Happy Halloween: Except in silly Manchester
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 Share on Facebook
This is Halloween weekend. Early last evening, most New Hampshire communities joined most of the United States in welcoming young trick-or-treaters to their doors. Manchester, of course, was not among them.
The absurdity of Manchester's official Halloween observance -- the afternoon of the last Sunday in October -- was made particularly clear this year in that it fell so far ahead of Halloween itself. But whether it is one day or six, the operative word here is "day."
It is true that Manchester is a city. It is true that little kids don't pay enough attention to traffic and that the streets literally swarm with them during Halloween hours, as was evidenced by anyone driving in Manchester last Sunday.
But many other cities larger than Manchester manage to cope with nighttime hours. And many children look forward to, and in later years look fondly back at, those spooky, exciting times when they got to be out and about in the after-dark chill, ready to scare and be scared.
As Manchester residents (and resident grumps), we have another bone to pick with the police chief, who sets the city's ridiculous official observance, and the board of aldermen who make the chief do it.
It occurs to us that the reason we were overrun with thundering hordes who ran through our many bags of candy treats like so much corn through a goose is that many people from outside Manchester are clued in to the fact that if the city is going to be dumb enough to observe Halloween on a Sunday afternoon, then they might as well take advantage.
Why not treat the kids to a nice afternoon drive to Manchester and let them try out their costumes and practice their best "Trick or treat!" voices in advance of their own town celebrations?
Never mind spending caps, curbside recycling, and where to put a dog park: Where do mayoral candidates Gatsas and Roy stand on Halloween?
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Back when I was young violence wasn't as bad as today. I enjoyed at night, and it was more fun, but I would be kinda be leary opening my door for a 5 to 6 foot person looking for their treat.
- Gloria Fournier, Manchester
My kids had a wonderful time trick or treating last Sunday afternoon.
I had pumpkins on my stoop all week and still do. No one has been egged in my neighborhood for 5 years.
I like Manchester's Halloween tradition.
Get a a life Mr. Cline, and find a real issue to write about.
- Jim, Manchester
just have halloween on the night it is
and end it.
We put up with it as kids let the children
have their holiday.
No matter night or day if there's going to be violence and crime we have no control of this.
If the child is young go out with them for their safety and your peace of mind.
- barbara philibotte, manchester,nh
Can you please explain why you think that people from outside of Manchester to come trick or treating is worthy of print? I don't recall seeing the Great Wall of Manchester around our city. The use of that argument in this editorial is rediculous and irresponsible. If you think that residents of Manchester don't do the same, you are so wrong. The type of attitude this editorial portrays solidifies my belief that more and more residents of Manchester are becoming stuck up and unfriendly. What you should understand is the kids really dont give a hoot if its night or day. They have fun regardless. Your arguments here are baseless and this article only serves as sad attempt at attacking the Aldermen and the Chief. I don't need them spending my money arguing about halloween.
- Eric, Manchester, NH
I had zero tick or treaters come to my door. My mom had 6. When I was a kid my family would plan on at least 120. Sunday afternoon is moronic. The city is robbing it's kids of the fond memories that we as adults have.
- Greg Barrett, Manchester
Gee, the Sunday before the municipal elections and the UL is wasting valuable ink on the Halloween question. (Is it even a question given that it has been this way for DECADES?) What a shame they're not involved in the big questions that will affect the city, like the spending cap and pending elections for school board, mayor and alderman. More evidence that this paper is run by retards and unwilling to really invest what's left of its editorial muscle into things where it may, or may not, make a difference. This paper is run by losers who must be making Bill and Nackey Loeb spin in their graves.
- Henri Paulsen, Manchester
Just imagine...IF Trick or treat was held at night, imagine all those extra eyes and ears patrolling some of the neighborhoods. Who would try to pull some of the crap we hear about when people are out and about in their neighborhoods! I believe the city streets would be SAFER!!! At least for 1 night...
- JimC, Ward2 Manchester
Get over it. I grew up in Manchester and loved Halloween - even during the day. You run these editorials every year. Seems to me you could find something better to write about.
- Kevin, Manchester NH
Did anyone else notice that Halloween fell on a Saturday this year? If the city was so bent on having trick or treat during the day, why not on the real Halloween? Manchester's "observance" is absurd. People wonder why Manchester is laughed at...
- Lynn, Manchester
I hope they print the latest holiday schedule soon. I need to know when Manchester is holding Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- Kate, Manchester
Yes GM, for those of us who don't live in that Shangra La known as the "Peoples Republic of Concord", it's an issue.
Perhaps there is an interesting article in the Monitor (NH Pravda) about raising taxes or imposing new fees that would be more to your liking.
- Ron, Manchester
I don't object to the daytime hours as much as I object to the fact that we don't trick-or-treat on the right day. This year, Halloween fell on a Saturday. Why could't the kids have gone out from 1-4pm on Halloween itself?
- Matt Cahoon, Manchester, NH
My family and I went to our relatives who had trick or treating Saturday night and what a sight to see all the families walking the neighborhoods with the kids. The weather was great and all the people had a great time. Leave it to Manchester to be the negative city by not allowing kids to trick or treat the way it was meant to be. Bring back evening trick or treating. Manchester is way off the mark on this and the elected leaders can do something about it.
- Mike, Manchester
The rest of the city might have decided to allow their Halloween to be stolen, but here in Ward 10 we had Halloween last night!
My neighbors and I started an event called the "Haunted Hollow." It was listed in the U.L, the Hippo and the Express. You all should have come, it was a lot of fun!! We had many families from the surrounding neighborhoods brave the night and travel the path through the Haunted Hollow. We had a great time and look to make the event even bigger next year.
This is OUR city and more people need start acting like it. No one should be looking to the Mayor and Aldermen to decide when we celebrate holidays. IF we keep doing that Independence Day will always be July 3rd around here and Halloween will always be the last Sunday afternoon in October.
Phil Greazzo
West Manchester
- Phil Greazzo, West Manchester
If you want to have Halloween on Halloween night, why not organize some event in your neighborhood? Go around and ask your neighbors if they would like to participate. This would give everyone a chance to meet their neighbors and build a sense of community. Instead some people will just complain about this. Get involved or stop complaining.
- Brian D, Manchester
If your kid needs supervision to be safe - that's what parents are for. Going out after dark makes it fun.
- Frank, York Me
kind of silly don't think... to start making up our own holidays, thats not living free...oh and christmas should only be on a sunday and birthdays should never be celebrated during the week and no church after 8am its the traffic of course.
- jerry, manchester
These comments sound so logical to me. Hmm I would say tell the Mayor about your ideas.
- Joe, Salem
OK, really now -- this is the big problem in Manchester that the UL wants people to focus on? Unreal.
- GM, Concord
Shame really. Our children have grown up here in Manchester and never seen a night out on Halloween. We could take them to other towns but this is their town and they should be able to enjoy it. As our oldest son said; "When I have children, I will live in a town where they celebrate Halloween the right way, not like they do in Manchester." What's next? bumping back Christmas because god forbid we wouldn't want people singing in the evening to neighbors and enjoying themselves? That would be disturbing the peace...How about future Mayor of Manchester, lets bring back Halloween, surely with all the neighborhood watchgroups, someone can map out their areas where it is safe to visit a house and trick or treat at night?
- Robert M Tarr, Manchester
Put the shoe on the other foot! Many Manchester Children were able to go to surrounding towns to observe that town's Halloween celebrations. Seems to me it's a two way street. I'd call this a draw.
- Jim H, Manchester
Manchester could have questions on the September 2010 ballot.
A.
Do you want Halloween on October 31 at night?
or
B.
Do you want Halloween during the day on a Sunday?
We could have questions and answers sessions dealing with Halloween in each of the wards like we should have had dealing with the tax and spending cap starting earlier this year. The tax and spending cap should have been on the ballot last year.
We could see how many Aldermen would try to keep the questions dealing with Halloween from being on the ballot like they have tried to keep the tax and spending cap from being on the ballot.
Before Board of Mayor and Aldermen meetings, people should be able to ask questions of the Mayor and Aldermen and get answers.
Each month, there should be a combined meeting of the School Board and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen that has them discussing education and economic development. Before this combined meeting, people should be able to ask questions of the School Board members, Aldermen, and the Mayor and get answers to their questions.
- Ken Stremsky, Manchester, NH