Wellesley residents across town have begun propping up bears (and other stuffed animals) in their windows to give kids and adults something amusing to do while they’re airing out in a safe distanced way.

Updates to bear locations are being made on a shared Wellesley Bear hunt document. One organizer credited her daughter’s preschool with the suggestion. We’ve seen other scavenger hunts in town popping up with various themes, including rainbows.

Taking photos of stuffed animals in windows is no easy task. Reflections are tough, plus you find yourself asking strangers things like “Mind if I take a picture of your monkey?”

bear 2020 cottage

Masks in, bears out (for now)

Separately, Wellesley’s Pete Jones tells us that after hearing health officials were looking for face masks for public service officials, residents in town their volunteer sewing efforts from making comfort bears for children to producing face masks for those on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic front lines.

Pete’s wife JoAnn, among those doing the sewing, says “some protection for our workers is better then no protection.” Pete adds: “What better way to serve ‘Those who serve’, during our stay at home lock down.”