With temperatures in the Florida Keys hitting their lowest points in nearly two decades, declaring the end of winter on Groundhog Day might have been irresponsible.
Thankfully, the “mollusk meteorologist” at Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters concurred with his coworker up north, Punxsutawney Phil. The massive queen conch delighted early-morning guests at the aquarium as he emerged from his sideways shell, saw his shadow and flipped right back over – ordering another six weeks of winter in the island chain.
“When the conch sees his shadow, it means that we have six more weeks of winter,” said Ben Daughtry, Aquarium Encounters president. “But here in the Florida Keys, we can live with that, because it’s typically in the 70s.”
Up in western Pennsylvania at the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, top-hat-wearing revelers helped Phil announce the same prediction – but in single-digit temps instead of the 40s. And down in Marathon, Aquarium Encounters staff – and even a few of the sea urchins in the GroundConch’s tank – wore the traditional festive top hats for the occasion.
An original song by John Bartus honoring the aquatic meteorologist opened the morning’s proceedings, followed by a breakfast buffet and warm beverages for more than 50 attendees at the free event. Local dignitaries in the audience included Marathon Mayor Lynny Del Gaizo and Vice Mayor Debbie Struyf, council members Lynn Landry and Robyn Still, Monroe County Commissioner Michelle Lincoln and Marathon City Manager George Garrett.
