Paul Sakuma/Associated Press
Posted on 11/27/2004 5:59:25 AM PST by Pharmboy
Paul Sakuma/Associated Press
Alan Aerts of Monte Sereno, Calif., once put up elaborate Christmas displays that drew thousands of
visitors. Now he has only a singing Grinch that points to neighbors who complained about the traffic.
MONTE SERENO, Calif., Nov. 26 (AP) - For six years, Alan and Bonnie Aerts transformed their Silicon Valley home into a Christmas wonderland, complete with a surfing Santa, jumbo candy canes and a carol-singing chorus of mannequins.
Visitors loved it. Last year, after NBC's "Weekend Today" featured the $150,000 display of custom-designed props, more than 1,500 cars prowled the Aertses' cul-de-sac in this upscale San Jose suburb each night.
This year, though, the merry menagerie stayed indoors. Instead, on the manicured lawn outside the couple's home stands a single tiding: a 10-foot-tall Grinch with green fuzz and beet-red eyeballs.
The Aertses erected the smirking giant to protest the couple across the street - Le and Susan Nguyen, 16-year residents who initiated complaints to city officials that the display was turning the quiet neighborhood into a Disneyesque nightmare.
Mr. Aerts, who makes sure the Grinch's spindly finger points directly to the Nguyens' house, says the complaints killed the exhibit. They also violated the Christmas spirit, he said.
"When I grew up, people decorated everything - it was wonderful to be a kid," said Mr. Aerts, 48, a soft drink distributor. "If you can't even put up a display these days, what kind of people have we become?"
The Nguyens say that even after the Aertses hired a security guard to help direct traffic, the commotion kept them from having friends over for their own lower-key celebrations.
"We wake up to Christmas for about 45 days of the year," said Mr. Nguyen, 55. "You ever seen the movie 'Groundhog Day?' It's just like that."
After the Nguyens collected 90 signatures of protest from residents, the City Council voted to require a permit for any exhibit lasting longer than three days.
After studying the application process, the Aertses decided the usual display was not worth the hassle.
So Mr. Aerts commissioned the $2,500 motorized Grinch statue, which waves its arms and emits steam as a raspy tenor belts out, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."
Ms. Nguyen, 52, is unmoved.
"It was oppressive," she said of the old spectacle. "Maybe not if you just spent 10 minutes admiring it from your car, but if you lived next door, it was definitely oppressive."
Well, I certainly understand your point of view. I think that if this was known when Nguyen bought his house, then Aerts is ok; if he were not told, then I'm still with Nguyen.
I feel sad for you too. Where do you wish to draw the line? Shall the neighborhood put you in charge as to what is acceptable and what is not? Since we are there, what is your limit of acceptability and who and why should anyone rely on your opinion?
Sorry, I am on Mr. Nguyen's side and you should be thankful I'm not his neighbor because it would be an all out war to try and out do him>>>> LOL!!!!
3 to 4 weeks out of a year people try to express their joy in an increasingly fleeting holiday and ultimately they will piss someone off. Ignore it and get over it...................The doldrums of winter are going to be here too soon and last too long................
Sorry, Nguyen = Aerts.................
Who cares about the dispute. I'm wondering what this guy does for a living when he can spend $150,000 on Christmas decorations.
Unfortunately I live in a condo complex which totals 72 units the majority of whom are elderly. Those who do not migrate to Florida this time of the year are much to inform to get out and decorate. This saddens me......
I have been playing Christmas music now for the past week and have spent all day yesterday and today putting up lights, replacing burnt out bulbs and all that kind of stuff, it invigorates me.
Growing up I never had that opportunity so you might say I am living my childhood fantasy and to those who wish to bash excessiveness, I say Bah Humbug!!!!!!!
Now, if anyone on this thread can can give me some tips on how to properly set up my "thousands" of outdoor lights without blowing circuit breakers when I turn on my microwave I would greatly appreciate it!!!!!
He looks like a bouncer in a backwoods roadhouse, but that job doesn't usually pay too well...
"I feel sad for you too."
Thanks, but your pity is misplaced.
"Where do you wish to draw the line? Shall the neighborhood put you in charge as to what is acceptable and what is not? Since we are there, what is your limit of acceptability and who and why should anyone rely on your opinion?"
We have a general societal consensus of what is reasonable and what is not, and this is reflected by such things as zoning regulations and neighborhood covenants. These generally restrict behaviors that either bring down the value of others' property or interfere with others' quiet enjoyment of their property. In this instance, I'm sure that the Nguyens were not the only people who complained, and the reasonable minds at the city agreed that thousands of people streaming through a cul-de-sac meant to accomodate the few people that live there is not an acceptable situation, even if only for a few weeks a year.
"Sorry, I am on Mr. Nguyen's side and you should be thankful I'm not his neighbor because it would be an all out war to try and out do him>>>> LOL!!!!"
If you were my neighbor, and behaved like this guy, you'd have a very high legal bill from the nuisance lawsuit I would file against you.
"3 to 4 weeks out of a year people try to express their joy in an increasingly fleeting holiday and ultimately they will piss someone off."
And if they do, it will be shut down. Had this guy had a bit more consideration for his neighbors, he might still have his display.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go tend the toxic waste dump in my front yard....
Actually, you asked the Million Dollar question on everyone's mind...where the heck did this guy get $150,000 for decorations, for Santa's sake?! He's free to spend his hard-earned cash any way he likes, but I'm just fascinated by someone who would blow that kind of wad on holiday lights and automatronic reindeer! I'm kind of saving up for presents and Christmas dinner myself!
Nuclear waste is fine as long as I can get in and out of my driveway.
"We wake up to Christmas for about 45 days of the year," said Mr. Nguyen, 55. "You ever seen the movie 'Groundhog Day?' It's just like that."Now I think he's the hero.
It isn't exactly a Christ-centered display.
My Sainted Mother (God rest her soul) was not a big believer in outdoor decorations. Her definition of a tasteful display was a small wreath on the door and positioning the Christmas tree where you could see it through the window from the outside.
It was a big deal when we went to colored lights on the tree, rather than her preferred white. So, she would bend, but wouldn't break.
She thought all those lights hanging on houses made them look like beerhalls or "houses of ill repute."
Nowadays, in my own home, we follow her standards... at my direction. My wife, who grew up in a home where her Dad hung lights all over the house, retaliates by massive indoor decorating.
FWIW, my sister married a fellow who puts up plastic snowmen (in Alaska, for pete's sake) and such. They have a fight every year.
I would hate living next to this guy and having all those cars trolling the neighborhood.
The neighbors have differing ways of dealing with it, but the one I liked the best was the teenaged boy next door. When I spoke with him last year, he had saved over $12,000 for college by selling hot chocolate and donuts to passersby.
This guy's action fall under the classic legal definition of a nuisance, IMHO.
Since you are being so open minded and tolerant about it, I'll promise to pile enough loose asbestos around it to insulate it so that you won't even feel any heat.
"The neighbors have differing ways of dealing with it, but the one I liked the best was the teenaged boy next door. When I spoke with him last year, he had saved over $12,000 for college by selling hot chocolate and donuts to passersby."
I liked this creative solution, described in the entry posted by Ol'Sox. I guess I would tolerate a month's worth of lights if an enterprising fellow or gal raised money for college or charity in a way like this. That would, somehow, redeem the situation for me.
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