Editor,

Remember the magic of holiday seasons past when Langley twinkled in the early darkness while bundled up shoppers and gallery goers greeted each other on the streets, delighted to be out in this happy town?

Did you notice the change in light and feeling once Second Street was rebuilt? Suddenly, the sparkle wasn’t quite there anymore and the street felt very stark. Where did those stars go anyway?

What was the cause? 4,000K LED street lamps were installed on Second Street during the rebuilding effort. (K stands for Kelvin and is a measure of color temperature on the light spectrum. The lower the K, the less blue there is in the light’s color. It has little bearing on energy usage.)

In June, the mayor asked citizens to comment on 4,000K versus 3,000K lamps — and few did. (After all, it doesn’t get truly dark until after 10 p.m. these days and we just don’t stay up that late!)

Now the city is proposing to install 4,000K lighting on First Street as well as at major intersections throughout Langley. Poof! More stars lost to the naked eye.

So here’s a proposal: After dark, drive east on First Street from the top of the hill to Cascade. Watch the sparkle of the fairy lights, the stars and the shop windows.

Turn up Cascade and onto Second Street. Note the difference — no sparkle, no twinkle, no fairies. Lots and lots of light but where did the stars go? And how do the folks who live downtown sleep with so much light pollution around them?

Now go to the Methodist Church and turn up Third Street. A 4,000K lamp has been installed there as well. Without looking directly into it, see how much the very bright light makes you squint. Notice how the sky behind it disappears.

Is this what we want to see in Langley — or not see as the case may be? Will the brighter light make things “safer” or just more stark? Will we be any safer or will we just make it easier for the mischief makers to see what they’re doing?

What if Langley chose a different path? What if we became an official International Dark Sky City where citizens could still view the stars from their windows and visitors came to enjoy the night sky even in the depths of winter. How might promotion of that concept help Langley thrive?

Becoming a Dark Sky community has specific requirements. Most importantly, lights of no more than 3,000K are allowed and lights must be shielded to send light downward. Cities from Coll, Scotland to Sedona, Arizona and Borrego Springs, California have become certified. Why not Langley?

To find out more about the International Dark Sky Association, go to darksky.org.

To advocate for 3,000K or less LED street lighting throughout Langley, contact the mayor and council members. Make your wish to see the stars known!

MIRA STEINBRECHER

Langley