Locals participate in annual teddy bear picnic

Last weekend the Stone Zoo was filled with bears — teddy bears that is.

On Aug. 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. the zoo held its annual Teddy Bear Picnic. Staff members and volunteers were dressed in their doctor scrubs, ready to examine dozens of teddy bears to ensure the young owners that their furry friends were in perfect health. The bears were given a thorough exam and a clean bill of health.

“We have been doing it for several years,” said Brooke Wardrop, publications and grants manager for Zoo New England. “It’s an annual event always held in August.”

Wardrop added last weekend’s Teddy Bear Picnic is smaller in comparison to many of the zoo’s other events including Boo at the Zoo, which is held in October and Bunny Bonanza, which is held in April.

“People enjoy, so we keep doing it,” she said. “It’s a nice family event.”

A steady stream of parents approached the examination table with their children, all clutching their most beloved teddy bears. While the majority came from Stoneham and surrounding communities, some even came from out of state.

“My sister is from the area,” said Donna Lapietra, who was visiting from Albany, NY. She said her sister suggested they come to the zoo for the picnic.

Others like Eileen Peters and Lissette Moury heard about the Teddy Bear Picnic because of their family memberships at the zoo.

Both mothers and their children attended the event for the first time with their children this year.

Katie Loiver and her family, however, were repeat visitors to the event.

“I wanted to take my bear here,” said Loiver, adding that she already knew her bear was healthy but still wanted to have him examined just in case.

Helping Wardrop at the doctor’s table were Zoo New England interns Erik Crimmins and Ariel Linet.

Crimmins is a senior at Brandeis University and usually works at the Franklin Park Zoo.

“I’ve done a lot of charity work for the children,” he said, adding that volunteering at the picnic gave him the chance to come to Stone Zoo for the first time.

Linet, also a senior at Brandeis and a friend of Crimmins, also visited the local zoo for the first time. When offered the opportunity to participate, she jumped at the chance to play doctor for the day.

The event also included a Teddy Bear Parade, which all the children were welcome to participate in, as well as a craft area. There was a special guest teddy bear who helped lead the parade and instruments were handed out to the children to play as they marched around the zoo.

The next event for Stone Zoo will be A Wild Affair, a 21 plus tasting event, which is scheduled for Sept. 8, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information on this event and other zoo news visit www.stonezoo.org.