Pocomoke Mayor & Council - Minutes From Meeting 8/8/11

August 8, 2011

The regular meeting of the Pocomoke Mayor and Council was held in the Council Chambers at City Hall on Tuesday, August 8, 2011. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M.

Present: Mayor Bruce Morrison

Council Members: Tracey Cottman,

Rob Clarke, Diane Downing,

Bob Hawkins, Donald L. Malloy

City Attorney Pete Golba

City Manager Russell W. Blake

City Clerk Carol L. Justice

Review Minutes:

In a motion (Malloy, Hawkins passed), to approve the minutes of July 5, 2011.

Review Bills:

In a motion (Hawkins, Downing passed), the bills presented to be paid. (Copy of bill list attached to original minutes).

Ambulance Department Director Mike Thornton to present twelve month status report:

Director Mike Thornton gave an update on in town and out of town calls and transports to PRMC, McCready, and Atlantic General Hospitals. He stated that the department has seven (7) full time personnel and 40 part-time personnel. The part-time employees are on call as needed to fill in when the staff is on vacation, and they also take second and third run calls. He expressed his gratitude for the new ambulance garage and how much he appreciates it being so close. It makes for quicker response time for the third call.

City Manager Blake stated that the City will get more money this year from the County than last year. He stated that the Ambulance membership renewal notice has gone out and we are receiving membership fees. Also, as of January 2012, the insurance companies will be paying us directly, rather than paying the patients. This is the result of a new state law passed in April 2011.

Mayor Morrison stated that he had met with lower county commissioners about changing the formula on how they pay for each transport because Pocomoke Ambulance Department drives further for a transport to the hospital but receives the same amount of money for each transport as Berlin’s department receives.

Review of bids for Ambulance Department power lift stretcher. (Bid opening 11:00 A.M. August 8, 2011):

City Manager Blake stated that we received two bids: one from Ferno Washington, Inc in the amount of $7,860.50 each and the other from Stryker in the amount of $14,553.34. He suggested that the City purchase two for that price from Ferno because the budget amount was $15,000.

Mr. Thornton stated that this power lift would reduce back injuries and that one person would be able to lift the patient into the ambulance.

Councilwoman Downing stated that the ICS (Integrated Chargins System) was not included and asked if it could be included.

City Manager Blake stated that he would check on it.

In a motion (Malloy, Cottman passed) to purchase two power lift stretchers at a cost of $7,860.50 each for a total cost of $15, 621 from Ferno Washington, Inc.

Res. # 450 to authorize lease purchase from John Deere Inc. for the purchase of aerator with ¾” tine holders and tines. (Budget amount $9,000):

In a motion (Hawkins, Cottman passed) to adopt Resolution #450 as an emergency Resolution to enter into a lease-purchase agreement with John Deere for the purchase of aerator with ¾ “tine holders and tines bid price is $8,759.32. Roll call: Hawkins aye; Downing aye; Malloy aye; Clarke aye; Cottman aye.

Mayor Morrison introduced Congressman Andy Harris of the 1^st District of Maryland.

Congressman Harris spoke briefly concerning Standard and Poor’s down- grading of the U.S. credit status. He stated that it would take years to regain the status back. He stated that he voted against raising the debt ceiling because he didn’t think budget cuts went far enough.

Authorize requests for bids:

1. Police Department building improvements at 1400 Market Street:

City Manager Blake stated that Becker Morgan group has completed the design for the new police building located at 1400 Market Street. If the plans are approved tonight an ad will placed in Sunday’s paper to advertise for bids for renovation.

Councilwoman Cottman asked Chief Ervin if he was pleased with the building improvements as designed.

Chief Ervin stated that he was.

In a motion (Cottman, Downing passed) to begin advertisement for bids to renovate 1400 Market Street for new police building.

2. Supplies for extension of water mains to Water Treatment Plant on Quinn Ave.:

City Manager Blake stated that this extension would be give us an eight (8) inch line that will feed into the water treatment plant. With this improvement, we will be assured that we can always provide water to our customers if another water main should be out of service. The total cost for valve and pipes would be around $18,500.

In a motion (Downing, Hawkins passed) to waive the normal bidding process and take the lowest bid for valves and pipes which would be Dover Plumbing in the amount of $10,153.52 (valves) and Belair Road Supply in the amount of $8,320.00 (pipes).

Authorize City Manager to submit application for Community Parks and Playground (CPP) grant funding. (DNR):

City Manager Blake stated that he would like to submit three CP&P grants this year for golf course improvements to include: paving cart paths #2 and #9; a new maintenance shop; and HVAC for the Log Cabin. The total for this project would be approximately $90,000 and the application is due August 18. The City would need to contribute 10% to 15% if the applications are granted.

In a motion (Malloy, Cottman passed) to authorize City Manager Blake to submit application for Community Parks and Playground funding as proposed.

Housing Repairs/Demolition:

1. Recommended repair or demolish: 705 Second Street, owner Donna Joseph; 523 Young Street, owner Allen B. Blount, Jr; 618 Clarke Ave., owner Joyace Dale.

In a motion (Malloy, Downing passed) to send the owners a notice to repair/demolish these three houses.

2. House previously ordered to be repaired or demolished:

707 Clarke Ave., owner Sodoria Wallop (date June 15, 2010).

In a motion (Hawkins, Cottman passed) to have the house at 707 Clarke Ave burned by the Fire Department or get quotes to demolish the house.

City Manager to discuss recent CDBG grant award for Housing Rehabilitation projects:

City Manager Blake stated that he was happy to announce that the City received a letter from Community Development Block Grant that the City was awarded a $250,000 grant to rehab homes. The City has been participating in this program since 1976.

Authorize Mayor to sign agreement with DDC and UMES:

Mayor Morrison stated that this Letter of Agreement is to transfer the DDC property to UMES. The University of Maryland System Board will meet in late September, and they would like to have an agreement signed so they know that the City is serious about the transfer and willing to work with them.

City Manager Blake stated that this is the preliminary step that will lead to a contract for sale in the future.

In a motion (Hawkins, Downing passed) to authorize Mayor to sign the Letter of Agreement to transfer DDC property to UMES.

Review proposed FY2012 renewal of agreement with Maryland Environmental Services:

City Manager Blake stated that MES is not a state agency but they contract with local governments in monitoring and laboratory services. ECI and City of Cambridge also use MES services. We use them as on-call staff. We ask them for recommendations and rely on them for backup, as necessary.

In a motion (Cottman, Malloy passed) to renew Maryland Environmental Services for FY2012.

Comments from Council:

Councilman Clarke stated that a life ring was missing at the docks, and there are potholes near the curb at 8^th and Cedar Street and at McDonald’s. He also stated that Donna was working with Brian at the Discovery Center with art work on the docks. He would have more on that in the future.

Councilman Malloy stated that Ed Weilbacher received a letter regarding tall grass at a lot on 4^th Street. Mr. Weilbacher Code book states 10 inches, but the letter stated 8 inches as the maximum height.

City Manager Blake stated that the Code was updated recently and changed to 8” maximum..

Councilman Malloy also stated that Chapter 98-2, Maintenance of sidewalk, curb and gutter area states, “property owners, occupants or persons in control of any lot or land located in Pocomoke City shall maintain their respective curb, gutter and sidewalk bordering their parcels of land in such condition as to be clear of all growth of grass and weed within the curb, gutter and sidewalk.” So why is Pocomoke City spending money on weed control?

City Manager Blake stated that over the years the City has taken over that responsibility.

Councilman Clarke stated that the curb and gutter should be taken care of by the City.

City Manager Blake stated that the Code could be revised.

Mayor Morrison asked if someone could call State Highway Administration (SHA) concerning the entrance to our City. The grass and trees need to be taken care of.

Councilwoman Cottman asked about the 8^th Street project concerning the flooding in that area. When was SHA going to have their study completed?

City Manager Blake stated that he will be meeting with the SHA engineer on Thursday of this week.

Comments from the Audience:

Rev. George Tasker asked if sale of DDS to UMES would affect the restaurant.

Mayor Morrison stated that it would not.

Rev. George Tasker thanked the Mayor and Council for their donation to Family Connection and asked how they should go about getting their donation.

Mayor Morrison stated that they would need to send a letter requesting the donation.

Following a motion by Councilwoman Cottman and seconded by Councilman Malloy, the Council voted to meet in a closed session at 8:50 P.M. in the Council Chambers. Present were Mayor Bruce Morrison. Councilman Hawkins, Councilman Clarke, Councilman Malloy, Councilwoman Downing, City Manager Blake, City Attorney Golba, and City Clerk Carol Justice. Personnel issues were discussed.

With no further discussion a motion was made by Councilman Hawkins and seconded by Councilwoman Cottman to adjourn at 9:10 PM

Approved:_________________2011

__________________________________

Carol L. Justice

City Clerk

Michael Vick's Hand Is Bruised NOT Broken

Well now, that's just a big darn shame.  Vick has a boo boo on his paw - I mean hand.  But wait!!  The cry baby thought his non-throwing hand  had been broken! 

That's not all of his woes recently. 

Vick thinks that referees are calling penalties for hits against him differently than they are for the rest of the football league.  Now my guess is that you, Mike Vick,  think those other guys are picking on you.  Bless your heart.  You are out there to play football!  Man up.   Too many hits?The game is tough and if you can't play with the big boys get out of their way. 

Gee, Mr. Big Man,  you weren't thinking a few years ago when those pitbulls   were  fighting and chewing on each other and you were making illegal money.  YOU weren't worried about the pain they endured when you tortured them so they would become mean and gnarl another dog  half to death and until bloodied so you could have the best fighting dogs!   You weren't worried that those poor dogs IN YOUR CARE probably cried all night and slept with one eye open not knowing what was coming next in its horrible life. 

You didn't care that those dogs lived a life of HELL while you lived it up.  And you aren't  the least bit concerned that YOU,  along with  many others,  have given the PITBULL the horrible name it still tries to shed today!

Shame on you Cry Baby!!  Maybe it's your conscience that has you in its grip.  Rightly so.  I sure hope your hand heels.  You might need that hand to wipe yourself the next time someone on the opposing team nails your sorry self!

By The Philadelphia Inquirer and Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick has a deep bone bruise in his right hand, it was revealed Monday.

On Sunday, Vick and Eagles officials thought the hand — his non-throwing hand — was broken.

Vick's status for Sunday's home game against the San Francisco 49ers is uncertain.

"It all remains to be seen. I've got to take it one day at a time and see how everything unfolds," said Vick, his hand wrapped into a thick club. "It's a little sore. It's still swollen, but I think with rehab we'll see how it recovers and how well it gets."

Coach Andy Reid would not say if Vince Young or Mike Kafka would get the start for the Eagles (1-2) if Vick can't play.

"I haven't even gotten there yet. I'm still on the swelling in Michael's hand and if he'll be ready to play," Reid said. "We'll see if we can get the swelling to where it's manageable and his hand where he feels comfortable."

Vick blasted officials after suffering the injury in Sunday's 29-16 loss to the New York Giants, saying he absorbs too many late hits without getting the benefit of roughing-the-passer penalties.

But on Monday, Vick said he is done complaining about officials.

"I was kind of out of character and being too candid in that aspect," Vick said. "Ultimately, I have respect for the referees and their decision to make calls. You won't hear me complaining about it no more."

Source;  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/seahawks/2016328362_nfl27.html

SHORE BEEF AND BBQ

WEDNESDAY SPECIAL

1/2 RACK RIBS W/ SIDE

AND DRINK ~ $9.95

BEGINNING NEXT WEEK:

NEW CHURCH LOCATION HOURS:

THURSDAY, FRIDAY and SATURDAY

11:00 AM until 7:00 PM

SUNDAY

11:00 AM  until  5:00 PM

*~NEW LOCATION~*

Shore Beef and BBQ will be in their new location

in the town of Accomac 

TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY

Hours are:

11 AM  until  6:00 PM

Serving the same great food at both locations!!

Newest Deputies To The Worcester County Sheriff's Office - 2011

If you see these new Deputies be sure to shake their hand and tell them how proud you are!

Great job!!  Good luck!!

The Commissioners welcome the new additions to the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office (from left), Deputies Shane Musgrave, Mark Powell, and Chris Barrs.

All three deputies graduated with top honors in academics, physical fitness and firearms from the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy at Wor-Wic Community College in June 2011.

University of Maryland Launches Bee Hive Project In Cemetary

What a wonderful idea!!

By Timothy B. Wheeler/  The Baltimore Sun

August 2011

An overgrown graveyard downtown, where some of Baltimore's early historical figures rest in walled isolation, buzzes now with new life.

Just inside the locked gate of Old St. Paul's Cemetery on Martin Luther King Boulevard, honeybees zip in and out of a white hive perched on cinder blocks. They flit past weathered headstones for a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the hero of the 1814 defense of Fort McHenry, a Civil War general and other long-gone luminaries.

The hive, put there by staff and students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is one of the latest — and certainly one of the more unusual — installments in the growing pastime of backyard beekeeping.

It's a project of the university's "Wellness Hub," which aims to get students beyond their academic studies to enrich all aspects of their lives. Kate McManus, director of building operations and food service for the downtown campus, said she was inspired to try beekeeping after hearing a longtime apiarist, as they're known, tout the ease with which just about anybody can produce his or her own honey.

"At the end of the lecture," McManus said, "I was like, 'Oh my God, I'm doing that!'"

Honeybees are essential to agriculture, helping to pollinate more than $40 million worth of crops in Maryland alone. But beekeeping as a hobby has grown in popularity as more people get into buying and even growing their own locally produced food.

There are more than 1,500 registered beekeepers statewide, most of them hobbyists, with more than 11,600 colonies in 1,968 locations, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

The beekeeping community in Baltimore City is tiny by comparison, state figures show, with 36 registered keepers of 115 colonies.

While cities might seem odd places to keep bees, apiarists say urban landscapes actually offer plenty of opportunities for the industrious insects to find the nectar and pollen they need to make honey.

"You can get a better yield in the city than you can in the country," said Steve McDaniel, a longtime beekeeper and former president of the Maryland Beekeepers Association whose lecture at the university in February spurred McManus to act.

"The city's got plenty of nectar and pollen because we live in such a dense area and lots of people plant," agreed Meme Thomas, director of Baltimore Honey, a nonprofit collective of urban beekeepers. And bees can find sustenance in the unlikeliest of places — vacant, weedy lots flowering with clover and dandelions.

McDaniel, who lives in Manchester in Carroll County, says he keeps a couple hives downtown so his bees can collect pollen from the basswood trees growing along city streets. That honey has a delicious, lemony flavor, he said.

Shortly after hearing McDaniel talk, McManus started a hive at her home, then recruited students to do it at the cemetery. In May, about 25 students helped assemble and paint two hives to put in the cemetery, next to the medical school and health sciences buildings. They populated the boxes with a pair of bee colonies mail-ordered from Kentucky, but one queen died, prompting a merger under the surviving queen.

That minor setback aside, McManus said getting started was neither expensive nor all that difficult. Hive materials, equipment and bees all cost less than $1,000, she said. And while the graveyard offers plenty of room and even some flowering shrubs, hives really need very little space.

"People can bee-keep anywhere," she said. A rooftop deck or even an apartment balcony will do.

By next year, McManus said, she hopes the hive will have produced enough honey to furnish some for human consumption. Drawer-sized wooden trays added to the hive like layers on a cake can be filled with eight to 12 pounds of the sweet stuff.

Now that classes have resumed at the university, McManus hopes to enlist students in tending to the hive. They don't really require much maintenance, but she says she'd like to use the hive to teach students, faculty and staff that beekeeping is environmentally responsible. The bees pollinate trees, flowers, vegetables and fruits in the neighborhood, and they produce a nutritious food.

Carey Smith, a student in the medical school's public health program, said she's particularly interested in using honey to promote gardening and better diet, especially in poor neighborhoods lacking the food choices of more affluent communities.

Some beekeeping enthusiasts, McManus included, also think locally produced honey should help them with allergies to pollen in their neighborhoods.

"I'm extremely allergic to oak pollen," she said, "and so I'm hoping that next year I take a couple tablespoons of honey every day and I don't have that kind of reaction."

But there's no scientific evidence that honey combats pollen allergies, according to Dr. Alvin Sanico, medical director of Greater Baltimore Medical Center's Asthma Sinus Allergy Program. The pollen most people are allergic to comes from non-flowering trees and grasses, he points out, while bees tend to collect pollen from flowers.

Even if some non-flowering pollen does get picked up and included in the honey, Sanico says, it's too little or variable to be of much help in de-sensitizing someone who might break out in fits of sneezing and wheezing whenever pollen is on the wind. While downing a dose of honey can't hurt and certainly tastes good, the doctor warns allergic people not to substitute it for traditional medical treatment involving shots.

McManus says she hopes the lessons students learn beekeeping will stick with them.

"The mission of the wellness hub," she said, "is to teach students things to take with them after they leave college. It's not just the college experience, the classroom learning, but also these methods of living."

Smith says for now, she'll have to limit her beekeeping to school. Her roommate is very allergic to bee stings, she said. For while honeybees are gentle creatures for the most part, keepers like McManus acknowledge that opening and handling the hives does get you stung now and again.

But there's another intangible benefit to having a beehive in your yard that McManus said she's discovered. "It's kind of like an aquarium outdoors. It's really relaxing sitting there watching all of them. They're very productive little bees."

Source;  http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bs-gr-university-beehive-20110826,0,2863030.story?obref=obnetwork

FALL FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN POCOMOKE CITY - DON'T MISS IT!!

Lots of excitement coming to downtown Pocomoke City!!

All of these activities sound wonderful to me!  I like the idea of a puppy parade, pet costume contest and the remote control airplanes!!

Children's photography sounds like fun too.  And there certainly is alot of sidewalk downtown for sidewalk art!

Be sure you don't miss this!!  Most of the activities are FREE.

OCTOBER 8TH -

MARK IT ON YOUR CALENDAR

There hasn't been a hayride in Pocomoke for years!!!

Sponsorship Needed

Epps Sentenced To 50 Years In Sharone Bailey Murder

Derrick Demond Epps of Exmore was sentenced Friday in Northampton Circuit Court in the murder of Sharone Bailey of Exmore.

Bailey, a well loved and respected mental health worker came home for lunch on July 9, 2010 and was repeatedly stabbed by Epps, who was also her neighbor.  After being stabbed Mrs. Bailey fled to a neighbors home where Epps followed her and stabbed her again.   She died following the attack.  Epps claimed he "heard voices."

Epps was convicted of 1st degree murder and declined a trial by jury.

In his sentencing Epps received 53 years for 1st degree murder, 10 years for breaking and entering and 2 years for assaulting a police officer.  Out of the total of 65 years 15 of them were suspended.

At 38 years of age, Epps will be 88 years old when he is released from prison.

The Rural Sign Painter

I hope no one is giving this guy trouble........

Virginia Aims To Attack Meth Problem

So this is why you can't find name brand over the counter allergy medications anymore.  Gee, now I will have to make an appointment with my doctor - -pay him money to get a prescription.  Hard working and honest people just can't seem to get any relief.

Your next purchase of a popular allergy or cold medicine may be recorded and tracked by computer in an effort to curb illegal methamphetamine production.

Pseudoephedrine, or PSE, found in nonprescription medications such as Sudafed, can be used to make the highly addictive drug methamphetamine, considered a significant problem in the southwestern part of the state.

Medicines with PSE can be sold in Virginia only in limited amounts by purchasers showing identification and who sign for it. But the restrictions can be avoided with fake IDs or by "smurfing" — going from store to store buying legal amounts.

The problem is growing and now the General Assembly's Joint Commission on Health Care and the Virginia State Crime Commission are considering some new steps that include computer-tracking purchases and/or changing state laws.

The reviews were prompted by a bill proposed in 2010 by state Sen. W. Roscoe Reynolds, D-Henry, that would have made PSE available by prescription only. The bill was passed by so the issue could be studied.

Police say methamphetamine can be made by mixing decongestants containing PSE with flammable and toxic chemicals in small laboratories — and even in large plastic drink bottles in a dangerous process dubbed "shake and bake."

According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, two states — Oregon and Mississippi — now require a prescription for PSE medications while 17 others have adopted a real-time, statewide electronic system to track non-prescription PSE purchases and block purchases that exceed legal limits.

The system, called the National Precursor Log Exchange, or NPLEx, is paid for by the pharmaceutical industry, which sees it as a better alternative than making the medications available to consumers by prescription only.

Each purchase is recorded, and the NPLEx data is said to be confidential and accessible only to law enforcement.

After listening to a presentation on the PSE issue last week, Crime Commission members did not express an interest in making medicines with PSE prescription drugs.

However, the commission staff was told to study NPLEx and to find out how popular PSE drugs are in the state. The joint commission on health care may back a particular approach to the problem at its November meeting.

Del. Terry G. Kilgore, R-Wise, and a member of the crime commission, said Wednesday, "There's a lot of things we need to look at."

"A bunch of us legislators from the Southwest met with the state police and it's really picking up and it's really become a problem — especially this shake and bake," he said.

* * * * *

According to Virginia State Police figures, of the 34,168 drug arrests across the state in 2010, just 487 were for meth or amphetamines.

But the state police say the number of meth lab incidents (lab seizures or the finding of dump sites, chemicals and equipment) rose statewide from 53 in 2005 to 158 so far this year — with 152 of them in Southwest Virginia.

"Meth is a significant problem, especially in the far Southwest," said James R. Gregorius, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Richmond office.

And it's also a growing problem, he said, "because of the advent of these small, clandestine labs. The number of (lab) seizures have tripled in the last two years. They call them a lab, and they are, but some of them are literally in a two-liter Coke bottle."

Michele Chesser, a health policy analyst with the joint commission on health care, told the Crime Commission last week that most meth is manufactured in Mexico. But, she said, small-scale production is increasing in Virginia.

Chesser said a box of 24-hour allergy medicine can yield 3.6 grams of PSE and that 10 grams of PSE can yield 6 to 8 grams of meth.

Federal law bars selling or buying more than 3.6 grams of PSE per day or 9 grams a month to the same person. State law bars buying more than 3.6 grams per day, but not more than 9 grams per month.

Most of the PSE used in small meth labs is obtained by people using fake IDs or by "smurfing," Chesser said. She said it is difficult to prosecute purchasers using fake IDs or "smurfers" for the possession of PSE with the intent to manufacture meth.

Changes under consideration by the joint commission on health care include making it illegal to: purchase PSE beyond certain amounts; to possess or acquire more than 9 grams of PSE in a 30-day period; or to acquire PSE by fraud, deceit or forgery.

The propriety of making it a prescription drug in Virginia has been called into question by the attorney general's office.

Source;  http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/sep/25/tdmain01-va-aims-to-attack-meth-problem-ar-1334850/?sc_cid=RTD-NEWS-7amDlyNews

Doctors Warn Against Eating Wild Mushrooms

  These mushrooms seem to be in every yard lately so I've  been doing a little reading about the "death cap" mushroom.  It seems this same type of  mushroom  last year even killed large dogs that ate them.  So, based on that and because you don't have to tell me twice something is poisonous, I won't even touch them!  Thank goodness we don't have many that have popped up in our yard. 

They're cute.  Sometimes there  is one alone and sometimes they seem to grow in a cluster.  They come in all shapes, sizes and colors.  Even so I would NOT let my dog go near them NOR any children.  Play it safe and just avoid them!

Washington AP— Mushrooms are sprouting up everywhere after recent rainy weather, but doctors at Georgetown University are warning against eating them after treating two men fell dangerously ill from toxic mushrooms in the last two weeks.

Frank Constantinopla and his wife picked mushrooms from their backyard in Springfield, Va., to cook in a stir fry. Within hours of eating the fungi known as "death cap" mushrooms, they felt sick. His symptoms were worse and within days, he was suffering from the early stages of liver failure.
One week later, a retired farmer from Frederick, Md., fell ill with mushroom toxicity. Doctors were able to use a drug that's undergoing clinical trials and now both men are recovering.

Doctor say people should buy their mushrooms from legitimate farms or grocery stores.

Source;  http://www.wtkr.com/news/sns-ap-dc--dangerousmushrooms,0,6175615.story

Poker Run To Benefit Courtney Bloxom

2nd ANNUAL COURTNEY BLOXOM POKER RUN
Saturday, October 1,  2011

11:30am - 2:30pm
CYCLE CREATIONS

NEW CHURCH VA

NO BIKE ?  NO WORRIES  ~
 COME OUT GRAB SOME FOOD ~ 
 HANG OUT  AND JUST HAVE FUN

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

SIGN UPS FOR THE RUN WILL START @
11:30 AM TILL 1:30PM .

FIRST BIKE OUT WILL BE AT 12:00PM

WITH THE LAST BIKE IN AT 4:30 PM.

 PIG ROAST WITH ALL THE FIXINGS.

LIVE MUSIC

A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

 WITH $100 TO THE WINNERS

50/50 

 $100 FOR THE BEST HAND ON THE RUN

THE COST FOR A RIDER WILL BE $10
PASSENGER WILL BE $5
EXTRA CARD $5

PIG ROAST $1O

$2 BEER ALL DAY/NIGHT
More to come..............

As always, please keep Courtney and her family in your prayers....................

Problems Commenting?

Is anyone having problems leaving a comment? If so please let us know @

• bwbw@hughes.net
• pcitypubliceye@gmail.com 

We have opened the comments up to non-moderated to see if that fixes this problem, the downside of that is we had to enable the word verification which will add that one little extra step to leave a comment but without the word verification we'd get swamped with spam.

Please bare with us until we get this figured out.

Thanks

TIME MACHINE ... Electricity!

(Excuse the "shocking" pun on this week's previews. No, not any shocking revelations today but items that all deal with electricity! Hope you'll find them of interest.)

　

February, 1942

(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.　

　

July, 1944

(Eastern Shore Public Service Ad)

The question most frequently asked about extending electric service to the farm is "How much will it cost to have a line extended to me?"

Our new rural line plan offers an easy solution to this problem because most farms can be connected without any expenditure on the part of the farmer for the electric lines. This plan includes not only the electric line along the county road, but also the line running into the farm.

Temporary wartime restrictions may delay the construction of some lines, but we are ready now to estimate your needs and contract for your requirements. If you are interested in having electric service on your farm, we shall be happy to talk with you. Just give us a call or drop a penny postcard to Ready Killowatt, Box 391, Salisbury, Md., and say "I am interested in getting electricity to my farm."　

　

Anyone know when electricity first came to Pocomoke City? Perhaps it was around the same time as nearby neighbor Snow Hill.

December, 1887

(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.

　　

March, 1970

One of Pocomoke City's long standing buildings, which in earlier times had housed the town's ice and electric company, was demolished. The Maple Street building had been built around 1910.　

　

ACROSS THE USA

August, 1885

(The Wellsboro Agitator- Wellsboro, Pa.)

SCIENCE AND PROGRESS

Good For Hot Weather

(Excerpts)

An electric lamp manufacturing firm has recently invented something quite new. It is an electric fan. Upon the top (...like an ordinary lamp pedestol about a foot high) is mounted a screw propeller fan. The standard is of wood or other non-conducting material, with wires running up through the middle. When the connection is made, the fan begins to revolve rapidly.

The battery is contained in a little box about four to five inches square. It holds material to generate electricity enough to turn the fan several hours. The fan is fixed upon a hinge so it can be set at any desired angle, thus changing its direction. Clockwork fans are not uncommon. In large factories, where large number of men are crowded together in hot rooms, large revolving wooden fans are attached to the machinery and worked by steam. But this neat little electric arrangement seems an improvement on any other plan that has yet been tried.

　

November, 1905

(The Anaconda Standard)

NEW ELECTRIC REFRIGERATOR

Latest Labor Saving Invasion In The Cooks Domain- Economy Of Time Accomplished

"A newer application of electricity to household uses is the electric refrigerator," says a writer on "The Electric Housekeeper" in the Technical World Magazine.

"Heretofore the difficulty has been to make a practical apparatus small enough for use in the average household. An electric machine which will furnish refrigeration equivalent to that supplied by 800 pounds of ice has been on the market for some time and shows a saving of 50 per cent over the ice-cooler apparatus. Now, it is claimed, a smaller electric refrigerator is about ready for general introduction, which will take the place of ice boxes which now use 100 pounds daily. It will show a considerable saving over the cost of ice and will do away with the uncleanliness, odor, and general sloppiness which too often make the ordinary ice box a nuisance. The new machine will be arranged so that when the desired degree of cold is reached the electric current will automatically shut off, to be turned on again in the same way when the temperature rises above a certain point."

　　

December, 1905

(The New York Times)

THE ELECTRIC DINNER NOW

Viands Cooked on Electric Range or Frozen to Order.

An electric heating company gave an exhibition last evening in its booth at the electrical show in Madison Square Garden of what can be done in a kitchen with electricity. An elaborate dinner was served, all cooked and prepared on an electric range. A special arrangement of the meter recorded the moderate amount of electricity used in cooking the meal.

Not only were hot viands prepared, but dishes which should be served cold were cooled in an electric refrigerator.

Footnote: "viands - articles or dishes of food, now usually of a choice or delicate kind."

　

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!

Structure Fire Friday Night

You have to know that fire departments, along with any organization that protects and serves communities, are very special to me.  I appreciate everything they do and I admire their dedication....every ounce of it.  And I don't think that any of them could  ever be recognized enough.

Friday night not far from my own home four fire departments were called to a structure fire on Saxis Road.  Every single person that lives around here KNOWS this  house.  I have been told that years ago it was a country store but more recently the house has been used for seasonal  farm workers that move into the area for just a few weeks then leave.

The yard is always maintained.  The house has siding on it.  It is NOT an eyesore in the community compared to some we have to see.

But for some reason on Friday evening of September 23, 2011 some low living creature decided to burn this home.

Now, this really jerks my chain!  Men and women were called to duty - dropping what they were doing for the evening - to fight a fire started by someone that doesn't give a darn or just wanted to see something burn...........

That's called -ARSON- 



Photo/ easternshorefire.com



Photo/easternshorefire.com

Here's what I'd like to know...........Do they have any idea who did this?  What was used to start this fire?  Has the person/s been arrested?  Just how safe are the other unoccupied homes in this area?

 I took these photos the next day....
This is the aftermath - all created because someone had NO regard for property owned by someone else.....  NOR the fact that the brave, unselfish men and women of our community had to put their personal lives on hold to take care of mess that was caused by someone whose life is probably a mess.

This structure is located on the corner of Jenkins Bridge Road and Saxis Road.  The wonderful fire departments that responded were from the fire departments of Saxis, Bloxom, Atlantic and New Church.  All wonderful fire departments manned with all volunteers that extinguished the fire within a short period of time but remained on the scene for several hours to assist in "overhaul and investigation".  The investigation is being handled by Virginia State Police Investigator Neal.

For the peace of mind in the community I sincerely hope this 'firebug' is nabbed before he/they have the chance to destroy something else..... that belongs to someone else.... and before someone gets injured. 

The UARS Has Fallen Back To Earth

It seems the dreaded satellite no longer needed  by NASA has fallen to the Earth. 


I awoke in the middle of the night a few nights ago to a humming in the sky and my first thought was this research satellite (as BIG as a bus) was heading towards my yard.  Then I remembered I was a day early in my thoughts and figured then it must have just been an alien saucer landing and leaving a fresh supply of mosquitoes.  I would deal with that later in the morning and fell back to sleep.


People were worried sick about the landing location of this mass and I have to admit I may have been more concerned if  I had seen Chicken Little being interviewed on CNN.


You can  remove your hard hats now.  You can walk into the street and your own backyards.  It's not here. 


And I must admit that if I had known about this 14 years ago I had forgotten it.  That's why I don't work for NASA.  I would have forgotten about it........besides what did we learn about chemicals in atmosphere?


Here's a release from NASA that's pretty interesting.......  Read it and find out exactly where "the bus" did land...........

NASA's UARS Re-Enters Earth's Atmosphere

WASHINGTON – NASA’s decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) fell back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 23 and 1:09 a.m. Sept. 24, 20 years and nine days after its launch on a 14-year mission that produced some of the first long-term records of chemicals in the atmosphere.


The precise re-entry time and location of debris impacts have not been determined. During the re-entry period, the satellite passed from the east coast of Africa over the Indian Ocean, then the Pacific Ocean, then across northern Canada, then across the northern Atlantic Ocean, to a point over West Africa. The vast majority of the orbital transit was over water, with some flight over northern Canada and West Africa.


Six years after the end of its productive scientific life, UARS broke into pieces during re-entry, and most of it up burned in the atmosphere. Data indicates the satellite likely broke apart and landed in the Pacific Ocean far off the U.S. coast. Twenty-six satellite components, weighing a total of about 1,200 pounds, could have survived the fiery re-entry and reach the surface of Earth. However, NASA is not aware of any reports of injury or property damage.


The Operations Center for JFCC-Space, the Joint Functional Component Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., which works around the clock detecting, identifying and tracking all man-made objects in Earth orbit, tracked the movements of UARS through the satellite’s final orbits and provided confirmation of re-entry.

“We extend our appreciation to the Joint Space Operations Center for monitoring UARS not only this past week but also throughout its entire 20 years on orbit,” said Nick Johnson, NASA’s chief scientist for orbital debris, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This was not an easy re-entry to predict because of the natural forces acting on the satellite as its orbit decayed. Space-faring nations around the world also were monitoring the satellite’s descent in the last two hours and all the predictions were well within the range estimated by JSpOC.”

UARS was launched Sept. 12, 1991, aboard space shuttle mission STS-48 and deployed on Sept. 15, 1991. It was the first multi-instrumented satellite to observe numerous chemical components of the atmosphere for better understanding of photochemistry. UARS data marked the beginning of many long-term records for key chemicals in the atmosphere. The satellite also provided key data on the amount of light that comes from the sun at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. UARS ceased its scientific life in 2005.


Because of the satellite's orbit, any surviving components of UARS should have landed within a zone between 57 degrees north latitude and 57 degrees south latitude. It is impossible to pinpoint just where in that zone the debris landed, but NASA estimates the debris footprint to be about 500 miles long.


For more information about UARS, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/uars/index.html

TIME MACHINE Preview ... Shocking?

Remember to take a look at the TIME MACHINE tomorrow on the Pocomoke Public Eye!

Some potentially shocking items this week??



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!