Editor’s note: On Tuesday, Feb. 24, Twisp Town Council passed a proclamation supporting Methow Dark Sky Week April 11-18, 2026. Dean Kurath, member of the steering committee of Methow Dark Sky Coalition, spoke in favor of the proclamation on behalf of the coalition and Methow Valley Citizens Council. Methow Dark Sky Coalition is a project of Methow Valley Citizens Council.
Kurath submitted the following text from his speech to the town council.
By Dean Kurath
Good evening. I’m Dean Kurath and I am representing the Methow Dark Sky Coalition and the Methow Valley Citizens Council. I’m here to advocate for the proclamation supporting dark skies in the Methow Valley and Methow Dark Sky Week. First I want to provide a bit of background on our dark sky effort and Dark Sky Week.
The Methow Dark Sky Coalition is working to preserve, enhance and promote dark skies in the Methow Valley. We are a group of volunteers working to promote environmentally responsible lighting. We are specifically not trying take your lights away. Rather, we want you to use light only where and when it’s needed. We hope you will consider dark sky lighting aspects as you move forward with your town projects. It’s a lot easier to do something right in the first place than to retrofit something that was poorly implemented.
Excess artificial light at night has negative effects on human health, wildlife, and our rural environment. Excess light can also annoy our neighbors like a loud stereo at 2:00 am and interfere with our ability to experience the night sky. Excess light is also a waste of energy and money. It has been said that every artificial light photon that doesn’t hit a human eyeball is wasted.
Over the last several years we have had a number of successful collaborations and projects with the Town of Winthrop, Methow Conservancy, Confluence Art Gallery in Twisp, Ace Hardware, Thriftway, Pearrygin Lake State Park, Sun Mountain Lodge, the Winthrop Ice Rink and many others.
Our largest effort to date has been the organization of two Methow Dark Sky Week events and we are working on our third event April 11th-18th.
Our local event is in conjunction with International Dark Sky Week which is part of a worldwide event honoring the beauty of star-filled skies, the role of darkness in healthy ecosystems, and our deep connection to the cosmos.
As artificial light increases globally, and it’s increasing fast, the Methow Valley remains a rare haven for some of the darkest night skies in the country. Last year, we had 21 businesses participate by offering various specials and sponsoring our effort. The Chambers of Commerce for both Twisp and Winthrop and the Twisp and Winthrop town councils approved proclamations identical to the one before you this evening.
This year’s events start with:
- a give back Friday event at Motive Yoga in Winthrop on April 3.
- Two all week events include a family oriented dark sky scavenger hunt and a dark sky art exhibit at the visitor information center in Winthrop.
- There will be a dark beer pint night at the OSB in Twisp.
- Weather permitting, there will be several outdoor events that include star parties at Pearrygin Lake State Park and the Idle-a-While Motel in Twisp.
- Other outdoor events include a blue hour sound walk and a night hike, both near Winthrop.
- Finally, we are hosting a dark sky lighting workshop at the Winthrop Library for designers, contractors and homeowners.
I want to point out that we have a significant amount of support from local businesses. They recognize that our dark skies are an attraction to the valley just like other aspects of our natural beauty. Last year, one couple from Seattle told me the star party was the main reason they came to visit.
I want to note that this event is favorably placed in the spring shoulder season and I expect the additional business from Dark Sky Week may be especially welcome after a poor snow winter.
Obviously, none of this would be possible if we lose our dark skies due to light pollution.
I hope you’ve had a chance to read the proclamation. It is the same wording as last year and doesn’t require the town to make any commitments.
Thank you for providing the time for me to speak about dark skies and for considering the proclamation. If you have any questions I can try and answer them.
For a full schedule of events, please visit www.methowdarkskyweek.org.
For more information, or to contact the Methow Dark Sky Coalition directly, please visit www.methowdarksky.org
To read the proclamation, click here.
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Great remarks, Dean!! Thank you. Tom