Oh great! Now if our porch light is off tonight our neighbors will be wondering if we’re sex offenders? What if we’re not home? If we’re sick or invalids? If our religion doesn’t recognize Halloween? If we don’t have money to buy candy? Why couldn’t you just have suggested that trick-or-treaters not approach houses without porch lights on as safe and courteous?

Celebrating Halloween is a choice, not a requirement or entitlement. Personally, we enjoy trick-or-treaters. But we feel leaving our porch light off if we won’t be answering the door is a courtesy, saving trick-or-treaters time and trouble. Instead of trying to stir up more fear and paranoia, you could have promoted any of the above ideas in the article and taught kids about safety and courtesy. We liken this to all this paranoia and fear-mongering about Ebola. Instead of giving good, sound information, headlines rely on sensationalism! Shame on you.

JUDITH and CHARLES FARREY

Hayden