School Officials Call for Snow Day on Halloween

Story updated at 4 p.m.

Halloween will be a snow day for private and public schools in the Caldwells and has canceled classes thanks to power outages caused by a rare October snowstorm that dumped 6 to 12 inches of snow in the area. 

Caldwell-West Caldwell Schools, North Caldwell Schools, West Essex Regional Schools,  and have all announced that schools will be closed on Oct. 31.

Residents of the Caldwells, many without power, spent the day digging out and removing fallen branches from their properties and town roads. Travel was tricky with roads blocked off due to downed trees, branches and power lines. Streetlights around West Caldwell were also out, and many businesses were unable to open without power. Some like the 7-Eleven and Walgreen's in West Caldwell reportedly managed to do some business even without electricity.

Mario Bifalco, director of Public Works for Caldwell, said wires and tree limbs were down all around town. Crews have been working since Saturday morning to clear roads but more work was still to be done, Bifalco said. He said he was not aware of any major damages to any houses from trees. Westville Avenue was closed on Sunday from Jackson to Cherry Lane due to a downed tree. 

An estimated 85 percent of North Caldwell residents were without power Sunday morning with about 30 roads rendered impassable, according to North Caldwell Police Chief Mark Deuer.

An update from PSE&G to customers in hard-hit Essex and Bergen counties states power might not fully be restored in those areas until Wednesday.

West Greenbrook Road near was impassable Sunday morning, according to Deuer, who said live wires were lying across the road. Fox Run was also blocked with a stretch of 300 yards littered with fallen trees and tree limbs. Two trees down at Meadlow Lane, a cul-de-sac, were blocking the entrance.

The North Caldwell Dept. of Public Works had been out clearing roads since Saturday and police were assisting with removing trees.

An estimated 12 inches of snow fell in North Caldwell, according to NOAA.gov.

The storm left the police without radio communication for about 90 minutes on Saturday when back up batteries at the department's radio tower crashed. Officers used their cell phones during the brief down period.

“We have more damage from this than we did from the Hurricane [Irene],” Deuer said. He advised residents to stay home Sunday.

Deuer reported four accidents due to the storm, but none with serious injuries.

Widespread power outages in the Caldwells Sunday extended to more than just residences.

The on Passaic Avenue had no power and was closed on what would normally be a busy Sunday morning.

The store was taking measures to ensure food safety, according to a store manager, who declined to get more specific. He said it could be more than a day before power is restored according to PSE&G.

The adjacent West Caldwell Plaza, which includes CVS, TJ Maxx, Starbucks and other retailers, was also without power. The Dunkin’ Donuts in the strip mall across the street was also closed.

Area residents scrambling for a cup of coffee formed a 20-minute line circling half of the in West Caldwell on Sunday morning.

Nearby on Bloomfield Avenue had power and was feeling the influx of customers from ShopRite being closed. “Everybody’s here,” an employee said on the phone Sunday morning.