- Save your favorite articles 1 Crash Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition, Maryland Gov. The commissioners agreed to loan Snow Hill and Pocomoke roughly $350,000 to buy the Black Eyed Susan, a 149-passenger riverboat that has been used in Havre de Grace. You have permission to edit this article. With the arrival of spring, people on the Lower Eastern Shore are asking about the status of the Black-Eyed Susan, the 149-passenger paddlewheel-driven boat with a Victorian-style interior, built in 1986 and acquired by the Town of Snow Hill last year to provide catered luncheon and dinner cruises up and down the scenic Pocomoke River. Todd Ferrante, president of the Worcester County Board of Education, said this, OCEAN CITY Officials in Ocean City this week agreed to proceed with a property tax credit for active volunteer firefighters. Though most cruises currently on the calendar are booked, Washington said trips were being added in November and that the boat would offer Christmas parties in December. The Black-Eyed Susan, the Town of Snow Hills riverboat, hosted its first guests in mid-August. The boat has spent its time most recently at the Murtech Marine in Salisbury for various repairs and renovations. "It's definitely an. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Weve gotten a lot of compliments on our dinner cruise. -- A decision regarding the fate of the Black Eyed Susan riverboat is expected to be made at a town council meeting tonight, January 10th. Bertino said it was hard to support the project when there was no business plan. Prospective customers can email info@bes-snowhill.com with questions and comments. City Manager Terry McGean said the loss of revenue to the town would. Any new owner will have to restore it to Coast Guard (passenger vessel) standards, Pollitt said. He said while hed like to find a way to help the southern end of the county he didnt think this was it. As far as tickets, he said prices ranged from $40 to $95 a person. There have been a lot of people involved in getting the boat to Snow Hill and Worcester County, Weber said. Its an asset, its an economic draw.. OCEAN CITY Officials say the formation of a task force could address concerns relating to a proposed sports complex. It was estimated $600,000 in repairs would be needed to bring the paddleboat back to fully operational condition. For months now, the boat has sat idle on the Pocomoke River. field59.ipo = { There is no division whatsoever in our town. Be Truthful. We are available for private charters or public events. Its a nice little cruise.. Weve got an election coming up, were going to have a mayor, two council people, then we might have a whole different slate of people. People interestedin booking tickets for one of the scheduled cocktail, lunch and dinner cruises or in scheduling a private tour on the river boat can do so online at https://bes-snowhill.com/. If the decision is made to sell the boat, the hope is a private entity steps up and takes ownership of the boat, taking the costs off the backs of Snow Hill taxpayers. black-eyed Susan, ( Rudbeckia hirta ), North American coneflower (family Asteraceae) commonly cultivated as an attractive garden ornamental. Weber left his position with the town this week. Voyages started in August 2021 with Washington'sInc. as the operator responsible for catered cruises along the Pocomoke River. The town purchased the riverboat in 2020 using a combination of grant money and loans fromthe county and state. The company was later released from the lease agreement because the boat was not sea-worthy, as the contract required. He said his contract with the town would be on hiatus while officials arranged for repairs and explored potential funding options. We added things that didnt get completed (earlier in the process), former Snow Hill Town Manager Gary Weber said. I implore everyone up here to understand that. State and county officials attended a. He said he couldnt speak for Havre de Grace but could show Elder the financials of the Blue Dog Caf, which had proven successful for 10 years. The "Black-Eyed Susan" riverboat has gone through $300,000 dollars of repairs. People with good intentions were blindsided by this whole mess, he said. The boat will come out of the water to get cleaned up for the coming season after Christmas and is expected to resume cruises in the spring. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. One of the things we may have missed when we acquired it is no one had experience in acquiring, preparing and maintaining a riverboat and likewise we dont have experience in selling one either, he said. Low 52F. Fully stocked bars on all 3 levels. High 61F. Right now theres no set date on when it will be open to the public, but officials say it could be close to four to six weeks before its fully operational. The Black-Eyed Susan has been docked in Pocomoke City getting ready for its maiden voyage to Snow Hill. The council voted last night to proceed with the most minimal repairs to the BES in order to get her back to Snow Hill for whatever use we can make of her as a floating venue while taking time to pursue funding from a variety of sources for the full repairs which will return her to regular service, Snow Hill Town Manager Rick Pollitt said in an email. person will not be tolerated. On Thursday, the Mayor and Council hosted the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center to review a market and economic analysis update for a proposed sports complex next to Stephen, OCEAN CITY Resort officials this week approved a request for two new fire engines totaling more than $1.9 million. Pruitt shares that optimism ahead of tonight's meeting. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, Washington also adds, the cruises will be about two and a half hours long. It wouldnt even have to leave the dock.. or anything. That price tag is why at tonight's meeting, the towns mayor, Michael Pruitt, is going to seek permission to sell it. This unique excursion is like taking a step (or paddle) back in time. The town council meeting is tonight, January 10th, at 7pm in the Old Fire Hall. Be Nice. Earlier this month, the town's mayor and three-person council unanimously moved to sell the boat that was originally slated to provide tours of the Pocomoke River and offer a dining option for visitors to the town. Come this spring, that boat will be a new addition to the Pocomoke River. Doctor Explains, Golf event celebrates Macky's bartender, 'the JUTT'. The Black Eyed Susan riverboat is again out of commission. that is degrading to another person. Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. Growing as annuals or short-lived perennials, black-eyed Susans are native to prairies and open woodlands and are attractive to both birds and butterflies. "I'm going to ask the council tonight to allow the town manager and our attorneys to put together a bid package," said Pruitt. Use the 'Report' link on Love Maryland? The Black Eyed Susan riverboat, which for months has been docked on the Pocomoke River in Snow Hill. }; SNOW HILL, Md. Soon people will be able to cruise along the Pocomoke River enjoying food, entertainment, happy hour cruises and even guest chef evenings. I dont have the optimism you do, he told Weber. A variety of 2.5-hour cruises are offered. All rights reserved. The Black Eyed Susan riverboat's long and arduous journey to Snow Hill will conclude on Monday. The Black Eyed Susan riverboat, pictured here on its maiden voyage two years ago, will be sold after the Town of Snow Hill determined it could not afford the hefty $600,000 price tag to get the 111-foot paddlewheel boat seaworthy, FILE PHOTO While Washington is pleased with the councils decision, he said he would have also stood by elected officials if theyd thought it was best to sell the boat. Theyd been given a detailed presentation on the proposal. . How important this is for Snow Hill. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. } } We'd love to hear eyewitness The Black-Eyed Susan was then taken in February to Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk for an extensive inspection that revealedmultiple issues with the hull, hydraulics system and paddlewheel frame, according to the release. He questioned the cost of moving the boat to Snow Hill as well as preparations associated with docking it. I think were going to have people coming from all over that have never been to Snow Hill before and thats going to help our businesses, says Outten-Harrison. High 63F. Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. That would be their option.. The flowers can be used in bouquets. At the town's request, the Coast Guard also provided an option for the riverboat to be a floating, docked venue without river cruises, the release showed,at a cost of over $300,000. Will they find balance in blue crab domain? We just didnt have ($600,000 to spend on it). into Baltimore`s Inner Harbor. The paddlewheel is not fixed. Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. Jim Washington, a longtime Snow Hill resident and restaurant manager, will be in charge of the boat including hiring captains and staff. It may pass the legal test to take the $250,000 in advertising from the CARES Act but it doesnt pass the smell test, he said. "I would love to have some notion as to where we're headed with the cost of this boat as we prepare for our new budget.". You will receive your first email soon. Since its inaugural cruise last month, the Black-Eyed Susan has been going out on the Pocomoke River between one and three times a week. How theyve wanted something, needed something, craved something for economic development, employment, for jobs, to bring people to town so people will want to put businesses in these empty storefronts that have been sitting empty for years and years.. Mayor Pruitt said there are already interested parties. "We all want it to be successful at this point. Hes adding more dates, however, as soon as he confirms hes got a captain lined up. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Weber also dispelled some rumors about why boat ---repairs were taking so long and that the project was doomed claims from the boat being too tall to pass under fixed bridges and an inability to turn in the open water among them. Our river is our ticket for that, we need to utilize this river go back to history just a little bit, says Lisa Outten-Harrison, Council Member for the town of Snow Hill. I think itll be a failure.. Higher wind gusts possible. Update on the Black-Eyed Susan, March 2023 MAYOR & TOWN COUNCIL AGREE TO PART WITH THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN After a promising start providing quality dinner cruises along the scenic Pocomoke River, the Black-Eyed Susan has run aground due to the tremendous cost of restoring the paddlewheel to U. S. Coast Guard standards. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Bertino pointed out that neither did the commissioners yet they were being asked to make a decision now. He said the operator, who has not yet been identified, will decide what sorts of trips to offer on the boat. Virginia Shore residents may start getting new telephone area code, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Dont get me wrong. I want to find someone who can coach us through the process.. A graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and the University of Richmond, she spent seven years with the Delmarva Media Group before joining the team at The Dispatch. He says the boat has attracted a mix of tourists and locals so far. It could also provide educational opportunities for local students. The 111-foot paddlewheel boat itself is nearly 33 feet tall, Weber added, with the lowest bridge itd have to pass under being 35 feet tall. States Sports Complex Study Reviewed; Potential Task Force Eyed To Move Forward, Ocean City Council Approves $1.9M Fire Engine Purchase, Worcester BOE Working With County On Budget, OC Council Approves Property Tax Credit For Vol. - Submit calendar events Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. - Submit classified ads racist or sexually-oriented language. In addition to the recommended repairs, we put in all new plexiglass on the second level, painted the floor, got rid of the old nasty peel-and-stick carpet. The boat seems to be in good running order.. Thank you! He added that he questioned whether the purchase should be considered when a county employee was an owner of the boat. Firefighters. The address is 212 W. Green Street, and the meeting will be open for public comment. If that's the case, Pruitt said he'd like to have an idea of who's buying the boat within the next few months. PLUS get FREE stuff! The other has loftier plans possibly connecting the railroad between Berlin and Snow Hill to the riverboat on the Pocomoke River for a type of rail-to-river excursion. A few days prior to the start of Baltimore`s commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812, which was to include visits by quite a few "Tall Ships" from all over the world, I spotted an advertisement for the Black Eyed Susan`s dinner cruise (crab cakes!) - Submit classified ads He said the plan was for Snow Hill and Pocomoke to purchase the boat through funding from the county. You have permission to edit this article. Share with Us. The boat is staffed by a captain, two mates, three servers, two bartenders and Washington and his daughter. "It's out that we want to do something different with the boat and I have a lot of public support behind me saying that we should probably get this boat off our balance sheet and into a private persons hands," said Pruitt. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Over the winter of 2021-22 . Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Its separated, just like a regular boat with twin screws, Weber said. From there wed talk about if they wanted to leave it here (or) if they wanted to move it somewhere else. Weber, citing his success with the Blue Dog Caf, said he was confident that it would prove profitable. - It costs you nothing! 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Last spring, the 149-passenger, 111-foot vessel tallied a more than $300,000 bill for repairs ordered by the U.S. Coast Guard as part of a five-year routine inspection. SNOW HILL Seats are filling quickly on Snow Hills new riverboat. Doing it on the fly I think leads to mistakes. Town Council members voted 2-1 Tuesday night in favor of committing torepairs that would allow the stern-wheel paddleboat to stay in service at a reduced capacity while officials seek additional funding for a full restoration. In the weeks since, the boat has stayed busy with between one and three trips a week. States Sports Complex Study Reviewed; Potential Task Force Eyed To Move Forward, Ocean City Council Approves $1.9M Fire Engine Purchase, Worcester BOE Working With County On Budget, OC Council Approves Property Tax Credit For Vol. More:Snow Hill celebrates 23rd Blessing of the Combines: PHOTOS, More:NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens is playing in Bubba Almony's Celebrity Basketball Game. JACK CHAVEZ / OCEAN CITY TODAY. Hello, adventurers! or anything. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. The boat is captained by Jeramiah Kogan and David Carrier. All this occurred after the town sweated it out with Leonardtown to even purchase the boat in 2020. Havre de Grace, Maryland Contact I think this is a venture thats going to be a big gain for the county.. After spending the weekend in Pocomoke City, the riverboat will pull into Snow Hill after spending the last few months in Salisbury at the Murtech Marine to undergo various upgrades and repairs. The mayor and Town Councilheld a special session on the Back-Eyed Susan, the release stated, and provided other opportunities at regularly-scheduled meetings for community members to offer their input, with support mixed. Are you a lover of Marylands Northeastern region particularly Havre de Grace? Jamie Alvarenga is a writer and editor who loves all things Maryland. On Tuesday, the council voted 6-1, with Councilman John Gehrig opposed, to approve a request for two new replacement engines. If you want to learn more about what the boat has to offer, or how to start making reservations, just contact the town of Snow Hill 410-632-2080. The fate of Snow Hills woebegone Black Eyed Susan riverboat has yet to be decided, but one thing is certain it wont be an anchor around the necks of the towns taxpayers much longer. The Snow Hill Town Council voted 2-1 Tuesday to proceed with the repairs needed to get the municipalitys riverboat back to Snow Hill. In spring 2017, it moved to its new home in Havre de Grace. Jewell said she anticipates customers coming from nearby towns to see Snow Hill and the boat. Register today to take advantage of these benefits and more! Todd Ferrante, president of the Worcester County Board of Education, said this, OCEAN CITY Officials in Ocean City this week agreed to proceed with a property tax credit for active volunteer firefighters. There was a problem saving your notification. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. . Higher wind gusts possible. - Create your own user profile The 111-foot paddlewheel boat is currently stationed at Murtech Marine in Salisbury, where it has undergone various repairs and renovations to prepare it for active use. Black-Eyed Susan riverboat: Partial repairs OK'd to make it Snow Hill 'tourist attraction', Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Feedback has been positive, particularly regarding the food, he said. The town has gained a major attraction, the famous Black Eyed Susan Riverboat. Todd Ferrante, president of the Worcester County Board of Education, said this, OCEAN CITY Officials in Ocean City this week agreed to proceed with a property tax credit for active volunteer firefighters. They love our food, said Washington, who also operates a catering business. - Submit news tips SNOW HILL Town of Snow Hill officials voted this week to proceed with repairs to the Black-Eyed Susan. Then check out this old fashioned paddle boat cruise where you can sight-see this amazing area right from the water. The sale would involve varying degrees of loan and grant obligations and have lingering effects for future grant opportunities, according to the release. Although it is not the first Snow Hill boat, the Black-Eyed Susan seats more people than the others did. A graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and the University of Richmond, she spent seven years with the Delmarva Media Group before joining the team at The Dispatch. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The Black-Eyed Susan was then taken in February to Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk for an extensive inspection that revealed multiple issues with the hull, hydraulics system and paddlewheel. Background:As Snow Hill's new riverboat gets 'extensive delays,' town issues voyage deposit refunds. We'd love to hear eyewitness The partial repairs allowed the riverboat to be a floating, docked venue without river cruises. Search, Shop & Compare low rates guaranteed. The boat handles very well, said Jim Washington, the riverboats operator. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Sign Up for the Daily Buzz E-News to receive the latest news around the area delivered to your inbox.

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