Halloween's real boogeyman

Also: New England's next power line project; Salem wasn't the only Mass. community with witch trials [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  October 31, 2023 👻 Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Good Morning Boston, Happy Halloween! Make sure to [bundle up tonight]( and watch out for [all the Barbies, Kens, Wednesdays, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]( and [four-legged pumpkins]( out there. But seriously, watch out... - The real Halloween boogeyman: Despite [the perennially overblown fears]( about drugs or razors hidden in candy, experts say the biggest Halloween danger is hiding in plain sight: cars. "In Massachusetts, state crash data shows that more children are struck by vehicles on Halloween than any other day of the year," Mark Schieldrop, a spokesperson for AAA Northeast, told WBUR's Dave Faneuf. The same statement holds true nationwide. Schieldrop attributes the fact to the "sheer numbers of kids" that are out on the streets to trick-or-treat at the same time as the evening commute — particularly as the days get shorter and darker. This also comes after a year during which Massachusetts saw pedestrian deaths [spike](. - By the numbers: Between 2002 and 2022, 57 pedestrians under the age of 18 in Massachusetts were hit by cars on Halloween. "It's more than twice the number of any other day of the year," Schieldrop said. Across the country, a total of 49 children were fatally hit by cars on Halloween between 2007 and 2021. - Tips for your drive home: AAA suggests that evening commuters avoid neighborhood shortcuts through residential streets where trick-or-treating is likely. Schieldrop also says that drivers should [slow down]( and be extra vigilant about people on the curb. - Tips for trick-or-treaters: Schieldrop says parents should accompany kids under 12. He also suggests putting reflective tape on costumes and picking a neighborhood with good lighting, sidewalks and lots of homes. "So you get a lot of candy, but it's just that much better to be a pedestrian," Schieldrop said. - Last but not least: Drive sober. While Halloween is the deadliest day for child pedestrians, Nov. 1 is the deadliest day for pedestrians of all ages. "Oftentimes, kids get back home before midnight but the adults are out and about," Schieldrop said. - The Biden administration is giving National Grid more than $1 billion to build a 211-mile power line to bring hydropower from Canada into New England. The so-called Twin States Clean Energy Link would run the other way, too — allowing electricity from offshore wind farms off Massachusetts to be sent to Canada as well. - The project will use underground cables and existing power line paths through Vermont and New Hampshire — so it's expected to be less controversial than the [delayed hydropower line through Maine]( or [the nixed Northern Pass project]( in New Hampshire. - What to expect: Construction is set to begin in early 2025. [Click here for a map]( of the line's planned route. - An emergency court hearing will be held this afternoon on [the lawsuit]( challenging Gov. Maura Healey's decision to cap the state's emergency shelter system. The legal aid group Lawyers for Civil Rights is asking a judge to stop the Healey administration from enforcing the new cap and waitlist system on Wednesday. - Go deeper: WBUR's Gabrielle Emanuel [has more here]( on how the waitlist system would work if it does take effect Wednesday and where families would go in the meantime. - Pats take another hit: Kendrick Bourne, one of the few bright spots for the New England Patriots this year, is likely out for the rest of the season after reportedly [tearing his ACL during Sunday's loss]( to the Miami Dolphins. Through eight games this season, Bourne had been New England's leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. - The [picturesque]( Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls is closing for the season today, as it does every year. But it will be an extra long wait before people can stroll through its plant-lined walkway again. New England Public Media reports the bridge won't reopen until the spring 2025 due to repair work. (Yes, they have [a plan for all the flowers]( P.S.— Back Bay gets [a lot of attention]( for [its Halloween decorations](. But there's no shortage of creative, elaborate displays this year, from [Somerville]( to [Jamaica Plain]( [Winchester]( to [Westford](. How does your community compare? Send us a photo of your favorite local Halloween setups and we may include it in a future roundup online. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Family grieves father of 4 and beloved Deaf community leader who was killed in Maine shootings]( Dozens of family members are struck with loss following mass shootings in Lewiston, including Elizabeth Seal. Her husband Josh Seal was a father of four and an American Sign Language interpreter who appeared during Maine’s daily pandemic briefings. [Read more.]( [Family grieves father of 4 and beloved Deaf community leader who was killed in Maine shootings]( Dozens of family members are struck with loss following mass shootings in Lewiston, including Elizabeth Seal. Her husband Josh Seal was a father of four and an American Sign Language interpreter who appeared during Maine’s daily pandemic briefings. [Read more.]( [Israel will not agree to a cease-fire, Netanyahu says, as fighting continues in Gaza]( As Israel continues to push into Gaza, it says its forces freed an Israeli soldier who had been held by Hamas since the Oct. 7 attacks. [Read more.]( [Israel will not agree to a cease-fire, Netanyahu says, as fighting continues in Gaza]( As Israel continues to push into Gaza, it says its forces freed an Israeli soldier who had been held by Hamas since the Oct. 7 attacks. [Read more.]( [8 activists arrested while protesting New England's last active coal power plant]( Climate change activists paddled outside of New England’s last active coal power plant on Sunday to call for its owners to stop burning fossil fuels. They are advocating for the New Hampshire plant to be transformed into a renewable energy facility. [Read more.]( [8 activists arrested while protesting New England's last active coal power plant]( Climate change activists paddled outside of New England’s last active coal power plant on Sunday to call for its owners to stop burning fossil fuels. They are advocating for the New Hampshire plant to be transformed into a renewable energy facility. [Read more.]( [Can public officials block you on social media? It's up to the Supreme Court]( The cases — from Michigan and California — echo issues raised in a now-defunct suit against then-President Donald Trump for blocking his critics on Twitter. [Read more.]( [Can public officials block you on social media? It's up to the Supreme Court]( The cases — from Michigan and California — echo issues raised in a now-defunct suit against then-President Donald Trump for blocking his critics on Twitter. [Read more.]( [Open enrollment starts this week for ACA plans. Here's what's new this year]( If you buy your own health insurance through state and federal marketplaces, 'tis the season to compare prices, change coverage, and take advantage of subsidies. Here's what to know. [Read more.]( [Open enrollment starts this week for ACA plans. Here's what's new this year]( If you buy your own health insurance through state and federal marketplaces, 'tis the season to compare prices, change coverage, and take advantage of subsidies. Here's what to know. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Salem wasn't the only Massachusetts community that held witch trials during the 17th century. Now, [a group of historians and descendants wants to clear the names of hundreds of people]( who were executed or accused of witchcraft across the state, including in Boston. - PSA: If you're headed up to Salem for Halloween today, remember to [check out our Haunted Happenings do's and don'ts guide](. - After four decades of completely avoiding horror movies, Jason Prokowiew watched 34 of them in last year. "My irrational fears are in many ways ridiculous, but having a partner who explores them with me makes a difference," Prokowiew [writes for Cognoscenti](. - A Boston University graduate student believes he has a batch of 14 previously unattributed works written by Louisa May Alcott. While the “Little Women” author was known to publish under various names throughout her writing career, [the new discovery marks the first time any new pseudonym has been linked to Alcott]( since the 1940s.  What We're Reading 📚 - A Professional Pumpkin Carver Spills His Guts ([The New York Times]( - The story behind the ‘cheater car’ seen driving around Boston ([Boston.com]( - An International Student on Lockdown During the Shooting in Lewiston, Maine ([The New Yorker](  Tell Me Something Good [Skate park in Springfield gets $1 million boost from National Park Service]( The development of the skate park is a collaborative project between the city of Springfield, the state of Massachusetts and the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. [Read more.]( [Skate park in Springfield gets $1 million boost from National Park Service]( The development of the skate park is a collaborative project between the city of Springfield, the state of Massachusetts and the National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common has more on [what to expect at "Mass and Cass" this week]( and what's next for those who currently live in the area. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: And [the winner of this year's most Boston Halloween costume]( is... 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? 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