Listening
Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
- atop / əˈtɒp / (prep.) – on or at the top of something
Example:The restaurant atop the building provided an amazing view of the entire city.
- infringe on / ɪnˈfrɪndʒ ɒn / (phrasal v.) – to limit or take away someone's rights or freedom
Example:Many students feel that the school is infringing on their ability to express themselves by banning certain hair and clothing styles.
- citation / saɪˈteɪ ʃən / (n.) – an official notice given by the police or a court saying that someone has broken a rule or law
Example:The police officer issued a citation to the shop owner for not following the city’s health and safety rules.
- illumination / ɪˌlu məˈneɪ ʃən / (n.) – light
Example:The party decorations included colorful illumination that brightened up the entire room.
- entity / ˈɛn tɪ ti / (n.) – (in law or accounting) a business, company, or organization that is seen as a separate unit
Example:The company became an independent entity after separating from its parent organization.
Article
Read the text below.
A bakery owner in New Hampshire testified that his excitement about displaying a painting by high school students of giant pastries quickly turned to annoyance after a zoning code officer told him it was a sign and had to be changed or removed.
Sean Young said the work atop his bakery is art and was never intended to be a sign.
“I was artistically offended for the students,” said Young, who’s suing the town of Conway because he says it violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech.
The bright painting atop Leavitt’s Country Bakery shows sunbeams shining down on a mountain range made of sprinkle-covered chocolate and strawberry doughnuts, a blueberry muffin, a cinnamon roll and other pastries.
A federal judge is considering whether the town is infringing on Young’s rights. U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante did not reach a verdict following the daylong trial. For now, the painting has been allowed to remain since it was first displayed in June 2022.
The zoning board determined the painting is not so much art as advertising.
If it didn’t show what’s sold inside—baked goods—it wouldn’t be considered a sign and could stay, board members said. But because of its size, they say it can’t remain as-is. At about 90 square feet (8.6 square meters), it’s four times bigger than the local sign code allows.
Jeremy Gibbs, the zoning officer who issued the citation, testified that he was following the town’s definition of a sign.
A sign in Conway is “any device, fixture, placard, structure or attachment thereto that uses color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of any person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public, whether commercial or noncommercial,” according to the sign code.
Gibbs testified that if there were no regulations, then signs could be placed anywhere and there could be safety concerns about lighting or distracted drivers. He also noted that Conway, near the White Mountains, draws tourists to its natural resources.
This article was provided by The Associated Press.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
- A colorful painting by high school students atop Leavitt’s Country Bakery shows sunlight on a mountain range made of pastries. Do you think this painting is art or advertising? What makes you say so? If you had the power, would you let the painting remain there or have it removed? Why? Discuss.
- How important do you think signs are for businesses? What types of shop signs catch your attention (ex. simple, creative)? If you were to own a business, how would you attract customers to your shop? Discuss.
Discussion B
- Conway wants to protect its natural beauty for tourists; hence, the rules. Do you think signs and advertisements ruin a town’s charm? Why or why not? How do you think businesses can promote themselves without making a town look too commercial (ex. use artistic signs, improve shops’ design)? Discuss.
- Do you think the signs and advertisements in your city make it look better or worse? Why do you say so? What types of shop signs or designs do you think fit well in your town? Would you prefer modern, artistic, or traditional signs? Why? Discuss.
