NEW TIME THIS YEAR! TUGS BEGIN AT 10:30 a.m.
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10/23/2005 - Fantastic Assortment of Bands Lined up for Tug of War Tugfest on Saturday, October 29, 2005
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10/20/2005 - Tug T-Shirts Designed by Jim Toomey – Nationally-Known Local Artist
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10/14/2005 - Declaration Proclamation of Intent to Engage in War with Annapolis October 29, 2005, at the Crack of 10:30 a.m.
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10/07/2005 - Food and Chili Cook-Off "Heat by the Harbor" at the Maritime Repulic of Eastport's Tug of War09/12/2005 - New Start Time of 10:30 a.m. Set for the Eighth Annual Tug Of War
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08/22/2005 - Eighth Annual Tug of War, Saturday, October 29, 2005 at a new time: 10:30 a.m.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 23, 2005
Contact: Fantastic
Assortment of Bands Lined up for Tug of War Tugfest Eastport,
MD – The 8th Annual Tug of War will be held on Saturday
October 29. At the Crack O’ 10 a.m. on the Annapolis side (Susan B. Campbell Park), “The Dreadnots” steel drum band will accompany the activities on the Annapolis side at City Dock. On the Eastport side (Second Street near the Chart House), the Eastport Elementary School Orchestra will perform getting the crowds and tuggers revved up for the competition between Annapolis and Eastport. On both sides of the water, personalities from WRNR will broadcast the events for the spectators and live on 103.1 FM. The music schedule on the Eastport side is as follows:
About the Tug The Tug will be held October 29, 2005, featuring Maritime Republic of Eastport brawn and bravado against all comers -- for fun and for charity. The tug competitions will start at 10:30 this year, varying from the MRE’s usual start time of “Crack O’Noon.” Once a year, local and national attention focuses on the Annapolis Harbor, or, as we like to call it, the Gulf of Eastport, for a competition unlike any in the world – the Slaughter Across the Water, the longest tug of war over a body of water in the world. The Tug is staged between the Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) and Downtown Annapolis, featuring a 1700’ rope, over 450 tuggers, and more than a thousand spectators. The Tug transforms Downtown Annapolis and Eastport with a festival-like atmosphere that includes food vendors, cheering crowds, and all sorts of local color. The Tug draws on the rivalry between Eastport and the City of Annapolis itself, with civic pride on both sides allowing this zany event to improve more than community morale. The MRE has raised more than $165,000 for charities over the past seven years. The Tugfest is free. The opportunity to tug against the opponents across the “Gulf of Eastport” requires only a tax-deductible $20 donation, and includes a limited edition Jim Toomey (Sherman’s Lagoon nationally syndicated comic strip) designed 2005 Tug t-shirt. Food of all varieties, from burgers and dogs to grilled chicken to BBQ to Ribs will be served. Moveable Mixtures will be on hand to serve up coffee drinks, wine, soft drinks and more, along with taps of Fordham and Coors Light. ----- For more information regarding the 2005 Tug of War, including sponsorship, advertising, volunteer and tugging opportunities, visit the MRE web site at: http://themre.org/, email: mre_info@yahoo.com, or call Jessica Pachler at (410) 916-5500.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 20, 2005
Contact: Tug T-Shirts Designed by Jim Toomey – Nationally-Known Local Artist Eastport, MD – As in previous years, a nationally-known, highly regarded local Artist has created an original piece of art to grace the front of the Limited Edition, Official Tugger T-Shirt for this year's Tug of War. Jim Toomey, of Sherman's Lagoon fame, has created a design featuring Sherman and a host of characters that is sure to inspire a collector’s craze at this year’s Tug of War, October 29, 2005. Last year, Liz Lind designed the front in her renowned signature style, a piece of beauty that still inspires discussion today. Sherman's Lagoon is an undersea cartoon featuring a dimwitted shark named Sherman, his sea turtle sidekick, and an assortment of other coral reef critters who team up to battle the encroachment of civilization on their remote tropical paradise. Sherman’s Lagoon is nationally syndicated comic strip that appears daily in over 150 newspapers in the U.S. and around the world. These limited edition Jim Toomey T-shirts will only be available to participants in the Tug of War. Registration to tug requires a tax-deductible donation of $20. Pre-registration is advised. Visit www.themre.org or contact tug@pachler.us to register. Limited registration will be available on the day of the Tug, starting at 9 a.m. Registration tables will be located along 2nd Street in Eastport and at Susan B. Campbell Park in Annapolis. All proceeds benefit local charities. For more information about Jim Toomey and Sherman’s Lagoon, see www.slagoon.com/. About the Tug The Tug will be held October 29, 2005, featuring Maritime Republic of Eastport brawn and bravado against all comers -- for fun and for charity. The tug competitions will start at 10:30 this year, varying from the MRE’s usual start time of “Crack O’Noon.” Once a year, local and national attention focuses on the Annapolis Harbor, or, as we like to call it, the Gulf of Eastport, for a competition unlike any in the world – the Slaughter Across the Water, the longest tug of war over a body of water in the world. The Tug is staged between the Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) and Downtown Annapolis, featuring a 1700’ rope, over 450 tuggers, and more than a thousand spectators. The Tug transforms Downtown Annapolis and Eastport with a festival-like atmosphere that includes food vendors, cheering crowds, and all sorts of local color. The Tug draws on the rivalry between Eastport and the City of Annapolis itself, with civic pride on both sides allowing this zany event to improve more than community morale. The MRE has raised more than $165,000 for charities over the past seven years. -- For more information regarding the 2005 Tug of War, including sponsorship, advertising, volunteer and tugging opportunities, visit the MRE web site at: http://themre.org/, email: mre_info@yahoo.com, or call Jessica Pachler at (410) 916-5500 A glimpse of this year’s t-shirt and high resolution photos from previous years’ events are available upon request, please contact jbbolton@yahoo.com.
Up The Republic ###
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 14, 2005
Contact: Declaration
Proclamation of Intent to Engage in War Eastport, Md. – The MRE will muster an army of 231 tuggers to compete against a like number of souls from the Annapolis side in seven Tug of War events with the winner claiming victory and bragging rights. The proceeds of the event will be bequeathed to the local charities. This is a public notice to urge your understanding and support. The MRE will officially declare war upon Annapolis on October 24 at 7 p.m. by invading the Annapolis City Council meeting…
City Council Chambers Signed, Robert
Janda -- For more information regarding the 2005 Tug of War, including sponsorship, advertising, volunteer and tugging opportunities, visit the MRE web site at: http://themre.org/, email: mre_info@yahoo.com, or call Jessica Pachler at (410) 916-5500. High resolution photos from previous years’ events are available upon request, please contact jbbolton@yahoo.com. Up
The Republic ###
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 7, 2005
Contact: Food
and Chili Cook-Off "Heat by the Harbor" Tugfest
begins at 10 a.m.
Eastport, MD – Now that the MRE’s Tug of War has been rescheduled earlier with the first tug beginning at 10:30 a.m., food and beverages will be available at 10 am on Saturday, October 29, 2005. The Tugfest will be held in Eastport on Second Street, next to the Chart House. Once a year, local and national attention focuses on the Annapolis Harbor, or, as we like to call it, the Gulf of Eastport, for a competition unlike any in the world – the Slaughter Across the Water, the longest tug of war over a body of water in the world. The Tug is staged between the Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) and Downtown Annapolis, featuring a 1700’ rope, over 450 tuggers, and more than a thousand spectators. The Tug transforms Downtown Annapolis and Eastport with a festival-like atmosphere that includes food vendors, cheering crowds, and all sorts of local color. The Tug draws on the rivalry between Eastport and the City of Annapolis itself, with civic pride on both sides allowing this zany event to improve more than community morale. The MRE has raised more than $165,000 for charities over the past seven years. Food vendors at the Tugfest will include:
Free coffee will be available from Hard Bean Coffee on the Annapolis side at the City Dock. Adult beverages and soft drinks will be available for purchase on the Eastport side during the Tugfest. The 2nd Annual Chili Cook-off “Heat by the Harbor” will also be held during the Tugfest. Competitions will include the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) and the Freestyle/Restaurant Division. There will be additional prizes for People’s Choice, Best in Show and Distance. Approximately 20-30 delicious competition chili’s will be available for sampling. Donation proceeds from the chili cook-off will benefit the Special Operations Warrior Foundation as well as the MRE-designated tug charities. Registration for the chili cook-off is $20. Chili cooks compete for the honor of being recognized for an excellent bowl of chili, in addition to earning points toward qualification in the Terlingua International Chili Championship©. Contact John Iaquinta at (410) 533-1188 for more information. For more information regarding the 2005 Tug of War, including sponsorship, advertising, volunteer and tugging opportunities, visit the MRE web site at: http://themre.org/, email: mre_info@yahoo.com, or call Jessica Pachler at (410) 916-5500. High resolution photos from previous years’ events are available upon request, please contact jbbolton@yahoo.com. Up
The Republic ### |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 12, 2005
Contact: New Start Time of 10:30 AM Set for the Eighth Annual Tug Of War The Tug of War was voted the Best Local Event in What’s Up Annapolis -- Best of Annapolis 2005!! Eastport, MD – In a continuing attempt to undermine the strength of the MRE and regain some of the glory lost during last year’s Tug of War blowout (the MRE beat Annapolis in all 7 Tugs), the colonial powers of Annapolis have conspired to create a new starting time for the Tug – at the Crack of Half Past Ten (aka 10:30 am). The Tug will be held October 29, 2005, featuring Maritime Republic of Eastport brawn and bravado against all comers -- for fun and for charity. In response to the request of the Marine Charter Industry Association (MCIA), whose members felt the usual time of noon would have a detrimental effect on their businesses, the MRE agreed to this earlier start time, in the hopes that the citizenry of both sides of the water would rise to the occasion and wake up a little earlier for the Eighth Annual Slaughter Across the Water. On the up side, the Tug Fest, which normally would have begun at 11:30, will begin at 10, giving tuggers and spectators an extra hour and a half to celebrate the fact that they live in (or are visiting) one of the best places, ever. However, this time change will demand extra effort from the volunteers, tuggers and spectators to ensure that the Tug succeeds in this compressed time schedule and that the MRE reaches its goal of raising $21,403 for charity – we all know we’ll have a good time, regardless. We would like to ask for the support of all Annapolitans and Eastportaricans to help support the MRE with this time change – getting the word out, showing up early and proving that the MRE is as resilient as ever to whatever the world tries to throw at us!! Once a year, local and national attention focuses on the Annapolis Harbor, or, as we like to call it, the Gulf of Eastport, for a competition unlike any in the world – the Slaughter Across the Water, the longest tug of war over a body of water in the world. The Tug is staged between the Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) and Downtown Annapolis, featuring a 1700’ rope, over 450 tuggers, and more than a thousand spectators. The Tug transforms Downtown Annapolis and Eastport with a festival-like atmosphere that includes food vendors, cheering crowds, and all sorts of local color. This year’s Tugfest will include food and beverages, live music, a silent auction, and an officially sanctioned Chili Cook-off. New festivities for this year will include a Cool Car show on the Annapolis side, and an Irish Rower’s Regatta in Spa Creek following the Tug. The Tug draws on the rivalry between Eastport and the City of Annapolis itself, with civic pride on both sides allowing this zany event to improve more than community morale. The MRE has raised more than $165,000 for charities over the past seven years. Each year, the MRE and volunteers from Annapolis and beyond work long and hard to put together an event unlike any other. In addition to a riotous battle, great food and fantastic camaraderie, the Tug offers the chance to give back to the community that surrounds and supports us. Proceeds from the Tug go to a selection of local charities, some of which rely on this donation as a significant part of their operating budgets. The initial six charities that will be supported by this year’s Tug proceeds include:
If the Tug raises more money than expected, we will consider contributing to other charities as well. What is the MRE? In a nutshell, the town of Eastport (located at 38°58.5N 076°28.76W) was established in 1868 and annexed into the City of Annapolis in 1951. Eastport wallowed under the shadow of Annapolis proper until the MRE uprising on Independence Day, Sunday, January 25, 1998. Like any great movement, the concept for the Maritime Republic of Eastport began in a local pub over a couple mugs of beer. The prime mission was to find a creative way to promote and encourage the patronage of Eastport businesses that were destined to be hurt by the Maryland State Highway Administration's shutting down for repair of the drawbridge connecting mainland Annapolis with the Eastport peninsula. The citizens of Eastport took advantage of their isolation to sever their social, political and economic ties as well. 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. Now that the MRE has successfully established its independence and aided the prosperity of Eastport's businesses and charities, it has directed its attention on ensuring that the MRE remains one of the best places to live ANYWHERE! We are committed to improving the quality of life here and hold numerous charitable events to benefit worthy organizations. For more information regarding the 2005 Tug of War, including sponsorship, advertising, volunteer and tugging opportunities, visit the MRE web site at: www.themre.org, email: mre_info@yahoo.com, or call Jessica Pachler at (410) 916-5500. High resolution photos from previous years’ events are available upon request, please contact jbbolton@yahoo.com. ###
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 22, 2005
Contact:
Eighth Annual Tug of War
The Tug of War was voted the Best Local Event in
Eastport, MD -- The Eighth Annual Tug of War, which will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2005, promises to be the largest Tug, ever. The Tug of War is usually held the first Saturday in November, but has been scheduled a week earlier this year due to Navy’s Homecoming game. Once a year, local and national attention focuses on the Annapolis Harbor, or, as we like to call it, the Gulf of Eastport, for a competition unlike any in the world – the Slaughter Across the Water, the longest tug of war over a body of water in the world. The Tug is staged between the Maritime Republic of Eastport (MRE) and Downtown Annapolis, featuring a 1700’ rope, over 450 tuggers, and more than a thousand spectators. This year’s Tugfest will include food and beverages, live music, a silent auction, and an officially sanctioned Chili Cook-off. New festivities for this year will include a Cool Car show on the Annapolis side, and an Irish Rower’s Regatta. The Tug transforms Downtown Annapolis and Eastport with a festival-like atmosphere that includes food vendors, cheering crowds, and all sorts of local color. The Tug draws on the rivalry between Eastport and the city of Annapolis itself, civic pride on both sides allowing this zany event to improve more than community morale. The event has raised more than $165,000 for charities over the past seven years. Each year, the Maritime Republic of Eastport and volunteers from Annapolis and beyond work long and hard to put together an event unlike any in the area, if not the world, and this year is no different. In addition to a riotous battle, great food and fantastic camaraderie, the Tug offers the chance to give back to the community that surrounds and supports us. Each year, proceeds from the Tug go to a selection of local charities, some of which rely on this donation as part of their significant operating budget. The initial six charities that will be supported by this year’s Tug proceeds include: Eastport Elementary School’s Reading is Fundamental Program, Lighthouse Shelter, Annapolis Maritime Museum, OIC Job Readiness Center, Civil Air Patrol, and the SPCA. If the Tug raises more money than expected, we will consider contributing to other charities as well. What is the MRE? In a nutshell, the town of Eastport (located at 38°58.5N 076°28.76W, next to Annapolis, MD) was established in 1868 and annexed into the City of Annapolis in 1951. Eastport wallowed under the shadow of Annapolis proper until the uprising on Independence Day, Sunday, January 25, 1998. Like any great movement, the concept for the Maritime Republic of Eastport began in a local pub over a couple mugs of beer. The prime mission was to find a creative way to promote and encourage the patronage of Eastport businesses that were destined to be hurt by the Maryland State Highway Administration's shutting down for repair of the drawbridge connecting mainland Annapolis with the Eastport peninsula. The citizens of Eastport took advantage of their isolation to sever their social, political and economic ties as well. 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. Now that the MRE has successfully established its independence and aided the prosperity of Eastport's businesses and charities, it has directed its attention on ensuring that the MRE remains one of the best places to live ANYWHERE! We are committed to improving the quality of life here and hold numerous charitable events to benefit needy organizations. For more information regarding the 2005 Tug of War, including sponsorship, advertising, volunteer and tugging opportunities, visit the MRE web site at: www.themre.org, email: mre_info@yahoo.com, or call Jessica Pachler at (410) 916-5500. High resolution photos from previous years’ events are available upon request, please contact jbbolton@yahoo.com. ###
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Sponsors
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| Dave Wallace Aerial Photography |  |
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| Harbour Deli | Lewnes Steakhouse |  |
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read about the 2004 Tug of War
