Photos: Bear Hug

Friday, October 18, 2013 - 16:36

Sorrow and horror show in kids’ faces, lower left, as they watch a film telling Smokey Bear’s story: He was created in 1944, and now Smokey and his current motto — “Only you can prevent wildfires” — are recognized by 95 percent of Americans. The first living symbol of Smokey was a cub rescued in 1950 from a wildfire in New Mexico.

Smokey himself appeared on Monday, a day off from school for Columbus Day, and gave a big hug to a girl who had his portrait painted on her cheek, center. He exchanged high fives with a boy as a ranger looked on, below.

The annual event was hosted by the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center to teach visitors about wildfire prevention and the use of prescribed fire as a management tool in the Pine Bush Preserve. The day included races, games, and crafts — as the boy, at top, carefully colors a bookmark.

Photographs by Michael Koff

More Regional News

  • ‘Heartwarming and energizing’: Bearing banners to save democracy

    The “bridge parties” organized by Christine Primomo do not involve players sitting around a card table. Rather, they involve activists holding banners across a bridge — banners that Primomo says are to inspire passersby to join the movement to preserve democracy.

  • Altamont Fair Week had some moving moments

    Asked on Monday how many attended the tri-county fair, Canaday said, “If you don’t put the numbers in context, they don’t mean anything …. We’re happy with having a lot of happy people here on the fairgrounds. We have gotten some very, very positive feedback through social media. People had a wonderful time and can’t wait for next year. And that’s what we’re going to measure it by.”

  • State grant to expand broadband coverage

    When the government assesses need, it does so on a census-block by census-block basis, where if just one household in a block has broadband it means that block is “served,” in the eyes of the government. This puts rural communities at a disadvantage because their low population densities mean their blocks cover a larger geographic area.

The Altamont Enterprise is focused on hyper-local, high-quality journalism. We produce free election guides, curate readers' opinion pieces, and engage with important local issues. Subscriptions open full access to our work and make it possible.