Who was watching the solar eclipse Monday at Windber Recreation Park?

Beth Ann Miller, The Daily American
·3 min read

WINDBER ― Outside the Grand Ballroom at Windber Recreation Park, the sun was out, with some clouds passing by during the afternoon of the solar eclipse. The ballroom’s parking lot and the nearby playground were an ideal location for about 50 adults and children who came to the park on Monday to watch the moon cross over the sun.

Some of the children were more excited to play outside on the playground than to watch what was happening in the skies, but every so often, a child would run back to where a parent or grandparent was sitting, open a pair of solar eclipse glasses and look up at the sky.

Brian and Rachelle Thomas, of Windber, brought their sons Brailen Thomas, center, and Braiden Thomas, at right, to the park to watch the solar eclipse. Braiden was learning about the eclipse in school, and Brailen likes to learn about space, so the parents made plans to share the unique experience with their kids.
Brian and Rachelle Thomas, of Windber, brought their sons Brailen Thomas, center, and Braiden Thomas, at right, to the park to watch the solar eclipse. Braiden was learning about the eclipse in school, and Brailen likes to learn about space, so the parents made plans to share the unique experience with their kids.
Brandon Smalley and his son, Finn, of Johnstown, watch the solar eclipse from the sidewalk outside the Grand Ballroom.
Brandon Smalley and his son, Finn, of Johnstown, watch the solar eclipse from the sidewalk outside the Grand Ballroom.

More photos: Solar eclipse photos in Somerset County

Just as predicted, dusk arrived shortly after 3 o’clock, the lights in the park turned on, the birds grew silent, and the air temperature dropped several degrees. The skies above stayed clear for a few moments to let the crowd see the maximum eclipse, then a thick layer of clouds covered the scene.

Perhaps sensing their opportunity to watch the celestial event was over, most of the families then gathered their kids, packed up their cars and headed home.

Seated in front are Sharon Turfler, of Windber, and Martha Barrett, of Dunlo. Standing in back are, left to right, Rhonda Hoffman and Larry Hoffman, of Windber, Don Barrett, of Dunlo, and Rico Shark and Barb Shark, both of Windber.
Seated in front are Sharon Turfler, of Windber, and Martha Barrett, of Dunlo. Standing in back are, left to right, Rhonda Hoffman and Larry Hoffman, of Windber, Don Barrett, of Dunlo, and Rico Shark and Barb Shark, both of Windber.
As the sky darkened, people put on their eclipse glasses and looked at the solar eclipse approaching totality.
As the sky darkened, people put on their eclipse glasses and looked at the solar eclipse approaching totality.

Windber blood drive: Blood donation is one way to help organ transplant patients

Experiencing the eclipse with family

Brittney McClain, of Windber, brought her children Ben, Ryan and Abby to the park to “get this awesome experience,” she said. “We like to do fun experiences, and this (the solar eclipse) doesn’t come around much.”

Ryan’s friend Sebastian Walter, also of Windber, watched the eclipse with them, skating around the park on inline skates as the McClain children rode their scooters.

Watching the solar eclipse at Windber Recreation Park are, in the foreground left to right, Ben McClain, his brother Ryan McClain and Ryan's friend Sebastian Walter, all of Windber. In the background are Abby McClain and Brittney McClain.
Watching the solar eclipse at Windber Recreation Park are, in the foreground left to right, Ben McClain, his brother Ryan McClain and Ryan's friend Sebastian Walter, all of Windber. In the background are Abby McClain and Brittney McClain.

Chris Stiffler and her grandson Martez Davanzo came to the park to watch the event from Johnstown. Martez said the Greater Johnstown Middle School dismissed early for the day and gave each of the students a pair of eclipse glasses as well.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I figured this (Windber Recreation Park) would have a better view,” Stiffler said. “I think it’s great. It’s different and I get to experience this with one of my grandchildren.”

Janet Seitz, of Windber, brought her young grandson Rex Seitz, 3, of Dunlo, to watch the eclipse.

She asked him what the sun looked like through the eclipse glasses, and he replied, “a banana.”

Janet Seitz, of Windber, helps her grandson Rex Seitz, of Dunlo, look at the eclipse through solar eclipse glasses.
Janet Seitz, of Windber, helps her grandson Rex Seitz, of Dunlo, look at the eclipse through solar eclipse glasses.

A new detour: Why is Route 403 closed from Ferndale Avenue to Greenhouse Park? Here's what we know.

Watching the eclipse with friends

Rhonda Hoffman, of Windber, organized a casual watch party for a group of friends from Windber and Dunlo and ordered eclipse glasses for everyone to wear.

“It’s amazing,” said Sharon Turfler, of Windber, who was comfortably watching the eclipse while seated in a camping chair.

“It looks like a quarter moon,” said Martha Barrett, of Dunlo, who was seated in another chair next to her.

Watching the solar eclipse outside of the Grand Ballroom are, left to right, Patti McCullough, Ron Cardone and Ginny Hoenig, all of Windber, and Linda and Bill Kiraly, of Stoystown.
Watching the solar eclipse outside of the Grand Ballroom are, left to right, Patti McCullough, Ron Cardone and Ginny Hoenig, all of Windber, and Linda and Bill Kiraly, of Stoystown.

Pete and JoAnn Mishko of Windber said they saw the last total solar eclipse in 2017 while in South Carolina for a wedding.

Watching the eclipse back home in Windber “was satisfying, we’re happy to be here and witness this,” JoAnn Mishko said. Pete Mishko agreed, saying they enjoyed the experience and didn’t have to sit in long lines of traffic.

The Grand Ballroom at Windber Recreation Park held a solar eclipse party during the afternoon, offering snacks, crafts and eclipse-themed music for the occasion. Some of the park's visitors stopped in for a snack or to make a craft before heading back outside to watch the solar eclipse.

Ginny Hoenig, of Windber, met her sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Bill Kiraly, of Stoystown, at the ballroom to watch the eclipse. Hoenig said she and her sisters came to dances at the ballroom as teenagers, so the place brings back a lot of good memories.

Linda Kiraly said it was her first time back to see the newly renovated ballroom, and she was looking forward to seeing that, as well as the eclipse.

“I’m hoping it will be a good time,” Kiraly said.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Local families and friends enjoy view of solar eclipse at Windber Recreation Park