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	If the good reverends, pastors, preachers whatever you call them spent half as much time on being real religious leaders as they did on this nonsense crime just maybe would take a drastic decline. The young "ladies" need to be told to keep their pants up and the young "gentlemen" to keep their zippers zipped! It's that simple. Too many babies being born in sinful unions with losers and criminals who have no desire to be fathers. In and out of jail not paying for the children and not being in their lives on a consistant basis. when they are, the baby daddies acting like gangsta's with their idiot music and ghetto trash mouths. Kid's as young as 3 running around saying the N-word-real classy and yes I have heard this! The little girls then go on to make more babies they can't support and the little boys thugs-yes I said it-Thugs! Citzens group would best be served by going in the neighborhoods telling mothers and father if they are even around to throw out the devil's music on City Manager addresses Pocomoke regarding Sewell Termination Remove content | Delete | Spam	Anonymous	on 9/25/15
	I am proud of the Pocomoke mayor and council for selecting Ernie Crofoot as city manager. His accomplishments are many and his experience is vast. I had never heard of Mr Crofoot before but took the time to investigate and no one can ever say that the best person wasn't picked for the job. on City Manager addresses Pocomoke regarding Sewell Termination	Anonymous	on 9/25/15
	I'm just wondering how long before a light bulb goes off in some's heads and they figure out that the elected officials and other government employees can not legally discuss a former employee's termination or employment record. They act like this is unique to Pocomoke or something. Every time I hear them say at a council meeting they 'want answers' all I can think is 'duh, what are you simple or something? Enough already, it's getting old. They are acting like a bunch of children. As supposed men of God (and I say supposed because The Word seems to have escaped them) the Bible has many quotes and verses on the virtues of patience. A real man of God does not pick and choose which parts of the Bible they want to follow. They talk the talk and more importantly THEY WALK THE WALK. Romans 8:25~But if we hope for what we do not see, WE WAIT FOR IT WITH PATIENCE. "WAIT FOR IT WITH PATIENCE! Patience never means accusatory confrontation. Philippians 4:6~Do NOT be anxious about on City Manager addresses Pocomoke regarding Sewell Termination	Anonymous	on 9/25/15
	Father we bind every evil demon spirit making Tom ill in the name of Jesus. We ask that You touch him Jesus and heal him! We bind sickness from him and speak healthiness into his body in the name of Jesus! Amen and thank you Lord! God bless you all and please bathe Tom in prayer. on Asking for your prayers	Anonymous	on 9/25/15
	Glad to see that our Mayor and Council have taken steps to restore these positions by hiring Mr Crofoot and Chief Hardin. Mr Hardin is a true professional whom I had the opportunity to work with when he was in Princess Anne, absolutely what Pocomoke Police need and I assure them he will get things straightened out. He is a no nonsense player. Get your affairs in order, do whats right or look for a job, that's my advice to the Officers. Mr Crofoot is also a no nonsense player whom I am familiar with from Caroline County. He too is great for the town. Look up folks, things are gonna be much better once these two get working hand in hand. on City Manager addresses Pocomoke regarding Sewell Termination	Anonymous	on 9/24/15
	This is a great event, Karah you have done yet another year's worth of phenomenal planning for this event. Thanks for promoting our town in a positive light. We are a great town and we are "The Friendliest Town on the Eastern Shore" on Pocomoke's 4th Friday this week!

New Date For POCOMOKETOBERFEST..

Due to possible inclement weather Saturday's (9/26) event has been rescheduled.

Hurricane Gloria..

(excerpt from The Dispatch, Ocean City)

‘It Was A Real Disaster Area’: Hurricane Gloria Remembered 30 Years Later

OCEAN CITY — Thirty years ago this weekend, Ocean City Councilman Dennis Dare was a young city engineer for the town of Ocean City.

The year was 1985, and Dare and other town officials got word that a Cape Verde-hurricane called Gloria had taken a sharp turn in the Atlantic Ocean and was churning with increasing force toward the East Seaboard.

When the hurricane passed by on Sept, 27, it left behind significant damage including the destruction of the majority of the resort’s famous Boardwalk. Gloria quickly went into the record books as one of Ocean City’s benchmark storms.

Full story at  http://mdcoastdispatch.com/2015/09/23/it-was-a-real-disaster-area-hurricane-gloria-remembered-30-years-later/

Asking for your prayers

I'm going to ask everyone who would to please keep my father in prayer. My father, Tom, created The Pocomoke Public Eye and has poured himself into it over the past several years until a few months ago when his health started to decline. Monday morning he was transported to Peninsula Regional Medical Center and admitted to PCU due to some health complications. His blood pressure has been as high as 210/110. As of right now he is out of PCU and in a regular room and his blood pressure is more under control, but he faces many more obstacles with his kidneys and liver function. As a Pastor, a Christian, and his son, I'm believing that God can and will do a miracle in his life and will be restored better than he was before. I'm asking to those to please pray for him. My family and I greatly appreciate it!

Travis Ayres

City Manager addresses Pocomoke regarding Sewell Termination

An Open Response to Emails re the Termination of Pocomoke City Police Chief 

Please allow me to provide a general response to all those from across the State, as well as from Pocomoke City, who have sent the form email to our City Clerk regarding the termination of employment of our former Chief of Police. I will address the points raised by paragraph as presented in the emails.

1. The characterization of the “firing as “unlawful” is a matter of legal opinion, and has been expressed without knowledge of the facts; which facts the City is prohibited by law from providing. I will say this – no one has been fired, disciplined, etc. on the basis of race, or for filing an EEOC claim, or for assisting others in filing an EEOC claim. I am often surprised that folks want to jump to conclusions because someone else says it is so, rather than waiting for the process to play out. Believe me; if it were legal to tell you why Chief Sewell was fired, I would be first in line to do so. You might also ask yourself this question, if the City is so racially negative and motivated, how is it that Chief Sewell ever became the City’s first African-American chief? Also, the statistics do not support the claim that crime is down overall in Pocomoke City. Although acceptance in the community is a significant factor, being a Chief of Police requires more than just being popular in any community.

2. The only type of meeting where a discussion of an employee’s performance and action to be taken is at an administrative function or closed session. Although a technical violation of the Act may have occurred (not admitting same), the notice to be provided, again as provided by law, would and could not have named Chief Sewell. That is part of the protection offered all employees when it comes to personnel matters.

3. On a personnel matter, it was not necessarily so that a vote was required to be taken in public, only that it be reported. Everyone is aware that the vote was 4-1, with Councilwoman Downing the only vote opposed to the termination. The law does not permit the “explanation” referred to in the emails. To “explain” would be to “reveal.” We simply cannot join the public into the personnel matter process. Why there is the continuing doubt over this proposition is beyond me.

4. Regarding the issue of asking media to leave the room, the Mayor has many times, contritely, taken responsibility for his mistake. I note that the email notes that “hundreds” of citizens came to express concerns. If you heard the Mayor, he asked some media to leave to make room for the citizens. Not a legal excuse, but a well-intentioned motivation.

5. I, too, stand for transparency in the government process. I have provided many government clients over the years with open meetings, public information, and ethics training. My contract and resume will soon be posted on our web page. Although I was not employed by the City at the times these actions were taken, I am satisfied that the firing of Chief Sewell was warranted and legal, and was not done in violation of his, or anyone’s, rights. I trust that the public will give Chief Harden an opportunity to move us forward.

Ernie Crofoot.

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

1897, 1908.. Confederate reunions held in Parksley, Va.; 1899.. Monument honoring fallen Confederate soldiers from the Eastern Shore of Virginia is unveiled; 1990.. Proposed toll road through Delmarva draws mixed reaction; 1967.. Check out these new car prices at Miller-Massey in Pocomoke City and Princess Anne; 1943.. How housewives can aid in World War II effort against Hitler. 

It's this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye!

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers or something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? Please send to tkforppe@yahoo.com .



When you're clicking around the Internet remember to check in with The Pocomoke Public Eye.  We strive to be a worthwhile supplement to your choices.

View Eclipse Sunday Night From Wallops..

Total Lunar Eclipse

Join us at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center as we watch a total lunar eclipse! Telescope and binocular viewing will be available weather permitting. 

This total lunar eclipse will be visible from most of North America, South America, Europe, west Asia and parts of Africa will be able to see the eclipse. The eclipse will last for 3 hrs and 20 mins from beginning to end. The Moon will be totally eclipsed (totality) for about 1 hr and 12 mins.

Date: Sunday, 9/27/2015

Time: 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM

Location: NASA Wallops Flight Facility Visitor Center, Wallops Island, VA

The presentations will take place in the Visitor Center auditorium and the telescope viewing will take place on the Visitor Center grounds.

For more information email http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/club-view.cfm?Club_ID=1701 ,

phone 757.824.2298

Pocomoke's 4th Friday this week!

TIME MACHINE ... 1888, 1892, 1959, Circa 1920's-1980's.

"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 archives/historical archives material)


December, 1888..

The Denton  Journal

January, 1888..

The Star Democrat, Easton 

1892 (Time Machine archive)

After President-elect Grover Cleveland made a visit to the Eastern Shore of Virginia's Hog Island for a duck hunting vacation an 1892 American Press Association article was published about the island. The following information is gleaned from that article:

Hog Island was still inhabited at that time, with twenty-one families living there. Workers were employees of the government and a sporting clubhouse named Broadwater Clubhouse, and oystermen.

"Every man and every half grown boy can sail a boat, and the people are as near amphibians as they can well be without having web feet."  

"The United States government has vainly essayed to give Hog Island the more euphonious name of Broadwater, but the name Hog Island sticks and the island figures thus upon the official election returns of Virginia.  Hog Island cast thirty-one votes for Mr. Cleveland and none for any other candidate.  That is the usual Democratic majority of the island, and the vote is so easily counted that although the ordinary method of reaching the mainland is by open sailboat the Hog Island returns are usually among the first to come in." 

"Oysters, diamond backed terrapin and water fowl of many sorts swarm about Hog Island, and its neighbors. --  There is some attempt on the part of Virginia to protect the diamond backs, but restrictions upon the pursuit of game are not popular among the islands, and terrapin are caught and eaten whenever they are fit to eat.  They are never cheap, even within a few miles of their feeding grounds, and  they easily fetch from fifteen dollars to twenty-five dollars a dozen at Chincoteague."

"All craft at Hog Island, as along the whole coast, are flat bottoms because of shoal water.. -- The mail is ordinarily brought over to Hog Island in an open sailboat unless the owners of the clubhouse happen to be down, when the steam yacht performs the task."

"The people of the Atlantic coast islands of Virginia are as simple and kindly as any on earth.  For the most part they live generation to generation upon the islands, and the only newcomers, save on populous Chincoteague, are the government employees and the sporting stranger."  

Footnote: (source: Wikipedia):  Hog Island.. "is a part of the Virginia Coast Reserve of The Nature Conservancy.  Starting in the mid-19th century the town of Broadwater, Virginia was located on the southern end of the island, but had to be abandoned in the 1930's when rapid beach erosion made its continued existence untenable.  However, many of the houses and other buildings were floated by barge to the mainland and can be found in Willis Wharf, Virginia and Oyster, Virginia."


May, 1959
The Salisbury Times

Yacht Club Picks Joan Taylor Queen

WISHART'S POINT- The re-opening of the Wishart's Point Yacht Club took place Sunday.  There was a large crowd to witness the boat parade and to see Miss Joan Taylor, Atlantic, Va., chosen "Wishart's Point Yacht Club Queen."

The runner's up were Gloria Sturgis, Pocomoke City, and Emily Rae Drummond, Hallwood. There were 15 contestants.

Many events are planned by the club for the year. The arragements committee for the colorful event yesterday were F. Reide Onley, Mrs. Rosa Conquest, Vincent Darby, LeRoy Davis, Bunny Ewell, Eddie Carroll Tull, Billy Hall and Adair Matthews.



Recalling the small tobacco shop in downtown Salisbury that, for many decades,  was the Eastern Shore's music headquarters for records... 

Watson's Smoke House opened in 1896 in Salisbury and remained a fixture of the downtown business district into the latter part of the 1900's.  As its name implied, its first offering was tobacco products. In later years it would become what was probably the best source on the Eastern Shore for music recordings of all kinds.  It also was a popular stop for its newspaper and magazine offerings and its soda fountain.

1942..

                                                                                                                                                                 

1943..

                                     

1964..

1976..

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers or something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about? Please send to tkforppe@yahoo.com .



When you're clicking around the Internet remember to check in with The Pocomoke Public Eye.  We strive to be a worthwhile supplement to your choices.