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Painted grizzlies attracting attention

By Laurel Eatherly

This document was published online on Wednesday, August 06, 2008

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“Grizzly Gathering” painted bears have now been displayed around the county for more than a month.

And downtown businesses report an overwhelmingly positive response to their presence.

“They're popular,” says Danyel Chitwood, general manager at the Best Western Sunset Inn.

“People love them,” says Althea Stringari, owner of Yellowstone Gift Shop. “From morning to night we hear how great people think they are.”

Down the street at La Comida, the response is equally enthusiastic.

“I've seen many groups and families taking pictures,” said cook Landon Hebbler. “Several times I've looked out there and have seen people sitting on the bear or reading the plaque.”

Donna Godfrey, a receptionist at Shoshone First Bank, says she often sees people stop to take pictures with the bear out front.

“There are many people who take their picture with the bear and ask where the others are,” she said. “People are really interested.”

“I've seen people stop and look at them or they have a map, going around checking them out,” says Tom Imburgia, across the street at the UPS Store.

Many out-of-towners find the bears particularly intriguing and compare them to similar projects in their own hometowns.

“People ask about them all the time,” said Lauren Reiter, a Reindeer Ranch staffer. “People definitely want to know what they are. There's been a great response.”

Grant Walsh-Haines of the Cody Chamber Visitor Center agrees.

“People come in and ask for maps of the bears' locations,” Walsh-Haines said. “The response has been way positive and even more so when we tell people it's a fundraiser for the library.”

They will be sold during a live auction at the grand opening of the new library Oct. 4. Proceeds will go to the children/youth sections of the three county libraries.

For insurance, sale and tax purposes, the 25 large bears have been appraised by three art experts. Organizers say the lowest value was about $2,500 with some bears appraised at more than $14,000.

“This has been a great addition to downtown,” Sandy Newsome at Sunlight Sports said. “It slows people down a bit as they walk around.

“And, of course, we think we have the best bear.”

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