Easton business owners donate telescope to Nurture Nature Center in father’s memory

EASTON, Pa. — A telescope that once sat quietly in a bedroom corner in Lewistown has found a new purpose at the Nurture Nature Center, where it will help community members explore the night sky.

Tony Austin and Aaron Coleman, owners of Platinum Star Cleaning in Easton, donated an Orion SkyQuest Telescope to the nature center in memory of Austin’s father, Brian M. Austin Sr., who died from colon cancer in November 2019.

“This telescope meant a lot to my dad,” Austin said. “He loved stargazing and passed that fascination on to me. After he passed, my mom didn’t know what to do with it. It sat quietly in the corner of a room—until recently when she mentioned it during a visit. That’s when Aaron and I both had a lightbulb moment.”

The couple lives and operates their business on Northampton Street, steps from the Nurture Nature Center at 518 Northampton Street. The center hosts Star Party events at Scott Park, including public stargazing and planetary observation programs.

“We immediately thought of Nurture Nature Center and their telescope events,” Coleman said. “What better way to honor Brian’s memory than by sharing his love for the night sky with the entire Easton community?”

Austin’s mother, Jeannie Austin, supported the donation. A plaque on the telescope reads: “Donated to Nurture Nature Center In Memory of Brian M. Austin Sr.”

“The telescope found its new home,” Jeannie Austin said. “I’m so happy to know it will be used by so many others, especially kids, to experience the same wonder Brian did when he looked at the stars.”

The telescope will be used at the center’s upcoming International Observe the Moon Night on Saturday, October 4, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Scott Park. The free event features guided telescope viewing of the moon, stars, and planets, including Jupiter.

Jeff Mucklin, senior educator at the center, called the donation “more than just a donation—it’s a legacy.”

“It’s a touching example of how personal history and community enrichment can come together,” Mucklin said. “We are incredibly grateful to Tony, Aaron, and the Austin family.”

The Nurture Nature Center, founded in 2007, was initially established in response to flooding in the Delaware River Basin and has since evolved into a nationally recognized hub for environmental education.

The center is currently constructing a 75-seat Earth & Sky Dome immersive theater that offers experiences of space, Earth, and culture.

Those interested in the October 4 event can register online or email [email protected].

Attendance is weather permitting.