The 6th Annual Oyster Social was held on June 15th at the business location of founding sponsor, Scott Eglseder. It was a beautiful summer evening where a meal and cocktails were served to guests who were invited to come, socialize and celebrate the success of their efforts. Hoopers Island Aquaculture was on site, shucking their homegrown oysters for guests. Hamburgers & Hotdogs were grilled on scene and all of the favorite hometown fixings were served along with it.
After a time of socializing and eating took place, we gathered to discuss the successes of the 2016-2017 Growing Season. Chris Judy shared about the MGO Program as a whole and then specifically about the oysters that ORRI planted this year. Annette Turri was named ‘Mom of the Year’ having returned the cleanest oysters this year. She graciously & lovingly accepted her award and told us how much she enjoyed taking care of “her babies”. We finished our time with a Question & Answer opportunity and a door prize. We gave away a basket that included a coffee mug with a picture of the Eastern Shore waterways, a beautiful Christmas ornament made from an oyster shell, an oyster shucker and two Eastern Shore drink cozies. But our night wasn’t complete until we finished up with Smith Island Cake for dessert.
Accompanying us for the evening and sharing about their own oyster related and environmental initiatives were representatives from Midshore Riverkeepr, Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP) & Phillips Wharf Environmental Center (PWEC).