Sweetening Halloween For Main St Residents

By Nancy K. Crevier

The first year that Miriam Rhyins lived on Main Street, she and her family greeted more than 600 trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Each year, she said, the number has grown exponentially, until six years later in 2007 when she passed out candy to 3,000 Halloween revelers.

“It’s a wonderful event and we just love it,” said Ms Rhyins, but she is concerned that handing out thousands of pieces of candy has become a great expense for many of her neighbors, especially any who might be on a fixed income. Even those who wish to take part in the annual festivity must sometimes stop handing out the treats hours before the last ghost or ghoulie has rung the doorbell, because they are out of goodies, she said.

Two years ago, she enlisted the help of Hawley School in collecting candy to be distributed by Main Street residents on Halloween and last year she asked all of the elementary schools to take part in a candy collection.

“We collected 840 bags of candy last year and I spent the morning of Halloween handing it out to our neighbors up and down Main Street,” Ms Rhyins said.

She knows that the Big Y and Girl Scouts have set up a collection in past years, as well, but sees that there is still a huge gap between how much Main Street residents must buy and how much is donated. This year Ms Rhyins is spearheading an effort to unify the collection and distribution efforts of candy for Main Street residents and make it more of a town project. The Main Street Halloween Committee is sponsoring a donation drive and has set up boxes at the Queen Street CVS, Big Y, the main lobby at Edmond Town Hall, and on the front porch of the Rhyins’ home at 54 Main Street.

“The event is just amazing and I would like it to be fun for all involved,” said Ms Rhyins. The candy collection would benefit only those residents living on Main Street between the intersection of Route 302 and Currituck Road. Businesses and side streets would not be included, she said. “It is Main Street that sees the bulk of the activity,” she explained.

Donations of individually-wrapped candy and/or nonedible treats will be collected and distributed to participating families by members of the Main Street Halloween Committee.

“Halloween is on a Friday this year,” said Ms Rhyins, “so I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see even more trick-or-treaters than last year. Any donations, and any help distributing will be very much appreciated.”

For more information on the Main Street Halloween Committee, contact Miriam Rhyins at 426-1025.