There was something missing from all of the recent Halloween parties and parades held locally: specifically, the headlines many people fear.

There were no major acts of vandalism and no injuries reported.Trick-or-treat activities went off without a hitch in local municipalities. But not so elsewhere.Police in Philadelphia are investigating incidents of needles discovered in children's Halloween candy.Last Sunday, the Kennett Square Police Department reported needles turning up inside five wrapped bars of Twix candy.The bars were given to four different children the evening of Oct. 31 in the Stenning Hills area.In the meantime, another needle turned up in a Snickers bar in the metro area.Of course, this type of behavior could have happened in our area, too. But it didn't.And it's not just a matter of luck.Local residents, police, parents and crime watch volunteers have been vigilant about keeping watch during various trick-or-treat nights in local towns.In addition, our Halloween parades went off without a hitch.What makes this fact remarkable is that some of our parades are held at night, something unthinkable in many larger cities.Some say putting children in costumes, sometimes wearing headgear which limits visibility, and placing youngsters on streets in the darkness is a recipe for disaster.Fortunately, such parades in the local area have earned excellent track records.They're safe, well-attended and highly popular, attracting thousands.They're so well-patronized it leaves us yearning for similar enthusiasm at various veterans parades that will be staged shortly.The recent Halloween festivities provided an opportunity for children and adults to take pause for moments of laughter and camaraderie.The fact that these activities attract so many spectators and participants for wholesome fun with no major reports of harm, vandalism or injury is a tribute to the quality of life in our small towns.By Donald R. Serfass |

dserfass@tnonline.com