Recognizing historic trees in Mukilteo

By Pat Ratliff

The Beacon

To many Mukilteo residents, the abundant trees in town are an important part of the quality of life. Almost everywhere you go, the city is blessed with tree-lined streets.

The Mukilteo Way Garden Cub, which will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year, is in the process of gathering information on some of those trees. Of particular interest to them are historically significant trees.

The club has a tree committee, with a stated goal of recognizing the historic trees of Mukilteo.

“Mukilteo needs to start a tree program; we need to be looking at the trees of Mukilteo,” said Pat Dennis, a long-time member of the club.

“We have a number of trees that should be identified, but that takes time and money. The Mukilteo Way Garden Club can be of benefit to the city and perform this service.”

Dennis should know. Her yard contains a Monterrey Cypress, which is unusual for this area. The tree is well over 100 years old, with a 6-8 ft. base.

“It’s been here quite a long time,” Dennis said. “We’ve had an arborist out. He was unsure of its exact age, but knows it’s very old.”

Mukilteo is home to the Fowler Pear Tree, which is also very significant. It is 150 years old this year, the last living member of a long-gone orchard planted by Mukilteo co-founder Jacob Fowler.

“This will be a long project,” Dennis said. “It’s not something you do in a year.

“We’ll start a book of the significant trees in town, with pictures and histories of each tree.”

EvCC Offers SummerSmart for High School Students

Everett Community College is hosting SummerSmart information sessions at 5:30 p.m. May 6 and May 15 for high school students interested in attending college classes this summer.

Students will learn about summer college options and how to enroll. The session is in EvCC’s Whitehorse Hall, room 352.

A wide variety of classes are offered this summer at EvCC, including art, astronomy, business, Japanese, math, photography, psychology and more.

“SummerSmart gives students the opportunity to get a jump start on their college education,” said Christine Kerlin, EvCC’s Vice President of Enrollment Management. “For students still in high school, college classes can be used to fulfill high school requirements with the permission from students’ school counselors.”

Students under the age of 18, who have not yet completed high school or earned their GED are invited to apply to the SummerSmart program by May 15.  There is no application fee. 

Tuition for each class is $74.30 per credit; a 5-credit class would cost $371.50; some fees and books would be additional. In addition to counting toward a college degree, these courses may be applicable to high school graduation requirements with the approval of the high school.

Everett Community College, 2000 Tower St., is two blocks west of North Broadway, between 10th and Tower Streets. Parking on campus is free for this event.

For more information, call EvCC’s Enrollment Services Office at 425-388-9211 or visit www.everettcc.edu/summersmart.