2012 Commencement Student Speaker: Matvey Sineev

 Matvey Sineev and Kristina Madden will be the student speakers at the 2012 Commencement ceremony 7:30 p.m., Fri., June 15 at Comcast Arena Everett.

Here's more about Matvey, a Running Start student who will earn his high school diploma and Associate of Arts Degree simultaneously on his way to the University of Washington.

“Teachers here really do help.”
— Matvey Sineev, Running Start, Associate of Arts

Why Edmonds CC? I try to take the “high path.” As soon as college became an option I decided to jump for it. Edmonds Community College is well known in this community for its excellence as a strong and serious community college, when it comes to preparing people for the next thing in life.
Why now? As my family and I immigrated here from Europe, it’s been my job to secure a good footing for my future. And the future of my (later) kids! I pressure myself to do well even when I know that I may not fully understand the whole process. Going to community college has prepared me for my future and tossed me a step ahead like nothing else in this world can.
Before college: My family and I came from Minsk, Belarus to Seattle with $12,000, a suitcase and no English. I was three years old and fascinated by people who sounded, behaved, and smelled different than me. The motivation I saw in my parents through our first years in America taught me to work hard, live a fulfilling life and make good connections with other people.
High school: Meadowdale — I swam for the boys swim team and I played violin in the Chamber Orchestra.
Working as: a Lifeguard at the City of Lynnwood Recreation Center. And I have been an English tutor at Edmonds Community College for over a year now. I love my jobs!
Best college experience: Besides gaining the tools to really organize myself into a successful individual and seeing how much it has been paying off already, my commute has consistently been the best part of my day. I bike to school and it provides me with a good challenge, a way to avoid using gasoline and instead have a good recreational experience. See my legs?
Favorite class: The first class I ever took at the college. It was a Coordinated Studies class, and honest to goodness I thought that I would hate it. Coordinated Studies is when two instructors get together and teach two classes in one. In this case my class was English and Biology. I am pretty serious with my learning, and I thought this sounded like a joke. I thought each would detract everything else from the other. It is very much not a joke. Edmonds Community College has this kind of teaching nailed down.
Recommended college resource: Faculty — Whenever I had an important question to ask, whether it was about classes or on-campus opportunities, I went to the people that make this school alive. I would go to faculty offices and speak directly to teachers when things worried me. For someone who was trying to organize and become successful, this was the most helpful tool in campus. Teachers here really do help.
Advice for new students: Try new things. Community college is a place to learn. People go to universities unprepared and because of this end up wasting years and spending billions of dollars on courses that they realized they later didn’t need, didn’t like, didn’t help them realize their goals fast enough, and were just filling in the gaps of their schedule. Also, bike to college, and take some Coordinated Studies. Get inspired with life.
Interests: I enjoy places with people; Boy Scouts (I’m an Eagle Scout and an Assistant Scoutmaster with troop 67), Lynnwood Rotary and church are great. I like hiking, camping, biking; I’m an outdoors kind of guy. I spend a lot of time enjoying our corner of the world when I’m not working. Ever since I first moved here, I have loved to go out into Seattle for the markets and the food and the walking. The Pacific Northwest in general has a very appealing mix of culture on top of its wonderful natural setting.
On my iPod: Son Dambi + After School
Movie: Rush Hour
Book: Wild Swans by Jung Chang
Video game: Star Wars: Clone Wars
What’s next: University of Washington
Educational goal: Master’s in Business Administration — with the plan to gain skills that support my family and create jobs and opportunity for other people.

Red Cross offers free CPR for care-givers class Sat., June 30

The Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross offers a free CPR/AED Certification Class Sat., June 30 for family care-givers in South Snohomish County (Brier, Bothell, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Lake Terrace, Woodway) at Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 - 196th Street.

With CPR, you can save a life! At-home care-givers can learn vital skills in a short period of time on a Saturday morning.

Each class will be offered three times. CPR/AED Certification begins at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. (in Spanish). Hands-only CPR begins at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 10:30 a.m.

Register to attend! Call 425.740.2344 or email cprsaturday@snohomishcounty.redcross.org.

This training is sponsored by: Verdant Health Commission, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, Swedish/Edmonds, Fluke Biomedical, United Way, and the Lynnwood Convention Center.

Rotary Club of Lynnwood honors four Edmonds CC instructors

The Rotary Club of Lynnwood honored Edmonds Community College instructors Dick Mamolen (Psychology), Marie Tran (Business Management), Clark Silliman (Paralegal), and Lee Pace (Chemistry) for teacher appreciation month in May at their weekly meeting at the college.

See photos from the event.

 

At the meeting, the club collected $1,088.50 for the Edmonds Community College Foundation to support its faculty grant program.

2012 Commencement Student Speaker: Kristina Madden

Kristina Madden and Matvey Sineev will be the student speakers at the 2012 Commencement ceremony 7:30 p.m., Fri., June 15 at Comcast Arena Everett.

Here's more about Kristina, a working mother of three on her way to the University of Washington's School of Nursing.

“I can do this!” — Kristina Madden
Running Start, EdCAP, Associate in Pre-Nursing

Why Edmonds CC? I started in EdCAP (Edmonds Career Access Program-an opportunity for young adults ages 16-21 to earn a high school diploma in a college environment) to earn a high school diploma while working towards finishing my degree.

Before Edmonds CC: being a mom
Why now? I always knew I wanted to finish my diploma and earn a pre-nursing degree. I was starting to miss school and I began looking for ways to make it possible.
Biggest challenge: juggling school as a breastfeeding mom and as a mother of three and working
 Favorite classes: Honors classes. I did projects (such as studying the immunobiology of breast milk) that helped me discover my passion for research.
Recommended resource on campus: Childcare at the Center for Families
Working as: a breastfeeding counselor for the state’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC Program)
Volunteering: at my church nursery, as a Washington State Association of head start and early childhood education and Health Advisory Committee member on my son's Head Start Executive Leadership Council, and in the community with the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington.
Known on campus for: leading an effort to get a lactation room on campus, a safe place for student-mothers of infants to breastfeed
Scholarship: Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, a prestigious national honor
Advice for students: Don’t limit yourself and don’t let anyone else limit you. Find your passion. If you are doing what you love, it will be so much easier and more beneficial.
What’s next? University of Washington School of Nursing
Dream job: Doctor of Nursing Practice in neonatology and maternal child health

Spring music: Edmonds Jazz Connection, Sing for the Cure, Musaic

Edmonds Community College's musicians will be out in the community this Sat., May 26 at Edmonds Jazz Connection, next Sat., June 2 and Tues., June 5 for "Sing for the Cure" in Everett, and then back on campus the next week Fri., June 8 for Musaic. Hear why Music is one of the college's most well-known and respected programs. We've got talent! Keep up with our musicians on Facebook.

Edmonds Jazz Connection 

May 26 | Edmonds Center for the Arts/downtown Edmonds 

The Edmonds Jazz Connection, presented by Edmonds Daybreakers Rotary, is a community event, which connects schools, the community and the professional jazz world. Proceeds support music scholarships for the young musicians.

 From 10 a.m.-8 p.m. the Jazz Connection features three concurrent—and free—venues, with big bands playing at the Edmonds Masonic Center, choral jazz at the Edmonds Conference Center, and smaller combos at The Edmonds Theater. A new element is the open Jam Session, 5-8 p.m., at the Edmonds Masonic Center, where students perform on stage with professional musicians including the John Sanders Trio (featuring Jon Hamar on bass and Garey Williams on drums).

• Edmonds Community College Jazz Combo performs 10 a.m. at The Edmonds Theater.
• Edmonds Community College Jazz Band performs 12:40 p.m., at the Edmonds Masonic Hall. 
• Soundsation performs 3 p.m. at the Edmonds Conference Center. 

Sing for the Cure: Two Shows 

7:30 p.m., June 2 and June 5 | Everett Civic Auditorium | $7 suggested donation to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

The Edmonds Community College Symphonic Choir with special guest choirs from Cascade High School in Everett, perform "Sing for the Cure," a benefit for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Both performances will be interpreted for deaf and hard of hearing.

"Sing for the Cure" is a symphonic song cycle of ten songs, each sung from the perspective of someone affected by breast cancer: a woman with breast cancer, her partner, her children, her sister, her friends, and the larger community. The songs explore the full range of human emotion, from despair to hope, grief to humor, and from loss to love. Each piece is prefaced by a spoken work introduction.

The composers of each piece in "Sing for the Cure" were chosen not only for their musical ability, but also for the fact that each composer has been personally impacted by breast cancer. It is dedicated to those affected by breast cancer, especially survivors and their families and friends. It is a message of hope and healing to the individuals and families touched by breast cancer.

Musaic — Music + Computers = Happiness 

June 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Black Box Theatre | $7 suggested donation 

Musaic showcases talented students in the Digital Music Program for an innovative multi-media performance.

This year's concert performance features student musicians interacting with computers including live vocal sampling, piano processing, guitar looping, FX sampling, and video game simulations of musical instruments battling it out.

The featured student musicians are Kasey Clarke, Josh Richins, Eric Hansen, Matt Sledgianowski, Calvin Hanson, Connor Favero, Arron Rudeen, Colin Berg, and Michael Martz.

Celebration of Food Festival 2012 at the Lynnwood Convention Center: 1,500 Participants, 75 Volunteers, 50 Vendors — One Yummy Event

This new event brought together people who are passionate about delicious, local, wholesome food — farmers, ranchers, culinary professionals, youth, students, business owners — and you. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Thank You, Celebration of Food Festival Sponsors!

Cascade Harvest Coalition | Cedar Grove Composting | Central Market | City of Lynnwood | Edmonds Community College | Sno-Isle Food Co-op | Verdant Health Commission | Whole Foods Market Lynnwood

Should we do it again next spring? Email Chris Hudyma at chudyma@edcc.edu.

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Poetry instructor publishes book on mindful writing, The Pen and the Bell

Holly Hughes
Photo by Isolde Pierce

Edmonds Community College English Instructor and poet Holly J. Hughes is co-author of a new book about the writing process with writer Brenda Miller, a Professor of English at Western Washington University.

The book launch for The Pen and the Bell: Mindful Writing in a Busy World will be 4 p.m., Sunday, May 20 at Village Books in Bellingham and a reading will be 7:30 p.m., June 28 at Eagle Harbor Books, Bainbridge Island.

Read an interview with the authors on Writing Your Way Home.

Holly Hughes is the editor of the award-winning anthology, Beyond Forgetting: Poetry and Prose about Alzheimer’s Disease, published by Kent State University Press and the author of Boxing the Compass, published by Floating Bridge Press. She's a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University’s MFA program.

At Edmonds Community College, Holly co-directs the Sustainability Initiative and Convergence Writers Series.

Take English 151, Writing Poetry with Holly this fall!

Meet our student: Our State's Cherry Blossom Princess, Nicole Espe

Edmonds Community College student Nicole Espe was the Cherry Blossom Princess representing Washington State for the National Cherry Blossom Festival this spring in Washington, D.C. The festival celebrates spring, the gift of the cherry blossom trees, and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan.

"It was a week long event and there was a princess from every state and four princesses representing their territory. We went to the Japanese Embassy, the U.S. Department of State, Library of Congress, and U.S. Post Office Building. At the end of the festival, we had a grand ball where they crown the new queen by spinning a wheel. Miss Maryland won this year. On the last day, all the princesses were in a parade. It was a cultural and educational experience. One to remember!" — Nicole Espe, Associate of Arts Degree

More about Nicole:

Why Edmonds CC? It is close to my home and I like the atmosphere. 

Why now? I am ready to move on and continue studying what I love. 

Favorite classes: Human Ecology — I love how it is not your typical classroom and lecture class. We were outside all day learning through a different environment. Dr. Thomas Murphy truly changed my life and helped me figure out what I want to do in the future. 

Advice for students: Take a class you usually wouldn't take like volleyball. It opens new doors. I also recommend Human Ecology or the LEAF School program. 

Interests: photography, traveling and animals. 

College goal: A Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies. 

Dream job: To work with animals whether it be dogs in a shelter or wolves in the wild monitoring their behavior and livelihood. I am passionate about animals, domestic and wild. I want to protect wild animals' habitats and ways of life.

Putting a Face on Homelessness Wed., May 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church

The community is invited to hear Richard LeMieux, author of “Breakfast at Sally’s – one homeless man’s inspirational journey” on 7-8:30 p.m., Wed., May 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th St., Lynnwood.

Free to the public. Donations for the homeless encouraged (tuna, peanut butter, toiletries, adult-sized socks or underwear).

Richard will speak on "Putting a face on Homelessness". Speaking specifically about the homeless situation in Snohomish county will be: YWCA Housing Services who will share findings from the recently completed one day count of the county's homeless and Cocoon House, a major county resource serving homeless youth age 13 to 17.

This event is sponsored by Neighbors in Need, a ministry of Trinity Lutheran Church in collaboration with community partners, serving individuals and families struggling to meet housing and basic needs in South Snohomish County.

For more information, call Mark Waldin at 425.419.7938.

Outstanding service: Congratulations to Mike and Wendy Nelson Popke!

Congratulations to friends of the college Mike and Wendy Nelson Popke of Lynnwood Honda! They will receive the John M. Fluke Sr. Service Award for outstanding service to the South Snohomish County community at the Economic Alliance Snohomish County annual meeting tomorrow.

Read more about the awards in The Herald Business Journal, "Economic Alliance to honor 5 in business."

The John M. Fluke Sr. Service Award was established in 1970 and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit or small business leadership coupled with significant community contribution and commitment.

In November, Lynnwood Honda made a donation toward the Swedish-Edmonds Car Seat Program for every car sold. It raised $7,500, which will provide 100 car seats for young families in need.

Community invited to Finding Kind screening June 1 in Everett

The Washington State Youth Leadership Summit will present “Finding Kind,” a free community event from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, June 1 at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave. in downtown Everett. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The event includes a screening of the documentary film and an interactive community dialog on bullying led by the filmmakers, Lauren Parsekian and Molly Stroud. The event is free and open to all who would like to attend.

In addition to the filmmakers, special guests at the event include: Kym Hopen, Mrs. Washington Plus America and Raven Hopen, 2012 Washington All American Girl Teen. The mother-daughter team has chosen the topic of bullying as a platform to open up the community conversation and encourage people to join in the anti-bullying movement.

“In my opinion, bullying is worse now than ever,” Mrs. Hopen said. “Raven and I are committed to making a difference!”

The Kind Campaign and the Finding Kind documentary are about bringing change to relationships. The big picture, however, reveals much more: We should all be more accepting of each other, girls as well as boys. In order to make the world a better place, we must change ourselves as individuals. It starts with being KIND.

Nearly one in three students admits to being bullied, is afraid to talk about it, and lists it as a concern regarding personal safety. In a series of interviews with girls, women and experts, Finding Kind documentary shows these girls have a lot to say.

In Finding Kind, filmmakers Parsekian and Stroud, who met while in school at Pepperdine University, set out on a cross-country journey of discovery and education about girl bullying.

Interviewing women and girls along the way about their lives and experiences, Parsekian and Stroud find among all of the unique personal stories some universal truths about growing up as girls. Finding Kind is a document of that journey and of the filmmakers’ quest to take these experiences and find a common ground of kindness and mutual respect.

 In addition to all of the individual girls and women who share their personal experiences with the filmmakers, Parsekian and Stroud include interviews with respected experts and authors in the fields of psychology, education and the relationships of women and girls.

Parsekian and Stroud have brought their message to more than 30,000 people in more than 300 schools and organizations. According to the filmmakers, all of us are shaped by the people around us and the messages we receive from others. These often unhealthy, competitive friendships are something that everyone deals with, and it’s an issue that has frequently been swept under the rug. There is no reason that girl bullying should be considered “normal” or a “rite of passage.”



The Washington State Youth Leadership Summit is an annual workshop hosted by the Everett Mayor’s Youth Council. The June 1 event is made possible thanks to the City of Everett, the Everett Mayor’s Youth Council, The Everett Clinic Foundation, Brien Ford, Rodland Toyota, Dwayne Lane’s, Snohomish County Executive’s Office, Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett Public Schools, Snohomish County Medical Reserve Corps, Snohomish Health District, Snohomish County Children’s Commission, Everett Community College, Edmonds Community College, Providence Regional Medical Center Everett, Port of Everett, Thrivent Financial-Andrew Brandt and Village Theatre.

The film was brought to the screen by IndieFlix, which is a next-generation film distribution company and one of the largest and fastest growing aggregators of film festival movies. Through indieflix.com, a film distribution and discovery site focused solely on connecting people through movies in a fun way, the company helps filmmakers promote their films and leverage new media.

If you would like to support this Finding Kind event or the Washington State Youth Leadership Summit, please contact Kate Reardon, City of Everett, at 425.257.8687 or kreardon@ci.everett.wa.us.

4th Annual International Film Festival at EdCC

"Gerald," 2 p.m., Tues.,  May 29

Edmonds Community College hosts three days of international films May 29-31
which bridges culture through laughter and comedy, free for the public

Lynnwood, Wash. — The fourth annual Edmonds Community College International Film Festival starts Tues., May 29, with a focus on “Languages of Laughter, Cultures through Comedy,” in the Black Box Theatre on campus, 20000 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood. The films are free and open to the public.

This annual three-day festival selects critically acclaimed films, diverse cultural and artistic offerings, and offers a fun and relaxed atmosphere open to the entire community.
“This event is more than a film festival,” said Christina Fusch, Edmonds CC Arabic and anthropology instructor and event organizer. “Through the magic of film, we open young minds of all ages and expose students to new perspectives. Through innovative, thought-provoking cinema, we also strive to expose audiences to the artistry, current issues, and perspectives in foreign cultures.”
 
For more information, call 425.640.1448 or go to www.BlackBoxEdCC.org.

International Film Festival schedule:

• “Moliere” (French film)- 10:30 a.m., Tues., May 29, Black Box Theatre
A film about French playwright and actor, Moliere, who is considered by many to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Somewhat like “Shakespeare In Love”, “Moliere” is a work of fiction linking several of the writer’s most famous works with an imagined, personal experience leading to his inspiration.

• “Gerald”  (ASL film) - 2 p.m., Tues., May 29, Black Box Theatre
The story begins with the journey of a young man yearning for kinship until one day he discovers he has a deaf, autistic grandfather. The young man is determined to make a connection regardless. Family ties and secrets unbeknownst to the young man surface and events suddenly unfold.  “Gerald” is a powerful, emotional and continuous twist of events that leads to shocking truth. *Film introduction by Richard Jacobs at 1:30 p.m., film we be interpreted.

• “L'Auberge Espagnole" (Spanish film)- 4:30 p.m., Tues., May 29, Black Box Theatre
A single year of learning turns into an outrageous adventure of a lifetime in this comedy.  Xavier (Romain Duris) is a straight-laced French college senior who moves to Barcelona as part of an exchange program; however, sharing cramped quarters with students from all over Europe quickly leads to multi-cultural chaos as Xavier learns hilarious, eye-opening lessons.

• “Winter Vacation” (Chinese film)- 12:30 p.m., Wed., May 30, Black Box Theatre
“Winter Vacation” tells a coming-of-age story set in a small town of Inner Mongolia in Northern China. The story centers around four youths and it takes place on the last day of their winter vacation.

• “The Band’s Visit” (Arabic film)- 7 p.m., Wed., May 30, Black Box Theatre
This heartwarming and poignant winner of the Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard prize is the mesmerizing and witty story of strangers in a strange land. A fading Egyptian police band arrives in Israel to play at the Arab Cultural Center. When they arrive at the wrong town, the two distinctly different cultures realize the universal bonds of love, music and life.

• “Time Traveler: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” (Japanese film)- 12:30 p.m., Thurs., May 31, Black Box Theatre
This third live-action film adaptation of Yasutaka Tsutsui's sci-fi novel stars Riisa Naka as Akari, a young girl who travels through time to find her mother's first true love.

Black Box Theatre | www.theatreedmonds.org
The Black Box Theatre seeks to be a beacon for enlightenment, engagement, education, and entertainment in our community. It seeks to stay relevant and progressive as a workshop of exploration for the students of Edmonds Community College and for the community that surrounds it. The 200-seat theater, located on campus, offers full service support and state of the art technologies for all types of events including musicals, plays, opera, dance, music events and concerts.

Celebration of Food Festival May 20 at Lynnwood Convention Center

We're getting excited about the Celebration of Food Festival 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, May 20, at Lynnwood Convention Center.

This free family festival is breaking new ground in Snohomish County by highlighting sustainable, local, organic and/or wholesome food. More than 50 booths will offer opportunities to meet local farmers and farmer's markets, learn about CSA's, meet local business owners, watch cooking demos, sample products and try fun activities.

The goal is to highlight where to buy and how to grow, cook and preserve real food.

There's been some great news coverage of our new festival:

• Read about our festival in the Journal Newspapers
Eating locally grown food strengthens communities
• Read about our festival in The Weekly Herald
EdCC festival celebrates good, local food
• Listen to an interview with food festival organizer Chris Hudyma on KSER
Celebration of Food Festival

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Thanks to our festival sponsors!

Cascade Harvest Coalition
Cedar Grove Composting
Central Market
City of Lynnwood
Sno-Isle Food Co-op
Verdant Health Commission
Whole Foods Market Lynnwood

We are also proud to showcase Edmonds Community College at this event.

A faculty, staff, and students are participating from a variety of departments including:
STEM
Culinary/Catering
Horticulture
Leaf School
Center for Service Learning and Americorps
Energy Managment
Center for Families

For a full list of vendors and more information about activities, go to www.edcc.edu/foodfest.
See you next Sunday!

New video: Find Your Passion at Edmonds Community College

"Be open to experience. Be open to learning about things you've never heard of or studied before and you'll find, you'll find your topic, you'll find your discipline, you'll find your life..." — Edmonds Community College English instructor Jennifer Inslee

New video: Tuition and Financial Aid at Edmonds Community College

"You can get financial aid at a community college and, not only that, the financial aid goes much further." — Rae Ellen Reas, Senior Associate Dean, Enrollment and Financial Services at Edmonds Community College

New video: Many Degree Options at Edmonds Community College

An overview of the many degree options at Edmonds Community College.

"There's a lot of options and most of the time it just means finding what you are interested in." — Rachel Wade, Physics Instructor at Edmonds Community College 

Edmonds CC LEAF School noted for Earth Day work on Gold Park

News via Lynnwood Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Department

Lynnwood parks benefit from Earth Day volunteer projects. 

Gold Park clean up with Edmonds CC LEAF School and REI Volunteers

On Sunday, April 22, the Edmonds Community College LEAF School celebrated Earth Day at Gold Park. Over 120 people turned out to help renovate the park’s trails and remove invasive plants. Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy and Yellow Arch Angel were removed and thrown into a pile that grew to over 6 feet high by the end of the day. The LEAF School students then led teams of volunteers in re-planting native shrubs throughout the park.

Members of the Snohomish and Duwamish Tribes shared song and dance throughout the day. REI of Alderwood and the Girl Scouts of America led children's activities, highlighted by a 'wilderness crime scene.’ Salish storyteller Roger Fernandez shared traditional teachings during lunch, which was generously donated by the Northgate Ivar's. The park came alive with the song, dance, laughter and hard work.

 The Edmonds CC LEAF (Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field) School hosts community volunteer events at Gold Park each academic year. This event was open to the public and was the largest volunteer work party to date. The event was made possible by Washington Campus Compact, Connect 2 Complete, The Snohomish Tribe, Ivar's, REI of Alderwood, Girl Scouts of Western Washington, PCC Natural Markets, The Duwamish Tribe, Panera Bread and many community volunteers.

Gold Park is on the corner of 64th Ave W and 200th St SW in Lynnwood. The public is invited to visit the park’s new ethnobotanical garden 'Stolja Ali’ (place of medicine), which has been developed over the past three years by the LEAF School under the guidance of the Snohomish Tribe.

Other park clean-ups happened throughout the city. A few blocks east at Scriber Creek Park, eight volunteers arrived with their own gloves and trash bags to clean up this park, which focuses on preservation of pant and wildlife habitat. Volunteers removed cans and bottles, 3 tires, 2 hub-caps, a thermos, 3 plastic buckets, paper, plastic bags, hundreds of cigarette butts, and bagged all the recyclables. This group of volunteers met through Meetup, a worldwide volunteer network (www.meetup.com). Meetup's mission is to revitalize local communities by helping people around the world organize activities that make a difference in their communities.

A local Geocaching group hosted a Cache In – Trash Out event on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at Lynndale Park. Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called ‘geocaches’ or ‘caches’. Lynndale is Lynnwood’s largest park, located just north of Lynndale Elementary School in west Lynnwood. Lynndale Park has approximately 22 acres of preserved native forest, several athletic fields, the Amphitheater, play equipment and picnic areas.

A few days after Earth Day, the local Navy Recruiting office brought 8 people to Wilcox Park to help remove English Ivy, which is not native and is considered an invasive species. Wilcox Park is Lynnwood’s first park which opened in 1962 and was named for the pioneering Wilcox family who homesteaded on the site.

Lynnwood’s parks, trails and open spaces are a great asset to our community and the City of Lynnwood commends the efforts of these volunteers in helping improve these spaces for our community.

If you have a group of people interested in participating in a park clean-up, please contact Julie Moore, Community Outreach Specialist at 425.670.5023 or by email at jmoore@ci.lynnwood.wa.us.

Lynnwood Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts mission is to create a healthy community through people, parks, programs and partnerships.

Music student Calvin Hanson wins national music score competition

Congratulations, to music student Calvin Hanson! His score, "The Abyss," won a national competition.

Read more about him in the article "EdCC student awarded for new music," in the Edmonds Beacon.

Edmonds CC Students Present Multi-Arts Performance

Photo by Audi Asaf

Edmonds Community College invites public to experience an innovative multi-arts collaboration, May 17

Lynnwood, Wash. — Edmonds Community College Music and Visual Arts Departments present Push + Pull: A Multi-Arts Performance, 7:30 p.m., Thurs, May 17 on campus, 20000 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood.  This event is free but a $7 suggested donation supports academic scholarships at the college.

Composed by Edmonds CC Music and Visual Arts faculty, Push + Pull features student art and music performances and choreography by Karin Stevens DanceCompany. Throughout the piece, musicians, painters and dancers will respond to five different movements: Attractor, Squeeze, Tug, Newton's Cradle, and Hoist, resulting in an innovative sensory experience for the audience.

“Push + Pull is a one-of-a-kind improvisational performance between art and music students, and a professional dance company,” said Edmonds CC Music Department chair, John Sanders. “‘It’s based on loose structures and has no parameters, offering the audience a unique perspective of an authentic multi-arts collaboration.”

Opening the night are two compositions by Sanders, titled “Rubber Band” and “Twelve by Two,” performed by Edmonds CC Music students.

For more information, call 425.640.1139 or go to www.BlackBoxEdCC.org.

Spring open houses and arts events at Edmonds Community College

From the college wide and housing open house on May 14 to the Meadowdale Hall open house for Visual Arts, Construction, and Energy Management programs on May 17 there are many opportunities to take a look at Edmonds Community College this spring. Registration for summer and fall classes starts May 23.

You can also come to the Black Box Theatre on campus for arts and cultural events including a multi-arts performance with the Karin Stevens Dance Company, Push + Pull May 17, a screening of Miss Representation May 23, a free International Film Festival May 29-31, and a unique performance by student musicians, Musaic June 8.



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Get garden ready May 11-12 at Edmonds Community College

Come to the college’s annual spring plant sale and its first garden soil giveaway.

Edmonds Community College’s Horticulture Department holds its annual plant sale May 11-12 and a Project Management class has organized a giveaway of the college’s surplus soil.

Spring Plant Sale | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | May 11-12 | greenhouse 
Support horticulture students and get unique, healthy plants at the Edmonds Community College Horticulture Department plant sale. Find a variety of indoor and outdoor plants (fuchsia baskets, hardy fuchsias, vegetable starts, basket stuffers, mixed containers, annuals, perennials, ferns, coleus, geraniums, salvias and more!) at great prices. All proceeds benefit the college Horticulture Program and students.

Triton's Earth Garden Soil Giveaway | 1-4 p.m., May 11 and 9 a.m.-noon, May 12 | Parking Lot 
An Edmonds Community College's Project Management 271 class has organized a give away of the college's surplus garden soil. The college's Grounds Department has been composting its landscape waste and collecting topsoil from its grounds maintenance projects around campus. The soil has been tested and is suitable for gardening. It may contain weed seed.

To pick up the soil at the college, enter campus on 200th St. (turn at Rainier Place, the college residence hall), pass Seaview Gym and come to parking lot A (next to RLH on campus map). Bring your own bags, buckets, or pick-up truck. First come first served. Limit two truckloads per customer.

 Get directions to Edmonds Community College, 20000 68th Ave. W, Lynnwood.

Find out more,  go to www.edcc.edu/hort.

Musaic: Music + Computers = Happiness June 8

Join Edmonds Community College for a unique night of music performances featuring works by students: Kasey Clarke, Josh Richins, Eric Hansen, Calvin Hanson, Connor Favero, Arron Rudeen, Colin Berg, Michael Martz, and Matt Sledgianowski.

 Musaic will be 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 8 in the Black Box Theatre. A $7 suggested donation supports music student scholarships.

View the new ArtsNow EDGE exhibit May 17 at the Edmonds’ Art Walk

“Heartstone” by Alecia Cox

Join ArtsNow, Edmonds Community College’s non-credit continuing education classes, for a reception for a new multi-media art exhibit, “A View from the EDGE,” 5-8 p.m., Thurs., May 17 at Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave N., Edmonds. Live music and refreshments will be provided at this free event.

The exhibit features works by 12 graduates of the EDGE Professional Development Program for Visual Artists, developed by Artist Trust. The artists completed eight weeks of intense education at ArtsNow. The exhibit features fiber art, photography, painting, and jewelry. It will be on display through June 7 in the ArtsNow gallery.

Every year, ArtsNow offers the EDGE program for artists, a survey of professional practices through a hands-on curriculum that includes instruction by professionals in the field. The EDGE Program provides artists with entrepreneurial skills to help them achieve their career goals and creates a community of artists.

For more information, call 425.640.1243, email artsnow@edcc.edu, or go to www.edcc.edu/artsnow.

New videos: Undergraduate Research at Edmonds Community College

Edmonds Community College helps math and science students to go above and beyond in their studies by offering undergraduate science research projects in acoustics, optics, string theory, and wind tunnels. Partners include NASA, Central Washington University, and University of Washington.

"One of the reasons why I love physics so much is because broadly it's the study of the universe and everything in it." — instructor Tom Fleming

Watch this video about an undergraduate research project with Central Washington University professor Michael Jackson on far infrared spectrum lasers featuring Edmonds Community College physics instructor Tom Fleming and students Andrew Nichols and D'Artagnon Womack.



Watch this video about an undergraduate research project on acoustic levitation featuring Edmonds Community College physics instructor Tom Fleming and students Judy Santa Cruz and Joshua Griffith.

Meet our student: Cole Holland, Digital Music

Edmonds Community College music student Cole Holland's composition "Leaving Armenia" will be performed with Young Composers: A Concert of World Premieres, 7:30 p.m., Mon., May 7 at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall, Seattle. Free. The premiere was originally scheduled for May 1, but was postponed due to May Day protests in downtown Seattle.

“I want to get going with my life as soon as possible.”
Cole Holland, Running Start, Digital Music

Why Edmonds CC? It was an easy decision — I live half a mile away.
Working as: Lifeguard and Swim Instructor at the Lynnwood Recreation Center
Biggest challenge: Getting everything done all in one day!
Favorite class: Definitely Music Theory, it has greatly expanded my musical knowledge as a musician and composer.
Advice for students: Work hard, don't procrastinate, and have good time management. Also, don't be afraid to talk to your instructors and ask questions, because chances are you’re not the only one in the class that has the same question.
On my iPod: Gotye, Miles Davis, The Roots, and my music.
Favorite composers: Shostakovich, Borodin, Stravinsky, and Beethoven
Video game: Guitar Hero — when I have a chance!
College goal: Definitely getting my Bachelor's Degree from Cornish as a Composer/Performer.
Dream job: In five years, I see myself writing for film and doing musical projects in the studio with all different kinds of musicians. Most of all, I want to do it in the Seattle/Puget Sound area.

Music student Cole Holland's composition premieres May 7 at Benaroya

Edmonds Community College music student Cole Holland's composition "Leaving Armenia" will be performed with Young Composers: A Concert of World Premieres 7:30 p.m., Mon., May 7 at Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall,  Benaroya Hall, Seattle. Free. The premiere was originally scheduled for May 1, but was postponed due to May Day protests in downtown Seattle.

The concert will feature 10 world premiere compositions by local teen performers performed by Seattle Symphony musicians in a chamber setting.

"My piece...is written for a string quartet with a duration of about nine minutes. With this piece, I wanted to show both texture and sound, and how they can go against each other. In the introduction I show beautiful harmonics and counterpoint between the two violins, and it is written in a fugue style to where each instrument gets added in one at a time. From there, it travels through many different tempos, themes, colors, and atmosphere's before reaching the ending which is the most dramatic and emotional part of the piece," Cole said. 

Cole was one of 10 composers in the Puget Sound area selected to participate in the Merriman Family Young Composers Workshop run by Dr. Samuel Jones, former conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and co-founder of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. 

Cole wrote his composition during the 12 week workshop. "In this time, we met once a week providing feedback and ideas to each others compositions, but most of all trying to push our creativity and art further than our previous projects," he said.

This Weekend: 27th Annual Powwow

Edmonds Community College and the Native American Student Association invite the public to celebrate the 27th annual powwow, “Echoes of our Ancestors,” May 4-6.

Lynnwood, Wash. Edmonds Community College’s Native American Student Association hosts the 27th annual powwow, “Echoes of Our Ancestors,” May 4-6. The powwow brings together students, alumni, families and the community to celebrate Native American singing, drumming, and dancing.  Food and arts and crafts vendors will be present all weekend.  This event is free and open to the public, in Seaview Gym, 20000 68th Ave. W., Lynnwood.

Grand entries are typically the best time to come as a spectator.  They start at 7 p.m., Friday, 1 and 7 p.m., Saturday, and 1 p.m., Sunday. Enjoy Native storytelling during intermission on Saturday, between 5-7 p.m. The Edmonds Community College powwow is proud to maintain a history of honoring tradition while at the same time empowering students to be creative and innovative as they learn important leadership skills while planning this event.

This year, musician and educator Arlie Neskahi, of the Dine' (Navajo) Nation. is the master of ceremonies. The arena director is Frank Goes Behind (Lummi).

For more information, call 425.640.1076 or go to www.edcc.edu/powwow.

Get plants and "Triton's Earth" garden soil May 11-12 at Edmonds CC

Edmonds Community College's Project Management 271 class has organized a give away of the college's surplus garden soil 1-4 p.m., May 11 and 9 a.m.-noon, May 12 (the same days as the Horticulture Department's annual spring plant sale 10 a.m.-4 p.m., May 11-12).

 In an effort to become a green campus, Edmonds Community College has been composting its landscape waste and collecting topsoil from its grounds maintenance projects around campus. The Grounds Department has mixed the two together to create their own soil blend to re-incorporate it back into the campus landscape.

Now they have a surplus of soil to give away. It has been tested and is suitable for gardening. It may contain weed seed.

To pick up the soil at the college, enter campus on 200th St. (turn at Rainier Place the college residence hall), pass Seaview Gym and come to parking lot A southwest of the gym. Bring your own bags, buckets, or pick-up truck. First come first served. Limit two truckloads per customer.

The soil is free, but donations will be accepted for the Edmonds Community College Foundation.

 Students in the Project Management class have christened the soil "Triton’s Earth”. They are drawing on the mythology of the college's mascot, Triton, prince of the sea.

"The Argonauts, having been carried far inland by a giant wave, were stranded near Lake Tritonis in the Libyan desert. While porting their ship across the desert, they encountered Triton. Triton in mortal semblance grasped a “clod of earth” near his foot and offered them the gift of friendship. Like Triton, Edmonds Community college is offering the local community soil as a gift of friendship," said student Marcel Boers.

Guitar-building skills help teachers generate interest in science

Watch this video about the Materials Education National Resource Center's guitar-building workshop aimed at helping teachers increase in science, technology, engineering, and math in their classrooms.