Presenters: Kim Kulton and Pete Soltesz

Join beekeepers and conservationists Kim Kulton and Pete Soltesz as they discuss the current status and behavior of important pollinators, Illinois bees. Partners in the conservation organization, Illinois Bee Rescue, the duo not only cares for many bee hives, but also helps homeowners who may have hives in unwanted places. Please register in advance to attend this event:

Registration Link for Riverside Public Library

Kim Kulton Bio:

Kim is originally from Elmhurst, Illinois. She majored in biology, chemistry and anthropology at Northern Illinois University. She began her career as an entomologist with the State monitoring mosquito populations. She was the first to confirm the presence of West Nile Virus in Illinois.

One day, Kim got a call from a friend inviting her to come over to watch a beekeeper remove a swarm of bees from her home. This is how it began for Kim! She got “the bug” and went on to start her own company: “Illinois Bee Rescue.” These days, she can be found removing swarms, raising local queens, promoting apitherapy, providing pollination services, relocating bumble and carpenter bees and producing local honey.

Pete Soltesz Bio:

Pete was introduced to bees as a young boy growing up in rural PA. His parents were passionate about gardening and bees, in fact, much of what they ate growing up they raised or grew. Professionally, he went to Annapolis, studied Systems Engineering, and served in the Navy.

Things changed for Pete early in 2010, when his mom came to visit Chicago for the first time. She checked out his garden and decided he needed a colony of bees. This set the wheels in motion, from 1 hive, then 2, then 12, 42, and at the height of this past season, nearly 100 colonies.