Comments on: The kids from other neighborhoods

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:03:39 +0000

I grew up in Newport News, in a small neighborhood right next to Mariner’s Museum. Our Halloweens were safe and fun, much like what you described of Hilton. Now I live in New Brunswick, NJ. A predominately college town, particularly the street I live on. If I took my kids to the houses on our street, I am quite sure the only “candy” they would get would be beer and chips. So we drive to a neighborhood a few blocks over, and everyone there loves that we bring our kids. This neighborhood is growing older, less families live there now or the kids have grown up and moved out, so the grandmothers, uncles and nuns who live there love to see little kids coming to their doors again. I am so glad there are people like you in Hilton!

By: Westsider

Westsider — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 03:34:55 +0000

In our over-used neighborhood, the Halloween weariness comes from opposite reasons you insinuate here (non-racial). In our town, the wealthy families bus their kids into our middle class neighborhood because their houses are too far apart and the streetlights aren’t close together. They clog the streets with SUVs which inch by each house, whereas the neighborhood kids all walk between houses. It means that we are buying candy for between 400 and 1,000 kids and frantically running to the store to stock up if we underestimated that year. Literally the grocery stores nearby all run out of candy every year. We and our neighbors continue to participate for the local kids, including those from public housing adjacent to our neighborhood. The sentiment on our block is that we’re good enough for the wealthy residents when it comes to Halloween and public housing, but certainly not for their schools. Some residents can’t afford it anymore and are already starting to keep their lights off. It feels like a continuation of their blind privilege, so please please trick or treat in your own neighborhoods, folks!

By: diane

diane — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 16:03:42 +0000

Having lived in Hilton my entire life of 63 years I can tell you Halloween has always been a big deal. I don’t remember a lot of decorations as a child but I do remember lots of trick or treaters. My kids are both in there 30’s and I remember them getting toys from Mr Farley. The Farley’s always made sure every child who came in there house to pick out a toy was accompanied by an adult. I clearly remember the last Halloween Mrs Farley was alive. Halloween went on as usually at there house even though she was so ill she was lying on the sofa. The smile on her face said it all. I can’t remember exactly when the tradition of sitting outside and decorating the house like crazy started. Many years ago my best friends husband was out to sea so I asked her over to give out candy. We set up a small table with Halloween lights strung on the umbrella. Since the trick or treating started at dinner time I decided to make a pot of chilli so we could eat outside and still hand out candy. That was the beginning of the Hurley Ave great Halloween event. It has gotten bigger and crazier every year. More neighbors started cooking chilli, decorating and making it a great celebration. Where else but Hilton could Halloween be so much fun.

By: tsmoot9

tsmoot9 — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 15:52:42 +0000

Bravo Matt! I live in Hilton, and raised my son in Hilton. Each year I make homemade treats for the children I know well, and buy lots of candy for the ones I don’t. I enjoy all of the costumes and ingenuity kids and parents come up with. Why on earth would anyone even think of depriving any child of the fun and excitement of trick-or-treating just because they come from a neighborhood other than Hilton? Does it really matter where the kids come from as long as they come? I applaud the parents that do bring their children to safely walk the streets of Hilton and enjoy all the glory our Hilton neighbors have to offer. What better way to bridge relations among people than to show how inclusive we truly are. I say, “bring it on”.

By: Bettie

Bettie — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:32:35 +0000

So grateful I happened upon your post this morning. Thank you for your captivating insight into the heart of our community. I live in Glendale, but I truly feel my community is not restricted by the subdivision title alone. Community is all composing. I to love to see the children from our community run across the lawn to retrieve their treat. I sit out front to greet each and every one. I’m taken back by the excitement in their eyes as they anticipate the goodie coming their way. I truly believe I get more out of their visit then they do. Thanks again for reminding us that Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas is an opportunity to slow down, enjoy and anticipate in the community we are so fortunate to part of.

By: grkleo18x

grkleo18x — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:10:57 +0000

I was just telling my husband that I grew up in Hilton and It was the best place to raise kids, and that when I would trick or treat there I would go home with a huge bag of candy every year!

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 13:45:33 +0000

Seems to me that instead of being proud that you live in a neighborhood that puts on such a grand event.. this guy has got his panties in a bunch. Dont participate then. Halloween is supposed to be about fun for all kids and there are many that live in neighborhoods that do not do anything at all. So are they supposed to just stay home and not enjoy the same festivities that the kids in his neighborhood do. Here is a better solution Ill come by your house sir and drop some money off to you so that youre not so put out. I would actually be glad too! Kids love coming to hilton because of the amazing display a lot of your neighbors put forth. Its not about going around and collecting the most amounts of candy and Hilton being a honey hole. ……. oh and to the person that commented on the color of skin that comes to the doors. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF.

By: zk

zk — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 20:46:25 +0000

So great of you and your family, Matt! I wish more individuals could overcome such Calvinist (haves/have-nots) perspectives.

By: pantsinspace

pantsinspace — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 20:26:26 +0000

I miss Halloween in Hilton something fierce. And I never had a problem giving candy to every kid who came to my door. And shots for their parents, to boot. I heard neighbors complaining about the kids who obviously weren’t from the area, and I wasn’t super nice about asking them if they thought that was just a little racist.

By: IfByYes

IfByYes — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 17:22:48 +0000

My neighbour and I went trick or treating with our kids and discovered that the housing complex down the block has an AWESOME set up for Hallowe’en and we were totally jealous – it definitely had the block party feel. We are now planning on how we can make our complex more awesome to try to lure MORE kids our way. Can’t understand feeling the opposite. Of course, we’re Canadian and our neighbourhood is mixed race and everyone seems fine with that. The Korean guy next door always stops to talk to our Caucasion son and the Indian family next door brought us some Lindt chocolates on Halloween as a thank you for the time when I drove the woman in to work when her car broke down. My neighbourhood in general is awesome, but Halloween is lame. My neighbour and I are talking about setting up a ghost strung on a string that passed from our bedroom window to their bedroom window…

By: Susanne

Susanne — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 03:02:59 +0000

Nothing beats Halloween with the Village people!

By: Piper

Piper — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 02:49:42 +0000

THANK YOU. I have been on both sides of this issue. I used to live in an inner-city neighborhood and NOBODY in their right mind would take their children trick or treating as there were too many drug houses in the neighborhood. In 7 years I got 0 trick or treaters. So yep, they bused the kids to the burbs. At another point I lived in a destination neighborhood and LOVED the influx of kids and yep, lots of them were brown. How hard is to buy a couple extra bags of jolly Ranchers to make some kids night?

By: Matt Thompson

Matt Thompson — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 02:13:31 +0000

Good question John. I’ve been wondering when the tradition started myself!

By: Crystal

Crystal — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:49:46 +0000

Well said! This person reminds me of the woman from last year (Or maybe the year before) Who instead of candy, chose to give the overweight children a note telling their parents they’re too fat for Halloween. You have to wonder about these people, they seem like awfully dreadful human beings.

By: anthrodiva (@anthrodiva)

anthrodiva (@anthrodiva) — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:27:46 +0000

Nice!