Halloween Village is back for more scares

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Debra Hedman of Waterbury and her grandchildren enjoy the Halloween Village in 2007.

NAUGATUCK – The scares will continue this Halloween season in the borough.

Halloween Village will be open each night this weekend for all kids and adults to experience some pre-Halloween thrills.

Naugatuck Park and Recreation and Connecticut Signcraft Inc. will be sponsoring the village, which is located at the Naugatuck Park Department on Rubber Ave.  Halloween Village is one of three villages including an Easter and Christmas Village.

After loosing funding from the borough there was some thought that all three villages would have to close last year.  Private donations though, have helped keep the displays alive.

Borough business and residents have shown how important the villages are to them by donating the entire cost of the village which Playground Director and village operator Kim Eyre estimated to be around $1,000.

Borough companies like Connecticut Signcraft Inc. have supported the villages for years; believing what they mean to the borough is well worth their donations.

“It’s a tremendous thing,” said Vice President of Connecticut Signcraft Inc. and Burgess Bob Neth. “What is there really in Naugatuck for the kids. These small things are big things to a lot of the kids and parents. It tremendous for the whole community, you see a lot of people come out for it, whatever village it may be, and everyone really enjoys it.”

Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Pat Wagner echoed Neth’s remarks, saying the villages are a part of what the borough is.

“In times like this you have to really keep focus of quality of life, for everyone in the town, children and adults,” Wagner said. “Those villages have been going on since I was a kid, there an institution in town. They have to stay. We’ll do what ever we have to keep those villages running.”

A plaque was put up last year in the village listing all the donors who’ve helped fund the villages and other Parks and Recreation efforts. The plaque will recognize five levels of giving: Platinum ($500), gold ($250), silver ($100), bronze ($50) and copper ($25).

As usual, admission to the village will be free, but there will be a donation box positioned near the entrance. The village will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Ecumenical Food Bank.

The villages will be open from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Children will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with one of the Halloween characters and receive balloon sculptures.

Parking will be at Peter J. Foley parking lot on Andrew Ave. Handicapped parking only will be permitted at the park department. There will be signs directing drivers to the parking lot.