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. In the weeks since, the boat has stayed busy with between one and three trips a week. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Its an asset, its an economic draw.. (Im) hoping that people come down for the Black-Eyed Susan but stay for all the other shops and restaurants in Snow Hill, Jewell said. "We're paying insurance on it, we're paying to keep the electric going, we had to winterize it, there are ongoing expenses even if it sits there docked," said Pollitt. More:Virginia Shore residents may start getting new telephone area code. 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. When Bertino asked how many trips the boat would take to make money, Weber said the ticket cost would depend on what type of trip was offered. Prospective customers can email info@bes-snowhill.com with questions and comments. - Comment on articles Improve this listing Similar Experiences Those interested can get cruise tickets online at bes-snowhill.com. When Bertino said that sort of information should have been in the commissioners packets, Higgins said hed gotten it last minute. Although it is not the first Snow Hill boat, the Black-Eyed Susan seats more people than the others did. person will not be tolerated. The meal was excellent and the river cruise was interesting with . The boat is captained by Jeramiah Kogan and David Carrier. Be Proactive. 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 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. (After enduring all of that) I think I deserve it.. 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. "We are sorry to inform you that. At a town hall meeting earlier this month, Snow Hill Mayor Mike Pruitt and the Town Council unanimously voted to authorize Pruitt to look into selling the 149-passenger, 111-foot paddlewheel boat. The boat hosted only hosted a handful of events, with the town saying it wants an expedient sale. racist or sexually-oriented language. All rights reserved. Share with Us. So for us here in Snow Hill to be the hub of that sort of entertainment, I think is wonderful, says Jim Washington, Operator and Caterer for the Black Eyed Susan. He acknowledged that there had been some minor snafus, such as difficulty finding certain light switches, but that overall things were running smoothly. They would have to get it seaworthy. Low 52F. Pruitt shares that optimism ahead of tonight's meeting. JACK CHAVEZ / OCEAN CITY TODAY. There was a problem saving your notification. There was a problem saving your notification. Voyages started in August 2021 with Washington'sInc. as the operator responsible for catered cruises along the Pocomoke River. With the addition of the Black Eyed Susan our river will become the destination that it deserves to be, he said. Perlozzo said the riverboat was a unique opportunity to promote the southern end of the county as a tourism destination. Seeing this vessel docked in our little town evokes momentous emotion and provides hope that Snow Hill will continue to prosper. Then check out this old fashioned paddle boat cruise where you can sight-see this amazing area right from the water. Register today to take advantage of these benefits and more! Though the boat seats 150 people, Washington said cruises have been reduced to 75 passengers to allow for more freedom of movement. Commissioner Jim Bunting expressed objections to the proposal. Its what I believe to be a great opportunity to take advantage of the Pocomoke River. Background:As Snow Hill's new riverboat gets 'extensive delays,' town issues voyage deposit refunds. We hope that it is does exactly what our anticipation is, and were just so excited to bring people here and ride our beautiful Black Eyed Susan, says Outten-Harrison. Washington said he is grateful for the opportunity afforded by the town government. We believe this opportunity checks all the boxes for Snow Hill and Pocomoke, said Tom Perlozzo, the countys director of tourism, economic development and recreation and parks. Are you a lover of Marylands Northeastern region particularly Havre de Grace? Find more here and have fun! I implore everyone up here to understand that. For many years it cruised around southern states and was eventually moved to Baltimore in the year 2000. blackeyedsusanhdg.com From 2000 to 2016, you may have spotted this paddle boat around the Inner Harbor. Havre de Grace, Maryland Contact As a unique attraction, the Black-Eyed Susan increases visitors to our area on the Eastern Shore and we believe that as it grows in popularity and recognition, it will continue to help introduce new people to the charm that Snow Hill has to offer, Mayor Jennifer Jewell said in a statement. "prerollTemplate":"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/174384104/wmdt/top-stories&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&vpos=preroll&unviewed_position_start=1&correlator=1682871833&cust_params=category=Business%2CEntertainment%2CLocal%20News%2CMaryland%2CTop%20Stories&video_position=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wmdt.com%2F2021%2F06%2Fblack-eyed-susan-river-boat-slated-to-bring-tourism-and-business-to-the-town-of-snow-hill%2F&post=722802" All rights reserved. We added things that didnt get completed (earlier in the process), former Snow Hill Town Manager Gary Weber said. The boat has been docked in Norfolk since a Coast Guard inspection there revealed the Black-Eyed Susan (BES) needed extensive improvements. 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. All this occurred after the town sweated it out with Leonardtown to even purchase the boat in 2020. Search, Shop & Compare low rates guaranteed. Theres other people that could probably use this money.. City Manager Terry McGean said the loss of revenue to the town would. Voyages started in August 2021 with Washington'sInc. as the operator responsible for catered cruises along the Pocomoke River. The Black-Eyed Susan, purchased by the town last year thanks to a loan from Worcester County, arrived in Snow Hill in early June and is now docked at Sturgis Park. I have my concerns. 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. Citing rising costs, supply chain issues and new emission standards, Fire Chief Richie Bowers said, SNOW HILL School system officials say theyre in the process of providing Worcester County government with budget details. Jim Washington, the riverboats operator, said he supported the towns decision regarding the boat. "It's definitely an. Its a nice little cruise.. He said the plan was for Snow Hill and Pocomoke to purchase the boat through funding from the county. Gary Weber, Snow Hill town manager, said the final cost for the used vessel was $324,900, and that new boats run up to $4 million. It could also provide educational opportunities for local students. Jamie Alvarenga is a writer and editor who loves all things Maryland. Right now we plan to resume May 1, Washington said. }; SNOW HILL, Md. We are a tourist attraction, he said. Its just not something that the taxpayers of Snow Hill can afford to carry.. The Black-Eyed Susan, the Town of Snow Hills riverboat, hosted its first guests in mid-August. I think this is a venture thats going to be a big gain for the county.. He added, however, that what happened in Havre de Grace could not be compared to Snow Hill. Becoming partly cloudy after some morning light rain. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Higher wind gusts possible.. A few clouds. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. The saga of Snow Hill's beleaguered Black-Eyed Susan riverboat is nearing a conclusion with the town's decision to sell it. Washington said he hopes the Black-Eyed Susan experience entices customers to plan additional cruises later. Doing it on the fly I think leads to mistakes. That price tag is why at tonight's meeting, the towns mayor, Michael Pruitt, is going to seek permission to sell it. A lot of the questions I asked, they had answers for in that presentation, Bertino said. Weber said he wished there was more time to provide that information but that there were other prospective buyers interested in the boat. Black Eyed Susan Riverboat slated to bring tourism and business to the town of Snow Hill June 15, 2021 Jordie Clark SNOW HILL, Md. - It costs you nothing! When all was said and done, after a tremendous presentation I wish our folks had done that today the city council came to the conclusion it didnt work for them because there were still, as detailed as the presentation was, they still had questions they couldnt answer.. OCEAN CITY Officials say the formation of a task force could address concerns relating to a proposed sports complex. We want this to be what you want to do for a birthday party or what you want to do for a special occasion, Washington said. Over the winter of 2021-22 . Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. The boat received Coast Guard approval to carry passengers Monday, according to Washington. Mayor Pruitt said there are already interested parties. 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. 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. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Dont get me wrong. accounts, the history behind an article. - Submit calendar events Low near 50F. Jewell said she anticipates customers coming from nearby towns to see Snow Hill and the boat. Doctor Explains, Golf event celebrates Macky's bartender, 'the JUTT'. A bevy of costly repairs and delays made it a financial boondoggle for Snow Hill. Search, Shop & Compare low rates guaranteed. 2023 www.delmarvanow.com. The boat is meant to bring tourism to the southern end of Worcester County. The first job on the list, Pollitt said, will be to identify someone in the boating industry to establish the riverboats value. We'd love to hear eyewitness 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. High 61F. - Follow your favorite authors Sign Up for the Daily Buzz E-News to receive the latest news around the area delivered to your inbox. BOAT'S TROUBLES: Black-Eyed Susan riverboat: Partial repairs OK'd to make it Snow Hill 'tourist attraction'. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. 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. The paddlewheel is not fixed. Snow Hill purchased the Black-Eyed Susan in 2020 with the help of a loan from Worcester County. The Worcester County Commissioners last week told Worcester County Public Schools leadership that they wanted more details regarding the school systems $131 million budget. On Tuesday, the Mayor and Council had before them a proposal to implement a property tax credit for active volunteer firefighters. As Snow Hill's new riverboat gets 'extensive delays,' town issues voyage deposit refunds. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Though Snow Hill Town Manager Gary Weber initially hoped to have the boat fixed up and docked in Snow Hill by mid-February, the extensive to-do list associated with bringing . Snow Hill discusses bringing boat contractors to assess damage and give estimates on repairing the Black Eyed Susan Riverboat, which remains docked in Snow Hill. Thank you! 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. We offer three decks, two of which are heated/air conditioned and the top deck is open air. Wes Moore Says he Plans to Sign Gun-Control Bills, Man Accused of Murder Brought Back to Delaware, Stabbing Incident Leads to Arrest in Laurel, Transparency Requirements for Group Health Plans. He said it would bring dozens of jobs for those in the restaurant business as well as actors and musicians. The "Black-Eyed Susan" riverboat has gone through $300,000 dollars of repairs. 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. There have been a lot of people involved in getting the boat to Snow Hill and Worcester County, Weber said. Its all aligned.. Commissioner Chip Bertino was quick to ask for details regarding the proposal. 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. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. - Submit classified ads 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. The Black Eyed Susan is a paddlewheel driven riverboat that was built in 1986. Though the boat had a successful season in 2021, when the BES went to Norfolk early this year. More than 500 people boarded Snow Hill's Black Eyed Susan riverboat on June 22 during an informal open house. The town council meeting is tonight, January 10th, at 7pm in the Old Fire Hall. 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. "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.". I dont know if anything will come of it but thats the sort of thing Id like love to see take place to save the boat, Pollitt said. But as I just said to Mr. Elder nothing ventured nothing gained. Mayor Susan Marshall Harrison said the city was very interested. Were told the boat will hold cruises along the Pocomoke River, in hopes of bringing more tourism and business to the area. Snow Hill purchased the Black-Eyed Susan in 2020 with the help of a loan from Worcester County. Im glad to see its coming back, he said. Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. Its not right that a county employee will benefit from this, he said. Though the boat had a successful season in 2021, when the BES went to Norfolk early this year for a Coast Guard inspection thats required every five years, officials learned major repairs were needed. The hope is to get the Black Eyed Susan paddling once again, just as long as it's not on Snow Hills dime. As far as tickets, he said prices ranged from $40 to $95 a person. He stressed that while the repairs werent anticipated, the entire riverboat project had been undertaken to help the town. We just didnt have ($600,000 to spend on it). The town purchased the riverboat in 2020 using a combination of grant money and loans fromthe county and state. Pollitt said Wednesday a press release from the town with more information would be forthcoming. Sign Up for the Daily Buzz E-News to receive the latest news around the area delivered to your inbox. The One Of A Kind Tiki Tour You Must Take In Maryland Before Summers End, This Sunset Wine Cruise In Maryland Is The Perfect Summer Adventure, The Boating Adventure That Will Show You A Side Of Maryland You Didnt Even Know Existed, Theres A Glowing Pumpkin Trail Coming To Maryland And Itll Make Your Fall Magical, 11 Unforgettable Tours Everyone In Maryland Should Take At Least Once, Theres A Little-Known, Fascinating Train Park In Maryland And Youll Want To Visit, The North Pole Train Ride In Maryland That Will Take You On An Unforgettable Adventure, This Dreamy Train-Themed Trip Through Maryland Will Take You On The Journey Of A Lifetime, Facebook / Black Eyed Susan Boat Havre de Grace. High 63F. And for a small town like Snow Hill, Pollitt said it's simply too expensive. I think itll be a failure.. Consultation with legal counsel determined it would also be expensive for the town to try to sell the Black-Eyed Susan on the open market. "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. A Coast Guard inspection in Norfolk revealed extensive repairs were needed on the Black-Eyed Susan, the riverboat the Town of Snow Hill purchased in 2020. 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. How important this is for Snow Hill. - Submit calendar events 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. 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. var field59 = field59 || {}; According to Snow Hill's town manager, Rick Pollitt, even keeping the boat afloat, while it sits unused, is costing the town money. 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. City Manager Terry McGean said the loss of revenue to the town would. "We're just entering our budget season, we'll start meeting with the department heads and various people in town about our upcoming budget, that will be finalized by the end of March," said Pruitt. Feedback has been positive, particularly regarding the food, he said. This is something that could revitalize the downtown of not one but two towns in the southern end of the county, he said. The boat has spent its time most recently at the Murtech Marine in Salisbury for various repairs and renovations. 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. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Chief Administrative Officer Harold Higgins said he could answer some of Bertinos questions. SNOW HILL, Md. person will not be tolerated. OCEAN CITY Officials say the formation of a task force could address concerns relating to a proposed sports complex. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. The Black-Eyed Susan, the Town of Snow Hill's riverboat, hosted its first guests in mid-August. - Save your favorite articles The paddlewheel-powered vessel just concluded an extended stay at Murtech Marine in Salisbury where it underwent various renovations and repairs. After spending some time in Salisbury for upgrades and repairs, the boat is almost ready for a cruise. black-eyed Susan, ( Rudbeckia hirta ), North American coneflower (family Asteraceae) commonly cultivated as an attractive garden ornamental. - Create your own user profile Pollitt said that the town is aware of two interested parties, one of which is Pocomoke-based and wants to raise money to purchase and restore the boat. A new attraction recently arrived in the Snow Hill Township, and the mayor said she hopes it will draw visitors from nearby towns. - Save your favorite articles The Black-Eyed Susan, the 149-seat riverboat purchased in 2020 with a loan from Worcester County, has been at Murtech Marine in Salisbury since the fall undergoing repairs. He questioned the cost of moving the boat to Snow Hill as well as preparations associated with docking it. That funding would be made up of a $100,000 Community Legacy Grant transfer as Tyson Foods in Snow Hill does not intend to take advantage of the grant it received as well as the $250,000 in CARES Act funding the commissioners previously set aside for the southern part of the county. Black Eyed Susan boat finally paddling home, 11934 Ocean Gateway, Suite 6,Ocean City,MD, Ocean City Council denies Deja Vu adult store name change, Ocean City Council advances fare increases, Boardwalk bike rule change, more, Driver in Ocean City rollover wreck could be charged with DUI, Request for air rights over Ocean Citys Majestic Hotel headed to first reading, Ocean City breaks ground on Downtown Recreation Complex renovation, Worcester County licensing board roasts Toasts requests, New study: Stop drinking sugary drinks in Baltimore. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism The town has gained a major attraction, the famous Black Eyed Susan Riverboat. The Black Eyed Susan riverboat, which for months has been docked on the Pocomoke River in Snow Hill. Ideally, wed sell it before the end of this fiscal year (at the end of June) so we dont have a budget item for this moving forward.. 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. Mayor Pruitt asked several captains and financial advisors for their input on maintenance costs, and they each came back with an estimate of roughly $100,000 a year. Don't Threaten. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. The Black-Eyed Susan, Havre de Grace: See 43 reviews, articles, and 37 photos of The Black-Eyed Susan, ranked No.32 on Tripadvisor among 32 attractions in Havre de Grace. The rear of the Black Eyed Susan. Bertino pointed out that neither did the commissioners yet they were being asked to make a decision now. Firefighters. 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. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Captains capable of steering the boat up and down the river are busy, and Washington said cruises were currently limited by their availability. 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 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. Pollitt, who traveled to a Norfolk shipyard last week to see the boat and reported back to the council Tuesday, said updated estimates pegged the cost of the minimal repairs at $193,000. Even after the boat is repaired, it would cost a good chunk of change to maintain. Weber said itll be nice for himself and all those involved with seeing the project through to have the opportunity to enjoy the final product. 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. 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. 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. The mayor and council have been truly wonderful, both administrations, Washington said. The Worcester County Commissioners last week told Worcester County Public Schools leadership that they wanted more details regarding the school systems $131 million budget. The partial repairs allowed the riverboat to be a floating, docked venue without river cruises. He added that he questioned whether the purchase should be considered when a county employee was an owner of the boat. The boat is in need of repairs, and the cost to get it back up and running again is north of half a million dollars. Snow Hill's Black-Eyed Susan riverboat will undergopartial repairs. 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. "Weve got both of those interests. For months now, the boat has sat idle on the Pocomoke River. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, The recent purchase of the Black Eyed Susan Riverboat aims to bring a lot of business and revenue to the town. "dfpConfig": { The boat is meant to. You will receive your first email soon. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Weber, citing his success with the Blue Dog Caf, said he was confident that it would prove profitable. The Black Eyed Susan riverboat is again out of commission. 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. Citing rising costs, supply chain issues and new emission standards, Fire Chief Richie Bowers said, SNOW HILL School system officials say theyre in the process of providing Worcester County government with budget details. 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. Everybody is on board if it makes sense, he said. Be Proactive. This was a revised number based on our visit with the shipyard last week, he said. This story appears in the Jan. 20, 2023 print edition of the OC Today. Washington also tells us, the sooner things get ready to go, the sooner those behind the project believe the tourism will rise. Passengers can also take lunch cruises or set up private charters. With all due respect youre asking us for money without corresponding comprehensive information, he said. There was a problem saving your notification. High 63F. Hello, adventurers! Lord knows who else youre affecting by doing this. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox.

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