Trick-or-treat dates a dilemma
By Patrick Cooley, pcooley@mariettatimes.comArticle Photos
Fact Box
Trick or treat times
Area communities will be holding trick or treat at the following times. Communities whose trick or treat times are not listed should call 376-5445, fax 376-5475, or e-mail news@mariettatimes.com, to be added to this list.
Saturday, Oct. 25
6:30 to 8 p.m. Marietta, Williamstown
Tuesday, Oct. 28
5:30 p.m. St. Marys, W.Va. (parade at 7 p.m.)
Thursday, Oct. 30
6:30 to 8 p.m. Beverly
6:30 to 8 p.m., Palmer Township.
Friday, Oct. 31
6 to 7:30 p.m. New Matamoras
More, Page E1: Tips on customizing costumes.
Halloween is seldom the day municipalities designate for trick-or-treating; the preferred date varies from city to city and person to person.
Marietta resident Sue Cisar, mother of 4-year-old Elena, said tradition should dictate when the trick-or-treating takes place.
"It should be as close to the holiday as possible," she said. "Halloween is on a Friday this year, so they should trick or treat on Friday."
Karen Weaver, a Marietta resident who spoke in front of City Council after a proposal had been put forward to coordinate the even with surrounding communities, said she believed trick-or-treating should remain on a Saturday.
Council President Paul Bertram said the idea would have required Marietta to hold its trick-or-treating on Thursday.
Marietta's trick-or-treating is set by an ordinance stating it will always be the Saturday before Oct. 31.
"So many people make it more than just a trick or treat," Bertram said. "Sometimes there are parties for the kids and it becomes a family outing.
"On weekday nights, there is football, soccer, tennis, and if you're a parent trying to get your kids to the different places, trick-or-treating is difficult," he said.
Marietta Mayor Michael Mullen said he was in favor of coordinating trick-or-treating with other cities because it would have lessened incidents of children going to other towns or coming to Marietta to trick or treat.
"There was the conjecture that this was not for the neighborhood kids anymore," he said. "The effort was made so that Belpre kids would go to Belpre and Marietta kids would go to Marietta."
Mullen said much of the public feedback he got was in favor of having surrounding communities coordinate their trick-or-treat day, but Bertram said most of the feedback council got said the opposite.
"The council decided it was not a priority (to change the ordinance)," Bertram said.
Williamstown Mayor Jean Ford said her city always has their trick-or-treating on the same day as Marietta to prevent so-called "double dipping."
"There were complaints that kids would be here one night and in some other town the other night," she said. "We have had ours on the same night as Marietta for years, and we don't have a problem with double dipping when we do that."
Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said having trick-or-treating on different days might make it easier for his department to cover as many areas as they can.
"We have a vehicle out there with lights on for every trick or treat," he said.
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ladynoogs
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10-14-08 12:24 PM
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telefonica.. thats what i thought in 1995 when i left for college swearing i would NEVER live in the MOV again... four years later i came home realizing that there is "no place like home' to use a cliche. I brought my husband home too. Course i have a wonderful family here and i was homesick.. but when i came home thats when i realized this area had much more to offer than i ever realized as a teenager. Course.. i went to college in a middlesized city in TN. Sure big cities have more things to do... but there is nothing wrong with the MOV other than some closeminded folks and way to many bars and churches :)
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telefonica
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10-12-08 10:30 PM
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The young people have left the area. Why would they stay in Mid-Ohio Valley when other areas offer so much more.
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NasCarNut
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10-12-08 8:39 PM
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the word they blocked in my post was come...??
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NasCarNut
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10-12-08 8:34 PM
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Beggers Night should be on the 31st...no matter what day of the week it falls on...no brainer...why is everything so complicated in this city?? we need younger people to start running for city positions..****e on young adults where are you??
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NoelTyler
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10-12-08 7:59 PM
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I can't believe there's an article about "double-dipping," trick or treat nights. Maybe the old chief from MC will volunteer to help the sheriff watch the kids, as I guess he's got some experience in the double dipping department.
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peppie
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10-12-08 7:42 PM
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Halloween is a time for the children to dress up in costumes and have some fun. They should have parents with them and stick to neighborhoods they are familiar with. Let's make it a safe and happy time for the little ones.
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Whitetop1
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10-12-08 6:41 PM
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ramon05...You should be ashamed of yourself, giving away junk. I prefer to give away apples, they help to keep the kids' teeth stay healthy! Who cares what night it is, as long as the kids have fun and they are home before dark.
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Marietta1788
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10-12-08 4:14 AM
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Why do the communities of Washington County go against using the traditional date of October 31st? The rest of the country doesn't change the night of trick-or-treat.
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ladynoogs
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10-11-08 9:56 PM
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lol bittersweet!
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Bittersweet
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10-11-08 7:33 PM
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double dipping...lol...what will they think up next.
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Bittersweet
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10-11-08 7:32 PM
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if your that scared stay home turn out your lights and hide in your bedroom (if you have one) that way you can save that hand full of penny candy from last year.
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Bittersweet
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10-11-08 7:30 PM
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the other towns are extremly scared about "double dipping" whooaa we wouldn't want kids to have to much fun would we? quit being so cheap go to your local dollar store and by a $100 worth and pass it out and quit crying and being scared. :)
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Bittersweet
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10-11-08 7:25 PM
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wow....just read all the whining about a bag of penny candy!! Everyone is so scared that they will miss out on a hand full of candy....thats what you get when you leave a yearly event in the hands of the council and that guy the mayor....I'll bet he will have his bag ready.
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ladynoogs
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10-11-08 2:53 PM
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what happened to actaully having it ON halloween no matter what day of the week? My kids are teens so they'd rather stay home and watch horror flicks and use thier allowence to buy the junk. Me, i'm gonna go to a grownup party and that'll be my one night AWAY from the kids ALL YEAR. thank God for my parents who still think Halloween is evil, they can keep an ear on them nextdoor.
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Jasmine
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10-11-08 1:05 PM
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We need to leave this on a weekend. The number on reason is that many kids would miss out because of having to be in a routine for homework, dinner and bed. Not to mention other sports/arts activities. At least on Sat, there isn't the rush to need to be in bed for school the next day.
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MINNie101
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10-11-08 12:58 PM
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Anyone know when Belpre is having theres?
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GOBUCKS
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10-11-08 11:14 AM
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When your young and have no money you try to get any candy you can without stealing it. Maybe that's not right but consider the other option.
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GettaGottaGood
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10-11-08 9:21 AM
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I know of a few families that travel to certain neighborhoods to get "better" candy. Trick-or-treat was one of my greatest memories as a child. However, it was done in my own neighborhood. WHen I pass out candy, I never see the parents with the children. Or, if they are with the children, they are driving along in their cars. I figure that if they are that creative to go to 3 different towns then they must really need the candy. When you stop and think of it, their the ones who will suffer more candy = a lot of hyper kids!. Actually, it will probably be their teachers at school the next day. Dentists love this holiday....give out lots of Laffy Taffy!
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Soccermom
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10-11-08 7:59 AM
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All these days and times are great. Does anybody know a day or time for Lowell?
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ramon05
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10-11-08 7:43 AM
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Halloween is a good night to get rid of alot of junk in the house. I just blame it on the rowdy kids down the street
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mariettasunshine
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10-11-08 7:03 AM
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Thanks to Mayor Ford for recognizing the value of one night for all. Please stop the confusion and work together to have one evening for all communities.
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commetsatlarge
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10-11-08 6:40 AM
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Deputies do a nice job, but only a few are on the road outside of Marietta at any one time. They can't be everywhere out in the county. Most opinions we have heard favor one night for everyone, as kids roaming various neighborhoods and out in all the rural areas for a week long period causes problems for all.
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