Friday, January 8, 2021

Worcester County Public Schools Update

 
January 8, 2021 - Responsible Return Update

Posted on 01/08/2021
Good evening, families,

As promised, I wanted to share with you some important information regarding our Responsible Return. Since my last message to you, we have been working diligently to further safeguard our schools to ensure your child and our faculty and staff are able to safely begin the transition to in-person learning. 

As I shared with you last week, all faculty and staff at our schools received a customized training last month. This week, we have put into place additional supports and precautions to bolster our already comprehensive safety protocols and procedures.

We have also had lengthy discussions with our local health officials, and with their full support, I am able to announce that our faculty and staff will return to our schools this Monday, January 11, and we will welcome our first small group of students back to our classrooms the following Tuesday, January 19. Schools have already made contact with the families of those students in that first wave. I also want you to understand that this timeline relies heavily on no unforeseen circumstances occurring and no major changes in our local COVID-19 metrics.

As we begin the transition to Stage Two of our Responsible Return plan, it is more important than ever that you – our families – commit to doing your part to help our students return to in-person learning. Please complete our screening tool honestly each day. Make sure your child is properly masked; remind them of the importance of keeping a physical distance of 6 feet or more from others; and please keep your child home when sick. I cannot stress to you how important your help is to making sure your child, our teachers, and staff can remain healthy and safe. 

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during these difficult times, and as always, may God continue to bless you and your family.

Sincerely,
Lou Taylor
Superintendent of Schools 

Time Machine Preview

 This Sunday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye:

1979  ..  (Picture) It's an icy ocean front at Ocean City.

1942  ..  (Ad) Word War II concerns are close to home and a Pocomoke City insurance agency is offering war damage insurance.

1883  ..  It's a traditional item on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and a sample (not a food item) is headed to the World's Fair in Chicago. 

2000  ..  A treasure of old documents found in the attic of a building reveals much about Crisfield's history.




Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Governor addresses Maryland Covid-19 vaccinations

 

View news story:

Gov. Hogan provides COVID-19 vaccine update in Maryland - 47abc (wmdt.com)


Back to school petition

 
        

At the request of the Worcester County Health Department the return to in-school classes in Worcester County public schools was extended from January 4th to January 11th.  A petition to the Worcester County Board Of Education is circulating on line stating support for the January 11th date and advocating that schools remain open after that date.  Aside from the pros and cons expressed by the public in this matter shouldn't the ultimate consideration be the Health Department's view of what is in the best interests of our students health?


Monday, January 4, 2021

Pocomoke City Council Meeting

 

The Pocomoke City Council met on Monday evening, 1/4/21.  Council member Troast announced she will file for re-election for one more term on the council.  A discussion arose towards the end of the meeting prompted by Council member Nock raising an issue of concern as to why he and Council member Downing had  not been included in receiving an email concerning a code of ethics ordinance that other council members had received.

Citizens comments regarding the meeting and the Zoom meeting replay can be viewed on the City Of Pocomoke Facebook page at this link:

(15) City of Pocomoke | Facebook

Online classes in Somerset County Public Schools extended to Jan 19

 (WBOC)


View news story:

Somerset County Public Schools Extending Online Learning to Janu - WBOC TV


Sunday, January 3, 2021

Time Machine: One hundred years ago this week- Pocomoke at the start of 1921.

In the Worcester Democrat's first edition of the new year..



(excerpt)

(a few of the other headlines from the front page)


(a public meeting on expenses related to a new roadway from 6th St. to the Snow Hill Road)

      

(elsewhere in the newspaper)



(Reader comment)
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I actually remember when local loggers used teams of mules to haul logs out of the forest to trucks to be loaded for the mill. It was in the late '50s, only 3 miles from downtown Pocomoke City, and when the loggers had gone home for the evening my neighbor and I would climb into the corral and ride the mules.




(The Empire Theater preceded the Marva and Fox Theaters in Pocomoke City and was located on the southwest corner of Market and Front Streets.)


(Even $45 would seem an out of reach price for an average worker of this era, many whose salary in a small town area such as Pocomoke City might have been in the range of $20 to $35 weekly. In 1921 the highest percentage of income tax returns nationwide reported a yearly income of $1,000 to $2,000 annually. The next highest percentage of returns reported yearly income of $2,000 to $3,000. Obviously the above merchant appealed to higher income clientele. The graphic below would be more representative of clothing prices for the general public of the time.)  

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