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85th Oyster Eat raises funds for Georgetown FD

Matt Bennett carries a basket of delectable oysters to the waiting crowd at the 85th Annual Georgetown Fire Company Oyster Eat. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
March 2, 2022

The 85th Annual Georgetown Fire Company Oyster Eat was held Feb. 25, where shuckers from around the tri-state area enjoyed slurpin’, drinking, dancing and having pure fun while raising funds for Station 77 and enjoying the camaraderie of community.

More than 680 attendees enjoyed the event where 120 bushels in the shell and 48 gallons of shucked salt-water bivalve mollusks were served at the annual eat that raised more than $15,000 to support the fire company.

A live auction was held for a handcrafted oyster knife made by Neil Green and his dad Rocky. Terry McGee had the winning bid of $4,000.

Oyster Eat Chair Michael Briggs retired from the position after 18 years at the helm. Sen. Bryan Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, presented Briggs with a Senate proclamation, and Justin King presented a house proclamation to Briggs in the absence of his mother, Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown.

“I think the Oyster Eat went well,” said Briggs. “I believe all the folks that came were just glad to get back together. The band was a hit. A lot of people were wanting to know if they were coming back next year since it was a brand-new band for us. I am proud that I could pass the event off to the other members that are taking it over. We sat down a couple weeks ago and I went over a three- or four-page manual on how to run the event. But it’s time to pass the torch so others can learn how to do it.”

Taking over as new event chairs are Tommy Tyndall, Quinn Baker, Sean Magee and Matt Heck.

 

 

Brothers-in-law (l-r) Jake Dmiterchik, Max Coveleski and Dan Mazur enjoy a night out at he annual event.
Oyster carrier Jamie Locklear pours out a basket of the steaming salt-water bivalve mollusks.
Milford buddies and cousins enjoying the fun are (l-r) Felix Smith, Jono Annand, John Clifton, Randall Siok and R.B. Kemp IV.
Enjoying the camaraderie of the event are friends (in back l-r) Dan Mazur, Connor Drislane, Shaun Palmer, Zach Wood, Ryan Bristowe, Bryan Mack, Zach Truitt, Tim Blackburn, Dom Prespitino, Devin Medd, Connor Jones, Max Coveleski, Kyle McCoy, and Greg Davis. Kneeling in front are Jake Dmiterchik and Andrew Scrutchfield.
John Souder of Lewes shows his technique for slurping a tasty raw mollusk.
Outgoing chair of the annual event, Michael Briggs, thanks all the people who have helped him through the years.
A handcrafted oyster knife made by Neil Green and his dad Rocky was sold to Terry McGee, who had the winning bid of $4,000.
Hanging out before the event are (l-r) Eric Swanson, Guy Wilkins, Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, and Chip Stevenson.
Richard Haas slurps a shell full.
Spencer Sukar spills out a basket of oysters to some hungry shuckers.
Joining the guys and not to be outdone at the oyster eat is Jennifer Myers.
Ryan Baughman likes to slurp the oysters off his knife.
Jono Annand from Milford shows his style of slurping.
More than 680 attendees enjoyed the 85th Annual Oyster Eat.
Event Chair Michael Briggs thanks the people who have helped him during his tenure.
Event Chair Michael Briggs is presented with a Senate proclamation. Shown are (l-r) Rep. Stephen Smyk, R-Milton; Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown; Briggs; and Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Bridgeville.
Steven Pfaffenhahauser demonstrates his double pour technique at the beer station.
Event Chair Michael Briggs and Georgetown Fire Chief Mark Rogers hold the handmade knife by donated by Neil and Rocky Green.
Quinn Baker yells, “Hot stuff coming through.”
Jax Hitchens, left, and Jimmy Hanes are kept busy shucking raw oysters for the non-shuckers.
Nick Caggiano Jr. enjoys a saltwater bivalve mollusk.
Justin King, son of Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, presents a House proclamation to Michael Briggs. Shown are (l-r) Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Bridgeville; Rep. Stephen Smyk, R-Milton; Briggs; King; and Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown.
Enjoying the event are friends (l-r) Gordan Ghue, Dylan Nicholson and Jordan Dorn.
The volunteers for the 85th Annual Oyster Eat get together before the doors open.
Numerous selfies were taken at the event.
The Old Town Flood Band entertains the crowd with some toe-tapping bluegrass music.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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