Ms. G., the official State groundhog of Massachusetts and the subject of a picture book, Ms. G’s Shadowy Road to Fame, authored by Emmy-award winning broadcast meteorologist and Wellesley mom Mish Michaels and illustrated by Kathleen Jameson, has spoken and she says six more weeks of winter.

You did know that Massachusetts has an official State groundhog, didn’t you? It’s true, thanks to a group of determined Hunnewell Elementary School students and Michaels. Because of their hard work that started back when the kids were just kindergarteners, Ms. G now enjoys celebrity status as each year she presents her prediction at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, MA. The students, with a lot of hard work and backed by writer of the bill Representative Alice Peisch, convinced the State House Committee, the State Senate, and former Govenor Deval Patrick in 2014 that yes, indeed, Massachusetts did need its own lawful groundhog to forecast the local weather on the big day. After all, what does Punxsutawney Phil know about New England weather from his cozy Pennsylvania lair?

Although Ms. G saw her shadow today, and thus was the bearer of cold news, her popularity remains, probably because she’s takes her role as official State groundhog seriously. She doesn’t just show up, prognosticate, and disappear until next year. Ms. G greets her public, seeming to enjoy the glow of celebrity. There she was today, just like every year, giving a big groundhog hello to the crowd of about 400 including many of the Wellesley students who started her on her road to fame.

Thanks for keeping us in the loop about winter’s plans, Ms. G. Until next year.