Grinch Sign Changes Yards but Not Focus

The Grinch was moved and his message modified, but his green face still frowned on a frontyard sign in Simi Valley’s Bridle Path neighborhood Friday, protesting the work of the homeowners association president.

Rodney and Wendy Mann first erected the sign bearing the likeness of Dr. Seuss’ cartoon villain, with the inscription “Pandolfi--the man who stole Bridle Path.”

But after a Superior Court judge ordered the sign taken down, neighbors Shari and Tyler Bunker moved it into their yard across the street and relabeled it: “Tyler--the man who stole the sign.”

While the Grinch sign no longer bears the name of Louis Pandolfi, president of the Bridle Path Homeowners Assn., Shari Bunker said Friday that she and her husband still intend for the sign to represent Pandolfi.

“Everyone knows what the sign represents, and we wanted to still make a statement but at the same time follow the court’s order,” she said.

“They can’t attack us for defaming [Pandolfi’s] character, but people will still get the same idea. We’ve had many, many cars coming by the house and applause for what we’ve done.”

Pandolfi said Friday the sign might still pose a safety risk if it blows down in the wind, “But it’s not a problem [in terms of] the lawsuit the association filed against the Manns. There’s no defamation.”

Pandolfi said the association will continue to press a lawsuit accusing the Manns of defaming his character with the original sign: “It had my name on it, my daughter’s name, my wife’s name--all kinds of my family members--at holiday time. Mr. Mann still has a problem. It’s defamation.”