BCFNS NEWSLETTER
December 2022
Issue 33
Contact us at newsletter@BlancoCountyNightSky.org
MAY OUR 2023 BE FILLED WITH STARS AT NIGHT
The year 2022 has been a good year for Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky. A small team has accomplished a lot toward keeping our sky dark at night.
The year 2023 can be an even better year if we can increase the number of team members to work on our many projects. Work with an experienced team member as you learn new skills.
Is this your year to help?
HERE IS WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING THIS MONTH
RED OAK POA PRESENTATION
On December 3rd, BCFNS Board members Wayne Gosnell and Bob Heinonen gave a night sky preservation presentation to the Board of Directors of the Red Oak Mountain Property Owners Association. The Red Oak development on Maenius Road in Western Blanco County is one of many new developments in fast growing Blanco County. The development, fortunately, is one of seven in the county that has agreed to include provisions in their rules to limit light pollution by requiring night sky friendly outdoor lighting. The BCFNS presentation allowed Red Oak Board members to better understand the “whys and hows” of implementing those provisions. BCFNS stands ready to make similar presentations to any other POA, HOA, or developer in the county.
THIS TIME WE WERE THE GUESTS: COMAL COUNTY FRIENDS OF THE NIGHT SKY
On December 8th, BCFNS Board members Vicki Guidry, Bob Heinonen, Linda Whitlow, and Wayne Gosnell attended the monthly meeting of the Comal County Friends of the Night Sky (CCFNS) in Canyon Lake. The BCFNS coordinates closely with the CCFNS to share information and ideas on night sky preservation. Recently, the CCFNS has worked with the Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) to mitigate problems caused by some of the new streetlights a PEC contractor is installing throughout the PEC service area which, of course, includes Blanco County. The CCFNS is also working with an independent film maker on a feature film about the night sky. The BCFNS hopes to host an event featuring this film sometime in the coming year.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MIXER
On December 8th, BCFNS Board members Elizabeth Miller and Wayne Gosnell, along with member, David Loose, represented the BCFNS at the annual Joint Mixer of the Chambers of Commerce of Blanco, Dripping Springs, and Wimberley. The Blanco Chamber of Commerce sponsors Blanco’s Night Sky Friendly Business Recognition program that is implemented by the BCFNS. (The Comal County Friends of the Night Sky have started a similar program sponsored by the Canyon Lake Rotary.)
HILL COUNTRY ALLIANCE CHRISTMAS PARTY
The BCFNS was invited to participate in the Christmas Gathering of the Hill Country Alliance on December 9th. The Gathering was held at the Shields Ranch, an incredibly pristine area of beautifully preserved natural beauty off Fitzhugh Road in Hays County. Attending were the current and former members of the HCA Board of Directors as well as a small number of supporters. Representing the BCFNS were Jerry and Janice Thompson and Wayne and Martha Gosnell. The event provided an excellent opportunity to network and develop connections for future BCFNS night sky preservation projects.
BLANCO IDSC T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS
BCFNS member Luis Ramirez has expanded his line of Deep in the Dark of Texas ™ night sky themed clothing. His latest offering, a cozy go-to sweatshirt with hoodie in black or navy blue, sells for $38.50 and is available to order on the BCFNS website: Buy here. Luis’ t-shirts are also available on the site for $23.50. It’s too late to order these for Christmas but the night sky doesn’t end on Dec 25th. From direct personal experience, we know these items will generate discussion of the night sky whenever anyone sees you wearing them. The best part is that Luis is splitting the profits from the sale of these items with the BCFNS. Yea, Luis!
2ND ANNUAL NIGHT SKY POETRY CONTEST
IS ABOUT TO START!
If you are a poet or an aspiring poet or just like to write ditties or lyrics, this may be for you. You can start submitting poems on January 15th. Go to our Facebook Group: Click here then click on Featured
A little star
We also had two haiku entered by Terry Worhol Duncan:
Night shares a calm chill.
Last year the winning entry was a fairly long poem that rhymed. However we had several short ones like this one from Joe Guidry:
twinkles from afar
Dark sky expands above us.
Quiet stars sparkle.
Redirect your light.
Share value of why and how.
Open your night eyes.
CAN YOU HELP THE WIZARD OF THE NIGHT SKY?
The Wizard of the Night Sky can do a lot of things, but even the Wizard can't do it all. He needs help when he does educational presentations. He needs someone who can tend our laptop computer and our projector and who can work on-site with the client. He calls this special someone the Production Coordinator.
He will be doing a couple of presentations per month; the presentations can be in the morning, lunch time, afternoon or evening; they may be anywhere in Blanco County. Transportation can probably be arranged if needed.
If you would like to help spread the word about keeping our sky dark at night, email Bob Heinonen.
MEET THE BCFNS VOLUNTEERS
Last month we introduced you to BCFNS Member, David Loose, by telling you about his exceptional astrophotography and his achievement of one of his photos shortlisted in the Newcomer by the Royal Observatory Greenwich! This month we’d like to tell you a little more about David.
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He worked in Austin as a software engineer, developer, manager and in sales for IBM and Kofax, for over 35 years before moving to Blanco and retiring in Summer 2021. He and Elizabeth Miller had moved a year earlier, in 2020, to get away from Austin, traffic, congestion, and taxes. Finding themselves in Blanco, the dark skies provided another opportunity.
David has been interested in visual astronomy for many years, off and on. He tells us that “After retiring, and with our dark skies pulling me in, I decided to take a try at astrophotography as well. Of course, the Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky was an organization we were interested in, as our love of the Hill Country and my new hobby both made it so important.”
David and Elizabeth have been helping BCFNS by taking dark sky readings in Southern Blanco County, usually about twice a year. According to David “This is a great job to get you out of the house and directly into those dark skies. We use a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) to measure the light pollution of the moonless dark sky, and then track the values so we can measure our progress at BCFNS. On a ‘darkness scale,’ Blanco County is about halfway between bright city lights and the very darkest of skies, like you’d see in Big Bend. And between Austin and San Antonio, we are really at the frontier of light expansion, so it’s important to do all we can to stem the tide of light pollution before it’s too late!”
We now have over 777 followers on Facebook. Are you one of them? If not, check us out and join the group at Facebook.
Facebook & Instagram
We also have 394 followers on Instagram. Check it out as well. Instagram
Next Business & Brainstorming Session
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 18th @ 9 am, at El Charro Restaurant in Johnson City. If you would like to attend via Zoom, just let us know ahead of time and we’ll make it happen.
BCFNS Advisory Board – Are you willing to share your expertise? We would like to include:
A realtor, a developer, a contractor, a lighting fixture expert and other professionals who have a passion for the night sky. Contact us at info@BlancoCountyNightSky.org
For more information on all our membership options click here: Membership Options
Other News
Consider becoming a Member
Membership Sign Promotion - A membership sign is the best publicity the night sky can have. For those of you thinking of joining BCFNS or renewing your membership, we are offering a free one-year membership ($20) with the purchase of a sign ($35 tax included). Here’s the link: BCFNS Membership Signs
Remember we are a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Please consult your accountant or tax adviser for details regarding deductibility for your donation.