HOPE – As a crowd of more than 160 spectators watched, Grubby made a weather prognostication Sunday that resulted in a few “boos” at the Hope Town Square.
As read this year by Hope resident Rick Gardner: “The groundhog has spoken. It now can be told. Her shadow she sees. Six more weeks more of the cold.”
Not everybody agreed with Grubby’s prediction as interpreted by Gardner and eleven other ceremony officials collectively known as “Grubby’s Groupies.”
Dark clouds suddenly rolled in just before the woodchuck made her prediction, prompting some such as 9-year-old Mary Rayburn of Columbus to believe Grubby didn’t see her shadow. According to folklore, a lack of a shadow means spring is just around the corner.
But groundhog handler Kathy Hershey of UTOPIA Wildlife Rehabilitators insists Grubby knew those dark clouds would quickly move out, so they didn’t count. Indeed, bright sunshine returned above Hope just minutes after the ceremony.
For more on this story, including more photos, see Monday’s Republic or visit therepublic.com.
