By Casey Wolfe | October 31, 2025
JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Under the direction of recently appointed Mayor Jennifer L. Kuhn, Jackson Township hosted its annual Safe Trick-or-Treat event, providing children with a fun and secure way to celebrate Halloween.
The event, held inside town hall, featured trick-or-treating, games, crafts, a DJ, and a “bubble witch” performance. Children also had the opportunity to meet with members of township departments, as well as Jackson police, fire, and emergency services.
Department of Public Works employee and Clean Communities Coordinator Pauline Dressler said seeing children enjoy the festivities was the highlight of the event. “The kids are so adorable with their costumes, and the look in their eyes when they get the little treats — I just love it,” she said.
Fire Chief Stan O’Brien from Station 54 attended with treats and information about Jackson Township’s fire department. He said the event offers a safer way for children to enjoy Halloween. “They don’t have to go door to door; they aren’t running in the street,” O’Brien explained. “If they see us out there, maybe they’ll want to be a fireman.” This marked the fire department’s sixth Safe Trick-or-Treat or Trunk-or-Treat participation.
Mayor Kuhn emphasizes township safety upgrades
Mayor Kuhn said public safety remains a top priority for her administration. She noted that funds identified during an audit while she was Council President have been used to enhance security throughout township buildings.
“We have the extra money that we found from going through the audit,” said Kuhn. “We got an estimate to get key fobs on the exterior. We have to be open to the public, but now we’re going to have key fobs put on the back for the security of all the people within administration.”
Additional safety measures include the installation of a Class II officer stationed at the front of town hall to check visitors, as well as panic buttons in township departments that alert police in case of emergencies. Some offices have also received doorbells to improve visitor screening.
Kuhn said the new systems were installed in just three hours, underscoring the administration’s swift action on safety improvements.
Community spirit on full display
Residents praised this year’s Halloween celebration for its creative setup and family-friendly atmosphere. “The way they did it this year is really cool,” said Dressler. “They have the hallways all decorated nice. Recreation and DPW did a really good job with that. They had so many activities going on — the bubble witch, the costume contest, the pumpkins, and the candy — you couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The township said it plans to continue hosting events that foster community engagement while ensuring a safe environment for families to gather and celebrate.