NEWS RELEASE

Date: July 18, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: 
Anneda Cohen, Regional District Manager, Safeway, Inc.; 480/894-4100
John W. Polacheck, M.D., Southern Arizona Section, International Dark-Sky Association;
502/622-4599 (day)     520/743-1362 (eve)


OUTDOOR LIGHTING AWARD TO SAFEWAY STORE

Safeway Store #2611, 10380 E. Broadway Blvd. in Tucson will receive an "Excellence in
Outdoor Lighting" award from the International Dark-Sky Association, Southern Arizona
Section (SA-IDA) on Wednesday, July 24, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to the award
ceremony to be held in the lobby at the store site (corner of East Broadway and Houghton Road).
Light refreshments will be served.

In its recent retro-fit activities, Safeway Store #2611 shielded and re-designed its outdoor
lighting and signage, significantly reducing light spill-over into the night time sky and
unnecessary glare for its residential neighbors. 'This store now blends right into that relatively
dark area of the city in contrast to the "light bomb" which formerly existed,' states Byron
Skinner, Tucson resident and member of SA-IDA. 

The SA-IDA "Excellence in Outdoor Lighting" award honors local businesses, organizations and
individuals who promote safe, effective and non-polluting night lighting for their properties.
"Light pollution, caused by excessive and inefficient lighting, results in energy waste,
unnecessary glare and light trespass onto neighboring properties, plus the destruction of the
beauty of night skies," explains John W. Polacheck, SA-IDA acting president. "Furthermore,
light pollution affects bird migrations and astronomical observations." 

The International Dark-Sky Association, a non-profit, educational organization headquartered in
Tucson, Arizona with over 8,700 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:

International Dark Sky Organization (Extensive information) www.darksky.org 520/293-3198

Local Dark Sky Section www.sa-ida.org