Halloween controversy brewing in West Pittston over proposed street closures [The Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.]

Oct. 13—WEST PITTSTON — Will there be a "Halloweentown" shutdown?

A Halloween controversy is brewing in West Pittston after borough council on Wednesday denied a request to close down a popular street for trick or treaters on Oct. 31 unless neighbors take out an insurance policy.

The chief of the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department vows to defy the orders — with the backing of the mayor — if he feels the situation gets too dangerous for children that evening.

Most leaders in town assume the controversy will be settled before Halloween night so everyone could have a safe, spooky and fun time.

"It's not an event. It's a holiday. I'm not taking out a personal insurance policy," said Megan Rogers, 31, a parent of two and member of the fledgling neighborhood committee 'Halloweentown.' "We got 2,500 trick or treaters last year. Physically, you can't drive a car down the street, but people still do."

Police closed the road last year without forcing neighbors to take out an insurance policy, she said.

Residents of Delaware Avenue — one of the area's premiere Halloween destinations for children that has been nicknamed 'Halloweentown' — had the road closure request placed on the agenda on Wednesday's council meeting.

They requested for Delaware Avenue to be closed from Wyoming Avenue and Fifth Street and Fourth Street closed between Montgomery and Philadelphia avenues.

Council initially voted 4-1 to reject the request, but then approved another motion to allow the closure if the neighbors get insurance like other groups that host events that force the closure of streets.

"It's not like we're having a block party or wedding. We're not closing the street for a parade," Rogers said. "We're not trying to attract more people. It's not like we're trying to bring in busloads of people here. We're trying to be proactive and safe."

Rogers noted she spent more than $900 on Halloween candy last year for the 2,500 trick or treaters who stopped by her house.

Councilman James Butera said the borough requires insurance policies be taken out when roads are closed and it is up to the party making the request to obtain a policy.

He said he asked those in attendance making the request if they inquired about insurance and they said they didn't.

"We can't let the other 4,000 people in town bear the brunt if God forbid there's an accident and we get sued," Butera said. "We're not against it. We want people to have fun. How could we be against that? We shut streets down all the time, but the organizations get a certificate for insurance. The veterans, the cherry blossom people get it and no one complains about it."

Butera assumes everything will be straightened out in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

Shawn Pugliese, 42, whose parents own an old mansion on Delaware Avenue that is a popular Halloween destination for kids, said he pushed for the road to be closed in 2022 after a kid was hit by a car the year prior.

"I said, 'You need to block the street or I'm going to,'" Pugliese said.

Pugliese said at least 1,500 trick or treaters visited his parents' house on Halloween in a recent year and the crowds are growing annually.

"People have been coming to this house for decades. My mother, since I was born, even before I was born, has been going crazy for Halloween," Pugliese said. "The last five years, more and more neighbors are getting into it."

Swoyersville resident Eugene Clemons III, his wife, Meghan, their son, Eugene IV, 2, and infant daughter, Elena, toured the neighborhood on Thursday evening after reading about it on Facebook.

"We wanted to show the little guy some cool stuff," Clemons III said.

Wyoming Area Regional Police Chief Mike Turner said Delaware Avenue has become a popular destination for trick or treaters on Halloween and they can't all fit on the sidewalk and must walk on the streets.

He said the road definitely should be closed Halloween night and he will defy council's orders — with the mayor's blessing — if necessary if he deems conditions to be unsafe.

The regional police department, which is comprised of West Pittston and four other municipalities, is overseen by an independent commission of representatives of all five towns.

"If they get upset with me for putting the safety of children before anything, so be it. I'll deal with the consequences," Turner said. "I'm all about the safety of the community. Opening that road, you are putting hundreds, if not thousands, of trick or treaters in danger of being hit by a car. It's not an event. It's a holiday. It's Halloween. It's not an event like a block party. It's trick or treaters."

While Mayor Angelo Alfano disagreed with council's approach to the matter, he feels there will be a solution to the controversy.

"I see their view, but I think they are looking at it wrong. I understand we have a code. If you want the road blocked, you have to provide insurance for the event. But this is not something someone is doing as an individual. It's Halloween," Alfano said. "There's a couple of different things we're looking into. Obviously, Halloween is going to happen."

The mayor predicts 'Halloweentown' will be bustling like usual.

"I know from people who live on the road. They have a pitch counter like you do with Little League baseball to count the amount of people. It's amazing," Alfano said. "People come from throughout the area to experience it."

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055; @cvbobkal

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