2017 Trick-or-Treat Dates Discussed in Hellertown

EDITOR’S NOTE: Many Saucon Source readers on Facebook have expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed 2017 Trick-or-Treat date. If you wish to inform council of your displeasure, the next borough council meeting will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at Hellertown Borough Hall, 685 Main St., Hellertown. Council members can also be emailed en masse at councilmembers@hellertownborough.org, as well as individually.

Although it’s almost nine months away, the often divisive topic of Trick-or-Treat’s timing was a hot one at Hellertown Borough Council’s meeting Monday night.

A discussion about when the beloved event should be held began after David Heintzelman–who also organizes the annual Saucon Valley Spirit Parade each October–proposed that Trick-or-Treat be held Friday, Oct. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Heintzelman said his rationale for holding it late on a Friday afternoon was partly safety-driven.

Lower Saucon Township typically holds its Trick-or-Treat at the same time as the borough, and by 7 p.m. at that time of year it is “pitch black” outside in many areas that lack sidewalks, he noted.

Some streets in Hellertown, such as the “tree streets” in the Mountainview neighborhood, are also very dark once the sun goes down, he commented.

The earlier start time, he said, would prevent a conflict for those who plan to attend that night’s away Saucon Valley football game–the last of the regular season–at Palisades.

In previous years, when Saucon Valley Trick-or-Treat was held in alignment with Bethlehem’s Trick-or-Treat from 6 to 8 p.m. the Friday night before Halloween, “we got more problems with the (conflict with the) football game,” Heintzelman said. “That was the reason we were recommending (it be held) a little bit earlier.” Avoid drinking alcohol while taking modafinil http://www.buymodafinilonlinefast.com/guide-to-buy-modafinil-online/

He suggested that another alternative would be to have Trick-or-Treat on Halloween night, which is Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp commented that the earlier start time might cause a problem for working parents who won’t be home until after 5 p.m.

One parent in attendance, Leah Cassellia, voiced a similar concern, and said some Saucon students don’t even make it home until the bus drops them off after 4 p.m.

She also commented that many older residents in her Mountainview neighborhood, opt not to participate in Trick-or-Treat by keeping their porch lights turned off, which limits the amount of candy kids in that area are able to collect. However, there are many serious side effects associated with phentermine http://buyphenterminetabs.com/

Councilman Earl Hill, who also lives in Mountainview, said he keeps his porch light on.

“Awesome,” said Cassellia, adding that he should “come up to Willow (Road),” where one side of the street is porch light-less during Trick-or-Treat.

Heintzelman also teased Mayor Richard Fluck about the porch light question.

“If you don’t want trick-or-treaters, don’t turn your light on…right Mayor?” he joked.

“My light’s on,” said Fluck, to which Heintzelman responded: “Mayor, may I ask you, what is your address, for the minutes?”

All joking aside, Heintzelman noted that there is perennially a problem fixing a Trick-or-Treat date that will work for everyone.

“It is a no-win situation,” he said. “I just don’t want this to be an issue every year… We recognize that it’s not going to please everybody.”

The Sunday afternoon before Halloween–when Trick-or-Treat was once held–is not a good option because it conflicts with the Bethlehem Halloween Parade, which will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, he said. The Saucon Valley High School marching band typically participates in that parade and local residents attend it.

Council ultimately voted to a compromise solution suggested by councilman Herb Payung, and tentatively scheduled Trick-or-Treat for Saturday, Oct. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m.

The vote to approve that schedule was 5-0, with councilman Mike McKenna abstaining because he arrived late to the discussion, and councilman John Bate absent.

Council president Tom Rieger said the issue would be discussed with Lower Saucon Township officials at the next Saucon Valley Partnership meeting, with an understanding that the date and time aren’t set in stone if there are other concerns.