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NJ town again cancels Groundhog Day celebrations because it can't get a groundhog By Charles Watson • Published January 27, 2025 • Updated on January 27, 2025 at 10:38 pm NBC Universal, Inc. Milltown, New Jersey's beloved groundhog Mel passed away in 2021, disrupting the town's annual Groundhog Day celebrations. Efforts to import a new groundhog were halted by state wildlife officials Milltown Mel is pictured in this file photo from Groundhog Day 2017. The groundhog passed away in 2022, forcing the cancellation of the borough's annual tradition of holding Groundhog Day ceremonies. Milltown Mel is pictured in this file photo from Groundhog Day in 2017. The furry critter took part in the borough's annual Groundhog Day ceremony for six years before passing away prior to the Milltown, N.J.'s., popular Groundhog Day festivities were canceled for the third time in a row in 2024. The town groundhog wranglers have not been able to find a suitable replacement after the death of Milltown Mel (pictured above) in 2022. Milltown Mel II is pictured in this file photo from Groundhog Day 2017. The furry critter took part in the borough's annual Groundhog Day ceremony for six years before passing away prior to the MILLTOWN – The borough's traditional Groundhog Day event has been canceled for the second consecutive year. Milltown Mel will not take part in this year’s festivities, according to the event Groundhog Day ceremony canceled in Milltown, N.J., as search for new Mel continues The last Milltown Mel died at the end of 2021 at 5 years old. Milltown's popular Groundhog Day festivities were canceled this year, the second year in a row of cancellations following the death of Milltown Mel. The borough of Milltown will not have a Groundhog Day event this year because officials were unable to get a new groundhog. Milltown Mel died last year before the big day, causing officials to MILLTOWN – A New Jersey borough's popular Groundhog Day festivities were canceled this year following the death of the latest local celebrity, who for the last several years has been given the The origin of Groundhog Day in Milltown, New Jersey, traces to a promise a guy named Jerry Guthlein made to his sick wife in the mid-1990s. Cathy Guthlein, a Milltown mother of three, was People in Milltown will once again have to watch the Groundhog Day ceremonies on TV from Punxsutawney instead of holding their own celebration on Feb. 2. Milltown Mel’s mid-winter appearance has MILLTOWN, N.J. – Another Groundhog Day approaches in Milltown. But it’s Groundhog Day in another sense, in that the town will wake up on February 2nd and again won’t be celebrating its Milltown Mel is pictured in this file photo from Groundhog Day 2017. The groundhog passed away in 2022, forcing the cancellation of the borough's annual tradition of holding Groundhog Day ceremonies. No groundhog, no celebration. New Jersey has long had its own groundhog - and celebrated its very own Groundhog Day. Like everything else, we went our own way! But back in 2021, that Jersey groundhog - Milltown Mel, um, well, died. It is now 2025 and ol' Mel is still dead. The problem is - there was no backup for Mel. MILLTOWN, New Jersey (WABC) -- One New Jersey town will be without its beloved furry rodent on Groundhog Day this year. For years, Milltown Mel was the headliner for over a thousand Central Jersey Milltown Mel is pictured in this file photo from Groundhog Day 2017. The groundhog passed away in 2022, forcing the cancellation of the borough's annual tradition of holding Groundhog Day ceremonies. Milltown Mel’s Groundhog Day appearance canceled for 5th year in a row COVID-19 shut down festivities in 2021, and then the untimely death of Mel just a week before the 2022 event, put a stop to the festivities ever since. New Jersey's Milltown Mel "recently crossed over the rainbow bridge," his handlers say — and they scrambled to find a replacement rodent for Groundhog Day, to no avail.
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