The Alternative Press

SUIMMIT, NJ - With Hurricane Sandy closing in on New Jersey, Summit residents did their trick or treating Saturday afternoon when the Summit Police Athletic League held their annual Halloween parade and costume contest. Many people were fearful this could be the second year in a row with no trick or treating on Halloween due to the weather.

The event was held in conjunction with the Summit Department of Community Programs and featured numerous businesses and restaurants downtown participating by handing out candy to the children in costume

Joseph Dimaria was walking in the parade as his son Jojo rode in his Captain America car. Jojo, who likes the comic book hero, had a decked out fire truck designed for Captain America.

“We worked hard on making the Captain America jeep,” Dimaria said.

They put three shields on the truck, 4^th of July license plates, created doors and Jojo added some of his own flare as well.

Karen Wauters has been taking her kids Allison and Ryan to the parade since they were young. Allison, 7, was the tooth fairy. The inspiration for the costume came because she lost all of her baby teeth last year. Ryan, 9, was all about the green.

“We decided it would be very appropriate for her to be a tooth fairy,” she said. “Ryan, he’s my million dollar man, so we made him the Million Dollar Man.”

However, she said it took a long time to create Ryan’s costume. She had to resize and maneuver fake hundred dollar bills on her computer so they would print correctly and be the right size. Wauters said her children love their costumes and the parade because they get an extra opportunity to eat candy. Their originality pays off often and one year Ryan went as a quarter and won.

“We went with the money theme again with our fingers crossed,” she said.