Halloween
is already full of little scares, but by keeping safety in mind, West Side
residents can help avoid any larger ones this year.
Andrea Todoro, Principal of West Buffalo Charter
School, recommends that children should either have a reflector or
flashlight with them while trick-or-treating, make sure they are with an adult at all
times, and that parents should be checking the candy their kids are collecting.
“Halloween
is something fun for the kids, but it’s also something parents worry about,”
said James McNeil, Program Director at the Belle Center. “We always stress to parents that when their kids
trick-or-treat, that if they are not there, that they have an older sibling or they travel in groups,
that way they are never alone.”
This
year, the West Side Community Center on Vermont Street will be hosting a
Halloween party on Halloween night for members of the community, as a possible alternative to trick-or-treating.
The
Buffalo Police Department endorses the idea of going to a Halloween party rather
than having children trick-or-treating. According to the Buffalo Police, there
are a number of safety tips that they would recommend, such as making sure children have their parents’ home and cell phone
numbers, that they do not take any shortcuts through alleys, and for homeowners, making sure
they maintain clear walkways. For more Halloween safety tips, you can visit the
Buffalo Police website at www.bpdny.org.
For
more information on the West Side Community Center’s Halloween party, you can contact them at 884-6616. By
Mhairi Moorhead and Joseph Losito
