by Editor — published on November 3rd, 2008
Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson began “Experience Your Yosemite” when he first arrived at the national park in 2003, and today, Halloween, is his last program before retiring at the end of January 2009.
“This is our largest group in the six years,” he tells the sixty participants who hail from the park’s neighboring gateway communities. “We thought some of you would be discouraged by the rain, but it looks like everyone is here.”
Tollefson counts “Experience Your Yosemite” as one of his many accomplishments during his 36 years with the National Park Service. His longest tenure was his last assignment, here where it all began in 1864. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, creating the park, 52 years before Congress established the park service itself.
“Over 1,200 people have participated in the program,” which Tollefson uses to “help dispel the myths” about the park service’s plans for Yosemite. “It can be frustrating, the misinformation out there. Too often people are debating important topics without being fully informed.”
This group of Yosemite’s neighbors, mostly retirees who have settled in the surrounding communities, have squeezed into the Winter Room at the historic Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite Valley. Each person stands to offer a brief introduction. Almost half the group lives in Groveland, the gateway community on Yosemite’s northern border. “Is anyone left in Groveland?” a Mariposa resident inquires.
After the introductions, the superintendent opens the floor to questions.
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by Bradley — published on February 17th, 2007
Sustainable Travel International now offers businesses an affordable way to provide carbon offsets to their visitors. The nonprofit began to provide a carbon calculator–MyClimate–on its website in 2006.
Businesses participating in Sustainable Travel’s program can place a link to the carbon calculator directly on their sites, allowing their customers to estimate the CO2 emmissions associated with flying, driving and hotel stays and then make a donation to a project designed to offset these environmental costs.
Learn more about Carbon Offsets: reducing travel’s environmental impact.
by Bradley — published on April 5th, 2006
The MIT Club of Northern California has kicked off a contest seeking out the best “Clean technology.” According to their website, California Clean Tech Open:
“Clean technology — innovations that are both economically feasible and environmentally friendly — will make a difference in our world. That much is given. “How soon” and “who benefits” are still open questions. . . We at the California Clean Tech Open believe California can and should be the leader in this critical industry sector.”
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by Bradley — published on January 11th, 2006
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposes a significant “augmentation” to California’s tourism budget . He wants to bump the budget next fiscal year from $7.3 to $10 million, with a $15 million match from the industry.
The augmentation is noted under Section 0520, Secretary for Business, Transportation and Housing, under “Major Program Changes:
“California Tourism Marketing Program Budget Augmentation - The Budget includes a $2.7 million General Fund augmentation to advertise and market California as a travel and tourism destination. Total state funding of $10 million will be matched by $15 million in private contributions. Combined, these monies will fund a $25 million advertising and marketing campaign which will generate an estimated $3.8 billion in additional travel expenditures, $85 million in additional tax revenues, and support 41,000 jobs.”
The budget proposal now goes to the state legislature for consideration. Fiscal year 2007 begins July 1, 2006.