Everyone happy for the new school year?

 

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Matt Crisafulli and crew enjoyed the smiles and excitement as students kicked off a new school year full of learning and adventure. Tuesday, they visited each of our schools to wish everyone a safe and productive start to their new school year.  They look forward to returning throughout the year to continue supporting our students and schools!

            

COOL August stats confirmed-

Thanks to FOX Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Seidel for letting us know that area temperatures in August (taken for Salisbury) tied for third coldest, dating back to 1906!  Thirteen mornings were in the 40's/50's range.

Will we see 90 degrees in September?  Mike says weather history stats favor it sometime during the month.  He says it was 92 on October 10, 1939. 

For those unfamiliar with Mike, he is the son of long-time insurance company owner Sam Seidel. Another local semi-celebrity was former CBS news correspondent Bob Faw, son of a local accountant of Faw Casson and Company.

Slim

  

DRIVERS- Do your part for Safety!

 

DRIVERS!

IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME.

BE ALERT FOR STUDENT PEDESTRIANS

AND SCHOOL BUSES.

We asked... (student transportation before school buses)

 Prior to the school bus era was group transportation available for Eastern Shore students?

Yes, prior to the motorized school bus era, "kid hacks" were used for student transportation throughout the United States, including on the Eastern Shore

. In rural areas especially, these were often horse-drawn wagons or adapted farm vehicles used to transport children to one-room schoolhouses. 

What was a "kid hack"?

• The term "hack" refers to a horse-drawn cab or carriage, so a "kid hack" was a vehicle for transporting children.
• These vehicles varied widely in design and protection from the elements.
  • Some were essentially farm wagons with benches for the children to sit on.
  • Others, like those produced by the manufacturer Wayne Works in the late 19th century, were purpose-built carriages with wooden bench seats around the perimeter and a roof, but often still had open sides.
• A key feature of these horse-drawn kid hacks was a rear entrance. This design was used to prevent startling the horses while students were boarding or exiting. This practice evolved into the rear emergency exit seen on modern school buses. 

The transition to the modern school bus

The use of kid hacks and other forms of informal transportation began to change with the advent of the automobile. 

• Early 20th century: Automakers began mounting wooden kid hack bodies onto truck or automobile chassis, transitioning the vehicles from horse-drawn to motorized. However, the design often remained similar, with passengers still exposed to the weather.
• 1930s: All-steel buses with front-entry doors were introduced, marking a major safety upgrade.
• 1939: A national conference on school bus standards was held, establishing consistent regulations for construction and safety features, including the familiar yellow color. This marked the beginning of the modern school bus era. 

Time Machine: 100 years ago this week in Pocomoke's newspaaper; 1874, 1960, 1948.

 

                                                                 

December, 1874

The Norfolk Virginian

February, 1960

Salisbury Times

*January, 1948

Salisbury Times

tkforppe@yahoo.com

A page from 1916's Maryland's Colonial Eastern Shore

 

(Next Saturday- another page from Maryland's Colonial Eastern Shore.)

NEUTRON'S Wallops Pad is complete!

      (WAVY-TV)

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Launch Complex 3, home for Rocket Lab’s newest reusable rocket, Neutron, is now complete and celebrated its official opening Thursday.

(View news story:)

Rocket Lab’s Neutron launch pad now complete at Wallops Island | WAVY.com

Aerospace Academy of the Eastern Shore-

 (WBOC)

WALLOPS ISLAND, VA - Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) joined other state leaders, educators and students at a Wallops Flight Facility hangar to celebrate the Aerospace Academy of the Eastern Shore opening.

(View news story:)

Aerospace lab school launches on Virginia's Eastern Shore | Latest News | wboc.com

Pocomoke Town?

 WHERE WAS POCOMOKE TOWN?

As early as 1670 a small hamlet growing up along the Pocomoke River was first known as Pocomoke Town but it wasn't present day Pocomoke City.

It's mentioned in "A page from 1916's Maryland's Colonial Eastern Shore" Saturday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye.

Anonymous

Pocomoke Town is what is now Rehoboth (original spelling). It is home to the Coventry Church Ruins.

Our neighbor's Streetscape plans-

 

(View news story:)

https://baysideoc.net/app/uploads/2025/08/08.28.25-Bayside-Gazette.pdf

Sounding rockets launched-

 

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility 8/27/25

LIFTOFF X3❗️The TOMEX+ sounding rockets launched in succession starting at 10:43 ET. 

This mission aims to provide the clearest 3D view yet of turbulence in the region at the edge of space.

Photo Credit: NASA/Jamie Adkins

Worcester Public Schools- HOME RUN!

Latest Student Performance Data Shows Worcester County Continues to Lead in Maryland

Worcester County Public Schools

August 26, 2025

Newark, MD, August 26, 2025– Today, the Maryland State Department of Education released statewide performance data with Worcester County Public Schools outperforming all school systems in the State in both Mathematics and English/Language Arts.

(View full announcement:)

Latest Student Performance Data Shows Worcester County Continues to Lead in Maryland | WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

UPDATE: Mayor comments on Pocomoke community center project-

Mayor Nock says letters of support will aid in securing funds for a proposed community center building:

(Mayor Nock)

Pocomoke, we need your help.

We’re working hard to bring a new Family Life Center to our city; a place that will serve our youth, seniors, and families with programs and resources we’ve long needed.

To make this happen, we’re applying for major funding, but the grant reviewers want to know that this project has strong community support. That’s where you come in.

We’re asking all residents, churches, civic organizations, nonprofits, and businesses to send in a Letter of Support for the project. Your voice matters, and together, we can show that Pocomoke is united and ready for this next chapter.

Please send your letters to:

Melinda Stafford, City Clerk

Email: MStafford@PocomokeMd.gov

Deadline: August 28, 2025, by 5:00 PM

This is our chance to make something historic happen for our community. Let’s stand together and make it a reality.

Anonymous

Government is not a business but construction costs (whether grant funded or not) then future maintenance and liability costs compounded by program operating and policing costs make for a bad investment for taxpayers. Advertise an RFP that the land is available for long-term use by any nonprofit that can operate a sports or youth center and see if anyone responds. The city should not be in this business.

(Previously posted:)

Pocomoke Mayor Todd J. Nock says:

Pocomoke Peeps, I want to take a moment to share some exciting news about one of the most meaningful projects on our horizon. For quite some time, we have been talking about the vision of a new community space, and I am proud to say that this vision is beginning to take shape. This project is not just about constructing a building, it is about creating a place that reflects who we are as a community and honors those who have given so much to make Pocomoke what it is today.

There has been a lot of conversation surrounding our new endeavor that many of you have heard us refer to as the community center. The reason we have not yet officially put a name on it is because we have always said that when we did, we wanted to pay tribute to a good Pocomokian, Mr. Will Stevenson, who passed away a few years ago.

I also want to share some details about where the building will be located. The site is at Maple and Walnut Street, in the parking lot that the VFW previously utilized. For those looking for a landmark, there is a small brick building on Maple that we call Bill’s old office. We are not tearing down that building. Our police department has expressed interest in using it as a substation, which we believe will be a valuable addition to public safety.

The property is 32,778 square feet, giving us the opportunity to build a facility that will serve the needs of our community well. For perspective, the former Armory was only 11,216 square feet on 18,050 square feet of land. This new location positions us for something much greater.

Things are truly looking up for us. Earlier today I joked and said, “Poco on the Growco,” and I believe that captures the spirit of where we are headed.

We are now seeking bids for Architectural and Engineering Design Services. The pre-bid meeting is scheduled for September 4, 2025. All questions must be submitted by September 8, 2025, with answers to follow through September 10, 2025. Proposals are due by September 18, 2025, at 4:00 PM.

For more information: https://www.cityofpocomoke.com/news/proposals

This is an exciting time for Pocomoke, and I am grateful to share this journey with all of you.

(See a related article in the Bayside Gazette:)

https://baysideoc.net/app/uploads/2025/08/08.21.25-Bayside-Gazette.pdf

UPDATE: Rabies- Pocomoke, Marion Station, and Salisbury areas--

 

Rabies Advisory Notice: A Confirmed Rabid fox has been found in the vicinity of Colona Rd., Pocomoke, MD.

• If you, your family or your pets have had contact with the rabid raccoon, contact Worcester County Health Department’s Office of Environmental Health immediately at 410-352-3234. Contact includes bites, scratches or other direct contact to persons or pets.
• Report immediately sick animals and those acting in an unusual manner, as there may or will be additional rabid animals in this area. Prevent contact with people or pets. Contact Animal Control or the local police/Sheriff’s office.
• Do not handle your pet if it has contact with a wild animal.
• Make sure all your pets (especially outdoor pets) have CURRENT rabies vaccinations.
• Do not let your pets roam free or leave food outdoors. This will attract wild and stray animals to your property.
• Teach children to stay away from wild animals and animals they don’t know.

For more rabies information, visit: www.worcesterhealth.org Please contact Environmental Health if you have any questions or information regarding this notice: 410-641-9559

MARYLAND AND WORCESTER COUNTY LAW REQUIRE CURRENT RABIES VACCINATIONS FOR ANY DOGS, CATS OR FERRETS OVER 4 MONTHS OF AGE.

(View rabies news item from Somerset County:)

Rabid raccoon found in Somerset County | Latest News | wboc.com

The Wicomico County Health Department reports a rabid bat was found in the Foxchase Drive area of Salisbury.

Paint Worcester County-

 

(More info and registration:)

https://www.worcestercountyartscouncil.org/

Ed who?

 

Political junkies, did you know?

This Maryland Democrat is changing parties to avoid Democratic Primary and make a General Election run to unseat Governor Wes Moore.

(View news story:)

Hale cites pragmatism as he switches party affiliation to run for governor - Maryland Matters