Saucer leaves Mars for special PPG paint mission
MARS — Those traveling through the borough early Thursday morning may have rubbed their eyes and done a double take.
Just off Grand Avenue, a flying saucer was seen hovering above downtown Mars. However, it wasn't heading out on a mission to explore the cosmos.
Instead, the familiar silver saucer was being taken for a cleaning and a fresh coat of paint.
According to Mars Mayor Gregg Hartung, the spaceship was loaded onto a truck around 6:30 a.m. Thursday from its home on the corner in downtown. He said officials and onlookers were on hand to capture the eerie moment when the spaceship appeared to be hovering over the borough.
John Watson, president of the Mars Historical Society, said the ship has been in place since the mid-1980s, and has drawn tourists from around the country to the borough. It is also a point of pride for residents.
“They get upset when it disappears,” Watson said.
He said the saucer had been getting painted every two years or so using regular paint. He said John and Chris Clutter had donated their time over the years to care for the spacecraft.
It was last painted before the Mars New Year celebration in 2017, but since then the paint had become sticky and peeled off.
“It got so many coats over the years, it just got out of hand,” he said. “This year, we realized we were going to have to get it sandblasted.”
Jackie Kulfan had heard about the need for a stronger paint, and suggested asking her employer, PPG Paints, if there was a mixture of paint that would last longer and be more “hearty,” Watson said. The company said that it had a better mixture and offered to donate it, Kulfan said. Watson added that the new paint job could last up to 15 years.
The flying saucer should be back in place in time for Mars Exploration Days at the end of May. Watson said he was unsure if a special unveiling would be planned for the newly painted craft.
“It might just land there by itself,” he said. “We're planning on it flying back before the big event.”
In the interim, Watson warned visitors not to stand on the crater left by the ship's takeoff Thursday, as it could still be hot from the burners.
