If you have driven by Blanco’s Dairy Queen after sunset recently you may have noticed something that isn’t there anymore – bright lights on the roof. Early in September, a group of Blanco area citizens teamed up with Dairy Queen management to replace the plastic surrounds on five “barn lights” that previously illuminated the building.

The former plastic surrounds, typical of this type of outdoor lighting fixture, were replaced with aluminum light shields. These shields keep the light from the fixtures directed down to the ground where it is needed rather than escaping over the horizon. This simple modification helps reduce Blanco’s sky glow and aids in preserving the dark skies that have long been a part of the city’s rural heritage

“We were happy to help,” said Wade Pooser, manager of the Blanco DQ,” Dairy Queen has always supported the welfare and quality of life of the communities in which we do business. Shielding our lighting fixtures so we don’t pollute the sky with excess light is just one more way we support the Blanco community and we were glad to do it.”

For information on where to obtain these $28 light shields or on light pollution issues in general, contact Wayne Gosnell, 830-833-0586; GosnellTexas@Gmail.com.