Skate/Bike Park Opens This Week

During my first campaign for the Office of Mayor (2005), I met many young people in my travels around the city who clamored for a place where they could practice their sport of Skateboarding or BMX style Biking. I pledged to make this a reality as I believe that our city is more family friendly when we provide accessible recreational opportunities for our young people.

This week, a professionally designed and built Skate/Bike Park will open as part of the Cypress Park Recreational Complex. American Ramp Company is known throughout the United States for providing well designed parks and equipment that will stand the test of time. Pocomoke City will be only the second municipality on the shore to provide this recreational experience for our citizens (Ocean City being the other, however they do not allow bikes).

Registration will be required by those wishing to utilize the facility. The forms will be available at City Hall (downtown on Clarke Avenue) along with a complete list of the rules governing the park. Full safety equipment is required. City residents will pay no fees while those residing outside of the city will pay $25.00 at the time of registration.

The park is monitored 24/7 by police surveillance cameras which will focus on the Skate/Bike Park and Police Officers will monitor riders and conduct spot checks in the park to insure compliance with all rules and registration.

I encourage parents to take the time to come to the park and participate by observing the tricks and stunts performed by their own kids as well as others. Policing the park largely rests on the shoulders of those who use the facility. I ask for all who care about recreational opportunities in Pocomoke City to notify police of any potential problems before they get out of hand and to report any damage they may observe to the city.

This great facility represents a $65,000.00 investment in recreational opportunity by Pocomoke City. May it provide hours of entertainment for years to come.

Weekly Report

Police Department

• A guest at the Pocomoke Inn Motel reported that some items had been removed from his unlocked motor vehicle.
• Leroy Crippen of Young Street was arrested following his transport to McCready Hospital for a leg injury. He was wanted by the Maryland State Police on two outstanding warrants.
• While shopping at Pocomoke Market Place, Grace Dennis reported that someone removed a pocket bookf from her unlocked vehicle. The purse was later recovered by police at the Dollar General Store with money missing.
• Following a parking lot scan by law enforcement at the Green Turtle Restaurant, Cleveland Jones Jr. of Exmore and Presten Satchell of Tasley were arrested for possessing a handgun in a motor vehicle unlawfully.
• Police reported graffiti located at the rail siding and dock area behind Benelli's on Broad Street.
• Charles Bailey, 50, of 210 Linden Avenue was charged with theft at the Dollar General Store.
• H&H Furniture reported the theft of a vehicle tag from one of their service vehicles located near the store.
• Elvis Northam was charged with theft at the Wal-Mart Store.

Public Works

• Weeding and mulching occupied some crews in the downtown area.
• The Street Sweeper has been in heavy use in the past week around the city.
• Crews conducted an emergency sewer tap at Tenth and Laurel Streets.
• Crews painted benches downtown
• Crews moved voting machines to the polling place and returned them to storage.

Golf Course

• Crews trimmed many low branches near greens and cart paths.
• Crews continue to fertilize fairways and T-Boxes.
• Crews pressurized the irrigation system for the coming season.

EMS Department

• Director Tilghman met with membership of the Pocomoke Vol. Fire Company at their regular meeting where he introduced himself and talked about further cooperation between the two agencies. Several Firefighters have offered to serve as backup volunteers or as part-time paid staff for our Second Duty Crews.
• Orientation of new crew members was conducted by Director Tilghman.

Other News

• City Discount Pharmacy is expanding to a second location near the corner of Cedar and Tenth Streets.
• Several new building permits have been issued for Woodland Acres subdivision located across from Pocomoke High School.
• The City has been selected to receive an Award for Excellence from the Maryland Municipal League at their annual meeting in Ocean City this June.
• I will be attending a meeting of the Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday the 8th to discuss our budget/grant requests from Worcester County for the coming fiscal year.
• I have been asked to be the Master of Ceremonies for the Worcester County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council's annual banquet being held on April 18th in Ocean City. The county takes this opportunity to recognize excellence in the field of prevention and apprehension as it relates to drugs and alcohol. This is the fourth year I have MC'd the event, and it is truly an honor to do so.

Republican Women and Liberty

This past week, I was delighted to speak at the meetings of the Delmarva Women's Republican Club and the Worcester County Republican Women's Club. It was an honor to speak to these dedicated ladies (and a few of their husbands) about Pocomoke City, Worcester County, and politics in general across this great state.

The meetings bring to mind the importance of being informed and involved in our respective communities. Those on the eastern shore share many concerns which traverse jurisdictional boundaries and party lines. I spoke about freedom and liberty as it relates to our traditional Constitutional Republican form of government, and how they lead to greater wealth, opportunity, education, and ultimate prosperity when they are our focus.

I spoke about individual responsibility and the power of individual freedom. Government was never intended by the Founding Fathers to provide the entitlements we have come to rely upon as a people. Quite the contrary, our government was established to provide protection so we could endeavor to seek, "...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" all the days of our lives.

As a people, we were never meant to become dependants of our government. When we stray from those founding principles, we must pay the price with our liberty. Taxes are how government pays the price demanded by her constituents. In the past 100 years, over 100 new taxes have been added. The average citizen paying taxes will, overall, pay half of their income in taxes to the government. It is a recipe for bondage and further dependence.

It is good to raise these issues and to consider the principles for governing laid out in our founding documents. It is good to remember why we sought to throw off the former government of the British Crown in order to "adopt new guardians" for our future. Those principles have not changed, but we have compromised our liberty, and our future prosperity is in jeopardy if we continue on this course.

Easter Activities

Good Friday Service
The community service for Good Friday was held by the Pocomoke Ministerial Association at the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. Many of the local ministers participated in the event by taking a small part in a combined sermon text on "the last words of Jesus". There was a nice turnout from many of the local congregations and a great start to a busy, yet reflective weekend.

American Legion
I had a busy weekend around the city. Saturday began with a celebration at the American Legion. I had a great time interacting with the many kids that were on hand to meet the Easter Bunny and enjoy a variety of planned activities. For my part, I had the opportunity to read the story of Peter Rabbit to the young ones.

While at the Legion, I also had a chance to sample a great breakfast and to meet with several members of the Flat Land Rescue Team. These are a devoted group that enjoy conducting professional search/rescue operations when requested. I have worked with them professionally in the past as great to see some of them at the event.

Cypress Park Easter Egg Extravaganza
The Pocomoke Police Department also conducted a grand Easter Egg Hunt along with a cook out in Cypress Park from noon until 2:00pm. There was a huge turnout that was very reflective of our city. Many came for the first time, but it surely will not be their last! Six bikes were given away and many other large prize baskets were given to those who found an egg with a special symbol. Along with many members of the police department was Chief J.D. Ervin, Councilman Robert Hawkins, Councilman Honiss Cane, Councilman Bruce Morrison and his wife Laura.

Also helping out was Reverend George Tasker and his son-in-law Frank. They provided the grilling of the burgers, while Councilman Hawkins handled the French Fries. My wife, Laura, joined me in following after the hundreds of children who came to enjoy the festivities. Channel 47 came by and took some great footage of the kids. It was great weather and a great time had by all!

Glad Tidings Assembly Service
Sunday morning, we enjoyed the service at Glad Tidings and had a chance to meet the pastor of a new Spanish speaking church which will be meeting at Glad Tidings on a regular basis. This has been a work in progress for Pastor Bob Blevins, and I am glad to see things are progressing along. It was a way to conclude Holy Week.

Weekly Update

Police Department

• Our officers are partnering with the State Police for the next week to provide increased patrols. The MSP Scout Team is a special unit which travels the eastern shore providing local assistance. This arrangement will continue with MSP and the Worcester County Sheriff's Office from now and throughout the summer months.
• Employees of the Duck In reported that a man shoplifted a can of beer valued at $1.05.
• Officers noticed a vehicle on Payne Avenue with a broken side window while on patrol. They made contact with the owner and several items were found to have been stolen from the vehicle.
• Officers have increased their patrol checks of various city fuel tanks in recent weeks.
• Officers reported finding several locations with graffiti this week: Laurel Street, Riverside Drive, Gray Street, and behind the DP & L building on Broad Street.

EMS Department

• Our new ambulance, A-1, went into full service. Director Tighlman is working on securing all of the needed equipment for the spare ambulance to be completely operative.
• DOT inspections are being performed on the two older units.

Public Works

• Crews continued stabilizing berms at the treatment plant.
• Crews installed a new bleeder line and valve box at the end of Greenway Avenue.
• Crews repaired a storm drain and sidewalk problem on Front Street near Linden Avenue.

Golf Course

• DP & L installed a larger meter on our new pole location on Winter Quarters Drive. This is being done in preparation for a new line being trenched into the course which will eliminate the overhead line on Hole #2.
• Crews worked on our pump station and sprayers while repairing the foot valves at the site where we draft water for course irrigation.
• The cart path work was reviewed with the contractor and the bill submitted for payment.

Skateboard Park Update

• All of the equipment has been ordered from American Ramp Company (ARC)and delivery is expected within 8-weeks.
• A fence will be installed prior to the delivery of the equipment.

Heritage Tours in 2009

One of the add on items brought to the council meeting last Monday night involved a project I have been working on with several other government officials and private citizens. It involves the promotion of Heritage Tours in Worcester County, specifically for Black History and historical Worcester County figures and prominent sites. The group has included members of the NAACP such as President Edward Lee and Gabe Purnell, Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, Berlin Mayor Tom Cardinale, Worcester County Director of Tourism Lisa Challenger, and Pocomoke Main Street Coordinator Michael Day.

The idea began to simply find a way to recognize the efforts and contributions of black individuals who were born or lived in Worcester County. It was agreed that establishing a historical record was the place to begin. At the same time, it was agreed that the effort could provide opportunity for commercial endeavors and tourism outside of Ocean City.

In earnest, the group is working toward a phase one goal of developing a series of Heritage Tours which would begin in the summer tourism season of 2009. Since Pocomoke City already has the Sturgis One Room School House Museum, Heritage House Museum, and the Delmarva Discovery Center, it seemed best to utilize these locations. The tour could also include a boat tour up river which would provide details of the Underground Rail Road established by Harriett Tubman which had a leg of the journey through the Pocomoke River basin. The day would be capped off with a theatrical performance at the Marva Theater of a play written specifically about black heritage on the eastern shore.

We are currently seeking support from the municipalities as well as Worcester County to assist in funding the historical research needed as well as the promotion of the tour events. Pocomoke City was ahead of the curve when we sat down at the table and, as a result, we will reap the benefit of being able to provide a wonderful opportunity for folks to explore the shore through Heritage Tours next year if the project becomes a reality.

PAC-14 "One on One" Show

I recently was a guest on the "One on One" show hosted by Phil Tilghman on PAC-14. It was a thrity minute interview with the initial airing this week. I enjoyed the opportunity to talk about Pocomoke City and the current and future growth issues which we face.

I also had a chance to speak with the PAC-14 folks about the broadcasting of government meetings. I am looking forward to disucssing this at our next city council meeting. I wanted to address it this past meeting, but I was unable to speak with Comcast prior to the meeting and was not prepared to have the discussion.

While I realize we do not receive PAC-14 in Pocomoke City, it was a great opportunity to showcase the city to Wicomico County and beyond.