Worcester County Honors Its Most Beautiful People

Tuesday, April 17, the Worcester County Commissioners and Volunteer Services Manager Cyndy Howell recognized the contributions of area volunteers during the 2012 Worcester County’s Most Beautiful People (WCMBP) Volunteer Awards Ceremony.

This celebration honored 21 individuals and two organizations recognized by Worcester County for their ongoing service to the community.

Individuals recognized by Worcester County included Mickey Ashby, Winette Dennis and Greg Frostrom of Pocomoke City, Ed Colbert, Stacy Schaffer, and Helen Rasmus and Mary W. Smith of Berlin, Jack “Graham” Caldwell, Mike Corcoran, William “Bill” Long, Diane McGraw and Mary M. Stevens of Ocean Pines, Phillip “Phil” I. Houck, and Jackie Disharoon and Jo Miller and Timothy Garett Roe of Ocean City, Christy O’Connell, and Mary and James Waters of Snow Hill, and Git R Done Cleaning Services of Newark

The two groups recognized included Instructional Volunteers for Outreach of the Veterans Memorial of Ocean Pines and the Community Church at Ocean Pines Choir


These outstanding individuals and organizations are among the 1.3 million Maryland volunteers whose combined volunteer hours represent a worth of $4 billion this past year.


"This collective group today serves countless hours throughout Worcester County providing needed services that enhance the lives of our residents,” said Howell. “Our human capital is our greatest resource here!”


Those in attendance during the county’s 2012 WCMBP ceremony represent only a small sample of the hundreds of volunteers whose efforts sustain vital programs that otherwise could not be made available in our area.


Worcester County Government is extremely grateful for each of the countless volunteers who dedicate their time, talent, and resources day in and day out to improve the lives of those around them. It is these individuals and groups, whose good works often go unnoticed by the general public, who make Worcester County such a wonderful place to call home.


For more information on volunteering in Worcester County, contact Cyndy Howell at (410) 632-0090.

http://www.co.worcester.md.us/Articles/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=1059

Something About Dick Clark Locals My Not Remember

By this time the would knows of the passing of Dick Clark yesterday at the age of 82 from a massive heart attack.

Yesterday evening "tk"- the person responsible for all the interesting history from around our area- left a comment under the original Dick Clark post.  I was afraid alot of you would miss the comment so here it is:

tk for PPE has left a new comment on your post "Dick Clark Dies At 82":

"In the late 1940's the parents of Dick Clark's girlfriend, Babrara Mallery, moved to Salisbury from Syracuse, NY. She attended Salisbury State College for a couple of years before transferring to another college. Clark was working at WFIL in Philadelphia at the time and made frequent trips to Salisbury to visit Barbara. As referenced in the book American Bandstand "...which necessitated what Clark described as seventeen-hour 'sheer suicide' motor trips in his heaterless '34 Ford convertible in the dead of winter." They married in 1952; divorced in 1961.

Dick Clark made a guest appearance as MC at a fund raising teen record hop at the Salisbury armory along with WBOC's George Hack (who hosted a weekly live TV dance show on Saturday afternoons). Clark also participated in Salisbury's Christmas parade one year."

tk

NEWS RELEASE: Downtown Pocomoke Revitalization - Grand Opening, Saturday 4/21

A 2^nd Time Around Celebrates its Grand Opening

Pocomoke City – 18 April 2012 – Pocomoke City Mayor Bruce Morrison proudly announces the grand opening of “A 2nd Time Around,” a new retail establishment featuring repurposed items, collectibles, thrift, records, and other vintage jewels.  This shop offers a little bit of everything for everyone.

Both natives of the area, owners Terri Darby and Dana Blanchard have spent years scouring the Eastern Shore and collecting their treasures.  Now they are opening their doors to share them with the community.  A 2^nd Time around will buy, sell and trade most vintage items.

Terri and Dana are a community-oriented couple and they are receiving a warm welcome from their downtown neighbors.  Some recognize Terri from her work leading coordination of the Annual Sarah Foxwell Memorial Scholarship Ride that benefits Salisbury University’s social work program.  Many auction-goers and pickers are friendly with Dana.  Others are simply getting to know the couple through friendly daily interactions at the newly opened store.  All seem impressed with the commitment they bring to downtown development, with a renewed emphasis on both cost-effective and “green” living. 

This Saturday’s grand opening is a community event.  Local business owners and public officials will be on hand and guests will be able to view a display of high school repurposing projects donated by Pocomoke High School.  It will all take place at A 2^nd Time Around, at 125 Market Street (on the corner of Market & Second Streets, downtown), beginning at 2:00pm and ending at 4:00pm.  The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:15pm, and a door prize drawing at 3:45pm.  Refreshments will be served. 

The store’s opening marks a milestone in the city’s efforts to attract new businesses to Pocomoke’s downtown as it repositions itself as a tourist destination.  Members of the community who are interested in learning more about A 2^nd Time Around are encouraged to stop by on Saturday.  Those interested in the city’s downtown efforts in general, should contact Angela Manos, at 410-603-1178, or downtownpocomoke@gmail.com

Dick Clark Dies At 82

Dick Clark, the music industry maverick, longtime TV host and powerhouse producer who changed the way we listened to pop music with "American Bandstand," and whose trademark "Rockin' Eve" became a fixture of New Year's celebrations, died today at the age of 82.

Clark's agent Paul Shefrin said in statement that the veteran host died this morning following a "massive heart attack."
MORE STORY

BBQ CHICKEN FUNDRAISER ~ This Weekend

MOUNT VERNON VOLUNTEER

FIRE COMPANY

BBQ CHICKEN PLATTER FUNDRAISER

Saturday, April 21, 2012

11:00 A.M.  until 3:00 P.M.

(or until gone)

Cost:  $9.00

Menu includes:

1/4 BBQ Chicken

2 Sides

Roll

Baked goods and beverages on sale too.

Come on out and join us for another BBQ Chicken Platter fundraiser!

From Delegate Mike McDermott

The Real "Doomsday" for Marylanders

by Delegate Mike McDermott

Historically, there is no frame of reference for what happened in the Maryland General

Assembly’s final day of the 2012 session. The budget that was passed is referred to by

democratic leaders as the “Doomsday Budget”, but only a big spender equates increases of

over a half a billion dollars to be the end of the world.

Fortunately, when democrats fail at their agenda, Marylander’s keep more money in their

own wallets. As it sits, our taxpayers are $700 million to the good if we do not go back for a

Special Session. They will lose all of that and more if we get the phone call to return. The

real “Doomsday” is what the democratic budget proposals and new regulations will bring to all

Marylanders in the coming year.

This year, local governments lost more of their autonomy through centralized building codes

and the O’Malley-Brown septic provisions. These actions will have a chilling effect on future

rural development as private property rights fall under the heel of Annapolis bureaucrats.

Thanks to a bill sponsored by democrats, counties like Wicomico which have citizen sponsored

Revenue/Tax Caps in place will be forced to ignore statutory limits when it comes to education

spending or face mandated confiscation of tax revenues subsequently diverted to the local

school board. Talk about a “Doomsday” scenario for local government!

Democratic legislators robbed the Bay Trust Fund of millions and then double the Flush Tax to

make up the difference. They double tolls and demand tax increases so we can “maintain our

infrastructure” while at the same time siphoning millions from the trust fund to cover other wants.

They swap today’s dollars for tomorrow’s debt.

The folly of not drilling for natural gas (4cents per kilowatt hour) coupled with the governor’s

demand for wind energy (24 cents per kilowatt hour) is tantamount to shooting ourselves in the

foot. Our energy policy makes no sense as we continue our reputation of being an unfriendly

state in which to conduct business. Cheap energy drives our economy and Maryland is the

Saudi Arabia of natural gas. The failure to move forward with production has cost us tens of

thousands of jobs.

New laws will burden farmers with additional regulations all done in the name of “preservation”.

I find it disingenuous to say we want to “preserve” something when our very actions will result

in its demise. It appears they will not be satisfied until rural Maryland is a distant memory and

farming is what grandpa did, “back in the day”. When farmers have an attorney on speed dial,

we must ask ourselves, “Why”?

Current policy and budgeting practices are what is leading us to “Doomsday”. Marylander’s,

take back your state.

NASA At Wallops Island: Antares Moves to Launch Pad

Orbital Science's Antares rocket has been moved to the launch pad at the NASA Wallops Mid Atlantic Spaceport facility at Wallops Island.

The first stage of Orbital Sciences Corporation’s Antares rocket stands in launch position during pathfinder operations at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Orbital’s Antares launch vehicle will be conducting missions for NASA under its Commercial Orbital Transportation Service Program and Cargo Resupply Services contract. (NASA Photo/P.Black)

For more information go to http://www.nasa.gov/ 

Chicken Salad Luncheon

TODAY

CHICKEN SALAD LUNCHEON & SALE

Salem United Methodist Church 

Second Street

 Pocomoke, MD

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

COST: $7 per lunch (eat in or carry out) / $7 per pint / $2 per dozen biscuits

For more information: 410-957-0991

The best chicken salad you will ever eat!

NASA'S Discovery Shuttle Flies Over D.C.

Clear skies along the East Coast put NASA’s pilots 10 minutes ahead of schedule after an early-morning liftoff from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, leaving some spectators scrambling for a view.

Before heading downtown, Discovery buzzed Runway 1R at Dulles, cruising above a well-placed flapping American flag.

Ten minutes later, the piggybacked pair winked into view against gray clouds above the Potomac River, zooming past Reagan National Airport before banking left, circling behind the Capitol, and making the first of three runs down the Mall.

“That is just so wow,” said Martha Taft of the District, wiping away tears as Discovery zoomed over Memorial Bridge with a barely audible “whoosh.”

When a red double-decker tourist bus stopped on the bridge, blocking the view, the crowd booed. The bus moved.

“It was very cool to see how it banked. When it turned, you were able to see the whole shuttle,” said Sam Kristy, 10, whose parents, Ben and Rachel, took him out of school for the show.

On the Mall, cheers, whoops and hollers went up as the tandem flew low.

The shuttle then crossed the Potomac and flew over Arlington National Cemetery and the graves of five astronauts killed in the two space shuttle tragedies. Richard Scobee and Michael J. Smith died aboard Challenger in 1986, and David M. Brown, Laurel Salton Clark and Michael P. Anderson perished when Columbia disintegrated during reentry in 2003.

The 2,000-car parking lot of the Udvar-Hazy Center was full by 9 a.m., and an overflow crowd camped out with blankets, coolers and folding chairs on an embankment along Route 28, cameras aimed skyward, 30 minutes before Discovery’s first appearance.

Discovery made its first pass over thousands of onlookers at the Udvar-Hazy Center as children shouted, “I see it!” and adults gasped.

Centreville resident Kyle Foster said Discovery has been his favorite shuttle since watching it launch in 1984, recalling lines of cars along the Florida coast, the night’s pitch blackness and the roar of the orbiter’s engines.

Foster took the morning off from work to witness Discovery’s arrival with his wife and 1-year-old daughter, calling it a “living piece of history.”

“It’s never gonna fly again,” said 78-year-old Edith Murray, visiting the Mall from Rhode Island.

Outside National Airport, Kristen Mitchell, 26, of Springfield, was simultaneously excited and sad, having come of age just as the shuttle program waned. “And now I’m seeing the end of it,” she said.

Just as Discovery transitions from trusty space truck to museum showpiece, NASA continues its transition phase. The 30-year space shuttle program ended last year, leaving America without the means to launch people into space for the first time since 1981. NASA now pays the Russian space agency to send American astronauts to the international space station. By 2017, NASA hopes American-built private spacecraft — financed by NASA — will take over the role of orbital taxi.

But for today, the embattled agency got to show off its space hero one last time, a 27-year-old flier whose scorched and dingy siding visually describe her duties.

“She’s old and venerable and has lots of quirks,” said former shuttle astronaut Piers Sellers, who flew on Discovery in 2006. “We had sheets of paper that said, ‘When this alarm goes off, ignore it.’ Or, ‘this fuel gauge doesn’t work.’ She just does that. She had a lot of little quirks, but her heart was solid.”

As Discovery banked around the west end of the Mall for a final pass, the battered white shuttle glowed in a shaft of sunlight, looking large and at ease — a bird with clipped wings just along for the ride.


Staff writers Rachel Karas, Jacqueline Trescott, Stefanie Dazio and Erin Williams contributed to this report.

SOURCE:

Press Release ~ Worcester County Sheriff's Office

Worcester County Sheriff’s Office

On April 5, 2012 at approximately 1558 hours a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy arrested Matthew Edward Severe of Ocean City, MD on a Circuit Court Bench Warrant for violation of probation-failure to report. Mr. Severe was held at the Worcester County Jail on $10,000 bond.

On April 11, 2012 hours a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy arrested Antwan Deshay Freeman of Delaware on a fugitive warrant through Virginia on the charges of Conspiracy and Uttering. Mr. Freeman was held at the Worcester County Jail on no bond.

On April 11, 2012 hours a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy arrested Latasha Renee Blake of Berlin, MD on a District Court warrant for failure to appear for court for the original charges of failure to obey a reasonable order. Ms. Blake was held at the Worcester County Jail on $2500 bond.

On April 12, 2012 at approximately 1037 hours a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy arrested Sean Travers Higgins of Ocean City, MD on a District Court warrant for failure to appear for court on the original charges of theft less than $1000 and unauthorized removal of property.  Mr. Higgins was released on personal recognizance.

 

On 04/15/2012 a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with an inoperable headlight in the area of Rt 50 and MD 90. K9 scan was conducted on the vehicle The K-9 alerted to a Controlled Dangerous substance in the vehicle. A juvenile male from Salisbury, MD was placed under arrest for possession of marihuana. The juvenile was under GPS monitoring for house arrest at the time of the arrest and was committed to the Lower Eastern Shore Children’s Center pending further action.

On 04/15/2012 a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for traveling 71 in a 55 mile per hour zone on RT 113 in the area of Lambertson Road. A search was conducted and the driver, identified as Kristine Baney 25 of Mendenhall PA. A Controlled Dangerous Substance was found and Ms. Baney was placed under arrest for possession of marihuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Ms. Baney was released on her own recognizance pending trial.


Lt. Edward C. Schreier
Worcester County Sheriff's Office

Downtown Pocomoke~ This Weekend

BURN BAN STILL IN EFFECT

Effective immediately (April 16, 2012), ALL outdoor burning is banned for an indefinite period of time in Worcester County. Worcester County Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon issued the burn ban today. (Monday)

The ban applies to all outdoor ignition sources with the following exceptions: Proper use of gas and charcoal grills, campfires at the County’s commercial, State and Federal campgrounds, permitted official Ocean City bonfires, private property recreational campfires which are limited to a fire area of 2 feet with a height of 3 feet, public fireworks displays and volunteer fire company training exercises.
http://wcfmo.org/images/stories/PR/2012/2012burnban.pdf

At The Mar-Va Theater This Weekend

Friday, April 20th at 7 PM

Sunday, April 22nd at 2 PM

Tickets: $5
www.marvatheater.com

Saturday, April 21st at 7 PM

Doggy Identity Theft

I try to warn alot of people by telling them that everything they see on Facebook is NOT true. Maybe you saw this dog on Facebook. If so, he is NOT desperate

It’s a face most dog people would love. So when a Facebook post sounded the alarm that Scion, a lovable, active seven-year-old lab was starving, in poor health, and needed money to be rescued from a kill shelter, animal lovers responded.


“Honestly, it makes me sick and makes me sad,” says Wendy Messenga, the top volunteer at Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center.

She’s not sick and sad because the story is true; she’s miffed because it is no more than a scam.

“He’s fat, he’s happy. I mean, he wants a home, but he’s not going anywhere and he’s certainly not in danger of being put down,” says Wendy.

The adoption center wants to let the cat out of the bag.  There’s no doggy danger.  It’s the work of scam artists who are trying to part good people from their money.

The center was forced to post a warning on its own page telling people do not donate.

“There is a woman who is not using her name, that is posting that Scion is in a kill facility and that she needs to raise money to get him out,” says Wendy.

The fact is, you can’t rescue a dog at the adoption center with money; they only take adoption fees and the center is run and funded by the city of Virginia Beach.

Volunteers say this isn’t the first time the scammer has stolen the identities of real-life shelter dogs only to pocket the cash. Wendy says the scammer did it in Norfolk with the picture of a dog who had been adopted two years ago.

“Rescue people, sometimes they will donate prior to going to dinner buying themselves something they will definitely donate,” says Wendy.

The Facebook post has since disappeared along with mystery scammer, but shelter volunteers fear the canine crooks will do damage to legitimate fundraisers.

“People who scam the animal business like this end up making people not want to donate,” says Wendy.

The city-run shelter does not accept money donations, but they`ll take food and pet toys.

And if you see another posting like the one the scam artist posted, do not donate.  But if you want to be sure your local shelter is getting help, call the shelter directly or go in person and make a donation.

Don`t fall victim to the canine crooks.

Source:

Finishing Touches Being Put On the Pocomoke City Police Department

Pocomoke City Police Station

~Almost Completed~

Thursday  April 12, 2012

It had only been 7 days since I last visited what would be the new Pocomoke City police station to take photos.  But while I was in Pocomoke Councilman Malloy and I decided we really should get another peek....actually, it was my idea, I guess,  since I am so nosey.

WOW!!  What a difference just a few days makes!

Have you ever watched paint dry?  Watching floor wax dry is just about as exciting but with people you like, who engage in good conversation it isn't bad at all.  That 20 minute wait flew by in no time...Worth the wait. 

Thank you Mike Brady, of Peninsula Floor Service, for allowing us to walk across your newly waxed floor.

What a shine!  You may need your sun glasses...I'm not kidding.What was once dull gray tile  only a few days ago has enough shine now to see your reflection!

(below) Do you know what this is?

"The Box" "It's where we question both  witnesses and suspects....An OK Corral with a table and a couple of chairs." ( Words of Kelvin Sewell taken from his book  "Why Do We Kill?")  Now, Darren  has enlightened me in so many ways concerning  what has taken place in this soon to be police station.  The discussion about this room:  I say TWO chairs- because I read the book.  He says could be THREE chairs- depending on who is in "the box" at the time of interrogation. (He hasn't had time to read the book - he's been here!) 

So, I thought about it.  I looked the paragraph up in Chief Sewell's book when I got home.  Okay, Darren.  You win.  A couple could mean two or more- so I'll give you the three.  (But how odd was it when I opened the book and found that I had marked that page with an expired monthly GO PASS from the Baltimore MTA).  Here is how I feel about that room........I will NEVER sit there to be interrogated!  The only table I EVER intend to be seated at is a table that is surrounded by my  friends and family  waiting to partake in a meal!

All cells are completed.  The beds have been bolted to the floor, cots put in place and ready for occupancy really soon.  This is the female holding cell....NO bling! 

So, on this trip everything seemed to be just about wrapped up and ready for the "white glove" test.  Restrooms and showers have been cleaned.  And I'm sure by this writing the floors have been buffed. (What if I told you I left my toe print in a corner in that building?)

Anyway, I was able to show the police chief a photo of the shiny floors....(I like to always be first). But it made his day and when I left that day he made sure I had my cell phone. (For those that don't remember: the first time Chief Sewell and I met I accidently left my cell phone in his office.  Embarrassed?  ME?  Hell, yes!)

But anyway, the Second Street police department that so many of us have known for many years....the walkway that my son, as a small boy,  would ride his bike up and coast down when he could get away with it will soon be history.  I never realized it until I walked down the stairway and out those black doors that I never go photos of the inside...the stairway...

But here is what I want you to do when you visit the new police station.  Please take full advantage of your reflection in the windows on the end of the building.  Take time to fix you hair and straighten your cap so you look nice when walking inside.  And once inside WIPE YOUR FEET! 

Thanks Councilman Malloy, Chief Sewell, Mike Brady and assistant and of course "the go to man" Darren.

SHORE BEEF & BBQ

SHORE BEEF & BBQ

OPEN TUESDAY FOR LUNCH

11:00   'TIL   2:00

Special of the Day

Pulled chicken sandwich/ w Side

Drink ~ $7.50

New hours and yardsale information will be posted soon.

From: Maryland Business for Responsive Government

In Case You Missed It:

 MBRG on End of Session and Aftermath

Washington Examiner  Editorial: It's only 'doomsday' for tax-and-spend politicians 4.13.12
"Only in Maryland is a $700 million increase in the operating fund considered 'doomsday,' http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2012/04/examiner-local-editorial-its-only-doomsday-tax-and-spend-politicians


WCTR "Talk of the Town" 4.12.12
"Business organizations were not together during this session.  Some of these organizations supported the gas tax, but it was contrary to what their membership thought and what a lot of businesses generally thought."http://www.wctr.com/interviews.html


Gazette: Business dodged most of the bullets in legislature 4.09.12
"This session will be remembered by dysfunction, finger-pointing and chaos." 

http://www.gazette.net/article/20120409/NEWS/704099970/1033/business-dodged-most-of-the-bullets-in-legislature&template=gazette

More end of session coverage: 

citybizlisthttp://baltimore.citybizlist.com/1/2012/4/11/MBRG-Governor-Legislature-Failed-to-Lead.aspx

Delmarva Observerhttp://www.delmarvaobserver.com/2012/04/11/mbrg-calls-omalley-administration-legislature-irresponsible/

Monobloguehttp://monoblogue.us/2012/04/14/another-legislative-wrap-up-or-two/

Pocomoke Public Eyehttp://bit.ly/IOZ0ck

SBY Newshttp://sbynews.blogspot.com/2012/04/maryland-business-for-responsive.html

BURN BAN IN EFFECT

Effective immediately (April 16, 2012), ALL outdoor burning is banned for an indefinite period of time in Worcester County.

Worcester County Fire Marshal Jeff McMahon issued the burn ban today.

The ban applies to all outdoor ignition sources with the following exceptions: Proper use of gas and charcoal grills, campfires at the County’s commercial, State and Federal campgrounds, permitted official Ocean City bonfires, private property recreational campfires which are limited to a fire area of 2 feet with a height of 3 feet, public fireworks displays and volunteer fire company training exercises.

http://wcfmo.org/images/stories/PR/2012/2012burnban.pdf

RECALL: Dole Bagged Salad Could Carry Salmonella Risk

Dole is recalling some of its bagged salads because they may be tainted with Salmonella.

The recall is for 756 cases of the company’s Seven Lettuces salad with a use-by date of April 11.

The salads were sold in fifteen states, including Virginia.

The company says so far no illnesses have been reported.

The Associated Press reports that the tainted UPC code 71430 01057 and product codes 0577N089112A and 0577N089112B identify the tainted ones.

The product code and use-by date are located in the upper right-hand corner of the package, while the UPC code is on the back of the package, below the bar-code.

Source:

Progress Continues.........

The New Restaurant

Pocomoke City, Maryland

Thursday  April 12, 2012

Things were on the move around the restaurant during the first part of the week.

A fence has been erected to hide the back of the restaurant, which is a good idea.

No matter how small the job something is always being done in the new restaurant. 

On April 5th when I took photos the entire walls had already been painted with a base coat.  I don't mind telling you that those walls were painted with the brightest white I had ever seen....UGH!

In talking with Councilman Malloy and hearing his news I KNEW I couldn't wait for another  week to pass....

This is what I found - no not this......

THIS!!!  A burst of color!!

I'm not the world's best photographer but the camera has done a nice job on giving you some idea of the choice of blues.  It's beautiful.   And as for me I don't think another color would suit this restaurant considering where it sits.

The hardest work, I would imagine,  has been completed.  Remember that the only thing on this site just a few months ago was dirt.....those photos are on this blog too.  I've watched this building grow.  I've met some wonderful people along the way.  And most of those wonderful people are hard working people right from good old Pocomoke!  They are your sons, your brothers, your husbands or your neighbor.  They helped build this masterpiece that now sits and overlooks the Pocomoke River.  Each and every business, whether from Pocomoke City or not,  has done an outstanding job.

 I know how to enter the building. I know where the EXITS are.  I've found the restrooms. Now I'm just waiting on the kitchen............

(On site this day was Tapmans.)

TIME MACHINE ... "As dark as the day when old Jennie was hung."

(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)


September, 1909

(The Ironwood News Record- Ironwood, Michigan)

The Dark Day When "Old Jennie" Was Executed In Maryland.

"As dark as the day when old Jennie was hung" is one of the many quaint sayings that for generations has been used on the lower eastern shore of Maryland, but from the accounts that have been given by those who lived in old Jennie's day, there has never been a day since that time as dark as the day on which she was executed for wholesale murder in the neighborhood in which she lived.

The old murderess was publicly hanged in 1815 in the old jail yard at Princess Anne, and all those who remembered that particular day have passed into the great beyond long ago. The murderess was a white woman, tall and angular, and it was said that she popularly resembled what was supposed to be a witch far more than the up to date woman of that day. In fact, local history records that she practiced witchcraft. No one ever knew where she came from, having "dropped down" very mysteriously into the neighborhood, where she killed a family of four.

Old Jennie was not hanged on a scaffold. In those days murderers were executed with as little trouble and expense as possible. The wizen faced terror of all Somerset was placed in a cart drawn by two oxen and placed directly under a stout limb of an old oak tree that stood in the jail yard. The rope was fixed in rude fashion around her neck, amid the hurrahs of the crowd and the curses of the doomed woman, and when all was in readiness a bunch of fodder was placed ten paces from the oxen's heads, and they were given the word to start. Obeying the command, they made a bee line for the fodder and left old Jennie dangling at the end of the rope.

That day, it has been told thousands of times, was the darkest ever know in this section. Chickens remained on their roosts throughout the entire day, while candles by the score burned in the houses that the servants might see to do their work. The local scientists of that day were at a loss to account for the strange phenomenon, and the graphic descriptions which they gave of it and which were recorded years ago make interesting reading.- Oriole (Md.) Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean.

Footnote:

It was reported that the superstitious thought the end of time had come and some believed that on a dark, cloudy night the ghost of old Jennie stalked around near the edge of the woods where she had committed her crimes.



February, 1953

The Elks Club of Pocomoke City was sponsoring a big stage show at the Marva Theatre featuring The Barter Players of Virginia in 'The Virginian.' "Don't Miss This Fine Entertainment By This Well Known Group Of Professional Players. No Expense Spared In Settings, Costumes, Lights And Music." Ticket price was $1.80 for general admission and $2.40 for reserved seats. Tickets in advance were available at Marva Soda Parlor, Ward's Barber Shop, Pocomoke City Pharmacy, and C.W. Renninger Esso Servicenter.



February, 1942

(The Salisbury Times)

(The newsprint, unfortunately, was too faded for most of the article to be legible but the following information was gleaned from it.)

Datelined Snow Hill, the headline read "Colored Veteran To Mark 109th Birthday." William Riley Ginn was to celebrate his 109th birthday on February 17th at his Snow Hill Home. He was Worcester County's oldest living resident and had served with the Union Army in the Civil War.



African American History

Thanks to PPE reader Melanie B. for her recent email about enjoying the TIME MACHINE items. Melanie also asked about including items of African American interest. If any readers have some local material along these lines please send it on to me.

The following is a listing of some websites that may be of interest.

Maryland African American Genealogy http://www.accessgenealogy.com/african/maryland/index.htm

SAMUEL WESLEY
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY
Manokin, Somerset County, MD http://www.prairiebluff.com/aacemetery/wesley-aa.html

CENTENNIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CEMETERY
Upper Fairmount, Somerset County, MD http://www.prairiebluff.com/aacemetery/centennial-aa.html

African Americans in Maryland http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/afriamer/html/afriamer.html

African American Gateway, Maryland http://www.genealogycenter.info/africanamerican/results_afram.php?subject=MD



NEWS BLUNDER OF THE CENTURY? (At least rivaling the Chicago Tribune's 1948 "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline.)

The Titanic sank 100 years ago today.. in the early hours of April 15, 1912. That day's edition of the Syracuse Herald, (Syracuse, N.Y.) streamed these headlines on its' front page:

TITANIC'S PASSENGERS ALL RESCUED

Giant New Liner Limping in Toward Halifax, Badly Damaged

HOW TITANIC'S 1300 PASSENGERS WERE RESCUED AFTER LINER SMASHED BOWS ON HUGE ICEBERG



The April 16, 1912 edition of the newspaper carried this headline:

1,341 GO DOWN WITH TITANIC





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!

It's A Dogs World.........

"A dog owns nothing, yet is seldom dissatisfied."

~Irish Proverb~

Judge getting his treat at the Inner Harbor on Saturday.

Thanks, Missy

Tomato Planting

An old Italian gentleman lived alone in New  Jersey .  He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.  His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament: 

Dear Vincent,  I am feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.  Love,  Papa  

A few days later he received a letter from his son. 

Dear Papa,   Don’t dig up that garden. That’ s where the bodies are buried.  Love,  Vinnie

At 4 a.m. The next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.  That same day the old man received another letter from his son.  

Dear Papa,  Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.  That’s the best I could do under the circumstances.  Love you, Vinnie

TIME MACHINE Preview ... "As dark as the day when old Jennie was hung."

The old Eastern Shore saying came to be following an 1815 hanging in the old jail yard at Princess Anne, and a strange phenomenon attributed to that day.

Read more about it this Sunday on The Pocomoke Public Eye!

Plus: 1953- Marva Theatre ... 1942- Local Civil War Veteran ... 1912- News Blunder ... Website Addresses


　
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!

Truck and Tractor Pull ~ Pocomoke Fairgrounds

THE GREAT POCOMOKE FAIR PRESENTS

LUCAS OIL PRO-PULL LEAGUE

TRUCK AND TRACTOR PULLING

Saturday  June 23, 2012

 New to the East Coast, Aurora Agronomy is located on Broad Street in Pocomoke City, Maryland.

Space Shuttle Discovery to Fly Over Washington Metro Area April 17

WASHINGTON -- NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) with space shuttle Discovery mounted atop will fly approximately 1,500 feet above various parts of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area on Tuesday, April 17.

The flight, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration, is scheduled to occur between 10 and 11 a.m. EDT. NASA Television and the agency's web site will provide live coverage.

The exact route and timing of the flight depend on weather and operational constraints. However, the aircraft is expected to fly near a variety of landmarks in the metropolitan area, including the National Mall, Reagan National Airport, National Harbor and the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center. When the flyover is complete, the SCA will land at Dulles International Airport.
   
Discovery completed 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles. NASA will transfer Discovery to the National Air and Space Museum to begin its new mission to commemorate past achievements in space and to educate and inspire future generations of explorers.

If the flight must be postponed for any reason, an additional notice will be released.

For more information about NASA's transfer of space shuttles to museums, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/transition