Posted by  Brenda Brown, Westchase Resident on 03/22  at  12:33 PM

HOA’s should be an Association NOT A DICTATORSHIP.

According to the
Single Family Residential Guidelines that is on the www.westchase.net/documents website.

4. HOMEOWNER’S REQUIREMENTS

4.1.4 Flags
Banners and flags may be temporarily displayed on a
single pole attached to the front facade of the house.
Permanent display would be subject to MC approval

Posted by  B. Davis, Tampa, FL on 03/15  at  01:41 PM

Most people living in Westchase knew about the deed restrictions, because they given the rules when they purchased their homes.  This person doesn’t even own the house and should not have had the right to stand before the HOA board!

OK, lets say the board changed the rules and allowed the sign.  What if someone put a sign saying “Bring our troops home”?  Would this not be a 1st Amendment right too?

The girl’s mother has a lawyer now and this forces the HOA spend money on one too.  Home owner dues that would have been spent on the community, is now paying for a legal battle. The community looses and the lawyers and the jerk who can now display his rebel flag wins!

Posted by  Bonnie Hyde, Brandon, Fl on 03/14  at  08:01 AM

I wholeheartedly support our troops and am one of the few who continue to support the war.  That has nothing to do with the rules and regulations of my homeowners association (which is not WestChase).  I have read that rules are meant to be bent.  And who makes that decision on which rules should be bent,  without being blamed for favoritism?  The association has a responsibility to enforce the rules equally and fairly.  By allowing the sign to say, the association also must allow the pro-Iraq, anti-war, pro-life, pro-choice, etc.  I don’t want to see my neighborhood cluttered by all these signs. 

If you don’t want to live in a neighborhood that enforces the rules, move to a non-deed restricted neighborhood.

Posted by  Denise Brand, Meadow Point II, Pasco County on 03/13  at  09:06 AM

I believe that th HOA has gone too far; this is not an offensive sign.

Our HOA has also overstepped its bounds.  It is now proposing an ammendment to the deed restrictions to include the requirement of a criminal background check before anyone may move into Longleaf- the subdivision of Meadow PointII.  They also intend to restrict each household to one aquarium each- how will they know except to spy in the house??

There will be a meeting on March 28 ant 7 PM at the Sand Pine Elementary School on County Line Road.  This issue MUST be addresed. I think we all understand a need for some restrictions, but this is way over the top!!

Posted by  pet campbell, Summerfield, Fl. on 03/12  at  01:13 PM

There are times and places to make personal stands.I belive wholeheartedly this is one.

It is not just the soldiers making a sacrifice for us as Americans, their families pay a high price as well.

Allow Mrs Kelley to keep the sign, she
is married to a Hero fighting for freedom.

God Bless and keep our troops safe, and God Bless the Kelley’s.

Posted by  Joyce Barocas, Burlingame, California on 03/12  at  10:14 AM

As a proud Mom of an Army soldier I think that the people complaining in the development should support this army wife by helping her send things to her husbands platoon and supporting her at home instead of beating her over the head with this sign. Wake up America if our soldiers were not PROTECTING us the enemy would be here with more rules then you might even imagine!

Posted by  Michael W. Schramm, NE Tennessee on 03/12  at  05:32 AM

I am a former member of th U.S. ARMY and a very patriotic person. I believe that the HOA owes the Kellys an apology. If it weren’t for our troops, then they wouldn,t be where they are now. If it weren’t for our troops, they would have no say so of what’s going on. They need to remember the reason why they can do something as disreputable as direspecting our troops and our United States. They need to remember those who fought, those who died, those whoe lived to carry on, and those who are still fighting today, not just for our freedom and our justice, but for the entire world.

Posted by  Mickey Allen, Los Angeles, CA on 03/11  at  11:20 PM

Oh, c’mon!  There are exceptions to everything, even the dreaded condo rules.  I live in a condo, and we fudge on the rules all the time, as long as the majority of owners agree to it.  What if Stacey wanted to put one of those home security-system signs in her yard to ward off burglars? Would that be banned too?  Lighten up, people—this is a gray area, and there’s plenty of important things going on in the world that you can get your panties in a twist about!

Posted by  James Gatto, Port Richey, FL. on 03/11  at  10:22 PM

I bet half of the people complaining about this sign are our senior citizens who have nothing better to do with themselves but create heartache & misery for others.I’m sure many of them served in the second world war & Korea. How quickly they forget what it was like for a soldier to be thousands of miles from their loved ones in a strange country. I think I have a solution to this controversy. Why not designate an area within the community where signs that show support for our troops can be displayed.It can also be adorned with flowers & shrubs.Instead of making headlines in a negative way, why not try making them in a positive way.

Posted by  Anthony Stevens (US Army Civilian), Heidelberg, Germany on 03/11  at  06:24 AM

Final Posting to Follow on:

I talk to my son all the time about following the rules.  When he wants something out of the stated rules, I remind him of the rules in place.  But if it is something he really wants to do, then we try look at possible alternatives for what he wants.  If no alternative can be found, then he has to accept the fact that he cannot get what he wants this time because we made the rule together and he has to live by that.  I don’t put any rule in place until I have talked to him and made sure he understands what it means and the consequences if he chooses to ignore the rule(s).

Posted by  Anthony Stevens (US Army Civilian), Heidelberg, Germany on 03/11  at  06:23 AM

Posting 5 to Follow on:

Site down and try to work something out.  If after some effort was made to resolve the situation, then Yes the HOA should enforce the rules set for by the committee.

Posted by  Anthony Stevens (US Army Civilian), Heidelberg, Germany on 03/11  at  06:22 AM

Posting 4 to Follow on:

On the other side Daryl Manning says he was in the desert for 20 months and he understands how the soldiers there feel.  If this is the case then show it.  And I don’t mean by allowing Stacey to leave the sign because she and her husband knew the rules when they moved in.  As a business man and apparent Leader in the community, why don’t you offer possible alternatives that could possibly work for both sides and stay within the boundaries of HOA rules.  Don’t be so quick to say these are the rules and I am going to make your life miserable by not following them.  That gets neither one of you anywhere and just brings bad publicity to your situation.

Posted by  Anthony Stevens (US Army Civilian), Heidelberg, Germany on 03/11  at  06:21 AM

Posting 3 to Follow on:

Do the rules say anything about wind chimes?  If not buy some wind chimes that say Support Our Troops and hang them by the front door so people will see them when they come to visit.  This is just a small example, but the point is there are alternatives for showing support in something you believe in and staying within the boundaries of the rules.  Don’t be so quick to make your life miserable without weighing some of the options. The choice was made to live in that neighborhood and the rules were made clear when the signed the agreement.

Posted by  Anthony Stevens (US Army Civilian), Heidelberg, Germany on 03/11  at  06:20 AM

Posting 2 of Follow on:

If nothing can be worked out and Stacey decides to stay on the path that she has chosen then I will send a donation, because I see this as raising attention to the fact that our troops do need support.

With that said, I think there is overreaction on both sides.

I think Stacey has a right to show her support for her husband and the troops in Iraq, but at the same time if we start changing the rules to fit our needs, then we might as well throw them out the window.  There are ways to still show strong support and love and remain within the rules.

Posted by  Anthony Stevens (US Army Civilian), Heidelberg, Germany on 03/11  at  06:18 AM

A follow on to my first Email.  I am sending this in multiple postings.

Yes, I am willing to send a donation.  But not because I am encouraging Stacey to fight against a rule that she and her husband agreed to.  She obviously has already made that decision on her own without my encouragement.  But becasue I believe in our troops, and not just because they are in Iraq, because it doesn’t matter where they may be at any given time, I support them.  I would hope a solution could be worked beause there is no need to bring bad publicity on either the HOA community or the Troops.

Posted by  Anthony Stevens (US Army Civilian), Heidelberg, Germany on 03/11  at  02:21 AM

My only question is where can I send a donation to help pay the fine?

You can email me directly with the info at I_Spt_Our_Troops@ajas.net.

Posted by  James Gatto, Port Richey on 03/11  at  12:44 AM

What is wrong with our country?I suppose if one of their loved ones was overseas fighting for this country they would’nt put up a sign to show support for our troops? Let’s stop all the crap & make an exception in this case!What happens if this soldier pays the supreme sacrifice? I’m sure they’ll all feel good about themselves. Right or wrong we are there for a reason.If these individuals could ask all the innocent people who perished in the 9/11 terror attacks what they thought about this sign of support, what do you think their answer would be? This goes way beyond just a sign in someone’s yard! This shows the deep respect & support our troops so deserve! WAKE UP DUMBBELLS& SMELL THE COFFEE!

Posted by  James Gatto, Port Richey on 03/11  at  12:37 AM

What is wrong with our country?I suppose if one of their loved ones was overseas fighting for this country they would’nt put up a sign to show support for our troops? Let’s stop all the crap & make an exception in this case!What happens if this soldier pays the supreme sacrifice? I’m sure they’ll all feel good about themselves. Right or wrong we are there for a reason.If these individuals could ask all the innocent people who perished in the 9/11 terror attacks what they thought about this sign of support, what do you think their answer would be? This goes way beyond just a sign in someone’s yard! This shows the deep respect & support our troops so deserve! WAKE UP DUMBBELLS& SMELL THE COFFEE!

Posted by  Judy Lee, New Port Richey, Fl on 03/11  at  12:27 AM

This is so insane.These people need to waste their time and money on something more than argueing about this sign. I believe this wife has every right to put it up in her yard.  It is not like it is a boat in the yard or an eyesore and its not causing a problem. These DEED RESTRICTIONS are just going overboard.The people who have a problem with it do not have anything better to do with their time. Good Luck. I AM ON WIFES SIDE. I HOPE SHE WINS. GOD BLESS HER AND HER FAMILY!!!!Okay if the Homeowners Association allows storks for baby annoucements what is the difference with this little sign this lady has out for her husband and our country. HAVE YOU NOT HEARD THIS SAYING BEFORE… THERE IS AN EXCEPTION TO EVERY RULE…. GET OVER HOA….

Posted by  Regina Walters, New Port Richey, FL on 03/11  at  12:14 AM

I think it is a shame that this man is fighting for our freedom and the freedom of others and we are so self-absorbed in this country, that we dont’t care about this mans family and what they are sacrificing. Tell the association they should let her keep the sign.

Proud American

Posted by  Beth DeVan, Tarpon Springs,FL on 03/10  at  11:28 PM

I support of what you are doing. Restrictive rules and regulations? Did they forget we live? There is lot of people who are not supporting Bush cause of Iraq war and I agree but our people are there and we’re here and they need to know they were supporting THEM.  Those for you voting against the sign, where did you come from?  What if its your blood over there?? Its just a SIMPLE SMALL sign. Shame on you. This is USA-freedom!! If you don’t like it then you all should be over in Iraq. You got my support and God Bless to you and your family. Keep that sign out until your husband and everyone comes home.

Posted by  Daniel Harmon, Paragould, AR on 03/10  at  11:07 PM

I first heard about this story on Rock103 radio, Memphis, TN, (www.rock103.com). I agree that we all need and have rules, but if Mrs. Kelley is willing to leave the sign in place, and stand up for what she believes in, I say we take up a collection to help her pay the fine.  Where do I send my $20? 

As for those who are upset at Mrs. Kelley’s patriotism, and support for her husband and country; maybe they should move to where the citizens don’t have the luxury of our first amendment right of freedom of speech.  You do remember the first amendment, don’t you?  For those of you who don’t remember it maybe you should refresh your memory.  http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

Posted by  Earl Grimes, Riverview on 03/10  at  10:53 PM

The sign in the yard has nothing to do with her husband fighting in the war.  She lives in a deed restricted community which has rules and she should live by them.  If the home owners allow the sign they are asking for trouble.  What about other restrictions? If eight or ten people don’t like a restriction can they protest and get it changed also?

Posted by  Debbie Raybuck, Safety Harbor, FL on 03/10  at  09:22 PM

Rules can be bent - in this case they should be.  We as a society need rules and regulations to maintain, however, thinking or going outside the box should always be acceptable - ALWAYS.  This is an issue that is too close to our hearts and should not be subjected to the same old school.  There is a member of THIS household who is fighting for freedom and potentially eliminating another 911 - there should be NO question and this should never have been an issue.  If those who signed OUR constitution were alive today they would most likely be outraged by the objection to this family’s support of one of their own.

Posted by  Bob and Pat Elling LMT, Pine Ridge Florida on 03/10  at  08:03 PM

You go, girl! We are behind you 100%. Our troops need toknow we support them. Our son was deployed to Iraq. He told us “when we see the news we see the protesters or those against the war. We raely see any people supporting us. Mom do any of the Americans support us” That made me cry. We need to show our troops our love and support. The association can and should allow Stacy’s sign, period. Maybe all the neighbors should put “Support Our Troops” signs up. Who wants to live in that community now?