Newnan Notes: Munchkin Masquerade on the square Wednesday
By GINA SNIDERCity of Newnan Public Information Officer
Costumed children are invited to Munchkin Masquerade on the square in Newnan on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. – noon. Downtown merchants will pass out candy to trick-or-treaters. Participating businesses will be marked by orange and black balloons.
The City of Newnan staff would like to invite children to come trick or treating at City Hall. City Hall is located at 25 LaGrange St. between Spring Street and Long Place.
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The Carnegie schedule of events is:
• Monday, Oct. 29, 2:30 p.m. Deck Your Halls for Fall – Professional home stager, Shelley Harsin, shares the latest trend in fall decorating and design for the home.
• Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2:30 p.m. Is it Hot in Here? Or is it Me? – Dr. Elizabeth Killebrew will discuss women’s health concerns.
• Wednesday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. Munchkin Masquerade – The Carnegie will be passing out treats to all the costumed children.
For more information contact 770-683-1347.
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Attention, animal lovers, it’s almost the spookiest night of the year! The Animal Warden recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying “trick or treat!” all the way to Nov. 1.
1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms — especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.
3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don’t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification.
