STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
The City of Ketchum is celebrating its recent declaration as a Dark Sky Community on Thursday, Dec. 21.
And backers of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve are celebrating that new designation—announced Monday night—at the same time.
The celebration coincides with the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, and it’ll be held under the nighttime sky from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Ketchum Town Square and Starbucks.
At 6:15 p.m. Dr. Dark, aka Stephen Pauley, will be on hand to extol the wonders of looking up. There’ll be a few thanks handed out by local mayors to those who brought the designations to fruition.
And the city will serve complimentary beer, wine, cocktails and appetizers at Starbucks, which will provide a warming place for those needing to duck out of the cold.
Nothing But Heroes will provide the music.
“We’ll try to see what we can see,” said Dr. Stephen Pauley, who started the conversation about dark skies in Ketchum 18 years ago.
“And we may even have a dark sky surprise!” said Betsy Mizell, community engagement associate for Ketchum’s Idaho Conservation League office.