061621,,,R MACAFEE…Warren…06-16-21…Tribune Chronicle/Vindicator sports editor Greg Macafee…by R. Michael Semple

By now, everyone knows the total solar eclipse is taking place Monday. It will travel on a 110-mile-wide path that will stretch from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Newfoundland, Canada, and Trumbull County, along with a small part of Mahoning County, will be in the path of totality. Being that Ohio was last in the path of totality in 1806, and the state won’t be in it again until 2099, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, I can understand the excitement. The rarity of the event alone makes it exciting.

It’s possibly something you’ll only see once in your lifetime, unless you decide to travel, like many do, to see it again. So, the eruption of traffic and tourism that is about to hit the Mahoning Valley is no surprise to me and I’m truly happy that the area will have the opportunity to benefit from it. While some visitors may stay here overnight before heading to the Cleveland area, which is more in the path of totality, there are plenty of events that are going on throughout Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

Mollenkopf Stadium will have a viewing event. Foxconn is partnering with YSU’s Ward Beecher Planetarium to host an event in the Lordstown business’s parking lot. There also will be plenty of other happenings throughout the area as the total solar eclipse is set to take place about 3:15 p.m. and will last approximately four minutes, depending on where you are located.

The area is capitalizing, as it should. But, how excited is too excited for an event of this magnitude, which is also dependent on Mother Nature gracing us with a clear and sunny day?

Before we put together a total solar eclipse story package this past weekend, a lady by the name of Jayme Sandberg, who is from Lincoln, Nebraska, submitted a Letter to the Editor stating that the eclipse was something to be excited about.

She said she had never experienced one before 2017, so she was a little taken aback when people started flocking to her small and rural hometown. At first, she didn’t necessarily think that it would be worth the hype and I have somewhat of the same thought.

I’ve discussed it with coworkers and friends throughout this week and I simply can’t understand why something that only lasts about four minutes can be so exciting that it attracts visitors from all over the world. I can’t understand employees in the public sector being granted half days so they can view something that lasts about the same amount of time as a bathroom break.

The Cleveland Guardians are even pausing admittance to Progressive Field from 3:05 to 3:25 p.m. because of the eclipse. They are opening their gates at 2 p.m., so fans will still be able to watch the eclipse from inside the stadium if they get there early enough.

When the total solar eclipse does happen, I simply plan to look out the window at our offices in Warren with my eclipse glasses on and enjoy the experience. I don’t understand the excitement for the event, but maybe I’m wrong. Sandberg said she was.

She was so wrong in fact that she felt compelled to send us a letter stating just how cool the event was. In her letter, she wrote that she went from not being sure that she was going to cross the street to watch the event in 2017, to spending significant time and resources creating a “stellar” children’s picture book about it so parents like her and kids like hers wouldn’t miss it again.

So maybe my skepticism is misplaced. Honestly, I hope it is. I’ll just have to step outside Monday and find out for myself.

Have an interesting news story? Contact Greg Macafee by email at gmacafee@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @greg_macafee.