The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 17

THE COURIER-JOURNAL 1, A ti il "TTFNTfH LOUISVILLE, KY. II I 1 I I II II ML V' MONDAY, II i I 4 1 I I Wf OCTOBER 29, 1990. 1 jf" vflH Vkj 577T7T7 1 wnsimrof mrntu bWd 1 fa 4 Trick-or-treating scares parents, poll shows 'imuiiimiui 1 aJJxt- f. WITH 7 9 little of it is related to Halloween. The crime index, which is the total number of reported murders, rapes, robberies, assaults and such other offenses as burglaries, has risen 16 percent nationally, 13 percent in Kentucky and 9 percent in Louisville since 1985.

The poll also shows, however, that even though many parents don't think Halloween is as safe as it used to be, most of them do let their kids go out to collect candy as long as there's an adult to keep an eye on them. Eight in 10 of those who said they are parents of children 12 and under said they would permit their children to go trick-or-treating this year if an adult went along. A majority of the parents surveyed said Halloween is more dangerous today. However, more parents than non-parents said the dangers have declined 13 percent of those with children 12 and under, compared with only 8 percent of those without kids. Although majorities of almost all groups surveyed agreed that Halloween is more dangerous than it used to See TRICK-OR-TREATING Back page, col.

1, this section 1 BY MIKE COVINGTON I a 'A ft loween trick-or-treating is more dangerous now than it was five years ago. Of those who are parents of children 12 or under, less than 1 percent said they'd let their kids go trick-or-treating alone. Ironically, that result comes at a time when police say they believe the number of Halloween incidents has been declining. The poll's general finding, however, is similar to the results of a survey conducted by the Gallup organization last year in Canada, where 62 percent of those polled said they thought trick-or-treating was less safe than it was 10 years before. Many of the Kentuckians who believe Halloween is more dangerous now no doubt have heard horror stories about kids getting hit by cars as they go from house to house, or about people putting needles and other things in treats.

Many read two years ago about the 7-year-old Louisville girl who was raped just before Halloween as she sold candy for her school. Because of that crime, Jefferson County Public Schools guidelines now tell parents not to allow their children to sell things door-to-door. Besides these specific reasons for concern about Halloween, however, many people also have the more general impression that drug use has increased, that more children are being abused and that crime has been increasing. And, according to the FBI, they're right: Crime has increased substantially in the past five years, even though figures on how many of their homeowners now have coverage, one agent estimated as many as 90 percent. Here are the basics of earthquake insurance, based on interviews with a half-dozen agents: Cost Most homeowners can expect to pay from $20 to $50 a year for extra protection.

The premium is based on the value of the coverage, a more expensive home could cost much more to insure. Rates will vary from company to company. Brick homes are more expensive to insure than frame homes because they usually sustain more damage. A typical premium might be $40 a year on a $100,000 brick home and $20 on a similarly valued frame house. Coverage In most cases, coverage begins immediately.

It should include any damage incurred in a See BUYING POWER Back page, col. 1, this section Ann Landers Comics -4, 5 3 3 5 6 Helping Hand. Lemme Dolt. Sheinwold on Bridge. Show Clock "Larry Joshua and Peter Onorati are Ln.

1 r-'f 1 1 fey I By DICK KAUKAS Staff Writer In just a couple of days, thousands of kids all over Kentucky will put on costumes and knock on people's doors, promising tricks if they don't get treats. Larry Nelson, 8, and his sister, Quin-etta, 3, may not be among them. "I haven't decided yet whether I'll let either of them go," said their mother, Diana, as she walked through the Kroger in the Lyles Mall in Louisville a few days ago. "Larry went out trick-or-treating last year with my sister. "But it's gotten so dangerous, with the drugs and everything on the streets.

And you hear about needles and razor blades in the candy." She said she had been thinking about sending Larry and Quinetta to a Halloween party, perhaps at a local church. A few aisles away, Florida Graves was pushing a shopping cart with her 17-month-old grandson, Wendell Stewart, in it. Wendell's mom, Marilyn, was walking along beside them. "He's not old enough to go out yet," Graves said. "If it was up to me, I wouldn't let him go even if he was.

"It used to be fun. I used to go with my children. Now it's too dangerous." Marilyn Stewart nodded. "Much too dangerous." The latest Bluegrass State Poll shows that many Kentucky adults agree. Almost two-thirds 63 percent of those interviewed said they think Hal- BUYING POWER BY LESLIE ELUS "At first I didn't understand the attraction," Claxton said.

"But now I find myself playing with them." Coverage for quakes Insurance agents have been swamped with calls in recent weeks from worried property owners wanting to add earthquake coverage to their homeowner policies. Quake coverage requires an additional rider and premium. The worry comes in the wake of a moderate earthquake several weeks ago that rattled dishes and windows in Western Kentucky and a prediction by a New Mexico climatologist that there's a 50-50 chance of a major earthquake along the New Madrid fault around Dec. 3. Many scientists say there's no way to predict a specific date for aquake.

Several Louisville-area agents said that before the recent rush to add the insurance, as few as 10 percent to 25 percent of policyholders had earthquake coverage. While most had no price, with additional discounts offered throughout the day. Used and new clothing for men, women and children and accessories are waiting to be purchased. Dressing rooms are available, and Visa and MasterCard are accepted. Admission is free; parking is $2.

Proceeds from the sale, sponsored by the Louisville Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, will support various community projects. Spirited storyteller Darryl Maximilian Robinson, a "critically acclaimed classical actor" from Chicago, will present a "powerful dramatic reading" of "The Raven and Six Other Points of Interest" by Edgar Allan Poe at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Wednesday at the Rudyard Kipling, 422 W. Oak St. The news release touting Robinson's show mentions that he'll also recite "The Telltale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado," among other works.

Admission is $5. Call (502) 636-1311. "Tipsheet" appears Monday through Friday In the Features section. so inside" I- Cool to be 'slapped' School kids are popping slender fabric and vinyl-covered metal strips around their wrists as "slap bracelets" take schoolyards by storm. The flexible strips look a lot like Venetian blind slats.

They're about nine inches long and are covered in everything from sedate paisleys to neon geometries. Slapped lightly, but painlessly, around the wrist, they make a popping sound and curl into a snug cuff or bracelet. Kids wear three and four at a time. They "slap" themselves and love "slapping" friends. The slap bracelets have been hot sellers for the past three weeks, said Jeanenne Claxton, manager of Maxwell's in Oxmoor Center, one of a number of local stores carrying them.

Children ages 6 to 15 buy them, but the novelties are especially popular with girls in middle school. And at about $1 a bracelet, they fit nicely into a kid's budget. Tonight's best bet: Video screenings The sights, sounds and images of New York City are the subject of Jem Cohen's video "This Is a History of New York." It will be shown at 8 tonight in the Martin Experimental Theater at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. The award-winning, black-and-white video is divided into seven brief sections. One, "The Hunters and Gatherers," shows various scavengers from canines to car strippers.

Another of Cohen's videos, "Just Hold Still," also will be shown. The independent filmmaker will discuss his works at the program. The videos are part of the Southern Circuit Series of award-winning films and videos by independent filmmakers and video artists. Tickets are $4.50 ($2.50 for senior citizens and students). Call (502) 584-7777 or, toll-free, (800) 283-7777.

A cool slide show The public is invited to the Louisville An armful makes kids slap-happy. TIPSHEET KEN NEUHAUSER Group of the Sierra Club's special multimedia slide presentation about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. "The Last Great Wilderness" will be shown at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church, 4938 Old Brownsboro Road. Admission is free.

Lenny Kohm, a nationally known photojournalist from North Carolina, will introduce the show. Fashion Encore The 15th annual Fashion Encore Sale draws to a close today, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., ih the West Hall at the Kentucky Fair Exposition Center. All garments, except furs, will be half- il in. HUM il mi Innovation loses to the ordinary See Tom Dorsey, Page 2 In "Cop Rock." It's sinking like a stone.

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