Better get those eclipse glasses soon

Craig Fox, Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
·2 min read

Mar. 28—WATERTOWN — Those solar glasses for the April 8 eclipse are becoming a hot commodity.

Several area organizations and libraries are giving them out. But once they're gone, they're gone.

The Flower Memorial Library and the Thousands Islands International Tourism Council will begin distributing them on Monday.

Here are some places that they are available:

 Flower Memorial Library — Starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, about 1,800 will be given out on the lawn outside of the library on Washington Street. Patrons will be limited to five per family, first-come, first-served with no reservations. Another 1.000 also will be given out at Thompson Park on the day of the eclipse.

 Watertown Parks and Recreation — 10,000 will be available at the Total Eclipse of the Park event in Thompson Park on eclipse day. First-come, first-served.

 Thousands Islands International Tourism Council — Had 10,000 to begin with and were distributed for marketing purposes. The governor's office sent another batch that will be available on Monday at the North Country Welcome Center, 43373 Collins Landing Road, Alexandria Bay.

 Center for Sight in Watertown — As of last week, the center still had several hundred. They started with about 4,000 and were giving them to patients.

 Sackets Harbor — The Hay Memorial Library, 105 S. Broad St., has been distributing the glasses and will continue until they're gone. The Sackets Harbor Visitors' Center, 301 W. Main St. also is distributing them.

 Hawn Memorial Library — Twenty per day are being given out at the library at 220 John St. in Clayton.

 Theresa Small Business Coalition — Has 100 to distribute.

 Henderson Business & Community Council — The group has run out of the solar glasses.

 Lowville Free Library — Has a few hundred in stock at the library at 5387 Dayan St. in Lowville.

 Ogdensburg — The Ogdensburg site of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, 318 Ford St., is selling solar glasses for $3.

School districts are also distributing the glasses to students and staff. Some local stores are also selling them in anticipation of the event.

You must have solar glasses to watch the eclipse.

Viewing the eclipse without glasses can burn a hole in your retina or damage it permanently. Regular sunglasses should never be used to look at the sun.

Make sure you have the right solar glasses, too. Just check that they have the International Organization for Standardization, ISO certification on them to make sure they are suitable glasses.