February 2019 GCAC ‘GOOD NEWS’ Newsletter

2/11/2019

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. 😊

Now here’s the latest:

BBQ & SEAFOOD BY THE BAY COMING SOON:

Owner Eric Banks is preparing to open Barbeque & Seafood by the Bay this Spring near Captain’s Tyler’s Crab House on Spruce Street in Crisfield. Located on the water and accessible by car or boat, Barbeque by the Bay will offer barbeque chicken along with free range chicken, beef brisket, and angus beef burgers – the grilled foods Eric is known for. In addition, he will offer a variety of seafood from local watermen. Patrons can eat-in or carry-out. A boat-up business like his will be a great addition to what Crisfield offers, since many boaters enjoy coming to places where they can tie up and come ashore to enjoy a good meal. The new operation is an outgrowth of Firewagon BBQ, the business he previously operated on the grounds of DJ’s Car Wash and in various spots throughout the community at various times. He plans to be open Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and he looks forward to providing a few jobs for local people and to seeing locals and visitors come and enjoy his grilled specialties in a beautiful setting on the water.

In his own words, here is what this local entrepreneur has to say: As a native of Crisfield, which I classify as one of the most unique destinations on the Eastern Shore, I’m passionate and excited about the change I believe in for our economic landscape. For thirty-five plus years I’ve been working hard to achieve the things I believe in. For twenty-five of those years I have owned and operated a business here on the Eastern seaboard of Maryland and Virginia. During this time, I’ve developed a passion for the culinary arts, which brought me to a career in the food service industry. I love cooking and creating my take on the wonders from the land of pleasant living and the Chesapeake Bay estuary. As a result, I am opening a new business as a BBQ and Seafood carry-out. Barbeque by the Bay is coming this Spring, and I will add the Seafood carry-out this Summer, all in one location. Someone once said, “If you build it, they will come.” I believe that… IF it’s signature and delicious. My number one goal is to offer the best BBQ and seafood on the East Coast. It’s coming soon by the grace of God!” I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

MI PUEBLITO BUILDING SOLD:

An investor from Washington, DC has purchased the property formerly known as the Mi Pueblito Grill at 321-327 West Main Street and plans to make needed improvements to the building in the Spring. Once renovated, it will be offered for rental as a restaurant or some other commercial venture. Mi Pueblito Grill was a popular Mexican eatery in Crisfield, and we were sad to see it close. It would be great to see another restaurant or shop come in its place. With parking nearby, it would be a real asset to uptown in the Arts & Entertainment District.

LOCAL ONLINE BUSINESS RATED IN TOP 25:

Linda Singh’s online company – sitaracollections.com – has been rated one of the “Top 25” places to buy handmade jewelry by the Guide for Buying website. The awards were based on the craftsmanship of the jewelry, the ease in using the website, the uniqueness of the brand, the story behind the brand, and the responsiveness of customer support. According to the Guide for Buying website, “The practice of making handmade jewelry goes back centuries. This type of jewelry is soldered, stamped, carved, sawed and assembled by hand. Due to the time it takes to create handmade jewelry, those making it put their heart and soul into every piece. Each item will be slightly different ensuring that it is unique. This process also ensures a high level of quality and craftsmanship.”

All sterling silver jewelry ordered from the Sitara Collections website is shipped from Crisfield and is also available in Linda’s store, Bay Gift Vault, at 952 West Main Street. Artisans from India create the unique handmade sterling silver pieces, and part of the proceeds go to the Helping Children Foundation, which supports a school in rural India. It’s a win-win-win. By the way, at her store in Crisfield, you can buy this jewelry at wholesale. Men take heed: This would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for your special Valentine!

CUSTOMS HOUSE GETS ANOTHER BOOST:

The Crisfield Customs House owned by the Crisfield Heritage Foundation stands to get another financial boost as Senator Mary Beth Carozza and Delegate Charles Otto put in a request for a $300,000 bond initiative for the Customs House with the requirement that the grantee provide matching funds of $150,000. There is a review process by the budget committees and normally some portion of the request is funded. The funds will be used to completely renovate the interior of the building, adding insulation, heat and air conditioning, new bathrooms and other interior finishings. Previously, the Customs House got a new roof and new windows.

The Customs House is one of the last remaining vestiges of Crisfield’s heritage and a significant landmark. In 1866 when Crisfield got the last leg of the railroad that extended to the City Dock, which we still call “the depot”, Crisfield “prospered from the new railroad and its proximity to excellent oyster and crab grounds” and thus rapidly began attracting the “whale’s share” of the Bay’s shipping, according to William Warner in Beautiful Swimmers. There was nightly service from Crisfield to Baltimore and soon after there was a similar service from Crisfield to Norfolk. By 1900, “the number of vessels registered in the Crisfield Custom House was exceeded only by five other port cities in the United States. And, because sail remained so much in use in oyster dredging and crab scraping, the year 1910 saw Crisfield with the largest registry of sailing vessels of any port in the nation.”

I commend the Crisfield Heritage Foundation for preserving this important piece of Crisfield’s history and working to put it to use as a historic tourist attraction to help tell Crisfield’s story. Thank you, Senator, Delegate, City, County, and State officials for supporting this important cause. This could not be done without you.

NEW HISTORICAL SIGN FEATURES THE LITTLE BOAT HARBOR AND “THE TURF”:

Crisfield will have its newest historical sign near the Crisfield Library in an area formerly known as “The Turf.” The sign features a neighborhood where Crisfield’s African American seafood workers lived and Crisfield’s Little Boat Harbor nearby. The sign is #6 of 10 signs planned by members of the Crisfield Heritage Foundation (CHF): Phil Goldsborough, Frank Rhodes, Jason Rhodes, Casey Goldsborough, and Pat Carson who spent months gathering the pictures and facts for the signs. The first 5 signs were funded by the American Legion and are already in place. In response to a GCAC fundraising effort, this latest sign has been funded by Hebron Savings Bank and will be installed this Spring. The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition is continuing to raise funds for the next four signs, which cost $2,400 each. If any organization or business wants to fund any of the remaining signs through a tax-deductible donation to GCAC, please email me at: [email protected]. The signs are important to preserving our heritage and telling our story to visitors and residents alike. See the sign design at: Historical Sign #6 – The Turf

A&E NEWS:

The Arts & Entertainment committee has been holding a logo contest, which ended yesterday. They had over 20 entries! The winner will receive a $500 cash prize, and the winning logo will appear on two billboards on Route 13. The logo entries are varied and well done. Which is your favorite? You can view the logos at: https://www.facebook.com/pg/artsandentertainmentcrisfield/photos/?tab=album&album_id=302942893687826 The winner will be announced by the end of February.

There are new A&E events planned too. See their new Events FB page for what’s coming: https://www.facebook.com/pg/artsandentertainmentcrisfield/events/?ref=page_internal

CRISFIELD NOW HAS WEATHER WATCHERS ON WBOC-TV:

Thanks to Tim and Doris Howlett, Crisfield now has a Weather Watcher spot on WBOC-TV’s weather broadcasts. Meteorologist Dan Satterfield and other weather reporters there can include Crisfield winds, rainfall, and temperatures in the weather broadcast each day now that Tim and Doris have become Weather Watchers for Crisfield. They used their own funds to purchase equipment for the back of their building at 930 West Main Street where Tim and Doris’ Country Store is located. They also have equipment at their home. Through a computerized system, the equipment is connected to WBOC where Dan Satterfield can access it day or night. This is not only informational, but it is another means of getting Crisfield’s name in the news on a regular basis, and we owe Tim and Doris a “Thank You” for taking this initiative.

GCAC HIRING INTERNS AND PART-TIME STAFF:

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition* will be announcing positions for 1-2 interns and 1-2 part-time staff later this month. Made possible by an Operating Assistance Grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development, GCAC has funds for hiring people through short-term contracts and internships to help carry out 5-10 projects in the Five-Year Action Plan for Crisfield. They will assist with research, writing, and implementation steps for such projects as the Water Park, Boardwalk, Water Taxi, Murals, and Historical Signs. GCAC has been operating entirely through depending on local people volunteering their time to help Crisfield. It is a real step forward to be able to hire interns and staff so more can be accomplished.

GCAC WELCOMES 3 NEW BOARD MEMBERS:

The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition welcomed three new Board members to its Board to start the New Year. They include: Reverend Ervin Wallace, Jr., Pastor LeBron Palmer, and businessman Steve Flaherty.

Reverend Wallace, pastor at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Crisfield, is from Pocomoke and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Public Policy from Wesley College. He has been active politically, having served as an intern for former Congressman John Carney and participated in the Delaware Democratic Party and the Delaware Student Forum. He is currently completing the steps toward ordination in the United Methodist Church. Reverend Wallace believes, “There are many who are anxious for something to finally happen in Crisfield’s favor,” and he says, “I am praying and intend to be an asset to this most gracious and most important cause.”

With 37 years in public ministry, Pastor LeBron Palmer moved to Crisfield ten years ago. He holds a Bachelor of Theology degree and a Master’s in Church Leadership. Pastor Palmer and his wife Staci founded Living Hope Ministries of the Eastern Shore with 26 members in 2010. Today the church has grown to over 250 members and is housed in a facility built in 2015 on 7.3 acres that was donated to the ministry. Pastor Palmer has a heart for the people who are hurting and sees the need to make the church relevant in today’s world. He said, “I have a desire to see my home area prosper spiritually and economically. I have actually been in prayer concerning the well-being of our people and businesses. I do wholeheartedly believe in the goals and mission of GCAC, and I believe that these goals can be and will be achieved.”

Steve Flaherty is originally from Easton, but married Lee Ann Riggin of Crisfield, built a home and raised their two children here. Having always been involved with farming and agriculture, he started Agralarm, Inc. in Salisbury. Agralarm is involved with the sales and servicing of alarms and controls for the poultry industry on Delmarva as well as throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama. Steve is a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church and is active in various Christian and civic activities in Crisfield. He says, “When I first came to Crisfield in 1976, I was only 17 years old. I did not spend a lot of time thinking about the future of Crisfield. Today I have come to appreciate all the things we take for granted and the many strengths this area has. The future of Crisfield is very important, but it will only be as bright as we make it and will depend greatly on the effort we provide. It is the responsibility of our citizens, business leaders and elected officials all working together with a clear vision and an action plan. GCAC can help the City because we are an organization with a strong, diverse group of citizens and leaders from many backgrounds. I am excited to play a part in helping Crisfield achieve its true potential.”

The GCAC Board elected the current officers for another term: Charlotte Scott, President; Donnie Drewer, Vice President; Darlene Taylor, Secretary; and Jay Tawes, Treasurer. With 13 Board members in all, the remaining Board members are Linda Singh, Dan Nelson, Angenette Stewart, Phil Riggin, Eric Banks, and Frances Martinez Myers. City Manager Rick Pollitt and Marina Director Tom Schisler are ex-officio members. Chamber of Commerce Past President Bill Buttrill is the GCAC liaison to the Chamber. We are fortunate to have such a strong and active Board! You can read more about our Board members on the GCAC website at: http://www.greatercrisfieldmd.org/our-team/

So there you have it. It’s actually only been 3 weeks since my last newsletter and in just that short period of time I have more good news than I have room to report or have permission to report yet. (I always get permission from the individual, business, or organization being discussed before I include it in the newsletter.) And I already have four more topics of good and great news for the March newsletter. Folks, what’s happening in Crisfield is *unprecedented*, and if I were you, I’d stay tuned… It’s about to get really interesting as we build the New Crisfield! To God Be the Glory!

Best, Charlotte

Charlotte Scott, President
Great Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc.
PO Box 144
Crisfield, MD 21817
www.GreaterCrisfieldMD.org
410-251-1669

*The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition, Inc. (GCAC) is a 501(c)3 not for profit economic development corporation run by an all-volunteer, non-paid Board of Directors

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