East Manatee Fire Rescue Engineer Dominick Reale said it is important for the local firefighters to be seen by residents, and especially children, as something other than the people who only show up in emergency situations.
So with that backdrop, Reale was tasked with setting up the district's Trunk or Treat event Oct. 25 at Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch.
"It's community outreach," Reale said.
Judging from the hundreds of children who attended and who were having a marvelous time, Reale succeeded.
Besides East Manatee Fire Rescue, other agencies, such as Florida Fish and Wildlife, and the Florida Forest Service, were also represented. Children not only picked up candy, but they were able to explore many of the different agencies' emergency vehicles.
Lakewood Ranch 5-year-old Cora Forrester and her mom Cassie Campbell give some love to Banjo the goat from Blissful Goat Yoga during East Manatee Fire Rescue's Trunk or Treat Oct. 25.
Photo by Jay Heater
Palmetto 3-year-old Trae Uhlinger was enjoying some cow time at the Trunk or Treat.
Photo by Jay Heater
A skeleton keeps watch over a Lenco Bearcat SWAT armored personnel carrier at the Trunk or Treat.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch 4-year-old Colton Riske figures he needs to bake up some goods for his boney friend at the Trunk or Treat.
Photo by Jay Heater
The goats from Blissful Goat Yoga were dressed for the occasion.
Photo by Jay Heater
Eric Boyd handled the Ghostbuster duties with a special Volkswagen owned by SeaSucker.
Photo by Jay Heater
Two-year-old River Goff looks a little unsure of her ride on the shoulders of Sarasota's Adrianne Pryor.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bradenton 7-year-old Emmett Bryant pets an alligator held by Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer Stuart Messman during the Trunk or Treat.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch 5-year-old Bentley Perales goes for some candy during East Manatee Fire Rescue's Trunk or Treat Oct. 25 at Station 1 in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota 2-year-old Riley Jaquez doesn't mind the manikin in an ambulance on display as he plays during Trick or Treat
Photo by Jay Heater
If you are going to a Trunk or Treat sponsored by East Manatee Fire Rescue, why not dress the part as did Myakka City 4-year-old Lucas Berger?
Photo by Jay Heater
Logan Hatch of the Florida Forest Service was standing in front of a tractor plow unit used in fires, but the bigger attraction was the candy he was handing out.
Photo by Jay Heater
You never know what's going to come out of a car at East Manatee Fire Rescue's Trunk or Treat.
Photo by Jay Heater
Palmetto's Jonathan, Katrina, Savannah and Sebastian Mylett were having a ball at East Manatee Fire Rescue's Truck or Treat Oct. 25 in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch 7-year-old Charlotte Kushto has both a candy and a cow. What could be better?
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
