HEART OF STEELE

I grew up in a small, central Minnesota town where everybody knew everybody, and children were everyone’s responsibility.

All the adults knew who my parents were; some knew my grandparents. They all considered themselves surrogate parents for local kid.

In other words, I got away with absolutely nothing. I also felt safe playing outside and running across the street or down the block. When I didn’t come home after school, my mother knew where I was, because someone else’s mother called to let her know.

One of my favorite times of year back then was Halloween–because what kid doesn’t love collecting a bucket full of candy?

Because this is Minnesota, most years I wore a snowsuit underneath my Halloween costume. And we trick-or-treated only as far as we could walk–which was farther than you might think, even in a snowstorm.

Maybe somewhere in this country, kids still celebrate Halloween like that. But today, parents are more cautious. And it’s not all about the pandemic. Even before 2020, I heard people from all parts of the country talk about seeing fewer trick-or-treaters coming to their doors.

It makes sense, I suppose. We don’t know our neighbors as well as we did in the past. We’re more aware of the dangers when kids are out walking the streets in the dark.

Some of our neighbors are stepping forward to provide more safe trick-or-treat experiences.

In the coming days, Trinity Lutheran Church, Associated Church, and Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church will all host “trunk or treat” events. A group of Medford residents are putting together a Halloween extravaganza for kids at Medford Outlet Mall. The Blooming Prairie Serviceman’s Club has organized a “Trick or Trot”, which starts with a fun run.

Owatonna business owners plan to dole out candy to costumed kids on Saturday, as will the Steele County Historical Society in Owatonna. And on Sunday, B-Z Hardware sets up Halloween fun on their Blooming Prairie property.

It’s like the whole Steele County community got together and decided to be the kind of neighborhood I grew up in, a neighborhood that keeps kids safe while they have the time of their lives.

So thanks to everyone who’s giving from the heart to create a safe and fun Halloween in Steele County.