Bears come out of hibernation

MILFORD — After getting a preview at the Festival’s annual “Teddy Bear Picnic” on Sunday, the crowd in attendance won’t have to go scavenger hunting around Milford this fall to see the nine Black Bear Film Festival bears for the first time, The Sunday, September 7 “picnic” was hosted by film festival organizers, and aims to bring each year’s bears and artists together for a public showing before placing them throughout the borough. Brownies, lemonade and other refreshments were served at the outing, which was well-attended despite drizzling morning rain. The handful of sculptures — along with their artists and dozens of fans — was clustered under canopies on a deck in the Lumberyard Shops at 11 a.m. that morning. For over an hour, onlookers chatted with artists about their design and inspiration, how long the sculpture took to complete, and who brought the best fudge brownies. The Black Bear Film Festival, which celebrates it’s ninth year this fall, received 22 sketches from locals interested in crafting a bear of their own. The nine who were selected were given approximately six weeks to work on their sculptures, which were erected in their respective sponsorship spots on Sunday afternoon. Each area sponsor pays $1,000 for a bear. For those of you who will still need to find them this fall: Cathy Neri’s and Dorie Tighe’s “Flower Power Flashback” bear will guard Davis R. Chant Realtors, Robert Harris’ “Indy” bear will stand near Vannatta Realty, Barbara Bush’s “Viewmore Inde-Flick” bear will rest on Century 21’s lawn, Laodan’s “Bear Like Us” will take its place at the Hotel Fauchere, Rosemary Gatti’s “Ragtime Flapper” bear will greet porch diners at Jorgenson’s at the Dimmick Inn, Greg Hicho’s “Mixed Berry” bear will remain at the Old Lumberyard Shops, Ariel Green’s “Fragile Earth” bear will be crouched outside the Shops at Forest Hall, Dr. Ralph and Carol Bowman’s “Zuni Fetish Carousel” bear will eat with those at the Muir House, and Carol Ann Buchanan’s “Armed Services” bear will pay its tribute at the film festival’s office. These nine bears will be reunited during the festival on October 17-19 and will be auctioned to the highest bidder during closing ceremonies. Until then, grab a borough map and spend an autumn afternoon connecting the dots and appreciating a neighbor’s art.