The City Bee Inspector came to the Urban Ecology Center to approve the rooftop Beepod and got more than he bargained for... Inspector Duncan arrived to bee greeted by UEC's Jamie Ferschinger, the UEC beekeeper Terri Kinis, and Beepod spokesman CharBee Koenen.
"Usually I take measurements and verify the application data," said Duncan, "typically we check permits for dogs, cats, mice, rats and birds, now we're doing bees."
Inspector James Duncan is a Nuisance Control Officer and standing over six foot tall, his figure fills a doorway and appears quite capable of controlling any nuisance. But when asked if he wanted to come meet the bees.... he was as timid as schoolchild... and yet as curious as one too!
Flanked by two lovely Eco-temptresses and an overly talkative beepod inventor, Duncan was set at ease with the idea of getting to meet the bees... from a safe distance. But soon his curiosity got the better of him and he was strapping on a veil and inching ever closer to the open bee hive.
Camera in hand snapping pictures to show back at work, he proudly documented his closest contact with Honeybees "ever!" Admittedly he'd never seen a hive such as the Beepod and was very curios to learn more as it was so much more approachable than any hive he'd approved before. Perhaps the highlight of the inspection was the look on Inspector Duncan's face as Terri placed a live bee in his (quite large) hand—yes it was a stingerless Drone—but it mattered not as he struggled to bee-lieve the two petite women handling the buzzing, personification of all his fears, insect. Priceless!
Upon surviving a handful of buzzing terror may have been our highlight but from the look on inspector Duncan's face... a face that regularly does little more take notice of kennels, yards and pet palaces... when both veil-clad worker bees suggested he get a picture next to the bees, flanked by them both... it was easy to tell what was his highlite!
Duncan left with a smile, several brochures, an instruction manual and an invitation to attend the next Beesentation... but most important... a camera full of proof that the biggest Nuisance Controller in Milwaukee... was in fact not afraid of bees... or a couple bee-utiful worker beekeepers!
Thanks Officer Duncan... hope to see you at the next Beesentation.
