Editor’s Note: Welcome to Inside Out, our weekly roundup of stories about Staten Islanders making waves, being seen, supporting our community and just making our borough a special place to live. Have a story for Inside Out? Email Carol Ann Benanti at [email protected]
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Halloween is on the horizon — the scariest day of the year — and with it comes plenty of ghosts and goblins, and spooky, scary, skeletons and creepy characters.
And what about pumpkin spice everything — in just about everything?
Though celebrating Halloween has changed dramatically over the last 100 years — and morphed into a huge holiday celebration where folks dress up wildly and decorate their homes spectacularly — one thing will always remain the same: Halloween brings out the kid in all of us.
These days, Halloween savvy youngsters are crafting personalized costumes, elaborate digital decorations, and highly interactive experiences.
The growing trend is a reflection of a generation fluent in technology who might even employ the use generative AI to design their Halloween looks and outlandish decorations.
Take Michael DePrima for instance, an 8 year-old third grade student at P.S. 42 — who simply adores everything about Halloween.
So much so in fact, that he eagerly anticipates the opening of the “Spirit Halloween” stores each year — and is one of its first visitors.
The clever youngster has a fascination for Halloween animatronics — oversized creatures that resemble scary people or animals who talk — and began collecting the line as birthday presents for the past two years, according to his “Nonna,” Toni Maffeo.
“I even print out the SILive.com Halloween decorated houses addresses that I receive from the website so we can visit them,” she told us.
So, between Michael’s parents, Mike and Rosanne, and his “Nonna and Poppy,” Michael and his sister Marianna get to see them all.
As a result of Michael being inspired by the houses, he decided to start a collection of his very own right in front of his Eltingville home.
“Nonna” adds that in what began as a graveyard theme, Michael now has two more animatronics, “Trick or Treat Pete,” a wicked clown that was a gift from “Nonna and Poppy” and “Monkey Business,” who’s more than six feet tall, and a gift from Michael’s other grandma and grandpa — additions that kicked off the collection.
What’s more, though Michael’s collection might not be as grand as some of the more elaborate Halloween displays found around town, what counts is that he’s put his heart and soul into the project.
Diligent, dedicated and focused, Michael’s come to realize the amount of time, effort and patience that goes into completing his Halloween project — and he’s also learning the value of a dollar.
And because of Michael’s imaginative nature, each year the display will grow to even greater heights.
Michael recounts that his interest in Halloween and animatronics was piqued when he was in the second grade and visited the home of a friend named, Aidan.
He became so intrigued with the motorized Halloween animatronics, that he caught the bug.
“I got to thinking that I could set up my own version of Halloween animatronics,” he gushed.
Michael’s Halloween animatronics consist of oversized characters which are motorized and have names like “Twisted Grandma” and “Jack the Reaper,” the mascot for Spirit Halloween stores, as well as other scary monsters.
Michael goes on to explain they’re positioned right outside his house in full view so everyone can see them clearly.
“‘Trick or Treat Pete’ even spits out candies,” he revealed. “And there’s another one called ‘Monkey Business,” and ‘Scary Santa.“ You have to build them and my mom dad and sister help, even though my sister prefers to go on her iPad.”
Michael adds he’s had his collection for two years now and he’s adding scary characters every year. And he starts putting them up in September.
And when queried about his own costume for Halloween, he explained he’s dressing up as a ghost face!
MICHAEL’S SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
On Halloween morning, P.S. 42 will host a March of Dimes Wonder Walk Parade, where children strut around the school yard in their costumes .
Watch for “Boo 42,” at P.S. 42 when the PTA will put together a family friendly, fun Halloween event replete with bouncy houses, refreshment tables and other goodies for children who attend the Eltingville school.
And, of course, deejay Dina Francis will be on hand to make it all the more complete.
CELEBRATIONS – OCT. 19 to OCT. 25
OCT. 19
Sunday is birthday time for film producer, Jules Nasso, for Marisa Calabrese of M & J Ballroom Dance, Andrew Esposito, John “Fritzie” Ryan, Lois Siewert, Paul McPolin, Pat M. Ballweg, and Melisa Perosi.
OCT. 20
Birthday greetings on Monday go to Thomas Herrlich, Muriel Nielsen, Kyla Maroney, who turns 21, Steven Blaine, Daniel Joseph Heaney, Anthony Mazzallo, Mimi Howland and Marty Giovinazzo.
It’s also birthday party time for twins Rebecca and Patricia Pallone and Alexandra Sottile, who turns 28.
Happy wedding anniversary on Monday to Roy Moskowitz and Ann Price-Moskowitz.
OCT. 21
Pat Beyar gets the birthday wishes today on Tuesday as does Marina DiNatale, Jayson Rodriquez, Lisa Fox, George Petersen and Thomas John Macchia.¶
OCT. 22
Happy birthday on Wednesday go James Lee, Diane Bacci, Dorothy Savino, Florence Pellegrino, James Muzio, Stacey Lapcevic and Gerard Cirillo.
OCT. 23
Birthday best on Thursday to Dr. Allan Perel, Anthony Boscaino III, Justine Cauldwell, Kristen Pedersen, Debbie Stavola, Amanda Taylor, Robert Phillip Ruggiero, Lauren Jean Rosati, Laura Milone, Ben Zarelli, Cassidy Marie Zarelli, and Thomas Patrick Britton.
OCT. 24
The happiest of birthdays on Friday to Jan Somma-Hammel who shares her birthday with Gregory Neal, Ed Cardona, Gregory Swanson, and Traci Cangiano, who all celebrate on Friday.
Happy wedding anniversary Friday to Hilarie and Paul Felsher.
OCT. 25
Celebrating birthdays on Saturday are, Regina Damato and Thomas Stavola.
Saturday is wedding anniversary time for Melissa and Paul Miller who celebrate their 23rd.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.silive.com ’
