To The Editor: As a young teenager years ago, I remember the opportunities a friend and I had to be able to lie in my parents’ front yard and count the meteors as they fell from the sky. It was …
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To The Editor:
As a young teenager years ago, I remember the opportunities a friend and I had to be able to lie in my parents’ front yard and count the meteors as they fell from the sky. It was always a feeling of wonder to see the vast amount of stars as we peered at the Milky Way and counted the meteors. In the process we could learn the names of the stars as we tried to figure out the constellations.
How many of us can now go outside and spot different stars and constellations?
Those in town probably have a difficult time but those in the country have a much better opportunity. I am sure as the city grows those in the county will also lose their ability because of the light pollution.
As the city of Warrenton grows more and new businesses will provide new services for us and at the same time add to the light pollution, especially after the new overpass is built. We may not be able to stop the light pollution but we do have an opportunity to slow it down.
One of the main causes of light pollution in cities is because lights are not reflected toward the ground where they will do the most good. I do not think it would be an inconvenience to any new business to refrain from lighting up the sky. In fact it could be controllable by simply shading the lights with covers that would provide lighting well enough for customers to see where they are walking. Where I live in the winter, when the leaves are off the tress the lights from the uptown businesses shine through my windows. The rooms are half as dark as in the summer.
I believe a simple building code stating that lights should be shaded toward the ground would provide a sufficient answer to the light pollution problem especially after the new overpass is built. I do not have the answer for how this could be done but city engineering should be able to arrive at a solution. All new lighting should be in position to light the walking and or parking areas. If you agree with me, contact your city alderman and express your concerns.
Thank you,
Harlan Schwendemann, Warrenton
