Halloween Tips and Events for this Weekend

The First Church and Parish will hold its fourth annual Community Harvest Dinner at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. The event will feature locally grown foods, and a talk about sustainable farming by Greg Agnew of Lemon Thyme Farm. Adult tickets are $20, children 5 -12 are $8, and if you want to buy a table for eight it's $120. For more information, visit http://www.dedhamuu.org, or contact the church office at 781-326-7463 or firstchurch@dedhamuu.org to RSVP.

Halloween Lantern Walk

The second annual Lantern Walk will take place from 6 – 7 p.m. on Sunday. This is a non-scary event for kids under age of 10 with their parents. The parsonage area at the First Church will be turned into a place with enchanted, lantern-lit pathways and wonderful characters to greet and meet along the way.

Halloween Safety

With Halloween approaching on Sunday, it is a good idea to have a system or way to do things to ensure the safest time for you and your children. Here is a list of some things Dedham Patch has gathered after speaking with several parents:

• Do not connect more than three lights together, making sure to check the extension cord rating, and make sure it doesn't go anywhere that can be considered a fire hazard.
• Candles, in jack-o-lanterns or even just around, should be off the ground and out of reach of children, or even try battery powered for a safer alternative.
• Halloween costumes should allow full movement. Costumes that drag, or that can get snagged on something pose a potential threat, so make sure they are safe.
• Choose costumes that are lighter in color and attach reflective materials to costumes. Make sure each child has a flashlight to help them see and be seen.
• Never allow your children to eat Halloween candy before you inspect it, even if you know your neighbors, you should always check to be safe and throw away open candy or anything that looks at all suspicious.
• Children should always go out trick-or-treating with a responsible adult, or in a group. If you have a group of kids going, parents should go along just to keep an eye on things.
• Plan a route so that you as parents know where your kids will be at all times, set a time for them to be home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves. Make sure that they have a cell phone, as well.
• Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone. Make sure they know to stay in populated areas and not to go off the beaten path. Also, let them know to stay in well-lit areas with lots of people around. Explain to them why it can be dangerous for kids not to do this.

Town of Dedham to Honor JuJu Mucciaccio at Retirement Party Tonight

Retired Parks and Recreation director, Anthony "JuJu" Mucciaccio, is the guest of honor at a town-organized retirement party tonight at 7 p.m. The party will be at Moseley's on the Charles. Come out for a night filled with memories, good times and celebrate the many years of great service from JuJu. For tickets contact Town Hall.

Dedham 375 Takes a New Shape

Selectman Sarah MacDonald requested that the Board of Selectmen form a seven-person Dedham 375 Steering Committee that will oversee the ogranization of events surrounding Dedham's birthday in 2011 and manage expeditures and donations that come in for the events. The board approved the new committee, and appeals for applications will go out to the public soon.

Halloween Party at Blue Bunny

Dedham's Halloween festivities continue Friday, as the Blue Bunny will host a celebration for the ghostly holiday from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged, but not required to wear costumes, but Peter Reynolds will get in the holiday spirit. Kids will get an opportunity to create their own Halloween animation. Come show off your costume early and have a great time.