Mr. Softee and the Never-Ending Song
An ice cream truck is causing a disturbance in Mt. Airy.
There's just a little bit of ice cream-related frustration in Mt. Airy.
A Mr. Softee truck's song has been bothering some people along a few blocks here, and the West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN) Quality of Life Committee is working to do something about it.
The ice cream truck, granted, has honorable intentions. Committee member Dan Rhoton said at a meeting Monday that he spoke with the driver recently to try and learn a little bit more about his route.
The truck often stops on West Sharpnack Street—an area Rhoton called "an ice cream truck gold mine." Families with lots of children live in that area, and they're often angling to by treats when it gets warmer outside.
Regina Jelencovich lives on West Hortter Street nearby. She said the constant sound of the truck isn't something that she always wants to hear.
"On nice days, the ice cream trucks have been driving me nuts," Jelencovich said.
Rhoton advised her to try and keep track of the times when the truck is on the street. Then, he said, the group can have a record of when it was present—and can then maybe go to the driver with a log.
Maybe, Rhoton said, the statistics could convince the driver to cut down on the amount of time he plays his song outdoors.
Jelencovich, for her part, said she's researched how other areas have responded to similar noise pollution. Ocean City, N.J.'s ice cream truck drivers ring a bell (instead of playing a song), while a Colorado town does the same.
Rhoton playfully said he would investigate even further if he had too—perhaps by buying even more ice cream for himself in the future.
"I'll do for WMAN what needs to be done," he said with a smile.
Greg Jones
10:54 am on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Mr Softee??? Are you serious? Comon...it's as Philadelphia as a cheesesteak. Obviously this Jelencovich person is not a born and bred Philly native. I love to hear that song on the block. It brings back childhood memories.
Mark C.
6:15 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Your a better man than me Greg. I personally want to shoot that squawk box off the top of that truck as he goes up and down Mt Pleasant all evening long.
I'm all for the bell as opposed to that bull horn!
Virginia C. McGuire
11:47 am on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
I just wish it would stop earlier. It's very hard to get an excited child to sleep when the ice cream truck is trolling up and down the street at 8:30 or 9:00 at night.
regina jelencovich
5:17 pm on Wednesday, April 4, 2012
i love ice cream! and warm and fuzzy childhood nostalgia...but lets get real here...i am not talking about once an hour the truck dingle-lings by...in my area, we can hear the truck consistently for hours and hours. city traffic, occasional horns, and alarms, kids having fun.all ok everyday noise..but the piercing relentless jingle of mr softee follows me everwhere..throughout my house, my yard..i think i hear it in my sleep! bigger problems in the world i know...but we dont' realize how special peace and quiet is, until the noise quiets down.
Elise Rivers
11:57 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
I can hear the Mr. Softee truck A MILE AWAY from Germantown Ave. It is WAY too loud and repetitive, and in my experience is absolutely noise pollution. I understand their need to announce their presence to get the customers to come, but how about something just a little more subtle and less repetitive?? As it currently operates, it is an annoyance at best and a nuisance at worst.
Greg Jones
1:14 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
I guess it's a matter of an individual's tolerance level. Myself...I have no problem with it. It's been that way since I was a kid well over forty years ago. For me, it's nostalgic..part of the Philly fabric that I know and love. Send the trucks my way. They are welcomed on my block.