A Message About Halloween
Posted on: October 20, 2020 - 1:58pm
COVID 19 and Halloween in Cold Spring
Dear Neighbors,
COVID-19 has turned our world upside down. Many have lost loved ones, jobs, livelihoods, businesses, security and savings. At times we have been given conflicting information on how it’s transferred, who’s at risk and how to protect ourselves but for the last 7 months, here in the Village, we have donned masks, social distanced, disinfected and self-quarantined and those efforts paid off, we flattened the so called “curve”. Now, as we enter into fall and winter, confirmed cases are on the rise and the fear of medical experts is that there will be a resurgence and the curve will climb to previously high levels. A return to where we were in the Spring would be catastrophic and we must do everything possible to stop a resurgence.
I am writing because in just a few short weeks Halloween will kick off an uncertain and surely much different holiday season. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s will follow quickly. As you know, Halloween has become a huge celebration in the Village, attracting many to the Chamber of Commerce Costume Parade and thousands of Trick-or-Treaters to the Parrott and Parsonage St. area.
Unfortunately, the Parade had to be cancelled along with all large gatherings scheduled for this year. The July 4th celebration with fireworks, the Hops Festival and the Wine Festival all fell victim to COVID -19. SeaStreak visits were cancelled as was the very popular Cold Spring Film Society’s movie series.
The Village Board of Trustees will not be canceling Trick-or-Treating this year but we ask residents to please do the responsible thing, minimize risk and consider the following:
- Don’t invite the masses to your homes and doorways.
- Network with family and friends and bring your youngsters just to those houses.
- Don’t open your doors to Trick-or-Treaters.
- Don’t hand out treats, rather set pre-packaged or wrapped treats on tables near the entry of your property, not at your front door.
- Visit streets other than Parrott and Parsonage.
- Scale down displays.
- Bring your youngsters around early, between 5pm and 6:30pm.
- Turn your lights off and stop offering treats after 6:30
Let’s not forget when NYC was the epicenter, the daily death counts, the pain, the suffering, the freezer trailers and the horrific stories told by the frontline workers and the toll it took on them, both physically and psychologically.
Let’s not forget all that we’ve lost this year, things we often take for granted: the simple gathering of friends, theatre, concerts, parades, graduations, proms, birthdays, sporting events, fairs, tournaments and celebrations.
Most importantly, let’s not forget those dear to us who have been lost: parents, grandparents, spouses, siblings and friends. The pain of family members not allowed to see their loved ones before they passed away.
All of the sacrifices, suffering and pain of the last several months cannot be for naught. COVID 19 is real and until there is a vaccine, it is not over. Thousands are still dying daily across the nation and hundreds of thousands are scrambling to hold their lives together. Hardworking people who live paycheck to paycheck now face poverty and homelessness. There are now signs of a resurgence and we must act quickly and responsibly to keep the virus in check. Please consider the aforementioned measures and make this Halloween as safe as possible for our entire community.
Thank you so much for your help!!!
Hang in there and be safe.
Mayor Merandy