CAMDEN - Parents, neighbors and friends came through for the residents of Pearl Street in Camden once again, donating more than 100 pounds of bagged and wrapped candy to be given to the trick-or-treaters who annually throng to the central neighborhood street for Halloween.

Since around 2006, Pearl Street has become the most popular street for families, in part because the Camden Police Department blocks access to vehicle traffic at either end, providing a safe haven for kids of all ages to roam freely to and fro, from house to house. It’s so popular in fact, that families in rural towns like Lincolnville, Hope, Appleton and Warren know about coming in to Pearl Street, where the candy flows like the breeze and it’s a great spot to see all manner of Halloween costume, from the scary to the sublime, the cute to the curious.

And even though Clean Bee Laundry changed hands this fall, new owner Ryan Lawrence kept the tradition of being the de facto Pearl Street Halloween Candy Donation headquarters, where people dropped off bag after bag of candy in recent weeks and days. All that sweet stuff is now in the hands of the Van Dusens at 37 Pearl St., for dissemination to Pearl Street residents ahead of the big night, Monday, Oct. 31.

Word has it, that Peppermint Patty candies are being saved for the “best costumes.”

In need of candy and live on Pearl Street? Give Lori Van Dusen a call, or stop by, and grab a bag or two to add to your inventory. She is also on Facebook.

Happy Halloween, and have a safe and fun night.

Don’t forget to send photos of your costumes to pix@penbaypilot.com so we can add them to a photo gallery we will have online.