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Plenty of area venues open to watch eclipse

By John L. Braese
The Enterprise
VALE — Still don’t have plans for Monday’s eclipse? Here are some ideas.
In Ontario, those looking for a little shopping prior to the big day can visit two locations.
The Malheur County Fairgrounds will be home to a flea market on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The market opens at 8 a.m. before closing at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, a barn dance will start at 9 p.m.
The Solar Eclipse Saturday Market takes place on Saturday.
The market is open 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the corner of South Oregon Street and Southwest First Avenue in Ontario. Besides the usual fare, the market will sell commemorative buckles marking the occasion the eclipse occurring in the area.
For those needing more information on the eclipse, the Saturday Market will feature a class hosted by Sammy Castonguay, Treasure Valley Community College earth science instructor. Castonguay will be available at the market throughout the day for questions and will hold three presentations during the day.
Saturday will also be the day to eat as the Ring of Fire Festival sponsored by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. A collection of food trucks will provide as assortment of treats next to the market.
Cowboys and pilots can both look forward to on Sunday. The Experimental Aviation Association will hold a breakfast starting at 8 a.m. at the Ontario Airport. The cost is $5. Cowboys can head to the fairgrounds after breakfast for a roping competition starting at 10 a.m. As the big day arrives, viewing is available at multiple sites.
The Four Rivers Cultural Center will host viewing at the Japanese Garden and Treasure Valley Community College will have public viewing on the campus. Both locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For those hungry from seeing the eclipse, bring your extra tomatoes to the Malheur County Experiment Station for a first ever Tomato Eclipse Tomato Tasting. The tasting will culminate with BLT sandwiches for dinner. The event starts at 3 p.m.
The station, situated at 595 Onion Avenue in Ontario, has grown a large variety of different strains of tomatoes. The assorted varieties will be cut into slices and samples handed out. Visitors can also vote for their favorite variety.
Home gardeners are welcome to bring their own tomatoes to be sliced and judged.
At approximately 4 p.m., bacon will be cooked and visitors can choose their favorite tomato to be added to a BLT. Sandwiches and tasting will continue until 5 p.m.
To obtain an approximate count for bacon and bread, the station is requesting people planning on attending to RSVP at 541-889-2174 or be email at [email protected].
For those wanting to remember the special day, the Ontario Library will hold a special eclipse craft on Wednesday, Aug. 23 starting at 4 p.m. Prior to making a craft, patrons can listen to a special story time dealing exclusively with space starting at 11 a.m. As Nyssa is not in the path of totality, the decision has been made to transport the school children to Ontario to witness the occasion.
Nyssa middle and high school students will depart at 8:30 a.m. for the Treasure Valley Community College campus with the elementary students leaving for Ontario at 10:45 a.m. Officers from the Nyssa Police Department will escort the busses. Students will be in an area separate from public viewing with security present. While there, the students will attend a class on the eclipse and then be buddied up with an elementary school student.