AN IMPORTANT POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE!!
Stay on your P's and Q's today or someone will be saying.....
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK
It was warmer on the northern tip of Antarctica last week than here on Delmarva. In fact, according to multiple news sources, that section of the coldest place on Earth reached a record breaking temperature of +63.5 degrees (F) on March 24th. The previous record high was +63.3 (F) the previous day.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
TIME MACHINE ... 1931, 1900, 1861, 1884, 1960'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)
July, 1931
Denton Journal
FIRE DESTROYS CRISFIELD PIER AND WAREHOUSE
OF B&V STEAMSHIP LINE AND PENN RR.
CRISFIELD, MD., JULY 25 1931
Early Thursday morning, fire swept the pier warehouse of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Baltimore-Virginia Steamship Line at Crisfield, destroying the terminal and several freight cars with an estimate of $150,000. Fire companies from Crisfield, Pocomoke City, Princess Anne and Marion fought the flames three or more hours. While the firemen pumped water into the warehouse, locomotive crews made repeated trips into the fire area to save all but three of twenty loaded freight cars on sidings near the pier. The investigation shows evidence that the fire started from a carelessly discarded cigarette out on the pier. Employees were first unaware of the fire until a sudden gust of wind filled the office area with smoke. The loss included a large quantity of produce and the freight in three cars. All employees escaped unharmed.
June, 1900
Baltimore Sun
Negotiations Between Worcester & B.C.& A. Railway for Sinepuxent Bridge
Negotiations are pending between the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway Company and Worcester County, Maryland, for the use of the railroad bridge across Sinepuxent Bay for highway purposes. Recently the railroad company bought control of the bridge from the Ocean City Bridge Company. A dispatch from Ocean City on Thursday stated that the company had decided that after June 15 use of the bridge would be limited solely to the purpose of the railroad. As this is the only bridge across the bay, such action would cut off all other traffic to and from Ocean City.
General Manager Willard Thompson of the railroad company said yesterday that this was a mistake, as the county had been offered the use of the bridge at $750 a year. It previously paid $500 a year, but Mr Thompson stated that this was insufficient to keep up the bridge for county roads purposes.
September, 1861
The Daily Exchange (Baltimore)
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November, 1884 (Time Machine archive)
(The Denton Journal)
(Excerpts)
An Eastern Shore Miser.- No more curious or interesting character perhaps ever lived on the Eastern Shore than William J. Handy, of Somerset County, who died last week at the age of 85.
The Handy family is a prominent one in Somerset and Worcester counties, and several of its members have risen to distinction. William J. Handy was born before the 19th century began, on a farm on Jones Creek near Princess Anne, and lived there until he was taken away by an order of the court a year or so ago. He was thoroughly educated and remarkably intelligent. He studied law, but never practiced. He never married. He was of miserly habits, and in slave times, it is said denied his Negroes food enough to keep them from being hungry;- the weekly allowance being a peck of corn and two pounds of bacon. So (they) had an evil reputation throughout the countryside for stealing. He had a hundred slaves and a large-landed estate.
Handy accumulated a large amount of money which he kept hid about his premises, being afraid to trust a bank with it. In 1851 he was robbed of $3,200 which was never recovered.
When he lost his slaves through emancipation, Handy became embittered and enraged. It made him almost helpless, and his lands were never thoroughly cultivated afterwards. And the revenue raised by hiring out slaves was gone, so that he became more miserly than ever, and it is said that his sister who kept house for him, with thousands of dollars around her, did not have enough to eat.
In 1863 a second attempt was made to rob him. The house was entered, but Mr. Handy opened upon the intruders with a double barreled shotgun, and drove them off.
After this affair Mr. Handy kept strict watch and ward over his money. Even in the hottest weather the windows and doors were kept fastened down, and Mr. Handy and his sister led miserable lives. During the night while one slept the other would watch with a double-barreled gun and pistol heavily loaded at hand. Even during the day Mr. Handy kept his gun in his hand and seemed to be constantly afraid somebody would rob him. The farm became a wilderness, and the house almost inaccessible from the bushes and thorns that grew around it.
(In a third robbery attempt he told would-be robbers to go ahead and kill him but his sister persuaded him to relinquish $3,000 in gold. He hired detectives to track down the robbers but when they were located he refused to identify them.)
A short time after this (the robbery) his sister died and he was left alone, and he would have died several years ago from hunger and cold had it not been for the kindness of his neighbors. He would furnish neither food nor raiment for himself, yet he persisted in the house in which he had eked out such a miserable existence, though kind friends offered to care for him at a reasonable figure. But he rejected every generous offer, and would have remained under the old roof until his death had not the house been reduced to ashes. He was then forced to take up quarters elsewhere.
Two years ago he was judged a lunatic and Col. Levin L. Waters was appointed by the court trustee to sell the property and take care of the proceeds.
1960's..
Some of us can remember when the place where you bought gasoline for your car was also the place that provided full service. Here's a Texaco commercial from the 1960's. It includes their classic jingle. See it here, including more vintage Texaco commercials.
http://archive.org/details/dmbb40002
(Courtesy of Duke University Libraries Digital Collections)
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.
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)
July, 1931
Denton Journal
FIRE DESTROYS CRISFIELD PIER AND WAREHOUSE
OF B&V STEAMSHIP LINE AND PENN RR.
CRISFIELD, MD., JULY 25 1931
Early Thursday morning, fire swept the pier warehouse of the Pennsylvania Railroad and Baltimore-Virginia Steamship Line at Crisfield, destroying the terminal and several freight cars with an estimate of $150,000. Fire companies from Crisfield, Pocomoke City, Princess Anne and Marion fought the flames three or more hours. While the firemen pumped water into the warehouse, locomotive crews made repeated trips into the fire area to save all but three of twenty loaded freight cars on sidings near the pier. The investigation shows evidence that the fire started from a carelessly discarded cigarette out on the pier. Employees were first unaware of the fire until a sudden gust of wind filled the office area with smoke. The loss included a large quantity of produce and the freight in three cars. All employees escaped unharmed.
June, 1900
Baltimore Sun
Negotiations Between Worcester & B.C.& A. Railway for Sinepuxent Bridge
Negotiations are pending between the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway Company and Worcester County, Maryland, for the use of the railroad bridge across Sinepuxent Bay for highway purposes. Recently the railroad company bought control of the bridge from the Ocean City Bridge Company. A dispatch from Ocean City on Thursday stated that the company had decided that after June 15 use of the bridge would be limited solely to the purpose of the railroad. As this is the only bridge across the bay, such action would cut off all other traffic to and from Ocean City.
General Manager Willard Thompson of the railroad company said yesterday that this was a mistake, as the county had been offered the use of the bridge at $750 a year. It previously paid $500 a year, but Mr Thompson stated that this was insufficient to keep up the bridge for county roads purposes.
September, 1861
The Daily Exchange (Baltimore)
The Daily Exchange quoting The Washington Star.
November, 1884 (Time Machine archive)
(The Denton Journal)
(Excerpts)
An Eastern Shore Miser.- No more curious or interesting character perhaps ever lived on the Eastern Shore than William J. Handy, of Somerset County, who died last week at the age of 85.
The Handy family is a prominent one in Somerset and Worcester counties, and several of its members have risen to distinction. William J. Handy was born before the 19th century began, on a farm on Jones Creek near Princess Anne, and lived there until he was taken away by an order of the court a year or so ago. He was thoroughly educated and remarkably intelligent. He studied law, but never practiced. He never married. He was of miserly habits, and in slave times, it is said denied his Negroes food enough to keep them from being hungry;- the weekly allowance being a peck of corn and two pounds of bacon. So (they) had an evil reputation throughout the countryside for stealing. He had a hundred slaves and a large-landed estate.
Handy accumulated a large amount of money which he kept hid about his premises, being afraid to trust a bank with it. In 1851 he was robbed of $3,200 which was never recovered.
When he lost his slaves through emancipation, Handy became embittered and enraged. It made him almost helpless, and his lands were never thoroughly cultivated afterwards. And the revenue raised by hiring out slaves was gone, so that he became more miserly than ever, and it is said that his sister who kept house for him, with thousands of dollars around her, did not have enough to eat.
In 1863 a second attempt was made to rob him. The house was entered, but Mr. Handy opened upon the intruders with a double barreled shotgun, and drove them off.
After this affair Mr. Handy kept strict watch and ward over his money. Even in the hottest weather the windows and doors were kept fastened down, and Mr. Handy and his sister led miserable lives. During the night while one slept the other would watch with a double-barreled gun and pistol heavily loaded at hand. Even during the day Mr. Handy kept his gun in his hand and seemed to be constantly afraid somebody would rob him. The farm became a wilderness, and the house almost inaccessible from the bushes and thorns that grew around it.
(In a third robbery attempt he told would-be robbers to go ahead and kill him but his sister persuaded him to relinquish $3,000 in gold. He hired detectives to track down the robbers but when they were located he refused to identify them.)
A short time after this (the robbery) his sister died and he was left alone, and he would have died several years ago from hunger and cold had it not been for the kindness of his neighbors. He would furnish neither food nor raiment for himself, yet he persisted in the house in which he had eked out such a miserable existence, though kind friends offered to care for him at a reasonable figure. But he rejected every generous offer, and would have remained under the old roof until his death had not the house been reduced to ashes. He was then forced to take up quarters elsewhere.
Two years ago he was judged a lunatic and Col. Levin L. Waters was appointed by the court trustee to sell the property and take care of the proceeds.
1960's..
Some of us can remember when the place where you bought gasoline for your car was also the place that provided full service. Here's a Texaco commercial from the 1960's. It includes their classic jingle. See it here, including more vintage Texaco commercials.
http://archive.org/details/dmbb40002
(Courtesy of Duke University Libraries Digital Collections)
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.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview
1931.. Large fire at pier warehouse in Crisfield; 1900.. Worcester County negotiating for use of Ocean City railroad bridge for highway purposes; 1861.. Lower Eastern Shore being used to aid secessionists (original newspaper clip); 1884.. An Eastern Shore miser.- " No more curious or interesting character perhaps ever lived on the Eastern Shore...";
1960's.. Remember when the places where you bought gasoline were also the places that provided service for your vehicle?
View a 1960's television commercial for a well known gasoline brand; it includes their classic jingle.
It's this Sunday right here at 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!
1960's.. Remember when the places where you bought gasoline were also the places that provided service for your vehicle?
It's this Sunday right here at 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!
Sunday, March 22, 2015
TIME MACHINE ... 1920, 1999, 1958, 1900, 1887, 1911.
"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)
March, 1920
The Washington Post
CRISFIELD PRAYS FOR TAX RELIEF
Believes Bills Would Kill Seafood Industries- Public Services Are Need
Crisfield, Md., March 21.- Public prayer services were held in all the churches of Crisfield today, the ministers praying for the deliverance of their people from the hardships which they claim would be placed upon them by bills now in the legislature, which provide for increased taxes and licenses on the different branches of the crab and oyster business.
For more than a week Crisfield has been alarmed by the prospect of what the majority of people say would be confiscatory taxes on its one great industry- seafood. Meetings of the protest have been held nightly.
The taxing measures are those which are backed in the legislature by the conservation commission and provide increased legislation fee on oysters, increased crabbers' license, increased oyster tongers' license and the placement of a shipment tax on hard and soft-shelled crabs.
February, 1999
The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)
Tanker spills hundreds of gallons of gas
Salisbury- A pickup truck rammed into a gasoline tanker truck just outside Salisbury, spilling at least 1,500 gallons of gasoline onto the roadway and threatening the nearby Wicomico River, a state police spokesman said.
Police closed U.S. 50 yesterday just after the 6:30 p.m. accident, while crews tried to contain the gasoline, said Sgt. Fabian White of Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack.
The roadway was reopened about 5:30 a.m. today.
The Wicomico River passes just a few hundred yards from the accident site west of Salisbury Sgt. White said. The spilled gasoline escaped down a storm drain before firefighters dumped sand over the drains with a back hoe.
The tanker driver was attempting to pull into a filling station at the time of the accident, but couldn't get the truck positioned correctly, Sgt. White said.
The driver of the pickup was hospitalized at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. The tanker truck driver wasn't injured.
February, 1958
(The Salisbury Times)
Marva Theater Sold In Pocomoke City
POCOMOKE CITY- Pocomoke City's Marva Theater has been sold to three Berlin residents, John T. Hudson, Alma T. Truitt and Calvin P. (Jack) Pruitt.
The theater which had been under the ownership of Mrs. Della Bartlett and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Garrison, also of Berlin, will continue to be operated by Dawson Clarke and Orville Mason.
Also included in the purchase was a store operated by George Reid, and a barber shop operated by Mervin Ward.
February, 1900.. Hotel Pocomoke.
December, 1887 (Time Machine archive)
(The Herald And Torch Light- Hagerstown, Md)
Snow Hill, Worcester County, was lighted for the first time on Wednesday night of last week with electric lights. The work of wiring stores, etc., proceeded rapidly and the business portion of the town has been supplied with electric lights.
1911..
Footnotes:
Postum was discontinued in 2007 but was back on grocery shelves in late 2012.
(Wikipedia)
Postum is a powdered roasted-grain beverage once popular as a coffee substitute. The caffeine-free beverage was created by Postum Cereal Company founder C. W. Post in 1895 and marketed as a healthful alternative to coffee. The Postum Cereal Company eventually became General Foods, which was bought by Kraft Foods. Post was a student of John Harvey Kellogg, who believed that caffeine was unhealthy.
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.
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)
The Washington Post
CRISFIELD PRAYS FOR TAX RELIEF
Believes Bills Would Kill Seafood Industries- Public Services Are Need
Crisfield, Md., March 21.- Public prayer services were held in all the churches of Crisfield today, the ministers praying for the deliverance of their people from the hardships which they claim would be placed upon them by bills now in the legislature, which provide for increased taxes and licenses on the different branches of the crab and oyster business.
For more than a week Crisfield has been alarmed by the prospect of what the majority of people say would be confiscatory taxes on its one great industry- seafood. Meetings of the protest have been held nightly.
The taxing measures are those which are backed in the legislature by the conservation commission and provide increased legislation fee on oysters, increased crabbers' license, increased oyster tongers' license and the placement of a shipment tax on hard and soft-shelled crabs.
February, 1999
The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)
Tanker spills hundreds of gallons of gas
Salisbury- A pickup truck rammed into a gasoline tanker truck just outside Salisbury, spilling at least 1,500 gallons of gasoline onto the roadway and threatening the nearby Wicomico River, a state police spokesman said.
Police closed U.S. 50 yesterday just after the 6:30 p.m. accident, while crews tried to contain the gasoline, said Sgt. Fabian White of Maryland State Police Salisbury Barrack.
The roadway was reopened about 5:30 a.m. today.
The Wicomico River passes just a few hundred yards from the accident site west of Salisbury Sgt. White said. The spilled gasoline escaped down a storm drain before firefighters dumped sand over the drains with a back hoe.
The tanker driver was attempting to pull into a filling station at the time of the accident, but couldn't get the truck positioned correctly, Sgt. White said.
The driver of the pickup was hospitalized at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. The tanker truck driver wasn't injured.
February, 1958
(The Salisbury Times)
Marva Theater Sold In Pocomoke City
POCOMOKE CITY- Pocomoke City's Marva Theater has been sold to three Berlin residents, John T. Hudson, Alma T. Truitt and Calvin P. (Jack) Pruitt.
The theater which had been under the ownership of Mrs. Della Bartlett and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Garrison, also of Berlin, will continue to be operated by Dawson Clarke and Orville Mason.
Also included in the purchase was a store operated by George Reid, and a barber shop operated by Mervin Ward.
February, 1900.. Hotel Pocomoke.
(From the pages of The Peninsula Enterprise)
December, 1887 (Time Machine archive)
(The Herald And Torch Light- Hagerstown, Md)
Snow Hill, Worcester County, was lighted for the first time on Wednesday night of last week with electric lights. The work of wiring stores, etc., proceeded rapidly and the business portion of the town has been supplied with electric lights.
1911..
Footnotes:
Postum was discontinued in 2007 but was back on grocery shelves in late 2012.
(Wikipedia)
Postum is a powdered roasted-grain beverage once popular as a coffee substitute. The caffeine-free beverage was created by Postum Cereal Company founder C. W. Post in 1895 and marketed as a healthful alternative to coffee. The Postum Cereal Company eventually became General Foods, which was bought by Kraft Foods. Post was a student of John Harvey Kellogg, who believed that caffeine was unhealthy.
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.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.
1920.. Crisfield churches hold prayers for tax relief; 1999..Collision with gasoline tank truck results in large fuel spill in Salisbury; 1958.. Pocomoke City's Marva Theater has new owners; 1900.. Hotel Pocomoke is open (newspaper ad); 1902.. Snow Hill businesses get lighting; 1911.. An ad for a beverage being promoted as a substitute for coffee (clue: P_ _ _ _M.)
It's this Sunday right here at 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!
It's this Sunday right here at 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!
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Easter Egg Hunt
Chief Kelvin Sewell would like to invite you to join us for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt! Please spread the word. Thank you.
Monday, March 16, 2015
Many thanks to the following new & renewing PACC Members!
Wal-Mart
Worcester Community Work Experience Program
Believe It Or Not!
Although Spring doesn't even officially begin until this Friday, we are already thinking ahead to the annual Cypress Festival to be held this year on June 17, 18, 19 & 20.
The Cypress Festival is the main fundraiser for the Pocomoke Chamber
of Commerce and the signature festival for Pocomoke. This event could
not come together without the support of the local business community.
This year marks the 40th year that the Cypress Festival has been
held. We are in the process of planning and creating the official
program for the event. Board members are taking orders now for paid ads
that local businesses wish to place. Sponsorships are also an option.
We appreciate you for advertising in this year's Cypress Festival
Program. Beginning in May, over 2500 full color copies of the program
will be distributed.
If you wish to place an ad or be a sponsor and have not been contacted by a Chamber Board member, please call Deb at 410 957-1919 or email at pocomokechamber@gmail.com.
Ad orders & payment are due by April 15, 2015.
March General Membership Luncheon
Wednesday
March 18, 2015
(12:00 - 1:00 PM)
Don's Seafood & Chicken House
1344 Ocean Highway
Pocomoke City
Featured Speaker:
Michael Franklin
CEO
Atlantic General Hospital
Menu Choices
Flounder Sandwich w/ Chips
Pork BBQ on Kaiser Roll w/ Cole Slaw & Chips
Turkey on Kaiser Roll w/ American Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato & Chips
Large Garden Salad
Register
online at
OR
Call Deb 410 957-1919
OR
email at
Raiding Md.'s Pension Piggy Bank
 In Case You Missed It: Raiding Md.'s Pension Piggy Bank From The Washington Post Editorial Board - "That boils down to a short-term payoff to core Democratic constituencies, especially teachers unions, that will burden taxpayers down the road." ______________________________ Editorial Board The Washington Post March 14, 2015 "WHEN THE big bond-rating agencies took Maryland’s financial temperature last month, they found the state in robust health — with the notable exception of Maryland’s undernourished pension fund. The fund needs a sustained infusion of cash if the state is to meet its long-term promises to retired teachers, police, judges and other public employees — a $20 billion infusion, to be precise. "So how did Democrats, who control the state legislature, respond to this red flag? A week after it was raised, they advanced a plan to make the situation worse — to raid the fund in order to forestall cuts in next year’s budget proposed by Gov. Larry Hogan (R). By grabbing pension dollars to plug immediate budget holes, lawmakers would risk the state’s future knowing that most of them will no longer be in office when the bill comes due. ... "Nonetheless, bad old habits — raids on money earmarked for the fund — returned last year and now seem to be accelerating. In an effort to block relatively modest budget cuts proposed by Mr. Hogan, mainly to schools and public employees’ wages, Democratic lawmakers in Annapolis are pushing a plan to revamp the formula for scheduled contributions. According to Comptroller Peter Franchot, one of the few prominent Democrats who opposes the scheme, it would shift $2 billion into the general budget over the next decade, then cost the state $4.5 billion in the following dozen years — meaning Maryland would face a net $2.5 billion in additional costs over time in order to keep its pension promises. 
"That
boils down to a short-term payoff to core Democratic constituencies,
especially teachers unions, that will burden taxpayers down the road.
And if the pension fund’s investments underperform officials’ rosy
projections, the result will be fiscal calamity — and big trouble for
the employees the legislature is purporting to help."
|
Sunday, March 15, 2015
TIME MACHINE ... 1896, 1935, 1981, 1922, 1914, 1971.
"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)
September, 1896
Peninsula Enterprise (Accomac Court House)
An Exchange of Shots
PRINCESS ANNE, Md., Sept. 8,- Mr. E. D. Young, the day operator of the N.Y.P & N.R.R. at Princess Anne, and Mr. Tazewell Jones, proprietor of livery stables at this place, had a dispute yesterday over the delivery of a telegram.
During the dispute, insulting epithets were passed and this culminated in Mr. Young assaulting Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones drew a pistol and fired several shots at his antagonist to defend himself from the assault. Mr. Young also drew a pistol and fired once at Mr. Jones, but without effect.
After the affray it was found that Mr. Jones had received a flesh wound in the thigh. The bullet was probed for by Dr. Wainwright and was removed.- Balto. Sun.
Mr. Young is from this county (Accomack), son of Mr. John Young, Belle Haven, and was operator at Keller a few months ago.
February, 1935 (Time Machine archive)
(The Denton Journal)
(Excerpts)
For the first time since 1888 the upper Chincoteague Bay which laps tidewater Worcester County between South Point, near Ocean City, and the Maryland-Virginia boundary, is a solid field of ice. Approximately 90 square miles of the bay is frozen with ice ranging from 6 to 10 inches in thickness, which extends between the mainland and the beach peninsula. Last week several Stockton and Girdletree fishermen walked seven miles across the ice to the beach, chatted with Coast Guards isolated at the Green Run station, and returned without mishap. Ice skaters at Public Landing ventured miles out across the ice covered bay. Older residents, recalling the freeze on the bay in 1888, tell tales of horse-drawn vehicles being driven over the ice from Chincoteague, Va., north to Ocean City, Md., a distance of 40 miles.
December, 1981
The Star Democrat (Easton, Md.)
(Excerpts)
Three Shore A&P stores to close
Three Eastern Shore A&P Food Stores are among 21 the super market chain is planning to close in the Maryland area in mid-January.
A&P stores are to be closed in Cambridge, Pocomoke City, and Seaford, Del.
The closings are necessary "in order to eliminate the continuing losses," and improve operating efficiencies, according to a letter W.E. Zentgraf, regional director of personnel for A&P, sent to union officials.
Managers of the three Eastern Shore stores said they could not comment on the closings.
1922..
1922 newspaper ad.
April, 1914
The Delaware Pilot (Lewes, De.)
Boring for Oil Near Ocean City
Men who are boring for oil on the Isle of Wright, near Ocean City, which is owned by David L Levy and Morris Roos of Wilmington, have struck oil producing rock and there are many traces of oil. According to experts, oil will be struck in less than a month. Experts from the Texas oil fields have visited the island and claim the soil strata is the same as that found in Texas and Mexico oil fields. The Isle of Wright comprises 500 acres exclusive of the riparian rights, and is separated from Ocean City by a stretch of water. Some persons believe there is an oil belt stretching from Parsonsburg to Ocean City on the Eastern Shore. Boring for oil is not going on at Parsonsburg.
January, 1971 (Time Machine archive)
Baltimore Orioles relief pitcher Ed Watt was scheduled to be guest speaker at a Pocomoke Little League meeting designed to generate enthusiasm among parents and eligible players. Little League president Louis H. Kragler Jr. said plans were for eight Little League teams and four Senior League teams in Pocomoke involving 180 players for the 1971 season.
Orioles Ed Watt
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.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Some Things Never Change...
Friday, March 13, 2015
Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford Launches Heroin And Opioid Emergency Task Force Website
March 11, 2015
Contact:
Erin Montgomery erin.montgomery@maryland.gov
Shareese Churchill shareese.churchill@maryland.
Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford Launches Heroin And Opioid Emergency Task Force Website
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Lt.
Governor Boyd Rutherford today launched a dedicated section on his
official state website for the Maryland Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task
Force. The new website comes ahead of the Task Force’s first Regional
Summit in Cecil County on Tuesday, March 17."The purpose of the website is to provide the public with information on who makes up our task force, the work they are doing, and how Marylanders can get involved with their efforts and participate in our regional summits," said Paul Beatty, spokesman for the Lt. Governor.
"We will hold a summit in each region of the state. Getting the public's input on this crisis and hearing from people who have been affected by the disease of addiction is vital to the success of our task force."
The Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force and the Inter-Agency Heroin and Opioid Coordinating Council were created last month through executive orders signed by Governor Hogan. The governor tasked Lt. Governor Rutherford with the job of bringing together stakeholders to combat the heroin epidemic in Maryland.
The Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force is comprised of addiction experts, law enforcement, medical professionals, and government officials.
The Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force website can be found at: http://www.ltgovernor.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.
1896.. Dispute over delivery of a telegram leads to a pistol fight in Princess Anne; 1935.. An Eastern Shore February freeze perhaps unequaled; 1981.. Pocomoke City loosing a long-time grocery chain; 1914.. Boring for oil near Ocean City.
1971.. Who's this Orioles pitcher and why did he visit Pocomoke City?
1922.. What's the price of a new Firestone standard non-skid tire? See the ad.
It's this Sunday right here at 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!
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Downtown Pocomoke Spring Festival
Live Entertainment, Food & Drink Sales, Sidewalk Vendors, Horse & Pony Rides, Kids Crafts, Sidewalk Chalk Art, Face Painting, Moon Bounce, "Passport to Pocomoke Game", FREE admission to our local museums & much more!
Visit downtownpocomoke.com for vendor application
Join NHTSA's Twitter Chat to spread the word about Tweens and seat belts - March 12
On March 12, join the "Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up” Tween safety campaign
Parenting a
tween involves compromise. But here’s one rule that’s not up for debate – the
car doesn’t move until everyone is wearing a seat belt. If you say it, and if
parents buckle up themselves, your tween will buckle up. And if they don’t,
that’s a fight worth having. It might just save your tween’s life.
Over the past
5 years, 1,609 kids ages 8-14 were not wearing seat belts when they died in a
crash - one in four were age 14. As children get older they’re less likely to
buckle up. Our “Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up” campaign aims to put an end
to this trend – but we need your help.
On March 12,
NHTSA will hold a Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up Twitter Chat to help
spread the word to parents about the need to wear seat belts. During the chat
you can question NHTSA experts, engage with your followers, and help ensure
that tweens grow up to become young adults and safe drivers. We’ll also have
terrific videos, banners, and other tools you can use to spread this
lifesaving message far and wide.
Who: NHTSA
and Our Team of Experts
What: Tween “Never
Give Up Until They Buckle Up” Twitter Chat (follow along at #kidsbuckleup and #tweens)
When: Thursday,
March 12, 3-4pm Eastern
Where: www.twitter.com/NHTSAgov
How: Use
hashtags #kidsbuckleup and #tweens when the chat is about to start to join in the
conversation. Feel free to mention @NHTSAGov
in any of your tweets and NHTSA will get back to as many of your questions or
comments as they can! Remember to include the hashtags #kidsbuckleup and #tweens in your
comments so others can follow the conversation.
Invite your friends and followers
to join us and help us spread the important message about tweens and seat belts.
Let them know the dangers of failing to wear a seat belt and that parents are
an essential part of protecting their kids by insisting on seat belt use at all
times and by sending the right message by always wearing seat belts themselves.
See you on March 12!
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Phone Scam Alert!
Pocomoke City Police would like to take a moment to warn all citizens of most recent telephone scams involving people identifying themselves as IRS, Delmarva Power and the Publishers Clearing House. To date the Pocomoke City Police Department has received seven (7) reports for this type of scam! Please read carefully the below information.
If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be the IRS, here’s what you should do:
• If you know you owe taxes or you think you might owe taxes, call the IRS at 1.800.829.1040. The IRS employees at that line can help you with a payment issue, if there really is such an issue.
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to think that you owe any taxes (for example, you’ve never received a bill or the caller made some bogus threats as described above), then call and report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1.800.366.4484.
• You can file a complaint using the FTC Complaint Assistant; choose “Other” and then “Imposter Scams.” If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.
If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House, remember:
• If you’re required to wire or pay any amount of money in order to claim a prize, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. PCH sweepstakes are ALWAYS FREE to enter, and there is never any fee associated with winning.
• If you’re asked to load up a Green Dot MoneyPak or other money transfer card, in exchange for claiming your prize, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. Again, PCH will NEVER ask you to pay a cent to collect a prize.
• If someone tries to contact you in advance regarding a prize delivery, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam! After all, that would ruin the surprise! For decades, our Prize Patrol has captured the elated reactions of surprised winners and used them in our nationally-televised commercials. You’ll know you’re a big PCH winner if you see the Prize Patrol at your front door holding a “Big Check” with your name on it!
• If someone calls you on the telephone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House and says you have won, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. Do NOT give them any personal information! As stated above, the Prize Patrol awards all our Big Prizes in person and would never call you to update any personal information in our files.
• If someone claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House tries to send you a friend request on Facebook, it’s a Publishers Clearing House Scam. Even if they are using the name and photo of a prominent PCH employee ―do NOT believe them. Our PCH employees and official PCH Prize Patrol Fan pages will never private message you on Facebook.
Finally, if you receive a call from Delmarva Power requiring you to make a payment on a Green Dot Money Pak Card, NEVER do so. Hang up immediately and contact Delmarva Power at 1-800-375-7117.
Please share this message with all of your friends and neighbors. Pocomoke City Police hopes to raise awareness of this ongoing trend to scam citizens out of their hard earned money.
Chief Kelvin Sewell
March 10, 2015
Midway Chevrolet Raises Over $11,000 for Women Supporting Women
Midway Chevrolet in Pocomoke hosted its fifth annual "Drive out Breast Cancer" Walk on October 4th.
Members of the community gathered to walk the lot in support of breast
cancer awareness. Money raised from this event is donated to Women
Supporting Women, a local breast cancer organization which offers free
services and support to women and men battling breast cancer. Midway
raised $11,027.31 at the October walk, which brings a total of $47,000
Midway has donated to Women Supporting Women in the past five years.
For more information, contact Emily Rantz, Director of Community Relations at
Sunday, March 8, 2015
TIME MACHINE ... 2002, 1962, 1885, 1942, 1956.
"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)
June, 2002
Somerset Herald (Princess Anne)
(Excerpt)
Getting a high school diploma will be tougher for members of the Class of 2006 who become the first wave of county students being measured by a new curriculum policy that requires more academic credits and tougher courses to graduate.
New requirements in math, science and computer application courses along with more rigorous course offerings in core subjects were approved by the county school board last spring. The policy takes effect in the fall with entering ninth graders.
June, 1962
The Salisbury Times
Snow Hill Chapter Plans Gift To Hospital Here
SNOW HILL - The Snow Hill Chapter of the Junior Auxiliary Board of Peninsula General Hospital is giving the hospital an incubator.
The piece of equipment, to cost $480, is the first gift from the small chapter, which was organized less than four years ago. There are 34 members.
The chapter president, Mrs. Bond Truitt, said the "Womanless Miss America Contest," sponsored by the women in March brought in a net profit of about $600.
"We were all surprised at such a turn-out for the two nights the show was staged in the school auditorium," said Mrs. Truitt.
Since the group organized, the main project has been making Pinky, the clown puppet, for the children who are patients at Peninsula General. Since January they have made 600.
Members voted on the incubator at the chapter's June meeting.
A feature of the meeting was the honoring of Mrs. Paul Cooper, the club's first president and instigator of its organization. Mrs. Cooper has now moved from Snow Hill to Baltimore.
December, 1885
Chicago Daily Tribune
(Excerpts)
PURE MALT WHISKEY
The Only Cure For Consumption.
HIGH MEDICAL AUTHORITY
From The Baltimore "Times"
In addition to the good to be derived from their whiskey for consumption, all wasting diseases and all weak and debilitated conditions, the Duffy Malt Whiskey Company of Baltimore, Md., are furnishing a formula which was prepared for their special use by an eminent German scientist, consisting principally of raw beefsteak, and ingredients which any housekeeper can get and mix, combined with their Pure Malt Whiskey. On the receipt of a two-cent stamp the formula will be sent to all parties using their whiskey, under the seal of the company.
Mr. A. J. Merrill, editor Ledger, Pocomoke City, Md., writes: "I have been using the Duffy Malt Whiskey for two years in my family. I got it originally for a delicate child, then but 3 years old, and which I never expected to be able to raise. Have given the whiskey to the child ever since, and she is today in the best of health and as hearty as any child of her age. I attribute her present good health entirely to your excellent whiskey. My wife uses it for general debility with good results."
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Footnote: Numerous comments of praise attributed to physicians were also included. For the full story on Walter P. Duffy, see: False Advertising and the Legacy of Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey.
http://sippncorn.blogspot.com/2014/01/false-advertising-and-legacy-of-duffys.html
February, 1942 (Time Machine archive)
(The Salisbury Times)
LOWER SHORE FARMS TO GET CURRENT FEB. 9
Half Of Rural Homes In Area To Get Electricity
More than 50-percent of approximately 1,200 rural homes and farm buildings on the lower Eastern Shore have been wired for electricity and inspected by the Choptank Cooperative in readiness for REA current to be turned on next Monday.
The three switches at power stations on the Eastern Shore at Salisbury, near Princess Anne, and at Airy in Dorchester County will be turned on according to John Warren of Snow Hill, coordinator of the project for the Choptank Cooperative.
Although houses are wired for the current, the system will not be ready for use for the homes for about ten days or two weeks after the current is officially turned on. As soon as the homes are wired, the Choptank Cooperative inspects and approves each job.
Maintenance will be done by the cooperative, which has made arrangements to purchase power from the Eastern Shore Public Service Company.
Rights of way were obtained from all subscribers on the power routes by farmers who volunteered their services in the interest of obtaining power for their communities.
A meeting of the cooperative today in Denton was held to elect officers and make final arrangements for bringing the lower shore unit into the cooperative as a completed project of the Rural Electrification Administration.
November, 1956 (Time Machine archive)
Probably more than a few Pocomoke City residents were planning a visit to Salisbury where 1936 menu prices were being featured during the 20th anniversary celebration at the two English Grills. Menu specials, including all the trimmings, were 50-cent hotcake and sausage breakfast, 60-cent fried chicken lunch, and for dinner $1.25 breaded veal cutlet or local baked rock fish.
Footnote: Salisbury's original English Grill was located on East Main Street. By 1956 there was also the English Grill diner on South Salisbury Boulevard.
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
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)
June, 2002
Somerset Herald (Princess Anne)
(Excerpt)
Getting a high school diploma will be tougher for members of the Class of 2006 who become the first wave of county students being measured by a new curriculum policy that requires more academic credits and tougher courses to graduate.
New requirements in math, science and computer application courses along with more rigorous course offerings in core subjects were approved by the county school board last spring. The policy takes effect in the fall with entering ninth graders.
June, 1962
The Salisbury Times
Snow Hill Chapter Plans Gift To Hospital Here
SNOW HILL - The Snow Hill Chapter of the Junior Auxiliary Board of Peninsula General Hospital is giving the hospital an incubator.
The piece of equipment, to cost $480, is the first gift from the small chapter, which was organized less than four years ago. There are 34 members.
The chapter president, Mrs. Bond Truitt, said the "Womanless Miss America Contest," sponsored by the women in March brought in a net profit of about $600.
"We were all surprised at such a turn-out for the two nights the show was staged in the school auditorium," said Mrs. Truitt.
Since the group organized, the main project has been making Pinky, the clown puppet, for the children who are patients at Peninsula General. Since January they have made 600.
Members voted on the incubator at the chapter's June meeting.
A feature of the meeting was the honoring of Mrs. Paul Cooper, the club's first president and instigator of its organization. Mrs. Cooper has now moved from Snow Hill to Baltimore.
December, 1885
Chicago Daily Tribune
(Excerpts)
PURE MALT WHISKEY
The Only Cure For Consumption.
HIGH MEDICAL AUTHORITY
From The Baltimore "Times"
In addition to the good to be derived from their whiskey for consumption, all wasting diseases and all weak and debilitated conditions, the Duffy Malt Whiskey Company of Baltimore, Md., are furnishing a formula which was prepared for their special use by an eminent German scientist, consisting principally of raw beefsteak, and ingredients which any housekeeper can get and mix, combined with their Pure Malt Whiskey. On the receipt of a two-cent stamp the formula will be sent to all parties using their whiskey, under the seal of the company.
Mr. A. J. Merrill, editor Ledger, Pocomoke City, Md., writes: "I have been using the Duffy Malt Whiskey for two years in my family. I got it originally for a delicate child, then but 3 years old, and which I never expected to be able to raise. Have given the whiskey to the child ever since, and she is today in the best of health and as hearty as any child of her age. I attribute her present good health entirely to your excellent whiskey. My wife uses it for general debility with good results."
Footnote: Numerous comments of praise attributed to physicians were also included. For the full story on Walter P. Duffy, see: False Advertising and the Legacy of Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey.
http://sippncorn.blogspot.com/2014/01/false-advertising-and-legacy-of-duffys.html
February, 1942 (Time Machine archive)
(The Salisbury Times)
LOWER SHORE FARMS TO GET CURRENT FEB. 9
Half Of Rural Homes In Area To Get Electricity
More than 50-percent of approximately 1,200 rural homes and farm buildings on the lower Eastern Shore have been wired for electricity and inspected by the Choptank Cooperative in readiness for REA current to be turned on next Monday.
The three switches at power stations on the Eastern Shore at Salisbury, near Princess Anne, and at Airy in Dorchester County will be turned on according to John Warren of Snow Hill, coordinator of the project for the Choptank Cooperative.
Although houses are wired for the current, the system will not be ready for use for the homes for about ten days or two weeks after the current is officially turned on. As soon as the homes are wired, the Choptank Cooperative inspects and approves each job.
Maintenance will be done by the cooperative, which has made arrangements to purchase power from the Eastern Shore Public Service Company.
Rights of way were obtained from all subscribers on the power routes by farmers who volunteered their services in the interest of obtaining power for their communities.
A meeting of the cooperative today in Denton was held to elect officers and make final arrangements for bringing the lower shore unit into the cooperative as a completed project of the Rural Electrification Administration.
November, 1956 (Time Machine archive)
Probably more than a few Pocomoke City residents were planning a visit to Salisbury where 1936 menu prices were being featured during the 20th anniversary celebration at the two English Grills. Menu specials, including all the trimmings, were 50-cent hotcake and sausage breakfast, 60-cent fried chicken lunch, and for dinner $1.25 breaded veal cutlet or local baked rock fish.
Footnote: Salisbury's original English Grill was located on East Main Street. By 1956 there was also the English Grill diner on South Salisbury Boulevard.
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
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