Clifton dentist's annual elaborate Halloween display cited by city for code violations
Dr. Wayne Gangi is not your typical neighborhood dentist. Each year, for the past quarter century, he turns his corner property just off Route 3 into a creation straight from the mind of Tim Burton.
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A Clifton man says he's had enough of the city cracking down on his Halloween display after receiving two violation notices and a ticket, requiring him to appear in court.
Dr. Wayne Gangi is not your typical neighborhood dentist. Each year, for the past quarter century, he turns his corner property just off Route 3 into a creation straight from the mind of Tim Burton.
"My staff was served with the violations. I received two violations. And one ticket," said Dr. Gangi.
James Joanow helped put hundreds of skeletons together for the display – but that's not what the city took offense to.
"Me and a group of people were here over a decade and over that decade we did lighting, wiring, decorations, acting. We've done it all here," said Joanow.
"I traditionally have lights on the side of the trees on that side of the property for at least 10 years and suddenly they became an issue," said Dr. Gangi.
Dr. Gangi says the city fined him for having corn stalks on the side of the sidewalk lined up in a row. He also says he was given a ticket for having electric cords with lights wrapped around a tree. Over the years, those light strands carved lines into the bark.
The doctor says the stalks were put up to stop children from running into the street by the home.
The city manager did not want to talk on camera but confirmed with News 12 that the tickets were for decorating the public right-of-way. A photo shared with News 12 shows what Dr. Gangi's display looked like in 2020 with no violations.
The doctor says his patience - and time - are running thin despite the joy the decorations bring to neighborhood children and thousands of dollars raised in donations for St. Jude.
"Sometimes it's not worth the struggle because it's about my time and the availability of my time and I'm running out of time to keep it going. I've got to reverse what happened, and I don't know if I can physically do it," said Dr. Gangi.
Dr. Gangi removed the corn stalks and lights once he received the violations. As far as the remaining decorations to put up, he's unsure if he'll continue.
"I'm only hoping the traditions created for you people in the past continue, but I'm not so sure I can pull it off this year."
