THEME: BRIDGE gives meaning to the words on either side of a block
GOOD ONES: Apt word to substitute…{theme} BRIDGE
Creepy thing MOSS
New Deal initials FDR [not WPA, NRA, or TVA as I first thought missing the obvious]
Squealer with a tail or tale RAT
TV cousin ITT [naturally I thought something electronic, not a character from "The Munsters"]
BTW: Valedictorian's nightmare EFF [Wrong!
B is the nightmare;
F is not even dreamed of]
Tip DOFF [DOFF means to remove; Tip means to adjust one's hat instead of removing it to show respect]
NOODGES is another of many words of Yiddish origin used in speech mainly by Jewish New Yorkers or those who grew up there.
Nosh is another.
RATING:

Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun