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BEWARE OF THE
KENWOOD ELVES!!!
Elves spread cheer in Kenwood
In one St. Petersburg neighborhood, it's a good
idea to get those Christmas lights up early.
By JENNIFER BRETT
Times Correspondent
Dec. 1995
'Twas a couple weeks before Christmas, and Leslie Curran's yard was bare.
No lights, no Santa, no trimmings anywhere.
Then one evening 'round midnight there arose such a clatter,
she carried her beagle outside to see what was the matter.
And what to her wondering eyes should appear,
but gaudy decorations, a garland strung" with empty cans of beer. "
It honestly was hilarious," said Curran, a City Council member who lives on
Seventh Avenue N in the Historic Kenwood neighborhood. "It was the
ultimate Roseanne Barr decorations." The Kenwood Elves had struck again.
The loosely organized group of Kenwood residents decided two years ago
to "help" neighbors get into the holiday spirit by trimming bare yards
with Styrofoam, broken candles and other junk. Yards that don't at least
have a string of lights in the bushes by Dec. 15 risk a visit. "We kind of
made a tradition of it," Dona Howell said. The party that convened on
Curran's yard last year began in Howell's house. Sue Winger, former
president of Kenwood's neighborhood association, laughed as she recalled
trying to hide behind skinny palm trees in Curran's yard. "The funny thing
was, she came outside carrying her dog," Winger said. Winger and Howell
were reminiscing during Kenwood's December neighborhood meeting.
Resident Bertha Reid, who was sitting nearby, overheard their cackles as
they recalled last year's decorating capers. "I think I better put up some- "thing,"
Reid said. "If I don't, she's (Howell) crazy enough to get the team to do it."
The decorating campaign is all in good fun, and the elves say they target only
the homes of friends who they're sure will appreciate the prank. But even
well-intentioned elves can make a mistake. The week after Curran's yard got
the ratty tinsel, "baby-doll" head treatment, she hooked up with the group
as they went out to decorate once again. "I was thinking, 'Oh, dear God,
please don't let me get busted. I'm on City Council' " she said. Midway through
the job, an elderly woman peered quizzically out the window at the elves. "It's
the wrong house," Curran remembered thinking. No harm done, though.
The woman laughed and the elves cleaned up before they skedaddled. But
they left their mark at Phil Santmyer's place. He was the elves' first
victim two years ago. "Because he was acting like a Scrooge," joked resident
Shirily Howell. "I walked out the door and my truck was blinking at me," said
Santmyer, who lives on Burlington Avenue. "They had the most funky-looking
lights attached to the back of my pickup truck." This year, he said,
he got his decorations up early.
To help explain this strange holiday practice to one resident
wondering what all this "stuff" was in her yard,
a poem was written.
Miracle East of 34th street
T’was a night in December, our first break from the heat;
Not a creature was stirring on any brick street.
Christmas lights were all hung on the chimneys with care;
In hopes that the Kenwood Elves would not have to go there,
Normal people were nestled all snug in there beds;
While visions of office parties danced in their heads.
The Elves in their glory were milling about:
While having a party and planning their route.
When out on the lawn there rose such a clatter;
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
I looked out of the window in the dark of the night;
And knew it was too late to put up the lights.
You see in this neighborhood no matter who’s who;
You decorate your house or it gets decorated for you.
And what to my wandering eyes should appear;
but eight of my neighbors and their bags full of gear.
They ran down my street with little concern;
I knew in a moment it must be my turn.
More rapid than ever they’re good at this game;
They giggled and whispered and called each other by name.
On ,On ,On ,On ,On ,On ,On ,On ,and;
(Names have been deleted to protect the innocent).
On top of my porch, on top of my wall;
The Elves brought this “stuff” and covered it all.
I heard in a rumor I was not the first;
There were many before me, some even worst.
A wrong house was done and even a truck;
Two houses with the same owner, imagine her luck.
They work without pay and don’t expect fame;
Even a city council member was hit, then later joined in their games.
They spoke not a word and worked without fear;
Hanging decorations made of undergarments and empty cans of beer.
Then quickly as they got there they left in a flash;
Leaving all these decorations they took from the trash.
I guess if I lived in someplace boring and fake;
The neighbors for Christmas might send a fruitcake.
But not in this place with houses so charming;
Our welcome wagon is a little more alarming.
So one thing’s for sure all the Kenwood Elves should hear;
My decorations will be up early this time next year.
And I heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight:
“Merry Christmas to all and to all…You’d better hang lights”
Sunday, Dec. 17th. 2006
''Some people just aren't in the holiday spirit. We like to help them. Mostly, they feel the love."
says one of the Elves, describing the work the group does.
The Stealth Elves
BY MARY JANE PARK
St. Pete. Times Staff Writer
LARA CERRI / St Pete Times
Kenwood Elves engage in prank decorating late Fnday night that continued until the wee hours of Saturday morning in the neighbòrhood. The elves, who work quickly and in the dark, bring holiday decor to select undecorated Kenwood homes.
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