The Red Sox collapsed on the diamond. Wait until next year.

            The Patriots don’t look so hot. Wait until next year.

            I missed Halloween! How did I miss it. I guess I’ll have to wait until next year.

            How did I miss Halloween? It just came and went, disappeared like a ghost in the night. I guess I have been so engrossed in current events or wondering when we will change the clocks back (missed that too), or if I’ll get to see the Northern Lights someday (missed that too). I just completely forgot about the holiday. How is that even possible? Maybe it skipped my mind because it is not even an official holiday.

            Surely there were giant skeletons in people’s front lawns. I didn’t notice a single one. How could I have not noticed the jack-o-lanterns on neighbors’ front steps? I did!

            No kids came to the door to trick-or-treat, probably because we live on a dark, isolated street. They must all have been marching in the town’s annual Halloween parade. My dad used to bang the big base drum to lead the parade when I was a kid. How on Earth could I not remember Halloween was in October?

            The only time I recall wearing a costume was in 1957 during the town’s centennial parade. Dad and I dressed as hobo-clowns tossing lollypops to kids from the back of a Model T Ford truck. Oh well. I guess I’ll just have to wait until next year to don my ghost sheet with the holes poked in it for eyes, ask my bride to wear her witch hat, and play spooky music.

            Truth be told, I have never been a big fan of Halloween. When we moved into our first house, we bought a couple of small bags of candy expecting to get 15 or 20 kids. Boy were we surprised! We got over 300 little gremlins knocking at our door. Ghosts and goblins, monsters, superheroes, and high school kids with no costumes at all. Parents drove their kids into our neighborhood from other nearby towns. Of course, we ran out of candy. I think we gave out grapes or Ritz crackers or something. I forget.

            When our kids came along, we went all out. The missus made beautiful, elaborate costumes: Robin Hood, Snow White, a pirate, a princess. Once, our neighbor threw a costume party on Halloween. I went as Annette Funicello, the Mouseketeer. That was a scary sight!

            When I was a high school teacher, all the faculty including the administrators would dress up in costume. One year I was a demented doctor; electric wig, white coat, stethoscope and all, marching around the halls with our classroom skeleton shouting “make way, a former student passing through.” Another year, I was a British judge with a powdered wig and black robe. The principal thought I was a graduating student. (He was Kermit the Frog. Think about that for a minute). One colleague even came to school dressed as me. That was spooky!

            Just like the Red Sox and Patriots, I guess I’ll have to wait until next year.

            Hope I don’t miss Christmas.

            Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado

            Are you seeing fewer stars, starry nights, shooting stars, meteor showers, or satellites? In the August 10 issue of the Boston Globe, it was reported that we are coming to the end of our “starry nights’ due to light pollution and the recent failure of the Massachusetts Legislature to pass a bill that would regulate light pollution; the only New England state that has not taken that step.

            What is light pollution? Human made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. This disrupts wildlife migration, human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the universe according to DarkSky International. Too often our outdoor lighting installations are exceedingly bright, left on when not needed, and are harmful to the environment and humans. The ecological effects of artificial light have been well documented. DarkSky estimates that at least 30% of all outdoor lighting in the U.S alone is wasted, mostly by lights that aren’t shielded. That adds up to $3.3 million and the release of 21 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, contributing to global warming.

            It has been shown to affect both flora and fauna. For instance, prolonged exposure to artificial light prevents many trees from adjusting to seasonal variations, according to Winslow Briggs’s chapter on plant responses in the 2006 book Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting. This, in turn, has implications for the wildlife that depend on trees for their natural habitat. Research on insects, turtles, birds, fish, reptiles, and other wildlife species shows that light pollution can alter behaviors, foraging areas, and breeding cycles. In humans, it can disrupt sleep patterns by impacting melatonin secretion, which can increase the risk of health issues like obesity, depression, and high blood pressure. Bright light can also strain the eyes, causing headaches and migraines. Light pollution along with other environmental factors can contribute to cataracts.

             The article in the Boston Globe reminded me of my retirement trip to five National Parks in 2019, two of which provided education regarding our night sky. Rangers led us to places that had very little to no artificial light and the night skies were magnificent with the view of the galaxy. We are losing those views due to light pollution. I had never heard of this issue before that trip.

            What can be done? Light pollution affects every citizen. Fortunately, awareness and concern about light pollution is rising dramatically. A growing number of scientists, homeowners, environmental groups and civic leaders are taking action to restore the natural night sky. The good news is that light pollution is reversible and each one of us can make a difference. Just being aware that light pollution is a problem is not enough. We need to take action.

            The first thing to do is assess your own outdoor home lighting. You may be unknowingly contributing to light pollution and the disruption of wildlife while wasting energy and costing money. Did you know that 20% to 50% of outdoor residential lighting goes directly into the sky and contributes to light pollution due to poor shielding? Lighting should be directed to the ground using shields or fixtures that do not point up to the sky. The illustration below shows which lighting fixtures are best.

            According to the Mattapoisett Town Administrator’s office, we do not have any light pollution regulations in the town. LED lights were installed in town several years ago and are positioned to focus downward or have a shade to focus the light downward if there have been complaints. I am not aware of the Kelvin rating. Drive around town and notice what you see.

            Learn more by exploring DarkSky International’s website. They have a significant amount of information on their site and sponsor events including a 24 hour Zoom event “Under One Sky” beginning 3:00 pm November 8 to November 9. They also maintain a searchable database of lighting products and retailers. I am still learning about the dark sky and have a lot more to learn. I am making the move to change my fixtures and keeping my outdoor lights off at night.

            Submitted by Mattapoisett resident Lynne B. Markinac