Police to close roads for trick-or-treating

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Trick or treating in Houlton will once again be a little bit safer this year thanks to the efforts of the Houlton Police Department.
    In an effort to promote public safety on Halloween night, High Street (between Franklin Avenue and Park Street) will be blocked off to through traffic from 4:30-9 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31. Weeks Street will also be blocked off near the Fair Street intersection.
    “At this point, we don’t want to expand any farther beyond High Street,” Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said at Monday night’s council meeting. “We’re going to try it again and see how it works. We had very good success (last year) and the parents appreciated what we did.”
    Last year, police closed the same area, which typically sees several hundred children during the evening for trick or treating. The area can become quite congested with vehicles, adults, teenagers, small children and their pets, Asselin said.
    The chief added Houlton has been fortunate over the years that no child has been injured or struck by a moving vehicle on Halloween.
    By listening to people’s concerns, the department sent an officer door-to-door canvassing the impacted area and a message was also posted on the department’s Facebook page to solicit comments. According to the chief, the response was very positive.
    High Street will be blocked off from Franklin Avenue north to the First Congregational Church near the Park Street intersection.
    “Unless you are a resident of that street section, parking will be prohibited,” Asselin said.
    Volunteers from the Citizen’s Police Academy will be posted at either end of High Street. The volunteers will move the barricades for emergency vehicles and for the people who reside in that area. The department will have an officer on foot patrol within the enclosed area to assist where needed.
    Because of the lack of sidewalks and the width of the street, the south side of Franklin Avenue near Dow’s Market may once again be posted with “No Parking” signs for 200 feet east and west of the intersection. Parking will be allowed only on one side of the street in that vicinity.
    For more information, contact the police department at 532-2287. News and press releases are also displayed on the department’s Facebook page.