Here it is, Halloween week and there are a lot of events taking place to celebrate this holiday. With Halloween falling on a Friday it will make it even more active with no school next day for the young ones and for most adults no work day. That means longer times to enjoy the fun, so please be careful out there, especially for all the trick or treaters

How many of you remember your first few times trick or treating and the costumes you wore? I would imagine it would be some list with all the different decades people grew up in. My first trick or treating came when I was six years old and I was done up as a hobo. Then in 1945 and 1946 I dressed as a Navy commander and Air Force pilot to honor my two uncles.

But in 1957 I created a character, Lothar J. Subtrice, who would serve as my alter ego right up until 2020 when COVID hit and I retired him for good. Over the years I also had other costumes like The Flash, grim reaper, father time, etc. but Lothar was always my number one.

Trick and treating used to be a fun activity, and still is for many, but times have changed and one thing has happened in recent years, we never thought of back in the day. That is the simple fact that this fun activity has become a very dangerous one. There have been shootings, stabbings, poisoned candies, hit and runs all over the country. It has made many parents afraid to let their kids trick or treat even if they go with them. Unfortunately, because of all the division and hate that has over taken this country for the past decade or more, trick or treating has become less and less. But the numbers of parents going with their kids has increased and that’s a good thing. However, because of all that hate and division, I think having kids dressed up as Biden, Obama, Trump or any other politicians is a huge mistake. If any parents are doing that, they may want to rethink their choices for Halloween. There are too many crazies out there to even take a chance of thinking it’s just satire or humor and won’t create any problems. Trust me, it will and you don’t want your young ones to become a statistic. So, I ask you all to please use common sense when it comes to your kids, and even your own, costumes for Halloween. It is a different world we live in.

I wish you all a very Happy Halloween. Enjoy trick or treating with your kids. Enjoy your adult parties and all the various costume contests. Drink responsibly, have fun and do not become a statistic.

Happy Halloween folks!

Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN