Brownsburg Magazine October 2023

36 Motif Blvd. Brownsburg, IN

Busenbark Clark & Associates Certified Public Accountants

317-852-2304 bca.cpa

the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce. The initial membership included over 100 businesses.

He was involved in the formation of the Brownsburg Education Foundation, and has served as treasurer or board member for numerous organizations and nonprofits over the years including Sheltering Wings.

Most of all, Clark was helping small businesses sort through the difficulties of starting a business from scratch.

together for many years,” Clark says. “I asked if he would be interested in joining our firm with the idea that I would semiretire and he would run the business.”

Busenbark joined the team in 2017 and began managing the firm in 2020. The transition was seamless.

CONNECT

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

This year, Busenbark Clark and Associates will celebrate 40 years in business.

Founder Dave Clark can remember the early days, his first client - a local restaurant in Indianapolis - and the unwavering support of his wife Robbie when he suggested he open his own certified public accountant (CPA) firm in 1983.

“In the beginning I got a sign, put it out front and started meeting people,” Clark says. “The standing joke was all of my employees made more money than I did.”

Clark offered space in his office when he and a group of local business owners launched

“It’s neat to watch businesses succeed,” he says. “We help folks start, manage, acquire, sell and, unfortunately, close businesses. We analyze profitability, suggest investment opportunities and act as a partner to your business.”

What many of us don’t know, Clark probably takes for granted. For example, far too often, business owners contact a CPA too late in the game.

“People often come in and they’ve already made some important decisions,” Clark says. “A lot of times we’re going to just have to live with those decisions, but ideally, we like to meet clients when they are thinking about starting a business and assist them with the decision-making process.”

In addition to working with local businesses, the office also files tax returns for nonprofits and individuals, and the family-friendly environment keeps clients coming back.

“Derick Busenbark and I played basketball

“When I started here, it was obvious that everybody loves Dave,” Busenbark says. “Clients, employees - they think the world of him. His office manager, Susan Groover, has been here for over 35 years. Darby Wolf, an enrolled agent, has been here for 30 years. Those relationships aren’t a coincidence. He created a culture that people really appreciate.”

When the pandemic hit, Clark’s plans to retire were delayed as he stepped in to fill a variety of roles, helping clients in desperate times.

“The pandemic really created some additional work because we were working with clients to qualify them for various government funding programs,” Busenbark says. “We really didn’t know who would survive and we wanted to try to get them the funds to stay alive.”

Just this year, Clark began the process of semiretirement so he will be able to walk away knowing the firm is in good hands.

“I’ve never considered myself to be the boss,” he says. “We work as a team and everyone pitches in. I’ve always wanted to enable each team member and it’s worked out well.”

PREPARING AND PROTECTING HENDRICKS COUNTY LEADERS FOCUS IN ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Photography Provided

Do you know if Hendricks County is ready in the event of a large-scale emergency?

Leaders in the community have been working on emergency preparedness, particularly since September 11, 2001.

According to Jeff Corder, emergency preparedness coordinator for Hendricks County, when volunteers showed up in New York City on September 11 and the days after, there wasn’t an established way to organize them or utilize their various services.

In 2002, former President George W. Bush

approved a national Citizen Corps, with several different arms or departments under the main umbrella. One of the groups under that umbrella was the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), in which Corder also serves as coordinator for the county.

“The MRC is an emergency response team that supplements for medical first responders, but the name actually misleads people,” Corder says. “You don’t have to be trained in the medical field. Think about the pandemic. We needed people helping with registration, people greeting, organizing, etcetera. We’re volunteers that supplement the health department staff so they can give vaccinations or dispense medication.”

The MRC was formed in Hendricks County in 2007, and just prior to COVID, the group belonged to a list of 75 volunteers. After COVID, that list grew to 215.

“Over two and a half years, [during the pandemic] we volunteered at clinics,” Corder says. “We have a lot of retired nurses and doctors, and veterans trained in the military, and COVID showed what we could do beststaff the clinics or points of dispensing.”

As the pandemic waned, members of the MRC began looking for other ways to volunteer on a regular basis.

Educational and training opportunities are offered throughout the year and range from

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Volunteers: Joanne Scoot & Gail Douglas

STOP THE BLEED programs, CPR, psychological first aid and more.

Corder plans to host a training in 2024 for creating a family assistance center or shelter. During a mass emergency, family members are transported to hospitals, pets are lost and located in another area, and there may even be fatalities. The assistance or command center would be a central place where residents could gather to locate and receive information about their loved one. All of that takes volunteers, and a lot of them.

Through a Leadership Hendricks County Capstone Project, the Crisis Response Team (CRT) was formed as a subgroup under the MRC.

Bridgette Collins-George is the executive director of Hendricks County Community Corrections. She’s also a member of the MRC and CRT.

“CRT is a group of trained volunteers in the National Organization for Victim Assistance model,” Collins-George says. “We’re like a second layer of first responders.”

The group’s goal is to meet the basic needs of individuals who have experienced a traumatic situation. For example, when an employer or superintendent says additional support has been brought in for those who need to talk about a recent suicide or drug overdose, the CRT could be one of those additional support units.

“We’re really there to bridge the gap, not only to give people a voice and chance to speak, but also to connect them to resources,” Collins-George says. “When you have a traumatic event, you can have trouble focusing and finding the right place to connect.”

The goal for Corder is to continue to add to the list of those he can call on in an emergency. However, there are many ways the MRC and CRT can help all year long. In the fall, Hendricks County Health Department representatives travel to schools and nursing homes to administer

vaccines. Businesses request free training for employees year-round, and there is a constant need to train new individuals as CRT or STOP THE BLEED instructors.

Volunteers can remain on the list in the event of a large emergency, or choose to attend the many opportunities in training and serving smaller but important needs in the community.

“It’s important that we have an organized system for our volunteers,” Corder says. “If there’s ever a large-scale event, we want to have a way to operate a reception center and shelter to check people in, park cars, serve as translators and organize information.”

For anyone who feels like they aren’t a people person, Corder is also working with a local animal shelter to create plans to care for pets during a large-scale event.

“There isn’t a specific time commitment,” Corder says. “Volunteers have to have a

background check every two years. The most common question we receive is, ‘I don’t have a medical background. What can I do?’ While there are a lot of untapped medical professionals out there, like dentists and veterinarians whose expertise could be utilized, we are really in need of just about anything people want to do that doesn’t involve a medical procedure.”

Anne Archer, community outreach coordinator for the Hendricks County Health Department, says staff relies on services provided by the MRC and CRT.

“I think a lot of people aren’t aware of all the things we do at the Health Department,” Archer says. “For example, we offer vaccine clinics, monitor communicable diseases and strive to keep our communities healthy.”

When it comes to large crises, volunteers make a huge difference.

“Our COVID vaccine clinic response would not have been the same without them,” Archer says.

For more information, visit hendrickscountymrc.org.

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Make Your Autumn Awesome

VISIT HENDRICKS COUNTY HAS PLENTY OF IDEAS FOR YOUR FALL TO-DO LIST

Writer / Josh Duke Photography Provided

I love the fall season in Hendricks County. The weather is a little cooler, the leaves begin to change and the events pick up.

We’ve created an online tool exclusive to our website at visithendrickscounty.com to help you find your perfect, personalized fall trip ideas. By answering four simple questions, the system will search for and display your perfect fall adventure. We’ve also put together some preplanned, two-day itineraries featuring our most popular things to do for specific groups of people. Either way, you should find the exact fall adventure you’re looking for right here in Hendricks County.

Narrowing down all the festivals, activities and other fall attractions in Hendricks County can prove to be a daunting task because of the sheer number of fun things to see and do. We are here to help, both through our online resources at visithendrickscounty. com, and with the following info.

BEASLEY’S ORCHARD AND HEARTLAND APPLE FESTIVAL

This must-see autumn attraction in Danville also boasts our number-one fall event, the annual Heartland Apple Festival. Always held during the first two weekends in October, visitors can tour the orchard, take a hayride

to the pumpkin patch, pick apples from the U-pick area, enjoy live entertainment, buy fresh produce and other goods in a Civil Warera barn converted to a rustic market, or wind their way through a huge corn maze.

Your children will love hay mountain, the apple cannons and Barnyard Bonanza, which features ball throws, a spider web, a huge jumping pillow and more.

You don’t have to visit Beasley’s during those two weekends to enjoy the fun, as the orchard remains open every day during the fall season with many of the above activities available. If you go during the week, you will usually find fewer people there.

ADDITIONAL FALL EVENTS

Five other events are highlighted in this article, but I would highly recommend visiting our website for many more activities, recommendations and tips.

Harvest Moon Festival

(October 7) - A collaboration for the first time last year between the Town of Avon and Washington Township Parks and Recreation replaced the Avon Heritage Festival, and this second-year event will occur at Avon Town Hall Park with pumpkin carvings, wagon rides, apple launchings, food trucks and much more.

Hendricks County International Festival

(October 7) - In its fourth year, the International Festival moves to a new location in Plainfield to The Shops at Perry Crossing. This free, cultural immersion experience provides fun for the entire family. Enjoy food, dancing and musical performances from various nationalities. Make sure to check out the interactive booths to learn more about other cultures and parts of the world such as India, Pakistan, Poland, Russia and Japan.

Dog Daze at the Maze

(October 14-15) - Beasley’s Orchard turns its popular corn maze over to the dogs, with a weekend dedicated to our four-legged friends.

Fall Colors Festival & Run

(October 21) - Enjoy the best public place to see fall foliage in Hendricks County - McCloud Nature

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Park in North Salem. This event boasts lots of fun activities including 5K and 10K runs in the morning, archery, tree climbing, exploring their squirrel-themed prairie maze, using an atlatl, hayrides and more.

Doctoberfest (October 21) - This is a must for any fan of the TV show “Doctor Who” as it features a costume competition, custom action figure contest, games, merchandise, a visit from an actress from the show, and much more, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Plainfield and presented by Who North America in Camby.

MORE FALL ATTRACTIONS

In addition to all the events, a couple of fall attractions in Brownsburg that I highly recommend include Hogan Farms and Natural Valley Ranch.

Hogan Farms has become a popular spot each fall, with activities during the month of October that include a huge corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo and hayrides.

If you’re into horseback riding, there truly is no better season to experience a ride through the scenic woods at Natural Valley Ranch than the fall. The Brownsburg ranch spans 70 scenic acres, and offers guided trail rides along the banks of White Lick Creek.

I briefly mentioned Who North America in the events above. Did you know that it is the only retail store and museum dedicated to the TV show “Doctor Who” in North America? If you love the show, venturing to this attraction in Camby should be on your bucket list.

For more information about any of these attractions, events or other things to do in Hendricks County, or to take our fall quiz, go to visithendrickscounty.com.

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Crafting a Purpose

STUMPF HAUS ARTS & CRAFTS REPRESENTS A LOCAL FAMILY’S BRAVE JOURNEY

Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Amy Payne

ornhole is a great American pastime at many summer cookouts, but for Carolyn Stumpf and her family, it’s so much more than a game. It has provided purpose and healing for her family in recent years, as her veteran husband continues to deal with the aftermath of serving in the Army years ago.

Stumpf, her husband, and their son, Ben, work together to create homemade, regulation-size cornhole sets. Many are custom made, showcasing favorite sports

teams, bands and mascots. The boards are hand cut and sanded out of real pine plywood, and the designs are custom made by Stumpf herself. One of her favorite parts of the job is delivering the boards to customers.

“When I deliver boards and see people’s faces, that speaks volumes to me for what my family did and what my business did to make someone excited,” Stumpf says.

Their business, Stumpf Haus Arts & Crafts, was never on their radar. In fact,

Stumpf worked in sales and customer service for 32 years. Her husband served as a combat engineer in the Army, where he traveled all over Europe building prisons, housing and other structures. He was heavily involved in construction.

Stumpf’s husband was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2004, where he was injured during a mortar attack that summer. He was sent home to heal and was ordered back into the combat zone in November of 2004. During that trip he was detained at the Pakistan airport

by the police and then turned over to the Taliban. During this time he was beaten and tortured for three days. He escaped with the help of a Pakistani taxi driver. He spent the next year and a half in medical hold at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He suffers from physical and psychological injuries from that experience.

He retired from the military in 2006, but the reality of what happened during that time is still a daily challenge, as he deals with health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and a traumatic brain injury.

“It was scary,” Stumpf says. “He didn’t even know himself. Every day he wakes up with all this stuff inside him. Any little thing will trigger him back to those days. But you learn to adapt. You learn that your life is completely different. It’s not like normal people’s life.”

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Once her husband returned home, Stumpf decided it was time to make his lifelong dream of owning a restaurant come true. He received culinary training from the military upon his retirement and they opened Stumpf is Trumpf, a food cart with a menu full of food made from scratch including homemade German bratwursts, sauerkraut, onion jam and spicy mustard. The food cart operated for a couple years until they decided to open a full restaurant on West Washington Street.

“So much was taken away from him due to his injuries in the military that I wanted to fulfill his dreams for him,” Stumpf says. “I can’t take back what happened, but I can move forward. What’s happened is done and over, but we can work on moving forward in a positive direction. I keep that as my focus and goal.”

The pandemic-related shutdowns hit and weren’t kind to their business, so they closed their doors. Right around this time their oldest son called to ask a life-changing question - “Would you

guys be able to make a cornhole set for me?”

“I had never even heard the word in my life,” Stumpf says. “Neither had my husband. We told him we’d do some research.”

After looking into it, they decided it was an easy enough task. In 2020 they made their first set of boards featuring the St. Louis Cardinals.

“He took them to one event and that’s when people started contacting me,” Stumpf says. “It just blew up from there.”

Her husband is incredibly precise, and he does all the measuring, but he also does the painting because he has an art degree. “All the measuring and painting keeps his brain working and intact,” she says.

Her son loves working with his hands. After years of watching his dad do construction and handyman work, helping to build the cornhole set was a natural job. Stumpf does the designing of the boards, working with customers to create a design they love.

“This is our third year making boards,” Stumpf says. “I have been busier this year than the first two years combined. We’ve made around 1,500 sets, which is 3,000 boards. In fact, in just the past two months we’ve made 30 to 40 sets a week.”

This family business has breathed new life not only into her husband, but also into her family. It’s not only provided them purpose, but it has also given them a way to give back to the community.

“It has improved my husband’s mindset,” Stumpf says. “Sometimes he’ll say it’s his saving grace. People like him need to feel worthy and purposeful, or they give up and shut down. I’ve seen it happen.”

Her husband continues to struggle with his health. He was diagnosed with dementia two years ago and cancer in 2017. But he presses on.

Many community members are thrilled to support a veteran-owned business. One customer recently was able to meet Stumpf’s husband, and expressed how meaningful it was to support their business.

“He told me, ‘Your husband is the reason I can go to dinner tonight with my daughter,’” Stumpf says. “People are put in your life for a reason, and comments like that show us we have a purpose.”

Not only do community members feel good about their purchase, but her husband also finds joy in his work.

“I have, in a way, fulfilled my business dream,” Stumpf says. “Every day is a new day for him. It’s so worth it. To see the smile on his face when we’ve accomplished a set of boards and did something unique is priceless.”

Stumpf says they continue to grow their business. She’s deeply proud to be a veteran’s wife, and she uses her business and platforms to encourage others to keep moving forward when life gets hard.

“I want others to know there is help and support,” Stumpf says. “Don’t give up. Fight the battle. Find your purpose. Is it easy? No. Is life easy? No. There’s a story to everyone’s life. No one’s life is perfect. Take all the negatives, find a positive in the situation, learn from it and keep moving forward. If I can help one veteran, by this story, to know they do have a purpose, they can get help and they can live a somewhat normal life, then I’ve accomplished something huge.”

Visit Stumpf Haus Arts & Crafts on Facebook @stumpfistrumpf, by calling (765) 271-4100 or email at carolynstumpf1966@yahoo.com.

SUPPORT IS VITAL

Writer / LaDonna Wattley, Medical Oncology Social Worker at IU Health West Hospital

Photography Provided

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death for women in the United States. There are several forms of breast cancer and symptoms vary greatly. While it does occur in males, most newly diagnosed patients are female with a close biological relative who has also battled cancer.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT MAY TAKE A TOLL.

Though it is imperative to focus on the physical manifestations of cancer, a patient’s mental and emotional health are equally important. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be incredibly upsetting, and you may not know where to turn for support. This distress may continue from the time of initial diagnosis throughout treatment, which can be a

lengthy process. Consequently, patients discover that their relationships, energy levels and overall mental well-being are negatively impacted.

These factors can lead to chronic stress, anxiety and depression. You should seek help if you experience sleep disturbances, changes in overall mood, lack of joy or interest in activities you usually enjoy, changes in appetite that result in weight gain or loss, difficulty concentrating, or using alcohol or drugs to reduce stress. Taking care of your mental well-being after diagnosis and during treatment can improve your quality of life and help you get through the difficult road ahead.

RETURNING TO “NORMAL” CAN BE DIFFICULT.

Cancer treatment can be stressful, but life after cancer is often tough to manage as well. Post-treatment, many patients struggle to resume pre-cancer life and activities. Ongoing fatigue, fear

of recurrence, relationship changes and uncertainty about the future make it challenging to return to life as usual. These struggles are normal and those dealing with them are not alone. Don’t expect everything to be as it was before diagnosis. Patients should give themselves time to adjust.

THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT.

Though breast cancer can be a frightening experience, you do not have to face it alone. There are oncology social workers on staff at most hospitals and cancer treatment facilities. These professionals provide emotional support, resources and mental health counseling to cancer patients and their caregivers. Additionally, support groups are an emotional lifeline for many breast cancer patients. Though everyone’s journey is unique, connecting with others going through a similar experience can ease feelings of isolation and fear.

The Biz Academy of Musical Theatre and The Biz Theatrical Productions gives youth in the area the opportunity to gain confidence, learn time management, meet new friends, and build singing, acting, and dancing skills; all while sharing their joy of performing with others. The Biz Theatrical Productions is a not-forprofit organization.

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Tips for a Stress-Free Moving Experience

Writer / Claire-Anne Aikman Photography Provided

You know what I think is more stressful than selling a home? Purging belongings and then moving the remaining treasures to the next home.

I frequently hear horror stories about bad moving experiences, but this recent one really takes the cake. When two of my friends were looking for a mover to move their belongings out of state, they looked at reviews, asked a few questions, chose their winner and sent a deposit. Once the deposit was sent, things turned wonky. They could not get a firm date for pickup, phone calls were not returned, the movers were late, and upon arrival tried to renegotiate and add upcharges - and those are just the highlights. The only positive was that their belongings were actually delivered (we were all relieved).

I have a few suggestions for you that will hopefully help you avoid a bad moving experience:

• Start researching movers two months before you move. Check their reviews, and look for an assortment of older reviews as well as the most recent ones. Look for consistency between the two. Check with the Better Business Bureau and

see what their rating is with them.

• Narrow the list to your top four and have them come out to give you an estimate.

• Verify their credentials to ensure they have the right license to move your items.

• Make sure you understand what is expected of you (e.g., do you need to wrap and box everything?).

• Ask about their liability insurance and READ the policy. What does it cover? How do you file a claim if needed?

• Be cautious of large deposit requests - 15 to 20% should be plenty.

• Choose your winner and lock in the moving date (ideally, six weeks ahead of your need).

• As you are packing, take pictures of your belongings so there is a visual inventory. This will help if a claim needs to be filed.

And that’s it! Cheers to a stress-free moving experience!

Soldiering On

BROWNSBURG VA CLINIC IS THERE FOR THOSE WHO’VE SERVED

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

For nearly a year, veteran Fossil Bates has volunteered at the Brownsburg VA Clinic. As a patient himself, Bates was looking for a way to give back to his community, while staying active.

“I really enjoy the people,” Bates says. “The staff speaks to me every morning. I have plenty to do and it makes me feel like I’ve got a purpose.”

In a fast-moving clinic, the staff are appreciative of all he does as well.

“My desk is at the main entrance so just about everybody has a question for me,” Bates says. “I do my best to direct them or I’ll just walk them to the place they’re looking for. I also fold letters that remind veterans of their next appointment, and stuff the envelopes. I’ve got a call list and I call veterans and remind them of their appointment, and just do anything else they need me to do.”

The Brownsburg VA Clinic opened in October of 2021 as a satellite location to the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Indianapolis.

Moving from their former facility on the west side of Indianapolis to the Brownsburg location was a welcome change.

“The old facility wasn’t a quarter of the size we have here,” says Jennifer Spangler, primary care unit manager. “Our primary care space doubled in size and we’re able to offer so many more services, adding radiology, physical therapy, occupational

therapy, an eye clinic and a pharmacy, to name a few.”

Not only has the clinic added weekly services like audiology, dermatology, podiatry and radiology, but veterans can also utilize the clinic for telehealth appointments when speaking to a physician who might visit Brownsburg weekly or biweekly. For example, if a patient needs to talk to their surgical team before or after surgery, or ask their dermatologist about a concern, they are able to do that through the telehealth services without traveling to Indianapolis for the conversation.

Patients in need of an appointment love the Brownsburg location for the convenience, thanks to less traffic and front-door parking compared to some of the heavily populated areas like Indianapolis.

In addition, they love the feeling they get when they walk through the door. Bates spends time chatting with veterans who are

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there for an appointment, and often relates to their experiences and concerns.

“I like speaking with the veterans and striking up a conversation,” Bates says. “I talked to one guy the other day and learned that he and I were serving in the same place at the same time. Of course, we wouldn’t recognize each other today.”

Not only do the patients enjoy their greeting, but they’re also responding positively when asked about overall services at the Brownsburg VA Clinic.

“I think it’s a less stressful environment and an atmosphere of friendly people that we offer here at Brownsburg,” Spangler says. “In a patient questionnaire about our services last fall, we scored 100%. We’ve received phenomenal feedback.”

Given some of the complex services needed to treat the veteran population, the clinic also offers a variety of mental health treatments.

Many are aware of issues with veteran mental health and suicide, but the VA is looking at other issues too. Many veterans are struggling with military environmental exposure, after encountering toxins during deployment. More than 67% of veterans with a service-related injury also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and more than half are dealing with depression.

Programs at the Brownsburg VA Clinic are offered to help veterans struggling with addiction, depression, PTSD, anxiety and trauma, and all VA health care facilities offer same-day help for services.

In addition, the clinic offers a 24/7 crisis line at 1-800-273-8255, option 1.

Overall, the Brownsburg VA Clinic strives to serve patients with support, resources and treatment in the best way possible.

Spangler says she and the staff do what they do in appreciation of what the veterans have done. “We want to provide the best care we can for veterans because they sacrificed for our country,” she says.

Bates agrees. “The truth is, you see some sad cases come in there, and if I can give them a little bit of comfort, I try to do that,” Bates says. “If I can cheer them up in any way, it makes me happy.”

For more information, visit va.gov/indianahealth-care/locations/brownsburg-va-clinic.

Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating

Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided

Kids (and parents) love the magic of Halloween. Walking around at night, in costume, collecting candy, what’s not to love? But there’s many aspects of the evening that get parents feeling nervous, which is why safety for the evening is especially important.

Did you know only about one-third of parents discuss Halloween safety with their kids? But keeping Halloween safe is very important, not only for the safety of the kids, but also to keep the magical feeling of the night. Here are a few tips to help keep your little ones safe while trick or treating this year:

CHECK THE WEATHER AND BE PREPARED

Chances are it’ll be chilly, and if it isn’t when you head out, it will be by the time you head back as most fall nights are. Make sure to layer up if it’s going to be cold because you don’t want to be frozen in the middle of your trick or treating route!

STAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN

Join in on the fun and walk with them, even

dress up if you like! At our house we take turns, one person hands out candy for an hour while the other takes the kids out and then we swap. If that’s not an option, maybe try to connect with a group of friends to trickor-treat together. You might also try to plan to have your kids go out with your neighbors, girl scout or cub scout troop, or even cousins. Always make sure there is some sort of adult supervision.

In case you do get separated from your kids, make sure to review phone numbers, addresses and how to contact 911 in case of an emergency with your kids. Children can easily become lost on a dark Halloween night and these are small and easy reminders to practice and are important things to know for every day too.

TRICK-OR-TREATING ETIQUETTE

Make sure to only visit homes with a porch light on and only approach doors that are well lit. This one can be tricky these days with automatic lights and decor. Use your best judgment and always remind the kids to never enter a home or car for a treat!

STAY VISIBLE

If your kids are going to be out after dark then blinking LED safety lights are a great addition to the back of their costume or candy bag! Pick them up at any sporting goods store or order from Amazon. Not only will they stand out for you to see, but they’ll also attract the attention of others, keeping them extra safe. Reflective tape is another option that will make your child more visible when added to the back of their costumes or all sides of their candy bag.

BE COMFORTABLE

While we know some costumes require the right shoe (hello Cinderella), let’s be real on Halloween night while trick-or-treating, no one wants their feet to be uncomfortable. Most costumes can handle rain boots or tennis shoes depending on the weather. Remember, the longer your feet feel good, the more candy you can get!

Also, try to keep props to a minimum. If it’s part of the costume, make sure they are easily carried and it doesn’t have sharp edges or points. Try adding a strap to a sword, shield or really anything, so they can be thrown over the shoulder or held on your child’s back while walking from house to house.

ADVANCE PLANNING

Decide what streets you want to hit and which you’ll skip before you head out. There’s nothing like walking a route that’s too far for a little and getting stuck carrying them home. Make sure the route you pick is manageable for whatever ages are heading out the door.

And don’t forget to always use the sidewalk and walk don’t run. Most injuries on Halloween are pedestrian injuries, so make sure to review routes, use flashlights and take your time!

CANDY CHECK

We have all heard the horror stories of the candy that’s made kids sick and had harmful things in it. Maybe they were true, maybe they weren’t, but it’s still a good idea to check your kids’ candy for safety purposes and maybe pick out some of your favorites while you are doing it. Look for partially opened pieces, ones that look questionable or types the kids might be allergic to. There’s most likely going to be plenty, so pulling out one or two because they don’t seem like great quality will be fine.

By keeping these ways to stay safe, you are sure to have a fun and happy Halloween with family and friends.

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