Fager’s Island 2nd Annual Charity Cookout benefits Coastal Bays

Great entertainment, fantastic food and a time to kick back and have some fun will mark the Fager’s Island 2nd Annual Charity Cookout to benefit the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

The blowout, Sunday, Oct. 7 from 4-8 p.m., will feature a $6 barbeque dinner, live music, live animals and a slate of both live and silent auction items. All funds raised through the event, including a modest cover and 50/50 raffle will go directly towards to the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.

Auction items include several ‘marquee’ items including a boatlift and its installation valued at nearly $5,000 (donated by Hi Tide Marine Construction). Other special auction items include $1,000 towards a hardwood flooring project (donated by OC Floor Gallery), Raven’s tickets (donated by Comcast Spotlight), a unique “meal-a-month” package from various local restaurants, a 12- hour fall cleaning service by GitRDone Cleaning Services and many more unique items.

With Ocean City being a seasonal town, Michelle and John Fager envision this party as a time for residents to celebrate the summer while having a purpose and meaning behind the party. “It’s like a reunion. Around here you work, work, work all summer and haven’t been able to see your friends,” said John Fager.

A lot of the restaurant’s success is attributable to Fager’s Island unique location on the Coastal Bays and the Fager’s created their charity cookout out of a sense of gratitude.

The Maryland Coastal Bays Program has worked for the over 10 years on efforts to protect and manage the back bays behind Ocean City and Assateague. The Program is currently involved in a number of land conservation efforts and is restoring the Bishopville Prong of the St. Martins River to again allow fish to reach their historic spawning grounds. The Program is also working to remove sewage outfalls into the Coastal Bays and is leading a tri-state effort to assist Delaware and Virginia in planning for a greener shore in the future.

Perhaps most exciting is the Program’s effort to reinvigorate its environmental education program. This Maryland Coastal Bays Program has hired a full-time education coordinator to kick start school-age education programs this summer, renew its Upward Bound work with disadvantaged students, and begin outdoor education on the 570-acre Cherry Point Farm.

The party is open to everyone and kids are encouraged to join in the fun. Fager's Island is located at 60th Street bayside in Ocean City. For more information on the event, please call Evelina Erickson, development director, at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program at 410-213-BAYS. There is no RSVP required.