Are you a result of what your grandparents ate in the 1930-40’s? Are your grandchildren marked by the same history or another one marked by your 1960s nutritional options? Despite dietary intake occupying a significant role in past studies of human evolution, advances in scientific knowledge now provide updated studies discrediting commonly held dietary beliefs based upon previous biases in the 1960s through the 1980s. For instance, the 1950-60 diet- heart hypothesis, which resulted in restricting eggs, cholesterol and fats while recommending greater intake of margarines, is now correlated with increased cancer prevalence and metabolic disorders such as obesity – and problems with heart disease. Oops.

Ecology is defined as the scientific study of relationships that living organisms have with each other and with their natural environment. In the case of humans, it also includes adaptation to the ever-changing world with which we are constantly messing. To survive, we must continually adapt to problems and changes. To adapt and evolve, we must have variation in cultural, functional physiology, and genetics. Our story of adaptation and survival is written in the language of our genes and dependent upon epigenetic mechanisms to create much of the diversity among cells. Many of our phenotypic traits are derived from combined effects of genes and environment. Epigenetic mechanisms archive information from environmental factors to play a profound role influencing human reproduction, variation in growth and development, adaptive capacity, and survival. Nutrition remains the most significant environmental determinant affecting biological processes, epigenetic signaling and gene expression.

I hope to whet your appetite to explore lessons in research, science, nutrition, and heredity through a biocultural study of population variation. We will begin with the basics and discuss science in “English.” No prerequisites for this class.

Instructor: MJ Mosher, BSN, MA, PhD

MJ blends experience from diverse professional careers. She served as a clinical nurse in Denver, as a researcher through a Postdoctoral Fellowship at National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, University of North Carolina, and as a professor in anthropological genetics and nutrition at Western Washington University. She served as principal investigator in population studies with the Buryat of Siberia and Mennonite of Central Kansas, and additionally participating in studies with the Russian Old Believers in Oregon and indigenous populations of the Amazonian region of northern Peru.  All studies examined the relationships among diet, genetics/epigenetics and biomarkers of energy balance, obesity, and cholesterol.

MJ believes that teaching is a two-way experience, with teacher and students (or study participants) learning from each other.

Writing about your life can seem like a daunting task. Where to begin? This class will prime the pump, with weekly writing assignments (about 750 words) presented in themes, plus writing tips. Sharing your stories confidentially with others in class will inspire you even more. You'll come to see your life through a different lens and leave a legacy for your family.

Instructor: Teru Lundsten (Class size limited to 10 students)

Teru has been teaching memoir writing in Skagit County since 2010. She worked as a personal historian, helping people preserve their life stories into books for their families. As a journalist she wrote over 200 profiles of people of all ages and from around the world. She has completed a memoir of her early years.

The loves, illusions, dependencies, and impossible expectations that all of us have to give up in order to grow.

Dealing with changes and necessary losses is the subject of this 6-week class based on the bestselling book “Necessary Losses”: by Judith Viorst. We will explore our individual ways of dealing with the many necessary changes in our lives. Mother nature has its own seasons of change reflected in our bodies, emotions, minds, relationships and life circumstances. Loving, losing, leaving, letting go of our attachments seems to be the lesson of life, “hold on tightly, let go lightly.”

Come and share your stories and memories awakened by the book’s content of your own journey in accepting life changes and losses. Open your heart and mind to the free flow of life as it is expressed in everyone’s case.

"Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Instructor: Henny Nouwen, RN, LMT    

Henny has been in private practice for 32 years using healing touch, intuition, insight and wisdom as an Integrative Healer.  She facilitated death café gatherings in Lake County, CA, serving the death and dying Ministry in the Adidam Community for the last 35 years.  Henny left home when she was 16, left her home country of Holland at 21 years old. In 2015 she lost everything (except her two cats, computer and car) in the Valley fire in CA.  She knows about dealing with Change, Loss, Grief and the emotions related to loss. The “broken heart” is the window into true spiritual life.

Henny also brings with her 18 years as a cardiovascular circulating nurse in open heart surgery and was an ordained minister in metaphysical teachings for nine years.  For more than 40 years, Henny has taught a multitude of classes on the mind/body connections, death, grief & loss, energy awareness, chakras and healing, (chakrachatter.com).

Of the most influential classical composers, Ludwig van Beethoven consistently ranks in the top three, along with Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This class will focus on the music and life of Beethoven. We will also discuss the philosophical changes that occurred around him during his life, focusing on the philosophy of art, and more specifically, music. Compositional forms will be discussed throughout the class in order to enhance the listening experience of his music. Anecdotal experiences from his personal life will be given, along with specific historical events that impacted his music. And yes, fragments of his music will be played liberally for all of our enjoyment. No prior knowledge of classical music or philosophy is required; the structure of the class will be for anyone with an interest in classical music.

Instructor: Bryan Haynes

Bryan was raised in a home that was steeped in classical music. After the requisite immersion into the Rock & Roll scene during the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, Bryan rekindled his interest in the classics when his son began violin lessons. This led to a concentrated study of the lives and music of many of the classical composers over the last 15 years, and he now enjoys discussing his love of their music with anyone who will listen.

Guns, germs, and steel (to employ Jared Diamond’s actors) plied their trades with vigor as the Old World met the New World.  But what were the philosophical and ethnological underpinnings of the agents who wielded those forces sometimes knowingly and sometimes inadvertently?  What did Columbus, his masters, and his fellow adventurers expect, and what did they say, of the people they “discovered?”

How did aboriginal Americans fit in the European view of humanity, especially in the view of the deeply Christian explorers?  Were the slaughter and enslavement encouraged or discouraged?  Did anyone object as the damage unfolded?

This course in Week 1 will examine the social context of Columbus’s time, considering Aristotle’s thinking which impacted centuries of thought on barbarians outside the civilized community.  We will also look briefly at the Spanish Inquisition which, in full swing in Columbus’s time, permeated the explorers’ world. 

Week 2 will consider Columbus’s reports and what he delivered to the Spanish monarchs.  We will consider the scholarly arguments both supporting and objecting to the unfolding treatment of indigenous Central and South Americans.

Week 3 will shift focus to North America and the exploration and settlement vectors from Britian.  We will consider the evolving ethnological expressions of settlers and Pilgrims.  The course will conclude with a brief review of the United States’, including its Supreme Court’s, thought on the indigenous people of the New World.

Instructor:  Carl “Bud” Ullman

Bud is a retired attorney who has worked in the field of Indian law for 32 years.  He represented the Quinault Indian Nation and the Klamath Tribes focusing on treaty rights, particularly fishing and water rights, and on endangered species and hydropower issues.  He also served for five years in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federated States of Micronesia, the last two years as the Attorney General.

A simple line can curve, twist, squiggle and morph into shapes of self-expression, and you don't need to be an artist to explore some of the different dimensions of creativity. Our thought processes may be random doodles that suggest ideas awaiting development, or simply a scribbled release of stress. In this class we begin with doodling and tap into the higher-level skills of analyzing and evaluating by reading between the lines of a wide variety of cartoons, photographs, and paintings to discover the narratives within. And yes, we will add a side of artificial intelligence to the menu.

 Instructor: Karen Eichler

Karen’s teaching career ranges from elementary and middle school classrooms to university work developing and teaching courses for pre-and in-service teachers. In Ohio, she earned her degrees from Kent State University, with a focus on literacy. After moving to Washington, she worked with the state to develop the National Board for Certified Teachers (NBCT) program and City University’s Curriculum and Instruction classes. Her teaching has always presented curriculum using the creative arts to integrate content areas with literacy learning. Karen has also worked as a free-lance journalist and enjoys sharing stories from history and literature.

Tips for things you can do to prepare your Spring garden. We have a lineup of great Master Gardener instructors for Spring term.

• May 15 "Building Healthy Soil for Your Own Garden and Landscape” For beginning and experienced gardeners.  How do you know if your soil is "healthy"? What can you do to improve it? - Diana Wisen (MG)
• May 22 "Composting Made Understandable for the Home Gardener"  For beginning and experienced gardeners. - Katryna Barber (MG) and "Proper Planting Tips for Your New Little Plants” Get your new little purchases off to a good start. - Diana Wisen
• May 29 “Pruning Ornamental Shrubs and Trees in your Home Landscape"     Do you ever stand in front of a shrub or tree in your yard and wonder how or even if you should prune it?   Does it sometimes feel overwhelming? Do you know when is best time to prune some shrubs or when is the best time to leave them alone?  Do you know how to prune so you will not have to prune so often?  Beginners and experienced gardeners alike will learn lots of tips to help them with their own landscape.  Will include proper tools selection and care. - Claudia Wells and Diana Wisen

Instructor: Diana Wisen (MG Class of 1991)

Diana graduated from Whitman College with a BA in Education. She has been a WSU Master Gardener for 33 years and focuses on Outreach & Education, the Training Team, Recruitment & Retention chairman, the Know & Grow lecture series, coordinating the Speakers Burean and takes care of the Hardy Fuchsia area in the Discovery Garden.

This course is designed for anyone interested in learning a little more about wine; the viticulture, various grapes varieties, and how to taste and pair with food.

It will begin with a brief overview of how and where grapes thrive and the most common grape varieties. We will cover ‘still’ wine production and classification. We will look at wine laws and labeling. A discussion of what characteristics one should observe when tasting wine and how best to pair wine with food will conclude the three-week course.

Instructor: Connie Pangrazi

Professional Experience: Over 30 years of educational experience – both public and private. Parent, past PTO President, Teacher, Curriculum Director, University Faculty Member. Retired from Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University - Assistant Dean of Academics. Skagit Valley College faculty adjunct, Leadership Skagit Class of 2018.

Community Service: Soroptimist International of Anacortes member and past president, Leadership Skagit Coach 2019-21, Anacortes School District Ready to Learn Fair Clothing Drive Coordinator, Island Hospital Therapy Dog Program Coordinator.

Connie Pangrazi retired in 2017 after serving as the Assistant Dean of Academics in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College as well as teaching courses in Exercise Science and Physical Education pedagogy. Prior to entering higher education, Connie taught in public education for more than 10 years.

Connie purchased a home in Northern Italy in 2021. As the property has a small vineyard and Cantina, she became interested in the production of wine. Within the past two years Connie has completed Levels One and Two of the WSET and is currently completing her WSET Level 3 and Wine Specialist Certifications. In the fall of 2025, she will begin courses at UC Davis to obtain her Wine Making Certification. She hopes to one day make her own wine and be involved in the wine industry.