( o _ 0 ) Abominable Snowmen: The War on Lawn Decorations? Your thoughts?

Question

By SARA SCHAEFER MUÑOZ
December 20, 2007; Page D1

Jim McDilda's holiday display last year included a 28-foot lighted arch, a 50-foot tree, 50,000 lights and dozens of animated silhouettes. The spectacle -- he needed a crane to set it all up -- lit up the sky and drew thousands of gawking visitors to his Redding, Calif., house.

This 28-foot lighted arch was a part of Jim McDilda's holiday display last year.
But nearby neighbors weren't so thrilled. Cars, limos and tour buses clogged the cul-de-sac, and trash was strewn across lawns. Christmas music blasting from Mr. McDilda's display kept neighbors awake. They complained to the city, which required that Mr. McDilda get a special-events permit and demanded that he remove the nearby cargo containers he used to store the display most of the year. After months of sniping between Mr. McDilda and the city, he decided to throw in the towel. This year, his house is unadorned.

Look out, Santa: There's a backlash brewing against over-the-top holiday displays. With community associations ramping up holiday decorating contests (some in the hopes of attracting potential home buyers) and manufacturers pitching an increasing variety of yard decor -- think 8-foot inflatable snowmen -- some homeowners and cities have had enough.

Disgruntled neighbors complain of everything from traffic to wasted electricity. In places like Redding and Aurora, Ill., people called for the city to crack down on loud music or decorations that linger after holidays. Police in some areas of the country even report that the growing number of blow-up Santas adorning people's yards are targets for stabbing and other forms of violent deflation.

Answer 1

Hmmm... Well, after having to put up with just such a display for many years, I can honestly say kudos to the city. That's my opinion.

The fact in this case is that Mr. McDilda was creating a nuisance. There are zoning laws and ordinances in place to prevent such occurrences. Everyone in the neighborhood has the "Right To Quiet Enjoyment" of their property. If any homeowner interferes with another's legal right to quiet enjoyment, they are leaving themselves wide open for a legal battle. It simply makes no sense to do so knowingly.

Then there are the ethics of the situation. In this day and age, someone would have to be pretty ignorant of the global climate crisis to use so much energy. And how could he possibly justify the trash and clogged traffic? What his display amounts to is a total lack of respect for the neighborhood he has chosen to live in, his neighbors who have to live near him, the local laws governing such displays, and the proper stewardship of the earth he inhabits.

And for what? His ego? In the grand scheme of things, his ego is not nearly as important as all those other things. He just needed to be told in no uncertain terms that it wasn't going to be tolerated. Just the fact that some people need to be forced to behave respectfully makes me shake my head.

Good article. Thanks for posting it!

Answer 2

I think people should do what they want keeping someplace between sanity and insanity. When you get toward the insane end the people next store are bothered. I know that it is a pain in the butt however other people live in the world also. If you do not want to live near people there are places that you can go. Way up north, but, remember that when you need help from a neighbor, there will be nobody there to help!

Anyhow, it sounds like last year Mr Jim was close to the insane end of the stick. If he likes to decorate he should do it closer to the sane end of the stick. Just giving up doing what you like is really a shame.

I for one do not even put up a tree in the house. I have not done any decorating now for almost 10 years. I am pretty happy with that and no body has forced me to do any decorating.

Life is good. Enjoy it. Make peace!

Answer 3

Tasteful holiday decorations are one thing--and even a bit gaudy is acceptable. But when it reaches epic porportions and threatens the sanity and safety of a neighborhood, I do believe it needs to be regulated somehow. If you really want to go that far, open a theme park--and charge admission--and do it out in the country, away from close neighbors. I have nothing against Christmas decorations, I enjoy them--but I gotta tell you, if I see Chevy Chase moving in next door to me, I am outta here!

Answer 4

From the Griswold Family to Yours

.......... MERRY CHRISTMAS
............ Clark Griswold
.............. Ellen Griswold
............... Audrey Griswold
..........Russell 'Rusty' Griswold
......................and
..............HAPPY NEW YEAR
Clarks granny says HI!

***The True Meaning of Christmas
********Questions to Ponder
http://www.classbrain.com/artteensb/publish/true_meaning_christmas.shtml
http://origin-www.seussville.com/grinch/
Mr. Mc Dilda was a victim of Dr. Seuss and his Grinch's. I bet the neighbors are so proud of themselves for having won the battle. Too bad they lost the spirit of the child within.
I Put enough stuff up in my yard to accommodate the JOY the small children in the neighborhood . When their mommies come to me and tell me their child says "OH Mommy
it so beautiful" and the little ones go up to the deer and pet them even though they aren't real, it's all in their imagination and that my friend is only part of having Christmas Spirit.......It makes all the HARD WORK WORTH WHILE!
How many of those neighbors say
"Happy Holidays"
or spell Christmas with and "X"
Thumbs down me if you will but I am way too old to give up.
Our house lights up the street so much that all of the neighbors have joined in the spirt what a great neighborhood I live in. With more than great neighbors!!!!!!!!! NO Grinches on this block!