When Teddy Bears, dinos get together

What do dinosaurs and teddy bears have in common? Technically nothing – unless they pair up to provide lots of entertainment for kids and parents.

That’s what happened in May at the second annual Dinosaur Dig and Teddy Bear Picnic at Tortosa. The community event, organized by Tortosa’s Lifestyle Director Ellen Buddington, attracted more than 50 people – 30-plus kids and their families. Build-a-Bear participants ranged in age from one to older than 50.

“Ellen’s enthusiasm is contagious and she is a dynamo,” said Tortosa volunteer Sue Birk. “We wish we could bottle some of her energy. Tortosa events are nonstop since Ellen came to our community,” she adds, citing the Disc Golf Tournament, Community Yard Sale, yoga classes, CPR classes, babysitting certification, women’s self defense classes and more.

The teddy bear/dinosaur event included six jumbo inflatable dinosaurs, children guessing how many dinos in a jar, stuffing and dressing bears, and the culinary creations of Chef Timothy Schess, who offered bear-shaped ham-and-cheese sandwiches adorned with raisins for eyes and buttons, grapes and carrot sticks, and heart-shaped brownies for dessert. Even the teddy bears had mini picnic baskets for their own.

Attendees commented on how much the kids loved decorating the bears. Four-year-old Marlea Klapuch exclaimed, “I like it! I like stuffing my bear!”