Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Yes, Sally, there is a Great Pumpkin!

Yes, Sally, there is a Great Pumpkin!
But don't miss out on Trick-or-Treating!

SODA Track or Treat has become a huge success. In it's 4th year it's only getting bigger. Attracting at least 1,500 people to Penn-Vassar park this year!!! Kids in the costumes, parents in tow, treat station volunteers, Police Explorers, Fire Fighters; everyone has made it the success it has become. But SODA Track or Treat is just an extra fun event to get the neighborhood and families out together.

Trick-or-Treating is definitely happening on Halloween!

A couple things to note about Oct. 31st Halloween Trick-or-Treaters:
  • Trick-or-Treaking Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm or until your candy runs out
  • Turn ON your porch light to let the kids know you have candy
  • Turn OFF your porch light when you'tr done, otherwise you'll have knocking well past 8:00pm
Later in the evening (or even earlier) you may see a car load of kids come around. It's OK. Not every neighborhood does Trick-or-Treating, and/or not every neighborhood is a place where kids can feel safe. Be happy that these families are out enjoying Halloween together, and take pride in the fact that our neighborhood is a safe place for them to enjoy it.
And that group of almost adult, half costumed, pillow case carrying teens; they know their childhood is almost over, don't make them feel worse for it. Give them a piece of candy with a smile. They will all to soon be adults, let them have some fun trick-or-treating while they still can.

This year Smartasset.com ranked the City of Dearborn 6th in the entire nation for the Best Places To Trick-Or-Treat. While some of that ranking was due to "Hallowe'en in Greenfield Village", it should not be overlooked that it's also due to the many houses that give out candy, the short distances kids have to travel, and community safety.



The Dearborn Police have put together a list of Halloween Safety Tips:
  1. Parents should help their children pick out a costume that will be safe. The costumes should be fire resistant, masks should have eyeholes large enough to allow for good peripheral vision and the costume should allow free movement.
  2. If your child will be carrying a prop such as a pitchfork or sword make sure the tips are flexible enough to not cause injury if fallen on. Of course, never carry real weapons of any kind.
  3. If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that children’s costumes will not accidentally be set on fire. Better yet, use battery operated pumpkin lights.
  4. Make sure you know the route your children will be taking for trick or treating, if you are not going with them.
  5. The best bet is to make sure that an adult is going with the children during trick or treating. If you cannot go with your child see if another parent or a teenage sibling can.
  6. Children should stay together as a group if going trick or treating without an adult.
  7. Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars. Tell your children to only cross streets at cross walks.
  8. Instruct your children never to go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.
  9. Make sure you set a time for your children to be home and stress the importance for them to be home at that time. Finally, instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.
Halloween is one of my personal favorites, and as my birthday is only 4 days before Halloween it has always felt like an extended birthday party. Although I may not dress up and go out tricking for treats anymore, I still enjoy taking my own kids around on the 31st and decorating our home for the fun frightful night. More and more residents in the neighborhood are decorating their houses for Halloween, and SODA will be announcing decoration awards at our November 9th General Meeting for the best Halloween decorations.

From myself and the rest of the SODA board,
have a safe and fun time Trick-or-Treating!
Happy Halloween!!

Timothy S. Harrison
SODA President

Monday, October 30, 2017

SODA Track or Treat 2017



Another successful Track or Treat!
Thank You to all our treat stations and volunteers
Thank You to the Police Explorers and Fire Fighters
And especially Thank You to everyone that came out and enjoyed themselves at the park.
#SODAdearborn

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Fall Adopt -A- Tree Well

As part of SODA's commitment to the Dearborn community we're participating the this year's Fall Adopt -A- Tree Well program on Michigan Ave. You can find our tree well between Lue Thai and Moose's Martini Bar.
Decorations will be up between October 1st and November 1st.

A special Thank You to these Members for helping with the project:

Decorations:
Kelly Featherston, Michele Featherston, and Linda Snow

Painted Rocks:
Dan Featherston

Plants/Flowers:
Linda Snow