Preserving the Spirit of Halloween : Safety: Concerned parents are accompanying their children to community events or parties.

Worried more about tricks than treats, parents are shepherding their children to planned events and parties where they don’t have to fret about tainted candy or other horrors of their kids roaming around dark neighborhoods.

Communities have responded with opportunities for children to beg for sweets in recreation centers and well-lit, indoor shopping malls. Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura will X-ray candy for free to quell parents’ fears of dirty tricks.

But the spirit of Halloween still lives in many Ventura County neighborhoods. Roger Campagnoni, for example, has spent $1,800 and countless hours to turn part of his Camarillo home into a haunted house, to the shrieking delight of neighborhood kids.

Campagnoni hopes the fog machines, optical illusions and sliding walls will again induce a few blood-curdling yells from trick or treaters.

“We got a lot of gross stuff like severed heads and a coffin,” said Campagnoni, a 27-year-old communications manager for a security firm.

On Friday, he was worrying about whether it would rain on Halloween night. “If it’s a light drizzle, I don’t see a problem with it. But if it starts downpouring, we’ll have to cancel because we don’t have a roof on part of it,” he said.

The wet weather Friday morning spoiled plans for about 70 preschoolers who were supposed to trick or treat in different offices at Ventura College. Sue Purdom, supervisor at the Ventura College Children’s Center, said she threw an indoor party instead.

“They don’t seem to mind, as long as they have the candy,” Purdom said.

The children gobbled orange pumpkin cookies, unwrapped Tootsie rolls and pulled at their costumes. At least 10 little boys were wearing Batman capes, which is one of the most popular costumes this year, according to merchants.

Linda Breton, who has a 3-year-old girl at the center, said she was pleased that more controlled events are available. “I think parents are a lot more aware of how important it is to supervise activities. You just can’t leave a bunch of kids by themselves.”

Merchants at The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks, The Esplanade mall in Oxnard and The Buenaventura Mall in Ventura will have candy ready for trick or treaters today, officials said. Community centers throughout the county are featuring costume contests, haunted houses, shows and parties.

Bonnie Mihalic, who owns a costume shop in Ventura, is anticipating a last-minute rush today, particularly from party-bound adults. “People always wait until the last minute,” she said. “I’ve sold a lot of ears for you know who, and I’ve got a lot of Bush masks and gray hair spray for Clinton.”

Batman and Catwoman have been the best sellers, along with Beauty and the Beast, Mihalic said. “I think whatever the hottest movie is that year, that’s whatever the hottest costume will be.”

Police are expecting some robbers who strike on Halloween to be dressed appropriately.

“Every now and then we’ll get a robbery with someone who was wearing a mask,” said Oxnard Police Lt. Jeff Young. A store clerk who would normally be suspicious of a guy in costume won’t look twice on Halloween, he said.

Because Halloween falls on a weekend, Young said police anticipate having to break up more parties tonight. “Once the little guys are off the streets, the problems tend to be more party-related,” he said.

Police and sheriff’s deputies in every city in the county and unincorporated areas will be enforcing curfews tonight, authorities said. Those under 18 will not be allowed to be on streets after 10 p.m. “As long as they are en route to a destination or coming back from one, such as a restaurant, or a friend’s house, it’s OK,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Gary Markley.

For Suzanne Brockman, Halloween means a busy night at Community Memorial Hospital. Last year, more than 200 parents came to have their children’s candy X-rayed, said Brockman, a hospital spokeswoman.

“I think that parents are more cautious about the candy because of an increased awareness that the candy might be tampered with,” Brockman said. “Fortunately, we’ve never found anything.”

She cautioned that X-rays don’t detect glass or poison, and parents still have a responsibility to check that confections are in their original wrapping.

Animal shelter officials are also warning owners to keep their pets inside tonight. The Humane Society has banned adoptions of all animals for one week because the animals may be abused by pranksters.

“They sacrifice them, they torture them,” said Jolene Hoffman, director of the Ojai-based shelter of the Humane Society. “There’s a lot of sick things going on.”

Haunted Activities The Young Artists Ensemble presents “The Haunted Center” at the Arts Council Center, 482 Greenmeadow Ave., Thousand Oaks; today at 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m.; Sunday at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m.; includes a comedy and magic show; tickets, $6, must be purchased in advance; 499-4355.

City of Oxnard Redevelopment Agency presents “Heritage Scare!” at Heritage Square, 740 B St., Oxnard; 6 to 9 p.m. today; $3; 486-6074.

The Ventura Jaycees presents the 17th annual “Factory of Terror” at Ventura County Fairgrounds, Clark Pavilion Building, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura; 7 to midnight today; $5; 987-2011.

The Boys & Girls Club of Ventura and the Ventura Harbor Merchants Assn. present “Pirates of the Marina: A Haunted Ship Wreck” at the former Bedford’s Restaurant, Ventura Harbor Village on Spinnaker Drive; 4 to 9 p.m. today; $2.50; 648-3217.

Ojai Recreation Department presents its 32nd annual “Halloween Haunted House” at Jack Boyd Community Center on Park Road; 7 to 9 p.m. today; proceeds benefit the Boyd center’s children programs; 646-1872.

Safety Tips Authorities offer the following precautions for parents to ensure a safe Halloween: Door-to-door: Parents or older siblings should accompany all young children. Children should stay outside when trick or treating and never enter a stranger’s house.

Costumes: Children should wear costumes that are light-colored, reflective and short enough to prevent tripping. Avoid costumes and masks that limit the wearer’s vision. Use makeup and hats instead.

Props: Avoid costume props that are made of hard plastic or wood, such as swords. Substitute with foam rubber.

Visibility: Walk on lighted streets, stay on sidewalks and cross only at street corners. Drivers should be on the lookout for children who dart into the street.

Goodies: Wait until going home before eating candy. Parents should check sweets carefully and throw away anything that is unwrapped.