Hello, good people,
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In Crisfield we have enjoyed a warmer than usual winter, and it appears likely to remain mild as we approach spring. As we look forward to greener grass and warmer winds, we find that the arts in Crisfield are booming, with a number of artists in a variety of disciplines coming to share their work with the town. With this and a wealth of new developments in mind, let’s jump in and take a look at what’s going on:

New Clothing Shop Downtown:
A new shop called Witches’ Stitches, owned by Meredith Lehan, has opened downtown at 946 West Main Street. It offers curated collections of gently used clothing consisting of vintage and modern styles along with occasional pieces creatively reused as well as local art and crafts. The shop is open Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. More hours will be added during the summer season. I hope you’ll give them a try!

Hello, good people!

Happy New Year to all of you! As I write this edition of the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition’s ‘Good News’ Newsletter, I am finding it difficult to figure out how to organize the information because there is SO MUCH going on in and around Crisfield. In fact, I have a list of ‘good news’ topics 33 items long! It’s a great problem to have – if you’re not me. 

Here goes:

People Are Shopping and Buying Crisfield Real Estate:
In talking with realtor Tim Carson of Laird Associates, I learned that people have been looking and buying Crisfield real estate over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. That surprised me because I was expecting that during the winter and holiday season, the real estate market would typically be slow. However, according to Tim, “We’ve been busy. We are blessed.” He noted that homes have sold on Country Club Road, Heron Way, Lauren Court, Tawes Drive, Green Road, Franklin Lane, Sackertown Road, and Stanford Road during the holidays. The Gathering Place went to settlement two weeks ago as well as 30 acres near Cullen Parkway. We’re attracting buyers both local and out of town. Other realtors have been busy too. That’s a good sign for Crisfield. Wonder what it’s going to be like this Spring when things really take off!

Well, hello, out there! Did you miss me? Things have gotten pretty hectic in my life, so I have decided to do the newsletter every two months in the off-season. There is still so much happening, so let’s get right to it:
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Linton’s Seafood Booming!
Owners Harvey and Octavia Linton report that they have had a banner year at Linton’s Seafood located at 4500 Crisfield Highway, and things are still booming! Harvey has been in business 53 years and said, “It’s the busiest of any year I can remember.” Octavia added with a grin, “It’s been so busy I’m waiting for winter!” Harvey attributes the growth to three factors: One is that he decided to try marketing his business on two radio stations, one in the Chincoteague area and one in the Ocean City/Salisbury/Rehobeth Beach area. The $800 a month investment has paid off big as customers comment that they heard about his business on the radio. Harvey does his own ads, and customers recognize his voice and enjoy meeting him.

​November 15 – Ladies Night
4-7 pm.  West Main Street, Crisfield.  Join The Bay Gift Vault, Tim & Doris’s Country Store, and The Weathered Porch as they kick-off the holiday shopping season with a list of items you would love to receive as a Christmas Gift.  So many times husbands come in and have no idea what to buy – this solves that issue and everyone is happy!  Discount offer varies by retailer, 20% off at The Bay Gift Vault.  Refreshments will be served.

November 22 – 24 – Weathered Porch Open House
10 am – 5 pm.  1003 West Main Street, Crisfield.  Refreshments and door prizes.  20% off regular priced holiday merchandise.  Trees, wreaths, snowmen, and more.  For more information, please call 410-251-2126.

November 29 – Black Friday at The Bay Gift Vault
962 West Main Street, Crisfield.  Save 30% off at The Bay Gift Vault on all purchases in-store from 9 – 11 am.   Save 20% on all purchases from 11 am – 6 pm.  Some consignors excluded.  For more information, please call 917-575-0467.

Hello, Crisfield fans and friends,

Are you ready for more really ‘good news’ happening in or near Crisfield? Here goes:

NEW CORBIN STUDIO AND GALLERY TO OPEN BY THE END OF THIS MONTH:

In last month’s newsletter, I featured the new Somerset County Arts Council Gallery downtown which just had its Grand Opening. Now Crisfield is getting a second art gallery, with one opening uptown in the former Corbin Library. According to Jennifer Merritt, the Corbin Studio and Gallery, located at 4 East Main Street in Crisfield, is projected to open sometime this month.   They are seeking artists and volunteers to staff the Gallery and join the Co-op; and sculptors, photographers, painters, writers, and musicians are encouraged to get involved. If you are interested, please register at crisfieldarts.org/corbin-gallery. They anticipate being open on Saturdays and Sundays, and on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays around the City Council meetings, as well as for special events. Things are looking up… artistically speaking!  😊

September 13 – Brown Box Theatre Presents Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure
7:30 pm. Tawes Museum, Crisfield.  Free outdoor Shakespeare returns with political tragicomedy Measure for Measure.  What happens when corruption reaches the highest level of court?  Explore the price of principle and witness what happens when the law is bent by those who serve to uphold it.  A duke in disguise leaves the fate of his people in the hands of a ruthless judge.  A loyal sister is faced with an important decision:  save the life of her brother or uphold her honor?  Join the Brown Box Theatre Project for Shakespeare’s timeless tale of deception, virtue, and honor, and decide for yourself whether justice is served.  Bring your own chair/blanket.  Food and drinks are available for purchase.  Crisfield Heritage Foundation 410-968-2501.  Free.  For more information, and additional performances, please visit http://brownboxtheatre.org/portfolio-items/measure-for-measure

Hello, good people,

I hope you are having a summer full of fun in Crisfield and wherever else your travels take you. This August the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition (GCAC) ‘Good News’ Newsletter highlights a number of projects and activities that are making or will help make Crisfield a place residents and visitors alike can enjoy even more than we already do. Here’s what’s ‘good’ in the Crisfield news:

CHAMBER GIVES HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTER PROJECT A STRONG VOTE OF SUPPORT:

I am happy to report there has been another leap of progress regarding the Hotel & Conference Center project proposed by project manager and developer Peck Miller. On Thursday, August 1st, the Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted 13-0 to endorse the project after hearing an hour presentation by Mr. Miller. Three people abstained including one who said he needed more information. The Chamber will now write a letter of endorsement to send to City officials acknowledging their stand on the project.

​Hello, good people,

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I resume writing the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition’s ‘Good News’ Newsletter. I will focus this newsletter entirely on the progress made toward building a Hotel & Conference Center downtown on the waterfront in Crisfield including an update on Wednesday night’s City Council meeting.

First, let me explain why the newsletter has been on pause since March: Four months ago, I put down my GCAC work and the newsletter in order to take a much-needed rest. It had been almost four years of nearly daily work on behalf of Crisfield, and it was time to take a break. The beauty of the respite was that it gave others on the GCAC team a rest too, and it enabled and encouraged others in the City to step up, and boy, did they!

​Hello, good people!

Can you believe that Spring is only 19 days away? That’s less than three weeks! Just as I look forward to Spring and Summer, I also look forward to Crisfield entering a new season where Crisfield starts to bloom again. It’s happening, folks. It’s happening right now with the opportunity related to the Hotel/Conference Center & Park along with new and expanding businesses, exciting events, historical interpretive signage, and improvement projects to help Crisfield become the place we know it can be – the best version of itself.

Hello, good people!

I know we’ve had some very cold days lately, but this newsletter should warm your heart. At least it does mine when I see new businesses starting, existing businesses recognized nationally, historical preservation going on, and new efforts to boost tourism here in Crisfield. Add all that to last month’s major news about a Hotel/Conference Center & Park for Crisfield, and you can see why I’m really excited about the future of Crisfield. GCAC is continuing to follow-up after the Special Meeting held on January 4th with City, County, and State leaders about the proposed development plan which includes the Hotel/Conference Center and Park, and we are excited about the progress being made. It all adds up to ‘Good News’ for Crisfield. If this keeps going as it has been, we might have to change the name of the GCAC newsletter to the ‘Great News’ Newsletter.  😊