‘HALLOWEEN PEOPLE’
Davidsonville family has kept holiday family-friendly for two decades
Halloween brings out spooky ghouls, zombies, spiders and ghosts, with some homeowners going dark and gritty to frighten passersby. But one neighborhood in Davidsonville is trying to keep the holiday family-friendly.
For John Richey and his father, decorating their front lawn is a bonding time that they have been doing for more than two decades. They keep everything PGfriendly for the kids in the neighborhood. This year, the duo put up a bevy of gravestones for visitors.
Some of the gravestones even incorporate neighbors’ names with small rhymes. “Here lies Corey, he was pushed into the quarry.”
“It’s cool when the school bus comes around, and the FedEx drivers stop to look at it. That always makes me feel good,” Richey said.
The amount of decorations in the yard grows and grows every year, Richey said. A lot of the decorations are handmade. And in Richey’s house, Halloween starts about a month earlier as they prepare the decorations early.
“I was doing this since I was 5, and we are adding on untilwe have a full display,” he said.
Richey’s neighbors don’t go all out for Halloween, but that doesn’t stop them from enjoying the sight. Joyce Montgomery, who has lived in Richey’s neighborhood for 50 years, has enjoyed the displays.
“It is really a nice thing for the neighborhood, and we have enjoyed it,” Montgomery said. “(Richey) has always lovedHalloween.”
Montgomery is going to miss seeing the kids in costumes this year. Richey plans to dress up as Ash Ketchum, a popular Pokémon character.
Richey’s favorite Halloween candy is
the originalHershey chocolates.
His house always hands out the jumbo size candy to trick-or-treaters.
The neighborhood will also tie ribbons on mailboxes to let kids know if they have candy or not.
“Halloween is still on in our neighborhood, but neighbors are asking for the candy to be pre-packaged. Sowe are doing little goodie bags,” Richey said.
Richey said their house is known as the “Halloween people” of the neighborhood. But Richey’s life isn’t justHalloween; he is taking classes at Anne Arundel Community College to be anX-ray technician.
Other than decorating every year, the family also has a bonfire and costume parties.
They also play Halloween-themed games and hold a costume contest.
“COVID is definitely impacting everyone’s mood, but I really want kids to participate in a safeway, still get dressedup and take extra precautions,” Richey said. “It is such a big holiday tome, and I have so many memories attached to it.”
TheDepartment ofHealth recommends avoiding traditional door-to-door trick-ortreating due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, if you choose to trick-or-treat, you can reduce risk by staying with your household members and following physical distancing, masking, and hand hygiene safety.
The county considers hayrides, haunted houses, festivals and street parties, and sponsored trunk-or-treats as high-risk activities.
Safe trick-or-treating
■ Bring alcohol-based hand sanitizer when trick-or-treating.
■ Children should not reach into candy bowls or bags. Candy should be given out using a scoop or tongs, so the candy is not directly handled.
■ When returning home with treats, children shouldwash hands properly with soap andwater before eating anything.