TIME MACHINE ... 1934, 1889, 1989, 1886, 1959.

"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore."  Our tradition runs deep.  Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.

This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; it has good wide streets, quite clear of that "eye sore," known mostly over the Peninsula by the name of "deep sand"; the houses, though built of frame, are generally built substantially and with some discretion and taste; there are two neat, new, and quite handsome frame churches in it; as for the merchants of the place, suffice it to state that they are very clever and hospitable.  F. Mezick, Esq., the landlord with whom I stopped, and his very obliging and jolly assistant, are richly deserving of a passing notice, for the good treatment and the extension of the many civilities to "the stranger."

(Reader-friendly viewing of news archive/historical archive material)


February, 1934
The News-Herald (Franklin And Oil City, Pa.)

COAST GUARD TRIES TO GET FOOD, FUEL TO 350 MAROONED

NORFOLK, Va., Feb 15. -UP-  Coast Guard patrol boats today attempted to navigate ice-choked Chesapeake Bay in an effort to get food and fuel to 350 residents of Tangier Island.

The patrol also attempted to aid two men ice-bound in an open boat off Saxis Island. 

Suffering was widespread among the Tangier inhabitants because supply boats have been unable to break through the heavy ice. If the Coast Guard is unsuccessful in getting food and fuel to Tangier, which is off the coast of Maryland, airplanes will be used to drop provisions.


July, 1889.. 

Peninsula Enterprise

November, 1989
The News (Frederick, Md.)

'Friendliest Town' opens shelter

POCOMOKE CITY (AP) - Officials in the town that bills itself as the "Friendliest Town on the Eastern Shore," said they have learned there are many misconceptions about the homeless since they opened the area's first homeless shelter two years ago.

 "The people we have seen are not chronically poor," said Daniel P. Blair, a Pocomoke City businessman who helped launch the emergency shelter and now serves is its part-time director. "These are everyday working people who have gotten into some bad problems. Look in the mirror. These people could be you or me." 

Two years ago, a grant from the Presbyterian Church allowed a group of volunteers to renovate a two-story frame. At first, some people objected. Members of this rural community feared the urban elements they saw so often on television: alcoholics, drug abusers and mentally ill derelicts lining up for soup kitchens, pushing grocery carts and sleeping on steam grates. 

Today, Pocomoke City's Samaritan Shelter has become an accepted part of the small town. 

Over the past six weeks, Samaritan Shelter has housed 34 people. Its sponsors predict at the current rate it may house more than 300 people over the coming year. In comparison, the shelter provided lodging for 110 people in its first year of operation. 

The shelter serves a three-county area that includes southern Worcester County, Somerset County and northern Accomack County, Va. Most tenants have been battered women who left their abusive husbands, but did not have the resources to rent an apartment or buy furniture.

The Samaritan Shelter today.

http://www.thesamaritanshelter.org/

February, 1886 (Time Machine archive)
(Iowa State Reporter- Waterloo, Iowa)

  A GOOSE FARM- There is a goose ranch on the eastern shore of Virginia, covering nearly 3,000 acres, over which the feathered occupants, nearly 5,000, are free to roam.  The farm is devoted exclusively to producing the raw materials needed for the fine down quilts.  Several species of geese are bred, all of them being however of American lineage.  The largest specimen of all is of snowy whiteness.  The birds are regularly fed with corn or other grains, and are given the utmost freedom consistent with the prevention of straying and loss.  Herders are employed to keep a watchful eye on them, and sheds for shelter are provided in case of inclement weather, but the birds very rarely use them.  

About every six weeks the plucking takes place.  Only the breast and portions of the sides are touched, and feathers of the back, the wings and the tail being left intact.  It requires nearly 190 average geese to furnish a pound of the down, though the smaller feathers, which are also taken, weigh much heavier. These feathers, however, form an entirely separate grade from the valuable down.

The average life of a goose is said to be forty years, and they produce from five to ten eggs per annum, a large portion of which are hatched.  A bird hatched in February is in condition for plucking the following August, and so on thereafter every six or eight weeks.  The feathers are packed in sacks , and sent to the Philadelphia factory, where they are trimmed, washed, steamed and otherwise prepared for their legitimate use.

1959..

"Barbie" makes her first television commercial. View it here:
http://www.bestoldcommercials.com/first-barbie-doll-commercial-from-1959/



Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!



PPE remembers JMMB.

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

1934.. Coast Guard attempts aid for icebound Tangier Island; 1889.. You'll find everything from "the best $1.25 shoe on the market," to agricultural equipment at this Eastern Shore business..read the original newspaper ad; 1989.. Pocomoke City's Samaritan Shelter has progressed during its first years; 1886.. The raw materials needed for fine down quilts come from a large goose farm on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  

1959.. "Barbie" makes her first television commercial. Watch it here on this Sunday's Time Machine 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. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

New Accreditation for The Law Office of Deborah Ullmann, LLC

Member News

     The Law Office of Deborah Ullmann, LLC is pleased to announce that it has been accredited by the Veteran's Administration to handle veterans' claims, both disability and dependency claim denials as well as disability ratings.  Accreditation will allow Ms. Ullmann to serve veterans who reside in both Maryland and Virginia in proceedings before the Board of Veteran's Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  In addition to benefit claims, Ms. Ullmann looks forward to assisting veterans with discharge upgrades and other related veteran issues.  If you know of a veteran, or a veteran's spouse or child, that is in need of assistance with their claim, have them contact Ms. Ullmann at 410 603-9140. 

A CAFO Intends To Be Our New Neighbor

After transitioning our farm from industrialized chicken production to an Animal Welfare Approved certified pasture based egg farm 3 years ago, a CAFO now plans to be our neighbor!  We’ve learned from the prospective buyer of the property neighboring us that he has plans to build a chicken CAFO.

It is unfathomable as to why any company would allow their chickens to be put next to a pasture raised farm with chickens on it.  The industry claims that strict bio-security is a mainstay of their operations and necessary to its survival.

Bio-security is the practice of measures taken to prevent the spread of disease on poultry farms.

Looking at the situation from an independent farm, raising hens in a pasture based system one has to question the rights of an individual farm.  What about the right of that farm protecting its chickens from viruses and bacteria’s spread by industrial chicken CAFO’s?
All appearances indicate that the independent farm has no rights and that the highly potential risk created to that farm by the chicken industry is of no concern.

Industrial chickens are vaccinated for many diseases.  Introduction of live viruses into an area where no viruses exist or introducing a bacteria or disease where none exist is a recipe for disaster.  That is basic 101 bio- security for any poultry producer.

In 2008, Johns Hopkins researchers found that poultry trucks driving to processing plants spread harmful bacteria into the environment, exposing other drivers, pedestrians, and rural communities to these bacteria.  Researchers consistently detected drug-resistant bacteria in the air and on surfaces inside vehicles while driving with their windows down behind poultry trucks (Rule et al. 2008).

In our case, a right of way from the county road will be mutually used.  Harmful bacteria will exist in the environment spread from the industry trucks entering and leaving the CAFO.  It’s reasonable to expect that our vehicles will pick up bacteria’s not only harmful to ourselves but also harmful to our disease free hens.  Walking to our mailbox could be harmful to our health!

Drug resistant bacteria spread by industry vehicles will not be the only concern.  County regulations allow for building of chicken houses to be 20 feet from property lines.  These huge buildings can hold up to 60,000 chickens in one house.  Air exchange is accomplished through fans only.  It’s not unreasonable to conclude that the same drug resistant bacteria’s that are found in feathers and dust blowing from trucks will also be exhausted into the air from housing.

Less than ½ mile down the road from the farm is a YMCA.  Joggers and bicyclist use the area for recreational activities and for YMCA sponsored events.  Schools use the sports fields at the YMCA for practices.  Are public and school activities to be discontinued just to accommodate a CAFO that wants to move into the area?
Clearly, the chicken industry has no thought or care of potential risks to human health nor any respect for the neighbor that their CAFO’s want to go next to.

SOURCH CLICK HERE: [OLDFARMERLADY]

A Thank you letter for Chief Sewell

Pocomoke City Police would like to share a letter we received from a citizen of Pocomoke. We thank you Michele for taking the time to write this letter to Chief Sewell.

A Thank you letter for Chief Sewell

I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you Chief Sewell for all the wonderful changes you made in Pocomoke City. I lived in Pocomoke since 1994 it was a wonderful sweet friendly town, but sadly through the year’s crime began to rise. I didn't feel safe allowing my children outside to play, drug deals were going on right out in the open. Then in 2011 you became Chief, It was just the fresh change our town needed. You had your officers walking the street making their presence known, making the citizens feel safe and secure. You reached out to the citizens and made everyone feel that together as citizens and officers we could reclaim our once sweet peaceful town. You do so many community activities and with you as an example, your officers are encouraged to be all they can be. Pocomoke City officers are both professional and caring now. I write so many letters over the last few years about the extra things your officers do for the community. Once again, Pocomoke feels safe and is definitely a place to raise our children and grandchildren. I no longer see drug deals going on out in the open, or groups of young teens looking like they are up to no good. Now I see you and your officers reaching out to our youth to guide them in a better direction. It's nice to see a Chief of Police that walks the street with his officer’s and attends all community functions. So thank you for inspiring all your officers to reach out and engage with us as a community and to let everyone see that crime will not be tolerated here in Pocomoke. We finally reclaimed our town with thanks to you and your officers. God bless you Chief Sewell, your officers and your lovely family. 

Thank you Michele
Resident of Pocomoke City, MD
February 23, 2015

Discovery Center Reptile Festival

Pink Ribbion Bingo

Pocomoke Area Chamber of Commerce

Member Happenings

Friday & Saturday, Feb 20 & 21 - Into the Woods playing at the Mar-Va Theater (7:00 PM). Go to www.marvatheater for more info.

Sunday, Feb 22 - Selma playing at the Mar-Va Theater (2:00 PM). Go to www.marvatheater for more info.

Thursday, March 12 - Women Supporting Women Pink Ribbon Bingo (see flyer below).

 

 

PACC Membership Survey Results
Thank you to those members who completed our survey!

19% of our active members returned the surveys mailed to them or responded to the survey online.

70% of our survey participants reported they had attended a Chamber function within the last year; 30% had not.

The two Chamber functions attended the most were the General Membership Luncheons and the Business After Hours. Following, in order of attendance, were the Cypress Festival, Pocomoketoberfest, the Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival and the Annual Dinner.

The top three reasons given for not attending Chamber functions were: too busy, inconvenient day and inconvenient time of the day.

Members were asked to identify up to three of the most serious problems facing their businesses today.  The top three choices were:
the economy, state & local regulations specific to their business/industry and health care.

Members were asked to identify up to three of the most serious problems facing our community today.  The top three choices were: taxes, employment and crime.

Members were asked to identify which communication tools they found to be the most useful.  The top three choices were email, electronic newsletter and Facebook.

The Chamber Board appreciates your feedback and will use the survey results as we plan future functions, events, speakers, etc.

 

 

TIME MACHINE ... 1910, 1888, 1880, 1959, 1952

"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore."  Our tradition runs deep.  Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.

This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; it has good wide streets, quite clear of that "eye sore," known mostly over the Peninsula by the name of "deep sand"; the houses, though built of frame, are generally built substantially and with some discretion and taste; there are two neat, new, and quite handsome frame churches in it; as for the merchants of the place, suffice it to state that they are very clever and hospitable.  F. Mezick, Esq., the landlord with whom I stopped, and his very obliging and jolly assistant, are richly deserving of a passing notice, for the good treatment and the extension of the many civilities to "the stranger."


(Reader-friendly viewing of news archive/historical archive material)

March, 1910
The Crisfield Times

 LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE 

The president of the organization tells of its nature and purpose.

Six Committees and the duties they perform. 

In order that the people of Crisfield  and vicinity may understand the nature and purpose of the Law and Order League of Crisfield, which was recently formed, I would say that it is composed of about one hundred tax payers of this city, organized in a body to assist the public authorities in breaking up all forms of lawlessness in Crisfield.

It has six Committees, each of which has its separate duties, and each of which employs their private detectives.

The first committee looks out for all violations of the Sunday law. The second committee takes care of those who keep gambling houses and other disreputable resorts. The third committee has for its object the arrest and prosecution of all persons who use profane or obscene language on the highways. The fourth committee will prevent the blocking or obstructing of the streets and sidewalks by idlers and loafers. The fifth committee will endeavor to secure the conviction of any person who sells cigarettes to minors. The sixth committee has of its duty the prevention of the illegal sale of all kinds of narcotics and intoxicating liquors.

Respectfully submitted by the President of the Law and Order League.


March, 1888 (Time Machine archive)
The New York Times

MARRIED IN SPITE OF HIM

BLOODSHED OVER AN ATTEMPTED ELOPEMENT

 BALTIMORE, March 26-  A special to-night from Onancock, Va., says an elopement in Accomac County Va., has nearly led to a double tragedy.  Three years ago a daughter of Henry Williams, a farmer, ran away and married William Allen of Sykes Island.  The father has never liked his son-in-law, and the latter on several occasions threatened the life of the old man.  Several days ago Williams only remaining daughter left home, ostensibly to visit her sister on Sykes Island, but in reality to prepare there for an elopement with her lover.  Her father, suspecting her intentions, started in pursuit with his shotgun loaded to kill, as he declared, any person who should prevent him from bringing his daughter home, as he was determined she should not marry any man.  The angry old man crossed to the island, and as he neared Allen's house his son-in-law stepped out to meet him, gun in hand.  The son-in-law fired first, and then several shots were exchanged at short range.  Williams was badly wounded, but Allen escaped unhurt.  While the battle raged the lovers escaped, and were wedded yesterday.  Mr. Marshall, who tried to stop the fight, was wounded by a stray shot. 


April, 1880 
(Maryland State Archives)

Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly, 1880

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the town of Lindseyville, in the eighth election district of Worcester county, be and the same is hereby changed, and shall hereafter be known and called by the name of Klej Grange.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect from the date of its passage.

Approved April 10, 1880.

Footnote: According to Wikipedia, "The acronym 'Klej' was coined by Joseph William Drexel from the initials of the names of his four daughters (Katherine, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Josephine), and was combined with 'Grange,' perhaps a reference to the National Grange."

In its earliest history the Klej Grange area was known as Trap or Traptown and later as Lindseyville.  Wikipedia states that the Klej Grange area was acquired by New York banker Joesph Drexel in 1878 "to create a planned community where low cost farmland would be offered to benefit the poor."  In 1888 it was sold to William G. Strickland for $20,000.


May, 1959
The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Md.)

(Excerpt)

Godfrey Child Appointed First Circuit Court Judge

ANNAPOLIS (AP)-  Godfrey Child of Pocomoke City, 65-year-old prominent attorney and long-time Worcester County Democrat, has been appointed a judge of the First Judicial Circuit.

The appointment, announced Monday by Gov. Tawes, is effective July 1 under an act of the 1959 General Assembly adding a fourth judge to the circuit embrasing Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Dorchester on the lower Eastern Shore.

Child was states attorney for Worcester County in 1926-1934. He served with the Army in France as an infantry lieutenant, during World War I, organized the Pocomoke City National Guard company and served with it from 1923 until 1933.


1952..  An idea whose time apparently had not come.

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish.  Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!  



PPE remembers JMMB.

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

1910.. New Crisfield Law And Order League tells its purpose; 1888.. Gun fire over elopement in Accomack County; 1880.. Lindseyville in Worcester County gets a new name; 1959.. Prominent Pocomoke City attorney receives judicial appointment.

1952.. It was apparently an idea whose time had not come.  See the ad for a new major kitchen appliance that was introduced, but most of us have probably never heard about it.  

What could it have been?  


It's this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye!  

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish.   Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

Would you consider helping The Pocomoke Public Eye as one of our contributors of current local items of interest?  Please contact pcitypubliceye@gmail.com

TIME MACHINE ... 1899, 1996, 1904, 1965, Mid 50's/Early 60's.

"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore."  Our tradition runs deep.  Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.

This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; it has good wide streets, quite clear of that "eye sore," known mostly over the Peninsula by the name of "deep sand"; the houses, though built of frame, are generally built substantially and with some discretion and taste; there are two neat, new, and quite handsome frame churches in it; as for the merchants of the place, suffice it to state that they are very clever and hospitable.  F. Mezick, Esq., the landlord with whom I stopped, and his very obliging and jolly assistant, are richly deserving of a passing notice, for the good treatment and the extension of the many civilities to "the stranger."

(Reader-friendly viewing of news archives/historical archives material)

February, 1899
The Washington Times (Washington, D.C.)

Pocomoke River Shut Up.

Pocomoke City, Md., Feb 11.-  The Pocomoke River is frozen over with ice one and a half inches thick at Pocomoke City. Navigation is blocked. Telegraph and telephone communication has been greatly impaired owing to the wires being covered with ice and the weight causing them to break. The thermometer was 5 degrees below zero at 7 o'clock  yesterday morning. At noon it was eight degrees above, and at 7 o'clock last night the mercury dropped to 3 degrees below. 


November, 1996
The Capital (Annapolis, Md.)

Court evacuated over 'dummy grenade'

SALISBURY- Nearly 450 state workers were evacuated in downtown Salisbury after state fire officials learned that a lawyer brought a hand grenade as evidence to use as evidence in District Court.  

Police cordened off downtown streets surrounding the W. Paul Martin Multi-Service Center for more than four hours at 9:50 a.m. yesterday after defense attorney Robert Spery told a prosecutor he had a "dummy grenade" in a car parked 50 feet from the building.

Mr. Spery said authorities over-reacted over a grenade that was inoperable.

Deputy State Fire Marshal Ruxton Bramble said authorities needed to examine the device before being certain it was safe.

Mr. Spery said he intended to use the grenade in court to help clear a client charged with threatening to blow up his house and family with a similar device.


August, 1904
The Washington Post

TRIED TO RESCUE PRISONERS

Mob Attacks Sheriff and Deupties at Snow Hill.

Special to the Washington Post.

Snow Hill, Md., Aug.23.-  A mob here today made an effort to take prisoners from the custody of Sheriff Lankford on the way from Magistrate Rowndes' office to the county jail. The prisoners had been sentenced to ten days in jail for refusing to work on the public road or to pay the seventy-five cents which the local road law provides must be paid by the person summoned to labor if he does not do the work.

Eight white men and four colored men are in jail.  Sheriff Lankford and his deputies by prompt and vigorous action put down the threatened riot, but not without hard work. The crowd surged about the officers and fought clear to the prison doors.

February, 1965
The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Md.)

Pocomoke City Ponders Hiring Town Manager

POCOMOKE CITY, MD. (AP)-  Three organizations have recommended that Pocomoke City adopt the city manager form of government and reduce its five-man council to three persons.

The recommendations came from the Economic Development Committee, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The issue will probably be decided at a meeting Monday night.

The proposal includes raising the mayor's salary from $200 to $800 a year, and that of the councilmen from $100 to $600 a year. Reducing the number of councilmen would finance the increases.


1956...

When I was growing up an item of interest to me was an audio tape recorder..a reel-to-reel tape machine similar to the one pictured, and I was fortunate enough to acquire one.  Over the years hours of miscellaneous audio were recorded on many reels of tape. The machine itself had been long gone when I came across the tapes about twenty years ago but I was lucky to have access to an old professional reel tape player that a co-worker let me borrow. 

So what was on the tapes? Some was just silly stuff by me and a cousin. But there was also a treasure of audio from those decades earlier such as: New Year's Eve family get-togethers; family recordings exchanged with an uncle's family in Ohio; "conversations" with a 2-year-old niece (now a mother of grown children); comments from family members regarding the coming 1960 presidential election; audio "letters" from my cousin in Pocomoke when I was away at school, telling me about news of the day from Pocomoke High, etc.; the audio from WBOC-TV's "High School Challenge" program in which Pocomoke High students participated; TV audio from election night 1960 with Walter Cronkite (and an early computer projection that Nixon would defeat Kennedy); miscellaneous audio recorded from Pocomoke's WDMV radio in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

The audio from the tapes is now preserved in digital form. Even though the tapes will probably never be played again, I still hold on to them.

The reel-to-reel tape machines lost favor to the much smaller audio cassette recorder/players which first became available during the 1960's. -tk



Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!



PPE remembers JMMB.

Governor Larry Hogan Announces Tax Relief For Veterans

For Immediate Release:February 12, 2015Contact: Erin Montgomery erin.montgomery@maryland.govShareese Churchill shareese.churchill@maryland.gov410-260-3866

Governor Larry Hogan Announces Tax Relief For VeteransJoins With Secretary-Designee George Owings, Local VeteransTo Support Military Retirement Income Tax Exemption

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan joined Maryland Veterans Affairs Secretary-designee George Owings and local veterans to announce House Bill 482 – the Military Retirement Income Tax Exemption. The bill aims to eliminate income tax on all military retirement income, phasing in relief over a period of four years, providing for 25 percent relief in the first year, and rising to 100 percent in the final year.

“Making our state as welcoming and friendly as possible to military retirees is not only common sense but it’s simply the right thing to do,” said Governor Hogan. “After years of thousands of our citizens fleeing our state, this tax cut is the first step, among many to come, to ensuring that the people who spend their lives in service to others are given the support and tax relief they deserve.”

As announced in his State of the State address, House Bill 482 is representative of Governor Hogan’s goal to fully eliminate income taxes on all retirement income. This legislation also fulfills a commitment that the governor made to Maryland’s military retirees during his campaign, and is a significant testament of his administrations commitment to the men and women who have dedicated their professional lives to the defense, safety, and security of our nation.

"I am honored to join Governor Hogan today as he visits American Legion Post 136 in Greenbelt and demonstrates his commitment to our veterans,” said Secretary-designee George Owings. “Such an early visit to a Veterans Service Organization indicates the importance Governor Hogan places on our veterans."

Under current Maryland law, military retirement income is subject to personal income tax with the first $5,000 being exempt. In 2013, there were over 54,251 military retirees in the state, of which 50,889 received pensions. Military pensions totaled over $1.4 billion or an average of $28,666 per person. 

“The American Legion, Department of Maryland supports raising the tax exemption of military retired pay for Maryland residents over the coming years until such pay is completely exempt from State income taxes,” said Russell Myers, Jr., Department Adjutant, the American Legion, Department of Maryland. “Our organization supports all efforts to increase military retired pay exemption in Maryland.”

HB 482 can be viewed here.

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview.

1899.. Pocomoke City deals with a harsh February; 1996.. Hand grenade scare in Salisbury triggers large evacuation; 1904..  Mob in Snow Hill attempts to free a dozen prisoners going to jail; 1965.. Pocomoke City Ponders Hiring Town Manager; Mid 50's/Early 60's.. Tale of the tapes.

Read more about it this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye!

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!

February PACC General Membership Luncheon

February 

General Membership Luncheon 

Wednesday

February 18, 2015

(12:00 - 1:00)

Riverside Grill

2 Riverside Drive

Pocomoke City

Featured Speaker:

Stacey Weisner

Executive Director

Delmarva Discovery Center

Tour of DDC available following lunch

Register online at

pocomoke.com

OR

Call Deb 410 957-1919 OR

email at

pocomokechamber@gmail.com

TIME MACHINE ... 1857, 1930's-50's, 1946, 1904, 1888, 1993.

"Friendliest Town On The Eastern Shore."  Our tradition runs deep.  Excerpt from a letter to the editor from a visitor to Newtown, (former name of Pocomoke City) published in the Baltimore Sun, April 28,1847.

This place (Newtown) is a pretty snug little village, containing about 500 clever and hospitable inhabitants; it has good wide streets, quite clear of that "eye sore," known mostly over the Peninsula by the name of "deep sand"; the houses, though built of frame, are generally built substantially and with some discretion and taste; there are two neat, new, and quite handsome frame churches in it; as for the merchants of the place, suffice it to state that they are very clever and hospitable.  F. Mezick, Esq., the landlord with whom I stopped, and his very obliging and jolly assistant, are richly deserving of a passing notice, for the good treatment and the extension of the many civilities to "the stranger."

(Reader-friendly viewing of news archives/historical archives material)


February, 1857
The Sun (Baltimore)

AFFAIRS IN WORCESTER COUNTY.-  The Snow Hill Shield contains the following items:

Scarcity of meal.- The low state of water in the mill ponds in this county, has prevented the mills from shipping the demand for corn meal, and many families are compelled to use hommony as a substitute. Those who have yet the old fashioned hand mills on their premesis have brought them into requisition and find them exceedingly convenient.

Dry Winter.- The present winter has been so dry that many of our farmers have been obliged to water their stock from wells. Wild animals in the forests and swamps have suffered much from the same cause.

Novel Mode Of Catching Wild Fowl.- One of our citizens has been amuzing himself during the present freeze by catching black head ducks in the Pocomoke with fish hooks and lines baited with grains of corn.

The Gipseys.- A company of Gipseys have been encamped in our vicinity for some days.


In Ocean City..

Jackson Casino, once located at 9th Street, was the place for vacationers and locals to go to gamble and party from the 1930s to the mid-1950s.

(Picture and text courtesy of Ocean City Life Saving Museum)


April, 1946
The Cumberland News (Cumberland, Md.)

New Street Lights

POCOMOKE CITY, Md., April 2. (AP)- A new street lighting system, increasing candlepower from  240 to 400 on each street, is being installed here, John Payne, Eastern Shore Public Service Company representative, announced.


December, 1904
The Baltimore Sun 

Peninsula General Hospital, a Gift of William H. Jackson, Opened at Salisbury.

(Excerpts)

Salisbury, Maryland, December 28, 1904:
This afternoon at the Ulman Opera house in Salisbury, Hon. William H. Jackson formerly transferred the Peninsula General Hospital, built in this city by his philanthropy, to the board of directors. 

Congressman Jackson's speech on the occasion was a model of modesty and sincerity.

The entire medical fraternity of the First Congressional District together with many physicians and surgeons from Philadelphia and New York were invited to be present and many of them came. The guests were entertained at a luncheon in the hospital building after ceremonies at the Opera House were over. 

The building is one of the most handsomest and best appointed in the State, costing about $90,000. It is presented by Congressman William H. Jackson. The furniture was given by his son, President of the Board, William P. Jackson; an ambulance was given by Walter B. Miller, and other donations,of appliances, instruments, etc., have been made by the citizens. The hospital, it is understood, will be endowed by the Jacksons and John B. Parson, president of the Union Traction Company of Philadelphia, a native of Salisbury. Details of these endowments have not yet been made public. The directors have contracted for the erection of a new building at the hospital to be used as a laundry, pumping house and ambulance garage. 

On the weekend, December 29th, 30th and 31st, the new hospital will be thrown open to the public for inspection of the building and its furnishings. The patients from the old hospital will be moved on New Years Day to the new building which by that time will be completely furnished and ready to receive them.


July, 1888
Washington Post

The Methodist Episcopal Church, at Girdletree, Md., Rev. Warren Burr, pastor, will be remodeled soon. Twenty feet will be added to the present structure, and a new tower will be built.


ACROSS THE USA

It's 1993 and here's TV's newest late night host:

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting!



PPE remembers JMMB.

THAT'S US!

What a spectacular video from the International Space Station!   In this Vine video posted to the space station’s account, the aurora borealis glows over the northern hemisphere as the space station flies up the East Coast of the United States… and the sun rises over Greenland.   And what is that down there, below… easily recognizable in the beginning?  None other than a sleeping Delmarva peninsula.  Gorgeous!

Astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore posted the video on Feb 4th from 250 miles above the earth… at 17,000 miles per hour… and it’s not even blurry.

(Image and text courtesy of DelmarvaLife.  See the video at: http://www.delmarvalife.com/show/delmarva-cameos-spectacular-aurora-sunrise-video-clip-space/ )

TIME MACHINE ... This Sunday's Preview

1857.. Worcester feeling affects of a dry winter; 1946.. Pocomoke City gets new street lighting; 1904.. A new Peninsula General Hospital opens;  1888.. Renovations to Girdletree church.

What's this popular Eastern Shore destination from the 1930's to the 1950's?

And ACROSS THE USA.. 1993 brings a new late night host to TV.

It's this Sunday right here at The Pocomoke Public Eye!  

Do you have a local memory to share with PPE readers.. such as a big snow storm, a favorite school teacher, a local happening, something of interest your parents or grandparents told you about?  It can be just a line or two, or more if you wish. Send to tkforppe@yahoo.com and watch for it on a future TIME MACHINE posting! 

Would you consider helping The Pocomoke Public Eye as one of the contributors of current local items of interest?  Please contact pcitypubliceye@gmail.com

Hometown Heroes Tax Relief

Governor Hogan: Repeal The Rain Tax

'Open for business' in Md.

Op-ed: What will it take to improve Maryland's business climate? Realism and willing legislators.

By Jay Steinmetz

The political momentum exists to make the changes everyone wants to improve Maryland, and now is the time to come together to make that happen. But it will take more than highway signs and campaign slogans to turn that momentum into policy changes needed to make Maryland economically competitive. We need to define our own success, and this election helps us do that.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-hogan-business-20150204-story.html

Suspect Charged with Attempted Murder in Worcester County

SNOW HILL, Md.- A Fruitland man is facing attempted murder and related charges following a weekend shooting in Worcester County.

Detectives with the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations said that at around 1 a.m. Saturday, they were notified of a shooting victim at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. The victim was reportedly shot twice near the intersection of Whitesburg and Five Bridges road in Worcester County.

Detectives responded to the hospital where they made contact with the victim as well as witnesses of the shooting. Detectives learned the victim, and two other people were driving down Whitesburg Road when they stopped near the intersection of Whitesburg and Five Bridges road to assist with someone who had struck a deer with their vehicle.

It was reported that an argument started between both parties.
Investigators said that is when Kenny George White, of South Camden Avenue in Fruitland, picked up a shotgun and fired at the victim standing in the roadway.

The victim turned to flee and was shot at again by the suspect, police said.

The victim sustained injuries below his torso. The victim made it back in the vehicle and was able to get a partial license plate number. That number assisted police in finding the suspect.
The victim returned to his home in Eden and called for an ambulance. The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office initially responded to the home, where it was later learned that the shooting had occurred in Worcester County.

The Fruitland Police Department located the suspect vehicle on South Camden Avenue in Fruitland.

Detectives from the WCBI made contact White and had the opportunity to interview him. White was subsequently charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

After a search warrant was obtained for his home, detectives said they found a shotgun and shotgun shells. They were recovered and seized as evidence.

Police searched the area on Whitesburg Road, where the reported shooting had occurred. Their search revealed two “spent” shotgun shells matching the description of the shotgun shells found at White's house, investigators said.

White was taken to the Wicomico County Detention Center for processing.
SOURCE [WBOC.COM]

Pocomoke Elementary School

Best Public Elementary Schools in Maryland

 Best Public Elementary Schools ranks 40,403 elementary schools based on key student statistics and 4.6 million opinions from 280,000 students and parents. A high ranking indicates that the school is an exceptional academic institution with a diverse set of high-achieving students and faculty, and the students are very happy with their experiences.

An additional 8,824 schools received a grade but were not eligible for ranking. For more information, read the full methodology.

 

Pocomoke Elementary School

Overall
Niche Grade

• Grades
  PK, K-3
• Students
  389
• Type
  Public
• Ranking
  94th in MD
  
   Pocomoke Elementary School is a public school in Pocomoke City, Maryland. It has 389 students in grades PK and K-3. According to state standards, 95% of students at this school are considered proficient in math and/or reading.

Reptile Festival

A Night of Music With a lot Of Food and Wine

Are you planning any special events or promotions surrounding Valentine's Day?

Are you planning any special events or promotions surrounding Valentine's Day?

Any special deals you want people to know about?

Contact Debbie at the Chamber so the word can get out!

Call 410 957-1919 OR

Email: pocomokechamber@gmail.com 

Submit your information by COB each Thursday

Maryland Chamber of Commerce Legislative Report

The following information is provided by the

Maryland Chamber of Commerce Legislative Report

January 29, 2015

Hogan Budget Unveiled 

Governor Larry Hogan unveiled his budget proposal on Thursday, January 22. The simple white on black cover was as stark as the budget challenge within. For the current fiscal year ending on June 30, the state has a total shortfall of $423 million. The estimated budget gap for the following fiscal year is $802 million. Thus, according to Hogan's budget proposal, the cumulative FY 2015 and 2016 budget challenge is $1.25 billion.

By all accounts the Governor's FY 2016 budget is structurally balanced. Proponents praise the bold action necessary to get spending under control while others question whether the proposal is too aggressive given the timeline. The proposed budget does however, reflect promises made during the campaign; there are no new taxes or fees, no layoffs and no furloughs.

The largest single contributor to this fiscal year's shortfall is Medicaid. The Medicaid shortfall is largely attributed to higher than budgeted enrollment due to the Affordable Care Act, higher costs of new Hepatitis C drugs and a decline in the cigarette tax revenue. To help close the FY 2015 budget gap, Hogan proposes cutting in half an increase in the rates paid to Medicaid healthcare providers, using funds from another insurance program to fund Medicaid, as well as, a 2% agency reduction. FY 2016 solutions include reducing healthcare provider rates to the FY 2014 levels, employee compensation adjustments and aid to education. State spending on education would increase in FY 2016 but at a rate less than educators and county leaders would like.

Generally speaking economic development programs fared well. The Biotechnology, CyberSecurity, and Research and Development Tax Credits along with the Stem Cell Research Fund were all level funded or received very modest reductions sending a clear message that "Maryland is open for business". For more information on how the budget could impact Maryland's business climate contact Mat Palmer at mpalmer@mdchamber.org.

The  Chamber (Maryland) recognizes the Governor's budget proposal included some tough choices and the Chamber (Maryland) supports the Governor's efforts to align state spending with state revenues breaking the cycle of having to deal with midyear cuts and structural deficits. The House Appropriations Committee will act first on the Budget and has already begun to have briefings on the Hogan Administration's budget actions.
  

For more of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Legislative Report, visit the For Immediate Release section on pocomoke.com.

Whoever said “beggars can’t be choosers” never met Somali Muslims

Whoever said “beggars can’t be choosers” never met Somali Muslims in Minnesota. These Muslim imports in Minneapolis are now demanding a tax-funded “halal” non-pork food shelf at a free food pantry for the poor. As if it’s not bad enough that nearly all the “American” Muslims who have joined ISIS have been Somalis from Minneapolis, their relatives here are demanding that Americans adhere to the same Sharia Laws the Islamic State fighters are trying to impose throughout the Middle East. A group of first-generation Somali Americans says they need help in developing a food shelf that specializes in healthy foods that do not contain pork or pork byproducts. “It’s about human rights also, basic human rights to get the proper food and also healthy food,” said Imam Hassan Mohamud.

“Human rights”? Seriously? Their arrogance and self-entitlement has to be unprecedented for a group on the public dole. Tens of thousands of Somalis settled in Minneapolis/St. Paul after Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and later Barack Obama imported them and funded massive “refugee” centers there. Welfare, schools, hospitals and social services have been crushed by the burden of immigrants who lack the most basic skills to live in a modern society.

This is hardly the first demands Somalis have made on the good people of Minneapolis. When the influx of Somali thugs naturally resulted is a massive increase in crime a decade ago, Somalis demanded a $48 million Sharia-compliant “youth center” to keep Somali gangs “out of trouble”.

We have read for several years now how Muslim cab drivers in Minneapolis and several airports have kicked out blind passengers with guide dogs (dogs are “unclean” in Islam), or customers transporting alcohol. They came here, taking advantage of American generosity, and returned it by enforcing their own brand of Sharia Law upon us.

Liberals in Minnesota have bent over backwards for them, setting up foot-washing basins in their airport and even at a university, in response to their demands.

But as with most appeasement, these refugees keep making more demands. Now it is for “halal” products (meat slaughtered with Islamic prayers and a ban on pork).

The Imam leading this protest actually claimed that there were beans with pork in it and this was a “literacy” issue that required more government funding and special halal-compliant beans. But one commenter on the article from Minneapolis wrote:

As someone who made use of the foodshelf recently, I can tell you that most of the food doesn’t contain pork. I hear what they are saying about a literacy issue, but can’t the food shelf people just point out the cans of pork and beans? Besides, the food shelf is based on donations!

This is not about Muslims “making do” or getting help on what to eat. The Koran demands that Muslim make any country they live in adapt to them and Sharia Law. The last thing they plan to do is assimilate.

One blogger added:
How long until they demand separate entrances to the food pantry for men and women and separate entrances for Muslims who don’t want to see any Christmas or holiday food or decorations?
The state of Maine has also been crushed by Somalis that Obama has forced upon them. The Governor of Maine, Paul LePage has valiantly been trying to cut off cash aid to Somalis – nearly all of whom are on welfare – since Obama has purposely dumped thousands of them in Lewiston and Portland.
America got Black Hawk Down and 18 dead Americans. Somalis got 90,000+ “asylum” slots in America, free housing, Sharia-compliant facilities, and a lifetime of welfare. How do you say “chumps” in Somali?