Chuck And Phil In Agreement: Early Spring Is Coming
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Staten Island Chuck says early spring is coming.
The groundhog did not see his shadow as he emerged from his home at the Staten Island Zoo early Tuesday.
No shadow! With @LtGovHochulNY, #StatenIslandChuck predicts an early spring. #GroundhogDay pic.twitter.com/BZ7BbeCcSe
— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 2, 2016
"The official announcement from Staten Island Chuck that spring is coming and that we are going to have an early, early spring this year -- just what we all deserve and need in the State of New York," Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said at the ceremony.
His counterpart, Pennsylvania's Punxsutawney Phil, was in agreement. Spring is coming.
Legend has it that if the furry rodent sees his shadow on Feb. 2, winter will last another six weeks. If not, spring comes early.
Mayor Bill de Blasio missed this year's annual Groundhog Day commemoration. The Democrat had gone to Iowa to stump for Hillary Clinton for that state's caucus.
Traditionally, the city's mayor attends the festivities. De Blasio dropped the groundhog in 2014, the first year he attended the ceremony while mayor. The groundhog died a few months later.
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