SOMERS, N.Y. - Don’t put those long johns away yet!
If Cluxatawney Henrietta is right, there will be --- brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr --- six more weeks of winter.
For six years in a row, Westchester’s only weather-predicting chicken, had laid an egg on Groundhog Day, forecasting an early spring.
Young and old folks alike braved the frigid temps in Somers on Sunday, Feb. 2, to hear what Muscoot Farm’s famed fowl would say this time.
Holding up a poem, “written” by Cluxatawney, farm director Jonathon Benjamin cheekily informed the flock that he knew how to read “chicken scratch.”
“Cluxatawney the chicken, so wise and so bright, woke up this morning to give her insight/The farm was chilly as the animals gathered around/Would it be an early spring or would the snow still be on the ground?/Cluxatawney asked the animals: What weather do you prefer?/The turkeys said they liked it warm/The other chickens did too for sure/The cows said they like it cold and they explained with a moo: We love the frosty mornings and the chilly air, how ‘bout you?/The horses wanted spring and the donkeys liked that idea too/They dreamed of green pastures, warmer temperatures, and skies of blue/The sheep however were in agreement with the goats/We don’t want winter to end/We’re cozy in our coats/The pigs were undecided with three different snorts/Larry loves the warm and is ready to wear his shorts/Curly is content, cozy in his pen/Moe is ready to go for a swim/Cluxatawney said gather round I’m ready for you all to hear/More winter, or is spring finally here?/No matter the outcome, we can all agree, Muscoot Farm is the place to be/She fluffed up her feathers and let out a crow/The winter is not over, no no no no/I haven’t laid a egg, not a single one/That means six more weeks of snow and mud/My prediction stands, this much is true, six more weeks of winter, we’ll all see it through/The cold will linger/The snow will stay, but don’t worry my friends, spring isn’t far away/Thanks for coming to the farm, it’s been so much fun/Now back to my coop I must run/Come back next year, see what I have to say/You all have been wonderful/And Happy Groundhog Day!"
Still hopeful that something had developed in the interim, the crowd leaned forward and held its collective breath.
Benjamin reached ceremoniously into the feathered oracle’s white crate and – drum roll please – came up empty.
No egg.
Those clutching “Team Winter” placards cheered wildly, the pompoms on their woolen hats dancing, while “Team Spring” fans looked glum and shuffled their boot-clad feet.
Earlier, Pennsylvanian prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil had seen his shadow after being hoisted from his nice warm burrow at Gobbler’s Knob (meaning more winter) while Staten Island Chuck failed to see his (heralding an early spring).
That meant Cluxatawney was the tiebreaker.
Prior to the big reveal, there were children’s activities, snacks, and speeches.
The early 1900s interpretive farm is a county park. It was named after late county executive Alfred B. Delbello.
Kicking off the accolades was current County Executive Ken Jenkins.
“This is such a great tradition and it has put Westchester County on the map,” he crowed before introducing Peter Tartaglia, first deputy commissioner of the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation.
Cluxatawney’s egg-laying talents can’t be beat, everyone said even if they couldn’t all agree on the outcome.
“Everyone can see their shadow, but not everyone can lay an egg,” joked Tartaglia, who identified with Team Spring as did Vedat Gashi, chair of the county’s Board of Legislators.
“Every program here is just delightful,” said county Legislator Erika Pierce, who applauded the bundled-up participants themselves.
“You did not know we were going to be indoors. You were ready to stand outside, nine degrees, didn’t matter, it was all about getting here to spend time with our weather-predicting chicken!” she said, diplomatically not revealing which season she preferred.
Declaring that he was solidly “Team Winter,” Somers Supervisor Rob Scorrano was looking forward to snow so that his kids could ski more.
“Our highways may not want it, but I do,” he said.
GOOD TO KNOW
Muscoot Farm is located at 51 Route 100, Katonah (mailing address), N.Y. For more information, visit www.muscootfarm.org or call (914) 864-7286.
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