___________________________________________Astronews_____________________________________________________
LIGHT POLLUTION

The Ontario, Canada,  Provincial Government in July created de world's firts dark-sky preserve. The government imposed a "permanet blackout" within a remote public area in the south-central part of the province about 150 miles north of Toronto. The 4,900-acre, dark-sky preserve is part of the province's Torrance Barrens Conservation Reserve. The  Township of MUskoka Lake, a community southeast ofthe reserve, also has approved a pla to regulate development to control light pollution, and Gravenhurst, a larger city east of the unspoiled reserve, is studying similar controls.

Many applaud the effort to establish a dark oasis for amateur astronomers north of the Canada-United States border. "It's a acknowledgment by provincial and municipal government of the importnace of preserving the skies por future generations," says canadian astroinmager Jack Newton. "I hope we can use this initiative as a lever to enable more groups and individuals to encourage other government bodies to take similar action".

The Canadian government's decision came one month after voters in Springfield, Vermont, narrowly approved a plan to build a nearby 350-bed state prision. Amateurs asronomers say the prision's lights could hurt the nighttime views at Stellafane,  a hsitoric observatory and site of an annual telescope-making meeting and star party. In a September 14 revote, Springfield citizens again approved the prision plan 2,332 to 1,545.

The rugged Torrance Barrens area has granite outcrops, sparse vegetation, and stunted trees. "When you climb one of the outcrops, the view is clear from horizon to horizon," says Peter Goering. He and the Muskoka Heritage Fundation, of with he is a member, spearheaded the effort to save the reserve from light pollution.

"Ontario's Provincial Government was lloking at different ways to develop publicity owned lands. This included logging and mining", says Goering. "My wife and I have lived in the Muskoka lake area for 48 years, and we've watched the skies deteriorate."

Goering notes that the recent victory for amateur astronomers will be a holow one if the surrounding towns are unable to control light pollution. Goering and his colleagues vow to continue the fight to proyect the observer's paradise.