Toyota Amphitheatre Ramps up with New Moniker

Train Opens Amphitheatre Season May 21

After 12 years as the Sleep Train Amphitheatre, Yuba County's premier outdoor concert venue is getting a name change. When Toyota Amphitheatre opens May 21 with Train, Toyota's name will be on the face of all tickets and the new venue name and logo will appear on all promotional materials, signage elements, and display space on Live Nation and Ticketmaster sites.

"We couldn't be happier to enter into this marketing relationship with the Northern California Toyota Dealers at our premier live entertainment venue in the Sacramento Valley," said Marc Abend, senior vice president of venue sales, Live Nation. "Their 15 area dealerships, industry leading product line up, and cooperative marketing opportunities make this sponsorship alliance a great fit, enabling them to reach, engage and connect with live music fans at our venue."

In 2015, artists include Brad Paisley, Nickelback, and the Boys of Summer Tour. Last year 210,000 concert-goers attended 18 events.

Toyota Amphitheatre in South Yuba County attracts crowds from the greater Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley, along with Reno and Lake Tahoe areas. With a capacity of 18,500, high-tech sound systems, video screens and lighting, the venue draws live entertainment to the region. 

Keep track of upcoming events at Toyota Amphitheatre here.   

Yuba County Moves Forward on Development Projects

Sheriff's Department Relocation and Tri-County Juvenile Hall Construction

A new Yuba County's Sheriff headquarters has been seven years in the planning stages and moves into construction this month when Randy Hill Construction and other local sub-contractors begin work. The relocation of the department is a $10 million tenant improvement project of a 56,000 square foot building located at 720 B Street in Marysville. Yuba County is developing about 45,000 square feet of the space leaving room for future growth. 

The Sheriff's Department, currently in the 1962-vintage Marysville Courthouse on 5th Street, is relocating their operation to the new facility at 720 Yuba Street with the exception of a division involved in court and jail security. The project includes a radio tower that will support numerous public safety departments. Occupancy of the improved building is anticipated by 2016.

The current Yuba Sutter Juvenile Hall started its existence as the County hospital's tuberculosis ward. After its subsequent conversion to a juvenile detention facility, it became a bi-County facility in 1978. The California Assembly voted to allow a $5.6 million Colusa grant to be redirected to Yuba County as the lead agency for a facility including Colusa, Sutter and Yuba counties. The Tri-County team requested and has tentatively been awarded an additional $9.6 million grant by the Board of State and Community Corrections Department to supplement existing funding to allow the County to build a 48-bed facility located across the street from the existing Yuba County juvenile hall.

The new facility is estimated to be a $15-16 million construction project. Constructing a tri-county facility benefits all three counties by sharing costs and programs.

California's oldest and most historic Chinese parade started in 1880 takes place Saturday, March 21 in downtown Marysville. To learn more about the festivities surrounding the event, visit here. 

The Bok Kai temple stands at the Southwest corner of First and D Streets in Marysville, California. Originally built in the 1850's by Chinese immigrants, the temple was destroyed by flooding and then rebuilt in the 1880s. Serving as a meeting hall, court, and a place of worship, the temple was built with its main altar facing toward the river. This was done so that Bok Eye could ward off any evil and protect the community of Marysville from flooding.

Bok Eye is considered the god of the North and is said to be the Chinese water god whose powers have successfully prevented Marysville from flooding since 1997. Bok Eye's powers include overseeing waterways, water systems, irrigation and rain. This could be why it has never rained during the Bok Kai parade, or maybe it's just been heavy "mist."

One of the unique characteristics of the Bok Kai Temple is the surviving mural, depicting vivid scenes of Chinese culture. The painting extends across the upper wall of the temples' outside front entrance. Leslie H. Rainier, a painting conservator from the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles, examined the painted frescos and found "the quality and execution of the scenes equal to the few Taoist paintings in American museum collections.

"Despite water damage, these frescoes are the only ones in this condition to exist in the world, as most similar work in China was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s," Ranier said.

The celebration of Bomb Day, also known as Bok Eye's birthday, is a tradition that began in the 1880's. Saturday, March 21, the 135th Bok Kai Parade celebration continues as a community wide affair drawing visitors from throughout Northern California. Bomb Day received its name for the bombs and huge firecrackers that are fired off during the celebration which takes place Sunday, March 22.

Imagine if a disaster happens that makes it necessary for you to leave your business or home immediately. Those who do not prepare for an emergency spend precious minutes running aimlessly around trying to locate items they think they should grab. The lack of planning will result in vital items being left behind or irreplaceable documents being destroyed. 

On the other hand, those businesses that prepare beforehand reach for the "Go Kit" they packed weeks earlier, which includes a brief list of additional items (prescriptions, important documents, etc.) they need to get before leaving.

Here are the specific steps you should take to plan for a safe evacuation:

1. Pack your Go Kit - find the full list by going here and clicking on the "Planning" button
2. Bring your family together to prepare a Family Emergency Plan - "family" includes pets, of course
3. Bring all of your staff together to prepare a Business Emergency Plan - make sure staff knows how to shut off utilities and secure important documents
4. Register your phone for emergency text alerts by going here and clicking on the "Get Connected" button

To get your Go Kit started, here is a list of Basic Disaster Supplies you should pull together:

• Water purification kit
• Water - One gallon per person per day (a week's supply of water is preferable)
• First aid kit, freshly stocked
• First aid book
• Food - non perishable, three day supply
• Can opener (non-electric)
• Blankets and/or sleeping bags
• Battery-powered or hand crank portable radio, flashlights and spare batteries
• Essential medications (insulin, etc.)
• Extra pair of prescription eyeglasses
• Extra set of house and car keys
• Fire extinguisher - A-B-C type
• Food, water and restraint (leash/carrier) for pets
• Cash, traveler checks and change
• Baby supplies: formula, bottle, pacifier, soap and baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food and juices
• Copies of important documents

Visit here  and click on the "Prepare" button for an expanded list.