Smithsonian Magazine’s Culturefest Journeys to Flagstaff

By John Grahame

Pianist Liz Story performs Friday night, November 10 at 8:00 pm at the Coconino Center for the Arts.

When FDSC suggested to Flagstaff Cultural Partners Executive Director Cheryl Brock that 2006 would be a good year for a return of NightVisions, the highly successful 2001 art exhibition at the Coconino Center for the Arts celebrating the glories of the night, we could hardly have imagined what would happen next. Cheryl successfully applied to have our exhibition and associated events be part of Smithsonian Magazine's Culturefest, a program that helps communities to celebrate the best of their local cultures.

Smithsonian CultureFest-Flagstaff not only includes NightVisions, but over the November 10-11 weekend it pairs the Smithsonian Institution’s most interesting experts with local standouts to celebrate our long love affair with the night sky.

The two packed days of exhibits and events feature pianist Liz Story in concert, Native American tales, Human Nature Dance Theatre, Lowell Observatory tours, a U.S. Naval Observatory Open House, and, from a Smithsonian expert, an archaeoastronomy lecture and The Rabbit in the Moon, a family program with hands-on activity.

Only two of the events will require tickets and reservations – the Friday night concert by pianist Liz Story, and Dreaming Dark, the Saturday night performance by Human Nature Dance Theater. Both will take place in the intimate setting of the Center of the Art’s theater, so call Cheryl ASAP to reserve your seats. Her number is (928) 779-2300.

The tremendous work of organizing and executing the art exhibition, associated events, publicity, and grant applications has been spearheaded by Cheryl, gallery manager Jillian Asplund and Tamara Ramirez of NAU's Program in Community, Culture and Environment. We owe them a huge thanks for making this all happen!

The new lights are up at Thorpe Park but not yet powered. They are required to be full cutoff. Photo by Lance Diskan.

A Big Win for Thorpe Park Sports Lighting

By John Grahame

On Tuesday, August 15th, Flagstaff City Council voted 6-1 to overrule the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation that lighting levels at Thorpe Park exceed those recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (I.E.S.N.A.). Friends of Flagstaff’s Future joined with FDSC to organize a campaign of letter-writing and testimony before Council. Scores of letters were written and more than a dozen people testified on behalf of “Class IV” lighting levels. Critical to the debate was a letter from Del Armstrong, Chairman of the I.E.S.N.A. Sports Lighting Committee, in support of our position. Congratulations and thanks to all who participated in the campaign.

“Barnyard” mercury vapor lights have been illegal in Flagstaff for 10 years.

City of Flagstaff Takes on old Mercury Vapor Lights

By Chris Luginbuhl

For 10 years it has been illegal in Flagstaff to even use those nasty old unshielded "barnyard" mercury vapor lights. But given limited resources and other priorities, such as sports lighting, lighting code enforcement and “bootleg” lighting installed on grandfathered sites, no one has gotten around to pursuing it. Until now, that is. The City of Flagstaff codes enforcement personnel have taken it upon themselves to survey the city for these offensive and inefficient lights, finding over 200 scattered throughout the city. City Council has given the go-ahead to pursue the removal or replacement of these lights with code compliant lighting, and we should expect to see them disappear within the next year.

"Wallpacks" at dormitory entrances give a false sense of security while actually decreasing safety, security and visibility. Can you see the man standing by the door?

NAU to Work with FDSC on New Lighting Plan

By John Grahame

Northern Arizona University’s large campus has long been challenged by issues of safety and security for its students navigating the campus at night. For years FDSC has sought to work with University officials to help them address these problems while still protecting dark skies through the consistent use of fully shielded lighting. Unfortunately, little progress has been made over the years, and much of the campus lighting is both inadequate and a significant source of light pollution. Recently, Rich Bowen, Assistant Vice President of Capital Assets and Services, met with John Grahame and Chris Luginbuhl and suggested that NAU should meet the problem head on and hire someone to develop a lighting design for the entire campus that addresses safety, security and dark skies. Rich got the backing of NAU President John Haeger and is in the process of writing a Request for Proposals, which he will forward to Chris and John for review. Stay tuned.

A partnership between APS and FDSC may finally create financial incentives large enough to impress some of Flagstaff's worst energy and light abusers.

APS Comes Through Again to Help FDSC address Grandfathered Lighting

By John Grahame

APS, Northern Arizona’s public electrical provider, has supported the work of FDSC for many years. Together with the City of Flagstaff, the APS Foundation funded the Million Lumens Campaign that offers cash incentives to small businesses that choose to bring their old grandfathered lighting up to code. Now APS has offered to work with FDSC to approach larger businesses with financial incentives to conserve energy by replacing outmoded electrical equipment, including lighting. Steve Catenach, APS Community Affairs Director for Flagstaff, and Phoenix consultant Bill Biesemeyer met with Chris Luginbuhl and John Grahame in late September. All parties agreed that FDSC would identify the top light polluters in the area, and that these businesses would be approached by the two organizations with incentives to address their excessive energy use. Chris and John have developed a list of the ten worst light polluters and will meet again soon with APS to move the project forward.

Our cooool new t-shirts are available at the Flagstaff Visitor’s Center. They are available in short and long-sleeved, and there are even some pocket t’s! Be sure to look for the secret symbols in the star field.

New FDSC T-shirts and Traveling Exhibit on display at the Flagstaff Visitors Center

By John Grahame

The shirts are on sale at the Flagstaff Visitors Center in the train station downtown. They will also be for sale at the two Culturefest-Flagstaff concerts on Friday and Saturday nights, November 11-12, at the Center for the Arts. FDSC receives 25% of the proceeds from sales.

The new FDSC Traveling Exhibit debuted at the Flagstaff Public Library in August followed by a month in City Hall. In October it moved to the Flagstaff Visitors Center to help with the promotion of Culturefest and the new t-shirts. During Culturefest weekend it will move to the lobby of the Center for the Arts for the duration of the NightVisions exhibition.

New FDSC Web address

The FDSC Web site has a new URL, www.flagstaffdarkskies.org. Be sure to check it out for new material, including an editorial from the Arizona Daily Sun, “Astronomy Trumps Softball Tourneys Any Day,” and an op-ed by David Portree, “Time to See the Light on Dark Skies.”

Due it Today!

FDSC has no unencumbered sources of income other than proceeds from the sale of the t-shirts and yearly dues from its members. Wouldn’t this be the perfect time to pay your dues for both 2006 and 2007? Think of it – for only $24 you’re covered until 2008! Please send your check to Ann Eagan at PO Box 1892, Flagstaff, AZ 86002.