Long Island Groundhog Sees Shadow, Staten Island Groundhog Does Not
MALVERNE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Groundhogs in the Tri-State Area Saturday did not agree on whether there would be six more weeks of winter.
As 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported and WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, groundhog Staten Island Chuck had good news Saturday for those who are weary of winter, but groundhog Malverne Mel on Long Island said the area might as well get used to more wintry weather to come.
Staten Island Groundhog Predicts Early Spring
It was about 19 degrees on Staten Island Saturday morning, when Chuck made the prediction. He did not see his shadow, and lore has it that that means an early spring.
Jordan Hafizi, 13, thought it was great news.
"Chuck is great. He made a spring prediction. After the Superstorm Sandy, it's great. It was fantastic," Jordan said. "He didn't bite (City Council Speaker) Christine Quinn, so that's good. No blood this time."
Back in 2009, Staten Island Chuck bit Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the finger. The Staten Island Zoo director said that was just a little misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, groundhog Malverne Mel did not have good news for the revelers. His shadow was in plain sight.
"Six more weeks of winter," said Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald. "Six more weeks of winter, sorry."
Long Island Groundhog Predicts 6 More Weeks Of Winter
Most of the people in the crowd were not too happy, including 8-year-old Christian.
"He said that it was going to be six more weeks of winter," Christian said. "It's so chilly. I'm not happy. Not even close."
But 9-year-old Brianna was smiling.
"I love winter," she said. "I'm so happy."
Not all of the nation's groundhogs made the same predictions. In southwest Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow when he was released on the legendary Gobbler's Knob, forecasting an early spring there.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the classic movie "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray as TV weatherman Phil Connors. Both the real Punxsutawney and the town of Woodstock, Ill. – which stood in for Punxsutawney in the movie – hold annual Groundhog Day celebrations, along with several other cities in the U.S. and Canada.
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