Our Organization,
Our Work and
Our Leaders
We Are Your Friends and Neighbors
What we do
We are concerned citizens who support advocacy, outreach and educational efforts in Hays County, Texas, to promote and encourage smarter lighting designed to improve visibility and safety at night, protect the natural night sky, and support individuals and communities in their efforts to receive recognition for their “dark sky” efforts. The heritage of star-filled nights has been taken away from us in many parts of our county.
Our organization works to engage the public and government officials to keep our night skies naturally dark and full of stars, to help fellow citizens reduce light pollution in our cities and towns. With our work, we aim to make lasting changes in the way we all think about outdoor lighting.
Our Members Make a Difference
Our Membership
We are all volunteers who care about our community and the quality of life here. We are committed to expanding the knowledge and awareness of good night sky practices. Our membership is composed of a diverse group of people who enjoy learning from one another as well as the knowledgeable experts who work with us. Many members focus on special projects while others spread the word to help friends, family and the community make smarter decisions. And, then there are those who get satisfaction simply by supporting our work through ongoing financial contributions. There is a place for everyone to play an important role.
Join us
Meet Our Board of Directors
Cindy Luongo Cassidy
Board Member
Cindy Luongo Cassidy is long-time advocate of better lights for better nights. She is President of the Board for Hays County Friends of the Night Sky, a leader of DarkSky Texas – the statewide Texas chapter of DarkSky International, and a founding member of the Hill Country Alliance Night Sky Team. She was the key player in positioning the City of Dripping Springs to receive the prestigious International Dark Sky Community designation, the first in Texas, and has assisted with other International Dark Sky Place applications.
In 2019, Cindy was awarded the Crawford-Hunter Award, the highest honor that DarkSky International bestows on individuals who, in the course of their lifetime, have contributed an extraordinary effort to light pollution abatement. Cassidy lives in Driftwood, Texas and was the creator of the hugely successful Texas Night Sky Festival®.
Soll Sussman
Board member
Soll Sussman is Managing Director of S Cubed Studio, a consulting firm that specializes in developing cross-border ties and partnerships related to energy and the environment in the United States and Mexico.
Prior to that he spent 21 years at the Texas General Land Office working with a variety of energy marketing, renewable energy, alternative fuels and border energy programs.
Soll spent nearly a decade working outside the United States as an international correspondent for The Associated Press. His last post was as A.P. bureau chief for Canada, based in Toronto. He was based in Mexico City for seven years, first as a regional correspondent and then for five years as A.P. news editor for Mexico and Central America. His domestic assignments for The Associated Press included Dallas, Austin, Washington and New York.
He has a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and lives in Driftwood.