Cherry Springs Dark Sky Fund/Association

What do I want at CSSP? I want to thank Cherry Springs Park Management and Staff for all the efforts to make the Work Bee held this clear sky New Moon weekend such a big success. It was very obvious that much planning had gone into making this happen including planning the projects, bringing the tools and purchasing materials for the projects. On top of that, there was plenty of great food, beverages and many desserts for those that had registered for the Work Bee. Some park staff even worked on their weekend day off, when they could have been home getting chores done. One thing I would like to see is more of the amateur astronomers that enjoy the park, consider helping out at next year's Work Bee, as a demonstration that we appreciate the hard work of park management and staff to make this such a great place for observing the disappearing night sky.

The announcement of progress on the wireless internet service system was good to hear and will be an important improvement at the park, especially for monitoring weather forecasts and satellite imagery. I understand that this is the first installation of its kind in any PA State Park!! Congratulations Cherry Springs for another First!

I would like to Thank The Dark Sky Fund Forn its great work. I suggest that the DSF use fund to keep the Park Dark .

Gas flaring is a hit and miss sort of thing. We have been holding Open Houses for the drillers on state land and have gotten their cooperation as far as trying to conduct flaring during lunar periods rather than dark of the moon. They are also trying to position their job lights to be pointing away from the park rather than towards. Once the pipelines are in place, less flaring will occur overall. We have no influence on companies drilling on private property, just hope that they will comply as part of their environmental stewardship initiatives. Most of the flaring has not even been a problem to visual observing at the park...it is very evident when it is overcast and you can see it from quite a distance, but I would assure you that there are those out there who are trying to say that the overall quality of the darkness is diminished, but I beg to differ. I'm sure if you make the trip and the weather cooperates, it will be a beautiful sky.