Christmas display vandals make difficult year even worse for Harrison woman, neighbor

The holiday season is a little less bright for two neighbors in Harrison.

“I was vandalized,” said Maryann Farr, 65, of Burtner Road. “They ruined everything that I worked so hard for.”

Farr’s illuminated front lawn decorations were destroyed on Monday.

Her backyard bird feeders and other items were damaged, too.

She decorates annually and said homes on her street are so festive, cars drive by nightly to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Christmas season.

Dozens of hanging lights in neighbor Matt Bedick’s front yard were pulled down and broken. An illuminated snowman somebody damaged has since been repaired.

The culprits remain at large, and Harrison police are investigating.

Farr’s destroyed items include a sled, snowman and multiple lighted reindeer, including a large buck she nicknamed “Frank” in honor of her recently deceased brother.

She found the items about midnight, mangled and in a pile near Bedick’s home late Monday night.

“Frank alone was $200,” Farr said.

Farr, who works full time at a local hardware store, described her emotions as “heartsick.”

“I had to work nine hours just to pay for Frank (reindeer),” Farr said. “We’re going through enough. I lost my best friend this year, and I’m going through the pandemic this year. What more do they want someone to go through?”

Bedick has made repairs to his display, but for Farr, the only thing left the vandals didn’t destroy were her rooftop lights.

Bedick’s entire front lawn is transformed into a musical, illuminated winter wonderland annually. It was part of a Nov. 19 story in the Trib about people who got an early start on holiday decorations this year.

He said he was alerted to the image of a person on his front door Ring video surveillance camera after arriving home from his shift as a nurse late Monday night.

Farr also was alerted to someone on her lawn Monday night and has submitted some of the footage to police.

Bedick said the vandalism is not only mean, it’s disrespectful.

“Find something to do with yourself instead of vandalizing people’s personal property — things that people work hard for, take time to set up and spread joy,” Bedick said. “It’s disheartening and sad that somebody would even think about coming through and ruining someone else’s belongings.”

Farr estimates the value of her lawn decorations at more than $600.

“My neighbor Bill has lived here 34 years, and he said he’s never had a problem on this street.”

Farr has a message for the vandals.

“Get a life. Just get a life,” Farr said. “Do something good.”