Community Corner

Salem Managing Halloween/Hurricane Sandy Prep

Halloween isn't the only event officials are planning for this year.

By Oct. 29, Salem is usually making final preparations for its biggest day of the year.

But this year, the city has more than Halloween on the brain — there's also Hurricane Sandy.

Sunday evening, Special Projects Coordinator Ellen Talkowsky said emergency and city officials would convene Monday morning to asses Sandy and the situation in Salem.

"With respect to Halloween activities, public safety and emergency management personnel will continue to monitor weather reports," the City alerted residents in a message Sunday afternoon. "We are hopeful that the storm will move through the area on Monday and Tuesday and that there will be minimal disruption to planned Halloween activities. Any changes to activities (both downtown events and trick or treating) will be posted on the city’s website at www.salem.com."

The City is also asking residents to assist with keeping storm drains clear.

E.J. Dean, vice-president of Fiesta Shows, which manages festivities on Salem Common and at the Derby Street Carnival during October said Sunday: "we're taking precautions based on the weather."

Dean said decisions would be made per direction from the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety.

As of Sunday afternoon, Captain Rodney Comeau of the Salem Police Department said he didn't think the storm would have a big impact on Halloween day festivities in the city, explaining that people make reservations as far out as a year in advance to be in the Witch City for Oct. 31.

Sgt. Harry Rocheville, who was in downtown Salem this weekend, said Sunday afternoon that Saturday was one of the "busiest Saturdays I've seen before Halloween."

Rocheville said he thinks the "forecasting of the impending storm" was a "huge factor" in drawing out people who might have otherwise opted to come to Salem on Wednesday for Halloween.

As far as the crowd on Saturday, Rocheville said people were "pretty well behaved." While there weren't many arrests he said there were multiple people placed into protective custody later in the the night and the early morning hours Sunday.

Be sure to stay tuned to Salem Patch for the latest on Hurricane Sandy and Salem's Haunted Happenings Festivities.


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