On October 24, 2009, Dennis was the Grand Marshal for the 44th Annual Borrego Days Desert Festival in Borrego Springs, California.  This year's theme was Starry Starry Nights.  To see images, click here.  To hear a podcast of the ceremony designating Borrego Springs as California's first International Dark Sky Community, click here.

On July 31, 2009, Borrego Springs was designated California's first International Dark Sky Community by the International Dark-Sky Association.  This certification recognizes an exceptional commitment to dark sky protection and restoration throughout the community, long a haven for stargazers.  In 2003, Borrego Springs was rated in by USA Today as one of the
top ten stargazing locations in the nation.  To hear a podcast of the October 24, 2009 ceremony designating Borrego Springs as California's first International Dark Sky Community, click here.