GREENE – Eggs and shaving cream have become almost synonymous with Halloween in many municipalities, with pranksters trying their best to put the “trick” in trick or treat. That’s not the case, however, in the Village of Greene.

“The last three years on Halloween night, we haven’t had a single complaint,” reported Greene Police Chief Steve Dutcher. As a result, downtown Greene has such a reputation for being a safe place to go trick or treating that it routinely attracts families from the surrounding area, he said.

While Dutcher and his officers make sure they have a visible presence on the village streets during the holiday, they don’t take credit for virtually eliminating the mischief that might otherwise occur. They place that credit squarely with the annual Halloween Dance, a community effort which gives middle and high school students something to do other than roaming the streets looking for trouble.

“We give them an alternative,” Dutcher said. It’s no coincidence that the dance is scheduled from 7 to 10 p.m., which overlaps with trick or treating in the village, which takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. The event, now in its 23rd year, is always held on Halloween night, regardless of what day of the week the holiday falls.

This year, like it has in the past, the dance will take place at the Greene High School. Admission for the event, which is open only to Greene students in grades 6 through 12, is $3 per person.