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Thursday, March 1, 2012
SHORE BEEF & BBQ
Legislative Update From Delegate Lynwood Lewis/ Virginia
Both the House of Delegates and State Senate took up their amended versions of the Governor's introduced budget on Thursday, February 23. It is a long and sometimes cumbersome process by which we consider and object to amendments proposed by the Appropriations Committee. In addition to objections to various amendments, there are also floor amendments often proposed to the Committees version of the Governors Budget. Constructing a budget for the Commonwealth is the most important thing we do.
While in many respects the House Appropriations Committee improved upon Governor McDonnell's proposed budget, the shifting of General Fund monies from General Fund core government functions such as K-12 Public Education and Public Safety to Transportation, which has historically been a self-funding function of Government, was a fundamental philosophical problem which many of us could not accept. The version of the Governors budget produced by the Senate Finance Committee did not include this shift from our General Fund to Transportation Activities. It is my hope that as the budget process unfolds in the remaining days of the 2012 General Assembly Session that the General Fund piece of the budget can be resolved and that we can find transportation related means of funding transportation, maintenance, and construction.
The Appropriations task was made somewhat easier by the last minute availability of additional funds. Part of this was obtained by closing the "Amazon loophole" in our sales tax law with the location of a new fulfillment center in Virginia. Amazon has a physical presence in Virginia and therefore, would typically become subject to our State sales tax. This has been a big issue for our Commonwealth's retailers who compete with Amazon and other large internet merchants who, if they do not have a point of presence in Virginia, are not subject to the State sales tax. The compromise reached with Amazon will subject them to the Virginia State Sales Tax beginning in September of 2013. This would yield several million dollars of additional state revenues in the second part of the two year budget. In addition, the Commonwealth had earlier set aside approximately 24 million dollars for construction of a new Veterans center but we were just informed by the Federal Government that they would not be in position to move forward on that project until at least 2013. So that made additional money which we had committed for that project available. I will provide some budget highlights (and lowlights) in my next report.
It is likely that we will experience another year of budgetary stalemate at least for a time. The 20-20 tie in the Senate and the politics which comes with it makes very unlikely the Senate will be able to produce a budget. Where that leaves us procedurally is a bit uncertain.
Last week we also considered Senate Bill 550 in my subcommittee which established a methodology of shifting the Baylor Survey on the seaside of the Eastern Shore. I referenced this Bill and my position on it in last weeks report. It was for the reasons expressed in that report that I made a motion in the Chesapeake Subcommittee of the House, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, to carry over SB 550 under House Rule 22. It is my hope that in the coming months I can work with all stakeholders to have an extensive discussion about the potential for this policy to be a win situation for all concerned. It was simply too large a move without adequate public discussion.
Please feel free to contact me on any issue as it is important to me in my representation of our district to hear from the people that I represent. We will be in Richmond until March 10. Please feel free to contact my office at (804) 698-1000 or delllewis@house.virginia.gov.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Shop Talk Workshop ~ March 21st RSVP Deadline ~ TODAY~ March 12th
Free to DPA Members
$10 for Main Street programs & Chamber of Commerce members from:
Pocomoke Area, Berlin, Snow Hill, Princess Anne, & Eastern Shore Chambers
$15 for all others
Light fare and refreshments included
RSVP DEADLINE for ALL: Monday, March 12 (downtownpocomoke@gmail.com)
This Saturday At The Delmarva Discovery Center
Press Release-Special By Delegate Mike McDermott
LEAP DAY 2012
The transition from the Roman Calendar to the Julian Calendar in 45 BCE ( over 2000 years ago) introduced LEAP YEAR. - (You can thank Julius Ceasar)
Since that time Leap Day has been associated with various age old Leap Day folklore and traditions - one of which women propose to men.
Women propose to their men
According to an old Irish legend, or possibly history, St Bridget struck a deal with St Patrick to allow women to propose to men – and not just the other way around – every 4 years. This is believed to have been introduced to balance the traditional roles of men and women in a similar way to how Leap Day balances the calendar.Source:
Another HOAX On Facebook
Facebook hoax: ALL PARENTS PLEEEASE BE AWARE!!
The claim is typically phrased as follows:
ALL PARENTS PLEEEASE BE AWARE!! …There is a drug going around the schools …Its known as Strawberry Quick …or strawberry meth …it looks like pop rocks kids eat & also smells like strawberries & also comes in other flavors like chocolate ect … Pleeease tell your children not to take candy from anyone even a class mate because this drug that looks like pop rocks is actually crystal meth rocked up with strawberry flavor & can kill them :’( …PLEASE REPOST!!! so all parents are aware of this …Thank You! This is happening all over the countryThis one is slightly different and a bit shorter:
PARENTS PLEEEASE BE AWARE… there is a drug going around in the schools- its known as STRAWBERRY QUICK… OR STRAWBERRY METH. it looks like pop rocks kids eat & also smells like strawberries & also comes in other flavors like chocolate, ect. PLEEEASE tell ur children not to take candy from anyone even a class mate because this drug that looks like pop rocks is actually crystal meth with strawberry flavor & can kill them. PLEASE REPOST SO ALL PARENTS CAN BE AWAREThis hoax is spreading like wildfire on Facebook, despite there being any actual information. You should notice the message does not include a link to an article or police report detailing such actions. Facecrooks has summarized the facts; although it notes that the hoax is unfounded and exaggerated, it is technically possible:
- No cases of children using flavored Meth have been verified.
Please Support the SPCA's "Murphy's Fund"
From the
SPCA Eastern Shore Virginia
Since the SPCA Eastern Shore is a private No-Kill shelter, fundraising is our main source of revenue. We receive NO State or Federal funds! So, if you are unable to attend the 23rd Annual SPCA Ball this Saturday you may wish to contribute another way.
"Support the SPCA's Murphy's Fund"
Murphy's Fund was created so we would have money in place for extraordinary medical needs here at the shelter. ...Most of the money in this account has been used to treat dogs who are positive for heartworms making it easier for those dogs to be adopted. 20% of the dogs we take in have heartworms and the average cost to treat them is around $500 per dog. When we have funds in this account, we can offer to cover this cost for a prospective adopter. At this time, these funds are depleted. If you'd like to make a donation where you know exactly how the money will be used, please consider donating to Murphy's Fund.
For your convience we have a paypal account on our webpage. Donations are tax deductible! Thank you for your help!
http://www.profbassdeal.com/esspca/
*Did you know that your Food Lion card can be registered with the SPCA Eastern Shore and a certain amount of every dollar you spend at Food Lion will go to the SPCA. You can register on the SPCA Eastern Shore website.*
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
A Police Station In Progress
All You Can Eat To Benefit "Big Al" / Girdletree Vol. Fire Company
Parksley Man Murdered Over Weekend
An investigation into this incident has revealed that a party was being held at this same location and following an altercation between individuals, several shots were fired and the victim was injured in the gunfire.
As a result of the investigation, two suspects were identified and felony warrants were obtained which led to the arrest of one as one suspect remains at large.
18 yr old Jakori Krishawn Evans of Atlantic was arrested on February 26, 2012 and charged with Second Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony and Discharge a Firearm at an Occupied Building. Evans is incarcerated in the Accomack County Jail with bond denied.
35 yr old Mark Smith of Parksley is wanted on charges of Second Degree Murder, Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony, Discharge a Firearm at an Occupied Building and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Smith is asked to contact the Accomack County Sheriffs Office at 757-787-1131 or 757-824-5666.
Assisting in this investigation was the Onley and Onancock Police Departments and the Northampton County Sheriffs Office.
Source:
Senior Call-In Program / Accomack County ~ Virginia
Every morning the members of the program call in to the Sheriff's Office. If there are any problems or someone doesn't call for what ever reason the Sheriff's Office will go and check on the person to ensure that they are alright. If there is some sort of emergency then the Sheriff's Office will be sure to notify all parties needed to assist and any persons noted on their application.
You can sign up for this service by either calling the Accomack County Sheriff's Office or printing out THIS APPLICATION and turning it in to the Sheriff's Office.
Or go here for application.
Gumboro/Crisfield Mudbog Racing Schedule
Have You Seen "MITTENS" ?
Monday, February 27, 2012
2011 'Stella Awards'!
It's time again for the annual 'Stella Awards'!
For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico , where she purchased coffee. You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving. Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right? That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S. You know the kind of cases that make you scratch your head. So keep your head scratcher handy
Here are the Stellas for this past year -- 2011
* SEVENTH PLACE *
Kathleen Robertson of Austin , Texas was awarded $80,000 by a jury of
her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The store owners were understandably
surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.
Start scratching!
* SIXTH PLACE *
Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California won $74,000 plus medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord.
Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.
Scratch some more...
* FIFTH PLACE *
Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage. Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open. Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut.
Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on a case
of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's
insurance company claiming undue mental Anguish. Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish. We should all have this kind of anguish Keep scratching. There are more...
Double hand scratching after this one..
* FOURTH PLACE *
Jerry Williams, of Little Rock , Arkansas , garnered 4th Place in the
Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard. Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.
Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..
* THIRD PLACE *
Amber Carson of Lancaster , Pennsylvania because a jury ordered a
Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a
spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone. The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. What ever happened to people being responsible for their own actions?
Only two more so ease up on the scratching...
*SECOND PLACE*
Kara Walton, of Claymont, Delaware sued the owner of a night club in a nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth. Even though Ms. Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000....oh, yeah, plus dental expenses. Go figure.
Ok. Here we go!! Drum roll ...
* FIRST PLACE *
This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was: Mrs. Merv
Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who purchased new 32-foot Winnebago motor home.
On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owners manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set. The Oklahoma jury awarded her, are you sitting down? $1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home. Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home.
This Saturday! Donation Day & Dr Suess Day
Always wondered what’s inside of the Delmarva Discovery Center? Or love the museum and want to give a special donation!Visitors will be given an envelope to return at the end of your tour with your chosen donation enclosed. Donations will be anonymous unless you wish otherwise. Enjoy a Dr. Seuss book reading at 2 PM. Costumes are encouraged. Best costume will win a Family Membership to the DDC.
Thank you!
Jennifer RafterAquarium CuratorDelmarva Discovery Centeron the Pocomoke Riverwww.delmarvadiscoverycenter.org410.957.9933 x 104
2012 'Spring Pony Roundup' On Assateague
The Chincoteague Ponies will be rounded up on Assateague Island to be seen by veterinarians.
2011 Pony Spring Roundup PHOTO/ Chincoteague.com |
The North herd roundup will take place Saturday April 14, 2012 at 10am.
For more info go to http://www.chincoteague.com/
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Legislative Updates By Delegate Michael A. McDermott
Feb. 26th, 2012
The people of Maryland will soon be given the opportunity to voice their opinion on the O’Malley-Brown Same Sex Marriage Bill (HB-438). This bill, which was defeated in the Judiciary Committee (yet forced to the floor by a combined committee vote with Health-Government Operations) and then passed with the bare minimum “71” needed in the House of Delegates is currently in the process of being petitioned to referendum.
The Petition drive is being headed up by Delegate Neil Parrott (R-Washington Co.) who also successfully launched the petition drive to force In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens to referendum following last years session. I spoke with Delegate Parrott on Friday and he advised me that the petition language has been submitted to the Maryland State Board of Elections for their review. Once the language of the petition has been approved, it will be put before the public for their active participation.
At this time, the ability to utilize the On-Line Petition format, which was so successful during last years petition drive, will be the primary mechanism for voters to utilize. Voters can go to the site mdpetitions.com where they can register to participate once the petitions are available. Those willing to help collect signatures can also sign up at this time.
Marylanders who appreciate the liberty to petition a law to referendum should keep a watchful eye on HB-127 which seeks to force each signature of a petition to be notarized. It is true hypocrisy when these same liberals fight to keep us from requesting a photo ID at a polling place yet want to demand a notarized signature on a simple petition.
The bottom line...liberals have always feared the people. The last thing they want is for the people of Maryland to stand up with a successful petition drive and reject their attempt to redefine marriage. Pay particular attention to those who seek to limit your ability to redress your government. Your liberty and that of your children depends upon it.
Marylanders, take back your state!
TIME MACHINE ... An 1880 Real Life Soap Opera Plot In Pocomoke City!
(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)
June, 1880
(The New York Times)
TRIED ON A DISHONORABLE CHARGE MADE BY A POCOMOKE WOMAN- A CASE WHICH CAUSED MUCH GOSSIP.
SNOW HILL, Md., June 3.- The inhabitants of Pocomoke City have again moved up to Snow Hill, as they did during the trial of Lillie Duer for the shooting of her school-mate, Ella Hearn. This time it is not a murder trial, but one which involves the good name and standing of the most prominent man in the county, one long and well-known throughout the state. On the Wednesday before last Christmas, Mrs. W.S.C. Polk, wife of the proprietor of Pocomoke City's shoe store, walked into the office of Justice Nock, and swore out a warrant against Col. W.J. Aydelotte, charging that he had been guilty of an attempt at an outrageous assault against her. News of the charge spread rapidly, and it, with the preliminary hearing, furnished a startling holiday sensation for the Eastern Shore. Col Aydelotte was at once brought before the magistrate. The hearing lasted four days, and great excitement prevailed while it continued, friends of the Colonel loudly proclaiming that it was a case of black-mail. In the end, Col. Aydelotte was held under $2,000 bail to answer before the County Court. The case was called here Monday, and was concluded today, with a judgment of the court of not guilty. The case was not tried before a jury. The court-room was packed to its utmost each day. Mrs. Polk was the first witness. She testified that Col. Aydelotte had visited her house several times, uninvited, while her husband was away at Philadelphia, at times when he had reason to suppose she would be alone; that he had used improper and and indelicate language toward her, and on three occasions he had made an indecent assault on her. Mrs. Polk stated that she could not induce herself to take summary action against him on account of his age, his prominence, and the fact that he was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and highly esteemed by everybody; she would have been willing to let one or two attempts pass apparently unnoticed, and would not have taken to her very disagreeable course she did in making the matter public, except as a means of self-protection from Col. Aydelotte.
Col. Aydelotte was long a member of the state legislature, was in the State Senate in 1873-74, was a member of the Maryland-Virginia Boundary Commission in 1872, and at the time of the recent alleged assault was a member of Gov. Carroll's staff. He has been a prominent candidate for high honors in the Democratic Party and is held in high esteem. He is 64 years old, is courtly in manner, of polite and insinuating address. He has been one of the pillars of the Presbyterian church at Pocomoke, being a man of some wealth, and has been an Elder for many years. Mrs. Polk is a fine looking lady of 42, although she does not look over 30, of rather full form, slow speech, and entirely self-possessed, whatever the position in which she may be placed. She belongs to one of the best families in the county, the Adamses, of Rehobeth, and has been twice married, her first husband, Dr. Taylor of Berlin, living only a few months after their marriage. The affair in all its bearings had been a great wonder here. People in the church took sides for and against the Elder, and at one time a split was threatened, but was averted, and the feud between the Aydelotte's and the anti-Aydelotte's promises to long outlive the immediate results of the trial.
Footnote: A posting from last year.
January, 1880
(The New York Times)
Baltimore, Jan.7. - Advises from Pocomoke City note a curious sequel to the sensation caused a fortnight ago by the scandalous charges brought by Mrs. Polk against ex-State Senator Aydelotte, of entering her house during the absence of her husband and attempting to violate her person. Aydelotte is a conspicuous pillar of the Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Mr. Brown is an eloquent speaker and popular Pastor of the Presbyterian flock, having accepted a call from the West to take the Pocomoke City charge. The congregation has been violently agitated by the charges against Aydelotte, and a split is threatened. On Sunday the church was crowded, but in place of a sermon the Rev. Mr. Brown gave from the pulpit a scathing diatribe, denouncing Aydelotte and the whole community. He came there, he said, supposing he was coming into a Christian, moral, community, but found himself among a people without principle or morality, lost to all sense of shame, rotten to the core. He was ashamed to acknowledge his residence there, and recently in Philadelphia he could not acknowledge to a brother clergyman that he belonged to Pocomoke. He ended by resigning his pastorate, and the congregation dispersed in high dudgeon. The excitement throughout the county is intense.
November, 1883
(The Daily News...Frederick,Md.)
George H. Bagwell, Esq., the county surveyor of Accomack, Va., and commissioner on the part of that State for the final location of the boundary line between Maryland and Virginia, was in Pocomoke City, Monday, conferring with Hon. Wm. J. Aydelotte, commissioner on the part of Maryland. The two gentlemen visited important local points, and report satisfactory progress in their work.
August, 1972
(Salisbury Daily Times "People Patter" column)
Mr. & Mrs. Curt Lippolt have won an all-expense trip to Hawaii as a result of the largest percentage of sales at their Western Auto store in Pocomoke City for a store of their size. They had just taken the store over in November.
October, 1990
Bringing back a rare opportunity for passengers to ride the rails again on the Eastern Shore, the Maryland Main Street Special was making a day of excursions in 1920's passenger cars from the rail museum in Parksley to Pocomoke City.
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. Your name won't be used unless you ask that it be. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!