Nearly all of the Executive Division staffers in our office are dressed up for Halloween, including Secretary of Rock, er, State Wyman, who is channeling her inner rocker chick today by dressing up apparently as an ’80s-era combination of Joan Jett and Lita Ford. (Fans of The Runaways, rejoice.) She’s even playing some chords at her desk, although she refuses to take requests. Happy Halloween, everyone!
Dr. Linda Hazzard’s State Penitentiary mug shots. (Photos courtesy of Washington State Archives) With Halloween here, the State Archives has just the thing to put a little scare into your step – a month-long exhibit at its Olympia headquarters about someone considered by many to be Washington’s first female serial killer. Linda Burfield Hazzard was a controversial figure during the early 1900s. Bearing an osteopathy license and the title of “Fasting Specialist,” Hazzard wrote books and articles promoting the value…
In times past, I have told tales on wards and the treatment centers for Halloween and Christmas. So I was delighted to be invited back this year! In a quiet room surrounded by giant bean-bag chairs, I told stories old and new. My first story was a hit. “Overdue Fines” by Edo van Belkom is a cautionary tale of a vengeful librarian who resorts to black magic to punish those who chronically abuse their borrowing privileges. Unfortunately, she forgot to include…
Photo courtesy of Washington Talking Book & Braille Library Pumpkins are so passé. The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library in Seattle celebrated Halloween by decorating its soon-to-be-obsolete C-1 cassette players for talking books. Now, THAT is being resourceful. Besides, how many jack-o’-lanterns can play tapes? WTBBL is part of the Washington State Library, which is a division of the Office of Secretary of State.
Move over spooks and goons. The Secretary of State’s executive team has mixed civics with Halloween … and the result is a total scream! Today the crew is decked out as Washington’s State Symbols – we have the State Seal, a Western Hemlock … and Dave is dressed up as a rhododendron bush. To learn more about the state’s official symbols (that is, to get your own costume idea), click here.