Photo Courtesy Essex County
WEST ORANGE – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced that Lady Edwina of Essex, Essex County Turtle Back Zoo’s resident groundhog, did not see her shadow on Groundhog Day and is predicting spring weather to arrive early. She also predicted the Philadelphia Eagles would defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
Lady Edwina made her prediction during Turtle Back Zoo’s annual Groundhog Day Celebration. This is the fourth time she has made a prognostication since taking over for her cousin Essex Ed.
“I’m not a fan of cold weather, so I appreciate Lady Edwina forecasting an early arrival for warmer, spring weather,” said DiVincenzo. “It may still be winter, but Turtle Back Zoo is open and it’s a great time to come out and Experience Essex, and our wonderful Turtle Back Zoo and South Mountain Recreation Complex. Waiting for Essex Edwina on Groundhog Day creates excitement about Essex County’s Turtle Back Zoo and highlights her role as an educational resource,” he added.
Essex Edwina’s prediction is as follows:
Here we are once again, to look forward… not back
Should we replace those old mittens? Do we have shorts to unpack?
Well look, I’m over this winter and ready for spring
I want flowers, and picnics, not the touch of wind’s sting.
So today, I’m happy for clouds, no shadows to be found
Spring is much closer, and I am done underground.
That’s right get out those flip flops, the sun’s ready to shine
But before this is through, I have one more thing to divine.
I picked Eagles last time and the Chiefs took the day
But I’m doubling down, now it will go Eagles’ way.
So, with no bad blood between us, I’ll look to the sky,
And with visions of touchdowns, cheer fly Eagles fly.
This is the fourth year that Essex Edwina has made mid-winter and Super Bowl forecasts. Her predecessor, Essex Ed, had been predicting the mid-winter forecast since 1997 and the Zoo had various other groundhogs predict before him dating back to the 1970s. New Jersey weather is not always in line with Pennsylvania’s after all, and Ed could easily see his shadow while Punxsutawney Phil does not or vice versa. In the mid-2000s, Essex Ed started adding Super Bowl predictions to his prognostication.
Legend has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on February 2nd, the winter chill will continue. If the weather is cloudy and he doesn’t see his shadow, we can expect warmer temperatures and an early spring.
“Once again, the powers-that-be are still invested in the possibility of a rodent being the second coming of Nostradamus,” said “Local Talk” Content Editor Kristopher Seals. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if a groundhog can predict the weather – or even a Super Bowl winner for that matter – then I’m going to marry Scarlett Johansson.”
