&#8220A kid stabbed me with a sword, but a nice nurse came along and patched me up,” business owner Tim Gearhart said as he watched children pass his store on South Third Street Monday evening. &#8220It's always good fun.”

And perhaps the kids aren't the only ones having fun. Ironton business operators traded in their cash registers and inventory lists for bowls of candy Monday evening.

It is, perhaps, volunteerism at its most basic.

The people who normally sell shoes and books and motor oil stepped from behind their counters to give local children the magic of a Safe Trick-or-Treat and a Halloween parade of their very own.

Sponsored by the Ironton Business Association, the annual event has been around longer than Gearhart, owner of Tim's News, said he could remember. But no matter, it's fun every year, he said.

&#8220I enjoy this every bit as much as they do,” Gearhart said. &#8220I saw some nice cowboys this year and a couple of good witches, too.”

And when Gearhart had to step back inside his store for a moment or two, his friend, Leo Molenda, volunteered to passed out candy in his place.

Mary Mills, of Bentley's Pharmacy, was huddled warmly in a chair outside the drug store as she handed out goodies. She does this every year,

&#8220because I'm a nice person,” she laughed. &#8220And I get a big kick out of the kids.”

Volunteers handed out candy. Volunteers manned the parade route and kept traffic at bay on South Third Street long enough for the parade procession to pass.

Volunteers

from the Ironton Rotary and Lions clubs judged costumes in the end. Mike Hurley, of Hurley Insurance, said volunteering to help one's community is the right thing to do.

&#8220I think you should give back to your community, whether it's volunteering your time or something else,” he said. &#8220It takes people to get involved and to provide these kinds of things. And there's always room for more people to help.”