*An actual scientific poll of Maryland residents on important issues facing the state.

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1 Dear WBAL Listener, Bryan Nehman s Super Spooky and Unscientific Poll was conducted from 6:00am on Monday, October 23 to 12:00pm on Monday, October 30, A total of 238 ghosts and ghouls participated. Survey respondents were able to skip any question in witch they didn t want to answer. What this poll lacked in scientific rigor mortis it made up for with a terrifying amount of candy coated fun. WBAL s Bryan Neham will undoubtedly feel validated that his least favorite chocolate candy Almond Joy received the lowest favorability rating. Thanks for participating and listening! Mileah Kromer Director, Goucher Poll* Professor, Witchcraft and Wizardry *An actual scientific poll of Maryland residents on important issues facing the state. 1

2 Survey Results Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. In general, do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Halloween? 2

3 Okay, thinking first about the non-chocolate candies people typically eat at Halloween... Please tell me whether you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one: Candy Favorable Unfavorable Reese's pieces 83% 15% Starburst 76% 22% Tootsie Rolls 66% 30% Twizzlers 66% 30% Skittles 61% 34% Smarties 57% 38% Jolly Ranchers 49% 43% Candy corn 47% 50% Sour Patch Kids 45% 46% Nerds 43% 47% Taffy 28% 66% NOTE: Table does not include Unable to Judge or Don t Know responses which totaled to < 5%. 3

4 Next, thinking about the chocolate candies people typically eat at Halloween... Please tell me whether you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of each one: Candy Favorable Unfavorable M&Ms 94% 6% Peanut Butter Cups 91% 8% Kit-Kat 86% 12% Snickers 86% 13% Hersey's Milk Chocolate 82% 17% Twix 80% 18% Milky Way 80% 18% 3 Musketeers 76% 23% Crunch 76% 20% Krackle 71% 23% Butterfinger 71% 27% Hersey's Special Dark 69% 28% Peppermint Patties 66% 32% Mr. Goodbar 61% 35% Baby Ruth 60% 35% Heath Bar 54% 41% Almond Joy 51% 45% NOTE: Table does not include Unable to Judge or Don t Know responses which totaled to < 5%. 4

5 At what age are you "too old" to trick-or-treat? *As in you are the one getting the candy. Not just accompanying a child! 5

6 How do you typically distribute/give out candy on Halloween? 6

7 Have you ever handed/left out "healthy" snacks as an alternative to candy on Halloween? Percentage No--Halloween is for candy, not healthy snacks. 61% No--Not against the idea, but I've never done it. 30% Yes 7% Refused 2% Thinking about neighborhood/community trick-or-treating, please tell me which statement comes closest to your opinion: Community/neighborhood trick-or-treating should always be held on Halloween even when it falls on a weekday. If Halloween falls on a weekday then community/neighborhood trick-or-treating should be held on the weekend BEFORE October 31. If Halloween falls on a weekday then community/neighborhood trick-or-treating should be held on the weekend AFTER October 31. Percentage Refused 1% 83% 15% 1% 7

8 Do you decorate your home for Halloween? 8

9 Did you (or will you) carve a pumpkin for Halloween this year? Now, being honest (your responses are anonymous)... Have you ever done either of the following on/around Halloween: Yes No "Tee-peed" (toilet papered) a tree/house/yard 28% 71% Smashed a pumpkin 24% 75% 9

10 What are you or your kids dressing up as for Halloween this year? (Just skip if no one is dressing up.) My costume: Fox Professor McGonagall Holy Cow! Pumpkin Harry Potter Wonder Woman Invisible Man King Witch Betsy Ross Scarecrow Prince Bad Hombre Liberal Politician (SCARY) Smoked survivor Pirate Tired Father Cat Gorilla Cowgirl Mary Poppins Halloweentown mayor Black/red hooded costume Bullseye (horse from Toy Story) 10

11 My child/children's costume(s): Fireman/Firefighter Ninja, Mal from Disney's Descendants Red M&M, Kool Aid guy Jedi, some video game character I couldn t name if I tried. Anime characters I don't even know Cheetah Thomas and unicorn Some online thing TMNT Soldier, Lego ninjago guy, teens TBD Jessie the Cowgirl Ninja and creepy doll Unicorn and Thing 1 Pirate Bloody ghost face FBI Agent and Darla from Finding Nemo Dorothy, pirate, police officer Princess Elena Evie, Dinosaur Angel (but she's not fooling anyone!) Cinderella rubics cube Tiger Monkey Wonder Woman Dobby, the house elf Minecraft character, Superman Tina Belcher; Scream ghost Martin Luther Cosplay Minion, Ant Man Queen, queen, spiderman, pumpkin 2 Cinderellas and a Lightning McQueen Nerd-11 Owl Cat, Owl Dog is a Jedi Dumb Constituent Darth Vader Pumpkin Something from Stranger Things Police officer Day of the dead and assassin Zombie fairy and disco man Spiderman Shark Superman Prince Nija Scary clown, PAC-man and Tigger A ghoul Chik fil'a cow Black power ranger, Red power ranger gas mask Harry Potter, Batman and Raphael (Ninja Turtle) A ghoul and a dark countess 2 year old is a witch, 4 year old is a cowgirl Zombie Cat and pumpkin- always homemade 11

12 Do you, your family, or neighborhood have an awesome Halloween tradition? Tell us! We have a block party in the cul de sac. Decorating every room for Halloween We live in a townhouse community - tons of trick or treaters. Many of us set up chairs on our driveways and enjoy cocktails while handing out candy - it's a party! Sweets and sangria with the neighbors When trick or treating, visit the people that you know and trust! Halloween is my wife's birthday. Therefore, our kids are required to eat cake before they may dig into their Halloween candy. I go to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in WDW every year Trick-or-treating in Homeland with a large group of friends. My Husband takes the kids around while I hand out candy and make gingerbread with lemon sauce. When they get back we eat the gingerbread with lemon sauce and weigh the candy bags then sort through it. We make sure to trick or trick at great-grandparents house every Halloween. When my kids were younger I used to dye their food orange and black or find things that were close like raisins for black, mashed potatoes were dyed orange. etc Decorating, going to Baugher's to get our pumpkin(s). Good grief - I live in Old Town Laurel. We get 300+ kids every year. This neighborhood really goes all out for the tradition. People pop out of coffins, have spooky backyards that the kids have to go through before they get candy, etc. Adults in the neighborhood do "drink or treat." It seems like every kid in Laurel comes here. :-) We lived in Anneslie near Towson years ago and they have a Halloween Costume judging contest with donuts and cider for the whole neighborhood. Fun for the kids and adults alike. Our office also has a lot of Halloween festivities - complete with pumpkin judging contests for our different teams. We have a Halloween party for family and friends each year. The theme for the party changes each year and everyone dresses in costumes to support the theme. We put our lit Jack 'o lantern out as soon as the sun goes down to let the kids know that we are ready for them. We are a small neighborhood in NE Baltimore where Halloween is a pretty big deal. Many neighborhoods that surround us are not as safe, nor do many people there give out candy. So we get TONS of kids - it's not unusual to hand out 300+ pieces. It all happens in a short time 5:30-8pm and then most people turn out their lights. Some neighbors complain that too many outside kids come over to trick or treat, I personally am happy to provide a place for kids to celebrate Halloween the way all kids should. So what if you spend $30 on candy? It's a tradition! Baughers to get pumpkins Get the kids to bed as early as humanly possible after only allowing them one candy... and then have some sort of anniversary celebration. most likely fall asleep on the couch with a movie paying in the background...(yes, we were married on Halloween) Yes, Halloween party Yes, we spend time with our friends, who live in Parkton at great neighborhood for trick or treating. After we've enjoyed dinner and drinks, we give out candy to the many kids that stop by. Then, we 12

13 wander to a neighbor, who is just fabulous. His mom is dressed in a hooded black outfit, rocking by the front door with the house eerily lighted. The wife is also wearing spooky attire and doles out the candy. The husband hides and comes out at opportune moments to rev up his chainless chainsaw, scaring the wits out of everybody... even though, they know he is lurking. It is hysterical! Love it. Lots of decorations We drink, smoke and beat each other up! It's scary all year here! Invite friends over and hang out in the driveway with fire pit, cider, hot cocoa for the kids and a few adult beverages while handing out candy to the trick-or-treaters Doing an open house with a big dinner buffet inside, and friends can stop in and come and go all evening!! "Fun" Halloween food, drinks and desserts!!! Pumpkin carving Hanging out with the neighbor s adult teenagers and kids at the fire pit. I pass out rum runners to trick or treating adults. We go to a friend's neighborhood. Everyone on her block brings food and we sit all the bowls in a central meeting spot. We alternate which parents takes the kids around trick or treating (this year is the Dads' turn). Since we are not in our own neighborhood, I buy candy and have my neighbors give it out for us. So we give out candy in two neighborhoods. Then all the middle school kids sit around and trade their candy with each other. It is a lot of fun! Pot luck tacos in a bag Adults sit around fire pits and hand out candy. This way you get three or four candy hits at one stop. Also, adults walk kids around the neighborhood in big groups so grownups can socialize while the kids go to the doors. I won't deny the presence of various adult beverages during trick or treat outings. We live on a cul de sac that goes up hill- so as families we set up tables at the bottom like a candy Buffett line for the kids to go through while we as parents have a fire pit and pot luck watching the kids go around the neighborhood We decorate like crazy. It is spooky at night and the kids love it. We do our best to scare them. They've started the Trunk N Treat, instead of house to house, the past couple years. Fire pit and mead in the driveway. We might dress our rabbits up! Making marshmallow popcorn treats We live in a very rural area and far off of the road. We prepare for trick-or-treaters but usually have none or very few. So, we end up eating the candy over the next few months. Corn mazes with our dog. Carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds! My wife spends a ton of money on decorations. It happens every year Neighbors all sit outside some with their fire pits & there may be beer/wine involved (just saying) Neighborhood party then the kids trick or treat I put a fire pit in my driveway and make 5 gallons of hot buttered rum for the adults to enjoy while the kids are in our cul de sac. We watch a new horror movie every weekend in October and we have a party every year 13

14 Survey Demographics Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Are you a parent? Percentage Yes--And at least one child is currently under 12 years old 25% Yes--And all of my children are over 12 years old 46% No 28% Total 237 How old are you? Percentage Under 18 0% % % % % 65 or older 9% Refused 2% Total

15 What is you gender? Percentage Male 44% Female 52% Refused 4% Total 237 Which one best describes your community: Percentage Urban 16% Suburban 67% Rural 16% Total 238 In what county/city do you currently reside: Percentage Baltimore City 12% Baltimore County 34% Anne Arundel County 13% Carroll County 9% Harford County 11% Howard County 7% Other MD County 5% Outside of MD 8% Total