April 11, 2002
Contact: Jefferson Holland / 410-263-9446 / jeffholland@annapolis.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayor Ellen O. Moyer will be the honorary chairman of the judges for the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s 6th annual May Basket Contest on Wednesday, May 1.

"This is a grand tradition and a wonderful way to celebrate spring," says museum co-founder and board president, Peg Wallace. "But it’s not just for the residents and business owners; the kids can get involved, too."

The judging gets under way at 10:30 a.m. on May Day, when a celebrity panel of judges under the supervision of May Basket Contest cofounder Linda Larson will gather at Davis' Pub before touring the Eastport streets to view the floral arrangements festooning the neighborhoods’ front doors and porches.

The judges will compile entries into three categories: "Most Beautiful," "Most ‘Eastport,’" and this year for the first time, "Most Patriotic." Residents and businesses in Eastport are eligible to enter simply by displaying their arrangements. The area covered by the contest encompasses the City’s Ward Eight.

"This is a very different event from the one in downtown Annapolis," Linda explains. "Spring is a very special time in Eastport, and people use whatever they have on hand to create their displays. People have used their entire front porches in the most creative ways."

A winner in each category will be selected for residential entries, business entries, and a special entry level for children 12 years old and younger. All entries must include a name and phone number, and children’s entries must include the child’s age.

Winners will be invited to the first annual "Blue Ribbon Reception" hosted by Ward Eight Alderman Josh Cohen on Sunday, May 5, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Barge House Museum. The Barge House is located on the Eastport peninsula at the foot of Second Street on Back Creek at 133 Bay Shore Drive.

Linda Larson will also conduct a May Basket Workshop for 4th-grade students at Eastport Elementary School on Tuesday, April 30. The workshop is sponsored by the Boatyard Bar & Grill, which provided a generous donation to cover the costs of the flowers, baskets and other materials.

"We started doing the workshop for students last year," Linda explains, "and it was so much fun! I couldn’t believe how excited the kids got over their baskets – even the boys loved it."

For more information, call 410-268-1802, or visit the museum web site at www.annapolismaritimemuseum.org.

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Note to Editors: really neat digital photographs of the kids and their baskets are available, as well as pictures of some of last year’s winning entries. Please email requests to Jim Larson, jlarson218@yahoo.com

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