COUNTY LIFE
Safety steps for spooky fun
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/15413-detail-intro-iimage.jpg)
(Family Features) Traditional family activities like trick-or-treating create fun moments and memories, but the effects of COVID-19 on this Halloween will bring about change for the spooky excitement.
You can still ensure a special night for your little ones and all the ghouls, goblins and ghosts in your neighborhood by following safety measures aimed at keeping everyone healthy on All Hallows’ Eve. Consider these tips for safe trick-or-treating from the experts at the National Safety Council and leading candy maker, Mars Wrigley.
Before
- Buy individually wrapped candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Fun-size packs are one of the easiest forms of candy for trick-or-treaters to grab and go.
- Create fun, individual candy goody bags for a no-touch option for trick-or-treaters.
- Make sure your yard is well-lit; replace any burnt-out light bulbs.
- Create signs encouraging trick-or-treaters to stay 6 feet apart and display them in your yard.
- Don’t hand out treats if you are not feeling well.
- Consider socially distanced options such as “trunk-or-treating,” during which prepackaged goodies are handed out, or a virtual costume parade. Alternately, you can use a tool like Mars Wrigley’s “TREAT TOWNTM,” an app-based digital experience for families to virtually trick-or-treat for real candy. It offers Halloween fans of all ages the ability to create personalized spooky avatars, customized decorations for your in-app “door” and the ability to “knock” on the doors of friends and family across the country. Visit Treat-Town.com to find more information.
During
- Make trick-or-treating care packs with hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and extra face masks.
- Help little ones clean their hands throughout the night.
- Maintain a distance of 6 feet from other groups of trick-or-treaters, allowing one group to collect candy at a time.
- Wear face masks and reflective tape or clothing and carry flashlights or glow sticks if you’re walking in the dark.
- Do “mask checks.” Stop in a safe place and make sure young children’s masks are covering their mouths and noses.
- Use sidewalks and crosswalks. Don’t cross the street between cars and be as visible as possible as drivers may be distracted.
- Consider setting up a grab-and-go “candy corner” for visitors, inclusive of hand sanitizer and treats.
![](https://d2z0g7klazfonw.cloudfront.net/production/additional_images/17925/15413-detail-image-embed1.jpg?1600886331)
After
- Wash your hands when you get home.
- Sanitize candy wrappers before eating or let it sit for 24 hours.
- Follow the “when in doubt, throw it out” rule. Throw away any candy that is open, ripped or has torn packaging, an unusual appearance or pinholes. Discard any homemade items made by people you don’t know.
- Watch for choking hazards. If you have a young child, make sure candy he or she collected isn’t a choking hazard. If it is, discard it.
- Keep candy away from pets, especially chocolate and sugar-free gum, which can be poisonous for your furry friends.
Handing Out Treats from Home
If you’re staying home to hand out treats to the superheroes, ghosts, princesses and other little guests that arrive on your doorstep, consider these ideas to encourage safety and fun:
- Minimize the number of hands reaching into a bowl. Find fun, hands-free ways to give candy to trick-or-treaters. You can place candy on your lawn or driveway, so trick-or-treaters don’t have to crowd around your front door, touch handrails or knock.
- Move out of the way any items that children could trip over and keep pets inside.
- Stand outside when handling treats, wear a mask and use hand sanitizer often. Consider keeping a large bottle of sanitizer near you for visitors to use as well.
- Allow one small group at a time at your door.
- Give out one set of treats at a time to minimize hands reaching into a common bowl. For example, fun-size packs of treats like M&M’s and SNICKERS offer plenty of options and are easy for trick-or-treaters to grab and go.
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
SOURCE:
Mars Chocolate North America
COUNTY LIFE
Burger fundraiser to assist Advanced staff member’s family
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/giving-back-graphic.jpg)
The staff of Advanced Rehabilitation will conduct a hamburger lunch fundraiser to assist one of its staff members whose child is undergoing serious medical issues.
From noon to sell-out on July 19 hamburgers will be prepared in the front lobby of the home. The goal is to sell 100 burgers with a $10 meal deal of a burger, chips and a drink.
Call Cynthia at 940-366-4960 for pre-orders or Tiffany for delivery at 940-255-0402.
The fundraiser is for Tori Mullins, whose daughter, Bryleigh Gresham, age three, has been undergoing treatment for leukemia at Cook Children’s Medical Center. Tori has had to be off work to travel to Cook’s for the treatments.
COUNTY LIFE
It’s here the 2024 Montague County Guide
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/guide-cover-for-insdes.jpg)
Inside your weekend Bowie News find the award-winning visitor’s and newcomer’s guide. There are unique features about this area along with all the resources you may need to set up housekeeping or explore something new.
COUNTY LIFE
Summer Olympics this week’s summer reading theme
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DSC_9995-scaled.jpg)
Bowie Public Library’s Summer Reading program continues on July 16 with the Olympics.
It will be all about the upcoming Summer Olympics with outdoor games at the soccer field. Summer reading wraps up with the popular Creature Teacher on July 23 who brings lots of animals to the kids to see up close.
Any questions about summer reading can be directed to the library staff by calling 872-2681 or follow their Facebook page.
Summer reading is open to children ages 0-12. Keep a summer reading log and earn a book.
Top photo – This past Tuesday, the library staff visits with Smokey the Bear and a member of the Forest Service at summer reading. (Photo by Barbara Green)
-
NEWS2 years ago
2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS8 months ago
Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year ago
SO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years ago
Wreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS12 months ago
Murder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS1 year ago
Bowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint