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Thursday, May 17, 2012
TIME MACHINE Preview ...
Take a look this 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!
Gumboro MudBog Season Opens
"Short and Sassy"/ Driver-Owner Barry Wise |
"Sod Buster/Driver Barry Long (center) "Wild Fire"/Driver Sonny Sturgis "The Grey Ghost"/Driver Lee Sturgis |
"Wild Fire" w/ Donald Bowden driving |
Be Sure To Give Chief Sewell A Big Wave....
Suddenly I realized the woman was waving at me.
I hope by now you have read the book and have a true appreciation for what he has written. Pocomoke is like no other town. And Baltimore, even with the beauty that is there, is just different.
I, for one, appreciate the way Chief Sewell feels about the town I grew up in. I miss Pocomoke and times and I'm only a few miles away. And it's always nice to run into him whenever I am in Pocomoke to take photos....because I'm certainly not going to be there to commit a crime!
A few days ago, while driving by the police department I stopped on Second Street to yell a "hello" to Chief Sewell. Councilman Malloy was with me since we were headed to the new restaurant to take photos. Teasingly, I offered the Chief the opportunity to ride along in the back seat....the windows are tinted and no one would be able to see him. He declined so I shared my freshly picked local strawberries with him.
Honestly, Chief Sewell is a wonderful person, is doing a remarkable job and he does like Pocomoke! Be sure to give him a big wave.
Nature Trail Spring Cleaning
Don Malloy, Pocomoke City Council member, said that this is the second year that volunteers from the naval installation have worked to clean up the trail.
Pictured are: (left to right) Jonathan Spalding, Melanie Brink, Malloy, David Corey, and David Caison. They spent an afternoon last week cutting out brush and cleaning up the trail. Photo/Bill Kerbin |
Remembering........
"What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." - Helen Keller
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office
Pictured in the back row are U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride Deputies Wells, Trader, and Sgt. Passwaters. In front of Sgt. Passwaters is Cpl. Ramey |
On 05/15/2012 at approximately 1613 hours, a Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Deputy arrested Stephen Douglas Cymek, 33 years of age, of Ocean City, Maryland for a District Court Bench Warrant issued for Violation of Probation after being charged with Trespassing. Mr. Cymek was later held at the Worcester County Jail without bail.
Grand Opening & Open House
Search For Escaped Inmate In Caroline County
Community Crime Watch Meetings
May 16 Germantown, New Bethel Church on Germantown Road, Germantown Area Crime Watch Meeting
May 25 Girdletree Fire Dept., Girdletree Area Crime Watch Meeting
**ALL times are 6 PM**
Woman Charged in School Bus Crash
The bus was from the Eastern Shore Agency Head Start.
– Pilot writer Mike Connors contributed to this report.
Source:
Driver Killed In Oak Hall, Virginia Accident
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
In Case You Missed It: Change Maryland / Larry Hogan
"One of the rituals of summer is the arrival of big-budget blockbuster films to your local neighborhood multiplex. Sequels are a huge source of revenue for Hollywood. Unfortunately, they are a big moneymaker for Maryland’s ruling political establishment in Annapolis as well."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/14/omalleys-ark-of-the-tax-coffer/
Tax Burden
Baltimore Sun 5.13.12
"Change Maryland estimates that the General Assembly has raised taxes or fees 20 times since 2007. Recent examples include an alcohol tax increase and higher toll fares."
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-session-taxes-20120510,0,6431836.story
Reliance on Income Tax
Maryland Reporter 5.11.12
"If our elected officials won’t listen to the 96% of Marylanders who are opposed to higher taxes,” Hogan said, “maybe they should at least listen to their own budget analysts who are raising red flags about over-reliance on the income tax.”
http://marylandreporter.com/2012/05/11/maryland-is-too-reliant-on-income-taxes-one-group-says/
Special Session Preview
Examiner.com 5.11.12
"(Hogan) questioned the need for an income tax increase, pointing out the state already has a high reliance on its income tax. Speaking on behalf of the group Change Maryland, he said that the state’s Department of Legislative Services reported the news at length prior to the 2012 session."
http://www.examiner.com/article/picket-line-and-dueling-rallies-to-punctuate-maryland-special-session
Levyland - the "Fee" State
Gazette 5.11.12
"During Gov. O’Malley’s six-year tenure they’ve increased just about every tax and fee on the books, some of them twice! You don’t believe me? Here’s a list compiled by “Change Maryland,” a taxpayers group led by Larry Hogan."
http://www.gazette.net/article/20120511/OPINION/705119665/1033/blair-lee-levyland-the-fee-state&template=gazette
$2 billion / 20 new taxes
Fox 45 5.11.12
"At some point people vote with their feet and they leave."
http://www.foxbaltimore.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wbff_vid_13424.shtml
Income Tax Preview
Washington Examiner 5.09.12
"They over-rely on the income tax to support state spending," Hogan said. "Now our elected officials are on the verge of making that problem even worse."
http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/maryland-news/2012/05/maryland-lawmakers-meet-raise-income-taxes-100k-earners/592836
Why Does Annapolis do These Things?
WGMD 5.04.12
"You are warning about one-party government."
http://www.wgmd.com/?p=56058
"Doomsday" Budget: the Aftermath
WCTR 5.04.12
"It's doomsday for those of us who pay taxes."
http://www.wctr.com/uploads/2/9/3/6/2936517/tottmay4.mp3
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changemaryland.org
facebook.com/changemaryland
Restaurant Completion Is Getting Closer......
Finally the day I had been waiting for arrived. All the windows on the restaurant can now be seen as you enter Pocomoke City from the downtown drawbridge. It's just so hard to believe that in December when I took my first photos of this spot along the Pocomoke River there was nothing but dirt and barricades.
On Monday May 7 the Pocomoke City Council voted to authorize Mayor Bruce Morrison to sign a 5 year lease of the waterfront restaurant with owners of (SMMR Inc.) Back Street Grill in Salisbury, Md. Plans are to have the restaurant open mid to late June.
Last window to be installed and recently uncovered. This window will make service onto the deck alot easier and so much faster.
Won't be much longer before riverfront dining will be in Pocomoke! I can't wait.
More on the restaurants progress soon............ In the meantime be sure to take a look at all the accomplishments being made downtown. And for those of you that say it isn't, I say downtown Pocomoke IS alive!
And the next time I'm downtown I'm going to have one of those yummy cupcakes from Coles Cakes!
As always, a big thank you to Councilman Malloy for making it possible for me to take these photos. A special thank you to my husband who understands my enthusiasm in documenting changes in Pocomoke City through pictures and who always provides me with nice cameras.
That's all for now.
Virginia Hurrican Preparedness Week .....
Buy emergency supplies, save money during
Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday
No sales tax is charged on the purchase of many items that can be used to prepare homes and businesses and to fill emergency supply kits during Virginia’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. All retailers participate, according to Virginia law.
Among the items that will be exempt from sales tax are:
- Batteries, including cell phone batteries
- Battery-powered light sources, such as flashlights and lanterns
- Bottled water of all types and sizes, including flavored, carbonated and vitamin waters
- Battery-powered and/or hand-crank radios, including those with electrical power option
- Weather band radios and NOAA Weather Radios
- First aid kits
- Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Fire extinguishers
- Tarps, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, duct tape
- Water storage containers, including coolers, buckets, barrels, canteens
- Storm shutter devices
- Portable generators
“Last year proved that Virginia is not immune from hurricanes and tropical systems,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “Five Virginians died as a result of Hurricane Irene in late August, which caused the second-highest number of power outages in Virginia history. Then we were hit by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee in September that took the lives of five citizens and displaced hundreds more.
Nearly the entire state was affected to some extent, and we were left with millions of dollars in property damage. Everyone should take steps to prepare for this hurricane season.”
Hurricane season starts June 1. Additional information about preparing for hurricane and flooding season is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov
Monday, May 14, 2012
Peaceful Rally To Be Held In Annapolis
Local Post Offices Facing Hour Reductions
Eastern Shore Post Offices which are planned to have hours reduced are Assawoman, Atlantic, Capeville, Craddockville, Franktown, Greenbackville, Greenbush, Hallwood, Harboton, Horntown, Jamesville, Keller, Locustivlle, Machipongo, Mappsville, Nelsonia, Pungoteague, Quinby, Saxis, Tangier, Tasley, Temperanceville, Townsend, Wachapreague, Willis Wharf and Withams.
Most of the offices will be cut from 8 hours of operation each day to either 6 or mostly likely 4.
A full list of the Post Offices facing hour reductions can be found below.
More Information Full list of Post Services facing reduced hours
Source:
Downtown Pocomoke City- The New Mini-park
If you haven't traveled downtown lately maybe you should............
There's so much to see. Plenty of stores to shop!
Photos of the mini-park. Market Street and Second Street.
However, someone to put in a walkway is seriously needed.
Any takers?
Change Maryland
5.11.12
Annapolis, MD - Change Maryland, a non-partisan grassroots organization, released today a list of tax and fee increases from 2007 to 2012 that shows levies have been raised a staggering 20 times with a $2 billion annual impact to taxpayers. Ranging from the $603 million sales tax increase in 2007, to more modest measures such as the $2.5 million 2011 fee increase for vanity license plates, the list also includes off-the-books revenue collections such as last year's record toll increases imposed by the Maryland Transportation Authority.
"For years now, our elected officials have not listened to the 96% of Marylanders who oppose higher taxes," said Change Maryland Chairman Larry Hogan. "Gov. Martin O'Malley was not elected saying 'I'd like to drastically increase state spending and raise taxes on struggling Marylanders.' He ran on a false claim of fiscal responsibility, and we had the wool pulled over our eyes."
The state's budget has grown $1.2 billion a year, on average - from $28.8 billion in 2007 to $34.7 billion in 2012. While the Governor has claimed $7.5 billion in cuts during his term in office, the numbers simply don't add up. Moreover, the aftermath of the special session next week is likely to result in higher individual income taxes with which to continue government spending at levels the one-party monopoly finds politically appealing.
The Change Maryland Tax and Fee fact sheet details measures including the expired millionaire's tax and the ill-conceived computer services tax - a case study in 11th-hour legislating and a nationally-recognized embarrassment. Although one expired and the other was repealed, these two measures branded Maryland as a non-business-friendly state generating national headlines.
A May report by Chief Executive Magazine ranks Maryland the 40th best state for business. Maryland's dismal ranking is due to income-tax increases on the middle class which adversely impacts businesses, according to the magazine. The latest among a dozen such studies, there is ample evidence that Maryland's ability to create private sector jobs is threatened by a hostile tax environment.
"All Marylanders - Republicans, Democrats and Independents - suffer when the professional politicians and the special interest groups go unchecked and continue to push the same failed tax and spend policies, year after year," Hogan said.
Addressing the Governor's press conference this week to announce the special session, Hogan noted a flurry of statistics the Administration selected in attempting to justify raising the income tax.
"We increased spending more than 46 other states and O'Malley says that's not enough," Hogan said. "We are number four in total tax burden, which he must think is too low. The state's own budget analysts said our income tax is already second in the nation. O'Malley is moving Maryland forward to number one in every objective measure of taxation levels."
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Background: MD Taxes Fees Fact Sheet
http://www.changemaryland.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/MD-Taxes-Fees-Fact-Sheet.pdf
www.changemaryland.org
Sunday, May 13, 2012
TIME MACHINE ... Eastern Shore Strawberries, 1919 & 1920!
(Reader-friendly viewing of newspaper archives material)
July, 1919
(The Charlston Daily Mail- Charlston, South Carolina)
PROHIBITION MAKES BERRY PRICE HIGHER
Strawberries In Great Demand for Soft Drink Trade;
Prices Are Unprecedented
Philadelphia, July 26.- Prohibition indirectly produced an extraordinary condition in the strawberry market this year. Prices went higher than ever before because a Chicago packing house opened what was said to be the largest fruit preserving plant in the world in the heart of the strawberry district in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and bought the product of great berry producing fields virtually without regard to cost to meet the tremendous demand for ice cream and soft drinks produced by the "dry" period.
Strawberries that normally sold from from 5 to 10 cents a quart were snapped up at from 30 to 37 cents. The price to the consumer never went below 30 cents this season. Strawberry syrup for flavoring soda water, formerly sold at 65 cents a gallon, is now quoted at $3.50 a gallon.
Farmers are elated. Many of them made an average of $1,000 an acre on their strawberry crop, and they are looking forward to big profits next year. The packers, when the strawberry season was over, sent their employees to other work and closed the factory.
July, 1920
(The Sandusky Register- Sandusky, Ohio)
Strawberry Crop Big
(By International News Service.)
WASHINGTON, July 2.- The strawberry crop on the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia will bring into the farmers and truck growers this year not less than $2,000,000 according to growers and bankers in that section. The bank accounts of the Wicomico County farmers alone have increased $65,000 as a result of their berry shipments for the season.
The average price is $7.50 per crate of 22 quarts. Their are 250 crates in a car load and each car is valued at $2,500. The shipments so far from the town of Pittsville have been 164 car loads, and from Marion, in Somerset County, almost twice that much.
May, 1905
(The Daily News- Frederick, Md)
Eastern Shore farmers and housewives are in a dilemma on account of the cooks and farmhands leaving their employers for the strawberry fields.
April, 1893
(The Denton Journal)
Somerset County school commissioners will soon complete a high school building at Princess Anne that will cost $1,200.
December, 1941
A system of guard duty was put into effect to allow Maryland State Guard members to return to their civilian jobs. The armories in Pocomoke City, Crisfield, Salisbury, and Cambridge remained under guard and closed to all public activities. All guard members were under orders to report to their armories each evening for roll call and orders.
December, 1936)
(Cumberland Evening Times- Cumberland, Md.)
Snow Hill, Md., Dec, 17(AP)- The trouble started when 74-year-old Mrs. Ida Altman Barton read a newspaper account of her husband's wedding. His wedding, that is, to someone else.
Today, as a result, Harry E. Barton, 53, of Salisbury, faced grand jury action on a charge of bigamy. Unable to raise $1,000 bail, he remained in the Worcester County jail.
Mrs. Barton alleged that her husband suggested she take a "vacation" to Baltimore in November. While she was away, she asserts, Barton journeyed to Pocomoke City and, after a "whirl-wind" courtship, married Mrs. Mary M. Grandee.
While the first Mrs. Barton still was in Baltimore, Barton removed some of the furniture from his Salisbury home and moved to Pocomoke City to live with his second wife.
Last week the first Mrs. Barton read the newspaper account of the wedding. Returning to Snow Hill, she checked the county records. Yesterday, she swore out a warrant for Barton's arrest before magistrate Walter W. Price.
Barton and the first Mrs. Barton were married in 1913.
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!