A tad more about Somerset County's big lottery winner earlier this month

 

For the Crisfield-Somerset County Times

BALTIMORE — A 55-year-old Somerset County resident who works in personnel plans to keep working, despite winning a $2.2 million Multi-Match jackpot.

She won with a quick-pick line on her $4 ticket, matching all six numbers drawn on Nov. 4.

A longtime Multi-Match fan, the winner who elected to remain anonymous selected the nickname "Country Girl" to tell her lucky story. She routinely buys a ticket for the twice-weekly drawings and did so on Nov. 4 for that night’s drawing.

"Country Girl" bought her winning ticket at Eden Quick Stop but didn’t check it until the following Saturday.

"I scanned the ticket on my Lottery app and was just stunned. I was so anxious to show my husband, but I had to be sure."

After a second and then a third examination of the ticket, "Country Girl" was confident enough to share her good news with her husband. He immediately knew something good had happened. "You should have seen her smile when she walked into the room," he told Lottery officials.

Waving away assumptions that her ascension to multimillionaire status would compel her to retire, the wife and mother said she doesn’t plan to change much in her life. "We are a low-key, frugal family. We might pay off some debt with the winnings, but nothing else too fancy."

Her lucky visit to Eden Quick Stop, located at 31680 Eden Allen Road in Eden, also benefits the Lottery retailer. Owners of the convenience store received a $2,200 bonus from the Lottery for selling a jackpot-winning Multi-Match ticket of more than $1 million.

This was the fifth time this year that a Multi-Match jackpot had been won, and the second-largest, the first being a $2.75 million ticket purchased Feb. 4 by a Baltimore County woman.

Remembering former Salisbury newspaper journalist

If you're 55+ you might recall this byline in the Salisbury Daily Times from the 1960's into the 1990's...

Mel joined the newspaper staff as a young man in a position that might be described as cub reporter and he rose through the ranks over the years to become Managing Editor.  Mel unexpectedly passed away recently at his home in Florida.

View news article from The Salisbury Independent newspaper:

Late Salisbury Editor Mel Toadvine remembered as mentor, family man | Bay to Bay News

Time Machine Preview

Every Sunday now through January 2nd The Pocomoke Public Eye's Holiday Edition of  our weekly Time Machine tracks back through  news and features from the holiday season in times gone by.  Hoping you'll check for these special editions. We think your friends will enjoy as well, so please pass the word on.

Have a recollection to share? Just send it in and we'll post it on-screen (use comment section or email to tkforppe@yahoo.com ). Names are welcomed but not required.   

Thanksgiving time at the Eastern Shore of Virginia's Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital

 (Shore Daily News)

A project by Riverside in Onley’s employees was featured on Fox and Friends Thanksgiving morning.  For years, nurses and other employees have knitted outfits for newborns that are delivered at the facility.  This week they unveiled turkey outfits to commemorate Thanksgiving.

Worcester GOLD brings a silver lining

 

(WMDT)

Worcester County GOLD lends ‘helping hand’ to those in need for holiday season

View news story:

Worcester County GOLD lends 'helping hand' to those in need for holiday season - 47abc (wmdt.com)

Eastern Shore Holiday Parade Season

 

(WMDT)

As many are gearing up for holiday parades, community members are urged to keep safety a priority.

View news story:

Law enforcement push safety precautions as holiday parade season approaches - 47abc (wmdt.com)

POCOMOKE SET TO HOST PARADE THIS MONDAY NIGHT

The City of Pocomoke is set to host one of Maryland’s largest Nighttime Christmas parades this Monday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. Decorations have been hung on light poles all along the parade route, and a huge star has been hung on the flagpole in downtown Pocomoke. Homeowners all along Market Street will have their homes decorated for this annual extravaganza.

This year’s  event will again  feature  many  beautifully  decorated  floats  representing churches, schools, civic clubs, and commercial organizations.  High school bands from across Delmarva will entertain the crowd with a host of holiday selections. There will also be marching units, fire companies, and beauty queens.  Santa Claus will be once more be in his place of honor at the rear of the parade.

All entries will be vying for trophies and cash prizes in many different categories. Professional judges, including the Atlantic States Judges Association, will select the winners. Awards will be sent out following the parade, also a winners list will be posted on our website. Entries can be accepted until November 24 at midnight.

The parade will step off at 7:00 p.m. sharp from the corner of Market and 14th Streets.  It will then travel north on Market Street past the reviewing stand that will be located at Clarke Avenue and Market.  The parade will disband at the Pocomoke River. Santa Claus is expected to arrive downtown no later than 9:30 p.m.

Although the downtown area is the preferred viewing location for most of the expected over 2,000 spectators, spots all along Market Street offer good vantage points to view the event. Parking is at a premium in the downtown area, and spectators are urged to arrive early. The broadcast will be carried on speakers throughout the downtown area.

Parking will be prohibited along Market Street starting at 5:00 p.m.  Market Street from Old Virginia Road to 14th Street will be closed at 4:30 p.m. for parade staging. The remainder of Market Street will be closed at 6:00 p.m. Parking in Cypress Park will not be permitted after 5pm as the band buses will use this area for parking.

Officers from the Pocomoke City Police Department will be assisted by the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland State Police, Ocean City Police including their mounted patrol, Worcester County Fire Police, members of the ROTC and other departments to provide traffic and crowd control.  

Billed as one of Maryland’s largest nighttime parades, the Pocomoke event has been an Eastern Shore tradition since the early 1970’s. Always held on the first Monday night after Thanksgiving, the event traditionally opens the holiday parade season on Delmarva. The City of Pocomoke, and local businesses sponsor the event.

In case of inclement weather, the parade will be postponed until Tuesday, November30 at 7:00p.m. For more information about the parade, go to our website pocomokechristmasparade.com or to our Facebook event page.

Somerset school calendar changes

 

Time Machine: 1939, 1902, 2010, 1891, 1955.

 

May, 1939

Worcester Democrat

August, 1902

Democratic Messenger

October, 2010

Daily Times (Salisbury)

January, 1891

Delaware Gazette & State Journal

October, 1955

Beginning next Sunday, 11/28, through the end of the year you'll see this logo on each Sunday's Time Machine as we track back through news and features from the holiday season in years gone by.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Downtown Pocomoke as the town twinkles at night with holiday lights and decorations. 

On   Friday,   December   3,   2021,   Pocomoke   City   will   host   the  tenth   annual   Old-Fashioned Christmas Evening from 5:30pm to 8:30pm in the mini park and municipal parking lot on Clarke Avenue across from City Hall in Downtown Pocomoke. 

This event will feature many family-friendly activities including horse-drawn carriage rides, a Santa House, and Christmas crafts for the children. The town will light a large bonfire for roasting s’mores. Community vendors will serve free refreshments including hot chocolate, sweet treats, hotdogs, drinks, and the famous MAR-VA Theater popcorn.

Live entertainment will be provided all night beginning with music from the school choirs of Pocomoke Elementary, Middle and High School. At 6:00pm the Mayor and City Council will light the town’s Christmas Tree with special music by Brittany Lewis. All About Dance Academy will then take the stage followed by holiday music from Costal Sound beginning at 7:00pm.

A holiday wreath contest and silent auction will be held to benefit the Downtown Pocomoke Association. The public can bid on the wreaths decorated by Pocomoke area businesses and residents. Prizes will be awarded onstage at 8:00pm to the top three businesses and individuals with the highest bid wreaths. Information and registration forms can be found on downtownpocomoke.com .

Admission is free, though vendors may request small donations to support their organizations. Guests are encouraged to bring a canned good, nonperishable item or paper product to support the Samaritan Shelter’s Food Drive, or a Toys for Tots, sponsored by the Pocomoke City Lions Club.

For more information or a full calendar of holiday events please visit downtownpocomoke.com or call City Hall at 410-957-1333 x111.

Time Machine Preview

 This Sunday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye:

1939  ..  (Ad) Train excursions from Pocomoke City to the World's Fair-

1902  ..
                                 

2010 .. 

               

             

1891  ..  Before 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown' there was-

1955  ..  They'll now know the way to Pocomoke City (Editorial)-

Modified quarantine option for Worcester students

 (WMDT)

View news story:

Worcester County Public Schools implement modified quarantine for students - 47abc (wmdt.com)

Several issues to be addressed by Somerset Board of Education.

 

The Somerset Board of Education will hold a public work session meeting on December 1, 2021 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. concerning the student dress code, public participation and request to address the board policies. The meeting will be held at the Somerset Board of Education at 7982A Tawes Campus Drive, Westover.

Human Remains Found in Pocomoke City

 (WBOC)

View news story:

Human Remains Found in Pocomoke City - WBOC TV

Is it the flu or Covid-19?

 

Differentiating the flu and COVID-19 as flu season approaches in Maryland

Cases of the flu are starting to pick up across the country. Experts expect influenza to make a comeback after it was virtually extinct last year. But COVID-19 could muddy the waters as far as the accurate reporting of those cases.

Experts say the average person can't tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 symptoms without a test and the similarity could make getting an accurate read on the flu season more difficult.

"The good news is this is the type of flu activity that we see in years that are normally mild flu years," said Dr. Andrew Pekosz, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The bad news is the strain that's emerged so far, called an H-3 strain, is not a perfect match to this year's flu vaccine.

"So that may mean that we'll see a little less efficacy, but it's a good thing to remember that the flu vaccine contains four different viruses, and it may be that the other viruses are really good matches to what's circulating," Pekosz said.

The flu is in Maryland, but the state health department's website has it listed as minimal activity. The state tracks cases of what's called "influenza like illness" or ILI, which is just someone with respiratory symptoms, but Pekosz says those numbers might not be as accurate this year.

"In previous years, the first sign or two of respiratory illness may not have caused people to report that in any way, but now because everybody's aware of COVID-19 and testing for that more, people are reporting those early respiratory symptoms and getting a COVID test," Pekosz said.

But he says health care providers might not have access to those results and would still report it as an ILI. The state keeps track separately of cases confirmed by testing for both COVID-19 and the flu. But either way, if you have those symptoms it's best to take precautions.

"I think even if your COVID-19 negative, it could be that you're flu positive. It's a little bit harder to get flu tests, but it's just as important if you're sick with influenza to stay home and not spread that around," Pekosz said.

Pekosz says the true test will be what happens two weeks after Thanksgiving travel to see if COVID-19 or flu cases go up.

School calendar updates announced for Worcester County

 

View transcript of Superintendent Lou Taylor's announcement:

November 16, 2021 - Important Calendar Updates - Worcester County Public Schools (worcesterk12.org)

Worcester animal control

 

View WMDT news story:

Worcester County Commissioner says recent animal control legislation is successful - 47abc (wmdt.com)

Pocomoke Saturday event

                        

Ongoing scam activity

 (Shore Daily News)

According to Sheriff W. Todd Wessells, the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office has recently received information regarding the ongoing use of scams against citizens, which could result in the loss of thousands of dollars to the victims. Although many of these scams are not new, as technology advances, so do the methods of conducting the scams.

View full news story:

Accomack County Sheriff's Department warns of spoofing calls reported locally - Shore Daily News

Time Machine: Worcester's Rock Concert controversy of 1970.

 

In the summer of 1970 shore teens and young adults were excited about news that a large rock concert might be staged right here on the lower Eastern Shore.  Would it happen?

Daily Times (Salisbury)

The following items regarding the proposed concert are from Snow Hill's Democratic Messenger newspaper. Some of the text isn't of best reading quality but most is readable.

July, 1970