Exploring Hasbrouck Heights to find the best ghosts, ghouls, witches and things that go bump in the night took up much of my last two weeks as I finished my papers at NYU and then as the weather started to finally cool go searching for the best decorated house for our Men’s Association’s Third Annual Best Halloween Decorated House Contest.

That meant al lot of driving around town looking at lawns for the best decorations and for the most creativity. Hasbrouck Heights, NJ is the perfect place to come haunting for a good time with our Window Painting Contest downtown, decorated dollhouse and the Circle and the Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association Third Annual Halloween House Decorating Contest.

The Historic Dollhouse on the Circle in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ.

The Hasbrouck Heights Annual Halloween Window Painting Contest.

As I told the guys on the committee, anyone can put up inflatables but to really decorate a home similar to the caliber as Christmas takes some talent. There may have been a bit less than last year but the people who did decorate went all out. It took about a week and a half but we announced our winners for both the House Decorating Contest and the Merchant Decorating Contest.

Heights Flower Shoppe in Downtown Hasbrouck Heights was the winner for a second year in a row.

Here is our press release on the event:

The Third Annual Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association Halloween House Decorating Contest 2023

By Justin Watrel

Halloween has come to Hasbrouck Heights and the Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association has picked the winners in the Third Annual Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association Halloween House Decorating Contest. We traveled every road in town both during the day and at night to find the best ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night on people’s lawns and houses, showing off the creativity of the residents of Hasbrouck Heights on Halloween night. The contest was under the direction of Chairman and Executive Board member Justin Watrel.

Justin Watrel, Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association Executive Board Member and Chairman of the Halloween House Decorating Contest.

The winners of the House Decorating Contest were Frank and Mary Rose Blunda at 510 Henry Street.

Frank Blunda with Chairman Justin Watrel, Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association.

The Blunda’s have been runner-up for the last two years and had ‘upped their game’ with new decorations and designing their lawn to be more of an ‘open haunted house.’

This year’s winner was 510 Henry Street. The Blunda’s upped their game this year after being runners up for the last two years.

The Blunda’s do not just decorate, their decorations invite you into the the display to admire and enjoy it.

When told they had won, Mrs. Blunda said, “I thought you were going to tell us we were runners up again” but the committee informed her and her husband, Frank, the master mind behind each year’s creative show, that they had won. “I added some extra things this year,” Frank Blunda said. “You should see the way we have lit the house at night. We have a lot of fun with this.” The Blunda’s have done an excellent job with decorating each year and have made the town proud with their creativity. It is an award well earned.

510 Henry Street at night

510 Henry Street in Hasbrouck Heights at night.

The Blunda’s decorations at night.

The two runners up this year were 36 Hamilton Avenue and 42 Central Avenue. The boarded-up windows and Mad Scientist display of the lawn at 36 Hamilton Avenue is the creative genius of residents Alex and Laura Pena.

Alex Pena in front of 26 Hamilton Avenue

“I love decorating the house for Halloween,” Alex Pena said. “This year I added more things to give it the look it has. I try to find a creative way to display all the skeletons and pieces I have.”

36 Hamilton Avenue was runner up in 2023.

36 Hamilton Avenue was looked like a haunted house.

The house has the appearance of a home abandoned except for the ghoulish residents on the lawn getting their final goodbyes. The walkways, roof and door awning were covered with skeletons welcoming you to this haunted abode.

The Mad Scientist display at 36 Hamilton Avenue.

The Chief of the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department Chief Joseph Rinke and his wife Lisa at 42 Central Avenue were the other runners-up in the contest. The roof and sides of the house have skeletons climbing and crawling their way into the house.

42 Central Avenue was another Runner up for the House decorating contest.

Ghosts and ghouls greet you from the walkway to the entrance of the house. When you enter, the entire house is decorated to the hilt with decorations in every room and even a spider display in the bathtub.

“Our daughter was born on Halloween so we like to entertain and have the house decorated for Halloween,” Lisa Rinke said of all the wonderful decorations around the house. “My husband spent a lot of time clasping skeletons around the house.” It showed in the way the skeleton army wanted to enter the home.

Joe and Lisa Rinke’s house at 42 Central Avenue had a skeleton army all over the house.

Chairman Justin Watrel with Joe and Lisa Rinke the Runners Up at 42 Central Avenue.

The Rinke family with their award.

The Merchants did their share of decorating along the Boulevard. This year’s winner for the Merchant category is the winner for the second year, Heights Flower Shoppe owner Ray Vorisek. Heights Flower Shoppe always does an excellent job not just with their windows but inside and outside the store as well.

Heights Flower Shoppe at 209 Boulevard won for the Second year in row.

Shoppers are greeted at 209 Boulevard with Mr. Pumpkin Head and various ghosts welcoming you into the story which was decorated to the hilt with interesting Halloween decorations, candy, and beautiful flowers to welcome guests to a Halloween feast.

Two time Merchant Division winner Ray Vorisek with Chairman Justin Watrel at Heights Flower Shoppe at 209 Boulevard.

https://www.heightsflowershoppe.com/

“I love decorating the store for the holidays,” Ray Vorisek said. “The staff and I have a lot of fun during the holidays.” We are so proud of Mr. Vorisek and his staff for the excellent job they do each year with all the holidays especially between Halloween and Christmas.

Owner of Heights Flower Shoppe owner Ray Vorisek in front of his award winning windows.

The inside of Heights Flower Shop at Halloween

The Runner Up this year was Mimi and Jose Rodriguez at Mimi’s VIP Pet Salon & Boutique at 444 Boulevard. Their creative display of a skeleton girl walking her skeleton dog was pure genius and built on the logo of the store.

Mimi’s VIP Pet Salon & Boutique at 444 Boulevard was the Runner up for the Merchant Window Decorating Contest.

https://www.facebook.com/mimisvipsalon/

“The logo is my wife walking her dog,” Jose Rodriguez said. “My wife built on that.” Mimi Rodriguez was just as surprised by being runner up. “We thought this was a great way to decorate the store for Halloween and we had fun with it.” It was a clever way to incorporate the logo of the store with the design of the windows.

Owner Mimi Rodriguez with Chairman Justin Watrel in front of her windows.

There were many great houses with Halloween decorations to choose from but we awarded Honorary Mention to 115 Ottawa Avenue for their continued creative decorations including the madman being electrocuted in the front yard and lavish displays by 82 Woodside Avenue and 253 Henry Street, both previous winners of the contest in 2022 and 2021 respectively.

Chairman Justin Watrel with Mimi’s VIP Pet Salon & Boutique owners Jose and Mimi Rodriguez in front of the their award winning window.

Winners Jose and Mimi Rodriguez in front of their business.

Owner Scott Varicario decorates to the hilt every year with ghosts, ghouls and witches and things that go bump in the night all over the lawn at 253 Henry Street. Things crawl, reach and grab while they climb up trees and cover the yard.

253 Henry Street was the winner in 2021 and Runner up in 2022 and 2023.

Owner Scott Varicario always does an excellent job with decorating his house.

253 Henry Street is an excellent display that shows the spirit of Halloween.

“I love decorating for Halloween,” Scott Varicario said when we handed him the Honorary Mention to his creative efforts.

253 Henry Street

Last year’s winners, Matt and Lisa Fiduccia at 82 Woodside Avenue also showed off their creative efforts with a display on their front yard that always changes and has creatures popping out from here and there. There is always a rivalry between these two winners to show their love of the Halloween spirit.

82 Woodside Avenue was the winner in 2022 and the Runner up in 2023.

82 Woodside Avenue in all it gory!

A special Honorary Runner Up was given to 115 Ottawa Avenue owner Dennis Hall for his excellent displays over the last two years. Mr. Hall was very touched by the Honorary Award and said, “I didn’t even finish decorating this year. There is a lot more I will add in the future.”

115 Ottawa Avenue (Special Honorary award)

Honorary Runners-Up and Honorary Mention to Dennis and Aidan Hall of 115 Ottawa Avenue.

The Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association wants to congratulate all the winners and the many homes that we visited. A special Honorary Mention to the following:

446 Burton Avenue

108 Central Avenue

237 Madison Avenue

417 Madison Avenue

308 Lawrence Avenue

84 Lawrence Avenue

116 Bell Avenue

123 Washington Place

103 Hamilton Avenue

103 Hamilton Avenue trees

94 Wood Street

143 Kipp Avenue

Bill O’Shea’s at 231 Boulevard windows at Halloween.

https://osheasflowers.com/

The inside of Bill O’Shea’s Florist at Halloween

Spindler’s Bake Shop at 247 Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights at Halloween.

https://www.facebook.com/spindlers.shop/

Spindler’s Bake Shop Halloween treats in 2023.

We want to thank everyone for their creative efforts of keeping the Halloween spirit alive and dead in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ in 2023.

Happy Halloween everyone from the Hasbrouck Heights Men’s Association!!