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| New York Today: A Groundhog Has Her Day | New York Today: A Groundhog Has Her Day |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Updated, 9:32 a.m. | |
| Good morning on this semi-sunny Thursday. | Good morning on this semi-sunny Thursday. |
| “Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog,” the rodent’s website says. “The others are just impostors.” | “Punxsutawney Phil is the only true weather forecasting groundhog,” the rodent’s website says. “The others are just impostors.” |
| Well, Pennsylvania: We, in New York, politely disagree. | Well, Pennsylvania: We, in New York, politely disagree. |
| Our state is home to several reputable groundhogs (also called whistle pigs or woodchucks) — including Holtsville Hal, Malverne Mel and Dunkirk Dave — but first and foremost is the revered Staten Island Chuck. | Our state is home to several reputable groundhogs (also called whistle pigs or woodchucks) — including Holtsville Hal, Malverne Mel and Dunkirk Dave — but first and foremost is the revered Staten Island Chuck. |
| While Chuck may not have starred in a Bill Murray movie, New York’s official ambassador for this holiday was named the country’s No. 2 groundhog to watch by The Weather Channel. | While Chuck may not have starred in a Bill Murray movie, New York’s official ambassador for this holiday was named the country’s No. 2 groundhog to watch by The Weather Channel. |
| This morning at 7:30, Chuck did not see a shadow (as opposed to Punxsutawney Phil, who did) and determined the destiny of the winter we’ve hardly even had: Spring’s coming early. | This morning at 7:30, Chuck did not see a shadow (as opposed to Punxsutawney Phil, who did) and determined the destiny of the winter we’ve hardly even had: Spring’s coming early. |
| But Chuckboasts an 80 percent success rate, according to the Staten Island Zoo. Phil, by comparison, is right only 39 percent of the time. | |
| When we visited our groundhog this week at the Staten Island Zoo, we were pleased to learn that this Chuck (full name: Charles G. Hogg VII) is actually female. | When we visited our groundhog this week at the Staten Island Zoo, we were pleased to learn that this Chuck (full name: Charles G. Hogg VII) is actually female. |
| “Staten Island Chuck will always be Staten Island Chuck,” said Rebecca Orens, assistant manager of the children’s center at the zoo. “But through the years, things change.” | “Staten Island Chuck will always be Staten Island Chuck,” said Rebecca Orens, assistant manager of the children’s center at the zoo. “But through the years, things change.” |
| The 4-year-old, 8.5-pound animal, which Ms. Orens described as “a curvy lady right now,” feeds on nutritious rodent pellets, roughage like kale, and sweet potatoes. Perhaps they serve something similar at your local lunch spot. | The 4-year-old, 8.5-pound animal, which Ms. Orens described as “a curvy lady right now,” feeds on nutritious rodent pellets, roughage like kale, and sweet potatoes. Perhaps they serve something similar at your local lunch spot. |
| And the groundhog is quite the social butterfly. In preparation for today, Ms. Chuck spent months training and socializing with zoo caretakers to ensure an elegant public appearance (free of any spats with the mayor, who skipped the event this year) and a confident, correct, shadow-or-no-shadow verdict. | And the groundhog is quite the social butterfly. In preparation for today, Ms. Chuck spent months training and socializing with zoo caretakers to ensure an elegant public appearance (free of any spats with the mayor, who skipped the event this year) and a confident, correct, shadow-or-no-shadow verdict. |
| While Ms. Chuck didn’t do much public speaking this morning, “she does know how to high-five,” Ms. Orens said. “Which is really cute, but is also really good as a medical move because you can then clip her nails.” | |
| (She does not, however, take baths or get her teeth cleaned.) | (She does not, however, take baths or get her teeth cleaned.) |
| Here’s what else is happening: | Here’s what else is happening: |
| Shadow or not, city marmots will see relatively cheerful skies outside their burrows. | Shadow or not, city marmots will see relatively cheerful skies outside their burrows. |
| The sun is creeping out from behind the clouds and should tug the mercury up to a high of 43. | The sun is creeping out from behind the clouds and should tug the mercury up to a high of 43. |
| (Although wind gusts this afternoon could make it feel colder.) | (Although wind gusts this afternoon could make it feel colder.) |
| Not bad for the dead of winter. | Not bad for the dead of winter. |
| • The City Council approved a number of bills to help tenants of “three-quarter houses” find permanent homes. [New York Times] | • The City Council approved a number of bills to help tenants of “three-quarter houses” find permanent homes. [New York Times] |
| • A case targeting a suspected Genovese-family gambling operation brought officers to a longstanding Brooklyn bodega. [New York Times] | • A case targeting a suspected Genovese-family gambling operation brought officers to a longstanding Brooklyn bodega. [New York Times] |
| • The Police Department will reopen rape cases and retrain detectives after comments made by a captain that played down the severity of some cases. [CBS] | • The Police Department will reopen rape cases and retrain detectives after comments made by a captain that played down the severity of some cases. [CBS] |
| • City Hall and the Police Department are re-evaluating the cost of security at Trump Tower after reports that Melania and Barron Trump will stay in the city. [CBS] | • City Hall and the Police Department are re-evaluating the cost of security at Trump Tower after reports that Melania and Barron Trump will stay in the city. [CBS] |
| • More than 1,000 bodegas are planning to shut down today to protest President Trump’s travel ban. [The Brooklyn Paper] | • More than 1,000 bodegas are planning to shut down today to protest President Trump’s travel ban. [The Brooklyn Paper] |
| • The state attorney general is suing Spectrum, formerly known as Time Warner Cable, asserting that the company failed to deliver promised internet speeds. [Crain’s New York] | • The state attorney general is suing Spectrum, formerly known as Time Warner Cable, asserting that the company failed to deliver promised internet speeds. [Crain’s New York] |
| • The U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch’s Columbia classmates speak about his time in New York. [WNYC] | • The U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch’s Columbia classmates speak about his time in New York. [WNYC] |
| • The City Council is considering issuing letter grades for food carts. [Daily News] | • The City Council is considering issuing letter grades for food carts. [Daily News] |
| • Hillary Clinton plans to publish a book of personal essays and reflect on the 2016 race. [Associated Press] | • Hillary Clinton plans to publish a book of personal essays and reflect on the 2016 race. [Associated Press] |
| • After an unplanned pregnancy, Melissa Monserrate, now 25, had struggled to be the mother she wanted to be. After going back to school, she’s well on her way. [New York Times] | • After an unplanned pregnancy, Melissa Monserrate, now 25, had struggled to be the mother she wanted to be. After going back to school, she’s well on her way. [New York Times] |
| • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Looking for Parking on the Upper West Side” | • Today’s Metropolitan Diary: “Looking for Parking on the Upper West Side” |
| • Scoreboard: Knicks clip Nets, 95-90. | • Scoreboard: Knicks clip Nets, 95-90. |
| • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Thursday Briefing. | • For a global look at what’s happening, see Your Thursday Briefing. |
| • Broadway Week, where you can receive deals like two-for-one tickets at performances around the city, continues through Sunday. | • Broadway Week, where you can receive deals like two-for-one tickets at performances around the city, continues through Sunday. |
| • Do some “frozen toes” yoga on the second floor of the Skating Pavilion at Bryant Park, part of its nine-day Winter Carnival. 5:30 and 7 p.m. [Free] | • Do some “frozen toes” yoga on the second floor of the Skating Pavilion at Bryant Park, part of its nine-day Winter Carnival. 5:30 and 7 p.m. [Free] |
| • Join a discussion on artificial intelligence and virtual reality in video games at the N.Y.U. Game Center in Brooklyn. 7 p.m. [Free] | • Join a discussion on artificial intelligence and virtual reality in video games at the N.Y.U. Game Center in Brooklyn. 7 p.m. [Free] |
| • The New York Queer Experimental Film Festival begins in Ridgewood, Queens, through Sunday. 8 p.m., schedule here. [Prices vary] | • The New York Queer Experimental Film Festival begins in Ridgewood, Queens, through Sunday. 8 p.m., schedule here. [Prices vary] |
| • Looking ahead: Brighten your weekend with laughs, food and drinks during a Saturday night show at the Looney Bin Comedy Club on Staten Island. | • Looking ahead: Brighten your weekend with laughs, food and drinks during a Saturday night show at the Looney Bin Comedy Club on Staten Island. |
| • Rangers at Sabres, 7:30 p.m. (MSG). | • Rangers at Sabres, 7:30 p.m. (MSG). |
| • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. | • For more events, see The New York Times’s Arts & Entertainment guide. |
| • Subway and PATH | • Subway and PATH |
| • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak | • Railroads: L.I.R.R., Metro-North, N.J. Transit, Amtrak |
| • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. | • Roads: Check traffic map or radio report on the 1s or the 8s. |
| • Alternate-side parking: in effect until Feb. 13. | • Alternate-side parking: in effect until Feb. 13. |
| • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry | • Ferries: Staten Island Ferry, New York Waterway, East River Ferry |
| • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark | • Airports: La Guardia, J.F.K., Newark |
| While groundhogs certainly have their charm, today could have belonged to a much cuter animal. | While groundhogs certainly have their charm, today could have belonged to a much cuter animal. |
| The prairie dog. | The prairie dog. |
| Zoos, animal welfare activists and organizations including the Humane Society of the United States have, in the past, campaigned for Feb. 2 to be Prairie Dog Day, instead of a gimmick for groundhogs. | Zoos, animal welfare activists and organizations including the Humane Society of the United States have, in the past, campaigned for Feb. 2 to be Prairie Dog Day, instead of a gimmick for groundhogs. |
| Staten Island Chuck, part of the rodentia order of mammals, is a relative not only of rats, mice and squirrels, but also of prairie dogs. | Staten Island Chuck, part of the rodentia order of mammals, is a relative not only of rats, mice and squirrels, but also of prairie dogs. |
| Prairie Dog Day would have raised awareness about this slowly fading animal, which serves a different role from Chuck and his contemporaries: While, according to legend, groundhogs can predict the length of winter, prairie dogs can actually help determine the health of our country’s plains. | Prairie Dog Day would have raised awareness about this slowly fading animal, which serves a different role from Chuck and his contemporaries: While, according to legend, groundhogs can predict the length of winter, prairie dogs can actually help determine the health of our country’s plains. |
| New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. | New York Today is a weekday roundup that stays live from 6 a.m. till late morning. You can receive it via email. |
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| Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. | Follow the New York Today columnists, Alexandra Levine and Jonathan Wolfe, on Twitter. |
| You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. | You can find the latest New York Today at nytoday.com. |