Bay Ridge businesses invite students to paint their windows for Halloween

Bay Ridge Community Council hosts annual Halloween window-painting contest

October 27, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Halloween contest coordinator Joanna Succar with her husband Ralph, president of the Bay Ridge Community Council. Eagle photos by Arthur De Gaeta

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Every year around Halloween, business along Third, Fourth and Fifth avenues in Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Bensonhurst allow school children to display their artwork on their store windows. You will find a wide array of creatively conceived paintings that will scare you, amaze you and impress you with their originality.

It all starts with a painting that children conceive at school and submit in hopes of having it selected for display on a storefront window. This year’s event took place on Thursday, Oct. 26 and was sponsored by the Bay Ridge Community Council (BRCC), its president Ralph Succar and members Maria Makrinos and Joanna Succar.

Some of the businesses that generously donated their window space for the students to paint include Apple Bank of Fifth Avenue, Foodtown on Third Avenue, Bay Ridge Family Eyecare Optical on 69th Street, Laudano Realty on 13th Avenue, My Three Sons on Fort Hamilton Parkway, Pizza Wagon on 5th Ave., Empire State Bank of Third Avenue, Dime Community Bank, Empire State Development, Century 21, The Kettle Black, Tuscany Grill, Cathy’s Place, Dorsa Group Realty, First Premier Realty Network, Strazzullo Law Firm, Jabour Realty and NIA Community Services, among other longtime supporters.

On the day of the event, Makrinos and the Succars hosted a breakfast at the Bridgeview Diner for the judges to go over the plans for the day. Makrinos called it a community event built around lasting memories that the children will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

“What do so many residents of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights have in common when they gather at this community event?” asked Makrinos.

“The answer is the memories they have of themselves, their children and their classmates painting fall hues and happenings. How many other neighborhoods can claim to hold the longest annual consecutive art contest?”

Makrinos attributed the contest’s 65-year history to BRCC, and in part to a recent grant provided by elected officials including Councilmember Vincent Gentile, in conjunction with the Dyker Heights Civic Association, Community Board 10, the 68th Precinct and local merchants, along with principals, teachers, parents and the budding artists from the participating schools.

“This year’s event included 31 schools from District 20,” said Makrinos.

“Amazing paintings were everywhere as students anxiously await learning whether they had won a gold, silver or bronze medal.”