Village prepares for Halloween

On Wednesday, October 31st, Manchester will celebrate Halloween! Trick or treating runs from 5 to 7 pm in the Village. The Chamber of Commerce, with help of many community volunteers, will be handing out free caramel apples at the gazebo in Wurster Park on Main Street, and the Manchester Lions Club will offer pumpkin bowling nearby. The Friends of the Manchester District Library will also be near the gazebo handing out books and treats. New this year, the Shoppes of Alber Mill on Adrian Street will be holding a costume contest for kids 10 & under from 4:30-5 pm. From 5 to 7 pm, along with trick-or-treating, there will be bobbing for donuts and spooky "Guess What it Is." At 7:30 pm, they are holding a costume contest for all ages.

To ensure this Halloween is safe for your children, the Sheriff Dept. has offered the following safety tips:

▪ Costumes should be short enough to prevent tripping. Masks should not be too restrictive with adequate holes for proper respiration and peripheral vision. Consider using cosmetics to create fun or scary faces instead of masks.

▪ Watch costumed children around pets. The pet may not recognize the child and become frightened, especially if the child is using a prop such as a sword or dagger as part of their costume.

▪ Avoid hard plastic or wooden props, opting instead for items made of foam rubber which is soft and flexible.

▪ To help make the child more visible after dark, trick-or-treaters should carry a brightly colored bag and a flashlight or glow stick. Add reflective tape to the sides, front, and back of the child’s costume.

▪ At all times, watch for traffic and avoid walking in the street whenever possible.

▪ An adult should always accompany young children. A parent should stay within close range of young children at all times and children should never be allowed to go down a street alone. Walk with your children to each house and wait near the porch or front entrance of the home until they return.

▪ Older children should travel in pairs or in groups at all times while trick-or- treating and never venture down a dark, empty street.

▪ Parents should know the route that their children are following. Children should always walk together to the front door of each house and only cross the street at crosswalks.

▪ Dark, unlit homes should be avoided.

▪ Children should save their candy until they get home so you can inspect it. Discard any unwrapped or suspicious looking goodies. If your child does get sick, call your family doctor or the hospital emergency room immediately and save all wrappers. It is also helpful to determine what he or she ate and which house it came from.

▪ Keep flammable items, such as your jack-o-lantern, away from small children, pets, and flammable materials such as draperies, furniture, and paper decorations. Never leave a candle burning unattended.

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.