Never Fear; Halloween Is Still Here

After a grueling 72 hours of dismay and mental anguish we suffered at the hands of Hurricane Sandy, we at last retire to a state of temporary relief and–even better–festivity. Halloween is still on, as is a handful of Brooklyn’s events.

Here is a list of the Halloween events that are STILL RUNNING today:

• 4 p.m. – The annual Cobble Hill Halloween Parade at Cobble Hill Park located on Clinton Street and Verandah Place. The parade will feature music from Jah Pan Steel Drum Band. Please bring your own noise makers! For more information, visit http://cobblehillassociation.blogspot.com/
• From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. – the Scotto Funeral Home staff and friends will be putting the “fun” in “fun”eral as they “dish out more than 95 pounds of candy to local witches and goblins,” according to their latest press release. Funeral Director John Heyer II will host an exhibition of Carroll Garden’s love for all things Halloween as he assembles a cast of vampires, goblins, witches and devils. There will be a hand-carved wooden coffin filled to the brim with candy, Dracula’s mother-in-law resting in her coffin and some “spooky new editions!” Scotto Funeral Home is located on 106 First Place; call 718-875-2515 for further information.

The following event, on the other hand, has been CANCELLED:

• The Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade is cancelled on account of the deployment of personnel from police, sanitation, and other city agencies–whose participation in the parade is invaluable–to parts of the city to assist in post-hurricane recovery efforts. Be sure to join them next year, however, for their annual Halloween parade on Thursday, October 31, 2013! For more information, visit www.parkslopeciviccouncil.org.

In the meantime, the 13th Avenue Merchants Association will be giving children from across the neighborhood the best Halloween celebration possible with their first annual Halloween Walk between 68th and 85th Streets along 13th Avenue. According to the organization’s Facebook fanpage, the Five Foot Chef will have sweet treats and a Halloween display on 84th Street and 13th Avenue from 1 to 5 p.m.

As for TRICK-OR-TREATING, keep up your Halloween spirit with these safety tips for kids and parents, courtesy of the 76th Precinct:

• “Never let children carve pumpkins. Adults carving pumpkins should remember to use specifically designed carving knives. Carve the pumpkin in controlled, small strokes away from [yourself] on a strong surface. Carving knives should be kept in a clean, dry and well-lit area. Any moisture on the tools, hands or table can cause the knife to slip, leading to injuries.”
• “Halloween costumes should be light and bright, so children are clearly visible to motorists and other pedestrians. Trim costumes and bags with reflective tape that glows in the dark.”
• “Costumes should be flame resistent and fit properly. Be sure the child’s vision is not obstructed from masks, face paints or hats.”
• “It is important that children walk on sidewalks and never cut across yards or driveways. They should also obey all traffic signals and remain in designated crosswalks when crossing the street. Avoid trick-or-treating alone; travel in groups and with a trusted adult.”
• “Trick-or-treaters should only approach houses that are well-lit. Both children and adults should carry flashlights to see and be seen.”
• “Be aware of neighborhood dogs when trick-or-treating and remember that these pets can impose a threat when you approach their homes.”
• “It’s also a good idea to carry a cell phone while trick-or-treating in case of an emergency.”For more information on the services offered, visit www.nypdcommunityaffairs.org.

Also, Councilmember Brad Lander says that from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., his staff will be handing out candy, at 456 5th Avenue, between 9th & 10th Street, by Neergaard, as well as along 5th Avenue down toward Washington Park.