By Holly Ween, Scare Reporter

Halloween! I keep breaking out in the heebie-jeebies in excitement that my black cats have taken to perching on top of the gargoyles to save their tails! The kitties are right; safety is important. For my final report, I reached out to my ghoulishly good friends (can you guess who they are?) who have been haunting for centuries and they gave me these very smart tips to follow. Have a safe and frightingly good time this Halloween and I will scare you again next year! Now where did that pesky broom go …
For all our little Wednesdays and Pugsleys (younger children), we know the basics:
•Check to see masks, wigs and face makeup do not obstruct vision and costumes are fire-resistant.
•No realistic looking weapons or play weapons that can actually shoot a projectile.
•Those out after dark should have reflective tape on their costumes or have glow sticks/flashlights for visibility.
•All young ones should be accompanied by an adult.
For all Morticias and Gomezes (adults/parents) out there, here are some driving tips:
•Watch for children walking in/on the street and sidewalks. Hallow’s Eve kids tend to forget their traffic safety rules and dart out.
•When backing out of or turning into a driveway, check for children.
•When it gets really dark outside, watch for kids who may be wearing dark clothing and not looking out for cars.
For our Lurches and Uncle Festers (teens & young adults):
•If your teens are going out without an adult, make a plan and route so you know their whereabouts and agree on a specific time for them to return home or be picked up.
•Remind them to never enter a stranger’s home, leave the group they’re with or go door to door all alone.
•Be respectful of neighbors. While the urge to be a trickster is great, please don’t destroy property, decorations or smash pumpkins.
Finally, for all our Things and Kitty Kats out there (pets):
•Chocolate and candies can be toxic to pets. Be sure to keep candy out of pets’ reach
•Bring all pets indoors before the trick-or-treating begins. Outdoor pets can fall victim to Halloween pranks.
•Make sure pets have proper ID tags and are microchipped in case they get separated from their owners.
•If your pet is wary of strangers or people in costumes, keep your pet away from the front door and trick-or-treaters.
•Remind kiddos who know your pet that they are in costume and your pet does not recognize them and to approach them with caution; do not run to them as they normally do.

  Holly Ween