Let the bear bidding begin

LINCOLN - Hearthside volunteer Peg Lariviere fashioned a teddy bear dressed in Victorian finery.

The Lincoln Police Department sent over a police chief bear, complete with official epithets and handcuffs.

From the Heritage Ballet came a teddy in a tutu; from Town Hall, a miniature town administrator in a pin-striped suit.

And from The Valley Breeze a hard-boiled reporter with a press pass in his fedora.

There's a Cinema World movie bear, a Providence Bruins bear, a Whole Foods bear, a Rhode Island Rock Gym bear, and, of course, a reading bear.

The Lincoln School Department crafted a school-girl bear in plaid skirt and hair ribbon.

Across town and around the region, businesses and organizations have responded to the Lincoln Public Library's call for dressed-up teddy bears to compete in a silent auction that begins Monday, Aug. 17 and concludes with a reception at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26 when final bids will be collected and winners announced.

All told, 50 or more bears were expected by Kimmerle Balentine, the children's librarian who is organizing the event with Sharon Fisher, president of The Friends of the Lincoln Public Library.

"I can't believe the amount of work that went into it," said Fisher.

Now Balentine is counting on residents to drop by the community room off the main entrance to view the bears and place a bid that's higher than the last bid.

On the night of the reception, food will be served and door prizes offered before the adopted bears are sent home with highest bidders.

The organizers say all are invited for the free food and door prize raffles. They're hoping for a crowd.

Bidders will find they're not just winning the dressed-up teddies but many come with add-ons like books or beach supplies, ballet tickets or even a necklace from Twist Jewelry.

One of the most generous is coming from Lincoln artist Judi Goudreau who is offering a personalized oil painting along with a bear that's dressed up in an artist's smock.

Cardi's Furniture is donating a child's motorcycle rocker valued at $200. It's paired up with a very easy-riding bear in leather.

Winning bidders need not be at the Aug. 26 reception but will be notified by phone.

A Vermont company, Mary Meyer Toys, got this project going when it donated 30 naked bears at a huge discount, says Balentine.

The bears were distributed to willing dressers around the community who sewed or purchased outfits for the bears to reflect their organization or company.

In addition, other volunteers purchased bears on their own.

Those wishing to bid will be asked to register first and receive a number they'll use as they jot down bids on a slip of paper attached to each bear.

Rivalries were already brewing last week as the town's Republicans were vowing their town administrator bear - complete with an Almond campaign sign - would attract higher bids than the police chief bear who's modeled after Chief Brian Sullivan.

Balentine says the big winner will be the library, which has programming and supply needs. "We've been doing a bit of belt cinching lately," she said, and the extra funds will be a big help.