Reading A Christmas Tradition

Yes, Virginia

There Is A Santa Claus

Newsman Francis
Pharcellus Church
wrote the Sun's
response






Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

 Virginia O'Hanlon  "DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. "Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. "Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.' "Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? "VIRGINIA O'HANLON. "115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET." VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. Source; http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/

TIME MACHINE Preview ... Holiday Time

This week a few holiday-related items and a preview of an upcoming 1897 article about Christmas Eve.

Check for the TIME MACHINE every Sunday on 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. 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!

Pocomoke Trucking Business Celebrates 70 Years On The Road

DID YOU KNOW THIS?

Rantz Trucking Company moved it's first trailer load on December 10,  1941.

Seventy years in the trucking business thanks to Jim

and Kenny Rantz.

Rantz Trucking Company has always been located in Pocomoke City, Maryland and is owned and operated today by KW Rantz.

Congratulations on 70 years in business and may you have many more! 

KEEP ON TRUCKIN'  !

Do You Have A Unique Christmas Tradition?

Here's a chance to win something for yourself just in time for the holidays!

COUNTRY BLOSSOMS is having a "Unique Christmas Tradition" Contest.

All you have to do is write down what Christmas tradition you have  that is the most unique and submit  it to Country Blossoms.

How difficult is that?!
So get going. 

The prize is a Christmas centerpiece and a $25.00 gift certificate! 

Send your unique Christmas tradition to Country Blossoms via their facebook page (see COUNTRY BLOSSOMS)  or hand deliver/ mail to:
Country Blossoms
130 Newtown Blvd.
Pocomoke City, MD.  21851

GOOD LUCK! 

Md. Police Chief Moves Big Ideas To Smaller City

Pocomoke City Police Chief Kelvin Sewell
Daily Times Photo

POCOMOKE CITY - Kelvin Sewell, in his time as a homicide detective in the Baltimore Police Department, was often confronted with murderers who cared not a whit about what he wanted, which was a confession -- or at least a lead.

Time after time, suspect after suspect: "We're at an impasse. He's slouching back in his chair," Sewell recounts in his book, "Why Do We Kill?: The Pathology of Murder in Baltimore," co-written with a reporter and published this year, after he'd left the force. "I'm asking questions that he's not answering, at least not truthfully. He's tough, stubborn; he's not afraid of me."

He had to devise a tactic to break the mental wall, and what he says he came up with is completely counterintuitive. " 'If you're so tough,' I say, 'recite the alphabet.' " They never see that query coming, he says; and it turns out every suspect he's asked to do this could not accomplish the task. "Even if I offered them straight-up immunity," he writes, "they could not string together the 26 letters that comprise the English language." The suspect is now off-guard, and the interrogation begins in earnest.

That's a stirring example of creativity in policing. Why bring it up? Because Sewell is the new police chief of Pocomoke City, a municipality less than 1 percent of Baltimore's size. He had been working in a leadership position for the Pocomoke Police Department for a year when, upon the retirement of Chief J.D. Ervin, he was tapped to take the chief's seat.

Sewell tells us he's thrilled to have the position, and loves living on the Eastern Shore. About people there, he said in an interview, "they wave to you. They say 'Hi,' even in their cars. You wave to somebody in Baltimore City, you might get shot."

And he intends to put in practice policing techniques he wishes had been deployed in Baltimore but weren't because of hidebound bureaucracy and -- he is blunt about this, in the book -- simple incompetence and lack of effort, on the part of both politicians and police officers. He acknowledges that some parts of the city see more drug sales than others, and he's putting more patrols in those places.

Source;  http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20111205/NEWS/112050332/Md-police-chief-moves-big-ideas-smaller-city

Chief Sewell has been the police chief of Pocomoke City for a week now and I've been wondering all week what he thinks about the peace and quiet in Pocomoke compared to the turmoil in the city. I spent almost a week there last winter and found within a couple of days and nights that Baltimore is NOTHING like home. Such a beautiful city, filled with things to see and do but I could not live there and quite frankly, I don't know how a dear family member of mine has lived there all these years and loves it.
　
　I couldn't help but notice that he has already put his policing techniques in place by reintroducing the bike patrol.
Maybe it has always been there and I just have not seen it recently but it is a great deterrent for crime.  Looking forward to any changes that may continue to keep Pocomoke City a safe place to live and shop.


Good luck to you, Chief Sewell. I am sure you will enjoy the Pocomoke area and find the people of Pocomoke
to be quite helpful.... and compared to Baltimore City - it's quiet!
(I also asked Santa to bring me a copy of your book)

THANK YOU TO OUR MILITARY..... PEARL HARBOR DAY

PEARL HARBOR

DECEMBER 7, 1941

70 YEARS

WE WILL NEVER FORGET
AND SHALL ALWAYS REMAIN GRATEFUL.

Thank you to each one of you.......

ACTIVE

Richard C. Brown, Jr., Air Force

Jacob Gibbons, SSgt. Air Force

Veterans

Lt.Col. Carlyle S. Harris, Air Force - Viet Nam POW


Jeremy W. Doyle, Army,  Scout Battalion 69th  Armor Regiment-
On second tour -Operation Iraqi Freedon -  KIA


David Greene, Air Force



Patrick A. Dize, Navy



Richard S.  (Steve) Lawrence, Army, VietNam



Rick Choquette, Army

Bruce Glenn Merritt, Jr.,  Navy
Here's what his mom had to say about him:
 ("MT2/E5/SS He served on the USS Kamehameha and the West Virginia from 1990-1994.

Those that might not know the navy meaning of the above they stand for missile technician, second class, E5 pay grade, sub surface qualified.

Both submarines were nuclear....the big ones. He has seen parts of the world we will never see, including Scotland! He was so young and did an amazing job! We will always be proud of him and thank him for his service to our country.")

Roy Woodrow Wilkins, Navy



James Walter  Morris, Navy



Orland E. Howard, Marines, Korean Conflict



Buddy Hughes, Army, Korea



William Byron Schoolfield, Navy, WWII Pacific Theater



Byron Dorsey Schoolfield, Army WWI

Jack Sipilia, WWII, Navy (Retired)

Billy Hall, Army, Vietnam (Deceased)

James W. Maddox, WWII, Army (Deceased)

Art Sexton, Corporal, Marines, Vietnam



John Carey, Rank E-4, Airforce

Richard  Hitchens, Army and National Guard, 1st Sergeant, Vietnam, Afganistan (40 yrs. later)

Larry Fykes, Coast Guard, Senior Chief, Desert Storm, Operation Iraq, Deep Water Horizon (Katrina)

Lawrence Tull, Airforce, Captain

Kenneth Tull, Airforce, A2c

James B. Maddox, Army National Guard, Vietnam and Desert Storm

Jason Harris, Airforce, 167 AW, Kuwait

Larry Wood, Navy

Paul Hill, Navy, Chief, WWII



Michael Hill, Navy

William Byrd, III Cpl E4, First Marine Brigade, Vietnam

Michael Coutu, Navy AZ3 (SCW)



Nicholas Jones, Marines, PFC

Cornell Ginn, Air Force, Master Sgt. E-7 Veteran of Foreign Wars

This is just a start.  There are so many more names out there.............PLEASE send them to me.  Help me keep this list of names of our brave American men and women growing  so everyone will know who they are and how proud we are. 

Please fly your flags and yellow ribbons!  Let the active military know they are in our hearts and NOT forgotten.

NEVER STOP REMEMBERING

Pocomoke Elementary School Named National Title I Distinguished School 2011-2012

WMDT

POCOMOKE, Md. - Two Maryland elementary schools have been named National Title I Distinguished Schools for the 2011-2012 school year, including one right here on the Eastern Shore. Pocomoke Elementary School in Worcester County and Sandalwood Elementary School in Baltimore County are among the Title I schools from across the U.S. that will be honored by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of State Title I Directors in a special ceremony in Seattle, Washington, this coming January.

The Maryland State Board of Education added their congratulations during today's Board meeting. Local educators shared information about their schools during the meeting.

"Pocomoke and Sandalwood have placed an emphasis on strengthened instruction that has really paid off for their students," said Interim State Superintendent of Schools Bernard Sadusky.  "The students, teachers, and administrators at these schools deserve the national recognition they are receiving."

Title I is the largest federal aid program in K-12 education. Schools use Title I funds to improve the education of all students in high poverty areas. MSDE administers Maryland's Title I program and nominated the two schools after a thorough review of student achievement data based on the Maryland School Assessments.

Pocomoke Elementary in Pocomoke City scored the highest in Category 1-exceptional student performance for two or more consecutive years.  The school serves a diverse population of 402 students, benefiting from a supportive school community, strong data collection and analysis, and a vibrant character education program.

Sandalwood Elementary in the Essex area of Baltimore County scored the highest in Category 2-closing the achievement gap between student groups. Sandalwood serves 520 students that include a wide array of populations, including English Language Learners (11 percent of the population). The staff benefits from a variety of professional development opportunities.

Source;  http://www.wmdt.com/story/16201667/pocomoke-elementary-named-title-1

Saxis and Willis Wharf Post Offices May Close

The United States Postal Service is expected to announce that two Eastern Shore post offices will close in the latest round of facility closings.

Saxis and Willis Wharf are on the list. Residents of those towns will receive their mail via letter carrier.


The Postal Service will also close a large mail sorting center in Norfolk. Letters from the tidewater area and the Eastern Shore will travel to Richmond for sorting before being sent back.


The Postal Service will close over 3700 facilities country wide as it fights to remain solvent. No US Government funds are used and the USPS must survive on revenue generated by postage sent.


The rapid increase in emails, and other social media have resulted in a drop in postal traffic nationwide.


It may also take another day for a first class letter to reach it's destination. As of now, most first class letters reach their recipients in one to two days. That may become two to three days. The postal service is also considering stopping mail delivery on Saturdays.

Source; shoredailynews.com

Parksley To Sponsor 1st Annual Parksley Night Out

The Greater Parksley Association will sponsor a unique shopping experience when they host the

1st Annual Parksley Night Out,

Thursday December 8

 The doors open at 6PM and the shows begin at 7PM.


The event will feature fashion shows from four local stores, Designer Discount, Kokoon, Jaxons and Russell Formal and Bridal.


Over 20 other merchants will participate.

Selected gifts will be wrapped and delivered anywhere on the Eastern Shore of Virginia free on December 22 and 23.


In addition Bloxom will host Santa at 10:00 AM Saturday. Santa will arrive by a fire truck provided by the Bloxom Fire Company which will also cruise through Hallwood and will bring Santa back to Bloxom.

Children can see Santa at the new Bloxom Fire House @ 1:00 PM.

 Hot dogs, soda, cookies, coffee and hot chocolate will be provided by the Town and the Fire Department.

SHORE BEEF and BBQ

HELP SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY SPECIAL

Beef Brisket Sandwich w/side

Drink ~ $7.50

REMINDER:

Catering is available for holiday parties and dates are booking up fast.

To have your event/party catered by Shore Beef and BBQ call

757-824-0009

Annual Breakfast With Santa~ Atlantic Fire House

ATLANTIC VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE COMPANY

COME JOIN THE FUN!

Saturday December 17, 2011

7am to 11am

  MENU- Eggs, Scrapple, Sausage, Pancakes, Juice, Coffee, Milk

$6 for Adults & $3 kids age 6 & under.

BAKE SALE ~

CARRYOUTS AVAILABLE

After breakfast have your photo taken with Santa Claus
4x6 Digital Photo w/Santa $3

 For more info:757-824-4844

Multiple Vehicle Fires In Pocomoke

From Worcester County Fire Marshall's Office
By Robert Corb, Jr.

On December 4, 2011 at approximately 11:53 pm the Pocomoke Volunteer Fire Company responded to Eddies Auto Repair located at 1101B Market Street in Pocomoke City for multiple vehicles on fire.

Upon arrival crews observed three passenger cars involved in fire. Crews quickly extinguished the fires. It was determined the fires were intentionally set or arson.

 Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Deputy Robert Korb, Jr. at 410-632-5666 or the Maryland Arson Hotline at 800-492-7592, you can remain anonymous. 

Family Cat Still Missing

STILL MISSING

Answers to the name of SHADOW

Black cat currently wearing no collar due to a skin disorder.

Missing from the POCOMOKE HEIGHTS -

PAYNE AVENUE AREA

Be advised that SHADOW takes daily medication for a skin disorder AND SEIZURES.

Family has looked for him and has found no sign of him.

If YOU have seen him or have any information at all

PLEASE call 757-999-1041
Shadow is missed very much by his human family............

Chincoteague Christmas Parade Winners

CHINCOTEAGUE CHRISTMAS PARADE

WINNERS

The annual Chincoteague Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade  was held Saturday night December 3, 2011.

 This year's winners are as follows:


In the commercial category the winners were:
First place- Lowes of Pocomoke
Second Place- The Chincoteague Center.


In Non Commercial
First Place - Union Baptist Church 
 Second Place - Acts, the Apostolic Church.


In Junior Marching Units, 18 and under,
Cub Scout Pack 323 winner  (only entry)


In Senior Marching Units - YMCA Zumba Class.


  Marching Bands-
The Pocomoke High School Band  first place
The Northampton High marching Yellow Jackets  second


 Decorated Boats -Chincoteague High's class of 2014 were winners followed by Girl Scout Cadette Troop 1083.


 Equestrian Entries
The Chincoteague Pony Drill Team first place
Hoof Beats by the beach 4H Club - second place


Miscellaneous  
The Chincoteague American Legion Riders first place
 Kevin Liddle Sr. -  second 1969 Camero


The Judge's Award for Best in Show - Union Baptist Church.


Fire Company Categories 
 First place for most men in line went to Parksley
Atlantic Fire and Rescue - second place


 Most Equipment -Parksley  Fire Company-first.


 Oldest Moterized Equipment
Atlantic Vol. Fire and Rescue

In the Non Motorized Category
 Princess Ann Vol Fire Company


Seaford Vol Fire Dept  longest distance traveled award 

Best Company Overall  
Powellville VFC.

Delmarva Discovery Center - Saturday

Winter Watermen's Festival

Delmarva Discovery Center

December 10th

10 AM to 4 PM

Join the Delmarva Discovery Center for our 2nd annual Winter Watermen's Festival. The Winter Watermen's Festival is a celebration of our Delmarva heritage.

Local watermen will share their stories

from 11 AM - 1 PM.

We'll have delicious food samples from local favorites such as Bill's Seafood, Watermen's Inn, the Upper Deck, Don's Seafood & Chicken House, the Crusty Crab, and Bay Queen Galley. Local artists will be displaying and selling their work as well! 

 New to the Festival are wine from Bishop's Stock and beer from Burley Oak Brewery!

This is the perfect time for holiday shopping and celebrating Delmarva!

Don't miss out! 

Event is free with paid admission.

"Old Fashioned Christmas Evening" In Pocomoke City Part 3

"Old Fashioned Christmas Evening"

Nighttime festivities on the Eastern Shore are risky.  There's always the chance of wind or rain and sometimes snow.  Pocomoke City was blessed this year.  The Monday night annual Christmas Parade had the best weather it's had for a night parade in quite a while.  Friday night was perfect for an outdoor celebration.  There was no wind, no threat of rain.  A  completely clear  and still night for this occasion. 




Pocomoke City Mayor Bruce Morrison with wife Laura

 Seems like the simplest of ideas become the most magnificent occasions.  Mayor Morrison took a simple idea and the merchants said "Let's try it."  For over 20 years I worked full time at a local business downtown
and have find memories of wonderful things happening.  But there was never anything like this.


And it isn't my imagination that downtown Pocomoke is ALIVE!  For the first time in what I believe to be a long time the merchants are working together, there's more downtown to do and in case you haven't noticed there are new businesses downtown.




Greg Frostrom and wife Susan



City Manager Russ Blake enjoys conversation with
two Pocomoke City Police Officers





Mike Dean- Pocomoke Fire Fighter,
Member of  Delmarva Fireman's Assoc.
Hall of Fame and Funeral Director





 Great hat, Mike!

 







George Glovier with Mayor Bruce Morrison

Not only is this a business owner and the other the Mayor but these two guys are classmates of mine and good friends.  Who would have thought on graduation night many years ago  that so many of us would be together to help promote the businesses downtown?

And speaking of businesses.....

City Councilman Don Malloy (right) has conversation with Barry Wise the Warehouse Manager of Fuzion  a new business to the area  located in the Industrial Park.                   

                   

An evening of Christmas celebrations could never be complete without Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

They were the real Santa and Mrs Claus, that's for sure!  The children loved them and Santa had a busy knee

for quite a while.

Hope every child young or old told Santa what was on their list for Christmas this year.

To the right is Mrs. Anne Glovier. She has been a true asset and real "doer" in the Pocomoke community.

It is always a real treat to see and talk with her.  Whatever she told Santa she wanted for Christmas I hope she receives.  She is deserving of it.

                       

By this time it was close to 7:30 PM and time for the lighting of the first "Old Fashioned Christmas Evening" christmas tree.


The crowd counted down to 10 and with the flip of a switch
the tree came to life!

Raffle tickets were being sold Friday night for this handmade quilt.  The blocks were signed by friends and family, along with a donation to support the city's revitalization  effort.  Tickets for this quilt were also sold at The Enchanted Florist downtown.

Robinanne  Condon at Robinanne's  Quilting Service, with the helping hands from assistants,  created the masterpiece.

It was the Mayor's last task of the evening to draw the name of the lucky  winner in the Quilt Raffle.  (I was hoping it was me)

The winner of the handmade quilte from Robinanne's Quilting Service was Ed Weilbacher!

 

This was quite an evening and an Pocomoke event to remember.  The hard work poured into making this one night such a success was witnessed by the many.  I'm almost certain there will be a repeat. 

 

Businesses working together to revitalize downtown Pocomoke.  It's working.... and it shows!

 

Remember to visit downtown Pocomoke when doing your Christmas shopping - or any shopping-

 

The merchants are friendly and can suggest something for anyone on your Christmas list.   Gift Certificates are always nice choice and any of the business owners will be more that happy to help you with that.

 

~MERRY CHRISTMAS~

 



Mayor and Council Meeting- Revised Agenda

R E V I S E D    A G E N D A

POCOMOKE CITY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

7:30 p.m., Monday, December 5, 2011

City Hall

1. Call to Order, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Moment of Silence in memory of former Council member Robert Hawkins.
3. Review and approval of minutes from meeting of November 7, 2011. 
4. Review and approval of bills to be paid. 
5. Mayor Morrison to introduce new Police Chief  Kelvin Sewell and to present badge and pins. 
6. Chief Sewell to introduce new Police Officer Aaron Perkins. 
7. Rev. Isaac Jenkins to discuss “Save the Youth”. 
8. First Reading of Ord. No. 408 to authorize a new franchise agreement with Comcast Cable, Inc. for Cable TV, Internet and other services. 
9. Discuss letter from Planning and Zoning Commission recommending annexation of property at 1139 Ocean Highway.  (owner, Dr. Leroy Johnson) 
10. Discuss letter from Worcester County Commissioners concerning possible appointment to Solid Waste Advisory Committee.
11. City Manager to present status report concerning Pocomoke City Salvation Army Youth Club. 
12. Discuss possible appointments to various City boards and commissions.

Comments from the Audience.

Mayor and Council Items.

Adjourn to Executive Session to discuss personnel, real estate, and legal matters as permitted under the provisions of Sec. 10-508 (A), (1), (7), (8) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and to perform executive actions.

AGENDAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL THE TIME OF CONVENING.

Mayor and Council Meeting This Evening

A G E N D A

POCOMOKE CITY MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

7:30 p.m., Monday, December 5, 2011

City Hall

 1. Call to Order, Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.



2. Review and approval of minutes from meeting of November 7, 2011.



3. Review and approval of bills to be paid.



4. Mayor Morrison to swear in Capt. Kelvin Sewell as Chief of the Pocomoke City Police Department.



5. Chief Sewell to introduce new Police Officer Aaron Perkins.



 6. First Reading of Ord. No. 408 to authorize a new franchise agreement with Comcast Cable, Inc. for Cable TV, Internet and other services.



 7. Discuss letter from Planning and Zoning Commission recommending annexation of property at 1139 Ocean Highway.  (owner, Dr. Leroy Johnson)



 8. Discuss letter from Worcester County Commissioners concerning possible appointment to Solid Waste Advisory Committee.



9. City Manager to present status report concerning Pocomoke City Salvation Army Youth Club.



 10. Discuss possible appointments to various City boards and commissions.



Comments from the Audience.

Mayor and Council Items.

Adjourn to Executive Session to discuss personnel, real estate, and legal matters as permitted under the provisions of Sec. 10-508 (A), (1), (7), (8) of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland and to perform executive actions.

AGENDAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE UNTIL THE TIME OF CONVENING.

Family Pet STILL MISSING

STILL MISSING

Black cat currently wearing no collar due to a skin disorder.

His name is SHADOW

　
He is missing from the POCOMOKE HEIGHTS -

PAYNE AVENUE AREA

Be advised that SHADOW takes daily medication for a skin disorder AND SEIZURES.

Family has looked for him and has found no sign of him.

If YOU have seen him or have any information at all

 PLEASE call 757-999-1041

Shadow is missed very much by his human family............