punxsutawney phil 2011Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil made his annual weather forecast in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, as his handlers announced he had not seen his shadow this year, thus predicting an early spring.
Whether a groundhog 1,217 miles to the north says winter is here to stay, or spring is just around the corner, mattered little to the top-hatted, tuxedo-clad members of The Hollywood Beach Bum Chapter of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.
``Six more weeks of winter in Florida is still six weeks of sun and fun,'' said Pat Hendrick, of Hollywood Beach Safety.
Indeed, Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog of weather forecast fame since 1887, did not see his shadow when he peeped from his lair in Gobblers Knob, Punxsutawney, Pa., and so determined that spring will arrive early this year.
No matter, says Hendrick. ``People from all over the country should come to Florida.''
The Hollywood chapter is one of 58 such organizations nationwide that gathered around televisions to await the annual 7:25 a.m. Feb. 2 prediction.
But instead of being glued to the tube, Hollywood Groundhog Day partyers enjoyed breakfast al fresco at Ocean Alley restaurant, then made a mad dash to the surf where they dipped their big toes into the 69-degree water.
``If anyone here were to think of their worst winter in Florida, it would still be the best for everyone else right now,'' said Bill Cooper, of Punxsutawney, referring to recent record-breaking snow and ice storms every where else.
Tuesday was Cooper's first time in 35 years he's spent Groundhog Day somewhere other than Punxy.
Cooper, the immediate past president of the patriarchal Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney, retired from his job as a banker on Jan. 3 and headed south two days later. ``It's the first time in 35 years that I've spoken outside on this day without seeing my own breath,'' said Cooper, dressed in a T-shirt, sandals and top hat.
Club member Lenette Serlo of Plantation, whose father hails from the frosty hills of Punxsutawney (who knew Punxy had so many two-legged residents?), bought her husband Larry, the couple's three children and two batches of Punxsutawney Phil cookies to share.
The homemade cookies are based on the official Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce recipe, right down to gingersnap spice and raisin eyes.
``It's about keeping the tradition going,'' Serlo said.
Whether Phil turns out to be right or wrong really doesn't matter, Cooper said.
``The tradition hasn't existed for 125 years because of the best meteorological science known to man,'' he explained. ``It's just fun. It breaks up the monotony of winter and makes it something to look forward to.''
And, it turns out, weather prediction is not Phil's only talent.
He also likes to make picks on Super Bowl games.
This year, Phil says, look for the Pittsburgh Steelers to win.
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