KENT ISLAND, Md.-- David Brown thought it would be months before he'd get a look at the pictures taken of him for the Gents of Kent Island calendar.

He was wrong.

Not long after the photos were taken, Mr. Brown got a surprise sneak preview on his way to the bathroom at Bayside Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation, Inc., where he works as a licensed physical therapist.

There, tacked up all over the walls, were poster-sized photos of a naked Mr. Brown with only an examination table and medicine ball covering his most private assets.

"My staff surprised me," he said. "They got all the negatives and blew them up. I'm afraid of where they'll show up next."

Mr. Brown was one of 68 Kent Islanders to lose his clothes and bare all for the local volunteer fire department's fourth annual calendar.

The calendar was unveiled at the first ever Harvest Brew Fest held at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Friday night.

Funds raised through the event, and through calendar sales, benefit emergency services on Kent Island and the volunteer fire department's new facility, which broke ground last weekend.

The calendar of sephia-toned photos, shot by Stan Ruddie of ASI Photographers, features local businesses, community members and volunteer firefighters.

They've proven to be a hit in the past, raising about $30,000 each year, said KIVFD president Francis Roudiez, who is featured alongside Mr. Brown and Dave Reid in the March section. All proceeds raised have gone toward the new station, which will cost $7 million including the cost of land.

The department has outgrown its nearly 50-year-old station on Main Street in Stevensville, Mr. Roudiez said. The new 28,000-square-foot station is being built on the north side of Route 50 in Chester, near the Route 18 overpass, and is expected to open in January 2008.

It will have an expanded equipment maintenance area, a bunk room for 24-hour staffing, training facility and a community room that will be shared with the new Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Medical center and KIVFD officials broke ground on both projects last weekend. The new station has been in the works for 10 years, Mr. Roudiez said.

Money has been raised through fundraisers - like the Gents of Kent calendar - and the sale of 4 acres of land to the medical center. Mr. Roudiez said local banks are working with them so they can have a low mortgage. The more money raised through fundraisers, the lower the mortgage, he said.

Knowing the money is going toward the fire station is what convinced many of the calendar's models to join in.

"We always support the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department," said Bruce Moore, who posed naked behind a pile of bananas inside the Safeway grocery store where he works.

Mr. Moore said he wasn't embarrassed during the photoshoot - that was until customers started crowding around and yelling for the models to take their shirts off.

"We did it at the produce department when the store was open for business," he said. "People were cheering and yelling at us."

Judy Wink, executive director of Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, said she was excited to see community members like Mr. Moore were part of the calendar.

"He's the Safeway man," she said. "It's so great that they're doing this for the community. You do what you gotta do apparently, and that's what they're doing."

When volunteering for the calendar, it's important to have a sense of humor.

Men mocking female voices could be heard throughout the night at the Brew Fest, asking their buddies to please sign their "nudie calendar."

Dan Pompa, a member of the Kent Island Federation of Art, said he doesn't know how his friends will respond to his photo in the calendar's February section, but is sure he'll get ridiculed.

"I'm just glad they used the picture where I have the magazine," he said. "The first picture I was sitting with just a (paint) pallet covering me."

Gus, also a federation of art member, said he's gotten a mixed reaction from friends regarding the picture, but would pose again in a heartbeat.

"Sure why not," he said. "It was a lot of fun."

HOW TO GET IT

The Gents of Kent Island calendar is available by sending a check or money order for $10 plus $3 shipping and handling per calendar to: Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 27, Stevensville, MD 21666.

All proceeds from the sale of the calendars will help pay for the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department's new station.

For more information visit the Web site.

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We have a Firefighters Pancake breakfast to make money for the department. We usually wear clothes for the event as making pancakes naked can be hazardous...

These guys definately wanted a new station...

meow.

I think I need one of these for my office.

Nice!!
In my state in australia the firemen bring out a nudie calender every year to raise money. ( I personally think they just do it for the attention ) I buy one every year, and it is the cause of much drool for my mum and I, lol

... I want one of those ...

Our local Fire Dept. should do something like that .. mmm .. some hot looking guys ...

You wouldn't do that for a new firehouse fluffybunny?

Why don't I ever get to see naked guys lurking behind the bananas.... sigh....

For a new firehouse I'd do a photoshoot with a well placed firehose...or two...

I am against this kind of absurd, liberal, sex-sells rubbish. I am all for giving to charity, I gave money to a beggar the other day, but nudity is going to far. Anything to get peoples attention. People should want to give to charity, not have willies and boobs jangled around in their faces.

Great I am all for it, although I would prefer to see more females rather than firefighters..LOL

Many fire departments here in the UK do this already, my health club and Gym made a calendar a few years ago also for charity.

UM should do something similar.. *hey Pandy are you game* UM 's official 2007 calandar.

First picture: The White wizard is Mr January.

yeah...I don't think that you are in the target market for this calander There are surprisingly few female firefighters; as physical strength is so critical it is just difficult for many women to pass the physical exams. I see a lot of women taking the tests, but very few pass. Unlike the military the requirements are the same between men and women.

There are however enough female firefighters that would make good calander material...



I'd buy two!

I know I'd buy one.

xsas, *poses*

The calender is tasteful just a little suggestive. People in the market for that type of thing are going to buy something along those lines anyway. The money might as well go towards a worth-while cause don't ya think?

Absolutely.. the cause is the main thing although Fluffy and his fire hose is too much to think about.

I can't do with all these prudes complaining.. if they don't like it then don't buy it at the end of the day these people are doing something for a worthy cause, not only do they lay their lives on the line at work they have extended their good will to raise money for charity, I for one salute them for that.

As for me this is submission photo for Mr February or Mr Valentine I prefer to call myself, I look good in this one.