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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, October 30, 2013 | 6 Happy Halloween With witches, goblins, superheroes and an assortment of other spooky and wonderful sights soon to descend on our neighbourhoods, Halton Regional Police Service offers parents some tips to help prepare their children for safe and enjoyable trick-ortreating. Halloween should be lled with surprise and enjoyment, and following some common sense practices can keep events safer and more fun. · Costumes should be light-coloured and flame resistant with reflective strips, so children are more easily seen at night. (And remember to put reflective tape on bikes, skateboards and brooms, etc.) · Costumes should be short enough to avoid tripping · Remind children to keep away from open fires and candles. (Costumes can be flammable.) · Use face paint rather than masks or cloth that cover the eyes · Remind children to walk, slither and sneak on sidewalks -- not in the street · Explain to children trick-or-treating should be done along one side of the street rst and then the other, and that it's best to cross the street only at intersections or crosswalks · Remind children to look both ways before crossing the street to check for cars, trucks and low-flying brooms · Provide yourself or the children with a flashlight to see better and to be better seen · Have children plan their route and share it with you and the family · Trick-or-treaters should travel in groups of four or ve, while young children should be accompanied by an adult · Visit homes that have the porch light on · Make sure children know they should accept treats at the door and must not get into cars or enter the homes of strangers · Remind children not to eat their treats until they are examined at home by an adult. Nothing should be eaten if the package is open. Small, hard candy is a choking hazard for young children · Set agreed-to boundaries with your children. Explain the importance of staying within them and arriving home on time · Never travel in areas that are dark and vacant · Never talk to strangers · Never go anywhere with strangers or someone you don't know very well. Always check with your parents rst And for those rushing to make it home in time to enjoy trick-or-treating with their children, or to be at the door when the rst trick-or-treaters arrive, remember to drive safely... slow down and be extra vigilant. Pet owners, too, should remember to keep their pets at home and indoors, where they will be safe from those who would harm them and less stressed by Halloween visitors. Have a happy -- and safe -- Halloween. Editorial "Connected to your Community" 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 129 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Wellspring employee, speaker, and cancer survivor Eva Thurlow cuts the ribbon at the start of the 2013 Wellspring Peloton Challenge team relay ride to Austin, Texas. The eight-day trek raised $500,000 for the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation. | photo by Stacey Newman ­ special to the Beaver MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Peloton Challenge a winner for Wellspring An eight-day, 24-hour bike ride from Oakville to Austin, Texas has helped raise $500,000 for the Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation. The 3,000-kilometre Wellspring Peloton Challenge saw 24 cyclists from across the GTA cross the finish line in Austin on Oct. 18 after each had pedaled an average of 120 km per day and climbed an elevation of more than 32,000 feet -- that's more than 3.5 times the height of Mount Everest. Meeting them at the finish line were five Wellspring Warriors -- individuals facing cancer or are survivors, nominated by each of the ride teams -- the riders' family and friends and a team of volunteers who provided 24hour assistance along the journey. Every participant exceeded their minimum fundraising goal of $10,000 and many have already begun training and fundraising for the 2014 peloton to New Orleans. Those interested in participating next year can apply online at www.wellspringride.ca. CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Zombie crime prevention campaign disturbing I am absolutely horri ed at the new anticrime campaign idea the Halton Regional Police Service has come up with. I was shocked at the images that were in the newspaper last Thursday, using graphic images of zombies in order to try and raise awareness of crime prevention in Halton. I can only hope these posters will only be posted in areas where they are not accessible visually to any children. Zombies belong in horror movies (where children must be a certain age in order to gain access), and not disturbingly displayed on posters all over our community where they will without a doubt frighten young children. I understand the importance of raising awareness of crime prevention techniques, but am beyond disturbed and disappointed in the use of horror movie images in our community, without warning to those whom it may traumatize. I hope the police service reconsiders using these inappropriate images. Laura Jany, Oakville Letter to the Editor Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.