HOA bans peace wreath

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Submitted by Admin on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 8:40pm. Living The HOA Way

Bill Trimarco and Lisa Jensen stand next to their peace wreath at their home near Pagosa Springs on Friday. The couple received a letter Tuesday from their subdivision’s homeowners’ association telling them to take down the sign or face a fine of $25 per day.

Randi Pierce | Special to the Herald

Pagosa homeowners asked to remove symbol or risk fine

By Thomas Munro | Herald Staff Writer

"I just wanted to put a message of peace out there," said Lisa Jensen, who hung the wreath Nov. 19. She said Wednesday she didn't intend the wreath as a statement against the Iraq war.

"I was really trying to be in favor of something - peace," Jensen said.

She was informed by letter from the Loma Linda Homeowners' Association that "Loma Linda residents are offended by the Peace Sign displayed on the front of your house."

The letter, citing a use-restriction banning "signs, billboards or advertising structures of any kind" within the subdivision without prior approval, said the wreath had to come down by Friday, or Jensen and husband, Bill Trimarco, would face a $25-per-day fine.

Jensen said Saturday that Friday's deadline had come and gone without contact from the board of directors. She was unsure of how, if imposed, collection of any fine would be enforced, but planned to leave all of her Christmas decorations, including the wreath, up until after Christmas.

Homeowners' Association President Bob Kearns said Wednesday that the board had required another resident to remove peace symbols a week before, and that property owner complied.

Jensen said the other property owner, a neighbor, had sunk skis marked with peace symbols in his driveway as driveway markers. She said the neighbor told her he was informed that residents were offended by the posting of the peace symbols "while our country is at war."

Kearns declined to describe the complaints he had received about Jensen's wreath but expressed his own opinion.

"The peace sign has a lot of negativity associated with it," he said. "It's also an anti-Christ sign. That's how it started."

The 1972 edition of Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Graphic Symbols, a major reference work by Henry Dreyfuss, admits to uncertainty about the source of the "crow's foot" design.

"Controversy surrounds the origin of the ubiquitous peace symbol," Dreyfuss wrote. "It was introduced by pacifist Lord Bertrand Russell during Easter of 1958, when he marched at Aldermaston, England, campaigning for nuclear disarmament."

Dreyfuss said the symbol, designed by a British commercial artist, most likely represents the convergence of the semaphore symbols for the letter
•
and D and the circle symbol, for total nuclear disarmament. Others claim the symbol represents an upside-down cross with broken arms and is therefore anti-Christian or Satanic.

Jensen said she put up the wreath to honor the Biblical call for peace and goodwill toward men.

She said the board had unfairly singled out the display, given that other houses regularly display Christmas lights. A former president of the board, she described the current board as "pretty vitriolic."

Kearns denied any personal vitriol. He said Jensen and Trimarco were first notified of the decision in a letter attached to an e-mail stating the board's "courtesy and respect (for) the both of you." He said the board has not fined anyone in the three years he has served as president and that the board would place itself in legal jeopardy if it treated Jensen's case differently from the other peace symbol offense.

Kearns said those he contacted for legal advice had "laughed at" the idea of allowing the display of a peace symbol.

On Wednesday, every member of the subdivision's five-person Architectural Control Committee was asked to resign when they collectively opposed the decision by the board of directors to fine Jensen and Trimarco.

In a public letter posted on Pagosa.com on Friday, Jack Lilly, the chairman of the committee wrote, "The Architectural Committee was asked to intervene. The five members met and decided that no message, other than a wish for peace could be inferred in the symbols and saw no violation of the CC&Rs (covenants, codes and restrictions). The Board of Directors has the authority to override the ACC and did so. But that wasn't enough. They demanded that anyone that disagreed with them should be removed from the committee. We all resigned."

Changes in Colorado law in 2005 prevent homeowners' associations from prohibiting a number of actions, including display of the American flag, display of a service flag and display of a political sign meant to influence an election.

However, the law does not keep these associations from prohibiting other types of displays. The sign restrictions quoted to Jensen were in force during her presidency.

Jensen said she may consider legal action through the American Civil Liberties Union.

Attempts to contact Kearns were unsuccessful Saturday.

tmunro@durangoherald.comStaff Writer Ted Holteen contributed to this report.

Source

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Sounds like this nazi Kearns

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 5:37pm.

Sounds like this nazi Kearns has a very tenous grasp on reality. The only people who have negative opinions of peace are by definition war-mongers. I am sure there will be thousands of people willing to help the peace family with their legal expenses if this creature pushes his idiocity that far.

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I checked with the HOA and

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 8:15pm.

I checked with the HOA and Kearns actually wants to put up his own wreath now:

/dnaps-1939_mint_125929_r_m.jpg...

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I thought this country was

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 10:06pm.

I thought this country was all about peace? If that asshole Kearns wants to micro manage people maybe he should move to Iran. This is the U.S.A. love it or leave it.
Dickhead.

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googlefu Robert Kearns (970)

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 6:22pm.

googlefu
Robert Kearns (970) 731-4706 2520 Loma Linda Dr,Pagosa Springs, CO 81147

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They printed a Google map

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/27/2006 - 6:59pm.

They printed a Google map and the HOA church ladies are on their way.

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Too late - Kearns & his

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 10:44am.

Too late - Kearns & his sidekick got new unlisted numbers. Wonder why they are hiding?

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Just another example of a

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 2:54am.

Just another example of a homeowner association president who is too full of himself. I've found these little Nazi's to be pervasive in many homeowner and condo associations. He even ignored his own Architectural Committee's recommendations!

When will people learn not to buy homes when HOA membership is required?

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A majority of the time I'm

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/12/2007 - 12:25am.

A majority of the time I'm sure the people don't even know that they are even entering a HOA membership or that one is attached to the deed until after all the forms have been signed and your "friendly" seller decides its the PERFECT moment to hand over ALL of the papers on the house... John, NV

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AOL News, 'Subdivision Bans

Submitted by Chuck132 on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 7:54am.

AOL News, 'Subdivision Bans Wreath With Peace Sign,' 11/27/06

sign/20061126205309990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001...

Survey Results (11/27/06 a.m. – 11/28/06 a.m.):

"Who do you side with in this dispute?"

Woman with wreath 90%
Homeowner association 10%

Total Votes: 591,046

"What is your general opinion of homeowner associations?"

Negative 70%
Neutral 20%
Positive 10%

Total Votes: 565,425

Subdivision Bans Wreath With Peace Sign
Homeowner Defies Board, Faces About $1000 in Fines
By ROBERT WELLER, AP

DENVER (Nov. 27) - 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 merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything. Kearns fired all five committee members.

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Very informative. What I

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 8:07am.

Very informative. What I find interesting is: 70% have a negative view of homeowners' associations which refutes industry's paid for push polls. How can anyone that is informed not know the horrors that go on, not to mention all the financial fraud that goes unpunished. Just my 2 cents.

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HOA Quality of Life:

Submitted by Chuck132 on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 8:28am.

HOA Quality of Life:

Jan-Feb '06 CAI's "70% approval (sic)" versus AOL's "Negative 70%" today...a "stakeholder" versus homeowner quality of life disconnect?

Quality of Life
Common Ground, January/February 2006

Christopher Durso

This just in from the Foundation for Community Association Research: 70% of association homeowners like their communities, 90% trust their boards, and anywhere from 15% to 30% really don't like paying assessments.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

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CAI pays for those flawed

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 8:38am.

CAI pays for those flawed surveys (usually of board members) to dupe the politicians and legislators into passing on more control to the trade group's lawyer/managers. What can't be refuted is the financial risks, double tax, and miserable quality of life issues inherent in these communities.

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Loma Linda Homeowners

Submitted by Chuck132 on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 1:17pm.

Loma Linda Homeowners Associations blinks...common sense prevails over ignorance and arrogance!

Homeowners Association OKs Peace Wreath
By ROBERT WELLER, AP

DENVER (Nov. 28) - 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."

Do you agree with the decision to allow the wreath?
Yes 97%
No 3%
Total Votes: 53,834

How would you feel about it hanging in your neighborhood?
Fine 93%
Very uncomfortable 4%
So-so 4%
Total Votes: 53,991

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The Fun never stops does it?

Submitted by Raunstar on Tue, 11/28/2006 - 7:46pm.

The Fun never stops does it?

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Domestic Enemy of our

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 11/29/2006 - 8:45pm.

Domestic Enemy of our Constitution

Most Americans wouldn't know a domestic enemy if it banned peace signs and dictated the color of one's shingles (of the new roof that the homeowner pays for out of his own pocket).

The stupidity of mankind has sucked 70 million Americans into vats of Fascism. Ayn Rand's most despicable light on government shines brightly from all Mandatory HOA contracts in this country. Detatched family homesteads should NEVER be subjected to such authorities after developer control ends.

Wise men wrote our Constitution. There are many Kearnses in our country - blindly obeying an authority while ignoring the deliberate circumvention of our most sacred human rights, not to mention our Constitutional rights.

This is not an isolated incident, nor is this color of authority worthy of being allowed to rule any of us unless it passes muster in a democratic renewal process.

Mandatory Associations in America were not formed in a Democratic or voluntary manner. Wake up and smell the Corporate Fascism of the worst kind - trading our constitutional rights for the almighty dollar - paying into the coffers of enforcement authorities (the HOA lawyers and Management company workers) - all under the facade of "protecting property values". This land isn't worth a dime if it isn't in the land of the FREE and protected from tyranny that comes with the abuse of these unholy powers granted in HOUSING VENDOR CONSUMER CONTRACTS.

Enforcement of any rules via a HOA PRESIDENT or ARCHETECTURAL CONTROL COMITTEE is an act of Fascism when the regime is not ever required to pass muster by democratic renewal process, at least once when the developer leaves the development and "turns the neighborhood over to the new owners". Free Choice should come at that moment in time...do we really want this monkey on our backs? PUT IT TO A VOTE!

70 Million of us live in an Ayn Rand styled government prison. These situations were created by organized crime rackets, who profit from such stupidity. They operate under the guise of benevolent non-profit corporations - but as we see now this is little more than a scam - taking our constitution with them to the bank.

What more can I say than "PUT IT TO A VOTE" - 51% or you must acquit.

Rich Flocker
http://home.satx.rr.com/cdma/sovereign.htm

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