Art gallery in home brings zoning charge

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- A man who turned his home into a memorial for his late wife with watercolor paintings, pastel drawings and oil murals has been charged with a minor misdemeanor for operating a business in a residential neighborhood.
Jere Hinton, a former art student who worked for years as a developer of zoning plans for cities, has pleaded innocent. He is amused by the suggestion that the Molly Gallery, named for his wife who died six years ago, is a business.
Hinton acknowledges that the art work is for sale, but says he does not take any money from proceeds. Each work of art is accompanied by a small card identifying the artist, the title of the work and the price. When art work is sold, Hinton requires the artists donate 10 percent of the sale to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
The nonprofit group started by the founder of the Wendy's restaurant chain is important to Hinton because he and his wife cared for more than two dozen foster children.
A pretrial hearing for Hinton is scheduled for Sept. 10 in Berea Municipal Court.
Hinton said he is not interested in making money, only wanting to promote and encourage artists. He said he pays for the gallery's advertising and mailings to about 300 people.
Building commissioner Tony Biondillo, who filed the charge against Hinton in this Cleveland suburb, said he finds Hinton's efforts commendable and the tribute to his wife moving.
But Biondillo said the gallery is not allowed by Strongsville's zoning codes, which allow only the sale of merchandise produced on the premises.