Those of you who don't live here may not know that New Bern, North Carolina is named for Bern Switzerland.  The first settlers came here in 1710 from Bern.  You also may not know that the bear has been the symbol of the Swiss city since 1224, and that it's the modern symbol of New Bern.

With extensive plans being made for New Bern's 300th anniversary next year, Barbara Lubsen, a Neuse Realty broker, and her friend Vicki Vitale Farrow, an area artist, decided that New Bern should have are artist-decorated bear mascots throughout the town.  They gathered some friends and formed a committee they called "Bear Town Bears."  They came up with a plan and a recruited artists to create a number of bear designs.  Next they convinced area professionals, companies and organizations to "adopt" a bear by paying for bears and their installation.  When they began meeting in early 2008, their goal was to place 18 artist-rendered bears on the streets of New Bern.  As the project comes to its culmination at the end of this year, there are expected to be 40 bears.

Recently, North Carolina governor Bev Perdue was in New Bern (her home is here) for the dedication of a bear dedicated to her and the other founders of the Coastal Women's Forum.  You can see the governor and "Flag Bearer" and a number of the other fun and creative bears at the organization's website, http://www.beartownbears.org/.  Fairfield Harbour, the neighborhood that's been home to Neuse Realty for more than 30 years, recently launched a fundraising campaign to adopt a bear -- the campaign was so successfor that Fairfield will have two bears soon.

A bear has recently been purchased by Neuse Realty.  Dubbed "Neuseopoly" our bear is currently being painted by Fairfield Harbour artist, Dee Mayer, who also created the design.  Dee's sketch at the top of this blog indicates how our bear will appear when he is completed.  He will wear top hat and tails, just like the little guy in the Parker Bros. Monopoly® game.  Of course, since the buying and selling of real estate is the way to win at America's favorite board game, we think it's a very appropriate theme for our bear.

When he makes his appearance on the scene, we hope you'll come by to admire Neuseopoly, and the 39 other bears that will decorate New Bern next year.  And, if you aren't here now, we hope you'll make plans to join in the fun for our 300th birthday celebration. You can read all about the extensive plans at http://newbern300.com.