Groundhog Day: Staten Island Chuck
Did the Groundhog See His Shadow?
On February 2, shortly after sunrise, New York's most famous rodent, Staten Island Chuck, emerged from his shelter located in the Staten Island Zoo to determine if his shadow was present or not.
Legend dictates that if the groundhog sees his shadow there will be six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see his shadow, we will have an early spring.
Got that?
Shadow: more winter. No shadow: early spring.
Staten Island Chuck, formally known as Charles G. Hogg, is the only genuine groundhog in any of NYC's five zoos. The other NYC zoos utilize prairie dogs. According to officials at the Staten Island Zoo, Chuck has been proven correct in his forecasts 23 out of 29 years.
With those stats, perhaps the DNC should enlist Staten Island Chuck to predict the mid-term elections as it looks to be a gloomy forecast for that front.
Groundhog Day 2010
Staten Island Chuck did not see his shadow! Mayor Bloomberg announced the verdict, "spring is coming."
According to local meteorologists, Chuck is more accurate than his more famous counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil. Those wishing for an early spring will hope that's true.
Punxsutawney Phil, located in Pennsylvania, saw his shadow this morning and reported the results in 'groundhogease' to his 'inner circle.'
Last year, Mayor Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Congressman Michael McMahon and other officials were in attendance for the Staten Island groundhog's 7:30 am appearance.
The highlight of the event in 2009 was the spectacle of Mayor Bloomberg grappling with the elusive rodent and the subsequent teeth gnashing. No injuries were sustained as Chuck nipped the mayor's gloved hand; thankfully, the groundhog was fine.
The Staten Island Zoo opened at 6:45 a.m. for this free ceremony and usually doles out 10-dollar tickets to have breakfast in the presence of Staten Island Chuck.
Happy Groundhog Day!
Source:
Published by Tony Jingo
An American Patriot with an independent view on today's topics. Jingo (noun) One who vociferously supports one's country View profile
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51 Comments
Post a CommentI never knew about Staten Island Chuck before... and what accuracy!
Nice one.
Funny!
Forget mid-term elections ... Staten Island Chuck for CA governor! ;-)
I heard he was biting Governor fingers this year :)
good article Tony! I hope he's right.
"According to local meteorologists, Chuck is more accurate than his more famous counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil. Those wishing for an early spring will hope that's true." THEM'S FIGHTING WORDS! SIGNED PENNSY GIRL.
Belated Happy Groundhog Day to you too, Tony! I, for one, am anxiously waiting for Spring.
Excellent work!
Very interesting information - I'd never heard of Chuck :)