ALBANY — Thronateeska Heritage Center’s annual Teddy Bear Tea Party will be returning this weekend to the Chautauqua Room of the museum.

At 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, preschool children, parents and grandparents can enjoy a morning of fun and learning. Children will participate in teddy bear crafts, a tea party, storytelling and singalongs with Buddy Bear. Children are encouraged to bring their favorite teddy bear along.

Proceeds from this event will benefit children’s programs at Thronateeska Heritage Center, located at 100 W. Roosevelt Ave.

Admission is $5 per person and a reservation is required. Participants are encouraged to register as early as possible to ensure a seat.

To place a reservation or for more information, call Cheryl Jones at (229) 432-6955.

Controversy over Assam’s first indigenous tea planter

Tinsukia, Sep 26 : The Singphoo tribe has claimed that the coveted distinction of being the first indigenous tea planter in Assam belongs to one of its kings (Gam) Nirula Singphoo and not Maniran Dewan as recognized by the government.

Staking the claim, the Singphoo Jatiya Parishad�s (SJP) leaders said their king had started plantation, decades before Dewan had even applied for the rights to grow tea. The king�s plantation was located in the present Ketekeng area of Margherita sub-division in Tinsukia district of eastern Assam, they added. The controversy has been triggered afresh following the naming of a tea centre in Guwahati after Maniram Dewan by Planning Commission Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia recently, recognising Dewan as the first indigenous tea planter of the state. Challenging the announcement, the Singhpoo leaders produced testimonials to support their claim.