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YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS A GROUNDHOG’S
is, quite unequivocally, no. In a 2022 study, students at Lakehead 6OJWFSTJUZJO5IVOEFS#BZ 0OU DPNQJMFE more than 530 groundhog predictions from 33 different locations. The results showed the groundhogs are about as accurate as flipping a coin. Not exactly the Nostradamus of the animal kingdom. Instead, the annual coaxing of a ground- hog from his hole in the dirt can be chalked up to tradition. More than 300 years ago, when German Christians arrived in what later became the state of Pennsylvania, they brought with them a tradition of predicting the coming end of winter based on a sunny or cloudy day on Candlemas (a Christian celebration of Jesus’s presentation to the temple of Jerusalem, often celebrated 40 days after the birth of Christ which falls on February 2). The timing of this event often coincided with the waking of hibernating animals, marking the coming of spring. Back then the Candlemas tradition was gussied up with the use of different hiber- nating mammals such as badgers, bears
or foxes as weather prophets. Though no studies could be found to prove it definiti- vely, it’s unlikely the other mammals were any more meteorologically savvy than their groundhog counterparts. From Pennsylvania the tradition spread across North America. The first official recorded Groundhog Day on the continent is considered to be in Punxsutawney, Penn- sylvania, in 1887. So, if the marmots can’t predict the weather, who can? The Farmer’s Almanac uses mathematical and astronomical models to predict long-term weather patterns, claiming to be accurate up to 85 per cent of the time. This year the Almanac is predicting a “lion-like” end to winter, pushing snow storms and rain into late March. Everyone will have to wait until February 2 to see how that prediction will stand up to the weather wisdom of the great woodchucks, Willy, Sam and Fred. Otherwise, just check the Weather Network.
Les marmottes peuvent-elles vraiment prédire la fin de l’hiver? Non, mais c’est amusant de les voir essayer. - photo de la banque en ligne.
JOSEPH COPPOLINO joseph.coppolino@eap.on.ca
why such an important question, whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter, is left in the paws of a rodent? Is it because marmots, as groundhogs are also called, are known to have a parti- cular sensitivity to changes in barometric pressure? Is their rodent olfactory sense so advanced they are capable of smelling a change of season? Most importantly, are they even good at it? The single answer to all those questions
Whether (or weather) awaiting the pre- diction of Wiarton Willy, Shubanacadie Sam or Fred la Marmotte, chances are everyone hopes the prognosticating groundhog scurries back down his hole and brings a swifter end to winter. As Groundhog Day, February 2, rolls around once again, some might wonder
UNE AUTRE CAMPAGNE RÉUSSIE DES LUTINS DE NOËL
A WONDERLAND OF WHISKY COMING TO HAMMOND
Valoris representative Guylaine Lapointe (left) and Louise Cayer Deslauriers, president of the Corde à Linge Communautaire of St-Albert survey some of the gifts for children and youth collected as part of the 2022 Valoris Christmas Elves Campaign —supplied photo
RÉDACTION EAP nouvelles@eap.on.ca
visant à recueillir des articles de cadeaux appropriés pour les enfants des familles dans le besoin de la région. L’agence de services sociaux à but non lucratif travaille en partenariat avec des entreprises locales pour mettre en place des sites de dons de cadeaux. La campagne, qui en était à sa 31e année d’existence, a permis de recueillir des cadeaux adaptés à une grande variété de groupes d’âge, afin d’offrir un cadeau de Noël à 682 enfants et jeunes de la région de Prescott-Russell. La campagne comprenait également la troisième course annuelle du défi des lutins de Noël Valoris, organisée par la Fondation Valoris. Plus de 140 personnes ont participé à l’événement et 20 entreprises ont fait des dons. La course Challenge 2022 a permis de récolter plus de 38 000 $ pour aider à soutenir la campagne des lutins de Noël ainsi que d’autres programmes destinés aux enfants et aux jeunes.
Le Hammond Golf and Country Club, la Broken Stick Brewery et le Hammond Hill wilderness retreat apportent ce que le monde du whisky a de mieux à offrir à Clarence- Rockland. Whisky Wonderland est un événement de plusieurs jours où la musique, la gastronomie, les cigares et les arômes fascinants de tourbe, de céréales, de fumée et de caramel que l’on retrouve dans un verre de whisky sont au rendez-vous. - photo d’archive
Valoris Prescott-Russell célèbre une autre campagne réussie des lutins de Noël pour s’assurer que chaque enfant de Prescott-Russell trouve au moins un cadeau à déballer le jour de Noël. «C’est incroyable de voir la communauté de Prescott-Russell se rallier à cette cam- pagne pour assurer des sourires éclatants sur les visages de centaines d’enfants pen- dant les fêtes, a déclaré Caroline Granger, directrice générale de Valoris Prescott-Rus- sell. De nombreux organismes et membres de la communauté de la région soutiennent depuis longtemps la campagne par des dons, des collectes de fonds et des cadeaux. Le succès de cette campagne repose en grande partie sur le soutien de notre com- munauté, et je suis très reconnaissante de leur implication.» Le projet des lutins de Noël de Valoris Prescott-Russell est une campagne annuelle
JOSEPH COPPOLINO joseph.coppolino@eap.on.ca
club, Broken Stick Brewery and Hammond Hill wilderness retreat, Whisky Wonderland will include some of the biggest names in scotch and whisky like Glenlivet, Bowmore, Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, but also Canadian brands like Signal Hill from Newfoundland and Ontario’s Stalk & Barrel whisky. The event is put on with Mike Brisebois, also known as The Whisky Explorer, who orga- nizes tasting events across Canada, connec- ting whisky companies with consumers. Tickets for the various attractions are available online as well as a calendar with a full list of the weekend’s offerings at www. whiskywonderland.ca.
Eastern Ontario’s largest whisky event is calling the Hammond Golf & Country Club home this February, bringing cigars, craft beers, fine dining and, of course, more than 30 whisky vendors to Clarence-Rockland. From February 17 to 19, the Hammond Golf Club and the RiverRock Inn are hosting a weekend filled with events ranging from whisky tastings, masterclasses, cigar bar, sleigh rides, ice sculpting and live music. Brought together by the Hammond Golf
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