Milltown Mel getting ready to "hog" spotlight once again

MARYANN BOURBEAUSTAFF WRITERCourier News: January 30, 2011

After record-setting snow in Central Jersey this year, residents just might be at their wits end on Wednesday if Milltown Mel, the borough's resident groundhog, sees his shadow and we must endure six more weeks of winter.

More snow may be headed our way on Wednesday but Mel's owner, Jerry Guthlein, said that the show will go on no matter what.

"Mel will speak whether there is sun, snow or rain," he said. "The only good thing about the snow is that he won't see his shadow."

Those who want to witness the groundhog's prediction can go to the American Legion on JFK Drive at 7 a.m. for the borough's annual Groundhog Day festivities. Guthlein will bring his pet groundhog Mel, along with a crew of groundhog wranglers, to the event that mimics the one in Punxsutawney, Pa. About 400 people came to the event last year, where there festivities included music, and the wranglers wore top hats and handed out "I Heart Mel" buttons to the kids.

"I'm always surprised that so many people show up at 7 a.m. on a cold winter morning," Guthlein said.

This year, in addition to the buttons, Guthlein will be shooting Milltown Mel T-shirts out into the crowd.

"Hopefully, nobody will get hurt," he joked.

After the prediction, all the guests are invited inside the American Legion for coffee and doughnuts.

"They are very generous to let us use the facility," Guthlein said.

Guthlein and his wife Cathy became fascinated with groundhogs in the 1980s. They started the borough celebration two years ago in the parking lot of their business, the Bronson and Guthlein Funeral Home. So many people came to watch Guthlein pull Mel from his tree stump that the event was moved to the American Legion last year.

"It's something fun to do in the middle of a cold, dark winter," he said.

Mel stocked up on vegetables and special pellets before settling down for his long nap.

"He eats voraciously in the fall," Guthlein said. "He probably put on half his body weight. He can go two and a half months without food and water. Groundhogs actually hibernate longer than bears."

Guthlein said he has been shining a little bit of light on Mel to slowly start to rouse him from his hibernation.

"He's waking up slowly," Guthlein said. "He should be raring to go by the 2nd."

It's unknown whether Mel will predict six more weeks of winter or an early spring. But what is for sure is that the little guy will be getting some companionship this spring. Guthlein is adopting a second groundhog, a female that is expected to be born in April.

"Until she gets a little bigger, she will be in a cage next to Mel," Guthlein said. "It will give him some company."

And what will the new groundhog be named - possibly Melanie or Melinda?

"I'll let my grandkids decide on the name," Guthlein said.

This year, Guthlein is asking those who attend the event to bring a nonperishable food item that will be donated to Elijah's Promise soup kitchen in New Brunswick.

EVENT INFO

WHAT: Milltown Mel's Groundhog Day prediction

WHEN: 7 a.m. Wednesday

WHERE: American Legion, 4 JFK Drive, Milltown

ADMISSION: Free