Contact:
Elvia Thompson, Minister of Propaganda
Maritime Republic of Eastport
410-990-9025
elvia@stellarpresentations.com

Pam Cole Finlay
Annapolis Ambassador to MRE
202 775-0797

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUG OF WAR ACTIVITIES HEAT UP

Annapolis, Maryland -- Excitement is building in The Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) and arch-rival Annapolis as members of 18 teams prepare for the 5th Annual MRE Tug of War on November 2. Over 500 tuggers will raise funds for 10 local charities in 5th Annual Tug of War over Annapolis Harbor (aka the Gulf of Eastport).

Events leading to the 5th Annual MRE Tug of War include:

• Friday, Oct. 25, 6 p.m. - Pep Rally, Unveiling of The Rope, and Practice Tug Against a Toyota Truck, Sean Donlon Irish Pub and Restaurant, 37 West Street, Annapolis
• Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - Sign-up for the Pet Tug Team and Pet Show, Howl-o-Ween Barkin' Bash, Paws Pet Boutique, 54 Maryland Avenue, Annapolis, 410 263-8683
• Saturday, Oct. 26, noon - Practice Tug, Combined MRE Teams, Eastport Elementary School, Eastport
• Saturday, Oct. 26, 6 p.m. - Annapolis Women's Tug Team Fundraiser, Sean Donlon Irish Pub and Restaurant, 37 West Street, Annapolis. Join the ladies of the Junior League of Annapolis as they flex their muscles and raise funds for the tug charities; Guest Hostess Rachel Bandardenko, President of the Annapolis League; raffle & complementary lite fare.
• Friday, Nov. 1, 6 p.m. - Pep Rally and Sabre-Rattling, Boatyard Bar & Grill, 406 Fourth Street, Eastport

EVENTS ON THE DAY OF THE TUG OF WAR, SATURDAY, NOV. 2

EASTPORT SIDE -- FOOT OF SECOND STREET AT SPA CREEK

• 9 a.m. - Registration Opens
  Face Painting, Lite Fare breakfast items for sale, MRE Tug of War merchandise for sale, music, and on-the-spot reporting by WNAV and WRNR
• 11 a.m. - The Rope is rolled out from its spool and begins its voyage across the Gulf of Eastport to the Annapolis side, courtesy Sea Tow
• Crack O'Noon - Tug of War Begins!
• 2 p.m.-5 p.m. - TugFest, Street Party, Second Street, Eastport
  • Music by Caribbean Cocktail (steel drum), food and beer for sale; classic street party, Eastport-style;
  • Tug of War trophy and other awards at 3 p.m.

ANNAPOLIS SIDE -- SUSAN C. CAMPBELL PARK, CITY DOCK

• 10 a.m. - Free coffee, hot chocolate, cider and doughnuts...while they last; and on-the-spot reporting by WNAV and WRNR
• 11 a.m. - Face painting, clowns
  • Displays: Toyota 2003 Forerunner, courtesy Bowie Toyota; Annapolis Irish Rowing Team; Adopt-a-Pet by SPCA of Anne Arundel County; Gold's Gym
  • Live Music: Sons of the Severn, Nailhouse, Peter Scobell & Matt Tune
  • Official "Pet Tug" Annapolis Pets vs. MRE Pets, sponsored by Paws Pet Boutique; Stupid Pet Tricks; Dog/Owner Look-Alike Contest
• 11:45 a.m - Sons of the Severn sing "God Bless America" & "America the Beautiful"
• 11:55 a.m. - Presentations of Colors, National Anthem
• Crack O'Noon - Tug of War Begins!

THE TUG OF WAR TEAMS

1. Navy vs. Army Tug
Navy (for Annapolis) vs. US Army National Guard (for Eastport)
2. The Buck Stops Here Tug
Sandy Spring Bank (for Annapolis) vs. Annapolis Bank & Trust (for Eastport)
3. West Meets East Tug
Annapolis Bar & Restaurants (for Annapolis) vs. Boatyard Bar & Grill/ Davis' Pub Syndicate
(for Eastport)
4. Battle of the Burgee
Annapolis Yacht Club vs. Eastport Yacht Club
5. Guns & Hoses Tug
Annapolis Police Department (for Annapolis) vs. Annapolis Fire Department (for Eastport)
6. Health Clubs Tug
Golds Gym (for Annapolis) vs. World Gym (for Eastport)
7. Co-Ed Tug - Annapolis vs. Eastport
8. Chicks Tug
Junior League Women (for Annapolis) vs. Lewnes' MRE Women (for Eastport)
9. Testosterone Tug V - The Final Showdown
Bowie Toyota Annapolis Men's Team (for Annapolis) vs. Eastport Men's Team (for Eastport)

Anyone who would like to participate in the Tug, sponsor a team, or just provide funds for the charities, should contact Co-Chairs Jane Cox or Chris Earls by sending an email to tug@12283.com.

BACKGROUND

The 5th Annual MRE Tug of War, also known as the Slaughter Across the Water, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at the Crack O' Noon. The charity event will feature nine tugs with teams pulling a custom-made, 1700-ft.-long rope across Historic Annapolis Harbor from 2nd Street in Eastport to Susan C. Campbell Park in Annapolis. The rope was custom-made for the MRE Tug of War by Yale Cordage, Biddeford, Maine. Each tug will have a maximum of 33 people per side, so that total number of participant can be as high as 594 people. The harbor will be closed to boat traffic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the event.

The Tug of War Committee has selected 10 charities from the more than 30 applications to benefit from the funds raised by the event. Last year $20,400 raised for charitable organizations, bringing the aggregate total of funds raised for charity in the Tug of War's four years to $62,387. This fulfills the Maritime Republic of Eastport's commitment to "Fun with a Purpose." MRE asks that each tugger raise at least $50 for the charities.

The MRE Tug Committee has set $25,000 as this year's goal for funds raised for the following charities:

1. Annapolis Maritime Museum- for dock repair and improvements to grounds
2. Chesapeake Children's Museum- to assist with renovations and support children's programs
3. Christmas in April-to sponsor the rehabilitation of a house in Annapolis
4. Eastport Wooden Boat Program- to purchase lumber to replace the chine & hull of 'Miss
Lonesome'
5. Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race- to promote awareness and preservation of the Bay
6. Homes for America, Inc.- to promote affordable housing through a revolving fund program
7. OIC- to assist employment-oriented adult basic education activities, including English as a
Second Language
8. Reading is Fundamental-to purchase books for Eastport Elementary School students
9. Salvation Army- General Operating Funds
10. S.P.C.A. of Anne Arundel County - General Operating Funds

The tongue-in-cheek "breakaway republic," the Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE), was founded in 1998 as a creative way to promote and encourage the patronage of Eastport businesses that were destined to be hurt when the Spa Creek bridge was closed for repair. The goal was to foster a spirit of independence and merriment in a manner befitting the character of Eastport and at the same time, to celebrate Eastport's proud heritage and quality of life. So the Maritime Republic of Eastport was founded on Super Bowl Sunday, 1998, when patriots residing on the Horn Point peninsula rose up in revolt against the "snobbish suppression" of "Annapolis Proper" across the harbor.

Since that time, MRE has become a force in Eastport, doing good for the community and having fun at the same time. MRE meetings and activities are open to all.

The Tug of War draws on the rivalry between Eastport, the maritime neighborhood across Spa Creek from downtown Annapolis, and the city itself, with civic pride on both sides of the creek making this zany event more than a community fun day. The family-friendly event draws crowds on both sides of the harbor, all vying for bragging rights for the next year.

This year, the Annapolis side's efforts to win the Tug of War trophy are being spearheaded by Pam and Jim Finlay, proprietors of Sean Donlon Irish Pub and Restauarnt.

MRE sponsors the event as part of its commitment to make the entire community a better place to live. With the financial backing of other private groups and businesses, the Tug is an outstanding example of how to supplement local, state and federal government activities.

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