{"id":102495,"date":"2026-02-01T19:56:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T19:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/102495\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T19:56:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T19:56:16","slug":"jessup-giuseppe-the-ferret-predicts-an-early-spring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/102495\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Jessup Giuseppe’ the ferret predicts an early spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

JESSUP \u2014 As the temperature hovered in the single digits and snow flurries fell Sunday morning, Jessup Giuseppe predicted an early spring, much to the delight of hundreds of people huddled around Station Park.<\/p>\n

After event organizers were unable to wrangle a \u201cferocious\u201d groundhog living under Mike McAndrew\u2019s porch, they turned to a weather-prognosticating ferret, belonging to James \u201cJessup Jim\u201d Salus, to assume the role.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started discussing the dilemma at Jak\u2019s Pub & Eatery where \u2018Jessup Jim\u2019 was bartending and he said, \u2018I just happen to have a magical, mystical ferret who predicts weather trends,\u2019\u201d said McAndrew, owner of Three Saints Barber Shop & Shave Parlor in the borough and one of 15 \u201cfounding fathers\u201d for the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony.<\/p>\n

Salus, the official ferret handler, welcomed the opportunity to participate in the festivities.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were going through random animals and I said I have a ferret, and it\u2019s a perfect fit for the venue,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Suzanne Goddard, a board member for the Jessup 21st Century Association, attended the event with her daughter, Rebecca, and praised the organizers for giving residents a glimpse of Groundhog Day closer to home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought it was such a great idea,\u201d she said. \u201cWe watch the Bill Murray movie \u2018Groundhog Day\u2019 and always thought it would be so great to go to Punxsutawney, but that\u2019s a ride and a half, and it\u2019s crazy and insane there, so to have something local is definitely amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"James<\/p>\n

James \u201cJessup Jim\u201d Salus, official ferret handler, holds up Jessup Giuseppe during the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony in the borough\u2019s Station Park on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"Youngsters<\/p>\n

Youngsters find a good vantage point in a tree for the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Station Park on Church Street. Jessup Giuseppe, a ferret, predicted an early spring.(CHAD SEBRING\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"Youngsters<\/p>\n

Youngsters find a good vantage point on some shoulders for the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Station Park on Church Street. Jessup Giuseppe, a ferret, predicted an early spring.(CHAD SEBRING\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"Officials<\/p>\n

Officials kick off the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Station Park on Church Street. Jessup Giuseppe, a ferret, predicted an early spring.(CHAD SEBRING\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A musician plays at the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony 8 a.m. Sunday at Station Park on Church Street. Jessup Giuseppe, a ferret, predicted an early spring.(CHAD SEBRING\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

\"Red<\/p>\n

Red and white grapes, sitting atop a wine barrel, were used in the Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in which Jessup Giuseppe, the ferret, predicted an early spring. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 6<\/p>\n

James \u201cJessup Jim\u201d Salus, official ferret handler, holds up Jessup Giuseppe during the inaugural Jessup Groundhog Day ceremony in the borough\u2019s Station Park on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE\/STAFF PHOTO)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

When Jessup Giuseppe chose a white grape \u2014 signifying an early spring \u2014 it was an added bonus, Goddard said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were taking guesses about what he was going to predict,\u201d she said. \u201cRebecca said early spring and was right. From his lips to God\u2019s ears, let\u2019s get that spring coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the other attendees were Derek Hunt, 30, of Olyphant, who was decked out in a groundhog costume, and his wife, Kayla.<\/p>\n

The couple attended the Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney for the first time last year and made the shorter trek to Jessup on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really loved it there and wanted to see what it would be like here,\u201d Hunt said. \u201cI felt like I couldn\u2019t miss this opportunity, and I\u2019m pleasantly surprised at how many people were here. I can only imagine it getting bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hunt had some doubts about how Jessup would be able to organize an event similar to the spectacle in western Pennsylvania, but was pleasantly surprised by the size of the crowd and attention to detail.<\/p>\n

\u201cOriginally, I questioned it, but I think the way they did it was very true to tradition and I think it will hold the same value,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Event President Matt Catanzaro described the day as a symbol of light, positive energy, peace and community joy and was \u201cflabbergasted\u201d by the large crowd that included guests from as far as Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was like lightning \u2014 people were electrified,\u201d he said. \u201cThis community is one-of-a-kind, very tightknit, very close like family, and that shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catanzaro noted organizers aimed to add some levity to the proceedings during a bitter cold stretch.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can laugh every day, you\u2019re living a good life, and I think we made a lot of people laugh today,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

While the Jessup event differed somewhat from the long-standing event in Punxsutawney, which features a groundhog, Catanzaro tried to incorporate many of the key traditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do it a little different,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is a wine barrel, white and red grapes, sworded guards that escort the ferret, and a timekeeper with a clock mounted to his head. It\u2019s very unique, but very similar in paying homage to the original event. We just put a Jessup spin on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessup Borough Councilman Curt Camoni admitted the idea behind the event was a bit untraditional but felt the dedication of the organizers and enthusiasm within the community made it work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis started off as something stupid, it\u2019s still stupid, and that\u2019s what makes it awesome,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople saw a sign that said 8 a.m. come see a rat tell you if you have to wear a coat next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jessup Giuseppe made his predication around 8:30 a.m. and McAndrew, the event\u2019s honorable grand scroll reader, delivered the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe verdict\u2019s clear \u2026 springtime is near,\u201d McAndrew exclaimed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JESSUP \u2014 As the temperature hovered in the single digits and snow flurries fell Sunday morning, Jessup Giuseppe…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":102496,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[2119,201,182,139,28,178,180,179,181],"class_list":{"0":"post-102495","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-scranton","8":"tag-jessup","9":"tag-lackawanna-county","10":"tag-local-news","11":"tag-news","12":"tag-pennsylvania","13":"tag-scranton","14":"tag-scranton-headlines","15":"tag-scranton-news","16":"tag-top-stories-stt"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102495"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102495\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}