We are still receiving numerous questions about Halloween and trick-or-treating this year, and it is admittedly confusing.
Official events, such as Carlsbad MainStreet’s downtown event, have been cancelled due to the prohibition against mass gatherings and the statewide uptick in COVID-19 cases. State officials have advised against trick-or-treating and in-person costume parties. What we are recommending is the same as many mayors around the state are advising – if you choose to celebrate Halloween, do your best to celebrate in a socially distanced manner and keep up with CDC Guidelines on how to celebrate safely. COVID-19 has a strong presence in Eddy County right now, as evidenced by the high number of inpatients at our hospital. However, there are certainly many ways to celebrate safely that still keep Halloween fun.
The “Spooktacular Things to See in Carlsbad” Facebook page offers a map of homes who plan to participate in Halloween this year, but who are doing so in a COVID-friendly manner such as setting up a table with candy. This is a grassroots effort by residents who have worked hard to develop something that works for everyone. MainStreet and other organizations have also been holding a variety of costume contests and other online competitions. For those who do choose to go trick-or-treating, please be respectful of any homes who decide not to participate this year.
Carlsbad seems to have survived our October blizzard. Thank you to all of the city and county first responders and road crews who helped keep everyone safe. Thanks as well to local meteorologist Tony Pastorello, who works very hard to keep our city personnel informed. Tony is a reserve officer who communicates with our police on a regular basis. He has decades of experience providing weather information to this community. You can always call (575) 885-1848 for an update. Eddy County’s Office of Emergency Management and Skywarn’s Wendell Malone also provide critical assistance.
Many local businesses are working on obtaining their COVID-safe certifications. There isn’t a full Spanish translation for this certification process. However, if you know someone who needs help with a translation, please contact Suzann Combs at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and she’ll help take care of it. She can be reached at tourism@carlsbadchamber.com or by calling (575) 361-8345.
As announced Sunday, the United Way of Eddy County has started an online program to assist with Packs for Hunger and the Southeast New Mexico Community Action Corporation’s Senior Meals Program. You can donate to https://www.uweddyco.org/givingthanks. We’ve recently gotten word that Devon Energy has assisted with both Packs for Hunger and the United Way’s Project Feeding Families program, as well as with numerous other food programs across the area. Thank you to Devon for your support.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway