Sunday, Feb. 05, 2012

Mortimer: Get ready for spring

Garner groundhog, with perfect record, predicts end to winter

Mortimer, the town's weather-predicting groundhog, says Garner won't see much more of winter - not that the area has had much of a winter anyway.

"You may need to get out your shorts and sunscreen, because Mortimer thinks we're going to have an early spring," Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams said Thursday after the rodent whispered the forecast in his ear.

Some of the hundreds of people who attended the Groundhog Day celebration at White Deer Park didn't wait for Mortimer's forecast. Children frolicked in T-shirts and shorts, basking in the nearly 70-degree weather.

While Mortimer anticipates spring's quick arrival, some fellow weather-conscious groundhogs predicted six more weeks of winter. Among them were Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania and Sir Walter Wally in Raleigh.

But in his first two years as Garner's forecaster, Mortimer hasn't been wrong yet. Last year, he called for an early spring. In his inaugural forecast, he predicted a long-haul winter.

This time around, maybe Mortimer couldn't foresee winter weather invading what have been unseasonably mild temperatures. That was just fine with some sun-lovers who gathered at White Deer Park to see the groundhog. But some others said they'd like an appearance from Old Man Winter.

"I wouldn't mind some winter weather," said Stefanie Duggan, 34, of Cary. A native of New York, she knows all about the snow.

Holland Stinebaugh, 28, of Clayton brought a short-sleeved shirt to the park in case her daughter got too warm in her heavier clothes.

It's not every year her kids get to enjoy a Groundhog Day celebration without layers to keep them warm.

"It's kind of silly, but what are you gonna do?" Stinebaugh said of the warm spell.

Sherry Allen, 42, of Garner said if it gets cold, she'd at least like to see snow. Her 10-year-old daughter, Chloe, brought her scooter to the park to take full advantage of the spring weather.

"She's hoping it stays warm," Allen said.

After his big day, Mortimer headed back to Chapel Hill, where he lives in Vincent Mammone's dining room and snacks on bananas, nuts, fruits and vegetables. He was donated by a breeder to CLAWS, a wildlife rescuer.

Unlike groundhogs in the wild, Mortimer doesn't hibernate.

He does, however, spend a lot of time napping on his back, Mammone said.

Mammone didn't bother to guess ahead of time what Mortimer would say about spring.

"Who am I to predict the weather?" he said. "I do think that his prediction will be accurate."

If it is, Mortimer's perfect prediction streak will continue. And some will be left longing for some blustery afternoons, with at least a few snowflakes on the ground.

"My oldest daughter keeps asking, 'When is it gonna snow, mommy? It's winter,' " Duggan said.

She might have to wait until next year.