The Emery County Business Chamber recently hosted their Lunch and Learn in Green River. La Veracruzana was chosen as the business of the month and Jared Anderson, business chamber president presented them with a sign to display in their business for the next month. Catalina said she has been in business at the location of the former Ben’s Cafe for two years. Mayor Pat Brady recommended the chicken. A buffet style lunch was served with tamales, enchiladas, burritos, tacos and much more.
Anderson said this is a very important time for Green River, with Moab being overrun with visitors, it is pushing people up to Green River and out into the Swell. The Emery County Business Chamber is focusing on a Shop Local Facebook campaign where people are encouraged to share Shop Local ads with their friends. All those who share the ad are entered into a drawing for Emery County Bucks; which can be used around the county at local merchants. In the first week of the campaign there were 105 shares and 4,600 people viewed the ads. At the end of the campaign everyone will be entered into a drawing for an I-pad mini. The new chamber memberships are available with different levels of benefits.
Three topics were explored this day beginning with Aaron Farmer from Goblin Valley/Green River State Parks. He reviewed the process Goblin Valley went through to achieve Dark Sky Park designation.
After a two year application process, Goblin Valley State Park was formally designated as an International Dark Sky Park. This is the second unit in the Utah State Parks system to gain this status, following the designation of Dead Horse Point in June of this year. The designation comes from the International Dark Sky Association – a Tucson-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of night skies for present and future generations.
Goblin Valley is open daily until 10 p.m. and is home to 24 campsites and two yurts for overnight guests, Goblin Valley State Park has also gained popularity in recent years as a destination for stargazers.
Goblin Valley is free of any significant sources of light pollution, Goblin Valley is home to one of the clearest, darkest night skies in the world.
It is not uncommon to hear someone excitedly proclaim that this is the first time they have ever seen the Milky Way. In order to attain designation as a dark sky park, Goblin Valley needed more than just a pristine night sky.
The state park also needed to commit to protecting its own natural darkness by removing extraneous light fixtures and shielding others so that light is projected only downward to where it is needed for safety.
Park staff needed to develop educational programs dedicated to the night sky. Toward this end, full moon hikes and telescope viewing events are held throughout the year. They will set up telescopes with each focusing on a different set of objects in the night sky.
Farmer said Dark Skies are important for plant and animal life as well; too much light throws off their natural cycles. He said the Dark Skies have a lot of use, America probably wouldn’t have been discovered were it not for ships navigating by the skies. One philosopher said all humans are made-up of star dust.
Farmer believes the Dark Skies programs will help draw more visitors to the park. The star gazers will often stay out until 2 or 3 in the morning. “There are people out there who want to see it, they will travel long distances to get here,” said Farmer. “Park visitation in some Dark Skies parks has almost doubled. We had people camp for several days to take pictures of the Super Moon. Goblin Valley is a unique place to see, both during the day and at night. We will use the Dark Skies designation as an advertising tool. Visitors have come from urban areas and as far away as Europe and Asia, it’s a good draw. Winter skies are often better viewing than summer skies.”
Farmer said the Goblin Valley expansion is in the BLM scoping process. This would add approximately 168,000 acres to the size of the Goblin Valley State Park. The boundaries of the expanded park are part of the discussion. The comment period is open until Dec. 4. The NEPA process could take 12-14 months. Farmer said this expansion would really help the park distribute visitors, currently they have 120 parking spaces and sometimes 400 cars needing to park. If the expansion goes through it would make Goblin Valley State Park as large as a national park.
Bryan from the Epicenter explained the trail system Green River is working on. Trails will surround Green River and areas in close proximity to the town. Trail names include: Blue Castle Open Ride, Canal Trail, Crystal Trail, Green River Water Trail, Monument Hill, State Park north, River Walk Trail, Tusher Canyon Trail and the Tusher Rim Trail; all trail names aren’t finalized yet. Bryan said they have worked in conjunction with the Green River Trails Committee and the city to develop these trails. The Epicenter also works in affordable housing and downtown development of Green River.
The trails committee has identified trails which can help draw tourists into Green River. These trails will also give visitors to Green River an additional activity as they hike and bike around Green River. Bryan said they are currently working with the BLM so the trails can move forward.
Another part of the project is the History Walk. A brochure outlines historic buildings and gives an overview of where the building is located. This can be a walking or driving tour as the buildings are within a few blocks of each other. Some of the buildings are no longer standing, but their former location is described. The Epicenter and trails committee has been able to receive grants and fundraising efforts have brought in $59,150 for the projects. They also want to develop a water trail which gets people out on the river to canoe and kayak. From the walking trail on Monument Hill you can see the town. The Tusher projects are also high priority and a popular destination which they hope to develop.
Ethan Migliori, the president elect of the Emery County Business Chamber for 2017 spoke of the Foundry program. This program will take an idea you have for a business and help coach you to see if the business is viable. Ideas are tested. Foundry Utah believes anyone can be an entrepreneur. Migliori said one of the great things about the program is the advice and mentoring by those involved. There is no charge for the service of having them evaluate and test your idea. “Your idea might mesh with something someone else is doing,” said Migliori, “The resources these people bring are amazing.”
The next Lunch and Learn for the business chamber will be Jan. 18, 2017 in Castle Dale.
Lunch and Learn topics Dark Skies/Trails/Foundry Utah
"Bryan talks about Green River trails."