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By Will Bredderman
Brooklyn Daily
Kids in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights wouldn’t let Sandy interfere with their ghoulish traditions!
The boys and girls got their fill of Halloween thrills and chills thanks to a pair of events that State Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) and Councilman Vincent Gentile (D–Bay Ridge) sponsored.
Gentile held his first-ever Halloween Walk on Oct. 31 along 13th Avenue from 68th to 86th streets, with help from businesses along the commercial row. Kids dressed in costumes and trick-or-treated along blocks decorated with different themes — sets that ranged from pirate ships and western scenes to Star Wars and Disney movies. The tykes also got to play spooky games and ride carnival rides set up in parking lots. The pol said the event was a blast for children and merchants alike, and hopes to see it become a local tradition.
“Business along 13th Avenue is really flourishing and this first Halloween Walk was a smashing success,” said Gentile.
Meanwhile, the impending storm set back Golden’s Haunted Walk in Owls Head Park — a 17-year tradition the senator picked up from predecessor Bob DiCarlo — until Nov. 3. Organizer Chip “Festival Guy” Cafiero said he and his helpers set up creepy stages for costumed kids to enjoy, including a “Haunted Eye-Scream Parlor” — which featured ice cream sprinkled with eyeballs — a murderous Obama-Romney spoof, and an alien landscape courtesy of robotics students at Xaverian High School.
Cafiero said the event was fun despite the delay, storm damage to the park, and increasing cold.
“It was really entertaining and scary. Not frightening — but scary,” said Cafiero, who added that those who came out for the belated celebration showed great appreciation.
The evening also featured a collection of goods for victims of the hurricane, and Golden’s office arranged to send extra sandwiches and bottles of water that neighborhood businesses donated to flood-damaged areas.
Reach reporter Will Bredderman at (718) 260–4507 or e-mail him at wbredderman@cnglocal.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/WillBredderman