Halloween

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By Diane Forrest

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Today is Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve as it is referred to in other parts of the world.  Tonight is the night when kids dress up in costumes and go door to door shouting out trick or treat?  This was one of my husband's favorite holidays.  He loved sitting at the door with his dog Snoopy by his side handing out candy to all who came.  If they were extra cute, he would always give them more candy.  In fact every year we would run out of candy, and I would run get some more, only to come back home and get no more children.  But luckily, the candy never went to waste!  When my husband became bedridden, I would open the door so he had a direct site to the front door, and was able to see the kids in their costume.  In fact, the last picture I took of him was on Halloween, wearing his devil horns.  He passed away 10 days later.

Halloween is celebrated with haunted houses, church festivals, family parties with apple bobbing  popcorn balls and candy apples. It is also a night of mischief and many "tricks" are played.  This year appears to be a messy night with the bad weather in the Eastern parts of the country.  Hurricane Sandy is already providing the Tricks.  Check back to the article on Halloween safety, and be sure to stay warm and dry tonight.

Happy Halloween!

National Candy Corn Day

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By Terry Orr

Talk about your SUGAR HIGH – for generations, kids have been getting that high from these tasty morsels.  They are so small – it is difficult to pass up getting a few sitting in your candy dish.

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According to Punchbowl.com - Did you know that candy corn has been around for more than 100 years and has never changed its look, taste, or design?

George Renninger of the Wunderle Candy Company created candy corn in the 1880s. It was made to mimic a kernel of corn and became instantly popular because of its innovative design. It was one of the first candies to feature three different colors!

For those Chocolate Lovers
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And according to Wikipedia -Candy corn is made primarily from sugar, corn syrup, wax, artificial coloring and binders.[2] A serving of Brach's Candy Corn consists of nineteen pieces, and contains 140 calories and zero grams of fat.  The top branded retailer of candy corn, Brach's, sells enough candy corn each year to circle the earth 4.25 times if the kernels were laid end to end.

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All of my grandchildren, nieces and nephews love Candy Corn – so we keep a good supply on hand, especially around Halloween time.

Halloween Safety Month

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By Diane Forrest

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.  I mean you can't dress up in silly costumes and get free candy on Thanksgiving or the 4th of July.  I remember the first time I was allowed to go out without my parents.  I went with several friends around my neighborhood, and then caused a little mischief with some toilet paper.  Almost got caught by the police that scared me into a life free from crime.  After we scored all the candy we could carry, we went to a midnight showing of a Dracula movie, which scared me to a life free from horror movies!!  That was the best Halloween ever, by the next Halloween we had moved to a different city, and I was stuck at home dishing out the candy.

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These days a night out trick or treating can be hazardous enough without a horror flick, and there are a few tips that you need to know and share to remain safe throughout the evening. These include:

FOR KIDS

• First and foremost, always only go to the houses that you know, make sure the candy is wrapped, and take it to the hospital for x-rays.
• Be careful crossing the street, cross at the light, or stop signs, and make sure that your costume don't hinder you movement or vision
• Be alert for barking  or loose dogs, do not try to make friends with them.
• Pay attention to your curfew and obey the rules set by your parents.  If you are able to drive, make sure you have plenty of gas so you don't get stranded.

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FOR ADULTS

• Check your city's sex offender website, and make sure you keep your kids away from those areas
• If your kids are old enough to go out alone, make sure you know what route they will be taking and have them call or text every hour with their location.  Have them go with friends, and not alone.
• Have a filling meal before they head out, so they won't be tempted to eat any candy before you can check it.
• Explain the laws about vandalism, and animal cruelty, and the consequence of each
• Make sure they know how to cross the street properly, and to not get in a car with strangers.
• Halloween can be a fun happy time for you and your children to share.  
• Make sure you take proper precautions for safety, and enjoy the fun of the night.  

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For more safety tips, view this website:  http://www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_kids.html

10/31 Ghosts, Goblins and Spooks

By Diane Forrest,

I can't remember any Halloween costume I wore grow up as a kid.  I guess because back then they were these ugly little things you stepped into and they tied in the neck in the back.  I do remember the candy though; I mean who can forget free chocolate?   I do remember my son's costumes though, because I made each one.  He was a pumpkin one year, a clown, Peter Pan, and Dracula.  His last year he was a mime, but he could never master the not talking part.

At my church, we celebrate a family festival.  This is a fun safe place to take kids and play little games to win prizes and candy.  There are several different booths, a cake walk, hay ride, candy apples and everything in between.  This year they are going to perform little skits along the path of the hay ride, should be an exciting time.

Another fun activity during Halloween is visiting a haunted house.  Many organizations will decorate an abandoned home and charge admission for you to walk through and have the devil scared out of you.  Many area business will offer candy to dressed up youngsters, and some restaurants will offer free or discounted hot dogs and burgers on Halloween night.  Have you ever wondered how Halloween got started?

During the 10th and 11th century the Catholic Church in Scotland began to practice All Hallows Day (Also known as All Saint's Day or Hallowmas) on November 1. The tradition is to light candles and visit the graves of deceased relatives.  The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve. The people would gather in front of a blessed bonfire and would sing, dance and listen to the stories that were told during the celebration. At the end of the evening, each person would take some of the bonfire home to relight their heart fire in hopes of ensuring good fortune to their home and family for the coming year. It is said that if your hearth fire would not light from the sacred bonfire, misfortune, even death, would befall someone in the house that very year.

By the 19th century, most of the religious aspects of the Halloween celebration had dwindled away and it was mostly a secular holiday, a gathering of community with only some of the remnants of the past clinging to it like the cobwebs of a haunted house. People would still dress up in costume, but less for the original reason of confusing the dead and more for just plain entertainment and fun.

Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy or sometimes money, with the question, "Trick or treat?" The word "trick" refers to a (mostly idle) "threat" to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. In some parts of Scotland children still go guising. In this custom the child performs some sort of trick, i.e. sings a song or tells a ghost story, to earn their treats

Beware of the ghosts, goblins and spooks that are lurking in your neighborhood tonight, make sure you have plenty of candy on hand, so you won't get any tricks played on you. 

We hope you have a safe and successful Halloween!

Halloween Safety Month

By Diane Forrest,

If you go down to the woods today

You're sure of a big surprise

If you go down to the woods today

You better go in disguise

This was from a song that was written in the 1930's.  I remember it from an old black and white cartoon with I think Felix the cat?  Not sure about that, but the song is called Teddy Bear's Picnic.  The cartoon showed this cat carrying a jack-o-lantern walking through the woods.  His knees were shaking; the trees had come alive, and were watching him, for a little girl, that was pretty scary.

Of course the world was simpler back then.  We didn’t have the fears that lurk today.  Going out on Halloween night was a fun occasion.  We would dress up in our costumes, and were only allowed to go our street.  Nearly every house participated in handing out treats to the witches and ghosts, and we were never afraid of what would be in our bags.  Well except from the stomach ache from eating as much as we could.  The world is a little bigger now, and there are some necessary precautions that you need to know to be able to have a safe, happy Halloween.  I have listed them below:

• Always use common sense;
• Young children should always go trick-or-treating with an adult;
• Never trick-or-treat alone. Have at least 2 buddies go with you;
• Plan your entire route and make sure your family knows what it is;
• Make sure that you are wearing a flame retardant costume;
• Wait until you get home and your parents check your candy before you eat it;
• Be very cautious of strangers;
• Accept treats only in the doorway. Never go inside a house;
• Be sure and say thank you for your treats;
• Don't play near lit jack-o-lanterns;
• Visit only houses where the lights are on;
• Walk, Do not run;
• Walk on sidewalks and driveways;
• Cross the street at the corner or in a crosswalk;
• Take a cellular phone and watch with you if possible;
• Carry a flashlight;
• Wear costumes with reflective markings, and bright colors;
• Costumes should not drag the floor; and
• Costumes should be made of flame-resistant material.

These days many area schools and churches and even malls host Halloween events to keep Halloween fun and safe for families.  This year have a wonderful night of making memories with your children, but remember to be alert and stay safe!

Happy Halloween!