As Halloween season continues, the Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC) brings back their highly anticipated haunted aquarium event. Sarah Tobey and Brooke Rivera from the SSSC join KCAW for the Morning Interview to discuss what sights and activities attendees can expect this year.

A famously dark and wet holiday in Sitka, Halloween dressed up as a beautiful, sunny day on October 31, 2022. Hundreds of trick-or-treaters took advantage of the clear skies to roam down Lincoln Street, collecting candy from downtown businesses participating in the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event.

Four new cases were reported on Saturday (10-30-21) and two were reported on Sunday, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. 

According to the state’s COVID hub, 18 cases have been reported in the last week, keeping Sitka at a high alert level. Sitka’s alert level will be downgraded when fewer than 9 cases are reported over a 7 day period. 

In an email to KCAW, DHSS representative Clinton Bennett said there have been no new coronavirus cases reported at the Sitka Pioneer Home. In late October, seven residents and five staff members tested positive for the virus. Testing of staff and residents will continue this week.

As of last Friday, no active cases were tied to the Sitka School District.

To date, Sitka has reported 1203 coronavirus cases, 24 hospitalizations and five deaths since the pandemic began, according to state data.

Eir Christianson wore her Wonder Woman costume to an all-woman screening of the live action film in Sitka in July. The costume is the top search for Halloween this year. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

As Halloween approaches, the costume scramble is underway. One of the most popular is for a character that first appeared on the public’s radar in All Star Comics #8 in October 1941 and made a comeback with a blockbuster film this summer. Wonder Woman is now the top Google search for Halloween costumes this year.

Downloadable audio.

As a kid in the 1970s, Jessica Christianson would make her own Wonder Woman costume out of household objects. Here, she reveals her outfit at a party. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Christianson)

Jessica Christianson was only three-years-old when she discovered Wonder Woman, the Lynda Carter version. She doesn’t remember much about the 1970s TV show, just this image of a woman spinning through a flash of light and emerging a superhero.  

“Usually the rest of the day, I would run around my apartment wearing my Wonder Woman beach towel, which was the mainstay of my Wonder Woman costume,” Christianson said. “I would make cuffs out of toilet paper towel rolls  or cut up paper towel rolls for her arm bands. Then I’d find a shoelace or a yarn bit or a piece of rope.” With this make-shift, golden lasso, she’d wrangle stuffed animals.

When I spoke with Christianson back in July, a live action feature film of Wonder Woman directed by Patty Jenkins was in theaters. It was the highest grossing film at U.S. Box Offices this summer and she’d brought an adult-sized Wonder Woman beach towel with her to the screening.

Jessica, Rita, and Eir Christianson at an all-female screening of Wonder Woman in July at the Sitka Coliseum Theater. (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

Along for the ride are her daughters Rita and Eir, who are also dressed for the part. Eir’s costume was a hand-me-down, with some Southeast flair.  “She’s got her blue rope from a boat line. That’s her lasso of truth that we’re bringing in today,” Christianson said of her daughter’s costume. “And she’s got a favorite pair of socks that she’s wearing. It’s still that imaginative play core. That’s what’s important.”

I ask Eir how she feels to watch Wonder Woman and be wearing that costume too. “Amazing,” Eir responded. “Amazing and really excited. But Mom has told me about her and Mom loves Wonder Woman and so do I.”

Christianson is a teacher at Baranof Elementary School. She adds that seeing more female heroes take the screen – like Rey in the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens –  is having a trickle down effect in what kids pretend to be in the classroom.

“Whereas I’ve always – in my twelve years of [teaching] first grade – seen Batman and Darth Vader represented when they play imagination, the rise of Rey and Padma and Star Wars and Wonder Woman [puts female characters] right there in the thick of it.”

Most days, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Maple is a beacon of safety in Southeast. But on the night before Halloween, the crew members transform the vessel into a haunted ship.

This annual event in Sitka doubles as a canned goods drive and scholarship fundraiser for Coast Guard families, many of whom operate behind the scenes to spook visitors.

Crew members were responsible for decorating their own section of the ship, complete with special effects and creepy lighting (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

Zelman, who organized said the event, said the strangest item on this year’s shopping list was a straitjacket (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

According to Ensign Kristen Zelman, who organized the event, 650 people walked through the Maple last night and the canned goods bin was full.

Guests descend the ramp of the Cutter Maple, a 225 buoy tender operated by the Coast Guard in Southeast waters (Mike Hicks/KCAW photo)

Downloadable audio.

Jennifer Robinson shares information about several upcoming events hosted by the Sitka Chamber of Commerce, including Moonlight Madness, an evening of late night shopping from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday, October 30th, and Downtown Trick-or-Treating on Lincoln Street from 4pm to 6pm, Friday, October 31st.

The Chamber is also organizing the 2nd Annual Pirate Pub Crawl, a free costumed event that takes place Saturday, November 15th.

Today at the Chamber Lunch, there will be a presentation about mapping neighborhoods for disaster preparedness. Doors open at 11:30.