Copyright Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — For the eighth year in a row, the Marsh family of Westerleigh has taken Halloween as an opportunity to celebrate Staten Island — and this year, their three young children — Callen, 8, Carrick, 6, and Camby, 3, set sail as Staten Island ferries. What began as a creative way to showcase borough pride has turned into a beloved family tradition for parents Bree Driscoll and her husband, Keith Marsh, who each year dream up costumes that pay tribute to local landmarks, icons, and culture. “So this is the eighth year that we have done a Staten Island–themed costume,” said Driscoll. “They have been Staten Island turkeys, Wu-Tang fans, and two years ago they were the Verrazzano Bridge.” This year’s theme — three Staten Island ferries, Alice Austen, Spirit of New York, and S.I. Newhouse — was a hit with both neighbors and social media followers. Driscoll, who works in journalism, said the creative process starts well before October. “Coming up with the idea probably took the longest,” she said. “Once I had the vision, it was pretty easy to execute.” Each of the Marsh children added their own flair to the tradition. Three-year-old Camby Marsh dressed as Staten Island photographer Alice Austen, one of the borough’s most beloved historical figures. “It is actually a wicked witch costume dress and just her toy camera,” Driscoll explained. “She was just happy to play with her toy camera.” Six-year-old Carrick Marsh embraced a patriotic twist, dressing as Uncle Sam. “Carrick was thrilled to dress up as America,” Driscoll said with a laugh. “His is just an Uncle Sam costume minus the beard.” Eight-year-old Callen Marsh took a more academic route — paying tribute to S.I. Newhouse, the publishing magnate and longtime supporter of journalism. The Staten Island Advance/SILive.com is owned by Advance Publications, the media company founded by Samuel I. Newhouse, Sr. Notably, Advance Publications owns several major magazines through its subsidiary Condé Nast, including Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, GQ, Wired, Bon Appétit, Architectural Digest and Allure. Though Callen opted for a Dog Man outfit for trick-or-treating, Driscoll found a way to make his costume meaningful. “We did talk about him and how he was a huge success in publishing and supported journalism, which is what mom does,” she said. “We went to Barnes & Noble to get the specific Advance Publications magazines. It was just his communion suit and a wig.” The Staten Island–themed costumes have garnered plenty of attention over the years — both from neighbors and online followers, including a repost from the social media account of the Staten Island Zoo. “Over the years, people on social media have really enjoyed the costumes,” Driscoll said. “I feel like it is nice to show off borough pride on social media and on NY1, so I really like to continue the tradition.” Whether it’s bridges, borough icons, or ferries, the Marsh family’s Halloween spirit continues to celebrate what makes Staten Island unique — one uniques and adorable costume at a time.
