Mayor's Weekly Message

WEEKLY REPORT OF MAYOR JOHN L. MADDEN

In two weeks, it will be Halloween. This year it falls on a Saturday which normally means larger crowds of children, and several of our neighboring towns have already decided to cancel Trick or Treating.  The Borough Council has discussed this twice at Council Meetings and ultimately decided that adults need to make their own decisions for their children and for themselves.  Rather than government, you get decide whether your children can go out for candy; you get to decide whether you are putting your lights on or off as a signal that Trick or Treaters are welcome.  Halloween in Middlesex Borough is on!

However, as we continue to adopt to the realities of Covid-19 in our State and community and in conjunction with guidance from the NJ Department of Health, the governing body does feel compelled to make recommendations for ways to celebrate Halloween safely.  We encourage you to plan early as to how you are going to celebrate and to identify safe alternatives.

If you are planning to host or attend a Halloween Party, please keep in mind public health recommendations of social and physical distancing, wearing masks that cover the nose and mouth, and hand washing.

If your child(ren) are going out Trick or Treating, we recommend limiting your groups to current household members, consider staying local, and limit the number of houses on your route.  If you are not in a group from the same household, social distancing should be practiced.

The Council is recommending that Trick or Treating end by 8 pm on Halloween.

If you are participating by giving out candy, please keep your lights on even during the afternoon so that the little kids know your house has candy.

If you are planning on handing out treats, the Department of Health has provided “Good, Better and Best” options:

• Good Option:  Limit interaction or contact with Trick or Treaters, wear a mask when individuals come to the door, and regularly wash your hands.

• Better Option:  Leave a treat bowl on a porch or table or in a place where it may be easily accessed while adhering to social distancing requirements.

• Best Option:  Arrange individually packaged candy so that Trick or Treaters can grab and go without accessing a shared bowl.

Whatever your family decides to do, the goal is to make Halloween a safe, fun activity while keeping everyone safe. 

Stay well,

Mayor John L. Madden