Village of Brewster Officials, Residents Expect Trick-or-Treaters

Elected leaders are advising folks in Brewster, Southeast and greater Putnam to exercise their best judgment when it comes to trick-or-treating Wednesday evening.

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell released a statement, via NY-Alert, wishing residents a Happy Halloween and issuing a reminder that the state of emergency is still in effect.

"Putnam County Officials want you to know that trick-or-treating in the best of conditions still pose hidden dangers," the statements reads. "Due to the storm, we have many downed wires, trees which are still falling and minimal visibility to due the power outages. If you choose to take your child trick-or-treating, please use caution and be safe."

Southeast Town Supervisor Tony Hay expressed similar feelings Tuesday night. Some neighborhoods have power and some don't, so the decision rests with parents, he told Patch.

 in search of candy on All Hallows Eve, because of the October snowstorm. 

This year's conditions are a bit worse in the Village of Brewster, according to Police (BPD) Chief John Del Gardo. He and Mayor Jim Schoenig are reminding parents to take extra precautions when hitting the streets Wednesday evening.

They advise moms and dads to keep kids on the sidewalk—especially if they are wearing a dark costume— and bring a flashlight along. Another good idea is getting out as early as possible. Revelers should watch for debris, too.

"The less walking around in darkness, the better," Del Gardo said. Several BPD officers will be on patrol.

Police are telling folks to avoid Allview Avenue in the Village because of a downed wire.

By 5 p.m., officers will close Wells Street at Center Street, and Prospect Street at Eastview Avenue, for the trick-or-treaters. Around then, or a short while later, is when the folks at the Brewster Yard Haunt expect to see a rush.

"We usually have two waves. The first is after school and before dinner, because it's still light out and the little ones are not as scared," Laurie Manning, one of the organizers, said. "There's a lull as it starts to get dark, then it's like a bus pulls up."

Manning is one of a handful of neighbors who have set up the outdoor area—which is packed with an "autopsy station," skeletons, tombstones and more—on Wells Woods Lane for about 10 years. Last year, more than 400 kids walked through, she said.

"It's one of the most positive things for the Village of Brewster," she said, adding that because the houses there are so close together, and the area is well-lit, youngsters really have a chance to interact. They run from home to home and compare candy—something that's not possible in the more rural parts of Southeast, she said.

Kids of all ages are welcome. Manning and another neighbor, Michelle Piniella, take the very young children by the hand and walk them through the area—a signal to the actors to cease scaring for the moment.

Everyone else is fair game, Manning and Piniella told Patch. The two of them, along with residents Kevin Kennedy, Jim Kramer and Deb Saraceno, were working on perfecting the setup and restoring it to its pre-Sandy status Wednesday morning. They took many of the decorations down before the Hurricane Sandy, but left some items they thought would be safe. That wasn't the case.

"We've been bashed and crashed, but we're still here," Manning said.

Additional Information from Putnam County

Before parent(s) make the decision to bring their children trick-or-treating or allowing age-appropriate children to go trick-or-treating on their own, please consider the following:

• Are there any downed wires that may pose a danger to you or your family's safety? Any downed wire is a potential live wire and therefore, dangerous.
• There are a lot of power outages throughout Putnam County. Driver visibility will be greatly reduced due to the lack of residential lighting. Statistics show that many people die more due to car related accidents on Halloween than any other time of the year.
• The storm cleanup in Putnam County is underway but by no means complete. Walking in Putnam County roadway can be even more dangerous as there is still debris on many roads.
• Check with your local shopping mall to confirm if they are having any Halloween events.
• Trick-or-treating should be limited to areas that are familiar to you. Please don't take chances in areas that are unknown just because they have lights.
• If you choose [to] allow Trick-or-Treating, please wear clothing that is reflective or bright in addition to carrying a light source so that you are visible.