His shadow left no doubt

No early spring, according to Malverne groundhog

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Despite the cheerful sounds of a banjo trio, and being the center of attention for several dozen admirers at Crossroads Farm in Malverne on Monday, Malverne Mel, the village’s resident groundhog, told Mayor Patti McDonald on Monday that another six weeks of winter were coming.

“Are you sure about that, Mel? I’m the one who has to tell everybody,” said McDonald, who leaned in close to hear what Malverne Mel had to say. She added that Mel seemed a bit upset with the weather that morning, and was going to stay in his plexiglass box.

(Staten Island Chuck, according to media reports, did the same thing.)

Apparently this weather isn’t even fit for groundhogs, let alone humans.

A light snow fell on Sunday night, along with freezing rain and ice that made the roads a slippery mess.

Among those who celebrated Groundhog Day in Malverne were the Muchtin family, of Wantagh, who explained that they love the tradition and visit one ceremony each year, whether in Malverne, Punxsutawney, Pa., or Staten Island. “My daughter likes it,” said Vinny Muchtin. “We were going to go Holtsville today,” he added, referring to the home of Holtsville Hal, “but they canceled.”

This was the first time that Malverne’s Groundhog Day festivities were held at Crossroads Farm, at the corner of Ocean and Hempstead avenues. The event was moved from its traditional location at Reese Memorial Park due to the weather.

The farm, which prides itself on being the only working farm in south Nassau County and the closest organic farm to New York City, offered attendees breakfast in the farmhouse before they ventured back into a winter that, according to the marmot in residence, will continue a while longer.