Caroline Batlle, 8, woke up at 6:30 a.m. to get ready for the contest. It was her first year entering and she wanted to make sure her make up was perfect.
Although Miss U.S.A. made an appearance at the contest, Batlle was not preparing for a beauty pageant. With categories such as most original costume, scariest costume and funniest costume, this contest could only take place on Halloween.
The West New York Recreation Department held its annual Ragamuffin parade on Tuesday, Halloween, at 3:30 p.m. The parade, led by the Grand Marshal, Commissioner Lawrence Riccardi, and the drum section of Memorial High School’s marching band, began in front of City Hall on 60th Street and proceeded down Bergenline Avenue to 57th Street. It ended at the Joseph Coviello Recreation Center on 57th Street and Broadway.
West New York has been holding a Halloween parade for more than 20 years.
“[West New York’s Halloween] is by far the best Halloween I’ve seen anyplace,” said Police Director Joseph Pelliccio, who said that the police department tripled the amount of officers on patrol for the holiday. “These programs were here before I got here and they are working.”
“We wanted to make sure that the students enjoy the holiday, but with in a certain regard for safety,” said West New York Mayor Albio Sires at an assembly promoting holiday safety at Public School No. 4 on Oct. 27, where he urged the students to take part in the town’s Halloween activities.
The parade was followed with a costume contest. The children were divided into three age groups, 3 to 4-year-olds, 5 to 7-year-olds and 8 to 10-year-olds.
The winners from the Best of Show category in each age group were: Melissa Melgar dressed as Carmen Miranda for the 3 to 4-year-old age group, Madelyn Leon, dressed as the Empire State Building for the 5 to 7-year-old group, and Athena Arzon as the West Nile Mosquito for the 8 to 10-year old group.
All of the winners were given a trophy and everyone went home with candy.