Colorado HOA Bans Peace Wreath

[-***@excite.com]

Woman faces fines for wreath peace sign By ROBERT WELLER, Associated
Press Writer

DENVER - A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado has
threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas
wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti- Iraq war
protest or a symbol of Satan.
Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said
Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in
Pagosa Springs. He said some residents have also believed it was a
symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.

"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let
one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone
interview Sunday.

Lisa Jensen said she wasn't thinking of the war when she hung the
wreath. She said, "Peace is way bigger than not being at war. This is a
spiritual thing."

Jensen, a past association president, calculates the fines will cost
her about $1,000, and doubts they will be able to make her pay. But she
said she's not going to take it down until after Christmas.

"Now that it has come to this I feel I can't get bullied," she said.
"What if they don't like my Santa Claus."

The association in this 200-home subdivision 270 miles southwest of
Denver has sent a letter to her saying that residents were offended by
the sign and the board "will not allow signs, flags etc. that can be
considered divisive."

The subdivision's rules say no signs, billboards or advertising are
permitted without the consent of the architectural control committee.

Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath,
but members refused after concluding that it was


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061127/ap_on_re_us/anti_peace_sign

[Kristian M Zoerhoff]

In article <***@14g2000cws.googlegroups.com>, -ammitusen-
@excite.com says...

Post by -***@excite.com
Woman faces fines for wreath peace sign By ROBERT WELLER, Associated
Press Writer

And now the HOA has regained its sanity. A blanket sign ban would have a tough
time holding up in court, had it been challenged; generally, only commercial
speech can be restricted.


Colo. subdivision OKs Christmas wreath

By ROBERT WELLERTue Nov 28, 7:02 AM ET

A subdivision has withdrawn its threat of $25 daily fines against a homeowner
who put a Christmas wreath shaped like a peace sign on the front of her home.

Homeowner Lisa Jensen told The Associated Press on Monday that the board of
directors of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association had apologized, called the
incident a misunderstanding and had withdrawn its request for the wreath's
removal.

Jensen was ordered to take the wreath down when some residents in her 200-home
subdivision saw it as a protest of the Iraq war. Bob Kearns, president of the
board, also said some saw it as a symbol of Satan.

The homeowners' association demanded Jensen remove the wreath from her house,
saying it doesn't allow flags or signs that are considered divisive.

None of the three members of the board in the scenic town 270 miles southwest
of Denver was available for comment late Monday. Kearns and colleague Jeff
Heitz both had their phone numbers changed to unlisted numbers Monday. Tammy
Spezze, the third board member, did not return a call seeking comment.

Jensen, a past association president, said she was overwhelmed with hundreds of
calls of support and offers to help her pay the $1,000 fine that would be due
if she kept the wreath up until after Christmas.

"We would like to thank everyone who has contacted us with moral support and
offers of financial support. We are grateful to hundreds of complete strangers
who felt so moved by this story they contacted us," she said.

"It seems whenever someone tries to say 'Peace on Earth' it is met with so much
resistance," she said. "The incredible amount of support we have received over
the last couple of days really is proof to us of how many people believe in
peace and in our right to say it."

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