Please visit Green Infrastructure site and add several upcoming meetings to your "don't miss it" list

2030 meetings coming up on future of Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas.

Please click on individual images to see hairstreak butterfly nectaring on Verbesina virginica and another resting on nearby shrub on September 28, 2010.

Important meetings coming up on future of Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas.

My comments today on a thread about the future of Southpass that appears on the the NWA list serve

Thank you, Bill, for saying it so well.
I try to say what you said everyday and have spoken at numerous planning and council meetings, only occasionally being on the winning side. This wonderful lull in destruction of Northwest Arkansas' environment won't last forever. It is time to speak up in city and county meetings about the reasons to protect the natural world and support ordinances that will promote the interest of all living things, including the people who live here. I doubt the first person who tossed the words "sustainable city" had in mind only "sustained growth."
Truly sustainable growth would be harmless growth. What we have seen in recent years has mostly been harmful growth.
With a few more city ordinances that take into consideration the conservation of natural resources coming before the Fayetteville City Council in the near future, we have a chance to minimize the destruction.
The need for conservation/environmental education isn't limited to the public or public officials or workers who can affect the environment by just cutting back a little on how much they mow or bulldoze or spray insecticide or pesticide or fertilizer or who can choose to plant native species instead of alien species but also must extend to investors and bankers who have in the past supported land acquisition and development plans that turned out to be harmful. Everyone needs to be aware of the potential consequences of what they support.
Unlike most of the dozens (or is it hundreds?) of unfinished but previously approved projects in Northwest Arkansas, Southpass' land (hard for me to put that name on it comfortably and I prefer calling it the old Judge Cummins farm) has not had its vegetation removed or its soil removed and any future proposal can include a lot more prairie and hillside land in its protected zones.
Once the soil is removed or leveled under red dirt or even the vegetation is removed, the land never again will have its intrinsic life-sustaining ability again.
For more of my thoughts on this subject and photos documenting the value of some of the natural land in Northwest Arkansas and some of the war-zone-like photos of land-clearing and resulting erosion and flooding, please save the links below. No one could review them all in one year's normal working time, and few would consider using a lot of leisure time visiting my links. But the sample below might be of interest to those who care. If those aren't enough, my Google blog profile lists that many more sites I manage.
Sincerely,
Aubrey
Aubrey James Shepherd
P.O. Box 3159
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702
aubreyshepherd@hotmail.com
479-444-6072
Aubrey Shepherd Central: www.aubunique.com
Aubrey's photos at flickr.com

Morning beauty on and around World Peace Wetland Prairie featuring insects on Verbesina virginica, white crownbeard, also known as frostweed because of its winter beauty

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE and widen view.

Susan Thomas and Richard Drake talk about Telecom ordinance and management of City 16

Old posts on The Iconoclast remain interesting to read; thanks to REGULAR READER who dug this out of the archives and shared with us

Even the Democrat-Gazette Gets It

"What are some hot topics in Fayetteville these days? Perhaps the future location of the high school. Or what’s going to become of the Walton Arts Center on Dickson Street. Those subjects are getting a lot of talk in the papers, over the air, and in countless conversations in coffee shops and on street corners. But you won’t find them being discussed in forums on the Government Channel these days.The city’s would-be propaganda minister, Susan Thomas, has decided otherwise. The public forums have been dismantled.

"Ms. Thomas’ actual title is public information officer. Right now she’s busy limiting public information. It seems she agrees with the latest word from the city attorney. Kit Williams has opined that the forums on the Government Channel might be an illegal use of the channel. So Susan Thomas now has a rationale for killing the forums. Or as she put it in pure doublespeak, she didn’t really cancel the forums. She just announced that planning them had been stopped. Another distinction without a difference. Censors have a million of ’em. ...

"What’s going on here? Why the city administrator’s sudden interest in programming on the Government Channel? And why, after all these years, are the public forums on the channel deemed illegal? These issue forums have long been done remarkably well. They’re balanced. Every side is heard. ...

"The bigger concern is that the administration’s latest intrusions open the door to further meddling in programming on the Government Channel. Some future administration might be inclined to tamper with the policies even more. The programming could become just what it was designed not to be: a tool to put the current administration in the most favorable light. ...

"We’d especially like to hear something unequivocal from Dan Coody, the mayor. He’s notoriously touchy about public information that doesn’t come out the way he thinks it should. What’s his role in this flap? Does he support undermining the independence of the Telecommunications Board? And Susan Thomas’ fiddling with programming? Good questions. Answers are needed. ...

"The public forums on the Government Channel have been a good source of information about various topics of community interest. To undermine that success—for whatever reason—is a mistake. The city council needs to get to the bottom of this. Soon. Before silence becomes standard operating procedure. Even in once free-speaking Fayetteville."

**************************************************************

Fran Alexander examines the proposal in some detail then concludes, "Cutting to the chase, we all know Fayetteville will have to be represented on this board now that the authority exists. But treating Lucas and Jordan as spoilers is condescending. Wanting to know what’s in it for Fayetteville if traffic is diverted away from town is hardly faulty economic logic on the part of these aldermen. Jordan was even depicted in a political cartoon as a hayseed for not wanting to vote immediately. Well, gee, I’d sure rather have a hesitant questioner (hayseed he’s not, by the way) looking out for the town than slick bond daddies dancing for decades with our money, but maybe that’s just me. It may be painful, but critical thinking requires that we question authority — whether authority likes it or not."

Democracy is slower than dictatorship, but that is one of its advantages. If you are interested in participating and having your opinion considered, Aldermen Shirley Lucasand Lioneld Jordan are holding their regular monthly open-to-all Ward 4 meeting tonight at 7 p. m. in Room 111 of City Hall. The Regional Mobility Authority is the first thing on the agenda, and this will be the only public hearing before the vote Tuesday night and your only chance to ask questions or be heard. Not that the editors of the Northwest Arkansas Times think you care, have anything worthwhile to say, or even deserve that chance.

There will be no public forum on the Government Channel discussing this topic, but you can watch Mayor Coody's press conference about bottled water.

Lunch with George Arnold

George Arnold has an interesting commentary in today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on the nature and future of news and information in the public sphere. Unlike the editors at theNorthwest Arkansas Times, Arnold gets out and chats with folks outside the office on a regular basis and considers their views. He tries to engage in a conversation with citizens instead of the unilateral preaching and navel gazing of certain other editorial and opinion writers. That was evident from his editorial column today, wherein he reflected on the national trend of newspaper downsizing and the rise of alternative information sources.

As Arnold tells it, "I sat down for lunch last week with some residents of Northwest Arkansas who keep close eyes on what's going on around them. They're veterans of community activism, politically engaged. What was on their minds? Judging from many of their questions to me, they are just as concerned about the future of news and newspapers as those of us working in the business. My lunch partners have been watching as the Internet, and blogs especially, redefine the meaning of news, and how news is delivered." At the other local newspapers, these kind of people are labeled extremists and dismissed as having nothing worthwhile to say.

George Arnold has learned what too many of his colleagues in the local press fail to understand or acknowledge. "Gone are the days when those of us in journalism school were trained to be the gatekeepers of information for the rest of the public. As newspaper reporters and editors, we would be deciding what was important enough to pass along to our readers each day. The responsibility was a serious one, and not to be taken lightly."

"The gatekeeper function hardly exists any more," he admits with a sense of caution. "Everybody with a computer has become his own editor, seeking out the news of interest to him and perhaps, like some of those at lunch with me, running a blog or at least contributing their own thoughts to blogs. The gathering of news has gone viral. I willingly admitted to the group that I scanned several must-read blogs in the course of my working day, along with the obligatory review of several newspapers. Without all of them, I'd be at a disadvantage in trying to keep up with what's going on in the world around me".

The mainstream media depend on advertsing revenue from business and government, while bloggers depend more on passionate opinions than paychecks and have less concern about offending the powerful. Arnold also knows "that there is a lot of bogus information on blogs, too. Anybody who refers to blogs has to be his own gatekeeper these days, sorting out the worthwhile from the trash. No easy task, as any newspaper reporter could testify." He should have said as any newspaper readers could testify as well.

It is asking a lot of readers to expect them to think critically, evaluate arguments, challenge evidence, and draw their own conclusions, but we think it is worth it. Bloggers and their readers sometimes get it wrong, but that is usually because government, corporate, and other institutional gatekeeppers (including the hired press) are less forthcoming about their true motives and prevent them having access to all of the relevant information. Bloggers must then speculate on what is missing and decide for themselves what news and views are "fit to print." Readers are not reluctant to let them know whether they agree.

But George, I thought what happened at lunch stayed at lunch

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Dr. Susan Thomas Ph.D. Calls It Quits

Dr. Susan Thomas, Ph.D., Public Information Czar for Mayor Dan Coody, submitted her letter of resignation yesterday. That was a smart personal public relations move, giving the appearance that it had nothing to do with the possible outcome of today's election and for getting out of a terrible situation in which she had found herself in recent years. Doing her master's bidding in some rather unpleasant deeds could not have been enjoyable nor healthy for one's self-respect.

In her letter of resignation, Dr. Thomas said her new job with the Texhoma Council of Governments "offered the potential for career advancement while also allowing me to be closer to my family" in Texas. She also said it had been a pleasure to serve the citizens and the “wonderful community” of Fayetteville. Apparently, she did not say it had been a pleasure to serve Dan Coody by taking control of the Government Channel, denying responsibility for the $68 million sewer plant debacle, and arranging daily ribbon-cutting ceremonies for every new speed bump.

When asked about the resignation of Dr. Thomas, Coody said he wished her luck. Then he threw in the salt by adding that he had no plans to replace Thomas with the comment that "this is not on our front burner." That is bureaucrat-speak for "Don't let the door knob hit you in the ass."

Dr. Thomas is not the first of Coody's top staff to jump ship. Planning Director Tim Conklin left for Springfield, Missouri, to take a job in transportation planning for Ozarks Transportation Organization.Gary D. Dumas, Coody's $112,000 Director of Operations, has been looking for jobs elsewhere, as far away as Wisconsin. Most recently, he failed to make the three finalists for a job in Fort Smith.

We wish Dr. Thomas well in her new postion and hope that she has learned from her experiences here what not to do or let happen again.

*****************************************8

Will this bickering never end? Last May, as a part of the "reorganization" of the Government Channel, Dan Coody directed Dr. Susan Thomas PhD to fire Cable Administrator Marvin Hiltonand have him escorted from his office by an armed police officer, thus ending his 13-year career.

Then in June, Hilton, who has a degree in communications from the University of Kansas and 20 years experience in public access programming, was the only applicant for a volunteer citizen position on the Telecommunications Board. The City Council Nominating Committee rejected his application, because, said Alderman Adella Gray, "We just didn’t feel like it was a good fit."

The Telecommunications Board position remained vacant for three months until September 16th, when Alderman Kyle Cook brought forward the nomination of Marvin Hilton, and the City Council unanimously approved it. Mayor Coody has not yet announced whether he will veto the appointment, like he did Planning Commissioner Candy Clark, but Hilton's name appears as a member of theTelecommunications Board on the city's website.

Now comes a broadside attack on Hilton, we have been informed, from Sky Blalock, Manager of Community Access Television, just days before the Telecommunications Board Sub-Committee meets on Monday to discuss the C.A.T. contract renewal. Reportedly, Blaylock sent out an email attack complaining about Hilton's appointment and trying to generate a campaign to have the Mayor and City Council reconsider the appointment, suggesting that they would be receptive to pressure during their own election campaigns. Blaylock was said to claim that she had extensive documentation and depositions that prove Hilton was a loser and would complicate the contract renewal process.

Bad timing for all involved, and it is unclear whether the purge campaign was approved by the C.A.T. Board. Picking a fight with a member of the Telecommunications Board during contract renewal discussions is poorly considered politics. I don't know Hilton or Blaylock, but this move could present a strong challenge to the Coody-Thomas evisceration and capture of the Government Channel for the annual Bonehead Bouquet.

Posted by Jonah at Saturday, September 27, 2008 

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Resistance Struggles On

If you care about Fayetteville's Government Channel, there will be a discussion of the most recent suggested policy for such programming at the Telecom Board meeting today: Cox Channel 16, at 5:30 in Room 219 City Hall. You'll also be able to call in or send an email. (The phone number and email address should be on the screen or available at 444-3436.)
The Northwest Arkansas Times is against trying to continue public forums on the Government Channel, and they don't care much for the proposed requirements for fairness, preferring to let our Mayor control and dominate the programming between now and November 4th. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has a more thoughtful analysis of the controversy.
Maybe things will be resolved after the election.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Misfeasance or Media Manipulation?

The Fayetteville City Council this week abdicated any role in the Government Channel operations. In identical 4-3 votes, Adella Gray, Brenda Thiel, Robert Rhoads, and Bobby Ferrell voted against a resolution asking the Coody administration to follow the existing ordinance setting city policy and against enforcing that policy that allows an alderman to request production of a forum on issues of public concern. They cared not that one of Coody's assistants vetoed the alderman's legitimate request nor that the Telecommunications Board objected to that arbitrary action.

Dan Coody now has unfettered control to decide what appears on the Government Channel 16 -- as well as the power to prevent programs from being on the regular cablecast. While the Mayor kept questioning who would pay for production of a public forum requested by an alderman, he didn't have any problems with or explanations of who paid for producing his numerous press conferences and ribbon-cutting publicity stunts. Coody also complained that producing a forum would put a strain on the reduced staff of the Government Channel -- caused by his firing the professional Cable Administrator and replacing him with his public relations advisor -- that is somehow greater than or different from taping and showing the mayor talking about whatever he did yesterday.

Events last weekend provide a good example of what to expect. Coody's Government Channel programmers scheduled replays of the regular monthly Ward 4 Meeting for just after midnight on Saturday night and again at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, not exactly Prime Time even on the Government Channel. Then, mysteriously, the Government Channel went off the air from about 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night until sometime Sunday afternoon. This "accidental glitch" did not affect the showing of any of Coody's press conferences or ribbon-cuttings. It did prevent two showings of the most recent Ward 4 Meeting of citizens with their Aldermen, Shirley Lucas and Lioneld Jordan, to discuss the benefits of joining the Regional Mobility Authority, proposals by developers, and other issues of concern to local resident

Big Bad Gina CD party Friday night

Oh Oh Oh so much love and appreciation to you music lovers, friends, fans, and families. After a few rough starts and a few missed release dates, Big Bad Gina is proud to announce our debut CD, "Amazon Warrior Princess". We are throwing a big bad release par-tay to celebrate and we hope you can make it! 

Please join us Friday, October 1st at 8pm
at Teatro Scarpino (329 N. West St. Fayetteville, AR)
FREE SHOW with special guest drummer, Michael Adkins. 

Please make a point to leave early to get a parking space downtown as it will also be BBB on Dickson St. and at the mall. 

Coming soon, BBG CDs will be available on our website at and select local businesses.  

Big Bad THANKS!!!!
Jori

Red-spotted purple was the butterfly of the day in south Fayetteville on September 28, 2010

Please click on image to ENLARGE and widen view of Limenitis arthemis astyanax. Use this link to learn more about this species.

OMNI membership meeting today

Hey OMNI folks... Today is the day.  Come join us for the Members and Friends Meeting this afternoon, and have a blast with some folks who share your values. Sunday, Sept 26 4:00 pm kids activities start 6:00 pm supper served 7:00 pm find out what's happening with OMNI  OMNI Center is at 3274 N. Lee Ave.  To get there take College to Harold Street, turn East one block (right if you're going North), then left on Lee one block and you're there.  (BTW, Flying Burrito is at the corner of College and Harold). Come renew your friendships and your OMNI membership.   Gladys TiffanyOMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology"OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Ecology actively educates, empowers and connects  to build a nonviolent, sustainable, and just world" www.omnicenter.org3274 No. Lee Ave, Fayetteville, Arkansas USA 479-935-4422  --  gladystiffany@yahoo.com

Dr. J.B. Hays stands near one of his prized cadillacs. This one is a 1959 Eldorado

Please double-click image for wider, closer view. Please go to page two of Fayetteville Square set of photos on Flickr to find more photos of red Cadillac. Most recent photos appear near bottom of the set. Please scroll down.

Ducks Unlimited Banquet brings together numerous local conservationists on September 24, 2010, in Fayetteville, Arkansas

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Washington County Fairground: Ducks Unlimited Banquet food being served NOW with silent auction already open and with live auction and raffles following to raise money to protect prairies where waterfowl and many other species reproduce

Please click on image to ENLARGE banquet invitation and go to DU blog for more information and online ticket order form.

Will your tax dollars finance attacks on food-safety advocates? In California, the answer is 'yes'

Pesticide makers get federal bucks.

Caterpillar of monarch butterfly creating chrysalis

Northwest Arkansas DU banquet Friday in Fayetteville

Please click on image to ENLARGE banquet invitation and go to DU blog for more information and online ticket order form.

Partners for Better Housing share plan with Walker Park neighbors

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Beginning in two minutes: City Council meeting and Walker Park Neighborhood meeting with Partners for Better Housing at Fayetteville Senior Center

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Agenda for September 21, 2010, meeting of the Fayetteville City Council

Final Agenda

City of Fayetteville Arkansas
City Council Meeting
September 21, 2010

A meeting of the Fayetteville City Council will be held on September 21, 2010 at 6:00 PM in Room 219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Call to Order

Roll Call

Pledge of Allegiance

Mayor’s Announcements, Proclamations and Recognitions:

1.	Nominating Committee Report

Agenda Additions:

A.

Consent:

1.	Ranger’s Pantry Pet Food Bank:  A resolution approving a budget adjustment in the amount of $340.00 to recognize revenue from citizen donations to the Ranger’s Pantry Pet Food Bank Project.

Ranger’s Pantry Pet Food Bank

2.	Kim Hoadley Construction:  A resolution awarding bid and authorizing a contract with Kim Hoadley Construction in the amount of $40,884.00 for improvements to the 1932 S. Garland CDBG Public Facility.

Kim Hoadley Construction

3.

Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant (Repeal Resolution 139-10):  A resolution authorizing application for an Arkansas Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant in the amount of $125,000.00 for improvements to the Lake Fayetteville North Shore, the Yvonne Richardson Community Center and Walker Park, and repealing Resolution 139-10.

Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grant (Repeal Resolution 139-10)

4.	City Council Representative for Mandatory Settlement Conference:  A resolution to appoint City Council Member Shirley Lucas to represent the City Council during any settlement conference required by the Federal District Court or Magistrate.

City Council Representative for Mandatory Settlement Conference

B.	Unfinished Business:  None

C.	New Business:

1.	North Ball Avenue & West Van Asche Drive Street Name Change:  A resolution renaming a section of North Ball Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue and a section of West Van Asche Drive to Jupiter Drive.

North Ball Avenue & West Van Asche Drive Street Name Change

2.	RZN 10-3613 (Watson):  An ordinance rezoning that property described in rezoning petition RZN 10-3613, for approximately 3.0 acres, located at 5989 East Huntsville Road from Residential Single-Family, 4 units per acre, to R-A, Residential Agricultural.

RZN 10-3613 (Watson)

3.	Chambers Bank Donation:  A resolution to thank Chambers Bank for its donation of 210 acres to the City of Fayetteville.

Chambers Bank Donation

Announcements:

Adjournment:

Barbara Moorman shares thoughts on the future of the long proposed Southpass project with readers of the NW Arkansas list

NW Arkansas list --

Tonight the City Council will consider a "thank you" message to Chambers Bank for the soccer fields and water tank parcels.

I believe the entire approved plan for the 800 acres of "Southpass" may still be legally allowable.

I've seen the graphix version of what was/is planned. It's colorful. It's available from the city. The megalomania that underpins it is frightening.

I think that if the Planning Department, Council, and Mayor don't wipe the slate clean now while they have a chance, and if the soccer fields go in and the PZD or similar zoning stays on the books, many people will have regrets over increased traffic congestion, higher taxes, skimping on true community and neighborhood parks around town, lost potential in general. (To say nothing of harm to wetlands, plant communities, birds and other animals who live there now.)

Some in the city would like Fayetteville to appear "green". The one thing I'm absolutely sure of is that attracting traffic from all over this region to a site that right now is relatively rural, is not a "green" move. Right now the City's trying to get its "green" label from a Big Green organization touting native habitat. If the city were truly inclined toward green-ness it would see that the habitat is there right now and, unless the city makes some preemptive move now, speculators and the sports and tourist industries will be able to diminish or destroy it.

Even when, as now, the economic climate may not be conducive to real estate speculation, there is always the temptation for the city to embark on money-making projects that prove in the long term to have been foolish or counter-productive, especially when natural features are lost.

I hope the city will put present plans on hold and rezone much of that area for natural habitat maintenance/restoration before anyone is allowed to move in with development of any kind.

Barbara Moorman

Vote now! Tonight attend City Council meeting and/or Partners for Better Housing public listening and sharing of opinion and concerns about proposed housing development east of Walker Park

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Short video of monarch butterfly courting ritual

Mating ritual of monarch butterflies a beautiful dance

Please click on image to ENLARGE and widen view of monarchs courting on September 19, 2010, in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Big spider eats big grasshopper on September 19, 2010

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE and widen view of black and yellow garden spider.

Monarchs still getting together on September 19, 2010, to try to fertilize more eggs and lay them on swamp milkweed where they'll have plenty of vegetation to help them grow into monarchs and fly to Mexico for the winter

Please click on image to ENLARGE and widen the view of a pair of monarchs trying to mate while the female nectars on Asclepias incarnata on September 19, 2010.

Oh, say can you see? Monarch caterpillars in the dawn's early light

Please click on image to ENLARGE a swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) about to be leafless on September 19, 2010, as several monarch caterpillars consume its leaves and even parts of its stem as they prepare to prepare to become the generation of monarchs that must migrate far into Mexico to the forests where they must spend the winter and return to the U.S. to lay eggs that will become the first generation of 2011.

Insect Festival coming up

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Entomology Home > Current Students > Entomology Club > Insect Festival

Insect Festival

The 11th Insect Festival of Arkansas will be held, Thursday, October 7, 2010, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 
The festival is a free event both educational and fun in nature. It will feature an insect & arthropod zoo, displays of insects from the state arthropod museum, games and crafts for children, a cotton patch, beekeeping, cockroach races, insect crafts, insect movies, and many other exhibits. There will be many educational exhibits with expert entomologists to answer your questions. Admission is free and there is ample parking for buses and cars adjacent to the arena. View Maps & Directions here. It takes most people about 1-2 hours to go through the festival.

School Groups

In the interests of trying to keep the attendance at any one time balanced, if a school is bringing many students, we would like have you let us know if you are coming, how many people you will be bringing, and tell us what time you will be bringing your class.

 

Time slots that are best for the public schools are:

• 9 - 11 a.m.
• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• 1 - 3 p.m.

 

If you could respond (by email) and let us know the following it will help us prepare:

1.  Your name, phone number, email address

2.  School and grade you teach

3.  Number of people you will be bringing

4.  Time slot you would like

Please send this information to: steinkr@uark.edu

About the Insect Festival

The goal of the Insect Festival of Arkansas is to educate and entertain the people of Arkansas, particularly its children, about the beauty, value, and interest of insects and other arthropods. The first Festival was held in 1993. The Festivals are free to the public and everyone, from babies to elderly, is invited. The one-day event typically draws 1,500 to 3,000 people.

• Maps & Directions

Insect Festival Displays

Arthropod Zoo

Educational displays of living insects, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, centipedes and other arthropods provide an opportunity for children to see these creatures up close and talk about them with our graduate students and faculty and other entomologists. Children have the opportunity to hold live giant cockroaches and overcome insect phobias at this display.

The Arthropod Museum

The Arthropod Museum of Arkansas provides a
comprehensive display of tropical butterflies, beetles, and other dramatic insects, as well as local butterflies and moths, and the diversity of insects.     

The Cotton Patch

The Cotton Patch display has an actual patch of ripe cotton where childen can learn about this important crop, its insect
pests, and watch cotton actually be ginned. This is a major hit with children. Children and adults can talk with experts on cotton entomology.

Honey Bee Exhibit

The honey bee exhibit has an observation bee hive with live bees making honey, caring for the larvae, and children can find the queen. People can learn about the importance of bees in pollination of our crops and wild flowers, how honey is produced, and other products of the hive such as pollen, propolis, beeswax, royal jelly, and bee venom. 

Games, Crafts, and Cockroach Races

There will be games such as hissing cockroach races that are always a hit with the children, children's crafts and drawing areas, and temporary insect tatoos.

Cultural Exhibits

Insects have played a major role in human history, fine arts, literature, movies, and popular culture. Examples of insects in the media, arts, and human history will be presented.

Aquatic Insects, Forest Insects, and other Exhibits

Many other displays and exhibits will educate and amaze the public about the importance of insects in our streams, lakes, ponds, forests, lawns, and other habitats. 
Come join the entomologists of Arkansas for a day of fun, festivities, and education about the incredible diversity, importance, and beauty of insects. There is something for everyone.

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Department of Entomology
319 Agriculture Building • Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701
University of Arkansas
Phone: 479-575-2451 • Fax: 479-575-2452
webmaster
Insect Identification Service

TODAY: Professor Fred Spiegal to lecture on fungus at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 18, 2010, in Springdale

September 18 Fred Spiegal, UA Professor of Mycology,
What is that Fungus?

October 16 Lynn Rogers, Tree Identification Workshop

November 20 Steve Marak, Botanical Latin

Social time begins at 9:30 with the programs starting around 10:00 a.m. Contact: Lynn Rogers, 479-841-8759. Meet in Student Center of NWAR Technical Institute, Ford Av. and Old Missouri Rd., Springdale, AR.

Read more: http://allthedirtongardening.blogspot.com/2010/01/flower-garden-and-nature-society-of.html#ixzz0zt5lv4wv

Northwest Arkansas as loyal and persistent as the little Jewel weed, which driies up and disappears during droughts such as south Fayetteville experienced in August 2010 and draw great turnout for Grand Opening of Democratic headquarters

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Monarch caterpillars on milkweed preparing to become the overwintering-in-Mexico generation

Corliss Williamson to speak at 7 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2010, 2nd annual Celebration of Champions

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Meeting Tuesday night to share information about subdivision planned in south Fayetteville, while offering opportunity for public input

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Amazing how fast the monarch caterpillars get large enough to see with the naked eye and how quickly they grow fat and disappear

Please click on individual images to enlarge and widen view of monarch caterpillers eating swamp milkweed plants on September 17, 2010. Please use the following link to understand the time it takes for a monarch egg to become a butterfly.