- project leader
- Mary B
- location
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Torrey, Utah
- latest update rss
- Torrey is Utah's first International Dark Sky Community!
the project
With this project, Dark Skies Over Torrey, the Entrada Institute can assist the residents of Torrey, Utah in taking the first steps toward becoming Utah’s first dark sky community.
Our community goal is three-fold. First we will replace all of Torrey Town’s city-supported streetlights with fully shielded, dark-sky friendly, LED lights.
Next, where needed, we’ll help Torrey residents replace privately owned lights that are out of compliance with Torrey’s new outdoor lighting ordinance.
Finally, we will launch a three-point education effort, which will provide information to local businesses, residents, and tourists about the multiple benefits of dark sky lighting.
One facet of the education program includes a Dark Sky Information Exhibit at the local visitor center and at the future home of the Entrada Center. This will be named for Linton Rohr, a local dark sky advocate who recently passed away.
Additionally, in cooperation with Entrada and the Wayne County School District, 4th graders from Loa Elementary School will be mentored by high school students as they create an interpretive wayside guide and signage along a future biking and walking path. The guide will include information about local plants, animals, and the night skies in Wayne County.
the steps
- Mid-July to September 24: Fundraising drive! This is the part where we really need your help. Talk to your friends, family, peers, and colleagues. Remember the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.” Help us come up with the funding to make this program possible so everyone can enjoy Torrey’s dark skies.
- September 30 and October 1: The annual Heritage Starfest encourages people to enjoy the dark skies of the Colorado Plateau, shares the heritage of night skies, and encourages preservation of dark skies. The Entrada Institute and the National Park Service are proud co-sponsors of the festival. During this year’s event, we will announce the successful results of the Dark Skies Over Torrey fundraising drive!
- November and December: The Entrada Institute will purchase those lights and Garkane Energy will install them.
- 2017: Begin implementing the remainder of our plan – replacing privately owned Torrey lights, educating our communities, and assisting with the bike and walking path interpretive guides and signage.
why we're doing it
Torrey, Utah is a remote, small, rural community in the heart of Wayne County. Fewer than 300 permanent residents live here, and fewer than 3,000 people reside full time in the entire county. The large majority of local businesses rely on tourism associated with the surrounding public lands. Torrey is the gateway to Capitol Reef National Park, which has more than one million visitors each year. As a result, Torrey’s economic welfare is closely tethered to Capitol Reef and visitors to the Colorado Plateau.
In April of 2015, Capitol Reef National Park was designated a Gold-tier International Dark Sky Park. Torrey residents and citizens from across Wayne County have expressed a desire to hitch their wagon to the Sky Park star by working toward Dark Sky Community designation. This would make Torrey the only Utah community recognized as such!
As a first step in the process, Torrey Town Council recently passed a new outdoor lighting ordinance.
The second step is to replace the town-supported, high-pressure sodium streetlights with Dark Sky approved, fully-shielded, LED lights. The success of this campaign makes it possible to take this next big step toward becoming Utah’s first Dark Sky Community. The Entrada Institute, Torrey Town, and engaged citizens invite you to join us in bringing darker skies and brighter dreams to Torrey.
Click here to listen to Entrada Institute board member Mary Bedingfield-Smith interview by KWAN Radio about the Dark Skies Over Torrey project.
budget
DISBURSEMENT BUDGET (as of 2/3/17):
Budget
· Original - Torrey Town-supported Lights (16)
o $479 each
o $7,664 total
· Revised – Torrey Town-supported Lights (14)
o $479 each
o $6,706
· Original - Private lights (16)
o $479 each
o $7,664 total
· Revised – Private lights (18)
o $479 each
o $8,622
· Original - Maintenance for new lights
o $1,000 total
· Revised – Same as original
· Original - Education
o Linton Rohr Dark Sky Exhibit at visitors center - $1,000
o Business and individual education - $1,000
· Revised – Same as original
Original - Total Project Budget - $18,328
Revised – Total Project Budget - $18,328
$500 purchases a display stand for the Linton Rohr Dark Sky Exhibit
$300 buys one streetlight
$150 pays for the installation of one streetlight
$29 buys the photocell for one light
$25 pays for printing 500 information cards
RAISED = | $12,533.00 |
ioby Platform Fee | $35.00 |
Payment Processing Fee (3%) | $364.02 |
TOTAL TO DISBURSE = | $12,133.98 |
ORIGINAL BUDGET:
Torrey Town-supported Lights (16)
o $479 each
o $7,664 total
Private lights (16)
o $479 each
o $7,664 total
Maintenance for new lights
o $1,000 total
Education
o Linton Rohr Dark Sky Exhibit at visitors center - $1,000
o Business and individual education - $1,000
Total Project Budget - $18,328
Less $5,482 raised offline
SUBTOTAL = | $12,846 |
ioby Platform Fee | $35 |
Donation Processing Fee of 3% | $385 |
TOTAL TO RAISE = | $13,266 |
updates
Torrey is Utah's first International Dark Sky Community!
Posted 01/16/2018 - 10:34am
Thank you for dreaming with us
Posted 02/07/2017 - 11:00am
We're featured on ioby's national blog!
Posted 08/17/2016 - 4:58pm
Great news about our progress!
Posted 08/16/2016 - 4:49pm
With donations through IOBY and outside efforts, we have raised enough money to replace all of the Torrey Town sponsored lights.
Through a grant, the seven lights on Main Street were replaced last year. You can see what we are working toward.
This is what the old lights look like at night. You can see how the light trespass illuminates nearby trees and buildings.
And, from two blocks away, the light source is visible.
Here is a new light. You cannot see the building behind the light. You can only see the light from inside the building. And the trees are not illuminated.
From two blocks away, the light source is essentially invisible. Only the street is illuminated.
We are nearly half way to our final goal. There are sixteen more lights in town to replace. Those are owned privately. Thank you for your continued help with this project.
The sight of the stars makes us dream!
photos
This is where photos will go once we build flickr integrationdonors
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Cache Valley Bank
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Lotus Community Development
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Gallery 24
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Stray Arrow Ranch
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Hondoo Rivers and Trails
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KWAN Radio
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Torrey House Alpenglow Observatory
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Torrey House Press
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Anonymous
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Chip and Linda Ward
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Anonymous
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Judith H.
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Paul S.
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Anonymous
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Mark Bailey & Kirsten Allen
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Ray Conrad
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Libby Dietrich
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Bill and Diane Barrett
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Anonymous
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Amy O'Connor
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Maria and J.P. Spicer-Escalante
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In honor of Linton Rohr
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Red Sands Hotels
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Lee Austin
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Bonnie M.
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Bob and Dianna Poulton
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Anne Macey
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Diane Borgerding, Wags to Whiskers
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Veronica Egan
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Scott T. Smith Photographer
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Bonnie Kaufman, Realtor
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Anonymous
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Johanna Wilson
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Frances F.
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Tyler Ward
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Maya Myozen Hill
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Georgia Sullivan
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Anonymous
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Chris and Kirtly Jones
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The Chuckwagon
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Lorraine Miller
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Jim and Margaret Dowling
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Anonymous
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Michael Rohr
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Terry Fisk
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Bill and Diane Barrett
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Leigh Von Der Esch
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Susan Snow
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JaNae Winder
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Sandra L.
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Broken Spur Inn
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Anonymous
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Rick Ash
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Circle Cliff Ranch Alpacas
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Louise K.
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Dick Sullivan
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Brian and Lynette Thorn
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Lani Lila and Harry Dundore
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Judith Hopkins
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Robert and Ann
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Karen Davenport Rohr
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Nancy R.
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Torrey Trading Post
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Barry and Tiffani Scholl
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Colleen Dudleston
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Jan and Greg
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Paula and Rudy Pace
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Brian Thorn
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Anonymous
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Jennifer Pennington
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Gary & Pat
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Two Arrows Zen
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Doug and Karen Bennion
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Tom and Lydia Berggren
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Rich and Cindy Nigro
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Christina G.
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Annie Holt and Don Gomes
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Torrey Town
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Jane Erickson
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Rod and Eileen
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Anonymous
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Sue and Paul
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Maya Myozen
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Julia Sati
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Johanna Wilson
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Veronica Egan
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Jan and Owen Olpin
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Anonymous
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Ty Markham- Torrey Schoolhouse B&B
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Scott Berry
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Anonymous
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CARE Parkie
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Karen Davenport Rohr
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Kirtly J.
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John Luther
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Andy Monaco
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Ted Swenson
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Karena Rogers
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Patricia P.
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Georgia S.
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Bill Barrett
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Chip and Linda Ward
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Darrell Mensel
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Linda and John
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Justin Garrett Moore
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Scott T
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Anonymous
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SaltLakeSmiths
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John B.
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Mark Baiely
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Stephen Trimble
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Sarah Tal
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Anonymous
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Barb
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David H.
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Seattle Smiths
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Arleen B.
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Mary B.
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Marci Milligan
Conversation
07/10/2016 - 9:08pm mark5
07/10/2016 - 11:08pm canyonrat15_281857
08/11/2016 - 9:52pm mike_282678