York Town News
Local police urge caution in making sure Halloween is fun and safe
GETTING INTO THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT FOR A GOOD CAUSE. Emily Bird and Grace Bettinson, two members of York Brownie Girl Scout Troop 1100, took a break to show off their pumpkin-carving skills during last week's pumpkin event at Kittery Trading Post to benefit Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families located in Casco. Troop 1100 was one of several local groups that took part in the effort to decorate pumpkins for children who will be spending the Halloween holiday in the hospital, while raising funds for Camp Sunshine.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - The York Police Department will be adding extra patrols for this year's Halloween holiday.
Foot officers, mountain bikes and unmarked patrol units will be added to insure the safety of children throughout the community. York police are asking the community to help make this a safe time by watching out for each other and reporting any suspicious or unsafe activities to police immediately.
The town will observe the annual Halloween trick-or-treat night not on Halloween itself but on Monday, Oct. 30, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the York Police Department has recommended safety tips to make sure this year's Halloween festivities are safe ones.
Children should be accompanied by a parent, older sibling or other responsible person while trick-or-treating. If a child cannot be accompanied by a family member or other trusted adult, they should join a group of trick-or-treaters they know. Children should travel in familiar areas and along an established, well-lit routes that are planned in advance so that parents know what streets their children will be on.
Trick-or-treaters should only visit homes with porch or outside lights on, and homeowners should remove obstacles such as tools, ladders and children's toys from steps, lawns and front porches to prevent accidents. Children should carry flashlights, and costume masks, if worn, should fit securely and have eyeholes that are large enough to allow full vision. Costumes should also be shortened to reduce the risk of tripping, and children should only carry flexible or soft props, not devices that could cause injuries.
To prevent traffic injuries, decorate costumes with reflective tape and use Halloween costumes that are light or bright to make them more visible. It is particularly important to remind children to practice traffic safety: stop at the corners, look left and right before crossing and don't dart out between parked cars.
Motorists driving on Halloween, including those who are chauffeuring children around neighborhoods, also need to take precautions. Police are urging motorists to slow down, obey all traffic signals, watch for children walking in the street or on medians and curbs and enter and exit driveways carefully.
Police are also encouraging parents to consider a Halloween party as an alternative to the traditional trick-or-treat night. York Parks and Recreation will again be hosting its Costume Parade and Halloween Hop this Friday, Oct. 27. The parade will depart from Town Hall at 4:30 p.m., ending at the York Public Library, where there will be more Halloween events and music. The York Police Department supports this type of activity because it is a safe way for children of all ages to have fun as a community.
For more on this year's Halloween party, visit www.yorkmaine.org and follow the links to the York Parks and Recreation Department.
