Last week, the city of Dripping Springs recognized seven stellar businesses that received the BE A STAR AWARD from the Texas Chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association.
Presented at the Dripping Springs City Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6, the award recognizes landowners who contribute to conservation efforts by protecting the night sky. The city identified their properties as those that comply with the award criteria and are great examples of compliance with the City of Dripping Springs Lighting Ordinance.
The awards were presented by Cindy Luongo Cassidy, President of the Board for the Hays County Friends of the Night Sky. Dripping Springs was the first city in Texas to be designated as an International Dark Sky Community in 2014 and the sixth one in the world. Since then, the City and its residents and business partners have diligently maintained that unique distinction.
The BE A STAR AWARDS program is run by the Texas Night Sky Festival Association (TNSF Association) in support of the International Dark-Sky Association Texas Section (IDA Texas).
The seven Dripping Springs businesses who were celebrated with the BE A STAR AWARD each received a 12” x 9” sign to display on their property that shows their lighting considers nature, their neighbors, and their shared view of the night sky. These winners included Dripping Springs Presbyterian Church, State Farm Mark Handley, Ranch Road 12 Market, 7-Eleven, Driftwood Ranchside Greeter House, Headwaters Professional Office Buildings 1 and 2 and Anthem Apartment Homes.
They are also featured on the city’s website, with photography taken by the Photographers of Dripping Springs. The photo gallery of the recipients can be seen on the Night Sky section at cityofdrippingsprings. com/nightsky/ be-a-star.
