Groundhog Days 2008

 

It’s… Groundhog Day!

EDITORIAL The Independent

   Print this Page    Email This Article

Area residents should be prepared to set their alarms this Friday night in anticipation of Woodstock Willie’s Saturday morning prognostication on the Square.
It’s not very often we hear our famous furry weatherman make his yearly prediction on a weekend. This Feb. 2, however, we have that luxury. Most of us won’t have to run off to school or work immediately following the prognostication. Those attending can stay for the breakfast, the free showing of “Groundhog Day” at Classic Cinemas, the wood-carving demonstration, the walking tour of the filming sites and the movie symposium. There’s no excuse to not attend this year’s festivities.
People throughout the nation know about the groundhog’s unique ability to predict the weather, but what else do we know about groundhogs? As a community that celebrates with a weekend full of events dedicated to the creature, we should be experts. Here is a rundown of some groundhog facts.
Groundhogs are rodents belonging to a large group of ground squirrels known as marmots. Most marmots live in rocky and mountainous areas, but the groundhog is a lowland creature.
A groundhog typically measures 17 to 26 inches long and weighs four to nine pounds. Groundhogs are good diggers, due to their short and powerful limbs and thick, curved claws. Groundhogs usually live two to three years and primarily eat grasses and other vegetation but will also eat insects and other small animals.
In most areas, groundhogs hibernate from October through March or April. They are at their maximum weight just before hibernation. Groundhogs are great swimmers and climbers, which is one way they elude predators. They will also escape to their burrows when danger is lurking. If confronted, groundhogs are not shy about using their claws for protection.
While Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous groundhog to predict the weather, more than a dozen other groundhogs, including Staten Island Chuck, Wiarton Willie and General Beauregard Lee, made their predictions last year.
According to the Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, visitors from Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and downstate Illinois are making the trek to Woodstock this year to take part in the festivities. Please be there to welcome them to Woodstock and show them what a great tradition we have.

 

 

Photos

 

Friday, February 1

Lighting of the Groundhog

TWI photos by Mike Neumann

 

 

 

Saturday, February 2

Prognostication

TWI photos by Mike Neumann

 

 

 

 

TWI photos by Ken Farver

 

 

 

 

Storytelling

TWI photos by Trish Bauer

 

 

 

 

Chili cook-off

TWI photos by Trish Bauer

 

 

 

Wood Carving Demonstration

TWI photos by Trish Bauer

 

 

 

Groundhog Day button winner

 

TWI photo by Kat Katkus
Mary Beth Brown, whose children encouraged her to submit the drawing, designed this year’s Groundhog Day button contest. The drawing depicts a groundhog with frogs jumping over its head, indicating that it “Must Be A Leap Year.” Pictured, from left, are: daughter Nora Brown, 11; Mary Beth Brown; and son Joey Brown, 9.

 

Groundhog 3rd grade poster contest

Westwood Elementary School student Sophia Rogers won this year’s Groundhog Days poster contest for her depiction of a groundhog in a Woodstock Blue Streaks uniform. Rogers is a third-grader in Karen Petersen’s class.

 

 

 

The Woodstock Independent staff congratulates the seven runners up in its third-grade poster contest, conducted annually in conjunction with Groundhog Days. The Independent awards a $10 Woodstock Chamber of Commerce gift certificate to each winner.