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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 2022)
8 Wednesday, January 19, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon DARK SKIES: City wants to step up enforcement now Continued from page 1 Council made address- ing the dark skies issue one of their 2021-22 Council goals because they have been aware of community discontent. The current ordi- nance was adopted in May 2010, with a stipulation that all nonconforming lighting in the city would be brought into compliance within five years of adoption. That never occurred, apparently having been buried by other more pressing issues. Sisters still has the opportunity to keep the skies dark — if something is done now. The Council believes the time has come to do some- thing, and Council members indicated to Woodford they want it done sooner rather than later. They have no inter- est in establishing another five-year period of compli- ance. They also realize that for some residents, coming into compliance will prove to be a financial hardship and some type of assistance will be necessary. The first order of business will be for staff to conduct an audit of lighting for compli- ance with the City9s dark sky code. Staff would then con- duct education and awareness programs to explain the need INDOOR & OUTDOOR SEATING AVAILABLE ORDER ONLINE for takeout at SistersSaloon.net Sun-Wed 11-9 • Closed Thurs • Fri-Sat 11-10 541-549-RIBS | 190 E. Cascade Ave. for compliance. For those who continue to violate the code, possible code enforce- ment would occur. In addition to retroactive action by those whose out- door lighting is in violation of the code, stricter standards for new construction could require submitting lighting plans with building permit and land use applications, followed by requirements for better compliance and inspec- tion prior to granting a certifi- cate of occupancy. Staff also proposed adding a Purpose section to the ordi- nance that would establish guiding principles for out- door lighting as well as pro- viding illustrations of accept- able and prohibited types of lighting fixtures. Council wants to see pub- lic outreach and encouraged the involvement of citizens who are adamant and knowl- edgeable about dark skies. There is a group of students at the high school who could be tapped for inclusion in the process. Sisters still has the oppor- tunity to keep the skies dark 4 if something is done now. For some people, it could be as simple as changing out light bulbs to a lower watt- age or aiming a light down toward the ground. Does your outside lighting shine past your property line, into your neighbor9s yard and/ or house? Confine that illu- mination to your own yard. Turn off outside lights when you go to bed or maybe after a certain time at night. There is a brochure available at City Hall, as well as abundant information online illustrat- ing outside lighting fixtures that protect dark skies. Light pollution affects everyone Lighting up the night dis- rupts the billions-of-years- old cycle of day and night. Plants and animals depend on that daily cycle of light and dark to govern life- sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators. Artificial light at night has negative and potentially deadly impacts on numer- ous animals, birds, insects, amphibians, and plants. Migration, nesting, hunting, foraging, mating, and other behaviors are all impacted by artificial light at night as is the human biological clock, our circadian rhythm. Nighttime exposure to artifi- cial light suppresses melato- nin production, which helps keep us healthy in a myriad of ways. The newer compact fluorescent lightbulbs and LED lights are more energy efficient, but they produce more blue light which has adverse health effects like those mentioned above and others. Glare from poorly shielded outdoor lighting is also harmful to our health because it decreases vision by reducing contrast, which limits the ability to see potential dangers at night, especially in aging eyes. MEAT S, GAME ALASKAN SEAFOOD CHEESES SANDWICHES BEER, WINE, CIDER 110 S. SPRUCE ST. | 541-719-1186 9 AM TO 6 PM DAILY Gypsy Wind Clothing Sand-and-fi nish hardwood fl ooring installer Custom inlays, borders and radius work Custom staircases Finish carpentry – crown molding, baseboards, and door trims Heading Need a for the Winter Sun? Warmer? We have a full line of travel & resort wear! Sizes small to 3X 704 W. Hood Avenue, Suite D, Sisters | 916-496-1617 CCB#606313 We have warm & cozy winter clothes! NEW WINTER HOU HOURS: OURS RS W WED.-SAT., 11 AM TO 4 PM; CLOSED SUN./MON./TUES. • 183 E. HOOD AVE., SISTERS LETTERS Continued from page 2 successes, reduces complicated topics to misleading conclu- sions, hypocritically ignores egregious misconduct by allies, stokes anger and outrage and relies on their domination of mass and social media. Whew! Where to begin? Deplorables (noncompliant voters), gun-toting bible- hugging rednecks (largely rural conservatives), racists (anyone deemed a threat), terrorists (concerned parents), insur- rectionists (demonstrators), yes, incendiary, but not from the right. As far as lumping opponents together, see the preceding. Peddling lies and disinformation? Look no further than the <Steele Dossier,= or the much-maligned Covington High students or the acquitted <racist= teenager involved in a self- defense shooting. Blame game? Whose efforts got us the life- saving COVID-19 vaccine at <warp speed,= and was first to delay travel from infected areas into this country to give us critical reaction time? Exaggerated failures? Does the <successful= withdrawal from Afghanistan ring a bell? Talk about a whopper! I could go on, but you get my drift and could likely embellish, as can I, for pages. Finally, a word on stoking <anger and outrage.= One need look no further than Mr. Biden9s ill-advised remarks marking one year since the riot at the nation9s Capitol on January 6. Not really a <kumbayah= moment, but an opportunity, yet again, squandered. However, the <piece de malfeasance= is the last, the right-wing9s <domination of mass and social media=! Huh? Some people need to get out more or be, at least, semiconscious when they do. Be advised, folks, they walk among us. Ross Flavel s s s Poop bags To the Editor: To the dog owner(s) around Sisters who bag up their dogs9 poop, and then leave it at the site: Please explain. Thanks. Larry Griggs s s s