Observatory named as Dark Sky Park
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) Board of Directors and Dark Sky Places Committee announced the designation of two International Dark Sky Parks at its 22nd Annual General Meeting and Conference in Tucson, Ariz. One of them is the Goldendale Observatory State Park.
Clayton Lake State Park in northeast New Mexico received Gold Tier recognition of their efforts to preserve and protect the nighttime environment, while Goldendale Observatory State Park received provisional status for a Silver Tier designation.
Recognition as an International Dark Sky Park (IDSPark) requires more than just a star-filled sky; strenuous long term planning, retrofitting, and preservation efforts are required to fulfill the application prerequisites. A lighting management plan, examples of retrofitting/building under the plan, and energetic public awareness regarding the night sky as a natural resource must be demonstrated.
The IDSPark program is recognized as a permanent commitment to the nighttime environment and an important achievement in conservation. Both parks worked diligently with the Dark Sky Places Committee after originally applying in 2009 to meet the exacting standards. These parks join Cherry Springs State Park (Pennsylvania) and Geauga Park District’s Observatory Park (Ohio, Provisional) as models for night sky conservation within the U.S. State Park system. Globally they join Natural Bridges National Monument (Utah), Galloway Forest Park (Scotland, U.K.), and the Zselic Landscape Protection Area (Hungary) as parks dedicated to preservation of a natural night.
Goldendale Observatory Park houses one of the nation’s largest public telescopes and acts as the primary night sky interpretive site in the State of Washington’s State Parks system. Providing a history of astronomy, telescopes, and the space program to visitors, the park wholeheartedly embraces the public education component of an IDSPark. The Dark Sky Places Committee has granted Goldendae provisional status to encourage park personnel and the surrounding community to enact permanent measures that will secure the longevity of dark skies within the community and the state parks system. A small number of lighting retrofits must also be completed prior to full designation.
Clayton Lake State Park, located in Union County, New Mexico, hosts approximately 65,000 visitors per year, many of whom attend star parties at the park’s observatory facility. Park staff and volunteers worked closely with the Town of Clayton and the New Mexico State Parks system to ensure quality lighting guidelines both within the park and in the surrounding community. In 2010 the park completed lighting retrofits to conform 100% to the shielding and spectral considerations for low-light areas. The Reach for the Stars program, initiated in 2004, promotes the night sky as a valuable educational and economic resource for New Mexico.
Candidate denies claim of sexual harassment from office co-worker
Lou Marzeles
Editor
An employee in the Klickitat County Prosecuting Attorney’s office claims that a deputy prosecutor in the office sexually harassed her, while the deputy prosecutor—also a candidate for Prosecuting Attorney—denies the charge.
Erin Gray, an administrative assistant in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office, submitted to The Sentinel a letter to the editor saying that Dave Brown, a deputy prosecuting attorney, had been investigated for sexual harassment. Given the nature of the letter’s content, the newspaper chose to contact both Gray and Brown rather than run the letter alone. Reached for comment, Brown stated, “I have never sexually harassed anyone.”
Gray’s letter read, “I want the public to be aware that while Dave Brown worked in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office as a deputy prosecuting attorney, he was investigated for sexual harassment against me.” Gray wrote that she turned Brown in more than a year ago for inappropriate behavior toward her, and she added in her letter that “there were at least two others who reported him for his behavior. He was talked to and then again around March [of this year], I turned him in again. He was investigated for sexual harassment through the county personnel department. I was told by the personnel department that Dave Brown would be reprimanded, but that they could not inform me of what that would be. Mr. Brown was not fired, but he has resigned.”
Tim O’Neill, Prosecuting Attorney, contacted regarding the matter, said he was unable to comment on it.
Brown said that as a deputy prosecuting attorney, “I’m a legal counsel for the county, and in that capacity I can’t comment on this.” He did add, however, that he never sexually harassed anyone and said, “I’ve never been reprimanded for sexual harassment.” In addition to his refutation of Gray’s comments, Brown said, “My concerns about the prosecuting attorney’s office led me to realize that I can’t work in that office climate.”
Brown’s last day in the Prosecuting Attorney’s office is today, July 14. He is a current candidate for the office of Prosecuting Attorney. Brown said his departure as a deputy prosecuting attorney primarily is to avoid a potential conflict with the Hatch Act, which prohibits a public employee whose salary is paid in part by federal funds from running for partisan office; Brown’s situation falls into that definition.
In an interview Tuesday, Gray said, “I have papers indicating that ‘personal action’ was taken against Dave Brown for ‘inappropriate behavior,’” qualifying her remarks in her letter that Brown was to be reprimanded for sexual harassment. “But the matter I brought to the personnel department was sexual harassment,” she said. “He’s very intimidating. I’m doing this because I feel people need to be aware of who he is. His behavior has affected my life, my home, and my work.”
City passes East Central Project reimbursement
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Non-agenda items dominated debate during last week’s Goldendale City Council meeting. The main issue, a resolution to reimburse the city for funds spent on the East Central Neighborhood Project, sailed through with no debate and all members voting yes. The resolution ensured that grant funds would reimburse city funds that are used to keep the construction project moving.
During department reports, Chief Rick Johnson turned over the floor to the City Fire Department for a discussion of the radio system. County-wide change to a narrow band system is ready to go, but Goldendale and Rural 7 have not made the necessary improvements to allow them to be part of the system. According to Chris Randall, two quotes have been obtained with the least expensive calling for $20,320 to make Goldendale compatible. It would include six truck radios and 15 portable radios plus supporting equipment and installation. Johnson requested authorization to pursue reallocation from public safety funds to make the purchase. Rural 7 was said to be prepared to follow suit with the city change. It is believed that ample funds are available in the public safety fund because funds were not used for the purchase of a truck when it was determined the city didn’t meet eligibility requirements for a grant that would have made the purchase possible.
In a separate fire department issue, the Chief informed the Council that they will pursue Council authorization to surplus the ladder truck which has not been operational for some time and would require a large cash outlay to upgrade the truck. There were no Council objections to either proposal.
City administrator, Larry Bellamy presented results of his inquiry regarding a general obligation bond. Two banks, Bank of America and Cashmere Valley Bank responded. Bellamy said his preference was to go with a fixed rate 4.9 percent 15 year obligation through Bank of America versus the 3.82 percent variable rate recalculated on five-year intervals from Cashmere Valley Bank. The Council agreed and will take up the issue at a future meeting. The next Council meeting is July 19 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
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