The night sky, with its twinkling stars and captivating moon, holds an age-old allure for humanity. For centuries, people have gazed up at the vast expanse above, pondering the mysteries of the universe. However, the night sky also carries with it a certain curse. In modern society, the curse of the night sky is manifesting as light pollution. As cities grow and develop, the bright lights of buildings, street lamps, and advertisements combine to create a glowing haze that obscures the stars. Many urban dwellers have never experienced the true darkness of a pristine night sky, and it is a loss that is difficult to quantify.
“I asked after the concert if there was anything I could help carry. He answered, ‘Well, you can carry me.’ So I did, all the way up the stairs. Of course, he had to come right back down to get the equipment and carry it himself,” Hanenkrat said.
I worked here when Magic Mugs first opened 3 1 2 years ago, and when Lee posted that the business was for sale, my mom sent us a message and asked if we would like to move back home if they helped us buy the coffee shop, and we were excited about that right away. We are in brainstorming and training mode of course, but we plan to add a lot more food to the menu and bring some live performers in, Hanenkrat said.
Many urban dwellers have never experienced the true darkness of a pristine night sky, and it is a loss that is difficult to quantify. The consequences of light pollution are far-reaching. For one, it impacts the environment and wildlife.
New owners bring their own magic to Magic Mugs
Chloe Hanenkrat and Derek Morgan plan to keep the best of Magic Mugs while adding new specialty items and creating a space to relax and enjoy live music.
When Lee and Shelly Beitzel opened Magic Mugs in downtown Dover just three years ago, they couldn’t have realized they would face so many unexpected challenges, not least of which was a global pandemic.
The coffee shop was successful nonetheless and has now been passed to a new pair of owners, Chloe Hanenkrat and Derek Morgan. They bring plenty of experience to their new business, and Magic Mugs has continued the steady traffic that has been the norm since the beginning.
“We started Oct. 1 with a sort of soft opening, then opened fully the following Monday,” Hanenkrat said. “Lee and Shelly really set us up for infinite success. They made sure things were fully stocked. They made sure their regular customers knew about the transition and were excited, so it was really seamless.”
“We’ve both worked in coffee shops for years,” Morgan said. “I have to say there have been no real surprises. It’s gone very smoothly.”
The couple met three years ago and have lived in several cities since.
“Having a coffee shop has been the plan since the beginning after we met,” Hanenkrat said. “I worked here when Magic Mugs first opened 3 1/2 years ago, and when Lee posted that the business was for sale, my mom sent us a message and asked if we would like to move back home if they helped us buy the coffee shop, and we were excited about that right away. I really didn’t want to see it go to a new owner who would get rid of the magic of the place.”
The pair have been planning to bring their own magic to Magic Mugs, with lots of plans for additions and expansions. “We are in brainstorming and training mode of course, but we plan to add a lot more food to the menu and bring some live performers in,” Hanenkrat said.
“Yes, we’ll definitely want to add music. That is one of my own main focuses is to bring live music to Magic Mugs, and that can be shows with touring bands and local musicians,” Morgan said, “but also do live sessions which would go to a YouTube channel. We definitely want to be a place for artists to come.”
“We love the specialty drinks that have been here all along, and we are keeping those,” Hanenkrat said, “and we are also starting to work on our own specialty offerings. We want to add a panini menu, and we’re looking into getting a license so we can have special events with beer and wine a couple times a month. We want to create a brunch menu and add that. We both served as bartenders for brunch offerings so that’s something we’re excited about doing. We’re starting slow with soups and sandwiches, but we have capacity to add more.”
“We’ll start small and build from there. We’re here to stay and want to get things running to their full potential,” Morgan said.
The couple met in Akron when Morgan was playing with a band there while living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hanenkrat is a Dover native while Morgan grew up in the Toledo area. Finding each other on social media after a brief introduction, they began dating.
“I asked after the concert if there was anything I could help carry. He answered, ‘Well, you can carry me.’ So I did, all the way up the stairs. Of course, he had to come right back down to get the equipment and carry it himself,” Hanenkrat said.
Meanwhile, the interior space at Magic Mugs is getting a little tweaking. “We spotted a couple of couches, one of which we are having reupholstered. It’s straight out of the ‘60s,” Hanenkrat said. “We want to add more comfy seating and have a bookshelf in one corner. We definitely want it to be a place where you want to come and hang out and relax a little.”
Magic Mugs is at 237 W. Third St. in Dover and on Facebook.
The couple met in Akron when Morgan was playing with a band there while living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hanenkrat is a Dover native while Morgan grew up in the Toledo area. Finding each other on social media after a brief introduction, they began dating.
Nocturnal creatures, such as birds and bats, rely on darkness for navigation and feeding. Bright lights confuse their senses, leading to disorientation and disrupted hunting patterns. In addition, light pollution disrupts ecosystems by affecting the natural balance of day and night and interference in the reproduction process of certain species. Moreover, the curse of the night sky extends beyond the realm of nature and reaches into our own lives. Exposure to artificial light at night can disturb our sleep patterns and disrupt circadian rhythms. The natural progression from daytime to nighttime, which once allowed our bodies to prepare for rest, is now distorted by the constant glow of screens and city lights. This interference with our sleep has been linked to various health issues, including insomnia, depression, and cardiovascular problems. Furthermore, light pollution obscures our view of the universe, robbing us of the opportunity to contemplate our place in the cosmos. The stars and celestial bodies that once inspired awe and wonder are increasingly indiscernible behind a veil of artificial illumination. This loss of connection with the night sky diminishes our understanding of our place in the universe and our appreciation for the beauty and vastness of space. In order to combat the curse of the night sky, efforts to reduce light pollution are crucial. This could include using low-intensity lighting in outdoor areas, shielding lights to direct them downward, and raising awareness about the negative effects of excessive artificial light at night. By taking steps to preserve the darkness of the night sky, we can reconnect with nature, protect our own well-being, and restore the sense of marvel and mystery that the night sky has offered humanity for countless generations..
Reviews for "Seeking Redemption from the Curse of the Night Sky"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I really wanted to like this book, but I found it to be extremely slow-paced and confusing. The plot seemed to drag on forever and the characters were not well-developed. I couldn't connect with any of them and it made it really hard for me to stay engaged in the story. Overall, I was disappointed with "Curse of the night sky" and wouldn't recommend it.
- Mark - 1 star - This book was a total waste of my time. The writing was disjointed and confusing, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The characters were flat and lacked depth, and I found it hard to care about what happened to them. Additionally, the ending was incredibly unsatisfying and left me feeling frustrated. I regret reading "Curse of the night sky" and would not recommend it to anyone.
- Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Curse of the night sky" but it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow and the story didn't hold my interest. The characters were one-dimensional and their actions often seemed forced and unrealistic. I couldn't find any redeeming qualities in this book and it left me feeling disappointed. Overall, I wouldn't recommend "Curse of the night sky" to anyone looking for an engaging and well-written story.
- Alex - 1 star - I found "Curse of the night sky" to be a complete letdown. The writing was average at best and the plot was predictable and cliché. The dialogue felt forced and unrealistic, and the characters were forgettable. I had high hopes for this book but it failed to deliver anything memorable or captivating. I would not recommend "Curse of the night sky" to anyone in search of a good read.