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Recent Achievements

  • Met with Santa Cruz Mayor Martine Watkins. Mayor Watkins was enthusiastic about the idea of bringing a lighting ordinance to the City Council.
  • Met with Councilmember Donna Meyers. She was interested in hearing about the biological and environmental impacts of light pollution in Santa Cruz, and was open to working with us to add shields to downtown lighting.
  • Attended Bird Migration Festival at Natural Bridges. Met with many receptive people and shared common goals and interests.
  • Met again with facilities official at UCSC regarding unshielded rugby lights. These lights cast glare across downtown Santa Cruz that is visible in Monterey!

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2018 Accomplishments!

  • Measured lighting conditions downtown including San Lorenzo River bridges, Harvey West field lights, Delaveaga Driving Range, UCSC East Field Rugby Lights
  • UCSC Original Thinkers: Earth Night event

In partnership with University of California at Santa Cruz and Lick Observatory April 18th, 2018. A combination of science talks, presentations, and night sky observation. A visual presentation by Harun Mehmedinovic, co–founder of SKYGLOW Project. The evening symposium included talks about light and circadian rhythms, biodiversity and photodiversity, and observing the night sky. Presenters included Carrie Partch, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry; James Karl Fischer, founder of The Zoological Lighting Institute; Puragra (Raja) Guha Thakurta, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics; and Lisa , a fellow of the Illuminating Engineering Society. Members of the Santa Cruz and UC Santa Cruz Astronomy Clubs also presented to assist with the sky observation at the end of the night. Andy also had an opportunity to speak about the night flights in 2017. Riverside Lighting company loaned lighting fixtures to help explain lighting options for visitors. A chapter banner was also created and on display. A sign up sheet was available for visitors to share their contact info. 46 contacts gathered. Attendance easily topped 100.

  • Santa Cruz Earth Day table at San Lorenzo Park on April 20th, 2018. 37 contacts gathered and many more stopped by to chat and pick up printed IDA information. Networking with other like minded organizations in the area.

  • Met with Santa Cruz City Green Building Commissioner and Climate Action Coordinator, (early May)

  • Met with UCSC OPERS re: the East Field lights and continued correspondence

  • Lighting Policy Strategy Workshop for IDA members, and other interested folks. Lisa taught attendees about the state level Title 24, city level Green Building Code, master plan implications, and  lighting ordinance varieties. Two high level Sierra Club people were in attendance.

  • Article by Andrea Patton in Good Times Magazine

http://goodtimes.sc/santa-cruz-news/news/front-lines-dark-skies-movement-pigeon-point/
  • Letter to Simpkins Live Oak Soccer Field proposal
  • Attended IDA AGM in Snowbird, Utah.
  • Addressed Santa Cruz City Council Planning Commission regarding appropriate lighting for new large building construction downtown.
  • Spoke before Santa Cruz city council on two separate occasions:
    to compliment Public works for installing dark sky fixtures in city parks
    to raise awareness about lighting factors regarding the new development bordering Pacific/Laurel/Front
  • Presented “Shedding light on Dark Skies: How do we protect all species from light pollution?” to the Santa Cruz Group of the Ventana Chapter of the Sierra Club on November 15th, 2018.
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Presentation At Santa Cruz Astronomy Club Meeting

The speaker at this month’s meeting of the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club will be Andy Kreyche, astronomy educator and member of the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). He will review the history of light pollution and share some of the work and goals of the Santa Cruz IDA chapter. Concerns over the ill effects of rampant light pollution on the environment and human health are growing. Although the dark sky movement was started by astronomers, the problem of light pollution has become a much more diverse issue. Other local IDA chapter members will be on hand, and attendees will be encouraged to share their concerns about local lighting issues. The meeting takes place at the Harvey West Clubhouse from 7 to 8:30 PM. The clubhouse is located at 326 Evergreen Street in Santa Cruz. This event is free and open to the public.

Santa Cruz Astronomy Club Meeting
7 – 8:30 PM, Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Harvey West Clubhouse, 326 Evergreen St, Santa Cruz
Call 831 471-5417 for more info