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Neighborhood report

Entrances will have sedate holiday cheer

Public displays of affection for the season will be shown with lights but nothing religious.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published September 16, 2005

NORTHDALE - For four years, while neighboring communities glistened with winter holiday decorations, Northdale kept its main entrance on N Dale Mabry Highway dark.

The 2,750-home subdivision had found the subject of Christmas trees and Hanukkah menorahs too divisive, so it opted to sell its ornaments and do nothing.

Civic leaders now say the annual absence is too conspicuous. The Northdale Special Tax District reviewed bids this week to light the community's main entrances - no wreaths, ribbons or other extras, just a tasteful display that would not incur the wrath of neighbors.

"We're not going to be extravagant, but we're going to do lighting because we feel like lighting signifies holiday for everybody," board president Frank Giordano said, contending that more people were unhappy than happy when the board killed the display. "We approved it in such a way that it won't offend anyone."

That point was critical with the memory still fresh of the vocal, public dispute that drew unwanted attention to Northdale. Some board members and neighbors became agitated when the Tax District, instead of simple poinsettias and red ribbons, sprung for an $8,000 display of icicle lights, a glittering 6-foot Christmas tree and a 9-foot-wide illuminated menorah.

Arguing that the board was spending tax money on religious symbols, they ended all seasonal decorations.

Former trustee Dennis Cooper, who voted to keep the trimmings, still rues the position his colleagues took. He looked at the board's latest stance as not enough, but better than nothing.

"It's nice what they're doing, but they should still try to include everybody," Cooper said.

Gary Moore, one of five who voted to get rid of the decorations, continued to oppose any display that might rekindle the furor of 2000-01.

"If it's pretty generic, then I don't see a problem with it," Moore said. "But I would say that it's better to leave that for private people to set up their own decorations, and the Tax District shouldn't get involved in that."

Fellow trustee Bill Castens, who initially proposed the tree and menorah design and ultimately cast the deciding vote to dump them, did not take that stance. His main concern, that religion not be on display, was handled by the decision to keep ornaments out of the mix.

"It divided the neighborhood," Castens said. "I was not for dividing the neighborhood then and I would not be for dividing the neighborhood now. Everybody deserves to celebrate the holidays as they want to."

He guessed that anything more than lights could have doomed the idea. With word spreading that Northdale again will decorate for the holidays, he and others hope that the action will resonate well.

"It's been a very sore subject until it came up (in August)," said board member Nancy Stearns, also president of the Northdale Civic Association. "Then, it was warmly received. That's why we proceeded."

In other business, the board voted 8-1 to ask its taxpayers to consider increasing their annual tax of $100 per household to $130. Trustee Jeffrey Sandler, who headed a committee to review the issue, said the proposed increase is needed if the community wants to continue its basic operations, especially increased security by off-duty deputies, without dipping into reserves.

The earliest the referendum would appear on the ballot would be 2006, and the tax would not be collected until fiscal 2008. The board asked its manager, Rick Pitrowski, to prepare ballot language for consideration at a future meeting.

- Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at 813 269-5304 or solochek@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 15, 2005, 11:02:11]