Summer Happenings

At the midway point of the summer, Pocomoke has been buzzing with activity and grand openings of all types. In June we were all invited to take part in the grand opening gala for the Delmarva Discovery Center. This tremendous project is the culmination of years of effort by a dedicated group of volunteers to see a regional, interactive museum serve as an attraction for the lower shore. A crowd of over 400 attended the event to recognize the accomplishment. Kudos abounded to Barbara Tull for her determination and work at seeing this dream become a reality. The center will also boast the largest public aquarium in the region (set for fall completion) where visitors will be able to view the river from a most unique perspective.

June also marked the reopening of the Black Water Café (Second and Willow Streets downtown) following a successful renovation. The café is offering extended hours of operation and a new karaoke night.

July marked the completion of the Discovery Nature Tail extension which provided a direct boardwalk link from the River Walk and making a connection with the original Cypress Nature Trail. The extension project provides a beautiful walk for visitors and is designed to be handicap accessible. The trail was engineered and designed to “float” on the ground and was carefully woven through the land with no negative impact to the environment. It is a nature lover’s dream come true and a great place to take a stroll on a warm summer day.

A companion book has been authored by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, with art work by Doug Dryden, which provides the background on the nature trail and serves as a guide to those exploring the trail. It is a beautiful, collectible book and is available at the Discovery Center Gift Shop. The proceeds from the book are being utilized to secure the future of the trail and to hire a Naturalist for the city who will provide tours and help maintain the city’s park and trail system.

July also saw the grand opening for “The Vault”, an antique specialty store providing one of a kind items through direct sales and Internet/Live auctions. Entrepreneur Eileen Kirkwood purchased the majestic old Peninsula Bank Building downtown and is already drawing folks from outside of the region to view her unique offerings. Kirkwood has big plans for her business and her expansion plans include an art studio downtown.

This summer has also seen visits by Senator Mikulski and Representative Kratovil to discuss the expansion of our Industrial Park in light of the developments at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Space Port on Wallops Island. We are working with Virginia to secure a rail spur which could direct link the Space Port with our Industrial Park. This will provide a more efficient means of transporting rocketry and satellite components from one place to the other. The prospects are exciting. We have enjoyed working closely with the Business and Economic Development Departments of Maryland and Virginia to insure the success and expansion of opportunity for our region.

There is a lot to be optimistic about on the lower shore. Take advantage of these new offerings this summer in Pocomoke City and don’t forget to take in a movie at the MARVA where a fully restored, art-deco theater waits with a comfortable chair; and the $5.00 price for first run movies is a recession buster.

There is a lot to see and do on the lower shore. Get out and explore!