PHOTO PROVIDED Local chainsaw artists Jeff Donoughe, left, and G. Thompkins, at right, recently carved a bear in the likeness of the 1950s Disney cartoon character Humphrey the Bear, portraying him picking up litter. The bear is a thank-you to the Wayne Township Landfill in McElhattan for their support of the Hooskow Chainsaw Carvers’ festival held in October at the Clinton County Fairgrounds. Accepting the bear are Landfill Manager Jay Alexander, center left, and next to him, team member Jim Anderson.

McELHATTAN — What do the old Disney cartoon character Humphrey the Bear and the team at the Wayne Township Landfill have in common? They both like to take care of litter!

That, and a bit of nostalgia on the part of local chainsaw carver Jeff Donoughe, led to the recent gift of a bear — carved in the likeness of the 1950s-era Humphrey — to the Landfill in McElhattan.

Donoughe, who organizes the Hooskow Chainsaw Carvers’ festival every October at the Clinton County Fairgrounds, and fellow carver G Thompkins, created the local version of Humphrey. He’s a four-foot-tall bear carved from a piece of pine, who’s sporting a big grin and using a trash picker to place litter into a satchel. Tammy Haines took care of the finishing touches of painting the bear.

“We’re just saying thanks,” says Donoughe. “Jay Alexander and the team at the Landfill have been big supporters of the Hooskow since day-one. We work with Landfill employee Jim Anderson, who helps us secure logs that have been brought to the Landfill as waste, and then Jim delivers them to the Fairgrounds for our use at the Hooskow. It’s a huge help for us not to have to drag logs in for the event, and it also gives discarded wood a new life.”

“We’re happy to help — this is a situation where everybody wins,” said Landfill Manager Jay Alexander as he and Jim Anderson accepted the newly-carved bear at the Landfill’s administration building. “Jim repurposes out what logs we donate, sorting by species, age and make-up. Then he coordinates delivery of the logs for the event.”

For Donoughe, the carving project also brought back some childhood memories.

“Humphrey the Bear has a special place in my heart. Picking up trash around my dad’s office was one of my first after-school jobs as a kid. To this day, I still pick up litter while I’m walking — it’s kind of my thing.

“I also figure I’m paying penance for throwing out a few beer cans in my wild years,” he adds with a grin.

This Oct. 29-31 marks the 12th annual Hooskow, one of the largest and longest-running gatherings of carvers. Some 50 artists from around the country will be on hand to showcase their wood carvings and their creativity, and to put on a good show.

“In addition to the Landfill, Mike Saar and Saars Tree Service and the Maguire family help us with gathering logs and are a big part of the Hooskow,” says Donoughe. “We really appreciate these tree guys and the Landfill.”

“G Thompkins will be our featured carver this year,” he adds. “G is a local welder and mechanic, and one heck of an artist. He was a big part of last year’s Roots to Wings carved eagles project in downtown Lock Haven.”

Visitors to the Hooskow will be able to see carvers in action throughout the three days. Artists will have their creations for sale, and people can watch speed carving contests. In addition, a public auction of carved items takes place Saturday, Oct. 31, the final day of the festival. For more information, visit www.Hooskow.com.