Many people like to talk about the character of Cave Creek and our western lifestyle, yet when the sun goes down, they completely forget what it means to be rural out west.
A big part of what makes Cave Creek unique in the modern west is the vast expanse of stars that take your breath away when you look up after dark. Our Dark Skies ordinances help us see the Milky Way and other heavenly bodies many back east have not seen for many decades -but only if we all work together to ensure we don’t ruin this incredible experience for others. This does not mean you have to have all lights out by 10 p.m. Just exercise care and thoughtfulness in outdoor lighting installations. Use indirect lighting and downlighting in your light installations. Put your patio lights on timers to ensure they go off, except when you are up. Don’t leave security lights on all night as they destroy the darkness for everyone. If you want to see what is outside, feel free to use them but please be considerate and turn them off when you have surveyed your property.
If you are worried about security, no one can come rob your place when it’s pitch black without using a flashlight or two. That makes burglars very easy to see! If you are worried about stepping on a snake, and rightfully so, put your landscape lights on a timer and make sure they are not on all night. If late at night, you should be using a flashlight for your own protection. Use downlighting outside with covered or setback bulbs so the source of light is not visible, whenever possible.
For those seeking more information about Dark Skies, please come to the Desert Foothills Library on July 22 at 7p.m. for a presentation with speakers discussing how we can protect our wonderful dark skies that so very few still get to enjoy. It’ll be well worth your time.
Ray Stark
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