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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 14, 2017
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 14, 2017
WAITING FOR DARKNESS: the Eclipse of Polk County 2017
Organizations, cities and businesses have
You have your spot chosen. You have the camera ready.
been meeting for months — some as early
When the eclipse arrives, you can simply look to the sky, right?
Baily’s
as 2015 — in anticipation of the Great
Wrong. Doing so could have dire consequences. It’s never safe to look directly
American Eclipse. The event is a once-in-a-lifetime for many,
Beads
–
the
effect
of
at the sun. Unfiltered sunlight will damage eyes and could cause permanent
and certainly for those living in Polk County.
blindness. Just because there will be an eclipse doesn’t change that fact.
sunlight shining on the moon’s
It gives us a chance to see a rare celestial event literally
from our own backyard.
Normal sunglasses will not provide sufficient protection. To view the
terrain just before and after totality in a total
Because we have such a good view with historically
eclipse safely, use only approved solar filters (“eclipse glasses” or
solar eclipse, creating bright points of light at the
clear skies, chances are good that we will be joined by
welders’ goggles rated 14 or higher). Don’t have either one? Eclipse
many visitors from around the state — and the world
edge
of
the
moon’s
disk.
Corona
–
the
outer
glasses will likely be widely available in the months
–— to take in the view. While it’s difficult to impossi-
leading up to the eclipse. But if
ble to know how many people will come, Travel
atmosphere of the sun that is visible during a total eclipse
Salem has estimated tens of thousands of tourists
you don’t there are other
as a white ring around the sun. Diamond ring – A burst of
to the Marion-Polk area.
ways to view the eclipse.
Polk County vineyards are planning large
sunlight that shines like a diamond on a ring, seen right before
Telescopes, cameras and
public and private parties for the event. Cities
totality
begins
and
as
it
ends.
First
contract
–
When
the
partial
binoculars with approved
are deciding how best to use public spaces to
solar filters can be used to
accommodate tourists the week before the
phase of the eclipse begins. Penumbra – The lighter part of the
eclipse as well as the weekend of the eclipse.
safely view the big event.
moon’s shadow. We stand in the moon’s penumbral shadow
Businesses are coming together to discuss how
A pinhole project (a card
best to provide services to out-of-towners as
during the partial phases of a solar eclipse. Shadow bands –
with a small hole punched
well as make a few extra bucks.
in
it will project an image of
Faint,
wavy
bands
caused
by
the
bending
of
light
in
the
Earth’s
The opportunity for an economic boost is
the
sun) can also be utilized.
palpable and exciting — but it’s difficult to tell
atmosphere that move across the ground right before and after
how real it is. Understandably, events being
totality. Totality – When the moon completely blocks the sun
planned around the Great American Eclipse are
at different stages: How much time, effort and
from view and casts a shadow on the Earth. Umbra – the
money should go into getting ready for an event
darkest part of the moon’s shadow, seen when the moon
that will take less than 2 minutes?
Help keep roads clear. Staying off the roads helps emergency vehicles get through. Ride your
We have compiled what we know about events
completely obscures the sun during a total solar
bicycle when possible. Travel with friends. Joining friends and family for the trip to totality will
happening in Polk County. Some of these events
eclipse. Umbraphile – A person who loves
reduce the number of cars on the road. Find carpool information at www.drivelessconnect.com.
should be booked now if you’re interested in going
Meet your needs in advance.Take care of those errands before Aug. 21. Limit your trips in the
— we expect them to sell out soon. Some haven’t
eclipses and will travel anywhere to see
days immediately around the eclipse to help keep roads clear. Be prepared. If you’re traveling,
completely materialized, while others have a few
them. Source: “The Big Eclipse”
plan for basic needs such as food, water and bathroom breaks. Expect traffic changes.
kinks and fine tuning to work out still.
Communities may close streets to through traffic or ban left or right turns to keep traffic moving,
The Itemizer-Observer will publish a special sou-
by
Nancy
Coffelt.
especially around large events. Caution friends and family: If visitors are coming, warn them
venir edition to honor the Great American Eclipse,
to arrive early, stay put during the eclipse, and leave late afterwards so everyone doesn’t jump
available at the Polk County Fair on Aug. 10 through
on the highways at once. Consider working from home. Consider adjusting your work
12, which will have more details about events in the
schedule in the days around the eclipse. To help alleviate congestion on the roads, Oregon
area. Our reporters and staff will be scattered
Department of Transportation will stop all construction and non-emergency maintenance on
throughout Polk County on the morning of Aug. 21
state highways in the path of totality on Aug. 18-22, when eclipse watchers are here.
to tell the story of the eclipse, with special coverage
available on Aug. 23 in the newspaper.
If you are planning an event for the Great Ameri-
can Eclipse, let us know by sending an email to
ionews@polkio.com, with Eclipse in the subject line.
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
ECLIPSE TRAVEL TIPS FROM THE ODOT
MANY WAITING YEARS for these few dark moments
On Feb. 26, 1979, it was overcast in the Pacific North-
west. That was the last time a total solar eclipse dark-
ened the skies over Oregon.
It was visible in total in Northern Oregon, Southern
Washington and parts of Idaho, Montana, North
Dakota and Canada. Totality in the Portland area was
around 8:15 a.m.
Salem resident Nick Liepins said “druids” enhanced
his viewing experience of the 1979 solar eclipse.
He watched and took photos of the event in Wash-
ington, just across the Columbia River from Biggs, Ore.
He took photos at Stonehenge replica where a pagan
group was gathered to watch and celebrate the eclipse.
It was cloudy there just moments before the eclipse.
Whether it be coincidence or spiritual intervention,
Liepins said the sky cleared as the groups chants got
louder and he could see and photograph the eclipse
without cloud cover.
Dallas Kids Inc will
be celebrating the
solar eclipse with a
Dunk Tank and
Bounce House
Roger Jordan Park
August 19 - 20
Saturday 10-6
Sunday 9-5
Come down and
support youth
sports and have
some fun!
Nancy Coffelt, then living in Tigard, was in still in
high school.
Coffelt describes herself as a “kind of a science
geek,” so the rare total eclipse held a fascination for
her.
“I know it was a school day, I was a senior in high
school, but I don’t remember if I had permission to
skip or not,” Coffelt said.
Overcast skies did take took some of the visual spec-
tacle out of the eclipse, but Coffelt still was impressed.
During an eclipse, as the sky darkens, the temperature
drops, and animals behave as if the sun is going down.
“It did get noticeably darker,” she said. “Since it was
February, it was already kind of chilly, so I don’t re-
member much of a temperature drop. But the birds
did get quiet. That was very cool… I remember that it
looked like what the sky looked like just before sunrise
– a kind of dark silver.”
Pat Jarrott was climbing to 14,000 feet during the
last total solar eclipse seen in the Willamette Valley.
Jarrott was flying small airplane on the morning of
Feb. 26, 1979. He and a photographer friend planned
for an aerial view of the eclipse to avoid the cloud
cover that threatened to block it for ground locations.
He flew around until he found a break in the clouds
over Forest Grove.
Jarrott, of Keizer, had a camera, but had to pilot the
plane, so his friend would adjust the settings of the
camera for him to shoot without looking.
“It was fun and hectic for a few minutes,” Jarrott
said.
Monmouth resident David Kasnick was 14 in 1979
and watched the eclipse from an observatory in Gold-
endale, Washington along with many other astronomy
enthusiasts. Partly cloudy skies that morning, didn’t
allow him to see the entire event. It was still an experi-
ence that began a lifelong interest in sky watching and
eclipses.
He said Oregonians should feel fortunate that solar
eclipses 38 years apart have tracked over Oregon.
“I feel pretty lucky,” he said.
Witnessing the eclipse made a lasting impression for
Coffelt, too.
“I was awestruck,” she said. “It changed how I looked
at the world around me – the universe around me,”
Coffelt said. “It sparked a love of space science that in-
cluded writing about space.”
Coffelt is the author and illustrator of children’s
space-themed books “Dogs in Space,” published in
1993 and the 1999 follow-up “Dogs in Space, the Great
Space Doghouse.”
Coffelt teamed up with Elaine Cuyler, the “chief
eclipse officer” who is promoting the upcoming the
Aug. 21 eclipse in the regions of the country on the
path of totality. They published a Coffelt’s third chil-
dren’s science book, “The Big Eclipse.”
Those who witnessed the 1979 eclipse are eager to
see what Aug. 21 has in store.
Coffelt is looking forward to seeing the eclipse from
a hilltop in her hometown of Baker City, which is on
the path of totality. The stronger possibility of clear
skies in eastern Oregon gives her a chance to see what
she missed during the 1979 eclipse.
“I look forward to seeing the sun disappear and the
diamond ring effect just before totality,” she said.
Jarrott will be on the ground this time, watching
from his home in Keizer. Kasnick is hoping for good
conditions.
“Whatever god you believe in, pray for clear skies,”
he said.
Liepins be watching and taking pictures and video
on Aug. 21 from his backyard observatory and thought
if the druid chants worked once, they might work a
second time.
“I’m looking around for some of them to help with
the weather in August,” he said.
‘Dark Side of the Moon’ in Monmouth
Monmouth will be celebrating with a concert fit
for a solar eclipse, “The Dark Side of the Moon” on
Sunday evening to put everyone in the spirit for
the big event the next day. Monmouth Business
Association and the city of Monmouth
are presenting the outdoor concert at
the Main Street Park Amphitheater. Pink
Floyd tribute band Pigs on the Wing will
play Dark Side of the Moon in its
entirety – plus other Pink Floyd
favorites.
The concert is free.
Indy ready to ‘Go Dark’
The city of Independence is ready
to host as many visitors and residents as can
be packed into the downtown area with its Indy
Goes Dark Eclipse Festival, Aug. 17 through 21.
Grab your blanket and head out to the Riverview
Park to kick off the five-day festival on Aug. 17 and
enjoy a space-themed movie for free.
On Aug. 18, the concert in the park featuring
Aeromyth Pump, an Aerosmith tribute band.
Aug. 19, Indy Goes Dark will feature a Food Truck
and Brew Fest, offering beer and cider from 20
different brewers and cider houses from all over
Oregon. A 5-kilometer fun run, sponsored by
Monmouth-Independence Networks, will raise
money for AED devices for places who need them.
Live concerts will be throughout the day, ending
with Pyromania, a Def Leppard tribute band.
Additionally, there will be inflatables, science
demonstrations, interactive shows and telescopes.
Fireworks will light up the sky after dark.
Sunday, you can start the morning with a bike
ride through Polk County, or yoga in Riverview
Park. Food trucks will open again at 12:30 p.m. Live
shows, science demonstrations and an evening
concert also dot the schedule, topped with more
fireworks.
Sunday evening, a pay-to-play special edition
Ghost Walk will be offered at three times: 5, 6 and
7 p.m. The walk will cost $10 for adults.
Monday, Aug. 21, breakfast will be available for
purchase in the park. Dr. Shimizu from Western
Oregon University will explain the total solar
eclipse at first contact. A post-eclipse concert will
wrap up the event and keep people entertained
while waiting for traffic to clear a bit.
For information: independencegoesdark.com.
Dallas Eclipse on the Square
Dallas Eclipse Celebration on the Square will be
from Aug. 18 to eclipse day Aug. 21, hosted by the
Dallas Downtown Association, Dallas Area Visitors
Center, Pressed Coffee & Wine Bar, Dallas Arts
Association, the city of Dallas, and other
downtown businesses.
The kickoff party is Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. when
vendor and food booths open downtown. Live
music begins at 8 p.m. with Barracuda, All Fired
Up and Madd Company (Heart, Pat Benatar, and
Bad Company cover bands). Food vendors and
wine and beer garden are open until 1 a.m.
Aug. 19 and 20, the festival opens at 10 a.m.
with vendors and daytime music. Pigs on the
Wing (Pink Floyd cover band) plays at 8 p.m. on
Aug. 19. Aug. 20, Steelhorse and Jukebox Heroes
(Bon Jovi and Foreigner) are featured starting at
8 p.m. Food vendors and wine and beer garden
are open until 1 a.m. both nights.
On eclipse day, Jan Looking Wolf Band of
Brothers will play from the roof of Pressed Coffee
& Wine bar starting at 8 a.m. Vendors, food
vendors and beer/wine garden open until 2 p.m.
For information: https://dallaseclipse2017.com/.
Falls City joins the eclipse party
Details are still being hammered out, but Falls
City is planning an event for the morning of Aug.
21. Organizer Laurie Britton said the plan is to
shut down Third Street and hold a community
breakfast starting at 6 a.m. and eclipse watching
gathering continuing through the morning.
Viewing glasses will be available.
The event concludes at noon.
Custom & Copywrited
ECLIPSE ORNAMENT
SPECIALS
All Weekend!
Genuine Solid Brass
Phone Orders $10 each
Call Elaine Ginter 360-508-5646
Mail Orders 2 for $23
includes shipping & handling
170 E. Ellendale Ave, Dallas
Send order & payment to:
Elaine Ginter
PO Box 912
Dallas, OR 97338
Reservations: 503-623-4494
RV and Tent
Campsites Available
in Dallas, Oregon!
Dark Side of the Moon
“The Great Eclipse Concert”
Pink Floyd Tribute Band:
Join Us for the Eclipse!
Presented
by
Celebration!
Sunday, August 20th
8 pm - 10 pm
• Small town hospitality
• July 21-22 Citywide
Garage Sale/Swap Meet
• Largest 4th of July
Fireworks Show
in West Valley Area
Beer • Wine • Food
Free and Open to Public
Main Street Park Amphitheater
Monmouth, OR
Celebrating 26 Years
Coastal Hills Art Tour &
Quilt Sale Nov 10 & 11, 2017
WillaminaOregon.gov
Sponsored by Economic Improvement
District (EID and City of Willamina
Bring blankets, chairs and your
enthusiasm for good music!
RV and tent campsites are available to rent for the weekend of Saturday, August 19th
through Monday, August 21st. The sites will rent for $300 for the weekend for RV sites
and $250 for the tent sites. RV sites are 40’ x 80’ and tent sites are 40’ x 40’.
Parking space on your camp site is available for up to two cars.
Our location is; Trinity Lutheran Church, 320 Fir Villa Rd, Dallas, Oregon.
• Excellent clear view of the eclipse
• Free commemorative eclipse
viewing glasses (two per site)
are provided
• Easy access for RVs
• Clean indoor restroom facilities
• Playground area for children
on site
Reserve your site today as sites are limited.
Go to dallastlc.org/eclipse to make your
reservation and answer your questions
about hookups, pets and length of stay.
If you have more questions, please send
an email to dallaseclipse@gmail.com
or call 1-503-623-2233.
Welcome to Dallas, Oregon!
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