HAGERSTOWN ALAMANACK ANNOUNCES WOOLLY BEAR CONTEST WINNERS!

(Hagerstown, MD, November 23, 2010) – It's official! The Twenty-Eighth Annual Woolly Bear Contest ended October 31st, 2010 and the winners have been announced. During the month of October, over 60 woolly bears were gathered by local residents and students, each photographed, and submitted to Woolly Bear Headquarters via the Internet for judging. The purpose of this annual contest is to gather enough of these furry little critters so that a complete and thorough analysis of their distinct markings can be made to determine how severe or mild the coming winter will be. Leading the judging this year was Hagerstown Town & Country Almanack's own weather prognosticator extraordinaire, Professor William O'Toole. The Almanack is proud to announce the winners in the following categories:

In the first category, the Biggest and Woolliest earning the title of "Hairy Hager", the winner was Chris Rosenberry of Hagerstown, Maryland. Chris received a $100 cash prize. Runner-up in that category was Brianna Blickenstaff of Myersville, Maryland. Brianna received a $25 cash prize.

'Hairy Hager' sponsored by Chris Rosenberry

In the second category, the Cutest and Cuddliest and crowned "Alma", the winner was Ryan Wagner of Smithsburg, Maryland. Ryan received a $100 cash prize. The runner up in this category was Autumn Chandler, age 7, from Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Autumn received a $25 cash prize.

Ryan Wagner and his entry, "the cutest and cuddliest"

All contestants received a complimentary copy of the 2011 edition of The Almanack to share with family and friends in the coming year.

From the small number of woolly bears submitted, the consensus is that the winter of 2010-2011 will be colder and snowier then normal. The woolly bears predicted this by the three (3) bands on their bodies. The front band (representing the first half of winter and black in color) was darker and thicker then average. The back band (representing the second half of winter) was also darker and broad, thus indicating a more severe winter from beginning to end!

The Almanack would like to congratulate the winners and runners-up of the 28th Annual Woolly Bear Contest and thanks each and every child (as well as the adults!) who participated and who continue to make this a fun event each and every year!

Hagerstown Almanack's Woolly Bears Contest Officially Begins!

(Hagerstown, MD, October 1, 2010) – Autumn is now here and The Hagerstown Town & Country Almanack proudly announces its Annual Woolly Bear Contest. The first day of competition, which started 28 years ago, will be Monday, October 4, 2010. Closing day for all entries is set for Sunday, October 31, 2010.

For many years, these furry little creatures have been used to predict the severity of winter to come and will soon will make their appearance in the area. The Almanack anticipates a greater number of entries by local and regional school children this year then in past years. It is even seeing school science projects developed around these "little weather prognosticators"!

This year, to make the entry process easier and to avoid any trauma to the woolly bear, entries will be accepted via the Internet only. Simply take a digital photo of your woolly bear caterpillar (not curled up) next to a ruler or tape measure that clearly reveals the overall dimensions of the caterpillar. If you are a member of Facebook, send a message to "Woolly Bear" and attach your entry photo. Along with the photo, your message must contain your name, mailing address, and telephone number. Note that you need not be a "friend" of Woolly Bear in order to submit your entry, but feel free to friend him! If you are not a member of Facebook, then simply email your photo, along with the same information above, to billotoole@hotmail.com. The Almanack encourages all who submit entries to be very careful handling them and to quickly return them to their natural habitat as soon as the photo is taken to minimize any separation anxiety that they may experience!

As in prior years, the sponsor of the entry that is voted the "cuddliest" caterpillar of all and who will bear the name of "Alma" for the coming year will receive an award of $100, as will submitter of the Grand Champion and Biggest Bear who'll proudly bear the title of "Hairy Hager". The runner-up in each category will be given six copies of The Almanack to share with family and friends in the coming year. The decision of the judges is final.

As always, we wish everyone BEST OF LUCK and GOOD HUNTING!

J. Gruber's First Annual Woolly Bears Contest Officially Begins!

(Hagerstown, MD, October 1, 2010) –The Gruber Almanack, LLC's J. Gruber's Garden and Farm Almanac announces its First Annual Woolly Bear Contest. The first day of competition will be Monday, October 4, 2010. All entries must be submitted by midnight Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, October 31, 2010.

For many years, these furry creatures have been used to predict the severity of winter to come and will soon make their appearance across the country. Many regions and towns have honored them by designating a Woolly Bear Day, holding Woolly Bear Festivals, and even schools have developed science projects around these "little weather prognosticators"! J. Gruber's anticipates that a bountiful crop of entries will be submitted for judging.

Entering your "find" is easy. Simply take a digital photo of your woolly bear caterpillar (not curled up) next to a ruler or tape measure that clearly reveals the overall dimensions of the caterpillar. If you are a member of Facebook, send a message to "Woolly Bear" and attach your entry photo. Along with the photo, your message must contain your name, mailing address, and telephone number. Note that you need not be a "friend" of Woolly Bear in order to submit your entry, but feel free to friend him! If you are not a member of Facebook, then simply email your photo, along with the same information above, to billotoole@hotmail.com. Anyone who submits an entry is encouraged to be very careful handling them and to quickly return them to their natural habitat as soon as they are measured and photographed to minimize any separation anxiety they may experience!

The Gruber Almanack, LLC will award $100 to the sponsor of the entry that is voted the "cuddliest" caterpillar of all as will the submitter of the Grand Champion and Biggest Woolly Bear. The runner-up in each category will be given six copies of J. Gruber's Garden and Farm Almanac to share with family and friends in the coming year. The decision of the judges is final.

The Gruber Almanack, LLC wishes everyone BEST OF LUCK and GOOD HUNTING!

TWENTY THIRD ANNUAL WOOLLY BEAR CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

It’s official! The Twenty Third Annual Woolly Bear Contest ended October 31st and the winners have been announced.

During the month of October, only 20 woolly bears were turned into the Woolly Bear Headquarters in Hagerstown, Maryland. The purpose of the contest was to gather enough woolly bears to analyze their markings and determine what type of winter we will have in the upcoming months and also to compare the woolly bears’ predictions to those made by the Hagerstown Town & Country Almanack 18 months ago.

In the first category, the Biggest and Woolliest earning the title of “Hairy Hager”, the winner was Daniel Harsh. Daniel, an 10-year-old fourth grader at Fountain Rock Elementary School, found his woolly bear at his grandfather’s farm. Daniel received a $100 cash prize. Runner-up in that category was Jillian Ekenberg of Hagerstown, MD. Jillian received a $25 cash prize.

In the second category, the Cutest and Cuddliest and crowned “Alma”, the winners were sisters, Amy & Ashley Kessler of Hagerstown, MD. The sisters received a $100 cash prize. The runner up in this category was Travis Dehaven from Martinsburg, WV. Travis received a $25 cash prize.

From the small number of woolly bears, the consensus is that the winter will be very mild. The woolly bears predicted this by their three (3) bands of which the front band (representing the first half of winter and black in color) was shorter in length and normal. The back band (representing the second half of winter) was very small, thus indicating the mild winter prediction. As a result of those markings, which were similar in all woolly bears, the sponsors were able to make the predictions.

The woolly bears and the 2006 Almanack agree in that the Almanack has predicted a mild winter with a lack of intensity. The Almanack is predicting 81% of the winter days will be 45 degrees or lower, 19 storms, 45% of the days during the winter will have some form of precipitation. We predict a total of 35 inches of snow with January being the snowiest month.

It is predicted the last weeks of January and February will have a heavy snowstorm.

According to Professor Bill O’Toole, the Almanack’s weather prognosticator and a Mt. St. Mary’s College computer instructor, the first year’s snowstorm will be December 19th.

We would like to congratulate the winners of the Twenty Third Annual Woolly Bear Contest and thank all of the children as well as adults that made this a fun event.