Groundhogs Predict Early Spring and More Winter, Who's Right?Local NewsUpdated on Feb 8, 2017 View more like this | Visit STATEN ISLAND, NY | Contact Essential Public Relations LLC |
On Groundhog Day, Staten Island Chuck predicted an early spring for New York City and New Jersey. As soon as the forecast came in, N.Y.C. Public Advocate Letitia James unfurled the "Spring is Coming" banner at the S.I. Zoo. Investors Bank, which is putting community back in banking, sponsored the celebration.
With Snow in the Forecast, Who Made the Most Accurate Prediction, S.I. Chuck or Pennsylvania’s Phil?
Under overcast skies, Staten Island Chuck recently emerged from his high tech burrow on Groundhog Day, and he did not see his shadow. Based on folklore, that means spring is coming soon.
Phil, who is Pennsylvania’s Groundhog, crawled out of his burrow, sun was shining and he saw his shadow. He is forecasting six more weeks of winter.
After “Chuck made his forecast, the crowd of people at the Staten Island Zoo cheered, and then New York City Public Advocate Letitia James unfurled the “Spring is Coming” banner. The Staten Island. Zoo’s annual Groundhog Day event is sponsored by Investors Bank.
Staten Island Chuck, the resident groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo, has been predicting weather since 1981, and he has an 80 percent accuracy rate.
Hundreds of children and adults from across Staten Island attended the Groundhog Day celebration. The event began with student Tara Murphy from Staten Island’s P.S. 45 school singing the National Anthem. Next, students from the school’s third grade science classes recited a poem dedicated to Staten Island Chuck.
Before the ceremonies began, Staten Island Deputy Borough President Ed Burke introduced the honored guests including:
• Scott Stringer, New York City Comptroller
• Matthew Titone, New York State Assemblyman
• William J. Frew, President of the S.I. Zoo Board of Trustees
• Kenneth Mitchell, Executive Director of the S.I. Zoo
• Danny Rubin, author of Groundhog Day, The Musical
• Domenick Cama, Sr. Executive V.P. and Chief Operating Officer, Investors Bank
Mr. Cama said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to bring Staten Island community together during the Zoo's Groundhog Day event. Also, we want to thank Chuck for forecasting an early spring.”
In the coming weeks, students at P.S. 45 are going to monitor the daily temperature to check the reliability of Chuck’s prognostication. The Zoo’s trainer will visit the school and bring Chuck around to the science classes.
Staten Island Zoo Executive Director Ken Mitchell said: “We are very enthusiastic about our partnership with Investors Bank, which is a supportive and fully engaged corporate sponsor. The Bank supports the Groundhog Day celebration, Staten Island Chuck’s habitat and weather station, an educational program with local schools and the Spooktacular event in October. The Zoo-Investors Bank relationship is dynamic, growing and very rewarding.
Investors Bank supports many local nonprofits on Staten Island. Recently, the Bank opened its fifth branch on Staten Island at 2200 Richmond Avenue in Bulls Head. Additional branches are located at 1200 Forest Avenue, West Brighton, 2580 Hylan Boulevard, New Dorp, 1556 Hylan Blvd., Grasmere, and 271 Page Avenue, Tottenville.
About Investors Bank
Investors Bank is a full-service commercial bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With more than $23 billion in assets and over 150 retail branches in New Jersey, New York City and on Long Island, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors’ consumer banking services include complete deposit products, online and mobile banking, home equity loans and lines of credit, and an array of home mortgages.
Serving the business community, Investors provides deposit accounts, cash management services, business loans and lines of credit, and commercial real estate financing solutions to small and middle market companies, professional services firms, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, healthcare firms and a broad range of businesses.
Investors Bank is a member of FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.
The website is www.investorsbank.com, and the Bank can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Staten Island Zoo
The Staten Island Zoo opened in 1936. It was the first U.S. zoo dedicated to an educational mission, and the first zoo anywhere to exhibit all 32 varieties of U.S. rattlesnakes. In the late 1960s, it maintained the world’s most complete rattlesnake collection, with 39 varieties.
Over the decades, the Zoo expanded to include a Children’s Center,
wildlife exhibitions, promotion of species conservation, and outreach programs for children and adults – all designed to inform the public about the value, beauty and vulnerability of nature.
Construction of animal exhibits and visitor amenities continue as the Zoo expands to better serve and educate a growing number of visitors.
The Zoo – located in Barrett Park, 614 Broadway in West Brighton – is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
For more information, call 718-442-3101 or visit: www.statenislandzoo.org.
Under overcast skies, Staten Island Chuck recently emerged from his high tech burrow on Groundhog Day, and he did not see his shadow. Based on folklore, that means spring is coming soon.
Phil, who is Pennsylvania’s Groundhog, crawled out of his burrow, sun was shining and he saw his shadow. He is forecasting six more weeks of winter.
After “Chuck made his forecast, the crowd of people at the Staten Island Zoo cheered, and then New York City Public Advocate Letitia James unfurled the “Spring is Coming” banner. The Staten Island. Zoo’s annual Groundhog Day event is sponsored by Investors Bank.
Staten Island Chuck, the resident groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo, has been predicting weather since 1981, and he has an 80 percent accuracy rate.
Hundreds of children and adults from across Staten Island attended the Groundhog Day celebration. The event began with student Tara Murphy from Staten Island’s P.S. 45 school singing the National Anthem. Next, students from the school’s third grade science classes recited a poem dedicated to Staten Island Chuck.
Before the ceremonies began, Staten Island Deputy Borough President Ed Burke introduced the honored guests including:
• Scott Stringer, New York City Comptroller
• Matthew Titone, New York State Assemblyman
• William J. Frew, President of the S.I. Zoo Board of Trustees
• Kenneth Mitchell, Executive Director of the S.I. Zoo
• Danny Rubin, author of Groundhog Day, The Musical
• Domenick Cama, Sr. Executive V.P. and Chief Operating Officer, Investors Bank
Mr. Cama said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to bring Staten Island community together during the Zoo's Groundhog Day event. Also, we want to thank Chuck for forecasting an early spring.”
In the coming weeks, students at P.S. 45 are going to monitor the daily temperature to check the reliability of Chuck’s prognostication. The Zoo’s trainer will visit the school and bring Chuck around to the science classes.
Staten Island Zoo Executive Director Ken Mitchell said: “We are very enthusiastic about our partnership with Investors Bank, which is a supportive and fully engaged corporate sponsor. The Bank supports the Groundhog Day celebration, Staten Island Chuck’s habitat and weather station, an educational program with local schools and the Spooktacular event in October. The Zoo-Investors Bank relationship is dynamic, growing and very rewarding.
Investors Bank supports many local nonprofits on Staten Island. Recently, the Bank opened its fifth branch on Staten Island at 2200 Richmond Avenue in Bulls Head. Additional branches are located at 1200 Forest Avenue, West Brighton, 2580 Hylan Boulevard, New Dorp, 1556 Hylan Blvd., Grasmere, and 271 Page Avenue, Tottenville.
About Investors Bank
Investors Bank is a full-service commercial bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With more than $23 billion in assets and over 150 retail branches in New Jersey, New York City and on Long Island, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors’ consumer banking services include complete deposit products, online and mobile banking, home equity loans and lines of credit, and an array of home mortgages.
Serving the business community, Investors provides deposit accounts, cash management services, business loans and lines of credit, and commercial real estate financing solutions to small and middle market companies, professional services firms, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, healthcare firms and a broad range of businesses.
Investors Bank is a member of FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.
The website is www.investorsbank.com, and the Bank can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Staten Island Zoo
The Staten Island Zoo opened in 1936. It was the first U.S. zoo dedicated to an educational mission, and the first zoo anywhere to exhibit all 32 varieties of U.S. rattlesnakes. In the late 1960s, it maintained the world’s most complete rattlesnake collection, with 39 varieties.
Over the decades, the Zoo expanded to include a Children’s Center,
wildlife exhibitions, promotion of species conservation, and outreach programs for children and adults – all designed to inform the public about the value, beauty and vulnerability of nature.
Construction of animal exhibits and visitor amenities continue as the Zoo expands to better serve and educate a growing number of visitors.
The Zoo – located in Barrett Park, 614 Broadway in West Brighton – is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
For more information, call 718-442-3101 or visit: www.statenislandzoo.org.
Investors Bank's team on Staten Island helped celebrate Groundhog Day by serving hot chocolate and providing people with cozy knit caps. Shown in the front row from left to right S.I. Chuck, team member, S.I. Deputy Borough President Ed Burke, Investors Bank COO Domenick Cama, Groundhog Day writer Danny Rubin, Branch Manager Xiomara Ayala, team member, Business Banker Biagio Madaio, and New York Public Advocate Tish James.
Ready to coax Staten Island Chuck out of his high tech burrow are from left to right S.I. Zoo Mast Horn Player, Investors Bank Sr. V.P. Jackie Pena, N.Y.C. Public Advocate Tish James, Sophia a student at P.S. 45, COO Domenick Cama, S.I. Sr. Market Manager Brian Gomez, and NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer.
