Hucky Predicts Early Spring At 10th Annual Groundhog Day Event
BY AMY MANLEY — MIRROR REPORTER
It’s all about the groundhog on Pilliod Road each February 2. The road is home to the area’s own live version of Punxsutawney Phil.
This year Holland Huckleberry fans gathered for the 10th annual Holland Huckleberry Groundhog Day festivities.
With 65 people registered in attendance, and more who never made it in the house to register, Hucky held court, proudly posing for pictures as people oohed and aahed, waiting for his annual prediction.
With Hucky’s success rate at nearly 70 percent, farmers in attendance declared him “better than many weathermen.”
Attendees mingled in the warmth of the house while reporters and photographers from three area papers and two news stations vied for interview time with Hucky’s owners Charlie and Terri Hoag.
The house hummed with noise as door prizes were offered and winners announced for the best confectionary creations depicting Holland Huckleberry.
First prize was awarded to new entry Deanna Tuckerman whose daughter Joy Short delivered her painstakingly detailed groundhog cake. With realistic colors and feathery strokes, this cake looked like it could take a bite out of passersby.
Second place was awarded to Peggy Murawski for her accurate rendition of the Holland Huckleberry Honor Flight float, and Peggy Brown of Maumee earned third with her cupcakes the judges deemed “too cute to eat.”
Each year the contests and prizes become more elaborate as friends, neighbors and local dignitaries are rewarded for getting up early to share the morning with Hucky and friends.
Second-year attendee Holly Metzger presented the Hoags with a painting of Hucky she recently completed to hang with the other groundhog memorabilia the Hoags have collected through the years.
It’s evident that the people who crowd into this house to share the day aren’t just fond of Hucky; they are fond of his owners Charlie and Terri Hoag and come because it is important to them.
Snippets of conversation center on the smile that shines from Charlie’s face as he circulates, working the crowd.
“If you had told me 15 years ago that Charlie would be doing this – well, I’d have never believed you,” Charlie’s wife Terri said.
The pair have turned their celebrity animal into a philanthropic poster pet, toting him to parades and events to raise awareness for Honor Flight of Northwest Ohio, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring veterans by providing a free, one-day trip to the nation’s capital to see war memorials.
An Honor Flight donation jar was prominently placed by the guest registration area encouraging those in attendance to donate. Donations came to $572, bringing Holland Huckleberry donation totals to the charity to over $2,000.
At 7:55 a.m. the crowd gathered outside to see what Hucky would predict. He arrived in the back of a limo driven by Barbara Wright, who was dressed in a groundhog costume made by Terri’s cousin Jody Ely.
Six longtime supporters held three-foot-long sparklers, creating a glittering arch leading to Hucky’s makeshift burrow.
A fountain of fireworks sprayed in the background as Hoag placed Hucky on the white board asking the crowd, “Does it look like he sees his shadow?”
Those in attendance agreed there was no shadow on the white board and applause erupted as Hoag announced, “Spring is around the corner.”
As the party on Pilliod Road wound down, the groundhog finished his busy morning with a visit to second-graders at Crissey Elementary.
Students listened to a short presentation on “A Year in the Life of a Groundhog,” followed by a question-and-answer session with prizes awarded for good listening skills.
His work for the day done, Holland Huckleberry headed back to his burrow to sleep until spring arrives.
Assistant Manager Takes Helm At Holland Branch Library
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Before Linda Kerul was named manager of the Holland Branch Library last week, she already had her foot, and her heart, in the door.
As assistant manager since July 2006, Kerul is looking forward to working at the reference desk to see many familiar and friendly faces, she said.
Before arriving at the Holland branch, Kerul spent 11 years at the Washington branch as children’s librarian.
The Toledo native graduated from Woodward High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in art education from The University of Toledo.
While in college, she worked odd jobs, including the drive-through at McDonald’s, teaching art classes at private galleries, substitute teaching, and working for Boys and Girls Clubs of Toledo and for WGTE-TV.
“I have always looked to literature to aid me in every job I’ve undertaken,” she said. “I really enjoy helping people, learning new things and especially helping people learn new things – I found my place at the library.”
Kerul began working for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library while completing her master’s degree in information and library science from Kent State University.
“It truly was ‘distance’ education for me – for a couple of semesters, I made the three-hour trip to Kent, Ohio, went to class for three and a half hours, studied for a few more hours, then turned around for the three-hour trip back home – all in one day. It was tough, but well worth it. I found that actually working in the field I was studying was extremely beneficial. It was true hands-on learning,” she said.
Kerul said she’s proud of the knowledgeable and helpful Holland Library staff members, who enjoy serving patrons, rising above the challenges facing libraries.
“Our challenge is to continue to provide extraordinary service and a balanced collection to meet the needs and expectations of our community, despite the major cuts to our operating budget,” she said.
The economic conditions are actually bringing more people into the library for magazines, newspapers, books on CD, audio books, downloadable media, children’s programming and computer classes. Many people come to the library to catch up or stay current on technology, Kerul said.
“One of our goals in the coming year is to provide opportunities for patrons to get one-on-one assistance in order to gain some basic skills for using the library PC’s, the Internet and the computer programs accessible through the library’s Web site,” she said.
Another goal is to revitalize the Friends of the Library group, to actively support library programs and projects, she said.
Like retired branch manager Colleen Lehmann, Kerul will also continue involvement with the Holland-Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Holland community.
In her spare time, Kerul organizes the library system’s staff book discussion group, makes cards and does scrapbooking, and is Web master and president of Frogtown Storytellers.
When she’s not roping her family into helping with a library-related project, she and her husband Joe can be found rooting for their 17-year-old daughter Emily, who plays lacrosse for Notre Dame Academy.
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