Moab Happenings August 2011

www.moabhappenings.comNature Photographers Bret Edge & Guy TALInspired by the wild places of the Colorado Plateau,two photographers have combined their talents to create avibrant exhibit of photography. “Visions of the AmericanWest” is a collection of images on display in the BighornGallery at the Dead Horse Point State Park visitor centerthrough August 30th.Edge is a nature and adventure photographer who“appreciates the intimate details in nature” that are oftenoverlooked. Edge’s images have appeared worldwide inbooks, magazines, calendars, ad campaigns and tourismpublications. He enjoys teaching others to become betterphotographers through workshops and guided excursions.He lives and recreates in Moab with his wife, son and twoall-terrain pugs.Tal chose nature photography as a way of “capturingand sharing the beauty, power and fragility of wildplaces.” His photographs are visual expressions that aimto “inspire without venturing outside the realm of thebelievable”. His photography and technical expertiseare shared in his books and he is a contributor to NaturePhotographers Online Magazine. Tal is a professionalphotographer, writer and guide living in Torrey, Utah.During the photography exhibit at Dead HorsePoint State Park, Edge and Tal’s images are available forpurchase, as are their prints. For more information aboutthe artists, visit www.bretedge.com and www.guytal.comMoab Happenings • August 2011 • 7ADEAD HORSE POINT HAPPENINGSStargazingOn a dark, clear night, over 2,000 stars are visible inthe sky. The area in and near Dead Horse Point State Parkhas some of the darkest skies found in the United States.Rangers at Dead Horse Point take advantage of these darknights, providing various astronomy programs and full moonhikes throughout the summer and fall. The full moon doesn’tprovide for dark skies, but it does offer great nighttime viewsof the canyons below the park.Astronomy programs cover a variety of themes and,weather and temperature permitting, include viewing starsand planets through a telescope. One program focuses onastronomical events and features (including visible planets)while another focuses on how the night sky has connectedus as humans for thousands of years. These dark night skiesare an important resource and need to be protected. Learnhow to protect our dark skies and nocturnal animals byattending these programs!Full moon hikes are offered once a month and covertopics including lunar features and nocturnal animals. Themoon is over 238,000 miles from the earth and still plays alarge part in our lives. Nocturnal and crepuscular animalsliving in the park include coyote, kit fox, bats, mule deer,owls, scorpions and rattlesnakes.Bret EdgeGuy TalDead Horse Point State Park is located nine miles north of Moab on US 191, and 23 miles south on SR 313. The visitorcenter is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March 15 to mid-October and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the winter. Parkadmission is $10. Contact the park at 435-259-2614. Contact: Megan Blackwelder Park Manager 435-259-2614Humane Society of Moab ValleyAnnual Dawg Days of SummerBarbecue and Silent AuctionThe ninth annual Humane Society of Moab ValleyBBQ and major fundraiser will take place at Old CityPark from 4 to 8 P.M. on Sunday, August 7 th . Food willbe catered by the Moab Brewery and will include beeftri-tip, chicken, vegetarian pasta, beans, cole slaw, cornbread, salad, dessert, and the Brewery’s special keg rootbeer. Tickets are available at the HSMV office in theMoab City Shelter, as well as the Moab Barkery.Enjoy the talents of local musicians while treatingyour taste buds to a fabulousBBQ. This year’s silentauction will be betterthan ever, with luxury giftitems to pamper yourselfor give to a friend, as wellas gift certificates for art,restaurants, adventure trips,and more! The silent auctionand BBQ are the primaryannual fundraisers for theHumane Society of MoabValley.The BBQ started in 2002, by Paul and ZeeMcCarroll, then chefs extraordinaire at the Center Cafe.They had just opened at their new location on First West;Zee’s mother used to love to come by and check out theconstruction progress and was excited to see it open.Sadly, she passed away just before the new cafe opened.With this business, the McCarrolls decided that one oftheir missions was to give back to the community. At thetime, funds were being raised to build the first animalshelter in Moab. They decided that by holding the BBQ,they could honor Zee’s mother, help to accomplish andsupport something much needed, and do something funthat local people would enjoy. Zee started barbecuingseveral days in advance; friends and staff shucked cornand helped with other preparations. The Center Cafe’sstaff was awesome, donating their time and even theirtips to the Humane Society! They all looked forward toit and had a great time. The lovely cafe, the generosity ofthe staff, donors to the auction, and attendees made this ahighlight of the summer season for many local residents.After the Center Cafe closed, Buck’s Grill House wasthe next venue for the event. Tim Buckingham openedup the outdoor patio and supplied a great selection ofdelectables. This year, a new atmosphere will be triedat Old City Park - a bit less formal, hopefully a bit morefun with great food, activities for the kids, and certainlythe best silent auction ever!Bats are the most commonly seen nocturnal animals inthe park and deserve their own program. Bats sometimeshave a bad reputation, but they are very beneficial tohumans. Bat programs are provided one to two times permonth. These programs include games, activities, a slideshow and nighttime bat viewing.For current program information, visit us at www.stateparks.utah.gov/parks/dead-horse or call the visitorcenter at (435) 259-2614.Celebrating 11 years of serving the Moab area,the local Humane Society is run solely on donationsand grants, with volunteers supplying the vast majorityof work. The organization’s mission is to improvethe lives of companion animals and their owners by:•Saving the lives of orphaned animalsthrough rescue and adoption services.•Providing training, support and educationfor pet owners and the community•Providing spay/neuter opportunities for all catsand dogs.Holding adoptiondays most Saturdays,sponsoring three spay/neuter clinics per yearas well as year-roundlow-income vouchers,working with Seekhavento assist families leavingabusive situations byproviding a safe placefor pets, and providingdiscount for senioradoptors and/or senioranimals are just a few ofthe on-going programs of HSMV.For more information on the BBQ, animals, volunteeringor donating, call 435-259-HUMANE (259-4682).