Backyard Orchard News
UC Davis Zika Symposium: A Crucial Message
The seven speakers who addressed the UC Davis Zika Public Awareness Symposium on Thursday, May 26...
Chemical ecologist Walter Leal, coordinator of the Zika Public Awareness Symposium, addresses the crowd. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Dr. Emanual Maverakis (in white shirt) Department of Dermatology, UC Davis School of Medicine, answers questions after the symposium. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Professor Walter Leal (center right) answers questions following the symposium. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Coordinators of the symposium: (front row, from left) Esmeralda Curiel, Irene Orellano Bonilla, Nepheli Neeta Aji, Amarita Singh, Professor Walter Leal, Nida Ahmed, Leah Uto and Navjot Grewal. In the second row (from left) are John Tenorio, Mahmoud Jabaieh, Holly Vickery, Justin Hildebrand (back), Savannah Tobin, Christian Wirawan (back), Justin Hwang, James Warwick and Andre Tran. Not pictured: Hanni Newland. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Feel the Buzz: Want to Become a Master Beekeeper?
Want to feel the buzz? If you're a beekeeper and have kept bees for at least a year, you might...
Find the queen? This photo was taken in the apiary of Jackie Park-Burris Queens, Palo Cedro. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Christine Merlin: Why Those Monarchs Migrate When They Do
(Editor's Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Christine Merlin cancelled this seminar but it...
Texas A&M University biologist Christine Merlin examines a monarch. (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University)
No Sweat? Yes, Sweat!
Ever seen a mob of tiny sweat bees? The bees below, from the genus Lasioglossum (as...
Sweat bees from the genus Lasioglossum on an Iceland poppy. This image was taken with a NIkon D800 with a 60mm macro lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Close-up of sweat bees from the genus Lasioglossum on an Iceland poppy. This photo was taken with a Canon MPE-65mm lens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Butte County Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) will help develop agritourism
Brooke Smith, sales manager at the Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn in Chico, promises that Explore Butte County, the non-profit organization funded by the TBID, will help with things such as promoting agricultural tourism, Lake Oroville and local cities. Smith explained that Explore Butte County intends to establish a grant program that will assist local partners, including agritourism operations, in their promotions. Board members of Explore Butte County are primarily hotel and motel operators, but the board also includes Nicole Johansson, a marketing professional and organizer of the popular Sierra Oro Farm Trail.
In the TBID process, local lodging operators agree to assess themselves and ask the local government to collect the money and pass the funds onto a designated tourism promotion organization, often times the Visitors and Convention Bureau or a non-profit organization such as Explore Butte County. Many county and cities in California have established TBIDs, including Napa Valley, Sacramento County, Placer County, Monterey County, San Diego, Long Beach and Oceanside. By the end of 2014, there were 85 California TBIDs. Many of these communities, including Butte County, were assisted by Civitas, a consulting firm specializing in TBID formation.
The next step for Explore Butte County is to hire a marketing firm to work with the board on the tourism marketing strategic plan and implementation program. The marketing RFP has just been released, and proposals are due by June 30 from any interested parties. Local Butte County marketing firms are specifically invited to submit proposals. Please send any questions pertaining to the RFP via email to xplorebutte@gmail.com