy girls who want to be strippers and probably many more lonely men who want to pay to watch them, so get over it LincolnMOM and tell me, how on earth does a strip club promote more teen trouble? Sounds like you're worried your man might venture out of your bedroom for the kind of entertainment you can't provide....or am I way off base?

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On 12/15/08 at 10:27 AM, LincolnMOM wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

What happens behind my doors would never make my hubby even want to or have to go near a joint like that. As far as the teen trouble this type of place could promote...well I was just thinking they would always try to sneak in or even try to get jobs there...no place for a 18 year old girl to work or young adult guy to hang. They need to focus on college and or planning their futures.

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On 12/15/08 at 6:22 PM, commish4 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Is Diva's moving to Lincoln ? Why are people so eager to judge things they don't care for ? I don't go to church but I'm not condemning them !! I don't go to "adult entertainment" but let it be and live your own life .

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On 12/16/08 at 9:24 AM, GurnBlanston wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Fat girls hate strip clubs. Every Wal-Mart has security cameras. You can make a bomb with Mentos and Coca-Cola. Lincoln is nice.

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