Time Machine preview-

 This Sunday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye:

PLUS

May1953 ...

(Friday UPDATE) Tidal Health outage-

TidalHealth systems restored after Thursday's disruptions.

(View news story)

UPDATE: TidalHealth systems restored after widespread phone and internet outage | Latest News | wboc.com

Back To School Street Festival-

 FRIDAY, AUGUST 28TH

Join us in Downtown Pocomoke for the Back 2 School Event a 4th Friday Event sponsored by the Sturgis One Room School Museum and Wulfhause Productions.

Donations are being accepted all month at Wulfhause Productions and during the event at the Sturgis Museum.

Looking forward to an awesome evening in the City of Pocomoke supporting our educators and gearing up for the new school year.

Help Us Stock Our Local Schools!

We're collecting new school supplies to help stock the classrooms and supply closets at Pocomoke Elementary School, Pocomoke Middle School, and Pocomoke High School for the upcoming school year.

Most Needed Supplies:

Backpacks, #2 Pencils, Pens, Crayons, Colored Pencils, Washable Markers, Highlighters, Glue Sticks, Scissors, Composition Books, Spiral Notebooks, Folders, Loose-Leaf Paper, Dry Erase Markers, pencil Boxes & Pouches, Tissues, Hand Sanitizer, Disinfecting Wipes, Zipper Storage Bags (Quart & Gallon), Earbuds/Headphones

Your donation will help keep classrooms stocked and ensure teachers and students have the supplies they need throughout the school year. Every item makes a difference!

Enjoy:

Food

Cash Bar (21+)

Bounce House

DJ Kay spinning all your favorite tunes to keep the good vibes going all evening!

Don’t miss this unforgettable community celebration — mark your calendars and spread the word!

Vendors (Register Here: August's 4th Friday Vendor Application

Mayor Nock's public safety meeting-

..... I convened a regional conversation (Friday, Aug. 7) focused on youth violence, public safety, prevention, accountability, and the future of our young people. This meeting came directly from the open letter I sent following the recent shooting of a 15-year-old in our community, and I was encouraged by the response. Every elected official addressed in my letter either personally participated or sent representation from their office, with the exception of Delegate Kevin Anderson.

(View Mayor Nock's full statement about the meeting)

https://www.facebook.com/CMToddJNock/

Stockton Road intersection upgrades-

 

(WGMD)
Preliminary work is underway for intersection improvements at Route 13 and Stockton Road in Pocomoke City. MDOT officials say this project will begin in earnest next week and includes:

• converting the existing traffic control beacons to a full traffic signal
• adding signal controls to all movements
• update signage and pavement markings
• install LED “Red Signal Ahead” signs in advance of the intersection.

Work will be done between 9 and 3pm Monday through Friday and drivers should expect single-lane closures and traffic cones and arrow boards. Also expect traffic to be impacted with delays during work hours.

Weather permitting, this project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

(The Maryland Department of Transportation places the cost of the project at just over 450-thousand dollars.)

On the north end of Market Street another upcoming project will result in temporary closure of the Pocomoke City Drawbridge.  Our online neighbor, The Pocomoke City Arrowhead, has a full report:

https://www.facebook.com/pcityarrow/

And leading the team at PHS..

Worcester County Public Schools

As we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, we're excited to highlight schools welcoming new members to their administrative teams.

Please join us in welcoming the Pocomoke High School leadership team! Jenifer Rayne returns as principal, and Jeff Postell returns as assistant principal. They are joined by Elizabeth Finch, who is new to the Pocomoke High School administrative team as assistant principal.

We're excited to see this team lead the Warriors into another successful school year! #WeAreWorcester

Latest forecast-

(Link to forecast and advisories, lower E.S. Md:)

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.0722&lon=-75.5638

(Link to forecast and advisories, E.S. Va:) 

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.7108&lon=-75.742

What you should know about Vibrio-

 

(View news story)

Vibrio on the rise as climate change warms the Chesapeake Bay - Maryland Matters

YOU could be a life saver-

 

Sales Tax Holiday in Md. through Aug. 15-

 

(AI )

Maryland's back-to-school tax-free week is Sunday, August 9, 2026, through Saturday, August 15, 2026. During this seven-day period, qualifying items are exempt from the state's 6% sales tax. You can check further details and official guidelines on the Comptroller of Maryland Programs page.

Time←← Machine: 100 years ago this week in Pocomoke City's newspaper; plus 1938.. Pocomoke new firehouse.

 

(Coffman-Fisher was a staple of the Pocomoke business community for more than three decades at the southwest corner of Market and Second Streets. Children of the era will recall their annual Christmas Toyland located above the second-floor balcony.)

(Another ad in this edition offered free parking by merchants in Salisbury.)

(AI says)

The Route: The causeway carried the historic north-south road connecting Maryland and Virginia (which became US Route 13 / Market Street).

The Crossing: It stretched through the wet Somerset County lowlands on the western bank, rolling directly into the downtown commercial district of Worcester County as it crossed the river. 

*October, 1938 ..

Wilmington Morning News

tkforppe@yahoo.com

In the books.. 2026 White Marlin Open-

 (WBOC)

(View news story)

2026 White Marlin Open winners reel in the big bucks, one fish worth 3.5 million | Latest News | wboc.com

Pocomoke man arrested on firearm charges-

(WMDT)

SALISBURY, Md. – The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), in collaboration with other agencies, arrested a Pocomoke City man on outstanding warrants for illegal possession of a firearm.

Officers arrested 41-year-old Kevin Matthew Werkheiser on two counts of illegally possessing a regulated firearm and one count of having a handgun on person. According to court documents obtained by WMDT, he is being held without bond.

(View news story:)

 Pocomoke Man Arrested on Firearm Charges in Wicomico Co. - 47abc

24/7 returning in Somerset-

 (WMDT)

 The Somerset County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) has announced plans to return to 24 hour, seven-day-a-week patrol coverage, effective Aug. 20.

Somerset Co. Sheriff’s Office to Restore 24/7 Patrol Operations - 47abc

NASA wants Wallops protection project-

 (Shore Daily News)

NASA is seeking federal authorization for a major beach restoration project designed to protect government and commercial spaceflight facilities on Wallops Island from storms and shoreline erosion.

(View news story)

NASA Seeks Permit for Major Wallops Island Shoreline Restoration Project - Shore Daily News

Virginia Shore voters make choices-

 (Shore Daily News)

Virginia voters have chosen their party nominees for the November general election, and the results are setting up another closely watched political battle that will include voters across the Eastern Shore.

(View news story)

Virginia Primary Results: Eastern Shore Voters Set the Stage for November - Shore Daily News

MAJOR CHANGE FOR PREAKNESS- no more Triple Crown event:

 

Preakness, Pimlico left out of new race series by Churchill Downs, Belmont

Announcement comes just days after state finalized $85 million deal to acquire rights to Preakness Stakes

(View news story, then what AI says)

Preakness, Pimlico left out of new race series by Churchill Downs, Belmont - Maryland Matters

(AI says:)

Shift in the National Racing Landscape

The announcement of the Thoroughbred Championship Series by Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association has added a layer of complexity. This new six-race championship series includes the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes but conspicuously excludes the Preakness Stakes. 

Despite being left out of this new series, Maryland state leadership remains entirely committed to maintaining and running the Preakness as an independent crown jewel at Pimlico. Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Jockey Club are scheduled to announce official date changes and logistical updates regarding the 2027 Preakness schedule.

Mayor Nock's letter to officials-

 

8/3/26 (Mayor Nock's Facebook page)

Governor Wes Moore, Senator Alsobrooks, Rep. Andy Harris, M.D., Senator Mary Beth Carozza and Delegate Kevin Anderson,

I never thought I’d write a letter such as this.

Twenty years ago, there was a kid that walked to church by himself along what we called the back burner. This kid played endless hours of basketball in the yard on the corner of 4th and Laurel Street with his cousins and neighbors. He went to Mitchells market to buy a sandwich and drink. All of these locations would be known as "the hood" to most people. That kid was me.

The incredible thing is that I wasn’t scared. Neither my cousins nor my parents were ever fearful. We were able to roam freely due to the safety of our community. Growing up, we believed that as long as we worked hard, treated others respectfully and remained focused, we could become anything. Pocomoke City truly felt like the safest little city in the world.

Now today, that same little boy now serves as mayor of the city he grew up in and barely recognizes it. Today, our children are getting shot in plain sight by other children. Now, parents are reluctant to allow their children to go out and play. Citizens do not feel the peacefulness that previously characterized our community. Trauma is slowly becoming an accepted part of life and that should frighten each of you.

Perhaps the saddest aspect is that so many times the young people committing these crimes are arrested and then released back onto our streets in short order to resume their terrorizing of neighborhoods still trying to recover. Local governments and law enforcement agencies are unable to provide reassurance to traumatized citizens while having neither the authority nor resources available to implement meaningful changes.

I’m writing because we need your help. In my role as Mayor, we’ve invested in sidewalks, roads, neighborhood beautification projects, community events and establishing a local government that represents and serves all members of our community. In addition, we have enhanced our partnership relationships with our churches, schools, police department, and various community based organizations. At present, we are searching for every way possible to improve Pocomoke as a place to live.

However, I have come to a difficult conclusion. Regardless of how many roads we pave, How many sidewalks we repair, How many festivals we host, How many times we celebrate diversity within leadership, None of those things individually will keep a teenager from picking up a gun. Our largest infrastructure gap is no longer made of concrete.

It's hope.

For years, we have begged for assistance in building a community center that will provide our young people with a safe location to receive education, learn recreational activities, participate in mentorship programs, gain job training skills and simply just be kids. However, small rural towns similar to Pocomoke face competition for limited grant funds from much larger cities with large departments of professionals whose sole responsibility is grant writing. We cannot possibly compete fairly.

My staff does the work of four people working on a cup of coffee and prayers. We’re committed; however, being committed isn't going to compensate for lack of capacity. Rural municipalities throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore require technical support, specific funding sources and fair access to both state and federal resources.

The Eastern Shore is often overlooked in discussions related to violence prevention; yet, the reality is that many rural communities are facing similar problems as larger metropolitan areas. Therefore, we need investments that take into account the distinct needs of rural communities rather than programs developed specifically for larger urban areas with dramatically greater populations and infrastructure.

This is not simply about law enforcement.

It is about prevention.

Prevention through mental health.

Prevention through mentorship.

Prevention through recreation.

Prevention through workforce development.

Prevention through providing children with a belief in their future that they will want to protect.

Yes, it is also about assuring that our justice system provides our communities with real options to intervene in meaningful ways when repeat violent offenders pose serious threats to public safety. Our residents deserve assurance that the safety of law-abiding families continues to be the top priority while providing young people with legitimate opportunities for rehabilitation before they enter into a cycle of violence.

I did not write this letter to assign blame. I wrote this letter because I refuse to accept that what is occurring in Pocomoke City has to become the norm for generations moving forward.

On Friday at 10:00 AM, I am holding a Microsoft Teams meeting regarding strategies (both immediately and long term) to combat youth gun violence and methods by which local, state and federal officials can collaborate to alter the course of Pocomoke City. It would be a privilege if you or a representative from your office would join us during this time.

I have never written a letter such as this before.

Perhaps that is precisely why I needed to. Because what we have been doing up until now is no longer sufficient. I don’t want the next generation to hear stories about the Pocomoke I grew up in. I want them to grow up here.

Please let me know if you’re able to attend, my staff will get you the link. 

Regards,

Todd

Time←←Machine: 100 years ago this week in Pocomoke City's newspaper; plus, when a well known vessel of the bay became a floating hotel, nightclub, and restaurant docked at Pocomoke City.

 

*(Located on the Somerset County side of the of the Pocomoke River, northeast of the Pocomoke City Bridge.)

(AI says:)

The Governor Harrington Hotel (originally operating as the Steamer Governor Harrington Hotel) was a famous historical novelty attraction on the Eastern Shore. It was a floating hotel, nightclub, and restaurant located on a converted 201-foor steamboat docked right at the Pocomoke City Bridge on Route 13.

The History of the Vessel

• Origins as a Ferry: The vessel was originally built in 1901 as a sidewheel steamboat named the Thomas Patten. In 1919, it was bought by the Cliborne-Annapolis Ferry Company and renamed the Gov. Emerson C. Harrington in honor of Maryland's 48th governor. It spent nearly two decades transporting up to 42 vehicles and 1,000 passengers at a time across the Chesapeake Bay.
• Conversion into a Hotel: In 1938, after being retired from ferry service, the ship was sold to a private owner who sailed it down to Pocomoke City, Maryland. He permanently moored it next to the river bridge and spent considerable resources completely transforming the interior into an upscale, stylized venue featuring vibrant custom furnishings.
• The Final Chapter: By 1949, the vessel had reached the end of its life cycle. The superstructure was dismantled, and the local VFW post purchased its interior furnishings for their headquarters. The remaining hull was towed to a Baltimore shipyard and scrapped
• Amenities and Offerings
  During its peak operations in the late 1930s and 1940s, the floating complex marketed itself as one of the Eastern Shore's finest destinations: [1]
  • Tourist Rooms: The old passenger quarters were converted into unique, private lodging options overlooking the Pocomoke River.
  • Dining Facilities: It boasted a spacious, high-end dining room, a casual grill, and a soda fountain.
  • Entertainment Venue: It served as a prime social hub in Worcester County, housing a banquet hall and hosting large regional community events, firemen's balls, and high school prom banquets. 

tkforppe@yahoo.com