Certification of the two towns has increased economic activity in Valley by at least $100,000 in 2018 What are the impacts of Dark Skies on the community here in the Valley? That question has defined the rapid growth and popularity of the local chapter of the Dark Skies organization since the towns of Westcliffe and Silver Cliff became certified by the International Dark Sky organization several years ago. But what measure, if any, should be used to define the impact of the Dark Skies certification? The Dark Skies organization became controversial when it tried to start a long process with the county to make Custer County a certified Dark Skies Reserve, mimicking the process it had used to certify the two towns. That process consisted…