Falls Church City Council Issues April 14 Proclamation Declaring City-Wide "Dark-Sky Week," April 21-28
Originally published in The Falls Church Independent 16 April 2025
F.C. City Council Issues April 14 Proclamation Declaring City-Wide "Dark-Sky Week," April 21-28
Once again, the City of Falls Church is helping shed light on the problem of global and regional light pollution and its negative effects on living beings around the world.
Light pollution is the "human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally," according to DarkSky International. And its disruptive effects harm: "wildlife and human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the universe."
On April 14, the City issued a Proclamation – signed by Mayor Letty Hardi and passed by the City Council – in support of "Dark-Sky Week," for the City, April 21-28.
The purpose of the week, per the Proclamation, is to "urge all to celebrate the pristine and undisturbed dark skies throughout the Commonwealth, and take a moment to ponder their role in protecting this valuable resource and connection to the environment now and for future generations."
The week is designed to "raise awareness of light pollution, and provide free education, resources, and solutions to the public to encourage the protection of and enjoyment of dark skies and responsible outdoor lighting."
"Thank you Mayor Hardi and City of Falls Church Government City Council members for recognizing 21-28 April 2025 as Dark Sky Week in Falls Church!!," posted DarkSky NOVA – the Virginia chapter of DarkSky International – on Facebook yesterday April 15. "Falls Church City joins in the global celebration for IDSW [International Dark Sky Week], raising awareness of light pollution and educating its residents."
Eileen Kragie, chapter leader of DarkSky NOVA receives City's proclamation declaring Dark Sky Week in Falls Church from April 21-28. Photo courtesy Eileen Kragie via Facebook.
Per the City's proclamation, "the aesthetic beauty and wonder of a natural night sky is a shared heritage of all humankind, and the experience of standing beneath a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe and encourages an interest in science and nature, especially among young people and out-of-area visitors to Virginia's local communities."
With the "greatest number of Dark-Sky Parks east of the Mississippi" located in Virginia, "home to dozens of species who rely on undisturbed night environments to hunt mate and thrive," and with "80 percent of the world's population, including many people in Virginia [living] under a dome of light pollution ... [who] may never experience the visual wonder or ecological and health benefits of living under a dark sky," increased community awareness of light pollution is essential, the Proclamation declared.
Dark-Sky Week Proclamation passed by the City Council April 14, 2025. Facebook photo courtesy DarkSky NOVA.
Following the City Council's Dark-Sky Week Proclamation ceremony, DarkSky NOVA chapter head, Eileen Kragie, wrote to The Falls Church Independent to update us on her organization's recent efforts to combat light pollution and some of the challenges faced.
"There are some terrible lights in FC," Kragie said. "Just in front of the Cherry Hill Park are examples of the acorn lights which are awful for light pollution and glare.... The lights on the school further down are [also] blinding and dangerous."
Acorn light, "awful for light pollution and glare," in downtown Falls Church City. Photo courtesy Eileen Kragie.
"What is really needed is a committed group of residents who will work on this issue regularly and hold events. Encouraging everyone, homeowners and businesses to assess their home and business lighting and to adopt the 5 principles of responsible outdoor lighting at night will go a long way in addressing the problem."
"There are just so many jurisdiction in this area which desperately need work," Kragie continued. "And everyone must begin to voluntarily adopt responsible lighting practices. We don’t throw our litter on the ground anymore. We need to stop littering with our lights."
For more information in International Dark Sky Week 2025, go here.
For a recent letter-to-the-editor on combatting light pollution from DarkSky NOVA's chapter leader, Eileen Kragie, see our article below:
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The Falls Church IndependentChristopher Jones