The Good, The Bad, and The Illegal
Southern Arizona Section (SA-IDA)
3225 N. First Avenue; Tucson, AZ 85719-2103
(520) 293-3198 FAX (520) 293-3192
NEWS RELEASE
Date:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: John W. Polacheck, M.D., SA-IDA; (520)622-4599 day; (520)743-1362
eve
U.S. BORDER PATROL RECEIVES
LIGHTING AWARD
The U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson and Naco Sectors received an “Excellence in Outdoor Lighting” award from the International
Dark-Sky Association, Southern Arizona Section (SA-IDA) on Tuesday, August 5 at
9:00 a.m. The award presentation was held in Tucson,
Arizona at the Border Patrol Tucson Sector offices.
John Polacheck, Vice President of Southern Arizona Section of the International Dark-Sky Association (SA-IDA) along with representatives from all the major telescope sites in Southern Arizona presented the award to Tucson based US Border Patrol officials. Community members who attended and gave words of appreciation to the Border Patrol agents were from the University of Arizona Steward Observatory, Kitt Peak Observatory , Whipple Observatory, The Vatican Observatory, Palominas Star Haven Observatory, The International Dark-Sky Association, (IDA) and the Southern Arizona IDA Section.
In response to community concerns, the U.S. Border Patrol recently retrofit a
section of its new border lights near Naco, thereby shielding these fixtures.
This action significantly reduced light spill-over into the night time sky and
glare for the residential neighbors. Doug Snyder, a retired engineer who
operates the Palominas Star Haven Observatory twelve miles northwest of the Naco
port of entry, comments: “Once again, I am able to open the observatory dome and
see the stars in the southern sky.”
The SA-IDA “Excellence in Outdoor Lighting” award honors local businesses,
organizations and individuals who promote safe, effective and non-polluting
night lighting on their property. “Light pollution, in addition to
affecting astronomical observations and bird migrations, results in the
destruction of the beauty of night skies, energy waste, plus unnecessary glare
and light trespass onto neighboring properties,” explains John W. Polacheck,
SA-IDA acting president. “Light pollution is caused by excessive and
inefficient lighting.” Past award recipients are: Budget Car and Truck
Sales, Safeway Store #2611, Starizona Adventures in Astronomy and Nature, and
St. Francis in the Foothills Church.
The International Dark-Sky Association, a non-profit, educational organization
headquartered in Tucson, Arizona with over 10,000 members from 50 states and 70
countries, actively encourages public inquiry. Extensive information, including
material for teachers and potential new members of the Southern Arizona Section,
is available at
www.darksky.org,
www.sa-ida.org,
and the Association office at (520)293-3198.