n Major corporations involved in forestry, mining and fisheries bank on the public’s belief in the idea of the balance of nature. But Mike Fellows, a science teacher at Lakewood High School, says “balance of nature is a fallacy.” At least it is if chaos theory is correct and chaos theory is gaining credibility within the scientific community. Fellows’ involvement with the scientific community at the university level helps fuel his passion for science, thinking the questions and searching for answers. Through his passion for exploring and learning, Fellows is bringing high-level physics and biology to Lakewood students. His classes encourage students to think critically, pose questions and organize experiments to determine answers. Through direct involvement in experiments, Fellows is illustrating to students that changes in environment can produce extreme consequences. So even in a sterile setting where the environment is controlled, there are always tiny variations that can be imperceptible, but can change the outcome of an experiment. With that premise, if an environment is changed through activities like logging, excavating or drag-net fishing, it is wrong to assume balance can be restored when the global and/or long-term effects of these changes is not known. Through hands-on experiments, Lakewood students are testing for the how and why of chaos theory and its practical application. Some of this advance biology research is because of their teacher’s involvement in the Partnership in Science program. The program has helped pay for some special pieces of equipment. Partnership in Science is a mentorship program that gives high school teachers an opportunity to do vanguard research and work with colleagues at the university level. Fellows said he was fortunate he was picked to participate in the program for the last two years. As part of his involvement, Fellows won an exit grant of $3,000 as long as there was a community match of $2,000. Fellows said the local branch of Washington Mutual Bank put in most of the matching $2,000 with the balance coming from other community donations to the school. With the grant and the matching money, Fellows bought some nifty equipment allowing students to do advanced lab experiments. To test chaos theory and its premise that slight variations can cause major changes, students created small environmental “landscapes,” miniature replicas of an ecological system found in nature. They will then test the effect of poison (in this case copper sulfate) on the environmental landscape. In an eight-week experiment, students created the landscapes (as well as a controlled landscape they used for comparison) in jars by putting together measured amounts of lake water, sand, sterilized straw and three types of algae.
Passenger service at Paine Field would be an important asset to Snohomish County. The ability to get to an airport quicker will save on roads, time and auto fuel.
Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric of sponsors of Initiative 1029, an initiative designed to dramatically increase the training requirements for all home and community-based caregivers. Before signing on to this ill-conceived initiative we have to ask the tough question. Is this good public policy or simply an effort to thwart legislative process?
On May 19, I became
On Tuesday evening, after The Globe and The Times went to press, the Marysville City Council was slated to deal with the issue of the illegal use of fireworks. The proposal this time was to make the illegal use of fireworks a civil matter, rather than criminal, to make it easier to enforce the law.
To better understand Marysville’s water situation, it helps to know what’s happening elsewhere. Take Arapaho Falls, Colorado, for example. The small town of 9,300 is in shock following raids of local businesses by state police. Records were impounded and both management and employees were questioned. A state police spokesperson said that arrests may be expected.
If I am remembered for nothing else when I die, it will probably be for the question I always ask my customers when they are purchasing plants: “Have you got some fertilizer and compost?” Beyond all the planting advice and horticultural wisdom, the single most tantamount message I want to leave with all of you is the importance of amending your soils with natural fertilizers and compost and covering them with some kind of organic mulch.
Nearly 90 people gathered at Ninety Farm in Arlington to enjoy lunch at the farm recently. The members of Slow Food Seattle and friends were hosted by Linda Neunzig, who offered the city folk a chance to watch her Corgys chase the sheep, swing under the apple tree, and wander along the bank of the Stillaguamish River, while eating an expansive array of real food.
For an exhaustive list of events submitted to our Calendar section, please visit our website at www.marysvilleglobe.com and www.arlingtontimes.com.
We would like to encourage our readers to send in their favorite
May 30 is the deadline to enter art for the Arts Council of Snohomish County’s Art of the Garden, which will run July 10 – Aug. 21. Any form of art to enhance the garden and bring the garden into the home is welcome, including paintings, photographs and sculpture. Artists may submit up to 12 slides or digital images, labeled with name, title and dimensions. Digital jpeg images should be 300 dpi, approximately 5- by 7-inch format. Include name and mailing address. Email to ccollver@artscouncilofsnoco.org or mail to Carie Collver, 1507 Wall St., Everett, WA 98201. For more information call 425-257-8380.
Art students at Marysville-Pilchuck High School shared a year’s worth of talent at M-PHS May 20 – 22, when a three-day exhibit featured the talent of the school’s many art students.
Stillaguamish Senior Center, 18308 Smokey Pt. Blvd, Arlington 360-653-4551. Daily volunteer opportunities. Call Karen at ext. 228.
