Somerville Heroes by Stephanie Hirsch

Cotton Candy House: In Winter Hill, Vici Kins’ “Cotton Candy House” celebrates the warm and welcoming, come-one-come-all spirit of Halloween. Twenty-one years ago, Vici bought a house and also adopted a community tradition which resonated with her.

For 10 years, the previous owners had offered fresh cotton candy from their front porch for neighborhood trick-or-treaters. Like the “Pony Express”, Vici, and her ever-changing cast of spinners have delivered! (Only once, a freshly broken ankle stopped the show.) Her longtime core team of spinners, James and Holly Halliday, had their first date at the Cotton Candy House, married a few years later, and came to spin on their wedding night.

This year, on this warm, wet Halloween, Vici’s son Cormac (now also 21) was on hand with friends from college ready to assist. (The team is pictured here in action…) Neighbors, like frequent supporter Susan Moynihan, showed up once again to help. Like so often in the past, adults with small children expressed their fondness and appreciation for this tradition, which they’ve enjoyed since their own childhoods. It’s a feel-good community thing.

The Decorators and Costume Designers: All over town, people pulled up boxes from the basement to make their homes creepy. They carve the unique pumpkin designs (Like this one, created by Nancy Bernhard and her husband, that Somerville neighbors particularly appreciated).

They dug through storage bins or crafted into the night to put together the perfect costume. Here are pictures of just of few of the many homes where residents did their part to make their neighborhoods exciting to explore. I even tried to take the advice of the Somerville Times to: “Join in with the kids a little. Wear a silly costume.” I’m pictured here with my young UPS delivery driver sidekick.

Allergy Friendly: Another way people supported an inclusive community on Halloween was by handing out allergy-safe candy options. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started by a food allergy group in Tennessee in 2012, and it has since spread through neighborhoods across the US. A teal pumpkin means that a house has non-food treats available, like small toys or stickers.

Maren Chiu, who has a teal pumpkin, hopes to spread the word: “My son has multiple food allergies. He loved trick or treating when he was younger, but I could see his disappointment when having to give up much of the unsafe candy given to him by well-meaning neighbors. We participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project because I want to ‘exclude the food, not the child’. At our house, we have both a teal pumpkin and candy that is ‘safe’ for the top eight allergens.” Here is: a list of allergy-friendly candy, more information on how to participate, and a place where you can find or list trick-or-treating spots.

Somerville Police and Crossing Guards: Finally, a big thank you is due to those who directed traffic to keep the mix of rush-hour traffic, dark, and excited kids in costumes manageable. Crossing guards were out throughout town, giving up their own households’ Halloween evening to help the city. Somerville Police helped close blocks and keep people safe on streets like Lexington, Prospect Hill, and Springfield.

Residents reported they were happy to see officers out talking to people while handing out candy. They also had to handle other problems that arose. One parent told me: “I happen to know of a group of teens who pulled a stupid and potentially dangerous prank. The Somerville Police gave the kids a stern talk and spoke to their parents, and handled the situation extremely well.”

And though neither Police officer or Official Crossing Guard, Councilor Jesse Clingan dressed as a guard and spent the night crossing kids at the dangerous intersection of Mystic and Shore Drive. It is the location of a recent pedestrian fatality and a difficult crossing point that separates the homes of many children in Winter Hill from the Mystic shoreline and Ten Hills neighborhood. Jesse got ready by purchasing a vest and special flashlight.

And one more thanks from a parent who said, “I also want to give a shout out to the Somerville Fire Department who opened their doors and gave out candy to all those trick or treating. The kids were so excited to go!”

For all the different ways people helped, thank you! You made this year’s Halloween another successful celebration of friendship and community.