Community Corner

Bloomingdale Residents Not Alone in Fight for Halloween Spirit

Clifton officials deny resident's attempt for elaborate decoration display due to safety concerns.

On the heels of the Bloomingdale Council's tabling of discussion on whether to approve blocking off the roadway for the "Nightmare on Bailey Ave." event, another Passaic County resident is facing resistance from Clifton city officials on funding safety protection for his own Halloween display.

CBS News reported Tuesday that Clifton resident and dentist Dr. Wayne Gangi has been told his Halloween decorations, which bring thousands of people to his street to see the display, is a traffic hazard for motorists and pedestrians. But after he refused to pay for off-duty police officers to direct traffic at the city's suggestion, CBS reported, the city has also not agreed to pay to patrol the area.

Read the full CBS story here.

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bloomingdale residents have made the same argument regarding the "Nightmare on Bailey Ave." event, which Bloomingdale Councilman John D'Amato said draws more than 1,000 people to the Bailey Avenue neighborhood. In order to get the wheels turning for the Oct. 31 event, organizers said the Bloomingdale Council would have needed to approve the road being blocked off at the Sept. 25 meeting. Instead, the council majority voted to table discussion on the topic.

During the meeting, Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy read aloud a letter from Bailey Avenue resident Michael Mascitello, who could not attend. Mascitello urged the council to "disregard" the politics of the issue and consider restoring the event, which was canceled last year because the council did not agree to fund it.

Find out what's happening in Tri-Borowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It was always and should always remain for Bloomingdale," he wrote.

In response to a Tri-Boro Patch article about the council's tabling the discussion, Bloomingdale resident Melanie Ferrara, who also urged the council to restore the Fourth of July fireworks in 2011, commented on why she feels events like "Nightmare on Bailey Ave." are so important.

"To be honest, our town does not have much for families to do together- even less over the past few years. We need to maintain a communicative base for its healthy functioning and a fun event like this does just that by engaging children and adults in town activities," she said.

The council could discuss "Nightmare on Bailey Ave." at the Oct. 9 meeting, but officials have said it would be difficult to plan the event with less than a month's time left, as construction goes in to the structures used for haunted elements.


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