Columns & Opinions

Growing up, many, many years ago, Halloween day was just as anticipated as a birthday or Christmas. Back then there were not a lot of costumes to be bought unless you wanted those big plastic faces that you wore over your face with a thin elastic band around your head. They were impossible to breathe through, and you ended up wearing them as a hat.

I am so old-fashioned. As a result, I occasionally crave a red/green lollipop or sucker. These remind me of my childhood when “treats” could be at a minimum, and you enjoyed every treat you were blessed to receive.

Shreveport’s recycling program ended on Oct. 10 when the contracts for recycling with Pratt Industries and Republic Services for pickup expired.

In ancient times, the Celt dressed in trange costumes to scare the spirits that were killing the crops in the fal l. That was a forerunner of Allhallows Eve, when people asked for food in exchange for prayers for a good year. Halloween was celebrated in the United States by the 19th century, brought by the Irish. They carved scary turnips, but learned that the pumpkin was easier to use. The Halloween parade didn't start until the 1900s. Allentown and Newtown, both in Pennsylvania, claim the first known parade. There were costumed people, bands and parade torches. Some of the metal torches were shaped like jack-o-lanterns and today those are rare Halloween collectibles. The vintage jack-o-lanterns are made of papier-mache. Newer ones are plastic foam or hard plastic.

DEAR PAW'S CORNER: Last year, my kids dumped out their trick-or-treat candy on the kitchen table to sort through. Halfway through it, they got distracted and left. I wasn't paying attention either, but our two Golden retrievers, “Nala” and “Jetty,” certainly were. They both got onto the table and ate much of the candy - of which most contained chocolate.

A data breach occurred at the Department of Veterans Affairs when thieves attempted to divert medical payment funds at the Financial Services Center away from community hea lth care providers that take care of veterans outside the VA. The minute the techies noticed the breach, they took it offline, of course, and locked it pending a security review.

Since it looks like this horrible coronavirus isn't going away soon, we might as well take a few steps to make our lives more comfortable over the winter. Here are some ideas:

Colvin Roberson was unavailable to write the sports column this week. He lost his mother this past week and our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.