Saturday, January 17, 2009

Groundhog Day - just around the corner


Did you know that Woodstock has its very own chapter of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club? This has got to be one of Woodstock's little secrets that only pops to the surface in mid-January of each year. And who else could be the Grand Stump Master of the Woodstock Chapter?

Originally started as a social networking group, that fizzled pretty quickly. Woodstock is just not a social networking hub of the universe. But this could change. The local chapter can come back to life more often than just on February 2, if there is interest.

Check out the official Chapter banner, which will be on display at the Courthouse Grill, 101 N. Johnson Street - right on the Square. And ask Linda if she has any specials for you Groundhog Day lovers. Mention my name and order anything you want on the menu. Linda will charge you only the menu price, plus tax and a nice tip.

And if you are really having a slow day, check out the festivities at http://www.groundhog.org/ Also, check out the new bronzed Punxsutawney Phil at http://www.votephil.com/ Cast your vote there and enter the drawing to win a bronzed Phil.

Punxsutawney Phil's imposter, Woodstock Willie, is scheduled to make his appearance at 7:07AM on February 2, 2009, at the Woodstock Square in the Park. Check out all the activities for the biggest event in Woodstock in February on the City's website at www.woodstockil.gov Scroll down to the calendar, click on Groundhog Days and then go to the .pdf view of the Calendar of Events for Groundhog Days.

Watch for a survey to be posted here on January 25 about whether Willie will see his shadow on February 2. And, no, you won't win a bronzed Willie if you are right.

2 comments:

Phil Guspott said...

Gus, I'm a little confused. What does the club actually do? Please tell me its not driving around taking pictures of speeders and kids kissing at the park ;)

Also, based on the banner, I noticed it looks like they think Woodstock must be a suburb of Champaign.

Gus said...

You are sure right about the star on the State map. That's the way it came to me from the Club in Pennsylvania.

Right now the Woodstock Chapter doesn't do anything but drag out the banner once a year.

It could be a great social and business networking group; free, unlike other networking "clubs." It could meet at the Courthouse Grill, which could become known as the world headquarters of the Woodstock Chapter of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. Admission to a function would be one business card in the fishbowl.

I'll bet if enough people showed up, Linda might even spring for a free appetizer to the lucky person whose business card was drawn. Now, I haven't asked her about this, so don't ask for the freebie. Yet.