STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Spring may be just around the corner.
At least that's the word from Staten Island Chuck.
Just before 7:30 a.m., heralded by top-hatted bugler John Franzreb, New York City's official Groundhog Day prognosticator crawled out of his burrow and looked for his shadow, but to no avail.
An early spring is on its way, according to Chuck, who made his prediction at the Staten Island Zoo Thursday morning from behind a glass enclosure.
Like the last two years, Chuck was held underneath a spacious glass enclosure and was then lifted into the enclosure via a small elevator, or the "Chuck-a-vator." The elevator remained above ground while Chuck searched for his shadow.
Chuck's enclosure for his big day had to be modified after a tumultuous Groundhog Day in 2014. Charlotte, the groundhog clandestinely posing as Chuck, fell several feet after being dropped by Mayor Bill de Blasio. She died of "acute internal injuries" a week later. Zoo officials did not say the death was a direct result of the fumble though. In 2009, Chuck bit then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the hand.
Mayor de Blasio -- perhaps mercifully for everyone involved -- did not attend Chuck's morning coming-out. Instead, City Controller Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia (Tish) James were on hand to greet Chuck and proclaim his prediction. Stringer sought to reassure Chuck: "You're safe with us. We have your back," he said, nodding toward the groundhog, who remained ensconced in his enclosure.
City Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl and Assemblyman Matthew Titone (D-North Shore) also stopped in to greet the furry prognosticator. "If you keep your face to the sun, your shadow will always be behind you," Titone joked.
Award-winning screenwriter Danny Rubin, whose "Groundhog Day: The Musical" opens on Broadway next month, was also on hand.
Deputy Borough President Ed Burke served as master-of-ceremonies. "This day is really all about the children," said Burke, author of a newly-published children's book on the legend of Chuck.
Before the program got underway, the children's band Rock-A-Silly warmed up the crowd with the "Staten Island Chuck" song, exhorting the crowd of about 200 children and adults to "show your love for Chuck." "We love you Chuck," they shouted back.
The crowd sipped hot chocolate to warm against the crisp, cold, and some donned warm hats that were distributed by Investors Bank, sponsors of the event.
The student choir from PS 45, West Brighton, under the direction of Olta Minenna, also performed. Student Tara Murphy wowed the crowd with her rendition of the National Anthem.
Not everyone in the crowd was happy with Chuck's prediction for an early spring. Siblings Jordan, 6, and Benjamin Owens, 10, said they were disappointed. They would rather have snow to go sledding. But their mom, Tamar Owens, had a different take: "Mom wants an early spring, because mom's the one who has to drive them around in the snow."
According to the Zoo, Chuck has an 80 percent accuracy rate. This year third grade science classes from PS 45, taught by Cheryl Berretta and Tracey O'Donovan, have been assigned to keep track of Chuck's stats and declare if his prediction is correct for 2017.
The number 40 is crucial to Chuck's prediction. The arrival of an early spring or the persistence of winter is measured by the amount of days over and under 40 degrees between the end of the Groundhog Day ceremony Feb. 2 and the six weeks until the first day of spring March 21. If the majority of the days in between are above 40 degrees, it's considered an early spring. If the majority of the days in between fall below 40 degrees, it's considered to be six more weeks of winter.
After the SI Zoo celebration, Chuck was whisked off to Manhattan, where he and other special (human) guests helped unveil a new interactive exhibit at Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Times Square, and then make an appearance at the August Wilson Theater, to open the box office for the musical Ground Hog Day.