The State - News from Nov. 2, 1988

Halloween trick-or-treaters in Santa Rosa made one last stop on their rounds: to Dr. Steven Berger, a dentist who bought their candy for $1 a pound--and then watched as the youngsters threw their goodies into a garbage truck parked outside his office. Berger paid $746 out of his own pocket to 240 youngsters who took him up on his $1 per pound buy-back offer. For five years, Berger has bought sweets collected by children, both as a protest to the sugar treats typically handed out on Halloween and to help prevent children from consuming contaminated candy. “We’re trying to do this in a way where kids can still have a wonderful time trick or treating and have fun the day afterwards without worrying about whether the candy is contaminated or whether they’ll get a cavity,” Berger said. Next year, Berger suggested, give children small toys, money, pencils or stickers.