Just days after one of Greenport’s favorite community members Paul Drum was honored by Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell during the Maritime Festival, a new fundraiser is planned to help foster his mission of teaching young people about their rich maritime legacy.
The event, a Pig Roast & Benefit Run, with all proceeds to benefit Paul Drum’s Nautical Education Fund, will be held on October 17 at Four Doors Down/Crazy Fork in Mattituck.
The Motorcycle Run signup takes place between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and includes coffee and bagels for a $25 donation.
Next, the Pig Roast kicks off at 3 p.m.; the event includes a 50/50 raffle, giveaways, and beer, drink and food specials for a $20 donation. Music by Romeo’s Dream starts at 5 p.m.
The event follows the “2nd Annual Paul Drum Pirate & Mermaid Breakfast,” a fundraiser held during the recent Greenport Maritime Festival.
The Paul Drum Nautical Education Fund, in connection with the East End Seaport & Museum Foundation, is aimed at offering children 8 to 12 seven weeks of free classes to teach them about the rich maritime legacy of the North Fork.
Classes focus on water quality, water safety, sea creatures, touch tanks, remote control sailboats, a trip on the “Glory”, and more. A program for teens is also being developed.
The Pig Roast & Benefit Run is sponsored by Four Doors Down, Crazy Fork, and East End Riders.
During the recent Maritime Festival event, Russell gave Drum a proclamation, dubbing Sunday “Paul Drum Day” in town.
The honor was the second for Drum during this year’s Maritime festivities. He was also named “Police Chief for the Day” by Southold Police Chief Martin Flatley at the Land & Sea Gala.
In 2014, he was named “Mayor for the Day” by former Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce.
Russell commended Drum for serving as a “role model every day, to everyone in the community.”
The supervisor said Drum took the role of police chief very seriously. “He came and asked me to buy him six new police cars,” he joked.
Also at the breakfast, Drum was awarded a donation toward his Nautical Education Fund by the Southold Town Police Benevolent Association.
Reflecting on the accolades bestowed on her son, Sharon Sailor, Drum’s mother and owner of Front Street Station, said she was very proud.
So deep is the bond between mother and son that, although Sailor was one of the lucky chosen to win tickets to see the Pope, when her son said he wanted her with him at the Land & Sea Gala, the choice was clear.
“He wanted me there, and I wanted to be there for him,” she said simply.
Instead, Sailor gave the tickets to St. Agnes, to be donated to a lucky parishioner.
Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski said the fundraisers epitomize North Fork spirit. “This is what makes this place a community,” he said. “Everyone coming out to support one another.”
