(April 28, 2016) After stops at Ocean City Elementary School, Assateague Island, Berlin and Snow Hill, and with the weather turning against him, Gov. Larry Hogan made his way down to Pocomoke to attend Fourth Friday and award the town four citations for its recent successes.
Rain forced the event inside the Delmarva Discovery Center, where a crowd in the hundreds was either waiting for the governor’s arrival or browsing the art and other items on display.
First, Hogan issued a citation to Mayor Bruce Morrison and said the town really lived up to its slogan of “friendliest town on the Eastern Shore.” He applauded the mayor for the community spirit he encountered and marveled at the success of the local sports teams.
Next, Hogan recognized two of those teams individually: the state champion field hockey and boys’ basketball teams.
The awards were for the recognition both teams brought to Pocomoke City and the state as a whole, Hogan said.
Finally, Dr. Annette Wallace, principal of Pocomoke High School, was issued a surprise citation in recognition of an earlier honor, when she was named Maryland’s Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
This was Wallace’s second such surprise honor for the award, as staff and students worked hard to keep her nomination secret.
Hogan said in all the touring he’s done of Maryland’s towns, he’d never issued four citations to a single location before.
Following the event, Gov. Hogan offered thoughts on his tour of the lower shore.
“I promised to pay attention to all areas and provide all the help we can to this beautiful part of the state. It’s a shame we only get to see Ocean City, when there’s a whole lot more to see on the shore,” Hogan said.
Discovery Center Executive Director Stacey Weisner said she was thrilled to host the event on behalf of the town, and the center would continue to “do everything we can for the town.”
Part of the reason the center would be able to do that, Weisner said, was through a $300,000 appropriation administered to the center from the state government during the most recent session of the General Assembly.
Preceding the Delmarva Discovery Center visit, Hogan joined Mayor Morrison, the Town Council and other dignitaries, including Del. Charles Otto and County Commissioner Merrill Lockfaw, for a quick stroll through the downtown as rain began to fall.
Similar to the preceding events in other towns and areas, residents and business owners were pleased to see the governor and first lady.
“He has done more for Maryland than anyone in the past,” Joe Hilton said. “He’s down with the people.”
Katy Fleming, the executive director of the Mar-Va Theater, agreed.
“This is one of the poorest areas of the county, and coming downtown — coming to the Mar-Va is huge. We’re privileged and honored,” she said.
Amber Thompson, owner of Simply Sublime Massage and Bodywork, was impressed a public figure such as Hogan would even visit Pocomoke City, and called it “great for small town U.S.A.”
Jennifer Procaccio, of the Enchanted Florist, was thankful for the governor’s involvement in the issues facing smaller municipalities, and appreciative of the attention.
Rain forced the event inside the Delmarva Discovery Center, where a crowd in the hundreds was either waiting for the governor’s arrival or browsing the art and other items on display.
First, Hogan issued a citation to Mayor Bruce Morrison and said the town really lived up to its slogan of “friendliest town on the Eastern Shore.” He applauded the mayor for the community spirit he encountered and marveled at the success of the local sports teams.
Next, Hogan recognized two of those teams individually: the state champion field hockey and boys’ basketball teams.
The awards were for the recognition both teams brought to Pocomoke City and the state as a whole, Hogan said.
Finally, Dr. Annette Wallace, principal of Pocomoke High School, was issued a surprise citation in recognition of an earlier honor, when she was named Maryland’s Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
This was Wallace’s second such surprise honor for the award, as staff and students worked hard to keep her nomination secret.
Hogan said in all the touring he’s done of Maryland’s towns, he’d never issued four citations to a single location before.
Following the event, Gov. Hogan offered thoughts on his tour of the lower shore.
“I promised to pay attention to all areas and provide all the help we can to this beautiful part of the state. It’s a shame we only get to see Ocean City, when there’s a whole lot more to see on the shore,” Hogan said.
Discovery Center Executive Director Stacey Weisner said she was thrilled to host the event on behalf of the town, and the center would continue to “do everything we can for the town.”
Part of the reason the center would be able to do that, Weisner said, was through a $300,000 appropriation administered to the center from the state government during the most recent session of the General Assembly.
Preceding the Delmarva Discovery Center visit, Hogan joined Mayor Morrison, the Town Council and other dignitaries, including Del. Charles Otto and County Commissioner Merrill Lockfaw, for a quick stroll through the downtown as rain began to fall.
Similar to the preceding events in other towns and areas, residents and business owners were pleased to see the governor and first lady.
“He has done more for Maryland than anyone in the past,” Joe Hilton said. “He’s down with the people.”
Katy Fleming, the executive director of the Mar-Va Theater, agreed.
“This is one of the poorest areas of the county, and coming downtown — coming to the Mar-Va is huge. We’re privileged and honored,” she said.
Amber Thompson, owner of Simply Sublime Massage and Bodywork, was impressed a public figure such as Hogan would even visit Pocomoke City, and called it “great for small town U.S.A.”
Jennifer Procaccio, of the Enchanted Florist, was thankful for the governor’s involvement in the issues facing smaller municipalities, and appreciative of the attention.