War On Christmas Comes Home To Minnesota Neighborhood

This is what the neighbors want Dahlgren's house to look like.
He says Fuck You. 

WINONA, MN – David Dahlgren’s home, in the Yeoman’s Pond subdivision, is causing quite a stir among neighbors who wonder where his holiday display is. Dahlgren lights, if he actually has any, aren't up and adding to the bright tradition of the neighborhood.

“I’m bothered by it,” said Ed Coverdale who owns the house across the street. “What is it, December 10th and there is nothing on the roof or the lawn, what’s the deal?”

Coverdale’s own yard features everything from traditional snowmen to Winnie-the-Pooh and Transformers figurines.

“I didn’t think David and Joann were those kind of people,” said neighbor Wren Daigle. “I guess you just never know about your neighbors but I thought they were genuine and shared old fashioned values.” Daigle’s house is ringed in thousands of icicle lights and has a lighted train circling the yard which is synched to her computer’s iTunes library so that every time it crosses by the front door a new Johnny Mathis or Bing Crosby song starts.

Dahlgren himself doesn’t understand the fuss. “I don’t know why they even care,” he said speaking of the neighbors. “We do have a tree but it’s in the corner of the family room downstairs, it just think having a house like Wren’s or Patterson’s down the street is a little much.”

Glenn Patterson’s home sits on the corner of the cul-de-sac and has over 40,000 lights and 12 nativity scenes. “I rather not get involved,” said Patterson. “It’s discouraging, our kids play together and last spring and summer we coached the soccer team together, but he needs to remember the reason for the season.”

Dahlgren said he respected Patterson’s opinion but thought the hours he was spending this season as a Salvation Army bell ringer where a greater reflection of the season. He added that his family had decided that their celebration this year would be to bring stockings with small gifts to the three Winona area assisted living residences when they went caroling. “Lights are nice but we just felt that our way of sharing was nicer,” Dahlgren said.

“Pfft, sounds like somebody is just making excuses,” said Coverdale. “The wonder of the season is showing how committed you are not bothering other people with singing and ringing bells.”