News Archive

The Delmarva Chicken Festival, an annual celebration of the importance of chicken on the Delmarva Peninsula, is gearing up for its 64th run on June 21 and 22, 2013 in Snow Hill, Maryland. 

When the two-day family fun event gets underway at Byrd Park in downtown Snow Hill, there will be attractions for all ages.  Highlights will include the event's trademark giant fry pan that will be cooking tons of mouth-watering chicken throughout the festival.  There will be many other chicken dishes, along with a tasty variety of traditional festival foods.   The youngsters won't want to miss the carnival rides and games, baby chicks, and other children’s activities,  while the adults will enjoy an arts and crafts show, home and trade show, and a custom car and truck show.  In addition, there will be educational displays focusing on chicken, a 5K run/walk, boat rides on the Pocomoke River, juggling demonstrations,  a performance by the Worcester County Children's Theater, a Snow Hill Biddy Babes competition for girls from 12 months to 18 years, and a variety of free musical entertainment.

Leading the list of musical headliners is The Volunteers, an ensemble of the U.S. Army Field Band that will perform a free two-hour show from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 21.  Other headliners will be The Honeycombs and WW2unes performing music from years past, the contemporary sounds of alexandshiloh, and blues music from The Tom Larsen Band.  There will be sounds of the '60s and '70s performed by 33 1/3 and closing out the event will be an entertaining, spirited show featuring the well known group, The Funsters.  .

The Delmarva Chicken Festival will open to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 21. Official opening ceremonies are set for 11 a.m. Friday.  The event will continue on Saturday, June 22 from

9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Admission is free and ample parking with free shuttle service will be available from marked parking areas.

For a complete schedule of festival attractions, visit www.dpichicken.org or www.DelmarvaChickenFestival.org  or call 800-878-2449 (856-9037 in Sussex County) for a printed event schedule.

The Delmarva Chicken Festival is sponsored annually by Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI), the trade association for the meat chicken industry on the Delmarva Peninsula.  The 2013 festival will be hosted by the Town of Snow Hill, the Snow Hill Chamber of Commerce, and the Snow Hill Chicken Festival Committee.

On Saturday, May 18 the museums of Worcester County will be joining thousands of museums around the world in celebrating International Museum Day—an opportunity to encourage awareness of the roles museums play in their communities.   The worldwide effort was first organized in 1977 by the International Council of Museums (ICOM).  Last year, 32,000 museums in 129 countries participated in International Museum Day.  The theme for 2013  is “Museums: memory + creativity = social change.”

The General Director of ICOM, Julien Anfruns says, “Reconciling their traditional mission of preservation with cultivation of the creativity necessary for renewal and visitor growth is the evolution that museums are striving for, with the firm conviction that their presence and their actions can change society in a constructive manner.”

Many museums that participate in the Museums of Worcester County Consortium will be open on May 18, and some will be offering free admission or special activities.  These include:

l        Ocean City Lifesaving Station Museum, Ocean City: Open 10-5.   Free Admission & appearance by Choo Choo Blue from the B&O Railroad Museum. 410-289-4991.

l        Calvin B. Taylor House Museum, Berlin:  Open 1-4.  Free Admission.     410-641-1019.

l        Julia A. Purnell Museum, Snow Hill:  Open 10-4.   Free Admission.  410-632-0515.

l        Costen House Museum, Pocomoke City:  Open 1-4.  Free Admission.  410-957-9371.

l        Delmarva Discovery Center, Pocomoke City:  Open 10-4.  Free admission for Armed Forces Members.  410-957-9933.

l        Rackcliffe House, Assateague:  Open 1-4.  443-614-0261.

l        Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum, Snow Hill:  Open 10-5.  Archeology Dig from 1-4pm (fee applies, call to pre-register).  410-632-2032.

l        Sturgis One Room School, Pocomoke City:  Open 1-4.  410-957-1913.

For more information on activities at individual museums, please contact the museum directly.  Contact information and more can be found at www.worcestermuseums.org.

The General Election scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2013 has been cancelled. Western District candidate C. Monte Campbell has withdrawn his intent to run for office. The remaining candidate, Michael Pruitt, will be running unopposed, along with Central District Councilwoman Jenny Hall.  Mr. Pruitt and Mrs. Hall will automatically assume the position for their respected Council seats at the June town meeting.   

Town Hall in Snow Hill will be closed on Monday, May 27th for Memorial Day. Regular Business hours will resume at 8:30 am on Tuesday, May 28th. 

The Snow HIll Aea Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a Chicken Festival Egg Ad campaign. TheChamber is selling egg shaped posters in honor of the Delmarva Chicken Festival scheduled to be in Snow Hill on June 21st and 22nd. The egg signs will be posted on street poles or on yard signs lining Market Street. Write your message, print your logo, or merely have your name on it.

Messages will be posted at printer's discretion. No inappropriate  messages will be posted. 

Each sign is $25 and will be sold through June 22. Fill out the Chicken Festival Egg Ad form and send it to Jenna Riley at P.O. Box 176 Snow Hill, MD 21863 or take it to Jerry at Snow Hill Business Center on Green Street. 

Call 443-614-7107 for more information.

DELMARVA CHICKEN FESTIVAL FOCUSES ON CHICKEN AND MUCH MORE

Two-day Event Offers Full Line-up of Family Entertainment

The Delmarva Chicken Festival, an annual celebration of the importance of chicken on the Delmarva Peninsula, is gearing up for its 64th run on June 21 and 22, 2013 in Snow Hill, Maryland. 

When the two-day family fun event gets underway at Byrd Park in downtown Snow Hill, there will be attractions for all ages.  Highlights will include the event's trademark giant fry pan that will be cooking tons of mouth-watering chicken throughout the festival.  There will be many other chicken dishes, along with a tasty variety of traditional festival foods.   The youngsters won't want to miss the carnival rides and games, baby chicks, and other children’s activities,  while the adults will enjoy an arts and crafts show, home and trade show, and a custom car and truck show.  In addition, there will be educational displays focusing on chicken, a 5K run/walk, boat rides on the Pocomoke River, juggling demonstrations,  a performance by the Worcester County Children's Theater, a Snow Hill Biddy Babes competition for girls from 12 months to 18 years, and a variety of free musical entertainment.

Leading the list of musical headliners is The Volunteers, an ensemble of the U.S. Army Field Band that will perform a free two-hour show from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 21.  Other headliners will be The Honeycombs and WW2unes performing music from years past, the contemporary sounds of alexandshiloh, and blues music from The Tom Larsen Band.  There will be sounds of the '60s and '70s performed by 33 1/3 and closing out the event will be an entertaining, spirited show featuring the well known group, The Funsters.  .

The Delmarva Chicken Festival will open to the public at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 21. Official opening ceremonies are set for 11 a.m. Friday.  The event will continue on Saturday, June 22 from

9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Admission is free and ample parking with free shuttle service will be available from marked parking areas.

For a complete schedule of festival attractions, visit www.dpichicken.org or www.DelmarvaChickenFestival.org  or call 800-878-2449 (856-9037 in Sussex County) for a printed event schedule.

The Delmarva Chicken Festival is sponsored annually by Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI), the trade association for the meat chicken industry on the Delmarva Peninsula.  The 2013 festival will be hosted by the Town of Snow Hill, the Snow Hill Chamber of Commerce, and the Snow Hill Chicken Festival Committee.

www.dpichicken.org

Snow Hill AutoBody Grand Opening is May 1, 2013

Grand Opening Celebration is set for May 15^th 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Let our Auto-Body Experts turn an unfortunate accident into a positive experience with....

Newest most modern collision repair facility in the area
Computerized frame and front-end alignment machines
Environmentally friendly waterborne refinish materials
Life-time refinish warranty
Locally owned and operated
Conveniently located
Pick-up and delivery service available
Work with all insurance companies
Friendly, knowledgeable experienced team
Customer service is OUR TOP PRIORITY
Don’t have rental coverage? No problem – we will provide a free loaner while repairs are being performed
No repair too big or too small
Fast turnaround time on repairs
Big Trucks to small cars… WE”VE GOT IT COVERED

It’s your choice… Make Snow Hill AutoBody the right choice!

5761 Worcester Highway
Snow Hill, MD 21863
Phone: 410-632-2044-Fax – 410-632-2377

It is not too early to save the date of Saturday August 3, 2013 for Snow Hill’s Fifteenth Annual Blessing of the Combines celebration. Becky Payne, event chairperson, is enthusiastic about this popular summer event to honor the agricultural community while bringing between more than 1500 festival goers into Downtown Snow Hill.

There are opportunities for Craft Vendors along Bank Street, and Information Booths along Green Street. . Craft Vendors and area non-profits are encouraged to contact Diana Nolte at 443-944-4402 for space reservations.

Festivities begin on Green Street at 11:00 with live music and street activities. The Parade of Combines sets off down RT 12 to Green Street at 11:15. A "throttle thrust" will signal Steve Hales, master of ceremonies, to begin the program with the presentation of colors by the award-winning Snow Hill High School Junior Marine Corps ROTC. After recognitions, a keynote speaker and the Blessing the afternoon’s lineup of selections featuring area musicians will begin.

Children can visit a variety of animals at the Petting Barnyard; then hop aboard a wagon for the hay ride. There will be a Children’s Barnyard of activities, and the popular Children’s Tractor Pull as well as a Scales and Tales presentation from the Pocomoke River State Park

For details contact Becky Payne at 443-783-1715, or email kfisher44@verizon.net

Downtown Snow Hill

Beginning on April 1, 2013, the double boat ramp in Byrd Park will be closed until further notice. Work will begin on Monday, April 1 on the replacement of the bulkhead.

Boaters may use the single boat ramp in the park during the construction period which is expected to last six weeks.

Please call 410-632-2080 with any questions.

The Byrd Park boat ramps will be closed during the Delmarva Chicken Festival from Thursday June 20, 2013 through Sunday June 23, 2013. Please make other accommodations during this time for entry into the park. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Snow Hill Police Department at 410-632-2447.

The Snow Hill Farmer's Market is making a move! The Market will be held on Thursdays beginning on Thursday, May 2, 2013. It will move down Green Street to the Town's parking lot in front of the Old Firehouse. The hours will be from noon to 5:00 pm. Mark your calendars! See you at the market in May!

If you are a vendor, you are asked to register with the Town by filling our the Farmers Market Contract. There is no charge to participate in  he Snow Hill Farmers Market. 

Snow Hill Takes Part in New Statewide Geocahce Trail Project

The offices in Town Hall will be closed 13 times during 2013 for holidays. The Holiday Closings Schedule for Calendar Year 2013 is available.

 Call Town Hall at 410-632-2080 for more information

Originally published in the Salisbury Daily Times

Eight have been named to the blue ribbon panel that will help decide the future of the old Mason’s Opera House.

Mayor Charlie Dorman personally appointed the members of The Raley Building Blue Ribbon Panel. All either live or work in Snow Hill and have volunteered for the position.

The Opera House, also called the Raley building after current owner Robert Raley, is being donated to the town by Raley after sitting vacant for more than 14 years. The building is prominently located at the corner of Market and Washington Sts. at the town’s only traffic light.

Panel members are:

• Pastor Elbert Davis, founder of Free Indeed Ministries;

• Pastor Joe Poe of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church;

• T.J. Patel, owner of the Snow Hill Foodrite and Town Market Basket;

• Todd Crosby, board member of the Worcester Co. Children’s Theater Workshop and professional singer;

• Gary King, retired school principal and sign language instructor;

• Wendy Myers, social worker and program manager of the Cricket Center;

• Shawn Johnson, owner of the Snow Hill Auto Mart;

• Christina Welch, assistant principal at Snow Hill Middle School.

“In my heart,” said Dorman, “I felt these were the best suited people in town.”

“I’m interested, because I’m a Snow Hill native, a Snow Hillian. I just want to see progress in our community. I was honored to be chosen as part of this because the building can be a resource for civic groups and youth programming. I look at this as a great opportunity to have your voice heard,” Panel member Shawn Johnson said.

Todd Crosby, also a panel member, said, “Because I’m involved with so many people here, in theater and Little League, people talk to me about what we need in the area. My background is in not-for-profit work and in old buildings. I spent 20 years in New York City getting projects like this done.”

Michele Ennis-Benn, director of mediation at The Center for Conflict Resolution at Salisbury University, will facilitate panel meetings.

According to Dorman, Ennis-Benn will set up meetings for the panel with the Snow Hill Historic Commission, the town’s Arts and Entertainment District, and the town planner to see how the opera house fits in with Snow Hill’s comprehensive and strategic plans.

The town government will then step aside, and allow the panel of citizens to meet and discuss options for the old building. The panel will report back with their recommendations.

The mayor is hoping for a report sometime in January, as the next round for grant applications is in early spring.

“Whatever we end up doing with the building,” said Crosby, “it will nice to have it come back to life.”

Originally printed in the Salisbury Daily Times

SNOW HILL — After more than 14 years of vacancy, the old opera house at the corner of Market and Washington streets finally has a chance for new life.

For years, the empty building has been greeting visitors to Snow Hill as they stop at the town’s only traffic light.

Knowing what a landmark the building is, the Town Council has decided to take possession of the long-abandoned property; owner Robert Raley of Lewes has verbally agreed to turn the property over to the town at no cost.

“During my (mayoral) campaign, one of my priorities was to have something done with the Raley building,” said Snow Hill Mayor Charlie Dorman. “Once I took office, we made an appointment and I met Raley at his vineyard. I asked if he would like to give (the building) to me.”

According to Dorman, Raley developed a donation proposal, which the Town Council has accepted; details of the agreement are not being released as paperwork has not been finalized. Final property settlement is expected before the end of the year, one of Raley’s stipulations.

The corner property has been for sale for years, listed privately by Raley for $850,000, according to Snow Hill Realtor Gary Weber.

Weber, an agent with Newport Bay Realty and owner of the Blue Dog Café in Snow Hill, said the building is in desperate need of improvements.

“When people come to town to pay a parking ticket or go to jury duty or head east to Assateague, it faces them,” he said. “It’s been a sad sign for Snow Hill to have such a prominent building vacant. It sends a false message that nothing’s happening in Snow Hill.”

According to the city’s website, the old Mason’s Opera House was built in 1908. It showed movies, minstrel shows, vaudeville acts and plays. It also hosted high school graduations and public meetings.

The original design with three stories and a distinctive metal cornice was deemed “aesthetically obsolete” in the 1930s by new owner W. Outten, who removed the third floor and gave the building a modern appearance. Brimer’s Restaurant occupied the first floor, and a movie theater showed films on the second floor.

After a fire in the early 1940s, the building was once again remodeled and used as a movie theater and Brimer’s Soda Fountain. The Outten Theater became the town’s social center for more than three decades before losing popularity.

According to ongoing research by town grant writer Ann Gibb, the building was purchased in 1981 by John T. Bell of Rockville, Md., for $55,000. The new owner agreed to renovate and restore the building “to its old Victorian beauty.” Bell never fulfilled the conditions of the sale. The roof collapsed, and plywood covered the windows.

The town repossessed the building in 1993 and sold it to Robert Raley and Mike Makowski in early 1994. Raley operated an antiques center there until 1998, when the building was finally shut down. The marquee and interior were removed, and the building has been a vacant shell ever since.

Now, the Town Council hopes to breathe new life into the structure.

“We discussed the pros and cons (of the building). People were cautious and questioning structural integrity. We know it needs a new roof,” Dorman said. “In the end, they all came around and said, ‘OK, we’ll take the building.’ ”

“Once the town owns the building, we can ask for help,” Dorman said. “This is our first baby step. Now we go out and look for grants.”

Weber said the acquisition of the building is important for Snow Hill as it will help with the revitalization of downtown.

“Pocomoke got millions to renovate their theater and build a restaurant,” he said. “Now it’s our turn.”

Mark your calendars now! As one of his last acts as Mayor of Snow Hill, Stephen R. Mathews, has invited the Delmarva Chicken Festival to return to Snow Hill in June of 2013. Snow Hill was host to the festival in June of 2006. The two day festival will be held in Byrd Park on the banks of the Pocomoke River. Kemp Wills has volunteered to chair the event on June 21 and 22nd. 

Check back here for details as they develop. 

Snow Hill Water Department will be flushing hydrants on the scheduled dates listed on the Snow Hill Hydrant Flushing Schedule for 2012.

Speed Cameras are coming to Snow Hill. In an effort to increase driver compliance with the posted School Zone speed limits surrounding Cedar Chapel School and Snow Hill Elementary, Middle and High Schools, the Town is launching an Automated Speed Enforcement Camera Program.  Similar programs are being utilized in Delmar, Princess Anne and Fruitland, and are viewed as an effective means of positively changing driver behavior and improving safety for both pedestrians and motorists.

According to Chief Kirk Daugherty, “Our main objective is to protect the children and residents of Snow Hill from drivers who are choosing to disobey the posted speed limit and break the law”. 

If you receive a citation through the Speed Camera Enforcement  program you may pay it online at secure.SpeedViolation.com. You will need to provide the Citation Number and the License Plate Number of the vehicle. There is a $3.50 processing fee to pay online. 

If you receive a citation for a speed camera violation in error, you may be able to use an Affidavit to Transfer Liability. 

 Call Ann Gibb or Kelly Brewington at 410-632-2080 for further information

The Mayor and Council approved the Historic District Guidelines for Property Owners in December of 2010. A copy of The Snow Hill Historic District, A Reference Guide for Property Owners is available here in PDF format.

It is also available in hard copy at Town Hall for $5.00 per copy.

Call Karen Houtman at 410-632-2080 for more information