Staff Writer

ONEONTA —Goblins and ghouls of all ages have optimum conditions to celebrate this Halloween —good weather and a Friday night —but area law enforcement officials said they're ready to handle troublemakers.

"The weather's going to be nice, so we're just going to have extra people on like we normally do," said Lt. Joseph Redmond of the Oneonta Police Department. "Hopefully, everybody will have a good time and behave themselves."

Patrols will be concentrating in residential areas at the beginning of the night when children are trick-or-treating, Redmond said, and will move downtown later on.

Police will be on the lookout for vandalism, disorderly conduct and children walking in the street, he said.

"You get the typical egg throwing and the shaving cream and things like that," he said.

Last Halloween, which fell on a Thursday, the department had half a dozen to a dozen arrests, he said.

Today's forecast calls for partly sunny skies and highs in the mid 60s, while tonight is supposed to be partly cloudy with lows in the upper 40s.

Security at both local campuses reported that they would have extra personnel on patrol through the night.

"Historically speaking, we haven't had any problems up here in the last 17 years I've been here," William Dorritie, director of safety and security at Hartwick College, said. "But one can never be too safe."

Hartwick College is playing host to two events for students -trick- or-treating in the Yager Museum this afternoon, and "the Webster Hall Dance Party" in the Agora this evening, featuring DJs, refreshments and prizes.

The State University College at Oneonta also will offer several on-campus activities for its students, highlighted by a late-night Halloween Party in the Hunt Union today.

Several residence halls have scheduled events for SUCO students, including a Halloween dance, movies and hall parties. The College Union Activities Council will show a horror movie on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.