10/23/2014
With Halloween landing on a Friday this year, the event promises to be a banner year for trick-or-treaters, especially here in Sterling Heights…one of America’s top ten cities for Trick or Treating. According to a national financial blog, SmartAsset.com, Sterling Heights ranks as sixth in the nation (out of 200) for prime Trick or Treating opportunities.
According to the site, “a good trick-or-treating experience depends on several important elements: the quality and quantity of the candy obtained, as well as the physical safety and comfort of the trick-or-treaters.”
SmartAsset’s study on quality, quantity, safety and comfort compared key factors in a great Treat or Treating experience such as doorbell accessibility, population density, quantity of candy stores, overall community safety and average October precipitation.
“Sterling Heights, Michigan’s premier trick-or-treating city, promises to have plenty of fine jack-o-lanterns flickering on its doorsteps,” SmartAsset wrote in its blog entry on Michigan’s fourth largest city.
In keeping with a safe, family-friendly experience for all young ghosts and goblins, the Sterling Heights Police Department will have extra patrols in neighborhoods on Halloween between the hours of 6 and 8 p.m. and will institute a new safety measure this year by initiating a public alert siren blast at 6 p.m. to mark the traditional hour beginning the Trick or Treating event and then again at 8 p.m. to close out the evening festivities. According to Chief of Police Michael Reese, this will give homeowners and participants a clear guideline on when to officially celebrate.
“Obviously our main concern at the Police Department is for the safety of our parents and children,” Chief Reese said. “We recommend that children be dressed in bright, reflective clothing and carry flash lights or other illumination. Also, to increase safety for all, parents must try to prevent kids from darting across the street from in between cars and should only cross at intersections.”
For more information on Halloween safety, please call the Sterling Heights Police Department at (586) 446-2800.