Maya McFadden Photo
At a Halloween party Sunday night, dozens of kids were enlisted to dress as skeletons and zombies and superheroes to help usher away the real-life horrors that transpire throughout the year at the corner of Ferry and Chambers Streets.
The occasion was a Fair Haven block party for trick-or-treaters and families, a party with a mission: to take over a neighborhood hotspot known for its drug activity, crime, and violence.
A team of Fair Haveners organized the block party to interrupt the dangerous actives happening daily on the street and to provide youth with a safe way to celebrate Halloween. It was the latest in an ongoing citizen-led effort to do that in Fair Haven, beginning with a month of activities held last month outside Grand Cafe on East Pearl Street.
Chambers Street residents Maria Bennett and Alex Lemon joined Fair Haveners Sarah Miller, Karen DuBois-Walton, and Diane Ecton to plan the Halloween event at Ferry & Chambers.
“We wanted to do something different,” said Miller. “A lot of the regulars — sex workers and even the dealers — are here with their kids.”
The street activity Sunday “changed the dynamic of the corner” as tunes like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” echoed across the neighborhood.
The organizers added that the party aimed to reconnect residents amongst the pandemic.
Miller, who helped organize the month-long Grand Cafe sit-in, said Fair Haven streets need more visible, positive activities.
Throughout Fair Haven, trick-or-treating isn’t safe on some streets. The organizers said Chambers is typically a “no-go” area for trick-or-treaters.
Bennett said she most often has to take her kids to East Haven for go trick-or-treating. “I wish we could here, but adults don’t even feel safe on this street,” she said.
Chamber Street residents.
Many families stopped by the party while driving or walking past the event. One mom who was heading to C‑Town turned around and went back home a block away to dress her son up and bring him to the block party.
Clifford Beers, Music Note Kids Club, and Fair Haven Branch Library tabled at the event, offering families free books, handmade buttons, and candy. Canned good donations were collected for a future food drive.
The organizers said they hope to continue hosting seasonal block parties in the future and possibly make the Halloween block party a new Fair Haven tradition.
Fair Havener Thalia stopped by the party while driving on her way to Edgewood Park for a city-run Halloween event. “They want to wear their costumes all day, so we stopped here, too,” she said of her kids.
Yandel with new handmade shirt button.
Ten-year old Yandel, a Ferry Street resident, learned to make a button at the party and picked up his favorite candy — a Reese buttercup.
Godsisters Canai, 9, and Joliegh, 12, came dressed as anime character Naruto and a mean school girl.
Mermaids Ariana, Amaya, and Ren.
Kids picked up cupcakes, cookies, water, candy, and chips. At a craft station, they made slime and sand jars and picked up coloring activities.
Watch video of the event here.
Dance party starts.
Contributed Photos
Across town in Dwight, neighbors also held a Halloween party with a purpose.
Organizers on an ongoing effort to save Kensington Playground from a plan to develop affordable housing held a holiday party for the kids.
Amid the fun, the organizers took a moment to pose for this picture.
Sarah Miller is a brilliant organizer and will be an outstanding Alder. She, Karen Dubois Walton and Kica Matos are simply awesome.
The Friends of Kensington Park (Olivia Martson, Jane Comins, Pat Wallace and Victoria Vebell) AKA the Friends of the Dwight Historic District, are not only indefatigable, but quite successful in whatever they take on.
There are many other individuals and groups who are equally hard working and accomplished in many neighborhoods in New Haven. People power is a reality in New Haven and it's a big reason NH is so special.
As a resident, I want to thank them all for their contributions over decades.
the alternative to despair is action.