Groundhog Day (a little early) at Grater Park

Groundhog Day came a little early this year for the residents of Ephrata. On Jan 29, 2011 a standing room only crowd joined at the Grater park band shell for the yearly performance. The event raised over $4000 for several local charities.

The 9th annual prognostication by “Cocalico Cal” started off rather solemnly as the crowd was told of the marmot’s untimely passing following a run in with IRS agents in Las Vegas.

The members of the Lincoln Lodge of the Maximus Marmot gathered to pay their last respects to the now stuffed Cal. “He had a good heart, but a terrible liver said one.”

The baby marmot in training couldn’t contain his grief screaming out throughout the service for his lost father. As the critter was being placed in his final resting place, the real Cocalico Cal awoke from a slumber and crawled out of his resting place safe and sound. Everyone in the crowd rejoiced at the safe return of their beloved prognosticator except his lawyer and best friend who was about to read his last will and testimant. As it turned out, the will was a fake and the lawyer was quickly arrested following a chase through the knee-deep snow.

Following the swift arrest, Cal told everyone that spring is just around the corner. The meeting was finished with an induction of a new member into the lodge by immersion of his feet in the water next to the creek. The new member had other plans however and decided to take immersion to the next level.