The Rev. W. Stephen Morse loves a parade. But kids getting socked with sweets while running into the streets is not the kind of parade the pastor prefers.

"Its an accident waiting to happen," the associate pastor of Grace United Methodist Church told Grove City Borough Council Monday night. Rev. Morse, of 235 W. Pine Street, said he didn't want to see candy banned but parades made safer for kids in the borough.

Mayor Bruce Bennett agreed. "Kids'll literally dive for the candy when you throw it from a vehicle," he said. "Someone's going to get hurt. You get that hard candy. You can pitch it pretty good."

Rev. Morse, who is also in charge of the chaperones for the Grove City High School band and is vice-president of the school's band boosters, brought his concerns to council following a recent Grove City College homecoming parade.

Those concerns centered around kids scurrying for candy in the streets that almost got hit by the flags of the "Silks", the Grove City High School marching band's dance line, who were marching in the parade.

"I raise it as a concern and a liability for the borough," he said. "Why can't we hand the candy out rather than throw it?"

The borough has approximately five parades a year, including a Halloween parade, a Christmas holiday parade and one during the street fair.

Council vice-president George Pokrant said he was also worried about kids getting hurt by candy or vehicles during parades and said he saw this during his many parade experiences this past year while he campaigned unsuccessfully for county commissioner. "We've seen a lot of potential near misses. Not just here, but across the county."

The council decided to have the mayor and the police chief discuss the creation of rules that would keep candy from getting thrown from vehicles and instead have it passed out by hand from walking parade participants.

"It is safer that way," said Pokrant.