Saving Our Dark Skies

Homero Lopez, working with a petition group headed by retired astronomer Dr. Emilio Falco, arrived at our 2024 Annual Meeting with a mission: To remind everyone of the environmental and economic importance of preserving our dark skies, and to ask the TVPOA to support the group's efforts in obtaining a Dark Sky International designation for Tubac. 

One of the designation requirements involves obtaining letters of endorsement from community groups. At the time of our meeting, Homero's group had succeeded in receiving more than two dozen such letters. After clarifying that the TVPOA's endorsement would not translate to any new lighting rules for homeowners, Steve Page asked for a show of hands in support of the endorsement. It was overwhelmingly supported.

Subsequent to the TVPOA meeting, the Santa Cruz Valley Citizens Council petitioned the County for support, and presented the Board of Supervisors with a proclamation asking the Board to declare April 2-8, 2024 as International Dark Sky Week in Santa Cruz County. The proclamation was passed and adopted on March 26.

For more information about the Dark Sky Places Program, and ideas about good practices in preserving our dark skies, visit: https://darksky.org.