Lakeland Community College will be offering two learning opportunities for the community in advance of the April 8 solar eclipse. Both events take place on Lakeland’s campus at 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland. These events are free and open to the public with free parking.

March 19 at noon (room A-2100): "The Great American Eclipse II" Knowledge Exchange
The Knowledge Exchange hosts "The Great American Eclipse II," Tuesday, March 19, at noon. Physical science assistant professor Rickey Bartlett will present the program, highlighting everything you need to know about the upcoming eclipse of a lifetime. Totality, when the moon completely covers the sun, will be up to 4 minutes, 27 seconds, and visible from North America April 8, 2024.

The Great American Eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, was half as long and witnessed by about 20 million people from Oregon to South Carolina. This upcoming 2024 Great American Eclipse is expected to be witnessed by millions more and Lake County is right in the path!

The presentation will also be available remotely via Webex at this link: https://lakelandcc.webex.com/lakelandcc/j.php?MTID=mb2093a1527ee628191c8ffb4f1a8f040

April 1 at 11 a.m. in the Lakeland Library: "Resources for the Eclipse"
Astronomy instructor Joe Peterlin and librarian and associate professor Megan Mamolen will present "Resources for the Eclipse."

Peterlin will describe and discuss solar eclipses, including historical information and personal photos and video from the 2017 eclipse.

Mamolen will present a research guide about the solar eclipse, including library resources and local viewing opportunities.

Lakeland previously announced that the college will be closed Monday, April 8, in anticipation of the solar eclipse.

The Lake County Emergency Management Agency is expecting the population of the county to be two to four times larger than a normal day which will lead to heavy traffic conditions with potential gridlock throughout the day. They are also predicting limited cellphone and radio communication services due to heightened network use.

"Due to the potential for traffic and communications challenges, closing the college will allow our students and campus community to plan accordingly," said Lakeland President Morris W. Beverage Jr.

By: Tracy Shook, Sr. Dir. for Marketing and Comm.