Funny you should ask: "Is the City allowing Trick or Treating on Halloween this year?"

It is the most oft-asked question I get these days: is Halloween on for the City of Chetek? Given the growing concerns about the spike in county Covid cases of late and that, to quote one source I read, that we are at the “tipping point”, should the city take a stronger stance against the time honored tradition of kids going door to door dressed up in their favorite get-up on All Hallows Eve?

Officially, the city has no position on Halloween. We are leaving it
up to parents to decide what they think is best for their children: take them out or keep them home. Many of the kids will already be masked up anyway. Given the unique circumstances of this year, it might be prudent to have your kids add a mask to their costume. But you make the call. At the same time, we are leaving it up to citizens to decide whether or not to participate. Like Yoda once told Luke: “Do or do not”. In other words, if you are of the opinion that handing out candy might inadvertently contribute to the spread of the virus, then simply keep your porch light off (or, if you trust them to not be greedy, leave a bowl of candy out on your porch). On the other hand, if you're fine with it, join in the frivolity but perhaps wear a mask for good measure. (Of course, if you're sick, then you probably shouldn't be handing anything out. Leave that to someone else in your household.)

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A month or so ago I got an angry voicemail from a local senior citizen who was “disgusted” at the amount of people in local eateries and shops not wearing a mask. Before they hung up – without leaving their name – they scolded me with “Mr. Mayor, you better do something about this!” I suspect they want me to issue a mayoral edict that threatens citizens with a hefty fine lest they don't don a mask. But this: one hour after Governor Evers issued the “Mask Mandate” back in August, Barron County District Attorney Brian Wright informed all county police agencies to not bother sending him any citations for those who had failed to wear a mask in a public place. What good is it, then, to issue a “mask ordinance” if there is no way to enforce it? The point, I gather, is to create peer pressure that leans on people's consciences to mask-up for the good of everyone. But I think it frequently has the opposite affect causing certain people to assert, in so many words, their right to politely decline. Admittedly, I have friends whom I love and respect on both sides of the issue. You probably do, too.

This is a long way, perhaps, from trick or treating but the principle I am invoking is the same: people are responsible for their own personal health. If they choose to send their kids out into the dark to collect candy on Halloween that is their business just like it is the business of residents who feel such a practice is unwise this year to politely not participate. All that we should expect from one another is the grace to disagree about this matter. After all, Halloween comes but once a year. And it looks like for a change it's going to be a beautiful night.

If you didn't catch it in this week's Chetek Alert,

• Trick or treating is being allowed from 4-7:30 pm on Saturday.
• Chetek United Methodist will be hosting Trunk-N-Treats from 4-6 on Halloween.
• The Chetek Lions are sponsoring free hot dogs, candy and chips (while supplies last) for trick-or-treaters at Main Street Park from 5-7 pm on Halloween.

Unfortunately, this year the annual Kids Halloween Costume party (sponsored by the Lions and the Chetek Chamber of Commerce) will not occur as the school is not allowing non-school events to be held on their premises. Also, this year Chetek Lutheran Church is also not hosting trunk-or-treat. Let's hope for better things next year!