June 2018 ‘GOOD NEWS’ Newsletter

6/20/2018

Hello, good people,

I am thrilled to announce that Crisfield has two new businesses opening in June — a sports bar and a bakery. We also have new events including our first “Golf Cart Parade” along with *major* funding awarded for our infrastructure. I’m convinced we’re on a roll…! Here are the details:

NEW SPORTS BAR TO OPEN IN JUNE:

Vinay and Linda Singh are preparing to open “The Crab Cave,” a sports bar inside The Crab Place in Crisfield this month. Located at 504 Maryland Avenue, The Crab Cave will feature quality interpretations of Eastern Shore favorites including crab cake sandwiches, battered rockfish sandwiches, chicken wings, crab dip with pretzels, and battered shrimp served with coleslaw and French fries.

Grass Fed Bison Hamburger with Lettuce and Cheese

Locals and visitors are welcome to stop by and have a beer, watch the game, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy a casual dining experience in a warm and inviting atmosphere. The Grand Opening is tentatively set for Saturday, June 23 at 7:00 PM. The Crab Cave will be open seven days a week with hours set as follows: Sunday through Thursday – 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM; Friday 4:00 PM to midnight; and Saturday 7:00 PM to midnight. This a welcome addition to Crisfield and offers another place where people can unwind after a day or week of work or after touring local attractions such as Tangier or Smith Islands or following a day of shopping or boating. I am so excited about this new venue in Crisfield, and plan to hang out there some myself! For more information, see thecrabcave.com

JohnnySweets GETS OFF TO A GREAT START:

How sweet it is! I am happy to announce that JohnnySweets opened yesterday, June 3rd, at the former Blue Crab Café at 8 West Main Street in Crisfield. It is a bakery that features a number of delicacies to satisfy your sweet tooth, including a variety of doughnuts and pastries, homemade fudge, and four varieties of “Smith Island Baby Cakes”, a name for which they own the patent. Owned and operated by Kathy Konkel and her son, Johnny, the pastry items are all baked fresh on the premises. They also have Jack and Jill ice cream and will take orders for sheet cakes and 9” Smith Island cakes.

Yesterday they opened at 10:00 AM and by 1:00 PM, they had sold out of their doughnuts and had to make a second round. Next week, they will be open at 7:00 AM and will offer breakfast as well. I was there around 2:00 PM and sat in my car for 20 minutes finishing a phone call while customers streamed in and out the whole time. It seems to me Crisfield was waiting for a good bakery!

CRAB DERBY TO BE A FULL WEEK THIS YEAR:

For the first time in 70 years, the Chamber of Commerce is expanding Crab Derby events throughout the week leading up to Labor Day instead of just the weekend as has been the tradition. This year Crab Derby will start on Monday, August 27th and end on Sunday, September 2nd. Among the activities planned are live entertainment, a carnival, crab picking and crab cooking contests, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and boat docking contests. Crab Derby continues to be one of Crisfield’s two largest events, bringing approximately 8,000 people to town for the weekend. Many come for the rides, the food, and the events. Others come to connect with family and friends, making the weekend much like a reunion. WMDT interviewed Chamber Vice President, Buddy Ward, about the plans. He noted that the Chamber will be able to spread its events throughout the week instead of having to cram everything into the weekend. See the telecast at: http://www.wmdt.com/news/maryland/city-of-crisfield-s-crab-derby-becomes-weekend-long-event/742301578

NEW WEEKEND ACTIVITIES AT JANES ISLAND STATE PARK:

Janes Island State Park has new summer fun activities for locals and visitors alike. Activities vary from weekend to weekend but always feature a Crabbing Derby (times revolve around high tide), and can include campfire programs, Roving Naturalist with special guest critter, crafts, paddles, salt marsh ecology programs and more. For a list of weekend activities, or to register for an activity, please call ahead. You can reach the park at 410-968-1565.

4th SATURDAY BAY STROLL HAS EXPANDED ITS ACTIVITIES:

On June 23, you can join in the fun and games from 3 – 7 pm at the City Dock, 1300 W. Main Street, Crisfield. Join the hula-hooping contest or the golf cart parade, or play old-school video games. Listen to live music with local Neal Hooks sponsored by H. Glenwood Evans & Son, Inc. Bring your lawn chair for a relaxing visit – we’ll have a tent set up for you! 4th Saturdays are sponsored by the Somerset County Arts Council, WBYC 107.3 Crisfield Community Radio and the City of Crisfield.

Schedule:
3 pm Golf Cart Obstacle Course at Somers Cove Marina
3 pm set up for video games at Customs House (near 906 W Main St)
5 pm Golf Cart Parade from marina to city dock – award for best decorated cart
6 pm Hula Hoop Contest
For more information, please call 410-968-2787 or visit crisfieldarts.org.
POETRY READING:

The Bay Gift Vault is featuring a poetry reading by Marcus Colasurdo and G.H. Mosson on Saturday, June 23 at 4:00 PM. They will read from their modern epic poem book, Heart X-Rays. This will provide an entertaining and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon in Crisfield with adult beverages and small bites served at the event. Come out and experience something new and culturally enriching.

DOLLY PARTON ADIRONDACK CHAIR TO BE AUCHIONED:

Dolly Parton, the most honored country female performer of all time, has autographed and decorated a pink adirondack chair for the Arts & Entertainment fundraiser auction being held at the Crab Derby during Labor Day weekend. This is one of the 34 chairs being auctioned and is bound to attract multiple bidders at the live auction and online. It’s going to be fun to see how high the bidding goes and who the winning bidder will be. Stay tuned!

GROWTH OF TOURIST TRAFFIC:

The Memorial Day weekend reflected an increase in tourist traffic in Crisfield according to local business owners. Several remarked to me that traffic and sales were significantly up over last year. In fact, Hitesh Patel, owner of Somers Cove Motel and Big Willey’s beverage store, told me he saw more people in town this Memorial Day weekend than he has seen since he came here 18 years ago. Clearly, the Plein Air event and 4th Saturday contributed to the growth. In addition, there were other events over the weekend including a Community Yard Sale at the marina, a Crab & Cruise event, and the Soft Shell Crab Festival. Also, the WBOC webcam and the new Crisfield Visitor Guide and brochure could have helped, along with the pleasant temperatures. I will continue to keep you posted on tourist traffic throughout the summer to see if the trend continues. I am betting it will!

CRISFIELD SEEN AS BEST SHORE TOWN IN MARYLAND:

Recently I met Jim Parker, a visitor to Crisfield who found us by way of an Internet site that said Crisfield is the most “underrated” town in Maryland. As a result, he very specifically chose to drive here from West Virginia where he is the CEO of a small rural hospital. Jim said he has “been everywhere” including Anchorage, Alaska; Cape Spear, Newfoundland; Norfolk, Virginia; Maine, etc. Two years ago he drove across America and visited 18 states and 12-15 national parks. He likes to visit small, unique towns like Crisfield, and remarked: “I saw that Crisfield had water, seafood, and crabs, in particular. That’s my kind of place!” He said he met a lot of nice people, including John Townsend at John’s Auto, who was assessing a problem with one of his tires while I was having a nail removed from one of mine. The website article titled “The Most Underrated Town in Every State” noted that Crisfield has fishing and crabbing, a temperate climate, a stunning landscape, and beautiful sunsets. It concluded that “Ocean City gets all the hype, but Crisfield may just be the best shore town in Maryland.” This is an example of how good press can draw tourists. See https://blog.cheapism.com/overlooked-towns/

IMPROVEMENTS AT JOHN’S AUTO:

Speaking of John’s Auto, there have been improvements to the property including a new roof and the removal of 25 junk cars. Located near the entrance of town, owner John Townsend said next will be power washing and painting of the trim on the building. With the grass cut where the cars had been, the overall appearance has been greatly improved. Small steps add up to big improvements, and we commend John for what has been done and what will be completed. If you go there, you know John stays busy helping people all over our community, including me, so time for grounds and building maintenance can be limited. However, he is making time, and things are looking up!

CITY APPROVED FOR $4.2 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE:

The City has just learned that the Maryland Department of the Environment will fund three major wastewater improvement projects for Crisfield. The funding will be part loan and part grant. This will go a long way to addressing the most pressing infrastructure issues the City has, and combined with the $3,510,000 spent on roads in the last two years, totals almost $8 million in infrastructure improvements for Crisfield. This funding was awarded following meetings with key people in Annapolis earlier this year and persistence on the part of City officials. The loan portion will be paid out of the savings from refinancing an existing loan and extending the terms on another loan. We know tourism will help boost our economy, but without a solid infrastructure, any boost to the economy cannot be sustained. Thanks go to City Manager Rick Pollitt and grant writer Jennifer Merritt for their efforts which led to this much needed funding.

CRISFIELD GETS NEW FIRE BOAT AND AMBULANCE:

It’s a big deal any time a small community like Crisfield gets a major piece of fire equipment or a new ambulance. Crisfield has just gotten both. The new fire boat was built and donated by David Mason, owner of Chesapeake Boats, Inc. and a member of the Fire Department for over 40 years. Valued at $200,000, a gift of this size is unprecedented. I asked David how this came about. He said he had been a waterman and knew the hazards of being out on the water in a small boat. The fire boat the Fire Department had was not a sufficient size to handle a fire call safely in bad weather, so he decided to build and donate a much larger boat. It was a result of the perfect combination: a former waterman and current fireman who had the means to build a proper boat for his fellow firemen. Hats off to David! At the same time, the Crisfield ambulance squad, after much research and assessment of finances, purchased a new ambulance for Crisfield. In our time of need, we will truly appreciate that we have both.

Isn’t it remarkable that month after month we continue to see *new* things happening that work together to help make Crisfield the #1 Unique Tourist Destination on the Eastern Shore? I wonder what we’ll have to report next month…? And next year…? And in the next 2-5 years…? As the saying goes: “The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.”

Best,

Charlotte

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