BCFNS NEWSLETTER
May 2025
Issue 63
Contact us at newsletter@BlancoCountyNightSky.org
including 26 Lifetime Household members
plus 11 Business members including 4 Lifetime Business Members
1,147 Facebook Group Members and 560 Instagram Followers
13 SQMs (Sky Quality Meters) installed in Blanco County
Click here for accomplishments in last year and here for complete history
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On May 19, 2025, BCFNS Board Member, Elizabeth Miller, informed the Board that because of other obligations and the desire to spend more time traveling she was going to be unable to continue as a Board Member. Although saddened by that news, Elizabeth was quick to tell us “But please count on me as a volunteer!”
President, Wayne Gosnell, suggested to the Board that we redefine our Advisory Board as being people with special expertise that we can call on for advice (like a lawyer, an accountant, etc) . AND former Board members, who, by virtue of their Board experience, have unique expertise. The Board thought that was a great idea and offered Elizabeth a position on the BCFNS Advisory Board, which she has accepted with enthusiasm.
Elizabeth joined the BCFNS Board on October 21, 2020. Some of the many things she did was manage the Business Recognition Program in Blanco, judge for the annual art contest, visit with people at the BCFNS information table at countless events, organize a wonderfully memorable Appreciation Reception for our Lifetime Members, and a myriad of other things that needed doing. Wayne always said that Elizabeth’s main job was to make sure that everything we did was “classy.” We were fortunate enough to have a classy lady who knew just how to do that.
We want to thank Elizabeth for everything she has done to help preserve the night sky. The next time you look up and marvel at those stars up there, thank Elizabeth for what she has done!
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ANNUAL ART CONTEST WINNERS
The theme for the annual BCFNS Art Contest for 2025 was “On the Edge of Darkness”. Inspiration for this theme came from a statement made during the celebration of the City of Blanco being recognized as an International Dark Sky Community in April of 2023. Rachel Lumpee, who was the Blanco mayor at that time, shared that “The City of Blanco sits at the edge of darkness with light polluted large cities to our east and south.” It was decided that this would be a great theme to raise awareness with the art students about how light pollution is creeping into our beautiful Hill Country night sky. Pictured below are the winners of the contest which concluded during International Dark Sky Week, April 21-28. Blanco and Johnson City awards for Middle School were given at each grade level. High School students were given one set of prizes. You can get a better look at this amazing art by visiting the BCFNS Facebook Group page in the coming weeks
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LBJ High School in Johnson City, winners from left to right:
Honorable Mention-Yaretzi Torres (not present) and Chloe Clark; 3rd Place-Audrey Baker; 1st Place-Clara Baker; 2nd Place-Katie Shannan; 4th Place-Macy Hull
Blanco High School 5th Place winner, Luna Hopkins with Art Teacher, Callida Borgnino
LBJ Middle School in Johnson City-8th Grade winners from left to right: 3rd Place-Lillian Philips; 1st Place-Zaiden Turner; 2nd Place-Trinity Pennell
Blanco Middle School winners pictured from left to right.
1st Place-Jackson Pulliam (6th); 3rd Place-Elidjah Gordon (6th); Honorable Mention-Charlotte Lagan (8th); 2nd Place-Mila Florio (6th); 2nd Place-Savanna Klot (7th); 3rd Place-Emily Singletary (7th); Honorable Mention-Rosalie Wicker (6th) and Eden Byrom (7th); not pictured 1st Place-Elle Sims (7th)
Elle Sims’ art
BCFNS LENDS SUPPORT WITH PAVER
BCFNS Board approved the funding of a large paver which is placed at the entrance of the new Blanco Educational Center for the Arts at Blanco High School. The paver has our logo on it, and will be there permanently. Voting in favor of the paver, Vice President Vicki Guidry remarked that “This will be a great reminder to students, their families, and visitors to the school to help keep the night sky dark. Blanco students have participated in our Art Contest in past years, and this will be another way to “thank” them and the art teacher for their support of BCFNS and the night sky.”
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BLANCO STATE PARK “BACK TO THE BLANCO” EVENT
Board member Eizabeth Miller and Active Volunteer David Loose man the BCFNS information tent at the May 10th "Back to the Blanco" community event at Blanco State Park. In addition to engaging many interested visitors with night sky information, they recruited two new members, both of whom purchased BCFNS Membership signs, the best advertisement the Night Sky can have. Well done, Elizabeth and David!
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BLANCO COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS
On May 1st The Wizard of the Night SkyTM, aka BCFNS Board Member Bob Heinonen, explained all about light pollution and night sky preservation to the Blanco Master Naturalists, which supports parks and wildlife among many other things. Introduced by Bernard Mollberg, aka the Fiddler of the Night Sky, The Wizard waxed poetic before an appreciative crowd of some 25 members. There were no reported lightning bolt incidents.
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Volunteer Dee Hardiman made a presentation to the Blanco County Master Gardeners on May 13th on behalf of BCFNS. A very receptive audience of 18 attendees listened as Dee explained the harm light pollution can cause. The Master Gardeners groups focus is on horticulture as well as landscape design and maintenance.
We greatly appreciate that Dee was able to make this presentation as the usual presenters were unavailable. She is the perfect example how many volunteers working in this organization can help spread the word to even more people. Thank you, Dee!
THIRD ANNUAL MEDIA BLITZ
Our third annual Educational Media Blitz postcard was mailed out countywide on May 2nd. Over 8,000 postcards were bundled and taken to five post offices across Blanco County by BCFNS Board Member Bob Heinonen. If you live in Blanco County, we hope you received your postcard. Please let us know if you did not get yours (as something went wrong and we have to fix it for next year).
This year’s Educational Media Blitz targeted the effects of light pollution on wildlife. Many of you love animals and some may be asking “why should I care?”. An article posted on worldwildlife.org tells us “Why saving wild species is critical to our own survival.”
Wildlife and Human Survival
DarkSky International explains how light pollution harms wildlife and ecosystems which in turn can harm humans. Light, Wildlife and Ecosystems
CONSIDER BECOMING A MEMBER
A membership sign in your yard is a great way to let others know that you care about the night sky and perhaps make them curious about the organization. We have been successful with our Membership Sign Promotion but still need your help. The more signs we can get out in the public, the more people we can reach with our message about “saving the stars”. There are now 160 BCFNS membership signs hanging on fences and gates throughout Blanco County (and beyond). Each of these shouts to the world “Stop polluting our Night Sky”.
If you have been thinking of joining BCFNS or renewing your membership, you can still take advantage of our special offering of a free one-year membership ($20) with the purchase of a sign ($35 tax included). A membership sign is the best publicity the night sky can have. Here’s the link: BCFNS Membership Signs
For more information on all our membership options click here: Membership Options
NEXT BOARD MEETING
The next Board meeting will be June 18th at 9:00AM, at our new meeting location, the Blanco County Community Resource Center (CRC) in Johnson City. The address is 206 South US Highway 281. Meetings are informal and consist of part business and part brainstorming. You are welcome to join us.
THIS NEWSLETTER
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Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky
| P. O. Box 1402|Johnson
City | Texas | 78636 |