November 2018 ‘GOOD NEWS’ Newsletter

Hello, good people!

I am happy to once again bring you the Greater Crisfield Action Coalition’s November ‘Good News’ Newsletter. We’re in that in between time when the summer season is winding down and the holiday seasons are before us. Still, there is much ‘Good News’ to report:

WATER’S EDGE RE-OPENS!

• What a great surprise when Water’s Edge Café re-opened ten days ago, on Wednesday, October 24th! After closing Water’s Edge in Crisfield four months ago, owners Dan and Mary Nelson went to Atlantic, Virginia near Chincoteague and opened the former Wright’s Seafood Restaurant. Wright’s was a popular waterfront seafood restaurant that had closed two years ago when the owners retired after 45 successful years in business. Dan and Mary got the place in order, hired staff, and proceeded to operate the 275-seat restaurant, which they named The Water’s Edge Atlantic. Then, after finding and training a manager to oversee the operations, they decided to come back to open the Crisfield location. They have returned to their roots and to what has worked for them in Atlantic and in Crisfield – home cooking made from scratch. Their most popular items on the menu are their crab cakes and their crabby pretzel, although many like their hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and flounder.  I had their hand-breaded shrimp with seafood sauce one day and their hand-breaded oysters with tartar sauce another – both delicious! There’s a big difference between hand-breaded fresh products and products shipped frozen. I also noted that they make their own sauces, including the delicious seafood sauce and tartar sauce I had, which you could tell weren’t out of a bottle.

• While I was there, I talked with Dan and Mary to find out what led them back to Crisfield. Mary was quick to say she was “homesick” for her closest family and friends here. Dan said he too missed Crisfield and loves the place. Dan said another thing that brought them back was the public outcry. So many people missed having them here! The closing of Water’s Edge Café, which is literally at the “water’s edge” at the City Dock, affected the vitality of the downtown area. That, and the reduced hours of the Ice Cream Gallery next door, meant less tourists would come to eat, have ice cream, and watch the sunsets. The closing affected other nearby shops as well. Mary also said this experience has been a “spiritual awakening” for her, helping her develop trust in God and rediscover her life in Him. So, it is with *great joy* that we welcome Dan and Mary back to Crisfield and hope they and the restaurant will flourish here for many years to come.

SIDE STREET RESTAURANT HAS A BUYER!

• Side Street was a popular seafood restaurant in Crisfield with an outstanding location downtown near the water, but it has been vacant and for sale for the past several years. It is exciting to learn that Side Street is now under contract by an out of town buyer. Once known as the place to go to eat steamed crabs on the outdoor deck overlooking the water, it will be interesting to see what the new owner has in mind. Hopefully, it will be another good seafood restaurant that will appeal to tourists and locals who just like to hang out with friends and enjoy steamed crabs and other Maryland seafood.

---

TOURISTS IMPACTING CRISFIELD BUSINESSES:

• Dan Nelson remarked that he was surprised that there are still a lot of tourists in town at the end of October/early November.

• In addition, this year tourists from the American Cruise Lines’ cruise boats (the Star and the Independence that were here this week) came in to his restaurant in small groups and dined. This was a nice boost to sales as well. In the past five years, the only one from the cruise boats who came in to eat was the chef. Maybe he wanted to check it out first! 

• Owner Sonny Ford at Bayside Home Center at 4040 Crisfield Highway noted that, “A lot of strangers came to fish and see the town this summer. And they enjoyed themselves!” He always asks them what it is they like about Crisfield, and they tell him it’s the quaintness, the quietness, and the fishing. He noted that this past summer was even better for his business than the previous one.

• Harvey and Octavia Linton have been in business for 51 years, with 36 of them being in their present location at 4500 Crisfield Highway. Harvey said they had the biggest summer they’ve had in a long time. His wife Octavia said business was “unbelievable!” Harvey said it was because they saw a lot more tourists this year. Last weekend, for example, they were busy all weekend, all from people out of town. In fact, Harvey said about 10% of his business is from Crisfield residents, and 90% is from people coming from out of town. They are coming from Salisbury, Ocean City, Chincoteague, and Norfolk. “We need more of that,” he said. “That’s what’s going to create business. And if you get more shops in this town, it’s really going to create more business!” He added that, “The coalition [GCAC] is needed to get more business and development in this town.” With all GCAC is trying to do, it was really good to hear Harvey Linton say, “We need the coalition,” so we can grow tourism even more.

CHRISTMAS IN CRISFIELD BIGGER THAN EVER!

• Erik Emely will be in charge of Christmas in Crisfield this year as Billie Jo Chandler will be recovering from surgery. (Her surgery is Monday, so please say a prayer for the success of the surgery and a speedy recovery.) What’s new this year will be a new parade route starting at City Hall and going to 10th Street on Friday, December 7th at 6:30 PM, followed by the lighting of the crab pot Christmas tree. On Saturday, December 8th, starting at 4:30 PM, students from Crisfield High School grades 8 through 12 will be competing in a tree decorating contest. Each class will decorate a tree downtown in the city parking lot. There will also be pictures with Santa in Santa’s Village, train rides, and face painting. That’s in addition to food and craft vendors and a lot of live entertainment with choirs from Crisfield High School and Somerset Intermediate School along with other groups singing Christmas carols. It’s going to be a really festive time in Crisfield, and a good chance to mingle with friends and neighbors, support local businesses, and celebrate the Christmas season in Crisfield.

CHAMBER COOKBOOKS A SELLOUT:

• The Chamber of Commerce cookbook entitled “From Crab Pot to Table Top” featuring 50 years of winning recipes from the National Hard Crab Derby is almost sold out. Due to popular demand, the Chamber is ordering a reprint just in time for Christmas gift giving. Selling for only $15, you can get your copy (or get several for family and friends) at the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce, Bay Gift Vault, or Tawes Museum Gift Shop. See attached picture.

GRANTS FOR CRISFIELD NATURE PRESERVE:

• City Manager Rick Pollitt informed me that the City is still working with Somerset County Recreation and Parks and Somerset County Public Schools on the development of the Crisfield Nature Preserve, adjacent to Carvel Hall.  In fact, he said, “Just this week we learned that we may be able to secure some grant funds to establish walking trails and other park amenities in concert with the planned Rails to Trails project the County is developing along the old railroad right-of-way.” This would be another step of progress in enhancing our outdoor spaces to encourage healthy, active lifestyles for all ages, something tourists and residents would be able to enjoy.

CITY CHANGES EDU POLICY:

• According to City Manager Rick Pollitt, “The City Council unanimously adopted a change in our water and sewer connection policy. Under the new policy, EDU (Equivalent Dwelling Unit) allocations are no longer linked to construction progress or site development; rather, EDU allocations remain intact so long as the property owner pays the water and sewer fees associated with the allocated EDUs, regardless of whether the property is developed, in the process of being developed or is unimproved.  Additionally, EDUs currently allocated to one party may now be transferred or assigned to other parties.” This change is a development-friendly policy that “reflects the City’s interest in promoting growth and property development within City limits.” These kinds of changes have a real impact on attracting investors and developers, something Crisfield definitely wants and needs.

CRISFIELD AND ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:

• Lots of new and exciting things are happening with the Arts and Entertainment District as well. For more news and dates for upcoming Crisfield events, see Jen Merritt’s City of Crisfield newsletter at: https://conta.cc/2O4jAIB

GCAC GALA PROCEEDS HIT $12,000:

• The Greater Crisfield Action Coalition (GCAC)* is proud to announce the proceeds from its first annual gala. Held at the exclusive Kingsbay Mansion, made possible by the generosity of owners David King and Jerry Philpott, the proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships, and successful auction item bids totaled approximately $12,000 and will be used to implement more of the Five-Year Action Plan focused on making Crisfield the #1 Unique Tourist Destination on the Eastern Shore.
• The GCAC Board has identified three large projects to focus on over the winter including:
• Boardwalk:  With Crisfield bordered on three sides by water, a boardwalk for pedestrians, bicycles, and golf carts could connect and provide ready access to many of Crisfield’s assets and businesses.
• Water Taxi for Water Tours:Providing the opportunity for visitors and residents to tour the waterfront and appreciate its beauty, the wildlife, and the pleasure of viewing the greater Crisfield area from the water could also provide a significant economic boost to our community.
• Water Park: Water parks have become attractions for families and provide jobs and recreation for youth and visitors.

 

• GCAC will work on smaller projects as well. And along with the recent $18,000 grant we received from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, as we make progress, we will publicize what we are accomplishing that was made possible with funding raised from the gala and from the grant. GCAC is grateful to all those who helped or made generous donations (see link for complete list of the 70+ donors and sponsors: Gala Thank You Ad), and we look forward to making the “Dining Under the Stars 2019” gala even better!

*GCAC is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, run by an all-volunteer, non-paid Board of Directors
So, there you have it, folks. Even though it’s only been three weeks since my last newsletter, the ‘Good News’ continues to pile in. And I already have a list of topics that will be ready for the December newsletter. You can’t stop progress, people! 

Happy Thanksgiving to all.
​
Best, Charlotte

---