The first-ever Fire Island Bear Weekend, from June 5 to 7, organized by Shane Tate, featured events at Cherry’s and the Ice Palace and the centerpiece was the first-ever Mr. Fire Island Bear contest, at Cherry’s, as a benefit for Cherry Grove’s volunteer Fire Department (CGFD).
Porn and activism’s Will Clark was the MC of the June 6 contest. Will also hosts Porn Bingo fundraisers at Uncle Charlie’s, in New York City, on Wednesdays through August 5. ---more---

contestants ,(by Mike Fisher) top left Mr. FIBear Chris Pagano middle- Will Clark & Shane Tate bottom- Beardonna & Vita Summers (by Bruce-Michael Gelbert)

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

Chris Pagano, a 37-year-old, Italian-American native New Yorker, who works at David Barton Gym, was the winner of the title, laurel wreath, ‘bear fur’ wrap, and $100 cash, which he donated to CGFD. Walter, 38 years old, originally from Miami, and now living in Forest Hills, Queens, was runner-up. Remaining contestants were Tim, from Hauppauge; Joe, from Farmingdale, celebrating his 30th birthday; Franco, who works at Cherry’s; and this writer.
Contestants answered question, posed by Will and the judges; demonstrated oral talents on a banana, with the judge of their choice; and offered a sexy walk, invariably involving a striptease.
Singers Vita Summers and, in her first visit to Fire Island, Beardonna, and Bambi Sue and Killer—Gil Neary and Scott Rydell—were judges.
Providing entertainment were Vita, who sang “I Love You, I Do,” “Last Dance,” and “All about that Bass,” and Beardonna, who sang a song with refrains of “Gonna pee all over the car” and “A cold finger right up my butt,” and Disney take-offs, “Part of that World,” from “The Little Mermaid,” as “I’m a whore girl,” and “Let It Go,” from “Frozen,” as “I’m a ’Mo (a homo, a proud homosexual).” ----more----

photos by Bruce-Michael Gelbert

TOP - Mr.FI Leather 2015 Edd Clark (center ) & furry friends BOTTOM - Mr. FI Bear Chris Pagano (wearing laurel wreath), partner Justin (to his left) & friends

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

There was a 50-50 raffle, benefiting CGFD, in which Cherry’s Carlos won the $190 prize.
The contest was preceded, on June 5, by Daniel Nardicio’s “Beards and Bears”-themed Underwear Party, with DJ Sammy Jo, and followed, on June 6, by Joe Fiore’s Furball, with DJ Corey Craig, both at the Ice Palace, and well attended by our furry visitors.
A Bear Brunch, on June 7, at the Cherry Lane Café, completed Fire Island Bear Weekend.