Community heightens awareness for Halloween

Carlin Way, a nine-year-old Bloomington resident, averted his eyes and held tight to his mother when asked about his Halloween plans this year.\nHis back turned, he said he would be handing out Halloween candy from his home, rather then venturing out with his family.\n"It's OK to go out just as long as parents watch the candy and the people handing out the candy," said Cameron Way, Carlin's twin brother. \nCameron hopes he can convince his brother that it's safe to go trick-or-treating before Wednesday.\nWith terrorism on everyone's mind, United States citizens are thinking of ways to protect themselves this Halloween. \nMayor John Fernandez announced trick-or-treat times, which will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Halloween. \n"Safety is the most important thing to remember on this holiday, and by following safety tips and trick-or-treating in familiar areas, everyone can have a fun and enjoyable Halloween," Fernandez was quoted on the city Web site.\nWith 10 recommended safety tips from the city of Bloomington, parents and children may start to feel a sense of relief.\n"I'm not exceptionally concerned, we'll be with her and hit a few houses around us," said Michael Crowther, who has a young daughter.\nWhile Crowther may feel unthreatened, Robert Pate said there is a need for elevated awareness. "I'm not paranoid, but I think about things I never thought about before," Pate said.\n"I'm most concerned about people who have personal problems and have now been given a reason to do something unbalanced," he said.\nAlong with parents, local businesses have been affected by the community's heightened awareness. Pamela Ladd, owner of Blast off Balloons, a local costume and balloon store, said she did not expect to sell many violent or gory costumes because of the past month's events.\n"Business is a little slow," Ladd said. "People aren't planning ahead because they're preoccupied."\nAs customers walk into Blast off Balloons, 422 E. Kirkwood Ave., they are greeted with a hanging Uncle Sam coat, a stars and stripes hat and a Lady Liberty torch. \nLadd said she was selling more firemen's helmets and patriotic costumes then ever before. \n"The bottom line is be aware of your environment," said IU Police Department Lt. Jerry Minger. \n"Anytime people have a heightened sense of awareness, actions should be driven by common sense and rational thinking instead of paranoia and fear."\nThe College Mall is hosting a mall-wide trick-or-treat event on Halloween from 5 - 8 p.m. The event features a haunted house constructed of Pepsi cartons, Halloween photos including themed backdrops and, of course, plenty of candy.\nThe haunted house will cost $1, with all profits going to the Simon Youth Foundation, which provides college scholarships to Bloomington area youths.\nEach shop in The College Mall will be fully equipped with candy individually wrapped and pre-packaged prior to Sept. 11.\nTerry Skirvin, mall manager, predicted 500 to 600 people to attend the event. She urges all mall visitors the "be sensitive to people's fears."\nThe mall has requested that people more than 12 years old do not wear masks and that no toy weapons be brought into the mall. \n"The safety of our shoppers and merchants is our number one priority," Skirvin said. "The mall is a good and safe place to venture out with your kids on Halloween"