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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, October 31, 2014 | 6 Have a happy -- and safe Halloween Tonight promises a world of haunted fun around every corner with ghosts and ghouls likely to be visible just about everywhere. As young and old alike head out to join the witching hour, Halton Regional Police Service offers some tips to help prepare everyone for safe and enjoyable trick-or-treating. Halloween should be brimming with fun and following some common sense practices can keep everyone safe. · Costumes should be bright 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) · Face paint not masks or cloth that cover the eyes is the preferred facial makeup as it increases a young trick-or-treater's ability to see well in the dark · Remind children to keep to the sidewalks and not walk in the street · Explain to children trick-or-treating is most safely done by going along one side of the street and then the other, and that it's best to cross the street only at intersections or crosswalks, not zigzag back and forth · Remind children to look both ways before crossing the street and not to walk out from near parked cars · Provide yourself or the children with a flashlight to see better and to be more visible to others · Have children plan their trick-or-treat route and share it with their parents and family · Trick-or-treaters should travel in groups of four or five, 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 parents first 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 first trick-or-treaters arrive, remember to drive safely... slow down and be extra vigilant. Pet owners, too, should remember to keep their four-legged friends at home and indoors, where they will be safe from potential harm. Have a happy -- and safe -- Halloween. Editorial H O W L - O W E E N T R I C K O R "Connected to your Community" T R E A T ? 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 52 | Number 122 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 NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS Youngsters dressed in their best Halloween out ts enjoyed popcorn while taking in eerie activities at Kids & Company on Cornwall Road. Pictured, Tyler Bland, 18 months, dressed as a Ninja Turtle, enjoys a popcorn break in his red wagon as his dog, Bentley, patiently awaits a few nibbles himself. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) Advertising Director DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production Letter to the Editor SANDY PARE MARK DILLS We all play a part in making Oakville beautiful I look forward to my morning walk along the waterfront in Oakville's beautiful Coronation Park. This park holds fond memories for me, whether I go to watch the sunrise, read a book on the rocks or meeting up with friends. in the park. Benches with empty coffee cups, forgotten water bottles, napkins, all sorts of loose straws, pop cans, broken balloons and cigarette butts. It certainly made me stop for a moment and look around. I was astonished by the amount of waste, even though the park is completely equipped with, not only accessible garbage bins, but also recycling. My parents have always taught me to take care of the things you love and so I returned to the park with a garbage bag and gloves. What started out at rst lling one small plastic bag then turned into three and nally I lled an entire garbage bag of waste. As residents of Oakville, it is our job to care and love the environment we have been given. We need to start to take some responsibility for our actions and stop assuming that someone else will pick up our litter. By simply throwing your garbage in the bin and cleaning up after yourself you are not only keeping the park clean, you are showing others that you too love where you live. It may seem like a simple act, but truthfully small acts of kindness go a long way. Natalie Zazulyk, Oakville MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution 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 Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Even as a child, I can remember skipping stones along the shore, watching people having picnics or running through the park. As I began to experience a picture-perfect morning with the sun rising and the birds singing, I couldn't help but notice all of the garbage 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, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 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.