GREENFIELD — Each day, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) looks at how it can help its member towns prepare not only for the state’s reopening plans, but what to do if there’s another surge of COVID-19 locally.
FRCOG Director of Community Services Phoebe Walker said as the county moves into the second part of Phase 3 of the reopening, the agency will be there to help.
“The next thing we’re looking at is Halloween,” Walker said. “I think it’s important for towns to be in sync, so that no town is overrun by tons of trick-or-treaters, for instance.”
According to FRCOG stats, 13 percent of Franklin County towns are banning trick-or-treating, while 38 percent have restrictions, 25 percent are offering alternatives — like Greenfield’s drive-thru event in Highland Park, for example — and 38 percent haven’t yet made a decision.
FRCOG is also helping towns advertise their flu clinics. Walker said not only are the clinics good practice for distributing a future COVID-19 vaccine, but they are very important to keep people healthy this fall and winter, because she doesn’t want to see anyone get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
During a virtual roundtable earlier this week, health leaders from Bernardston, Shelburne, Deerfield and Greenfield were a few who shared their views or their town’s plans for Halloween.
“We’ve banned trick-or-treating in town,” said Jean Page of Bernardston, “because we don’t want a lot of people from Greenfield or other towns coming in. Instead, some groups, like Kiwanis and the recreation board, are looking at possibilities for small events.”
Jennifer Hoffman, interim health director in Greenfield, said the city will move ahead with plans for the drive-thru event and will not ban trick-or-treating but will put out guidelines, like not putting out bowls that children reach into, pre-wrapping candy and not allowing any contact.
“We worry about out-of-towners coming to Shelburne,” Shelburne resident and retired nurse Jody Stetson said. “Our Rag Shag Parade is canceled. We’re limiting where we bring children and asking that parents don’t congregate at houses.”
Orange Town Administrator Gabe Voelker said the town is not canceling trick-or-treating because it doesn’t want to encourage people getting together to party — that’s a higher risk.
“We will have certain parameters on our website,” he noted. “We’re hoping kids wear masks under masks. People should stay home if they feel insecure.”
While FRCOG won’t offer maps and weekly numbers itself, Walker said it will offer links to state websites to keep residents informed on the pandemic’s status locally.
“Health departments and health boards in each town are keeping their eyes on the pandemic and any changes in the county and its individual towns,” she said. “We will work together to keep everyone safe. That’s everyone’s mission at this point.”
Walker said the reason Franklin County has done so well with the pandemic is that people have done what they’ve been asked to do to keep each other safe.
“Even as more venues and businesses reopen, they will do so safely,” she said.
Those businesses and venues allowed to reopen and the parameters for each are also listed on the FRCOG website. For more information and COVID-19 updates, visit bit.ly/2GBUsei.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.