By Dana Williams
"I think Mel's going to say six more weeks of winter," Alan said.
"No, I think he will say the opposite — that spring is near," Betty said.
Betty learned that she was correct seconds later, at 7:20 a.m., when Mel passed the word to Malverne Mayor Patricia McDonald that winter will soon be over.
"Mel said that he did not see his shadow," McDonald said to more than 100 people who were gathered around a pen in the park. "That's good news because it means Mel is saying that spring will soon be here."
McDonald's announcement was met with cheers and applause, mostly from kids who came to the park before school to watch the groundhog make his annual forecast. "It's fun to see Mel come out and I like to see what he says," said Nick Rossetti, a student at James A. Dever Elementary School in Valley Stream. "I think Mel is right when he chooses the season."
After hearing Mel's prediction, Rockville Centre twins Andrew and Lucy Downing, 6, said they were already looking forward to the warm weather. "I knew Mel would say spring," Lucy said. "I like spring."
"I don't like it when it's cold," Andrew added. "I always want Mel to say spring."
Monday marked Malverne's 13th annual Groundhog Day celebration, a day when dozens of South Shore residents visit the village to participate in the only U.S. holiday named after an animal. Malverne Deputy Mayor James Callahan, Trustee Michael Bailey, Village Historian Robert Powers and Town of Hempstead Councilman Anthony Santino all came dressed for the occasion in top hats and black coats.
"Today is a big day for Mel and Malverne," said Mel's caretaker, Baldwin resident Andre Ricaud. "A lot of people show up each year to hear what he predicts ... so hopefully the weather will get warmer, like Mel said."
The celebration, which featured the singing of "The Ballad of Malverne Mel" by resident Stuart Markus and an animal exhibit courtesy of Ricaud's PartyPets.com, among other festivities, was sponsored by the Herald Community Newspapers.
Feb. 2 is known as a cross-quarter day — the halfway point between the winter solstice in December and the vernal equinox in March. At sunrise, Mel emerges from his burrow after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow. If he sees it, he regards it as an omen of six more weeks of bad weather and returns to his hole. If the day is cloudy and, hence, shadowless, Mel takes it as a sign of spring and stays above ground.
Mel is one of two season-forecasting groundhogs on Long Island, representing Nassau County. Holtsville Hal speaks for Suffolk. Hal disagreed with Mel, predicting that winter will stick around for six more weeks.
To many residents, however, Mel's early spring prognostication stood out because it was more optimistic. "By telling us that there will be an early spring, I think Mel gives us all something to look forward to," McDonald said. "I think many people are now looking forward to the warm weather."
Comments about this story? DWilliams@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 205.
