OntheWilderSide

2012: For Groundhog Week activities for 2012 (including Malverne Mel, PeaceSmiths Coffeehouse, and more) see our new onthewilderside post: here.

2011: Phil says “Early Spring!” The answer from other ground hogs, is at onthewilderside: here.

A Long Island, post-ground hog event: The dreariness of winter and all this snow is making me feel kinda low. Though, I am looking forward to the music and sharing that will happen at PeaceSmiths Coffeehouse (Long Island, NY) a few days after Groundhog’s Day. There will be a special presentation, “Hildegard Homily”, by Charlotte Koons, and music by Gary Ivan. For more info on the PeaceSmiths February 4, 2011 event, go to peacesmiths.org: here.

More about Groundhog’s Day events:

You may have heard of Punxsutawney Phil, from Pennsylvania. He is probably the most famous groundhog in America. And, it is exciting to hear his prediction about Spring each Groundhog Day. For more info on Phil — and some interesting history about Groundhog Day — you can go to the official website: here.

How about if you want a local place to gather and think about Spring? There are several groundhogs and Groundhog day celebrations on Long Island. Below is information about Malverne Mel, Holtsville Hal, and Staten Island Chuck. All of them will be the focus of community celebrations on the morning of Wednesday, February 2nd.

(Maleverne event canceled due to icy weather)*
Malverne Mel*
Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011
Starting at 7am
Gazebo at the LIRR Train Station
Malverne, Nassau County, Long Island, New York
With music by Banjo Rascals

Holtsville Hal
Wednesday, Feb 2, 2011
Starting at 7am
Town of Brookhaven Ecology Site, Park & Animal Preserve
Buckley Road, Holtsville, N.Y. 11742
For info call: (631) 758-9664

Staten Island Chuck
More info at CityGuide
Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011
Gates open 7 am, Chuck’s prediction is at 7:30 am
Staten Island Zoo

And, if want some more history of Groundhogs Day, including an old, English poem about signs of winter, you can go to my favorite source of info: Wikipedia.org.

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*Newsday says:
“Malverne Village decided Tuesday to cancel the Groundhog Day event because of worries about ice. It’s the first time in 15 years the village has canceled the traditional event.”

Filed under: buy local, children, Holidays, local, long island, Long Island Music, new york, News Tagged: | Ground hog, groundhog, Groundhog Day, Holidays, Holtsville Hal, Long Island events, Long Island Groundhog Day, Long Island Groundhogs, Long Island Music, Long Island peace, Malverne Mel, peacesmiths, Spring, Staten Island Chuck, winter