Trick or Treat Night Press Release
5th October 2017
The Village of Roseville listens to concerned parents and emergency personnel and changes the traditions of trick or treating door to door. Beggars Night as we know it has changed drastically and it was hard for us to admit. Participation has diminished, traffic increased, and there is at higher level of concern for safety. Tradition stands strong in this town therefore it took persistent residents and substantial research to finally open our eyes. Former Mayor and Councilwoman Joan Spring said “every house in a neighborhood gave out candy and decorated their houses. Kids could go up one side of the street and then go down the other side and have plenty of candy and fun.” That just isn’t the case anymore as residents express the need to centralize trick or treat. Kids are going back and forth across busy streets weaving in and out of traffic. There are some streets that don’t have any participation and there are others that might have 1 out of every 6 houses that hand out candy. To not waste time families hit both sides of the street with one pass. Some municipalities have already taken steps to provide safer and centralized trick or treat by having trunk or treat in specified areas where police officers are on foot monitoring the event. Police Chief Joey Carr stated “he will have patrolman on foot stationed at specified locations. It is much easier to watch and police trick or treat on foot then adding additional cars to the road. Plus the police department never passes up at chance to interact with the kids.” Fire Chief Keylor said “I will have the fire department bring the new fire engine to Main Street and hand candy out of it so the kids can enjoy it. The fire engine is always at big hit.”
Kids at the Roseville Elementary School have weighed in on this new trick or treat idea. They are excited to be close and hang out with their friends in one location. Some of the kids have done trunk or treat in other municipalities and love the idea that Roseville is bringing it to them in their home town.
On October 31st Beggars Night will begin at 5:30pm and end at 6:30pm on Main Street. Main Street will be closed off from traffic at 5:30pm sharp from Athens Rd to Zanesville Rd. There will be NO PARKING on Main Street during these times. Many businesses and organizations are helping with this event. There are 5 designated parking lots for those who want to park and participate in trunk or treat. Trunk or Treat participants should be parked in one of the designated parking lots by 5:20pm. The parking areas are Northside Pharmacy/Dr. Butterfield, Historical Society, Peoples National Bank, Food Pantry on the corner of Main and E. First Street, and the Municipal Building. Residents may also bring chairs and candy and line up on Main Street to hand out candy. Most businesses wills be handing out candy in front of their stores. Mayor Dave Carroll stated “I am excited to see all the kids in their costumes while I hand out candy at the Municipal Building.” Beggars Night will end at 6:30pm with the traditional Halloween Parade. Kids will line up at the post office at 6:30pm and they will march to the Roseville American Legion where they will have costume judging and awards. For more information or questions contact Heidi Milner, MMC at 740-697-7323. “Be Safe and Happy Halloween, Mayor Dave Carroll”.