Over the years, we received two awards. The first, in 2001, was from the City Council (see below). The second was a 2005 NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR award from the Mt. Airy Neighborhood Association. It cited our “35 years of sponsoring free Halloween festivities for the children and families of the community.
THE TEXT OF THE RESOLUTION:
WHEREAS, In I968, Jay and Elsa Efran turned the hallway of their Rochester, New York home into a witch’s cave for a Halloween party. The decorations were such a hit and attracted so much attention that the Efrans extended the length of time that they kept them up. By the next year, such fanfare over the decorations had been generated that, even without a party, people came by to see that year’s display; and
WHEREAS, The tradition continued with the Efrans’ move to Philadelphia in I97I. As the years passed, the productions became more elaborate and have now evolved into little vignettes with a cast, plot, magic and special effects. As the productions’ popularity grew, a “preview night” on the 30th of October was instituted to accommodate the productions’ popularity among both trick-or-treaters and other visitors; and
WHEREAS, Last year’s production, assisted by an energetic volunteer force that includes other family members and friends, surpassed others by managing to cram in more than ten effects, including appearances, disappearances, an opening wall and bursting flames for the enjoyment of a record 6 I4 people; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby commend the Efrans for their efforts in orchestrating Halloween Productions that has captivated both young and old for over thirty years. Council further recognizes that what once was a small event has now blossomed into one whose proportions have steadily outgrown Halloween night alone and is being passed on to a new generation of children whose parents experienced the same magic earlier in their lives.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Jay and Elsa Efran further evidence of the sincere respect and deep admiration of this legislative body.
CERTIFICATION: This is a true and correct copy of the original Resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Philadelphia on the twenty-fifth day of October, 2001
Introduced by: Donna Reed Miller and Blondell Reynolds Brown
Sponsored by Councilmembers
Donna Reed Miller
Blondell Reynolds Brown
Jannie L. Blackwell
Darrell L. Clarke
David Cohen
Frank DiCicco
W. Wilson Goode, Jr.
James F. Kenney
W. Thacher Longstreth
Richard T. Mariano
Michael A. Nutter
Angel L. Ortiz
Frank Rizzo
Marian B. Tasco