STAY SAFE WITH THESE TIPS AND "TRICKS" FROM KIRKWOOD'S SAFETY MANAGER 

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective.
• Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement, or contact with flame.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs, or accessories, look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is part the costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A person may be easily hurt by these accessories if they stumble or trip.
• Make sure all trick-or-treaters and their escorts carry flashlights with fresh batteries.

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over, such as garden hoses, toys, bikes, or lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs. 
• Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps. 
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• Plan and review the route that is acceptable, agree on a specific time when they should return home.
• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.
• Don't assume a right-of-way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, that doesn't mean others will. Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.
• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or-Treaters to:
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
• Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic. 
• Never cut across yards or use alleys.  Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks.
• Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.

Downtown Kirkwood's annual Halloween Walk will be held Thursday, October 30 with trick-or-treating for children from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at participating businesses.  Trick-or-treat locations are located throughout Downtown Kirkwood, and all will give free candy to children.  Names and addresses of participating businesses can be found on the Downtown Kirkwood website at www.downtownkirkwood.com and on the list below. 

Kirkwood Kiwanis will give away limited quantities of hotdogs and soda at their food booth from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., in Ken Connor Park, located at the corner of Kirkwood Road and W. Argonne Drive.  The Pumpkin Patch at Kirkwood Farmers' Market will feature delicious treats, fall decorations, and plenty of pumpkins.  Activities are also available for children including Fort Summit, John Deere Tractor Land, and more.  Kirkwood Farmers' Market is located at East Argonne and Taylor, one block east of the Kirkwood Train Station. 

The community is also invited to attend the "Meet Me at the Harvest Party," based on the movie and song "Meet Me in St. Louis" (250th birthday)  on the parking lot next to the Greentree Community Church, 132 W. Monroe., from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. which will include family-friendly games, entertainment, refreshments, and an abundant harvest of candy. 

The Halloween Walk is coordinated by Downtown Kirkwood Special Business District. The downtown Kirkwood organization serves business and property owners in downtown Kirkwood through marketing, public area enhancements, and administration of Kirkwood Farmers' Market.  For more information about the Halloween Walk, please visit www.DowntownKirkwood.com.

PARTICIPATING MERCHANTS AND ORGANIZATIONS: 

• Kirkwood City Hall- 139 S. Kirkwood Rd.--Visit City Hall before the downtown Kirkwood businesses.  Trick-or-Treating at City Hall from 4 - 5 pm.
• 5 Star Burgers--312 S.  Kirkwood Rd.
• Blush--110 N. Clay
• Chocolate,  Chocolate,  Chocolate--112 N. Kirkwood Rd.
• Christopher's--127 E. Argonne Dr.
• Country Financial--200 S. Kirkwood Rd., Suite 120
• Down by the Station--150 W. Argonne Dr.
• Erker's Optical--124 W. Jefferson, Suite 106
• Finders Keepers--112 E. Jefferson
• Fun in the Sun--121 N. Kirkwood Rd.
• Ginger Bay Salon & Spa--439 S. Kirkwood Rd.
• Greentree Pharmacy--307 S. Kirkwood Rd.
• Hair Salon for Men--343 S. Kirkwood Rd.
• Junior League of St. Louis--106 N. Kirkwood Rd.
• Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co.--120 S. Kirkwood Rd.
• Kirkwood Station Brewing Co.--105 E. Jefferson
• Kirkwood Train Station--110 W. Argonne Dr.
• Lass & Laddie--161 W. Jefferson
• Lucille Rapp Dance Studio, Inc.--153 W. Argonne
• Mike Duffy's  Pub & Grill--124 W. Jefferson
• School of Rock--104 N. Kirkwood Rd.
• Sole Comfort--108 N. Kirkwood Rd.
• Starbucks--343 S. Kirkwood Rd.

In an effort to reduce wrong-way interstate driving, the Missouri Department of Transportation will test new wrong-way warning signs on I-44 ramps in St. Louis City over the next three weeks.  Crews will install new flashing signs and update striping on eight I-44 exit ramps in the City of St. Louis, including: 

• Eastbound I-44 to Lafayette, Hampton and Jefferson
• Westbound I-44 to Arsenal, Grand, Vandeventer, Hampton and Jefferson

The solar-powered signs are able to detect vehicles heading the wrong direction on the ramp.  They will flash and notify law enforcement about the potential wrong way incident.     In the last eight years, there have been 25 wrong-way crashes on I-44. Of those, 22 were at night, five were fatal, and four resulted in disabling injuries.  Only three of those crashes could be directly attributed to a driver impaired by drugs or alcohol.