BIA nixes ‘Scott Street Scare’

FORT FRANCES—After considering input from the public and taking a membership poll, the local Business Improvement Association has opted not to head up the annual “Scott Street Scare” this Hallowe’en.
The decision was made at a board meeting Wednesday after former organizer and Masquerade owner Sandra McNay had contacted the BIA to inform them that she would not be co-ordinating the event this Oct. 31.
“The Downtown Scott Street BIA board of management would like to thank Sandra McNay for her many years of commitment to the ‘Scott Street Scare,’” read a BIA press release issued Thursday.
“We are sorry she will not be able to continue organizing the event, as it was very well-received for many years,” it added.
“However, due to our membership poll and replies received, the BIA has decided to not assume responsibility of taking over the event,” it continued.
“Some downtown businesses will still have treats for those children venturing downtown on Hallowe’en. However, the street will not be closed to traffic.
“The BIA board of management wishes everyone a very safe and happy Hallowe’en,” the release concluded.
In an interview Thursday, McNay said she was “very disappointed they [the BIA] don’t want to do it.”
“I think it [the ‘Scott Street Scare’] was great for the kids,” she remarked. “Door-to-door trick-or-treating isn’t what it used to be. It’s not safe anymore.”
McNay noted given this turn of events, she’d likely lend her experience to any group effort to keep the “Scott Street Scare” alive.
“I would have assisted them [the BIA] in doing it,” she said. “If a couple of people would step forward, and maybe help me, I would consider doing it. But I’m not doing it myself.
“If there’s somebody to join forces with me—a club, an organization—I’m willing to do something,” she noted. “But I can’t do ‘Scott Street Scare’ by myself anymore. I need help.”
Any group or organization seriously interested in taking over the “Scott Street Scare” is encouraged to call McNay at 274-9673.
McNay, who was involved with the “Scott Street Scare” since its inception in 1998, said the reason why she didn’t spearhead it this year wasn’t necessarily because she no longer had a storefront on Scott Street (Masquerade closed this past summer).
Rather, it was because she didn’t have enough time to do it alone—not to mention she now has an infant daughter to take care of.
The fact she doesn’t have a store to keep the large quantities of donated candy for the event, or act as a drop-off location for donations, is another reason, she added.
“I don’t have a store at all. They would have to drop it off at my house, which would be inconvenient,” said McNay.
As first reported in last Friday’s Daily Bulletin, there also will be no Hallowe’en trailer at the McDonald’s parking lot this Oct. 31.
This event, which ran about the same number of years as the “Scott Street Scare,” had been co-ordinated by Doug Kitowski Trucking.
It regularly drew around 1,000 trick-or-treaters, who got treats donated by numerous businesses, particularly those located in the west and north ends of town.
(Fort Frances Daily Bulletin)