Santa and his helpers-

 December 1925

Worcester Democrat

Pocomoke City

December 25, 2025

At last!

Twas' night before Christmas in Pocomoke-

                      Twas' The Night Before Christmas in Pocomoke City

Twas' the night before Christmas

And throughout Worcester County

Children were snug in their beds

Awaiting Santa's good bounty.

The Eastern Shore hour was late

When all should be sleeping.

But to no one's surprise

Some sure were peeping.

The jolly ol' elf isn't far away

They all knew.

Maybe he's in Accomack, Somerset,

Or Wicomico, too.

They hoped that with decorations

Making everything pretty,

Santa certainly would visit

Pocomoke City!

Then from Second Street Extended

To Stockton Road,

Santa's sleigh was spotted

With all its good load.

And from the river bridges

To the Virginia line,

He made all his stops

Hoping to make everything fine.

All the children were sure

That when they awoke,

They would find good things

Left by Santa in Pocomoke!

Enjoy!

 

Christmas observance history-

Earlier this month Will Russell of WESR Radio/Shore Daily News wrote about Christmas observances, or lack of, in early days of America and noting that the tradition was always maintained in Virginia.  It's an interesting read.

Christmas at Mt. Vernon

(View Will Russell's account of Christmas history observance:) 

Virginia has always celebrated Christmas - Shore Daily News

Twas' night before Christmas in Pocomoke-

 

                     Twas' The Night Before Christmas in Pocomoke City

Twas' the night before Christmas

And throughout Worcester County

Children were snug in their beds

Awaiting Santa's good bounty.

The Eastern Shore hour was late

When all should be sleeping.

But to no one's surprise

Some sure were peeping.

The jolly ol' elf isn't far away

They all knew.

Maybe he's in Accomack, Somerset,

Or Wicomico, too.

They hoped that with decorations

Making everything pretty,

Santa certainly would visit

Pocomoke City!

Then from Second Street Extended

To Stockton Road,

Santa's sleigh was spotted

With all its good load.

And from the river bridges

To the Virginia line,

He made all his stops

Hoping to make everything fine.

All the children were sure

That when they awoke,

They would find good things

Left by Santa in Pocomoke!

 Twas' The Night Before Christmas in Pocomoke City

Twas' the night before Christmas

And throughout Worcester County

Children were snug in their beds

Awaiting Santa's good bounty.

The Eastern Shore hour was late

When all should be sleeping.

But to no one's surprise

Some sure were peeping.

The jolly ol' elf isn't far away

They all knew.

Maybe he's in Accomack, Somerset,

Or Wicomico, too.

They hoped that with decorations

Making everything pretty,

Santa certainly would visit

Pocomoke City!

Then from Second Street Extended

To Stockton Road,

Santa's sleigh was spotted

With all its good load.

And from the river bridges

To the Virginia line,

He made all his stops

Hoping to make everything fine.

All the children were sure

That when they awoke,

They would find good things

Left by Santa in Pocomoke!

 This Sunday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye-

 

What's for Christmas dinner, 1881?

We'll have the details for fixing the

 menu on this Sunday's Time Machine

 here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.

Preview: (1881)

 

 

Twas' the night before Christmas
And throughout Worcester County
Children were snug in their beds
Awaiting Santa's good bounty.

The Eastern Shore hour was late
When all should be sleeping.
But to no one's surprise
Some sure were peeping.

The jolly ol' elf isn't far away
They all knew.
Maybe he's in Accomack, Somerset,
Or Wicomico, too.

They hoped that with decorations
Making everything pretty,
Santa certainly would visit
Pocomoke City!

Then from Second Street Extended
To Stockton Road,
Santa's sleigh was spotted
With all its good load.

And from the river bridges
To the Virginia line,
He made all his stops
Hoping to make everything fine.

All the children were sure
That when they awoke,
They would find good things
Left by Santa in Pocomoke!

     December 25.. Relax and enjoy!

Christmas

Christmas, 1924 
(Editorial in The Evening Times, Salisbury)

Christmas in Pocomoke City 50 years ago.

Christmas Season 1969

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 Democratic Messenger

Christmas Thoughts Reach Out From 1847...

"Walk Through Bethlehem" OPENS TONIGHT!

More Reasons To Visit Downtown Pocomoke !

RIVER CRUISES & SANTA SATURDAYS

Photo BW

Pocomoke City – 5 December 2012 – Mayor Bruce Morrison and his wife, Laura, have introduced a new tradition this year to add to the growing list of Christmas festivities in Pocomoke: Christmas river cruises.  It is their intention to capitalize on the area’s greatest asset, the Pocomoke River.  The effort began when they requested the owners of riverfront properties participate by decorating their home for the holidays.

 Bay Queen Cruises will take guests on an evening tour of these homes, via the Pocomoke River.  Cruises require advance reservations and occur at 7:00pm on Thursdays and Fridays throughout December, beginning December 6.  Captain John Riggi and First Mate Mary Ann take guests on a 40-minute tour that includes live Christmas music and hot cocoa along the way. The cost is $10 per person.  Reservations are required and can be made by calling: 443-437-7235 or 410-632-1415.

Photo BW

On Saturdays throughout December, Santa Claus will visit with children from 11:00am – 1:00pm in his cabin downtown.  Our Santa house sits in the new downtown mini-park, at the corner of Market & Second Streets.  There is no charge.  The Junior Women’s Club of Pocomoke will be offering a picture with Santa for $5.00. 

Folks are encouraged to cross the street to A Second Time Around (125 Market Street), vintage and collectibles shop, for some special treats.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Lost Dog Reunited With Family Is 'Christmas Miracle'

WASHINGTON - Andi Vanko starts her mornings with a prayer: "I say, 'Please don't let me see a little stray on the side of the road.'"

Because if Vanko sees one, she'll stop for it.

And that's exactly what happened on Christmas Day.

She, her boyfriend and her mom were in the car driving along Route 140 in Carroll County when she saw it - a little Golden Retriever dashing in and out of traffic.

Vanko and her boyfriend were chatting and laughing while her mom slept in the back seat.

"I started screaming and he says the next thing he knows, we're flying across the turn lane and two lanes of traffic."

Vanko got out of the car and called to the little dog.

"And she came bounding to me and jumped on me like, 'Please! Help me!'" Vanko says.

Vanko hustled the dog into her already-full car, and drove on to her sister's house for Christmas dinner.

When she got there, she explained the situation. Soft hearts seem to run in the family.

Her sister had one question: "Does she bite?" When Vanko told her no, she added "Okay, let's get a leash. Bring her in, we'll feed her."

They checked her collar and found three tags, one with the word "GRREAT" on it.

Vanko thought that was odd.

"I looked at her and I said "GRREAT! What a funny name for you!'"

GRREAT wasn't the dog's name. It was an acronym for Golden Retriever Rescue Education And Training.

A call to the organization was returned quickly: The dog had been microchipped, the GRREAT volunteer was able to crosscheck a database and within hours, the dog's owners were on the way to pick up their wayward pup "Jazzy."

Vanko says a couple from Silver Spring had been in the area for a hike when Jazzy bolted and took off. They had no luck trying to catch her.

Vanko says she could see why. When she stopped to get the dog, two men approached the dog and she initially thought they were the owners. Like, her, they stopped to try to catch the dog, who had been dodging traffic on Route 140 for about 15 minutes when Vanko stopped.

Vanko says that's one reason she says that little prayer each morning.

"For some reason, stray animals have always been drawn to me."

When the dog's owners showed up, Vanko was thrilled for them, but admits she was a bit sad.

She lost her own dog about a year and a half ago and had already given the dog a new name, "Holly."

"She spent the day with us and she was the perfect little creature! And I thought, I hope no one calls me back about this little dog!"

But being able to reunite the dog with her owners was its own reward.

"When she saw her daddy, she was over the moon. And they were so thankful. They gave me a big, big hug. It was like a little Christmas miracle."

GRREAT is a local rescue group that offers all kinds of help and advice to those looking for a dog, and those who feel they have to surrender their dogs. Learn more about the organization by clicking here.

www.wtop.com

Worst Snow Storm In Over A Century

The worst snow storm to hit the Eastern Shore in December in over a century has passed but the effects are still being felt.

High winds began howling Sunday night just after sun down and continued throughout the day Monday and into Tuesday, reaching gusts as high as 50 mph. These high gusts have created large snow drifts, as the snow was still dry and fluffy.

Road ways were blocked by the snow drifts, and motorists who did not heed warnings of the hazardous conditions have left cars stranded on a slew of roads throughout the Eastern Shore, further blocking roadways.

According to Meteorologist Jon Cash, sun shine and higher temperatures today will begin to melt the snow. This in turn will make the snow more moist, heavy and less likely to be blown by the wind. High temperatures are expected at the end of the week which will likely rid the region of any remnants of the storm by the weekend.

However, motorists are still urged not to travel. Cars which get stuck in snow drifts will further block traffic and create more difficulties for VDOT to clear the roadways.
WESR

Issued by The National Weather Service
Wakefield, VA
7:22 pm EST, Sat., Dec. 25, 2010

... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM SUNDAY TO 5 AM EST MONDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM SUNDAY TO 5 AM EST MONDAY.

* AREAS AFFECTED: THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA... AND THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE.

* PRECIPITATION TYPES: SNOW.

* ACCUMULATION: 8 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE WARNED AREA.

* TIMING: ACCUMULATING SNOW IS EXPECTED... MAINLY SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED SUNDAY... FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS.

* IMPACTS: HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Christmas Wish To Help Dog Named JAZZ

OCEAN CITY – Worcester County Humane Society (WCHS) has sheltered and cared for a dog whose fight for life deserves for her Christmas wish to be answered.

According to Meggin McKnight of the Worcester County Humane Society, Jazz was left on the shelter’s doorstep a few months ago.
Jazz is the mother of the puppy featured in the beginning of October that was adopted by a family from Baltimore via Facebook.

“She was almost starved to death and was skin and bones with the exception of her swollen belly,” McKnight wrote. “A trip to Dr. Manniaty confirmed that she was indeed pregnant with 15 puppies.”

Out of the 15 puppies, only seven survived.

“They were all quickly adopted but Jazz remained,” she said.

Once the puppies were delivered and adopted, Jazz’s struggle remained.

“We were aware that she had some trauma to her hind legs as there were pins holding her ankles together,” McKnight wrote.

While being spayed, the doctor and staff discovered that her ankle was severely shattered and her hip was dislocated. She eventually stopped using that leg due to the pain. It was determined that she would have to loose that leg.

“We feared that she had bone cancer,” McKnight said. “However, Jazz finally caught a break when the biopsy showed no sign of cancer.”
Jazz’s surgery was a success, according to McKnight, who said, “she gets around almost better than before.”

After everything that Jazz has gone through, she continues to be sweet and loving, all at the shelter agree.

“It is nothing short of amazing,” McKnight said.

Jazz remains in foster care during recovery. Although she receives the proper attention, her follow-up visits to the vet and medication costs are astounding.

“We want to reach out to this amazing community of ours in the hopes that someone could possibly help us with her vet bill,” McKnight wrote.

Call the shelter at 410-213-0146 to help Jazz with her care or to check up on her adoption status. Jazz is also featured on the Worcester County Humane Society Facebook page.

www.mdcoastdispatch.com