Like many voters, Bernard Stahursky put up a sign this summer promoting his candidate.
But it didn’t just have a name. His — on Maple Avenue North — included a call to action.
“Honk 4 Trump,” it said.
Passing motorists did.
Often. At all hours.
Maple Avenue North sign.
That upset Carole Bernstein, an attorney and legal mediator, who lives across the street and works at home. Her husband, Dr. Neil Herbsman, is a New York gastroenterlogist.
It wasn’t the first time. Stahursky — a 91-year-old retired garage owner — had posted the same sign in 2020.
At the time the couple’s daughter was stuck at home, studying for a medical exam. Her bedroom faced the sign. All day long, she heard the horns.
Herbsman asked Stahursky to remove the sign. He refused. In retaliation, the couple put up a “Honk for Biden” sign.
After the election, it came down. But Stahursky’s stayed up. He added others. One said, “If you voted for Biden, thanks a lot, asshole.”
Eventually, Stahursky took his signs down. But this August — around the time of the Democratic convention — the “Honk” sign returned.
Bernstein created a log of the number of honks. On August 27, she and her husband called Westport Police.
An officer asked Stahursky to remove the sign. He adamantly refused, citing the First Amendment.
The honking continued.
Bernstein researched state law. She found “private nuisance” legislation. It says that a person’s First Amendment right ends when it impacts another person’s quiet enjoyment of their home.
In early September, she and her husband filed a complaint in Superior Court. The same day, the sign came down.
But a few days later, Stahursky replaced it with one linking Kamala Harris to pedophiles, human traffickers and drug traffickers. This one was directly across from the couple’s property.
Bernstein found a Connecticut statute that prohibits “malicious structures” targeted at neighbors. It was aimed she says, at spite fences, not signs. But she added the new sign to her complaint.
A hearing was scheduled for November 1. Stahursky’s lawyer, Eugene Zingaro, asked for an adjournment.
Bernstein and Herbsman said they’d consider it, provided the case was heard earlier.
In court this week, she, her husband, Stahursky, and his next door neighbor all testified.
Bernstein and Herbsman’s lawyer played a Ring recording of honks between August 31 and October 16. (Click here to see and listen to a driver leaving Stahursky’s home, and leaning on the horn down Maple Avenue. Click here for a second recording; click here for a third.)
Screen shot of Ring recording of a car leaving the Stahursky home.
Stahursky again invoked his First Amendment rights. He said he wanted to spread the truth about Harris and her ties to pedophilia, sex traffickers and drug traffickers, which he heard about on Fox News and Newsmax.
Judge Dale Radcliffe ruled today that since the “Honk 4 Trump” sign was no longer up, it was no longer a nuisance.
However, he added, a sign urging honking is not free speech. If the sign returns, he could issue an injunction.
As for the sign that is now up, Radcliffe ruled that while it is distasteful, it is protected speech. (Click here to read the complete decision. Click here to read the amended complaint.)
Bernstein and Herbsman are pleased that the “honk” sign is down.
Stahursky’s lawyer was pleased too. He told Connecticut Insider: “It’s unfortunate the delicate sensibilities of the plaintiffs were affected.
“Mr. Stahursky, who farms the land he was born on and who served this country in the Korean War, has earned to right to support the candidate of his choice.”
Again it proves that Trump supporters want to cause others chaos and hatred towards fellow Americans. There are other more sensible ways to exercise your rights. Causing suffering to another should never be allowed
Trunp called the USA the garbage can of the world We are screwed
Really???? A sign causes suffering?
No. Telling drivers to Honk for anything causes suffering. Do you want to hear between 50 and 100 honks per day?? I don’t think so.
Pain and suffering over car horns lmao I’ve heard it all now. This is one of the problems with you liberal snowflakes who have thin skin and are overly sensitive. Another issue is that none of you can think for yourself, but rather, you’re easily brainwashed by the media on what to believe.
Yes Mary it does. All hours of the night waking up households. I can say this because I am also a neighbor.
what an obnoxious crass human- much like the candidate he supports evidently.
Thanks, Adrian, for the well said comment…I was about to go
much further and you saved my ass….
Kudos to Carole and Neil for taking the right steps for our community. This could be a positive indication of peaceful times to come.
Thank you Emily, we had excellent first-rate counsel!
unfortunately, that is a lot of honks. I can’t believe that man is even getting one vote. he is so despicable in every way. Why can’t people see that. It is astonishing.
The reason he may be elected is that people appreciate the state of the country under his proven leadership. Despicable and other adjectives regarding his demeanor may be accurate. Effective, patriotic and strong are others.
Mike, Trump has to be the least patriotic president ever. He laughs at fallen soldiers , buddies up to dictators, denies our election results after having his many days in court, asks governors and his own VP to pick him over the constitution and incites an insurrection. Now he says he will pardon those that harmed our country and go after the enemy within (those that don’t agree with him ). Fascism isn’t patriotic. But you know who is? George Bush , Dick Cheney , John Kelly and 200 or so other republicans who have put country before party. As for this debacle, it doesn’t really matter how wonderful this man was in the past to the community. What he’s doing now to his neighbors including the elementary school is despicable. Perhaps he’s suffering from cognitive decline like his god trump but someone close to him should intervene.
Listen to Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “The House I Live In” written in 1943. Good lesson there. Google the lyrics.
I think it was Hannah Arendt who said that the purpose of spreading lies is not to make people believe them, but to create a paralysis and a numbness because we no longer know what to believe. That a man who was part of the armed forces, an esteemed group who Trump calls “suckers and losers,” still thinks he’s the best candidate is reflective of how his campaign of misinformation is working.
God bless Donald J. Trump. He restore order in the world.
To me the “Pedophiles for Harris Waltz” sign indicates that the homeowner is a pedophile. If that’s not the message he wants to convey, he should consider taking it down.
Welp Mr. Fogel has weighed in…Waiting on Jack Backiel. Hope he’s ok…lol
are you upset that I repeated Trumps words?
Dave. trumps 4 star general and longest serving chief of staff called Trump a fascist to the core. Kelly also said Trump will use the USA military on its own citizens. Kelly also confirmed that Trump called war veterans suckers and loosers. The VDW head condemned Trumps comments on confessional Medal of Honor winners Trump has a long history of insulting the military. it’s hard for me to undestand your support for such character
No sir, I’m not upset at all. In fact I find the comments entertaining. Everybody is entitled to believe what they want to believe. However I’m getting worried about Jack.
Dave Eason, I have known Bernie Stahursky before you were born. (You’re 71 years old.) The first time I met him was around 1952. That’s my comment.
Having known Bernie Stahursky since our high school days , he and his family have always been upstanding local residents. Bernie was always more than a garage owner, He was an ace mechanic, who serviced the cars for thousands of local residents over the years. In addition he was a local ambulance driver and EMT who aided and administered first aid likely to thousands more while transporting them to area hospitals. I was present and watched him work with skill in delivering babies and treating injuries on several occasions. As a police supervisor, I never heard a single civilian complaint against him, and know that he was well-liked by all of us who had the pleasure of working with him.
The last time I saw Stahursky was around 2005. My aunt, who lived to be over 100 years old, wanted to go there to buy vegetables. I drove her there. She grabbed a whole bunch of stuff and when I went to pay, he wouldn’t take our money. These were his exact words, “I don’t take money from former Westport farmers.” My aunt’s father, my grandfather, farmed in Westport from 1903 to 1953. I do understand the complaints, but this isn’t the Stahursky I knew.
He may be an upstanding local resident and well-liked by all, but does that entitle him to accuse and defame others?
Richard, one cannot be an “upstanding local” anything and be a Trump supporter…there simply are no good people who would even think supporting such a candidate.
To be clear, this issue is more about nuisance and a lack of respect for our neighbors than a political discussion. This is the USA, and everyone is free to vote for whoever they wish. If the sign said “honk for Cinderella,” I would still feel the same way.
I totally understand Emily’s concern! I wouldn’t want horns blowing day and night myself.I know every inch of this neighborhood since I lived at 56 North Maple Avenue from 1947 to 1961.
They both displayed “honk” signs, So, that’s NOT what it’s about.
I’m sorry but in 2024 after the democratic convention which is what I’m referring to only Stahursky displayed signs of honking and abusive and derogatory language .
belief should be based on facts not lies. not conspiracy theories. not on lies. not on anti democratic values.
I too, live on Maple Avenue North. I work at home as well. I have two dogs, one who has recently become blind. Our daily walks are a way for us to relax, connect with nature, put stresses behind us. Sadly, all too often a car blasts its horn when passing that residence. My dogs jump, I am rattled. I have noticed the ugly signs, they look like neighborhood blight to me…ugly scribbled hateful messages. Sadly, I have avoided that part of my street. It has become stressful, uncomfortable. I now frequent the horse farm where the horses are quiet and the people, civil. Everyone seems to live in harmony. It saddens me that my beloved neighborhood has become a political hotbed and that we now suffer from noise pollution.
No one is going to change their mind because of his sign. The sign is totally meaningless.
Jack, you are SO right!!! The sign IS meaningless. In fact, life has ceased to have meaning ever since an orange colored melanoma oozed his way down the escalator. It’s Harris Bueller’s Day Off!!!
This is the second election cycle that I’ve lived close to this property and seen these same clashes. I find the signage offensive, I find it confrontational. I also find baselessly alleging pedophilia around the corner from an elementary school just completely beyond the pale.
There are always kind people who come forward vouching for the resident’scharacter – but I would say this – I no longer speak to certain friends and even family members because of who they have evolved into in the world of MAGA. The candidate has normalized some of the darkest parts of the human condition, and even more despairing, his supporters seem to not care so much about plan or policy, only how much abuse and misery he can inflict on his detractors. The state of things is ugly. Just as we like to believe people can change for the better, people can indeed also change for the worse. We need good neighbors more than ever these days. Whether 1 or 91, be better! No amount of goodwill accrued decades ago entitles you to be a jerk. Manners matter.
My 5th comment. Trump will get 76 million votes. People will vote for someone who physically abuses women and brags about it. They’ll vote for a guy who cheated on all his wives and was spanked by a hooker! They’ll vote for a guy who constantly lies and never goes to church! They’ll vote for a draft dodger who lied about bone spurs! They’ll vote for a guy who admits Hitler did some good things.
I think we’d be better off if we didn’t give this addled old half-wit any attention.
Which “addled old half-wit” are you talking about Chris? There are so many to choose from. Republican? Democrat? Independent?
Getting one’s “facts” from fox news , newsmax, etc is all you need to know about this “farmer.” I’m sorry these neighbors have had to put up with this misinformed voter. Having icky neighbors sucks.
Bernstein and Herbsman should put up a sign opposite the offensive sign saying that the sign across the street is a big fat lie.
I like it!!! Short, sweet and to the point. So “Old Westport.” I was going to suggest a “Charette” be convened to study it. But your approach makes so much more sense.
When the couple erected the “Honk for Biden” sign, it became evident that they were actually not bothered by honking, but by their neighbor expressing support for a candidate they don’t support.
Remember when we kept politics and religion issues to ourselves? Honk for eliminating any signs! VOTE early and often.
While I can, and do sympathies with Bernard Stahursky; I do not agree with his approach. I can understand the consternation of his aggrieved neighbors too. It is not easy being embedded in a blue town in a deep blue state; no, it is not. However, we all need to grow up a bit and, perhaps, be a little more subtle in the manner of our “protests”. IMHO, of course.
Donald Trump is a honkie?
OK all here is the scoop! Bernie is a 91 year old man NOW!! one of ten children who has been farming that property all of his life. Bernie has over his life made many contributions to the town of Westport, Fire Dept, Police, EMT and always anyone that would need help very generous man over his life as many old towny will tell you. That Being said I find it all very sad that this has taken place. I do not agree with the signs the honking and flying the American flag upside down thats disgraceful . But So Is Trump thats my opinion.
I can only hope that this is resolved soon so the fine people on Maple ave north can have peace in there neighborhood. You see I Know Bernie Stahursky the person he is my uncle.
Opinions are like as%#es, Everybody has one and don’t believe theirs’ stinks. Trump has ignited the underlying hate in this country, based, in my opinion, on fear. But, as I see it, money rules our politics. And when 10% of the population owns 90% of the wealth here, we are in for a rocky future.