{"id":113554,"date":"2009-12-27T11:49:48","date_gmt":"2009-12-27T16:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nw0.eu\/2009\/12\/27\/sonoma-county%e2%80%99s-ornament-ban-on-christmas-trees-in-county-buildings-sparks-public-outcry.html"},"modified":"2009-12-27T11:49:48","modified_gmt":"2009-12-27T16:49:48","slug":"sonoma-county%e2%80%99s-ornament-ban-on-christmas-trees-in-county-buildings-sparks-public-outcry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/113554","title":{"rendered":"Sonoma County\u2019s ornament ban on Christmas trees in county buildings sparks public outcry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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DEREK J. MOORE
\nTHE PRESS DEMOCRAT<\/a>
\nWednesday, December 23, 2009<\/p>\n

RELATED: Ore. school removes holiday tree, bans Santa Claus<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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O holy outcry.<\/p>\n

The decision by Sonoma County\u2019s top official to ban stars and
\nangels from Christmas trees in all county buildings drew heated public
\nreaction Tuesday and complaints the action was made in haste and
\nwithout legal authority.<\/p>\n

Dozens of Press Democrat readers, some using language unfit for
\nmidnight Mass, painted the decision as an affront to the holiday spirit
\nand to common sense.<\/p>\n

They also had choice words for Acting County Administrator Chris
\nThomas, who ordered the removals Monday, and for Irv Sutley, the
\n65-year-old disabled veteran and atheist activist whose complaints
\nsparked the controversial action.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo make an ordeal out of a little doll with a wreath is
\nbeyond me,\u201d said Mike Cronin, assistant manager of John Deere
\nLandscaping in Santa Rosa. \u201cIt made me feel that this country is
\ngetting really picky.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Dolores Marconi, who lives in Glenhaven in Lake County, defended
\nSutley\u2019s actions, saying they honor the Constitution by
\npreventing the government from arbitrary displays of religious items.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have Christmas decorations at my house, but that\u2019s where they belong,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Full story here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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