For those of us who are going stir crazy for lack of snow, the York County Park system and Rocky Ridge Park hosted a Cabin Fever Walk Saturday. Attended by about 20 people, ecologist Robert Bull of Wilson T. Ballard Company of Shrewsbury led the hike through the snow-covered park.
Most Yorkers woke up Saturday morning to no snow at all, but Rocky Ridge was covered with just enough snow to make it look like winter, but not enough to make for tough walking.
Bull spoke of poplar trees, the different kids of oaks, maples. He pointed out the different lichen and moss growing on rocks, and explained how well today's forests are doing, compared with 100 years ago. Interesting stuff.
Most of the hikers were Cub Scouts from Pack 25 of York, and more interested in climbing rocks, drawing designs in the light snow cover and throwing snowballs.
It was a warm up, so to speak, for next week's Klondike Derby, where many of the scouters will be sleeping in tents at Camp Tuckahoe.
About 20,000 people crowded into Punxsutawney, Pa. Saturday on Groundhog Day to discover Punxsutawney Phil's prediction about early daffodils or late snow storms.
This is truly all about the groundhog.
Gates opened at 3 a.m. for the four-hour production at Gobbler's Knob about a mile out of town. As usual, the forecast came shortly after 7 a.m.
Start thinking about draining the snowblower, hanging up the snow shovel.
But wait a minute. Of his 116 predictions on record so far, Punxsutawney Phil has
predicted an "early spring" 16 times (13.8%). As to his accuracy,
according to the StormFax Weather Almanac and records kept since 1887,
Phil's predictions have been correct 39% of the time.
Think about it. Officially, spring comes on March 20-- about six weeks from now. So either way, Phil will be right. But he gives us a great excuse for a mid-winter party.
Groundhog Day is Punxy's biggest day. A little smaller than Red Lion, the town bursts open every February 2. At Punxy Phil's diner, it seems all 20,000 fans try to get breakfast at one time. People wait in a line that trails out the door, into a covered area warmed by a propane heater. I waited about 45 minutes for breakfast, but didn't mind.
Despite the traffic jam at the door, the wait staff was still smiling at day's end. Badges worn by all said "Team Phil". Kay, who has worked at the diner for 30 years, was recently named Career Woman of the Year.
Visited with the other diners as they paid their check at the register. Aside from the workers, I didn't talk with anyone from Punxsutawney, but spoke with folks from Norway, Japan, Cleveland, Raleigh, Louisville, Toledo and Coney Island. Some drove in early for Phil's sunrise report, others came later in the morning to browse the concessions. One couple drove from Maine to get married here Saturday morning.
It's interesting what can be sold with some reference to a groundhog. The Trailhead art gallery had its own pole in its front window, on which a doll named Phil and human handler curled around on, trying to lure visitors into a lunch of chili, water and cookies. It was cold outside -- nine degrees-- and snowing.
At Barclay Square, tents were set up to sell carvings, hats, chocolate, dog treats, pizza, burgers, refrigerator magnets and pens.
A downtown hotel was allegedly renting rooms for $400. Across the street, McDonald's was doing a booming business.
But by noon, much of the crowd had seen what it came to see, that is, Phil's production at Gobbler's Knob, and the sidewalks were quiet again. The craft show in the community building started closing up. The Weather Channel's Jim Cantori, was inducted into Punxy's Weatherman Hall of Fame, then headed home after buying a hoodie with Phil's picture on it.
Many towns throughout the U.S. and the world have tried to copy Punxy Phil's magic. There's Staten Island Chuck, General Beauregard Lee in Georgia, Lancaster's Octoraro Orphie, and even other
weather animals like Furky the Wonder Chicken in Vancouver, Canada. All their supporters claim their mascot is the best, first, finest or most accurate.
The festival/carnival atmosphere is a lot like those found in other small towns which have created an event to put themselves on the map. Like the Glen Rock Carolers strolling through town, visitors travel for miles to see and hear the event personally.
All towns need something to crow about, to be proud of. A woman in Punxy Phil's explained it well-- if not for this groundhog, Punxy would be just another small town whose best days are behind it, lost in middle of the woods.
A Cooper's Hawk seen sitting along side a bird feeder, apparently waiting for dinner delivery. There was a pile of red feathers nearby, maybe last night's meal?
From Cornell's website-- Among the bird world’s most skillful fliers, Cooper’s
Hawks are common woodland hawks that tear through cluttered tree
canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds. You’re most likely to see
one prowling above a forest edge or field using just a few stiff
wingbeats followed by a glide.
Cooper's Hawks are smaller than the more commonly seen red-tailed hawk. From the Cornell website-- The red-tailed hawk is probably the most common hawk in North America. If you’ve got
sharp eyes you’ll see several individuals on almost any long car ride,
anywhere. Red-tailed Hawks soar above open fields, slowly turning
circles on their broad, rounded wings. Other times you’ll see them atop
telephone poles, eyes fixed on the ground to catch the movements of a
vole or a rabbit, or simply waiting out cold weather before climbing a
thermal updraft into the sky.
The Westminster Dog Show opens Monday, February 11, and a few local dog owners will have their best friends at the Madison Square Garden event.
Echo, a black Labrador Retriever owned by Jeff Moore of Felton, is headed to New York next week ranked sixth in the entire country. While taking a few pictures of Casbor's A Hart Act to Follow (Echo's real name), I couldn't help but notice his brothers, sisters, cousins, friends--whatever-- next to his room.
Yep, Echo has his own place. Moore doesn't have his prize canines stuffed in some small backyard shoebox. Oh, no. Theirs is a two-story doghouse, with 24-hour security, radio and bright lights. And it's cleaner than some people's houses.
The rest of the canine family looked as much a prize winners as Echo, but I wouldn't know a good Lab from a bad one. Much like the cows, chickens or pigs at the State Farm Show--they all look good to me.
The Dog Show introduces two new breeds this year, the Treeing Walker Coonhound (Hound Group) and the Russell Terrier (Terrier Group), bringing the total breeds to 187.
For the last week of January, today's temperatures of 64 degrees is plenty comfortable; daffodils are pushing their way from under the dead leaves and 23 robins were seen feasting on a Lancaster County lawn.
Maybe a sign of early spring?
Or maybe not, since the low temperatures on Friday will fall to a more typical 19 degrees, following a high of 30. Enjoy 'spring' while you can.
By the way, seeing robins isn't necessarily a sign of spring. That's just wishful thinking. This from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology--
"Although robins are considered harbingers of spring, many American
Robins spend the whole winter in their breeding range. But because they
spend more time roosting in trees and less time in your yard, you're
much less likely to see them.
The number of robins present in the
northern parts of the range varies each year with the local conditions. During winter many robins move to moist woods where berry-producing trees and shrubs are common. "
Last week's frigid temperatures froze many of the area rivers and lakes, including Pinchot Lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park. Mike DiMatteo of Newberry Township tried ice fishing with no luck, while Earlene Dormer and Dean Swartz of Manchester Township put on skates --Swartz' were brand new-- and carved some designs in the snow. Monday's
weather will be a mixed bag of rain, snow and sleet, a transition to
Wednesday's expected high temperatures of 60 degrees.
For Monday--
HAZARD TYPES... SNOW AND SLEET CHANGING TO A PERIOD OF FREEZING
RAIN.
* ACCUMULATIONS... 1 OR 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET... FOLLOWED BY
AROUND A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCRETION.
* TIMING... AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS AND IN THE
PREDAWN HOURS MONDAY... LASTING THROUGH MONDAY AFTERNOON.
* IMPACTS... SNOW COVERED AND SLUSHY ROADS... THEN A LIGHT
ACCUMULATION OF ICE ON OUTDOOR OBJECTS AND UNTREATED ROAD
SURFACES AND WALKWAYS. IN MANY AREAS... THE WINTRY MIX OF
PRECIPITATION WILL BE HEAVIEST DURING THE MORNING COMMUTE.
For those of us who are going stir crazy for lack of snow, the York County Park system and Rocky Ridge Park hosted a Cabin Fever Walk Saturday. Attended by about 20 people, ecologist Robert Bull of Wilson T. Ballard Company of Shrewsbury led the hike through the snow-covered park.
Bull spoke of poplar trees, the different kids of oaks, maples. He pointed out the different lichen and moss growing on rocks, and explained how well today's forests are doing, compared with 100 years ago. Interesting stuff.
Most of the hikers were Cub Scouts from Pack 25 of York, and more interested in climbing rocks, drawing designs in the light snow cover and throwing snowballs. 
