West Cleveland News

The Avon Local School District has announced that schools will be closed for the 2024 total eclipse, which is set to occur on Monday with Avon at its epicenter.

In a press release, the school district described the spectacle: "For a brief but incredible moment you will see the moon gradually slide in front of the sun, reducing it to a thin crescent and then blotting the sun out altogether."

According to the same press release, a total eclipse is an infrequent event. The last one visible in Ohio occurred in 1806. The next opportunity for residents of Avon to witness such an event will not come until 2099. As a result of this rarity, an increase in traffic is expected in Avon and surrounding areas.

In order to safely view the eclipse, specialized eye protection is necessary. The school district's press release also mentioned that NASA provides additional information about the eclipse online at https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when.

The school district has also made provisions for parking reservations at various locations within its jurisdiction for observing the eclipse. According to their statement, these include Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet Stadium (supporting Avon Football), Avon Heritage Elementary (supporting the school and its eSports), Avon Middle School (supporting its track and field program), and Avon High School (supporting the Avon Band and Orchestra Boosters). The cost per vehicle is $35, which will rise by $15 on April 8. Concession stands will be available in these lots, which are scheduled to open at 7 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

The partial eclipse is slated to begin around 1:45 p.m., ending at approximately 4:30 p.m., as per information from the school district's press release. The full eclipse is estimated to occur between 3:10 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. Eclipse glasses, essential for safe viewing, are available for purchase for those buying parking passes at $2 in advance and $4 on Monday. These glasses can be collected when checking in for parking.