NJ Town Cracking Down On Christmas Light Display, Owner Says

There's little Christmas joy this year in a New Jersey town where residents are upset about the community's attempts to crack down on a popular annual holiday light display that attracts many visitors to their neighborhood.

Thomas Apruzzi and his wife, Kris, who have been putting on the light show in Old Bridge for about 15 years, were even called to police headquarters Monday to address the township's issues, according to a GoFundMe page that was set up to help pay for the family's expenses.

Mayor Owen Henry and Chief William Volkert informed the couple they would need to pay the police department $2,000 per night for coverage. They would also be required to shuttle people in from the local school – at a cost of about $1,000 per night – to see the display, according to the GoFundMe page.

Efforts to obtain comment from Henry and Volkert were not immediately successful.

"We thought we were going to work on arrangements," Apruzzi, who has been living in the township for more than 44 years, told mycentraljersey.com about what he thought the meeting was supposed to be about. "But instead they said I have to pay the police department $2,000 a night to have police officers at my house to maintain order.

Apruzzi, citing the issue as his "First Amendment right" and that he believes "very much in Christmas," remains defiant and says he responded to the mayor and chief's demands by telling them: "That's not going to happen," according to mycentraljersey.com. "My Christmas lights are going on."

Though the display is popular, some residents have complained in recent years about the lights and the fact that it attracts a fair amount of car and foot traffic to the area. Police have even provided assistance to the neighborhood as it deals with the cars traveling slowly through the area.

The Apruzzi family have even found themselves on television, and they've been applauded for their involvement with “Homes For Our Troops,” a charitable organization known for helping our military veterans rebuild their lives, according to the GoFundMe page.

In 2014, the Apruzzi family was selected to compete in the ABC Great Christmas Light Fight. After they were asked to compete on the ABC Great Christmas Light fight for the 2019 season, the Apruzzi family declined, saying it may attract too much foot traffic each night, accoding to the GoFundMe page.

"It is the foot traffic that has stirred up some of the Scrooges which have collaborated with local government officials behind closed doors in an attempt to shut down the show," according to the page, which was put together by Roger Aubuchon, who knows the family.

On Nov. 19, the Apruzzi family, along with about 100 other local residents, met with City Council to get approval to proceed with the traditional light display "that so many have come to enjoy over the years; they received a unanimous vote to proceed," Aubuchon said.

"As the holiday week progressed, a few influential residents were able to persuade the mayor and chief of police to set unrealistic monetary stipulations on the family,"' Aubuchon said.

Meanwhile, what's known as the T&A Sprinklers Light Show is scheduled to kick off Saturday Dec. 1, according to the GoFundMe page.

"The Apruzzi family is so passionate about sharing their light show and dedicated to continuing the annual traditions for their neighbors as well as Homes For Our Troops," according to the Aubuchon's GoFundMe page, noting that "Thomas is determined to fund the first couple nights out of his own pocket."

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch