Township, village prepare for invasion of disguised visitors

There is no lack of spooky fun in Orion this weekend.
On Thursday, the Halloween Parade will begin at the Angel Center (formerly the Ehman Center) at 6 p.m. Those wishing to walk in the parade are asked to be there at 5:30 p.m.
The route will follow Broadway to Children’s Park where refreshments and other festivities will be available.
On Friday, Oct. 31, both the township and village have set trick or treating hours from 6 to 8 p.m.
Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh said his department is working hard to ensure a safe Halloween.
‘As a comfort to our residents, all of our officers are on duty,? he said. This includes bike patrols, foot patrols and plainclothes police patrols. ‘We will aggressively be seeking out suspicious activities.?
Narsh also issued tips for parents and kids to have fun over Halloween–and also stay safe.
He said preparing your home is important. Some of the things you might want to do include keeping all pets secure, clearing walkways of wet leaves and making sure any lit candles or jack-o-lanterns are well away from where children will be.
Some costume considerations include purchasing flame retardant costumes, using a white pillow case for candy and considering face paint instead of masks, which can restrict a child’s vision.
He suggests preparing a route and start and end times for trick or treating. He said to chaperone you child, if possible, and if not, having them go out in groups of at least three children.
He also suggests having children carry a flashlight, glow stick and/or cell phone.
While trick or treating, Narsh recommends always using sidewalks. He said to never cross a street between parked cars. Other things to never do are: enter a person’s home to receive a treat, approach an unlighted home or porch or accept treats from people in vehicles.
After trick or treating, adults should always inspect all candy before consumption.
‘If anyone knows of a problem, they should seek out an officer nearby,? Narsh said. ‘Or, just stop and say hi, maybe offer them a piece of candy.?