Marc A. Hermann for New York Daily News
An early fall? Mayor Bill de Blasio (center) accidentally dropped a squirming Staten Island Chuck during Sunday’s Groundhog Day ceremony.
With this kind of treatment, it’s no wonder Staten Island’s groundhog called for six more weeks of winter.
Mayor de Blasio dropped a squirming Charles G. Hogg during his first Groundhog Day ceremony Sunday at the Staten Island Zoo.
After the headfirst tumble, the weather-predicting Chuck saw his shadow and scurried back inside his heated wooden home, forecasting six more weeks of winter.
Marc A. Hermann for New York Daily News
Staten Island Chuck saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. Chuck is part of an elite group of groundhogs who predict when the coldest season ends.
RELATED: RARE SNOWSTORM IN SOUTH DUMPS JUST 3 INCHES, AND INCITES CHAOS ACROSS SEVERAL STATES
“Chuck likes the polar vortex,” de Blasio exclaimed to jeers from the crowd.
After the ceremony, the mayor likened the wriggling 10-pound critter to the Seattle Seahawks’ elusive and hard-charging running back — saying Chuck was “doing his Marshawn Lynch impression.”
Marc A. Hermann for New York Daily News
Mayor Bill de Blasio (left) wore thick gloves in case Staten Island Chuck tried to bite him.
“Staten Island Chuck was very rowdy this morning,” Hizzoner added. “But once he calmed down, I found him to be very friendly and a very appealing young animal.”
RELATED: COLD PUTS A FREEZE ON RESTAURANTS
Mayors of New York have tussled before with members of the furry rodent world.
Marc A. Hermann for New York Daily News
Though they got off to a rough start, Mayor de Blasio was later seen petting Staten Island Chuck — without the steel-tipped glove.
In 2009, the recalcitrant groundhog chomped on then-Mayor Bloomberg’s finger.
“That was a fun year,” recalled Amanda Davies, 18. “Now it’s steel-tipped gloves, the whole thing.”
Keith Srakocic/AP
Punxsutawney Phil of Pennsylvania is cradled after spotting his shadow and predicting six more weeks of winter.
Mom Gina Davies, 39, said she enjoyed this year’s event despite the dour prediction.
“It’s been a lot colder in the past,” she said of Sunday’s spring-like temps, which neared 60 degrees. “We’ve felt like ice sculptures in the past. This is a nice year.”
“It’s a big thing; you get up, you freeze, but you come because Chuck is the best,” Amanda Davies added.
Keith Srakocic/AP
Punxsutawney Phil is the most well-known of the spring-predicting groundhogs, along with Staten Island Chuck and General Beauregard Lee in Atlanta.
RELATED: SEE IT: WEATHERMAN CALMLY KNEES HECKLER IN GROIN, CONTINUES REPORT
This was the first time Groundhog Day — observed Feb. 2 — fell on Super Bowl Sunday.
Chuck’s more famous national counterpart, Punxsutawney Phil, also predicted six more weeks of winter. Phil’s prognostication came in the form of a poem read by local dignitaries in the Pennsylvania town.
“A Super Bowl winner I will not predict, but my weather forecast, you cannot contradict. That’s not a football lying beside me. It’s my shadow you see. So, six more weeks of winter it shall be!”
The annual tradition since 1886 relies on whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not. If he doesn’t, it will be an early spring.
With Joel Landau
http://ift.tt/1fPA800
via Great Local News: New York http://ift.tt/1iZiLP1
No comments:
Post a Comment