The original Milltown Mel may be dead, but the new one, also known as Milltown Mel, will be predicting spring Tuesday. Watch video
MILLTOWN -- The original Milltown Mel, New Jersey's own version of Punxsutawney Phil, may have died in July, but his companion, also named Milltown Mel, will be on the job Tuesday morning predicting the arrival of spring.
Jerry Guthlein, owner of both groundhogs, said, "we will pay our respects to the original Milltown Mel" before the prediction ceremony. Then, his successor will take over.
Guthlein said he has not named his second groundhog Milltown Mel 2, but that hasn't caused any confusion.
"They were both Milltown Mel," he said, adding the two were companions for years until the original died in July 2015.
"It didn't seem to cause any problem," Guthlein chuckled. "When I came out with food, they all came over."
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The current Milltown Mel is about a year younger than the original, Guthlein said.
"He is also bigger than the first one was and much more frisky," their owner said. "They have different personalities."
The ceremony will be held at the American Legion on JFK Drive at a special pavilion at 7 a.m.
If Mel sees his shadow, there are six more weeks of winter -- no shadow and there is an early spring.
Guthlein said in July that Mel was six or seven years old when he died.
He purchased the groundhogs from a breeder in Pennsylvania after a family trip to Punxsutawney, Pa. where Mel's more famous counterpart lives. A carpenter made a "groundhog palace" in the backyard, where Mel ate special pellets, as well as carrots, peanuts, and leafy greens.
Guthlein, a councilman and owner of a funeral home, decided to have a Groundhog Day celebration at his home. Over the years, the event grew, and drew about 500 people when the weather wasn't too bad.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Staff writer Brian Amaral contributed to this story.