Trick or Trunk in Point Boro Monday Night

Hey, all you parents out there! Are your kids itching to get into their Halloween costumes? Are they asking you every day when they'll be able to trick or treat and get their hands on that candy?

Well, police to the rescue! Now you don't have to keep telling them to wait for Halloween! Point Borough police and the Borough Community Watch group are hosting a "Trick or Trunk" for children at 7 p.m. Monday at Borough Hall on Bridge Avenue.

The event will begin with a brief talk about Halloween safety by Detective Michelle A. Hill, followed by a costume contest, prizes, and then a "Trick or Trunk" in the parking lot.

Kids will trick or treat out of the trunks of the Borough Fire Department, Point Boro First Aid Squad and various nonprofit community groups and other volunteers, said Borough Councilmember Antoinette DePaola at the Tuesday night Borough Council meeting. 

DePaola, the council liaison to Community Watch and a Watch member, urged local families to attend both for the safety message and for the fun.

In addition police will hand out pedestrian safety coloring books, pamphlets and clip on lights.

For more information, call Hill at the police department at (732) 892-0060.

Last year, the Borough police department and Community Watch issued the following Halloween safety tips:

• Do not enter someone's house!
• Do not accept rides from strangers!
• Send your child out with a small bag of treats from home that are safe to eat. Make them understand that they should not eat any candy they receive while trick or treating until Mom or Dad have checked all of the candy.
• Never eat anything that is unwrapped, has a hole in the wrapper or looks tampered with.
• Costumes should not be too long or restrict movement.
• Some masks can obstruct vision and make it difficult to cross streets. Consider face paint instead.
• Wear clothing visible at night. Use reflective tape on costumes.
• Some costumes along with the excitement of Halloween can encourage aggressive behavior. Even fake knives swords and other accessories can scare people. Make sure your child understands this and that any potentially dangerous items are made of cardboard or other flexible materials.  
• Trick or Treat in groups. Young children should always be accompanied by an adult.
• Set a plan. Know where your child is and what houses they are going to. Your child should check in at regular intervals.
• Only walk on well-lit streets. Use sidewalks as much as possible. Cross the street at corners.
• Agree with your child what time they will be back home and make sure someone from the group has a watch.