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Contact : Eileen Hudson, Black Bear Film Festival, (570)491-2459
Roamin’ Bear Recovered
A Painted Bear of the Black Bear Film Festival is back where it belongs after a thief lifted it from its location outside the Pike County Licensing office in Milford.
A passing motorist spotted the stolen bear early Sunday morning, at a construction site on Rt. 2001and left a message at the Black Bear Film Festival office. When Gabriela Arizan, Vice President of the Black Bear Film Festival, called the police to report the theft, she was told State Police were already on the case. Trooper Peter Matyjevich of the Blooming Grove Barracks recovered the bear from the construction site along Route 2001, outside Milford.
The "Roamin’ Bear", created by artist Dale Giambra-Currie, and sponsored by Pike County Licensing, painted wearing a toga, is one of two dozen bear sculptures on display throughout Milford and the surrounding area. They are the work of local artists who donated their time and creativity to raise money for the Black Bear Film Festival.
This is the third year the bear sculptures have decorated Milford. It’s also the third year a bear has been stolen. In 2000, several of the bears were taken from their displays, only to be found by Milford Police officers. Two teenagers were charged with taking the sculptures. They made amends by doing community service at the Milford Theater during the first Festival. In 2001, one bear was stolen from outside the Waterwheel Café. It was never recovered, but is still under investigation.
"These bears are works of art," said Jerry Beaver, Founding President of the Black Bear Film Festival. "Artists have put hours of work into creating these sculptures. They are one-of-a-kind masterpieces that should be appreciated and enjoyed by all," he added.
The Roamin’ Bear, was slightly damaged when it was lifted from its display log outside the Licensing office.
So far no charges have been filed in the case of the pilfered bear sculpture in Milford.
Caption to Photos:
(1)Trooper Murphy of PSP Blooming Grove turns over "Roamin Bear" Sculpture to Dr. Joseph Schwartz, Treasurer of BBFF. The Bear was found at a construction site on Rt. 2001
(2) Photo taken by State Police of "Roamin Bear" at the construction site where the Bear was found on Route 2001.
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