Thursday, February 26, 2015

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

1934.. Coast Guard attempts aid for icebound Tangier Island; 1889.. You'll find everything from "the best $1.25 shoe on the market," to agricultural equipment at this Eastern Shore business..read the original newspaper ad; 1989.. Pocomoke City's Samaritan Shelter has progressed during its first years; 1886.. The raw materials needed for fine down quilts come from a large goose farm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  



1959.. "Barbie" makes her first television commercial. Watch it here on this Sunday's Time Machine on The Pocomoke Public Eye!

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

New Accreditation for The Law Office of Deborah Ullmann, LLC

Member News

     The Law Office of Deborah Ullmann, LLC is pleased to announce that it has been accredited by the Veteran's Administration to handle veterans' claims, both disability and dependency claim denials as well as disability ratings.  Accreditation will allow Ms. Ullmann to serve veterans who reside in both Maryland and Virginia in proceedings before the Board of Veteran's Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  In addition to benefit claims, Ms. Ullmann looks forward to assisting veterans with discharge upgrades and other related veteran issues.  If you know of a veteran, or a veteran's spouse or child, that is in need of assistance with their claim, have them contact Ms. Ullmann at 410 603-9140

Monday, February 23, 2015

A CAFO Intends To Be Our New Neighbor

After transitioning our farm from industrialized chicken production to an Animal Welfare Approved certified pasture based egg farm 3 years ago, a CAFO now plans to be our neighbor!  We’ve learned from the prospective buyer of the property neighboring us that he has plans to build a chicken CAFO.

It is unfathomable as to why any company would allow their chickens to be put next to a pasture raised farm with chickens on it.  The industry claims that strict bio-security is a mainstay of their operations and necessary to its survival.

Bio-security is the practice of measures taken to prevent the spread of disease on poultry farms.

Looking at the situation from an independent farm, raising hens in a pasture based system one has to question the rights of an individual farm.  What about the right of that farm protecting its chickens from viruses and bacteria’s spread by industrial chicken CAFO’s?
All appearances indicate that the independent farm has no rights and that the highly potential risk created to that farm by the chicken industry is of no concern.

Industrial chickens are vaccinated for many diseases.  Introduction of live viruses into an area where no viruses exist or introducing a bacteria or disease where none exist is a recipe for disaster.  That is basic 101 bio- security for any poultry producer.

In 2008, Johns Hopkins researchers found that poultry trucks driving to processing plants spread harmful bacteria into the environment, exposing other drivers, pedestrians, and rural communities to these bacteria.  Researchers consistently detected drug-resistant bacteria in the air and on surfaces inside vehicles while driving with their windows down behind poultry trucks (Rule et al. 2008).

In our case, a right of way from the county road will be mutually used.  Harmful bacteria will exist in the environment spread from the industry trucks entering and leaving the CAFO.  It’s reasonable to expect that our vehicles will pick up bacteria’s not only harmful to ourselves but also harmful to our disease free hens.  Walking to our mailbox could be harmful to our health!

Drug resistant bacteria spread by industry vehicles will not be the only concern.  County regulations allow for building of chicken houses to be 20 feet from property lines.  These huge buildings can hold up to 60,000 chickens in one house.  Air exchange is accomplished through fans only.  It’s not unreasonable to conclude that the same drug resistant bacteria’s that are found in feathers and dust blowing from trucks will also be exhausted into the air from housing.

Less than ½ mile down the road from the farm is a YMCA.  Joggers and bicyclist use the area for recreational activities and for YMCA sponsored events.  Schools use the sports fields at the YMCA for practices.  Are public and school activities to be discontinued just to accommodate a CAFO that wants to move into the area?
Clearly, the chicken industry has no thought or care of potential risks to human health nor any respect for the neighbor that their CAFO’s want to go next to.

SOURCH CLICK HERE: [OLDFARMERLADY]

A Thank you letter for Chief Sewell




Pocomoke City Police would like to share a letter we received from a citizen of Pocomoke. We thank you Michele for taking the time to write this letter to Chief Sewell.

A Thank you letter for Chief Sewell

I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you Chief Sewell for all the wonderful changes you made in Pocomoke City. I lived in Pocomoke since 1994 it was a wonderful sweet friendly town, but sadly through the year’s crime began to rise. I didn't feel safe allowing my children outside to play, drug deals were going on right out in the open. Then in 2011 you became Chief, It was just the fresh change our town needed. You had your officers walking the street making their presence known, making the citizens feel safe and secure. You reached out to the citizens and made everyone feel that together as citizens and officers we could reclaim our once sweet peaceful town. You do so many community activities and with you as an example, your officers are encouraged to be all they can be. Pocomoke City officers are both professional and caring now. I write so many letters over the last few years about the extra things your officers do for the community. Once again, Pocomoke feels safe and is definitely a place to raise our children and grandchildren. I no longer see drug deals going on out in the open, or groups of young teens looking like they are up to no good. Now I see you and your officers reaching out to our youth to guide them in a better direction. It's nice to see a Chief of Police that walks the street with his officer’s and attends all community functions. So thank you for inspiring all your officers to reach out and engage with us as a community and to let everyone see that crime will not be tolerated here in Pocomoke. We finally reclaimed our town with thanks to you and your officers. God bless you Chief Sewell, your officers and your lovely family. 

Thank you Michele
Resident of Pocomoke City, MD
February 23, 2015

Discovery Center Reptile Festival


Pink Ribbion Bingo


Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce

Member Happenings

Friday & Saturday, Feb 20 & 21 - Into the Woods playing at the Mar-Va Theater (7:00 PM). Go to www.marvatheater for more info.

Sunday, Feb 22 - Selma playing at the Mar-Va Theater (2:00 PM). Go to www.marvatheater for more info.

Thursday, March 12 - Women Supporting Women Pink Ribbon Bingo (see flyer below).
 
 
PACC Membership Survey Results
Thank you to those members who completed our survey!
19% of our active members returned the surveys mailed to them or responded to the survey online.
70% of our survey participants reported they had attended a Chamber function within the last year; 30% had not.

The two Chamber functions attended the most were the General Membership Luncheons and the Business After Hours. Following, in order of attendance, were the Cypress Festival, Pocomoketoberfest, the Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival and the Annual Dinner.

The top three reasons given for not attending Chamber functions were: too busy, inconvenient day and inconvenient time of the day.

Members were asked to identify up to three of the most serious problems facing their businesses today.  The top three choices were:
the economy, state & local regulations specific to their business/industry and health care.

Members were asked to identify up to three of the most serious problems facing our community today.  The top three choices were: taxes, employment and crime.

Members were asked to identify which communication tools they found to be the most useful.  The top three choices were email, electronic newsletter and Facebook.

The Chamber Board appreciates your feedback and will use the survey results as we plan future functions, events, speakers, etc.
 
 

Sunday, February 22, 2015

TIME MACHINE ... 1910, 1888, 1880, 1959, 1952

"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore."  Our tradition runs deep.  Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.

This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; it has good wide streets, quite clear of that "eye sore," known mostly over the Peninsula by the name of "deep sand"; the houses, though built of frame, are generally built substantially and with some discretion and taste; there are two neat, new, and quite handsome frame churches in it; as for the merchants of the place, suffice it to state that they are very clever and hospitable.  F. Mezick, Esq., the landlord with whom I stopped, and his very obliging and jolly assistant, are richly deserving of a passing notice, for the good treatment and the extension of the many civilities to "the stranger."


(Reader-friendly viewing of news archive/historical archive material)

March, 1910
The Crisfield Times

 LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE 

The president of the organization tells of its nature and purpose.

Six Committees and the duties they perform. 

In order that the people of Crisfield  and vicinity may understand the nature and purpose of the Law and Order League of Crisfield, which was recently formed, I would say that it is composed of about one hundred tax payers of this city, organized in a body to assist the public authorities in breaking up all forms of lawlessness in Crisfield.

It has six Committees, each of which has its separate duties, and each of which employs their private detectives.

The first committee looks out for all violations of the Sunday law. The second committee takes care of those who keep gambling houses and other disreputable resorts. The third committee has for its object the arrest and prosecution of all persons who use profane or obscene language on the highways. The fourth committee will prevent the blocking or obstructing of the streets and sidewalks by idlers and loafers. The fifth committee will endeavor to secure the conviction of any person who sells cigarettes to minors. The sixth committee has of its duty the prevention of the illegal sale of all kinds of narcotics and intoxicating liquors.

Respectfully submitted by the President of the Law and Order League.


March, 1888 (Time Machine archive)
The New York Times

MARRIED IN SPITE OF HIM

BLOODSHED OVER AN ATTEMPTED ELOPEMENT

 BALTIMORE, March 26-  A special to-night from Onancock, Va., says an elopement in Accomac County Va., has nearly led to a double tragedy.  Three years ago a daughter of Henry Williams, a farmer, ran away and married William Allen of Sykes Island.  The father has never liked his son-in-law, and the latter on several occasions threatened the life of the old man.  Several days ago Williams only remaining daughter left home, ostensibly to visit her sister on Sykes Island, but in reality to prepare there for an elopement with her lover.  Her father, suspecting her intentions, started in pursuit with his shotgun loaded to kill, as he declared, any person who should prevent him from bringing his daughter home, as he was determined she should not marry any man.  The angry old man crossed to the island, and as he neared Allen's house his son-in-law stepped out to meet him, gun in hand.  The son-in-law fired first, and then several shots were exchanged at short range.  Williams was badly wounded, but Allen escaped unhurt.  While the battle raged the lovers escaped, and were wedded yesterday.  Mr. Marshall, who tried to stop the fight, was wounded by a stray shot. 


April, 1880 
(Maryland State Archives)



Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1880

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the town of Lindseyville, in the eighth election district of Worcester county, be and the same is hereby changed, and shall hereafter be known and called by the name of Klej Grange.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 10, 1880.

Footnote: According to Wikipedia, "The acronym 'Klej' was coined by Joseph William Drexel from the initials of the names of his four daughters (Katherine, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Josephine), and was combined with 'Grange,' perhaps a reference to the National Grange."

In its earliest history the Klej Grange area was known as Trap or Traptown and later as Lindseyville.  Wikipedia states that the Klej Grange area was acquired by New York banker Joesph Drexel in 1878 "to create a planned community where low cost farmland would be offered to benefit the poor."  In 1888 it was sold to William G. Strickland for $20,000.


May, 1959
The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Md.)

(Excerpt)

Godfrey Child Appointed First Circuit Court Judge

ANNAPOLIS (AP)-  Godfrey Child of Pocomoke City, 65-year-old prominent attorney and long-time Worcester County Democrat, has been appointed a judge of the First Judicial Circuit.

The appointment, announced Monday by Gov. Tawes, is effective July 1 under an act of the 1959 General Assembly adding a fourth judge to the circuit embrasing Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Dorchester on the lower Eastern Shore.

Child was states attorney for Worcester County in 1926-1934. He served with the Army in France as an infantry lieutenant, during World War I, organized the Pocomoke City National Guard company and served with it from 1923 until 1933.


1952..  An idea whose time apparently had not come.




Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish.  Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!  



PPE remembers JMMB.