It’s that time again…when the spooks, goblins and ghouls come out for a night of excitement, seeking bag fulls of candy. Yes, Halloween is just days away and as always, most children are anticipating a night of fun and getting enough sweets to last until the holidays that lie ahead.

This year, Halloween falls on what is generally known as “church night,” a Wednesday, October 31 and local officials are hoping that alone may keep some of the mischief down that the older kids may get into on Halloween.

The City of Albany has once again designated the hours of 5-8 p.m. and urge all the younger trick-or-treaters in the city and county to go out only during those hours.

Even though Halloween is meant to be a fun time for children, it can also be one of the most dangerous nights of the year as well and this year, the Albany City Council has opted to try something a bit different to hopefully make trick-or-treating safer for local youngsters.

As previously reported, a new initiative to help bring a lot of the downtown trick-or-treating to one centralized location is being tried.

A city street (Jefferson Street) on the south side of the Clinton County Courthouse will be roped off, allowing anyone wishing to pass out candy and treats to youngsters to set up a spot for kids to come to. Anyone interested in the new venture is asked to contact Albany City Hall at 387-6011.

There are also other alternatives to actual door-to-door trick-or-treating, as some organizations and churches host an indoor fun night activity for children in lieu of actually being outside at night.

The idea for a centralized location in the downtown area was part of a memorial tribute to five-year-old Aleigha Duvall who was tragically killed in a pedestrian/vehicle accident last Halloween night.

Due to incidents such as the one mentioned and although repeated each year, Halloween safety, especially for children, cannot be overstated, so the NEWS is once again offering the following Halloween safety suggestions.

* Go only to homes where porch lights are lit–and if receiving trick-or-treaters, make sure the porch lights are on. Children should never, ever go into a stranger’s house or even ring their door unless parents (or an adult) is with them and says it’s okay. And never get into a stranger’s vehicle.

* Be careful when you cross a street. Make sure to look in both directions and make sure there are no cars coming. If you have a little brother or sister with you, take their hand and help them get across the street, too. If the street has a stop light, wait until the cross walk light tells you that it’s okay to cross, but still check before you cross and look both ways.

* If you can drive and are taking a bunch of friends to a party, make sure that you have enough gas to get there.

* If your parents give you a curfew, be home when they say. If you are going to be late, call them and let them know.

* Vandalism is never cool! Throwing eggs at cars and houses is not cool. Someone has to clean it up and it could be you if you get caught. You can also be arrested and punished as a juvenile. Think about how you would feel if someone did that to your house and how bad it would make you feel.

* Hurting animals is never acceptable behavior! Some people use Halloween to hurt cats and that is just wrong! Not only is it illegal in most places to hurt or torture animals, it is punishable by law.

* Some towns set a curfew or trick-or-treat hours. Make sure to stick to curfew times and stick to subdivisions and areas with a lot of homes so your kids can get in as much trick-or-treating as possible in a few hours.

* Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return and make sure the child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves and make sure they have a cell phone.

* Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone.

* Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined. This way you can check for any problem candy and get the pick of the best stuff!

* Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars.

* Let children know they should stick together as a group if going out trick-or-treating without an adult.

— Kids costume tips:

* Costumes should be made of flame resistant material. If they are homemade, make sure and use either a fire retardant spray, or fabric that has been treated with fire retardant.

* Make sure to work into your child’s costume reflector strips, a flashlight or a light stick to make them more visible at night.

* Do not include high heel shoes or long dangling pieces of costumes that your child could trip over.

* If they are carrying a prop, such as a sword, make sure they are made out of a flexible plastic that will bend if fallen on.

* If your child is wearing a mask, make sure that the eye holes are big enough to see not only in front but peripherally as well.

* If you and your child are going out with a group, make their costume a unique one so you can spot them easily in a crowded area.

* If you have more than one child, save costumes from year to year to pass down or to exchange with friends.

— Halloween safety tips for drivers:

* Don’t use a cell phone or other electronic device while driving on Halloween night.

* Pay extra attention, particularly to crosswalks, intersections and the side of the road.

* Drive below the posted speed limit in residential areas during trick-or-treat hours.

* Do not pass other vehicles that have stopped in the roadway, they could be dropping off children.

* It’s also a night when child predators are looking for victims. Let your child know that they should never get into the car of a stranger at any time. If someone stops them and asks for help or offers them candy, tell them to scream as loud as they can and run.

* If you are dropping off or picking up kids in an area, pull off the road into a safe spot and turn on your hazard lights to alert other motorists.

Finally, for those residents accepting trick-or-treaters, other than leaving porch lights lit, it is also a good idea to clear your yards, driveways or walking areas of anything that may cause a child to trip and fall.

Have a fun and safe Halloween and remember trick-or-treat hours are 5-8 p.m.