PARTNERSHIP IN THE NEWS

November 15, 2007

THANK YOU businesses owners for your support to our teenage drivers by making donations to the Courtesy on the Road program initiated in Queen Anne’s County this past September.

Courtesy on the Road is a “rewards” program for young drivers who are between the ages of 16 – 18. Applicants who join the program receive a “Sheldon” magnet which identifies their participation. Volunteer spotters (yep you again) report tag numbers of those participants who display the “Sheldon” magnet and are observed being courteous as they drive. These reports and tag numbers are received through the Traffic Safety Office where the names of the drivers are entered into the weekly prize drawings.

You have donated some great items and gift cards to this program, being very unselfish/generous and supportive to the program and to our youth. It is refreshing to see the response from our businesses and I certainly hope our young drivers know that they are being supported by the business community.

Monetary donations have been made by Koons Toyota of Easton/Annapolis along with the Dental Offices of Dr. James Lucas/Dr. Wofgang Manssurri and the Pepsi Bottling Company of Salisbury. These donations assist with the administrative expenses, purchasing of program materials and media costs. Sign Connection donated all banners, stickers and vinyl lettering to assist in promoting Courtesy on the Road. These business owners have really stepped up to fund the program.

The following have all donated items to support our teens and to provide the weekly prizes: Doc’s Riverside Grille, PRS Guitar, Rita’s of Chestertown, Western Auto, Q.A. County Traffic Safety Office, Domino’s Pizza, By the Beach Tanning Salon, Allure Day Spa, Papa John’s Pizza, XtraMart, Chesapeake Market/Subway, McDonald’s, Dixon Valve & Coupling Co., JBK True Value, Atlantic Tractor, Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, Tartan Innovations/SaveYourLife.us, Department of Health, Office of the Sheriff, Character Counts, Centreville Police Dept., State Highway Safety Office, Campbell’s Driving School, Lloyd Haak Chrysler Jeep and Dodge, Kent Island Elks, Fire-n-Ice/Jr. & Misses Clothing, WCTR radio, PRS Guitars, Rita’s of Chestertown, Minuteman Press of Kent Island, Prime Outlets, Dorchester Auto/Golf Cart Sales, SunTrust Bank, Chick-Fil-A, Auntie Anne’s, Lowe’s of Easton, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Salisbury, Queen Anne’s Bowling Centre, Queen Anne’s County Chamber Office, and Food Lion. WNAV and WCTR announce our weekly winners.

I want to thank these businessman and women for supporting a great rewards program to encourage our teen drivers to use courteous, smart and good driving practices on our roadways. Not only is this a program to reward, but a golden opportunity to change the attitudes of our young drivers to enhance their driving skills and lower the “high risk” driving that have been known to be a part of their inexperience and young age.

Our High School Principals saw a great need for this program and have fully supported me coming into the schools to present and promote this program. Our media have also been great to work with to help promote the program and announce our weekly winners. Courtesy on the Road is supported by Sheriff Gery Hofmann, our County Commissioners, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Lt. Dwayne Boardman and Chief Joseph Pignataro.

It’s not too late! If you are a teenage driver and haven’t join in on the fun and great prizes or if you would like to make a donation, please visit www.courtesyontheroad.com or call 410-758-0770 ext. 1234 to participate.

The web site also includes a weekly newsletter and e-note to announce our weekly winners and to keep the teenagers informed. If you haven’t visited the site, you’re missing out of the comments and coverage. Plus you haven’t met Mr. T.

The last week in April 2008, a food/music party will be held for the winning High School class that has the most weekly winners. Two parties one for 11^th and a party for the 12^th grade winners will be the highlight. I will be working with our businesses (especially our food industry) to provide food for this wonderful celebration with our teens. I hope you’ll be a part of this media event. If you are a Disk Jockey and would like to be involved, please contact me so we can begin planning for this fun celebration!

Battle of the Bands will begin in 2008 where our local talent can compete to write and perform a song that matches the program’s theme. Our winner will go on to compete with the winning band in Howard County next spring for the title of “TOP BAND” and will receive the opportunity to record their song on a CD for future program promotions. Yep, I am looking for volunteers to be our judges and assist with this competition.

Koons Toyota – thanks for being our “KEY SPONSOR”.

J. Terry Ober

Community Traffic Safety Program Coordinator

Queen Anne’s and Kent counties

505 Railroad Avenue

Centreville, Maryland 21617