[Vision2020] light pollution

[Janesta Carcich]

Well said, Mr. Basoa. *warm smile*

I live in town, looking south from my yard, for years
I would see the parking lot lights of Tidymans glaring
up the sky. It was terrible. 

Having lived on a ranch in the middle of Podunk
nowhere for years, in my opinion, I don't think that
having shielded lights will make one iota of
difference as far as coyotes are concerned. Tell
me.... if the light had a reflector, or shield,
wouldn't MORE light go to the ground? 

I can remember how a pack would frequently sit the
edge of the yard light... every once in a while, the
most courageous inching further and further into the
light, while cohorts in cat kidnapping, sat timid in
the dark, howling the brave one on.

We don’t need light shining up to the heavens; the
light needs to be on the ground, where it will make
some semblance of difference.

Now, does anyone want to buy me a new yard light?
Seriously, is there a program for replacement lights
that anyone knows about?

Janesta


--- Steven Basoa <sbasoa at moscow.com> wrote:

> Mr. Harkins,
> 
> Please do your homework about neighbors before you
> post.
> 
> It's wonderful that you, as a rural property owner,
> "respect the  
> concept of light pollution and manage my light use
> to be as  
> unobtrusive as possible."  It is to be applauded
> that you and your  
> neighbors are able to work out problems such as
> light pollution.  I,  
> too, am a rural property owner and have enjoyed good
> working  
> relations with my neighbors.
> 
> However, some neighbors simply don't give a crap. 
> They do what they  
> do and don't consider anything but their own
> amusements.  If their  
> night lights are pointed directly into your living
> room, it's your  
> problem, not theirs ('put up heavier curtains' they
> might say).  Some  
> neighbors will be understanding and listen to
> reason.  Others will go  
> out and increase the wattage.  It's a crapshoot. 
> You and I, we're  
> lucky to have good neighbors.  Many others are not
> so fortunate.  And  
> with the current trend of building a house on top of
> every hill in  
> the county,  light pollution is bound to get worse.
> 
> I support the draft ordinance requiring shielded
> lights.  This shows  
> consideration for neighbors and still allows
> excellent visibility for  
> property owners.  I fail to  see how this
> requirement will cause more  
> "damage and injury to property and persons" or cause
> more "damages to  
> animals and crops harmed by predators and foragers".
>  My unshielded  
> lights (granted, they are not high wattage mercury
> vapor lights) do  
> not keep the deer and moose away nor do they stop
> the coyotes from  
> their nightly prowls.  As to "damages resulting from
> burglary,  
> trespass and general mischief", well, shielded or
> not, lights alone  
> will not deter a determined burglar or general
> mischief-maker.
> 
> I take great pleasure in viewing the night sky,
> unobstructed from  
> most neighbors lights.  I am very fortunate in that
> regard and wish  
> to remain so.  This proposed ordinance is a positive
> step towards  
> preserving one aspect of this wonderful quality of
> life we currently  
> enjoy here in Latah County while causing few, if
> any, real problems.
> 
> -Steven
> 
> On Jan 21, 2006, at 11:46 PM, Jeff Harkins wrote:
> 
> Mr. Evans,
> 
> Please do your homework about the physics of light
> before you post.
> 
> For the rest of you interested in this topic,
> consider that with a  
> bit over 1000 square miles of land in Latah County,
> there are 500  
> rural farm lights (yard lights).  That is 1 light
> per 2 square  
> miles.  Since many of the lights are clustered in
> areas around the  
> urban centers, the average number of light units per
> square mile  
> drops considerably.  It is dark in the rural parts
> of this county.
> 
> As a rural property owner, let me assure you that I
> do respect the  
> concept of light pollution and manage my light use
> to be as  
> unobtrusive as possible.  All of us in our
> "neighborhood" work  
> together to not impose on each other on most issues,
> including  
> lighting.  If there was a problem, we would find a
> way to work it  
> out.  I don't recognize your name and I am rather
> confident that you  
> don't live near me.  So why, exactly, are you
> attempting to dictate  
> lighting issues to me and my neighbors.
> 
> If you, Mr. Evans, would be willing to demand that
> the County accept  
> all liability for damage and injury to property and
> persons that  
> result from reduced lighting on rural property,
> would support a fair  
> compensation to me (or my neighbors) for damages to
> animals and crops  
> harmed by predators and foragers, would support
> public funds be  
> raised to reimburse me (or rural residents) for
> damages resulting  
> from burglary, trespass and general mischief, we can
> pursue a  
> dialogue.  Frankly, I would rather invest such
> scarce public dollars  
> in county infrastructure and schools ....
> 
> Until then, I will not compromise my responsibility
> for the health  
> and safety of my family, my neighbors or my friends
> for your dark sky  
> agenda.
> 
> Until you support full financial responsibility by
> Latah County for  
> the consequences for what you are asking me and my
> neighbors to do in  
> our neighborhood, why don't you work with your
> neighbors to deal with  
> the light pollution in your neighborhood?  I assume
> that you live in  
> Moscow.
> 
> >
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> 


Janesta Carcich

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