By: Brian Zanzonico
Wish granted. Malverne Mel, Long Island's most famous weather prognosticator, saw his shadow on Groundhog Day and predicted six more weeks of winter.
The ninth annual Malverne Mel Celebration, sponsored by Richner Communications Inc., publishers of the Herald Community Newspapers, drew local residents and dignitaries to the small village for the groundhog's 7:30 a.m. statement, as told to Mayor Anthony Panzarella, the only local who is fluent in "groundhogese."
"But I have to make it very clear, my main job is tough as leather," Panzarella read. "To come to Reese Park once a year, and prognosticate the weather. Back in my burrow I will hide. Today my shadow I see. I'm glad Malverne Melissa [Mel's wife] will be at my side, because six more weeks of winter there will be."
A collective sigh could be heard among the audience, save for the boy with the sign, who danced after the announcement. "I love it because it's fun," said Gordon Purdie, 8, of East Rockaway.
"I'm kind of disappointed," said Abigail Balsamo, 10, of Malverne. "It's very cold and I'm always frozen."
Malverne Mel, called "the senior member of the Herald's meteorological staff" by Heralds publisher Cliff Richner, was also scheduled to make his morning talk show debut. After he saw his shadow, the mayor and the marmot were whisked off to Manhattan for a spot on "The Tony Danza Show." When they arrived, Panzarella said he was asked by producers whether he wanted to do the segment in the beginning or the end of the show. Panzarella said he elected to appear at the end of the show so he could watch Danza, a Malverne native, at work. At the end of the show, Panzarella and Mel were called onto the stage and the segment was filmed. But because of the crash of an executive jet at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, ABC's tri-state affiliates cut to news of the accident.
"People in California now know about Malverne Mel," Panzarella joked.
Some 330 miles west of Malverne, Punxsutawney Phil, Mel's rival, was making his prediction.
"[Malverne Mel is] not in competition with Punxsutawney Phil because [Phil is] in western Pennsylvania and can't predict weather here on Long Island," Panzarella said. Phil also saw his shadow.
Over in Suffolk County, however, Holtsville Hal predicted an early spring.
Groundhog Day stems from the ancient belief that the emergence of hibernating creatures predicted the arrival of spring. German tradition holds that if the sun comes out on Candlemas, the precursor to Groundhog Day, the hedgehog (or badger) will see its shadow and six more weeks of winter will follow.
Candlemas commemorates the ritual purification of Mary, 40 days after the birth of Jesus. It is one of the four "cross-quarters" of the year, occurring halfway between the first day of winter and the first day of spring. Traditionally, it was believed that if Candlemas was sunny, the remaining six weeks of winter would be stormy and cold. But if it rained or snowed on Candlemas, the rest of the winter would be mild.
Comments about this story? Mal-wheditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 240.
