Halloween Roundup.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Trick-or-treating tips

Parents and guardians are being urged to take some basic precautions to help protect trick-or-treaters on Halloween.

Here are some tips from local fire officials:

Set a time limit and designate a specific route. Accompany young children.

Tell children to accept treats only on porches or front steps and to never go inside a stranger's house.

Look for costumes with flame-retardant materials. Don't use cumbersome or vision-impaired costumes. Instead of masks, have children wear face makeup.

Use reflecting stripes and carry a flashlight. Remind children to stop, look and listen before crossing the street. Children should also carry quarters so they can phone home in an emergency or for a ride home.

Give children a small amount of candy or other food before they go trick-or-treating so they won't be tempted to eat from their bag of goodies before they can be checked by an adult.

Examine everything children bring home and discard treats with broken wrappers or seals. If a child or adult becomes sick after eating a Halloween treat, take the remains of the suspected food or candy to medical personnel so they can determine whether it's the cause of the illness.

Halloween events

A number of Halloween observances are scheduled in Lane County and the surrounding area this week.

Here's a list of some of the major ones.

"Great Grad 2003," which is sponsoring an alcohol-free and drug-free graduation celebration next spring for the Junction City High School Class of 2003, is operating a haunted house at Eighth and Juniper streets from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Halloween. Money collected from admissions will be used for the graduation celebration.

The North Bend Police Association is holding its first Halloween haunted house next to the old Roosevelt Elementary School on Sherman Avenue. The cost is $2 for children 12 and younger and $4 for everyone else. Hours are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Wednesday and 6 p.m. to midnight on Halloween. 756-3161, Ext. 410.

The Willamalane Senior Center in Springfield will hold a party at 1:30 p.m. on Halloween at the center, 215 W. C St. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided in the lounge. 736-4444.

The 5th Street Public Market will open its boutiques and cafes to trick or treaters from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Halloween. Treats, gift certificates and coupons will be given away. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative costumes and parents who wear costumes will be eligible for prizes. A $1.99 Halloween kids' meal will be offered with the purchase of an adult meal. 484-0383.

The Science Factory will hold its second annual "Weird Science Halloween" party from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween. The free event will feature spooky stories, mystifying magic, a costume parade and other eerie entertainment. A Mad Scientist will be on hand to do weird science demonstrations and a Mad Scientist's Lab will be available. The factory is at 2300 Leo Harris Parkway in Eugene, across from Autzen Stadium. 682-7882.

Yellow Brick Road and other local agencies and programs will sponsor a Halloween night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Village Green motel in Cottage Grove. Rented rooms will be decorated with Halloween themes and treats will be provided. Yellow Brick Road is a new program for rural young people age 14 to 21 who are at risk. It's funded through St. Vincent de Paul and the Lane Workforce Partnership. 942-3255.

The Lighthouse Temple will hold a party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Halloween at the temple at West 18th Avenue and Charnelton Street in Eugene. There will be games, face painting, fire engine rides, a bluegrass band and candy. 485-5244.

Camp Harlow will hold its annual Harvest Time Festival from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Halloween at 3850 Country Farm Road in Eugene. There will be face painting, door prizes, bowling, shooting hoops, candy, cookies, punch and more. Hot dogs and chips will be sold for $1. The suggested donation is $2 per person or up to $10 per family. 683-5416.

The Church of the Harvest will hold a Halloween celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween at the church, 4646 Fox Hollow Road. Admission is free to the event, which will have candy, games and sumo wrestling and big boxing. There will be two big bouncers for kids, a Belgian horse hayride, live drama and a concession stand with popcorn, candy apples, chicken dinners and more for sale. 349-1972.

Operation Coquille and the city of Coquille will have a haunted maze in the basement of the Coquille Community Building from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Halloween through Saturday. The cost is $1.25 per trip through the maze, $1 when you bring a can of food for the local food bank. The carnival will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Halloween in the small auditorium. Carnival game tickets are 25 cents or five for $1. 396-6284.

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HALLOWEEN Roundup