SEEING RED

Alunar eclipse…that's right, a lunar eclipse will take place this Saturday, March 3, and should be visible to the naked eye just after sunset as the moon comes up.

A lunar eclipse happens when the earth, in its orbit, lines up between the sun and the moon. But despite the earth blocking the sun out entirely, the sun's rays bend around the earth emitting a ring-of-fire effect and turning the moon red.

For those who want to see this spectacular astronomical event on their own, the National Aeronautics & Space Administration recommends going to a high spot, under clear skies, and facing east just after sunset. For Nantucketers, that means anywhere along the eastern shore. Anywhere along the Bluff in 'Sconset would be ideal.

Those who want more than their 20:20 vision can show them should get out to the Maria Mitchell Association's Loines Observatory at 59 Milk St. Ext. from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. That evening, Maria Mitchell's director of astronomy Vladimir Strelnitski will be offering a closer look at the reddish moon using portable telescopes to help people view and understand the eclipse. This experience costs $5 per adult and $3 per child for members, and $10 per adult and $6 per child for nonmembers.

And at noon this Saturday, environmental historian Professor Alfred W. Crosby, is giving a talk entitled "Hitchhiking Microbes in Space" at Maria Mitchell's Hinchman House at 7 Milk St. Admission is free for members and $5 for nonmembers.

BE PREPARED TO STOP…AGAIN

Nantucket's stop sign gremlins are at it again, this time getting ready to plant the red octagonal markers on the north and south sides of Surfside Road where it intersects with Fairgrounds Road.

In the first week of March, the Department of Public Works is going to plant the signs, but with covers over them, and then put out temporary stop sign warning flags well before the intersection on Surfside Road. The stop signs will be covered for two weeks while motorists get used to seeing them and realize they must stop before turning onto either South Shore or Fairgrounds roads.

In the third week of March, the DPW will uncover the new stop signs and station police officers at the intersection to make sure drivers stop at the new signs. And, depending on the conditions, in the first week of April, the DPW will paint warning markings on the road in both directions with reflective paint and the warning flags will be removed.

POSITIVE ZONING VIBRATIONS

Eleven of 16 proposed town and citizen zoning articles will go the Town Meeting floor with positive recommendations from the Planning Board. About 35 islanders filled the seats at the board's meeting room on Feb. 22 for a public hearing on proposed zoning district changes.

This redistricting converts some town properties into the country overlay district - Article 30 - and increases and lowers densities of certain island neighborhoods through Articles 31-36. Several housekeeping articles, 37, 38, 39 and 40 also got positive recommendations.

Articles 25 and 26, creating the harbor overlay district for the downtown waterfront, were tabled for further discussion at Monday night's Planning Board meeting along with Article 28, which would make the temporary moratorium on docks, piers and wharves permanent, with several exceptions. Article 27, the harbor overlay district proposal for Hither Creek, was also to be discussed on Feb. 26.

CAPE WIND FILES STATE FEIR

Cape Wind Associates took a giant step forward last week with the filing of its Final Environmental Impact Report at the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office.

In filing its FEIR, Cape Wind is responding to questions and concerns in the certificate issued by MEPA after Cape Wind filed its Draft Environmental Impact Report, and to those raised during the public comment period. For this FEIR, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office is accepting public comment through March 22. View the report or download a copy of it at www.CapeWind.org/ FEIR and get information about submitting comments at www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/secondlevelpages/submittingcomments. htm.

If you know what you want to say, write it down and send it to: Secretary Ian A. Bowles

EOEA, Attn: MEPA Office, Anne Canaday, EOEA No. 12643, 100 Cambridge St., Suite 900

Boston, Ma. 02114. I