After 47 years of setting up an amazing Christmas light display for the community, a man in Prairie Village (Kansas, USA) can’t do it this year.
Mike Babick thinks it’s because neighbours complained (lights too bright in their homes? too much traffic in their street? who knows why) but the council has made a ruling that says he can only do such a big display if he calls it an event and pays $1500.
How ridiculous.
He made no money from it, he brings happiness to many and probably inspires community interaction and involvement. All good things but some bah humbug doesn’t like it so it’s gone for everyone.
And an interest and passion of one man is gone, too.
I’m very sad about this – wish I had been to Prairie Village sometime before now to have seen Mike’s display. I had heard of it but not planned a holiday there sadly.
Does this sadden others too? Anybody got any ideas on how we can make this better?
That is very sad! I think it is ridiculous to tell him he has to pay to set up his lights and make it a display. I am not sure what the answer is to help solve this situation. I do not understand why others in his area are not petitioning the town council to allow him to keep his lights on.
Perhaps the whole community can get together and put on a display of Christmas lights that will match what this man did. Is there a park in Prairie Village where Christmas lights can be displayed? I lived in a small town where main street was decorated in Christmas lights and decor and I really enjoyed it. Could this town displayed this man’s lights somewhere on main street? There must be a better solution than just saying no. What humbugs!
Jenny, that is very sad. Seems like the council was trying to fix a problem but went way too far for some reason. I hope something can be arranged for Mike and the town.
Lisa’s idea of a pteition may help – worh a try anyway! It would at least show council that many like the idea despite a few complaints.
Clauzetta, what a lovely idea – get the community invovled in setting up and running the lights as well as enjoying them. Much harder to not call that an event, though, so council fees are even more likely.
Bah humbug indeed!
That poor man – he must be devasted to not be able to use his lights and things and not share them with people. That council needs to be kicked out and new ones put in who’ll think about the entire community not just a couple of whingers.
It is sad to think of Mike this Christmas, Jaxx. His home will seem so quiet without heaps of people driving and walking past to admire his piece of Christmas.
That is very sad. I can’t believe they wanted him to say it’s an event and pay such a high price.
It does seem like a lot of money, Erica, when he’s paying for the lights on his property and makes no money from it. Almost like someone tried to charge Santa for his travels or landings on Christams Eve…
I hope that council has a change of heart and gets some Christmas spirit to let that display be set up again.
hear, hear, Junaita – I hope they do, too.
Or maybe the community can band together and help pay the cost. 100 people contributing $15 sounds a whole lot easier than one person coming up with $1500 all by himself.
That’s a good point, gary – if others in the area want to see the lights continue, they could help pay for the permit.
It would just take some planning – the obvious time to get people to contribute is when the lights are up but Mike would have to pay first so he needs to find the dedicated Christmas lights lovers 🙂
In contrast, an anonymous person in Putney, USA, has ensured another Christmas tradition is staying alive – a theme park called Santa Land can afford to keep going now which is great news for thsoe close enough to visit the aprk. http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20121031/NEWS02/710319877
Shame shame shame on the person/s that complained, where in the hell is your Christmas spirit. Mike brings such happiness for everyone, hopefully he will be able to do it again.
Maj, it does make you wonder why they complained doesn’t it?
Perhaps if they had spoken to Mike first they could have found a workable solution to whatever it is they didn’t like about the whole display.
Such a grinch. I myself can be irritated sometimes if there are too many people or a lot of traffic in the neighborhood. But for one special holiday season, I think even I can let loose a little and let everyone enjoy a little holiday spirit. Anyway, I would be able to enjoy the show myself if I was a neighbor. And yes, I agree that if they have spoken to Mike first, then maybe they’ll discover that their issues are not really that big that there is a need to stop years of tradition in Mike’s house.
Well said, dakmeiji. EXtra traffic etc could be annoying, there’s no question it would bug me, but for soemthgin positive I’d find a way to deal with. I may have to ‘put my money where my mouth is’ as I now have a neighbour who makes a big display and I suspect this year we’ll start seeing traffic accordingly.
That is a test indeed for you! Good thing that whenever you got irritated, you will see the decorations when you go out of the house before you are able to do something drastic. Might remind you again that it is Christmas and ’tis the season to be jolly! Lalalalalalalalala!
Yes, the lights will cheer me up if cars annoy me, darkmeiji 🙂 As long as they don’t block our driveway I think we’ll be fine!