Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Friday 28 July 2017
Businesses, cities cashing in on total solar eclipse crowds

By ADRIAN SAINZ cause eye damage. The
Associated Press only safe way is to protect
BARTLETT, Tenn. (AP) — Mil- your eyes with special filters
lions of eyes will be fixed on in glasses or other devices.
the sky when a total solar NASA lists four companies,
eclipse crosses the U.S. in including American Paper
August, and it’s likely many Optics, whose glasses meet
of them will be safely be- international standards.
hind the special glasses “It’s eye protection for en-
churned out by a Tennes- joyment,” said Jerit, whose
see company. main business is making 3-D
American Paper Optics glasses.
ramped up production for Besides retail outlets, the
this year’s eclipse and ex- company sells the glasses
pects to make 50 million to cities, universities and
paper and plastic eclipse space-related entities like
glasses. NASA and the Adventure
John Jerit, the company’s Science Center in Nash-
CEO and president, said ville. Some are custom-
they began preparing designed, like the ones
about two years ago. Dur- for St. Jude Children’s Re-
ing his almost 27 years mak- In this May 20, 2012, file photo, the annular solar eclipse is seen as the sun sets behind the Rocky search Hospital which are
ing safety glasses, he’s only Mountains from downtown Denver. decorated with children’s
seen one total solar eclipse, Associated Press drawings. Under the wacky
in France in 1999, but will be name “Total Eclipse of the glasses, posters and blue phenomenal,” she said. category: glasses to make
going to Nashville for this Arts” is scheduled on the and yellow T-shirts deco- “It’s just blown our minds.” the wearer look like an as-
one. weekend leading up to the rated with a drawing of the At the Tennessee factory, a tronaut, space cowboy or
“It’s a life experience,” Jerit eclipse on Monday, Aug. city’s skyline and an iconic constant whirring sound fills a green alien.
said during an interview at 21. railroad bridge, and with the factory as large sheets Green Acres farm near
his company’s office in the of paper are fed into ma- Casper, Wyoming, is one of
Memphis suburb of Bartlett. chines. the many farms and parks
“When that two minutes One cuts out the eyeholes welcoming eclipse watch-
is over, or however long in the pre-printed frames, ers. The farm, which nor-
you’ve got, the question another inserts the protec- mally features a corn maze
that you really want to hear tive film lenses. Then the and other children’s activi-
is, ‘When is the next one?’” glasses are punched out of ties, has been turned into
His company is one of the sheets and packaged. a campground with 300
many businesses — hotels, About 50,000 glasses can campsites in prime eclipse
campgrounds and stores roll off the assembly line per viewing territory.
— taking advantage of the hour, Jerit said. Paper glass- “We have people com-
total solar eclipse — when es cost about 20 to 25 cents ing from Australia, Belgium,
the moon passes between to make, and they are sold several from Canada. I
Earth and the sun. The to distributors for about have a guy from England
moon’s shadow will fall in a 45 cents, but prices vary coming that’s seen 17
diagonal ribbon across the depending on order size. eclipses,” said manager
U.S., from Oregon to South They’re sold retail for about Dwain Romsa.
Carolina. $2. The plastic versions are “We’re a little more re-
The rest of the U.S. will ex- about $15. mote than some areas. It
perience a partial eclipse, Staring at the sun during an takes more effort to travel
along with Canada, Cen- eclipse — or anytime — can here.”q
tral America and a bit of
South America.
Cities and towns along the
path of totality — where
there will be about 2 ½
minutes of darkness — are
gearing up for the crowds.
St. Joseph, Missouri, popu-
lation 76,000, is in a prime A display holds solar eclipse glasses in the American Paper
location and officials are Optics factory in Bartlett, Tenn., on Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
bracing for tens of thou- Associated Press
sands of eclipse watchers
to descend on the city,
said Beth Conway, spokes- “This is essentially our Su- the slogan “Right in the
woman for the St. Joseph per Bowl,” Conway said. Middle of it All.”
Convention & Visitors Bu- “If we see anywhere near Conway said a benefac-
reau. the amount of people tor donated 100,000 safety
The city’s restaurants, gas that they’re telling us, it will glasses designed for the
stations and stores are pre- probably be the biggest city and proceeds are go- American Paper Optics President and CEO John Jerit looks at a
paring for the onslaught — event in our history.” ing to local museums and display of solar eclipse glasses in Bartlett, Tenn., on Wednesday,
the city’s largest arts and The city has gotten into the charities. June 21, 2017. Associated Press
music festival with the nick- act as well, selling eclipse Sales have been “amazing,