Evening star., 1953-10-28
D. {. Heads Proclaim
Saturday Halloween
With Apprehension

With Apprehension
The District Commissioners, a
trif1e apprehensively. today pro-
claimed Saturday as Halloween.
This is the second consecutive
year the city heads have made
an official proclamation to cover
the annual celebration. Their
action both years has been
prompted largely by police fears
of vandalism and general mis-
chief making by youthful cele-
brantS here.
The decree recognizes that
children should be permitted to
enjoy themselves by engaging in
innocent pranks." The docu-
1nent notes that the police de-
partment is very anxious" to
cooperate but recalls that in
the past acts of deliberate mis-
chief or vandalism have marred
such Halloween celebrations.
Coordination Urged.
For that reason, the Commits
sioners urged that parents and
civic groups coordinate their
efforts to observe a more sane
and safe Halloween" by encour-
aging parties for the children in
stead of letting them wander
about the streets"
The Federation of Business
mems Associations had another
solution. In a letter to the Com
missioners this group urged that
parents forbid their children to
participate in trick or treat" on
Friday night and that failing
such Encouragement, "all apart
nTent house dwellerS take turns at
their entrances, forbidding chill
dren not a resident thereof to
enter"
Civic groups, fraternal organi-
cations. business associations,
religious and educational insti-
tutionS are planning a gigantic
area celebration.
Nine Metropolitan Police Boys
Clubs are planning programs of
movies. costume contests. anna
teur shows, and carnivals. ac-
cording to 1t. Forrest L. Bin
swanger, director. So anxious
are the $4,000 to 10000 young
sters to participate that the
clubs will be in operation both
Friday and Halloween nights.
1O9 Parties Planned.
The District of Columbia Rec
reation Department will conduct
109 Halloween parties throughout
the city in the next few days. It's
largest event will be a carnival
at Hillcrest Recreation Center.
Thirty-second and Denver
streets Sc, Saturday night. Co.
sponsored with the Hilltop Rec
reation Council. it is expected to
draw 5000 persons.
A variation on the treat-or-
trick game this year will be tried
by several groups Friday night.
Five Girl Scout groups in the
George Mason district will col
lect clean, white material to be
used by the dressings unit of
the Alexandria Chapter, Aneri-
can Cancer Society.
Dance for Servicemen.
Servicemen haven't been for
gotten. The girls living at the
Meridian Hill Hotel will enter
tain them at dance from 8
pm. to midnight tomorrow. A
Hnarionette show and speciality
dances are on the program.
Children at Junior Village,
Loughboro road near Macarthur
boulevard NV, will be enter
tanned from 2::30 to 4 pm. Fri
day by the Rustin Couples Bible
Glass of Mount Vernon Place
Methodist Church.
The Curley Club of Washing
ton will sponsor an orchestra
dance at 8 pm. tomorrow at the
Palisades Field House, Dana and
Sherrier places NV.
Adults will dance at $3.50
o'clock tonight at Roosevelt Rec
reation Center, Thirteenth and
Upshur streets NV.
The Hillcrest chapter of
Women's American ORT will
have party at 8 pm. Sunday at
the Naylor Gardens Community
House.
The Retail Merchants Asso-
citation of Alexandria will Spon-
sor a costume judging contest
and barn dance in downtown
Alexandria Saturday night. Sew
eral hundred dollars in prizes
will be given winners. The con-
test will take place in the 400 to
300 blocks of King street from
$3.50 to 8 pm, with final selec-
tion at the Park-Shop Alex
andria. Inc, parking lot. in the
100 block of North Pitt street.