Christmas light fight waged by residents of Pa. neighborhood, vowing defiance

(CBS PHILLY) DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - The rules concerning Christmas lights in one Bucks County community have some residents bucking for a fight... and urging management to lighten up. Some in the Doylestown Station Condominium Association promise they'll ditch the regulation white lights, and display colored bulbs instead, reports CBS Philly.

Resident Marie Buonanno explained, "I'd just like the opportunity to please display colored lights."

It may sound innocent enough but last year, her Home Owners Association fined her $400 for doing just that: $10 a day for the 40 days she displayed colored lights. This time she's got the support of some neighbors.

Keith Clements told CBS Philly, "We put colored lights up in support of our friends. My wife and I believe that everybody should have the opportunity to celebrate the holiday any way they can."

But according to George Edwards, the Condo Association president, a letter recently sent out to homeowners speaks for itself. In short, when you move into the development, you agree to the community's rules and regulations - and that includes displaying only non-blinking, white lights for winter holiday decorations.

Buonanno says it's time for a change.

"You're allowed to have blue candles or orange candles in your windows for religious holidays. As a Christian, Christmas is not a winter holiday... it's a religious holiday for Christians," Buonanno said.

In the same letter cited above, the Condo Association said a survey was conducted to figure out what, if any, changes were necessary. The letter said that of those responding (only 38 out of 211 residents) "those in favor of color or color blinking lights did not represent the majority of the residents."

Buonanno's response: "I don't understand how the displaying of Christmas lights for 30 or 40 days during the Christmas holidays is such a big deal, I just want to have a merry Christmas."

For now, Buonanno says she plans to defy the rules again, and, if necessary, pay the price.