Millerton undeterred by high candy prices

MILLERTON — Candy prices have jumped this year, but Millerton residents said the extra cost is worth it for a night of fun in the village.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported candy prices have risen by 7.7% since last year, outpacing inflation over the same period. Residents of Simmons Street in Millerton who were handing out candy on Halloween reported spending between $50 to $75 and as much as $150 for goodies to hand out that night.

But only a few said they felt sticker shock buying candy for the holiday. The prevailing feeling among Simmons Street residents and community members manning booths at the Festival of Frights along the Rail Trail was that it’s worth the money to have a good night with the community’s families.

Matt Herz, a Simmons Street resident, was emblematic of his neighbors’ attitude toward spending for Halloween.

“You knew prices were going to be up,” Herz said. “But what you’re doing for the kids — it’s a great thing.”

He said he spent around $70 on Halloween candy this year. He bought enough for 600 trick-or-treaters, expecting to outdo last year’s 500 visitors.

Yvonne Coburn was keeping a tally of all the trick-or-treaters that visited her house. By 7 p.m. she had counted 198, which she said was fewer visitors than she had the previous year by the same time.

Neighbors said they bought about the same amount of candy as they did last year. Claire Owens bought her candy in bulk from Costco, securing 10 pounds of candy for about $60. She said her worries about higher prices were abated by a desire to contribute to a fun night of trick-or-treating for Millerton’s families.

Owens and other neighbors said Millerton is a popular trick-or-treating location for surrounding communities including Amenia and Sharon. The village’s more densely populated, walkable layout attracts hundreds of children and families for candy every year.

“This is where the kids in the neighborhood come, so we’ll do whatever we need to do,” Owens said. “We’re lucky because we go where you can get stuff that’s more reasonably priced, but we would do it anyway.”