The Aww…Shucks Oyster Social fundraiser held on Saturday, September 16 at the Calvert Marine Museum celebrated the Dee of St. Mary’s, one of the few remaining sailing skipjacks on the Chesapeake Bay.
The event raised over $22,000 and proceeds will support a new endowment to keep this wonderful Chesapeake vessel sailing into the future. “Aww… Shucks was a fundraiser in the truest sense because it cost us very little to put on. Virtually all of the money we raised is going to support the Dee of St. Mary’s. It’s quite a tribute, both to the community and to the importance of preserving our skipjack,” said Director, Sherrod Sturrock.
Special thanks go out to the community support received from event sponsors ranging in gifts of $25 up to $5,000. Held under the lighthouse, there were 100 people in attendance. Oysters on the half shell were donated by Hollywood Oyster Company and Shore Thing Shellfish, LLC.
A wide variety of delicious hors’ d oeuvres were donated by local restaurants including Anglers Seafood Bar & Grill, Boomerangs Original Ribs, Charles Street Brasserie, Isaac’s Restaurant & Pub, Lotus Kitchen, Ruddy Duck Brewery & Grill, Stoney’s Kingfishers, The Island Hideaway, and The Lighthouse Restaurant and Dock Bar.
Live music by the waterfront was provided by Smoke Cree Rounders with musicians Gary Rue, Billy Thompson, Bob, Spanburgh, and Stu Geisberg. Seasonal brews and wine were compliments of Bozick Distributors. The evening’s highlight included a raffle for a complimentary sail on the Dee of St. Mary’s. Clarke McKenny will enjoy a sail with 25 friends on the Dee during the next sailing season.
Plan to join us next year on Saturday, October 13, 2018, for an evening of good food, fun and friendship, all while supporting the Dee of St. Mary’s, our treasured Chesapeake workboat.
Photo courtesy: Robert Hurry
