How Halloween displays can impact your neighbourhood

Nate Taylor standing in front of his Halloween decorations. Picture: Supplied The online ad was just three words: Free Halloween decorations. That was all Nate Taylor, 49, a part-time DJ and stay-at-home dad needed. He met the woman giving away a collection spanning 20 years. “Really? You want us to take this?” he asked. She was downsizing due to a recent divorced, so the answer was a resounding yes. It took Taylor three trips in his truck to transport the animatronics and other decorations back home. He then set to work making a plan to display as much as possible in front of his home with a 40-foot-wide yard. Most of the decor wasn’t really weatherproof, so Taylor had to construct a makeshift tarp, anchored by a sizeable branch of a big tree in the yard. He was so proud of what he had outside his home in Traverse City, Michigan, in 2017 and he invited passers-by and neighbours to enjoy the display — and he had a decent turnout. Being located close to Munson Medical, the city’s biggest hospital, many visitors who stopped by had family members in the hospital. As the display leaned more toward whimsical, not scary, it was a welcomed respite. The 49-year-old dad added a donation box...