PARTNERSHIP IN THE NEWS
Courtesy on the Road Thanks Supporters
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 11th and a party for the 12th 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
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CHARACTER COUNTS! ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY 2007 “PILLAR OF CHARACTER” AWARD
Do you know someone that is always there when a person needs some help? Someone who volunteers consistently at your church or service organization? Or do you know a group of youth that have gotten together to raise money for a sick friend? What about a business that continuously says yes when asked for just one more contribution? This is your chance to recognize that individual, group or business.
Character Counts! is seeking nominations for the Queen Anne’s County Community “Pillar of Character” Award for 2007. Instituting a new selection process in 2006, winners were selected from nominations received from the community. Last year’s winners were Mr. Carmelo Grasso and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Newsome.
The award honors an individual, a business/industry, government agency, non-profit organization, and or middle/high school students who have exemplified the spirit of the Character Counts! initiative through their actions and deeds. The Six Pillars of Character are Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.
Nominees for this honor will be accepted through October 16th. To nominate a person or group, nominators need to write a brief description of not more than 300 words about the nominee’s activity or initiative that demonstrated the Six Pillars of Character. The award winner(s) will be recognized at the annual Character Counts! anniversary celebration in November. After completing the nomination form, you may fax it to (410) 758-6904 or email to Jacki Carter at JCarter@qac.org.
For more information please call the Character Counts! office at 410-758-6677. You may also download a nomination form by visiting the Character Counts! website at www.peopleofcharacter.org.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WELCOMES TALENTED NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Community Partnerships for Children and Families (Partnership) is pleased to introduce the newest members to its governing board. Peg Anawalt, Becky Clark, Ralph Marketto, Sheriff Gery Hofmann, Geri Thompson and Bill Duffy will each serve a term of three years. The Partnership is Queen Anne’s County’s Local Management Board. Members are appointed by the County Commissioners and form the body that serves as the main entity to ensure that children and their families have the services they need.
Peg Anawalt, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Child Care Resource Center since 1999, has been involved in educational management for 35 years for both adults and children. She shares a home with one of her three sons. Her other sons live in the Annapolis area and she is the grandmother of three grandsons and two granddaughters ranging in age from 5 to 14. Anawalt thinks her enjoyment in writing grants, and her specific interest for the Early Childhood Education System of Care that the Partnership is pursuing, makes her a great fit for the board. She is looking forward to assisting the childcare community as well as improving services for families.
Becky Clark wanted to give back to the community and felt her expertise working with individuals who have special needs would be an asset to the Partnership Board. She has worked with children most of her life and is currently an educational consultant managing her own business, “Shore Perspective.” Through her business, Clark works with public school districts, private schools and other organizations to provide professional development on a variety of topics related to helping children. Moving to Centreville with her husband, Chris, and their three sons, Patrick, Brian and Jonathan, Clark enjoys watching her sons play a variety of sports including lacrosse, soccer and wrestling. States Clark, “We love the opportunity to raise our boys in this wonderful community.”
Ralph Marketto is the public school representative of the Partnership and is the Supervisor of Student Services for the Board of Education. He has worked in the county for 17 years and has been married for 35 years to Cathy Marketto. The Marketto’s have three sons: Erik, Aaron, and Jon, who is the Assistant Principal at Matapeake Middle School. Additionally, they are grandparents of two with a third expected soon. Marketto serves in several administrative positions within Queen Anne’s County and is a member of numerous advisory committees. Marketto believes his experience interacting with leaders that serve the interests of children throughout the county will lend itself well to the tasks involved as a member of the Partnership.
After being asked to join the board, Sheriff R. Gery “Gary” Hofmann, gladly accepted. Living in Centreville with his wife, Alison, and children, Laura and Joe, Hofmann is a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School, the National Sheriff’s Institute and the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy. His 18 years of law enforcement includes training on issues from community policing, crime prevention, domestic violence and traffic safety that he believes will give a varied perspective to the Partnership’s Board. States Hofmann, “I look forward to working with other members of the community on important issues regarding children and their families.”
As an early childhood teacher in the Queen
Anne’s County Public Schools for 20 years, Geri Thompson now serves as the
Director of the Judy Center Partnership and Even Start Programs. Reflecting
on her career she notes, “This is my 31st year in education and this
profession has brought me such joy to see children learn and then to become
successful adults.” Thompson’s work now involves promoting school readiness
by collaborating with agencies in Queen Anne’s County to provide
comprehensive, community-based, early learning programs for pre-school
children and their families. She lives in Centreville and has been a
resident of Queen Anne’s County almost her entire life. She is married with
two children, a stepdaughter and two beautiful grandchildren. Thompson is
very pleased to join the board since it has been so supportive of the Judy
Center’s goals and efforts over the years. She believes the Partnership
plays a very important role for families and children in the community.
A community volunteer and concerned
citizen, Bill Duffy wanted to become more involved when he learned the after
school program was struggling to secure funding. He joined the Partnership
because he wants to sustain current, local projects. With his background in
retailing for the past 20 years, Duffy worked closely with projects such as
Adopt-A-Bear. He resides in Queen Anne’s County and has a 10 year-old son.
Duffy is very interested in pursuing available funds to support community
programs. In summary he states, “I find the people in the community to be
dedicated to making sure the quality of life is improved for everyone. I
think with many people collaborating their thoughts and energy, that
anything is possible.”
Collaboration among agencies and organizations, identifying solutions, and
finding resources are goals of the Partnership. Paul Stearns, a member of
the board since 2005, is the current President and looks forward to an
exceptional year. “We have a group of individuals with diverse backgrounds
from homemakers to business professionals. Each brings their unique talents
and expertise that will enhance our work to improve the lives of our youth
and their families.”
The County Commissioners are especially appreciative of the Partnership and its members. “The board members are dedicated to helping Queen Anne's County children and families and work hard to meet their needs. Each year the board is made up of individuals who are accomplished, hard working, dedicated and committed. They willingly give of their time to address critical issues and needs of those who may not be in a position to do so. We thank all the new members for joining with our current board to serve the people of Queen Anne’s County in this very important role.”
To find out more about the Community
Partnerships for Children and Families, contact Michael Clark at
410-758-6677 or visit their website at www.communitypartnerships.info.
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QAC Youth Character Counts! Awards Announced for 2007
Released 8/23/2007
by: Christine Grupenhoff
Jack Ford of Centreville and Kelly Moore of Sudlersville are this year’s winners of the Queen Anne’s County Youth Character Counts! Award. Sponsored by the Kent Island Rotary Club for the 5th consecutive year, the winners will each receive a $100 U.S. Savings Bond.
Lisa Ford, mother of Jack Ford, 10, nominated her son. Being the youngest of three following in his older siblings footsteps has not always been the easiest task, but Jack has stood out when it comes to two pillars of character-responsibility and caring. Jack has always felt personally responsible for making sure all the children make it on time for the school bus. According to his mother, Jack rises every morning at least one hour early every morning to ensure that the children make the bus on time. As a result, none of the children have ever missed the bus and Jack is quite proud of this accomplishment. Jack’s neighbors also note his responsible behavior since they know they can rely on him to care for their pets while they are away from home.
Jack demonstrates a caring attitude toward all new children at his school or neighborhood becoming one of the first to reach out. Additionally, he spends his time on the telephone with relatives who live a distance away keeping them informed of family happenings and maintaining a strong family connection.
Jennie Schmidt nominated Kelly Moore, 15, for the award because she believes Kelly demonstrates all six Pillars of Character in her daily life through her words, deeds, and actions. Schmidt is Kelly’s Sunday School Teacher, Youth Group Leader, and employer. An example of Kelly’s willingness to be of service occurred this past summer. At the beginning of the summer, the 4H Clover Camp for young 4Hrs had no volunteer to lead that age group. Kelly did not want the younger children to miss out on what might be their first camp opportunity. After successfully recruiting her grandmother to assist in leading the camp, Kelly set about planning the crafts, games, and lessons for all the 4H Clovers. Schmidt acknowledges that the camp would have been cancelled if Kelly had not stepped up to fill this very special need. Schmidt adds, “There are few youth who would sacrifice their own camp experience to give to others as Kelly did.”
Character Counts! gratefully thanks the Kent Island Rotary Club for its continuing support of the youth of Queen Anne’s County. It also recognizes the outstanding contribution of Jack Ford and Kelly Moore for their commitment to 4H and to others within their schools and community. We thank all 4Hers, FFA members and participants in this year’s Queen Anne’s County Fair.
For information on 4H contact the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension at 410-758-0166. Contact Jacki Carter at 410-758-6677 for information on Character Counts! in Queen Anne’s County.
COURTESY ON THE ROAD ANNOUNCES WINNERS
Courtesy on the Road is a rewards program for teen drivers between the ages of 16 and 18. Once they join, they are given a five inch magnet to display on their vehicle. If they have the magnet displayed and are “caught” driving with courtesy and obeying the traffic laws, their tag is reported (by volunteer spotters) to Queen Anne’s County Traffic Safety Office, where they are entered into weekly prize drawings. The prize drawings are currently worth $200 each week. If your business would like to donate items for our weekly prize package, contact Terry Ober, Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, 410-758-0770 ext. 1234 or email tober@qac.org. Terry welcomes our businesses to support our teen drivers. If you would like to become a spotter, please contact Terry to volunteer.Teens are able to join by visiting the web www.courtesyontheroad.com or by calling Terry Ober, 410-758-0770 ext. 1234. Each week our prize winner is published in our local newspapers, radio (WCTR, WNAV and WKHS) and QAC 7.Courtesy on the Road was initiated in Kent and Queen Anne’s counties on September 1, 2007.
Winners:
September 13 – Jimmy Glenn, Kent Island High School, 12th grade
September 20th – Amy Tala-Ahmary, Kent County Hiigh, 11th grade
September 27th – Amelia Nelson, Queen Anne’s County High, 12th grade
October 4th – Carly Legg, Kent Island High, 12th grade
Winners are drawn every Thursday until June 2008.
(Stevensville, MD) –During the next six weeks, a mural illustrating the habitat of the Chesapeake Bay is being created in the school’s cafeteria. Local Queen Anne’s County artists, Tilghman Hemsley along with wife Laura and son William will paint the mural and provide science based workshops to 100 fourth graders. The students will research the Bay and study different habitation levels of its habitation as part of the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum (VSC) on which state-wide tests are based. The remaining student body of pre-kindergarten through fifth grade will visit the artists’ painting sessions.
The mural will enhance the visual and aesthetic qualities of the award-winning, Matapeake Elementary School which opened its doors in 2004. The building’s nautical theme reflects the school’s placement near the Chesapeake Bay. Grimm + Parker Architects designed the building so that a naturally lit promenade and enclosed environmental courtyard resemble a Chesapeake Bay lighthouse. The theme for this mural and subsequent ones will incorporate this nautical theme.
The planning and implementation of the Matapeake Mural Project has been a collaborative effort of local business leaders, parents and school administrators and teachers. A unique partnership with new local business -- R’s Americantina -- will assist in fund raising for the project. Being actively involved in the community is an integral part of the R’s Americantina culture. Each Monday in November, R’s will donate a percentage of all sales to Matapeake’s Mural project.
To date, funds have been donated by Matapeake PTA, KI Elks, KI American Legion, Narrows Restaurant, and Fisherman’s Inn which will help pay for the estimated $60,000 needed over the next five years. In addition, this project was awarded a mini-grant from the Queen Anne’s County Local Management Board for Children and Families.
Professional local artists residing in Maryland with an interest in the project and experience in large-scale mural creation are eligible to participate in this mural project. Periodically, calls for proposals will be disseminated and advertised. We seek artists who have design excellence, technical competence, experience working with children, and past experience working on similar projects.
If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation to this project, please contact the Foundation for Community Partnerships at 410-758-6677 or visit www.creatinglegacies.org.
For more information or to view progress of mural, contact:
GG Weisenfeld
Matapeake Mural Committee Chair
646-298-5963
Family Navigators … helping families find their way -September 30, 2007
Families in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne and Talbot counties will have a new resource to help them navigate their way through services for their children.
Most families in our communities are able to find what they need for their families on their own. But sometimes when a child happens to have a special need, a mental health concern, or simply be having some problems with school, it can be hard to figure out exactly what your options are. Maybe you think your teen is depressed and you don’t know what services are in your community. Maybe you are already receiving services and you feel like the plan isn’t working and you need to adjust things. Just like most things in life, when we aren’t sure exactly where we need to go, or what we need to do we often turn to someone who has been in our situation and ask them to explain it to us. Family Navigators will be able to do exactly that, helping you find your way. This is best accomplished by Family Navigators since they have personally shared in struggling to care for a child with intensive mental health needs. Family Navigators are available to discuss with you what options you have and assist you in building an action plan for your family.
Family Navigators are not lawyers or therapists. They do not provide legal representation or counseling. They do not advise families on decisions about their child, but instead can provide support, information and be available to discuss options with families so that the family can make the best choices for their child. Services are free, confidential, not time limited and provided by a caregiver of a child with mental health needs.
The program is provided in partnership with The MD Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Caroline County Human Services Council, Inc., Dorchester Local Management Board, Kent County Local Management Board, Queen Anne Community Partnerships for Children, Talbot Family Network, Mid Shore Mental Health Systems and the Governor’s Office for Children.
Some of the things you might find helpful are:
· One-to-one information and support to families caring for children with mental health needs.
· Information on resources, assistance in navigating the systems, and referrals to appropriate services.
· Ability to accompany a family to a meeting for support.
· Empowerment to assist you to become an effective advocate.
· Activities that support families such as educational forums or groups.
· Information about issues or services in your community.
· Participation on local planning and advisory boards to provide family perspective on policies and programs
· Advocacy at the state level to guide legislators on making decisions about services in our community.
Please feel free to contact the Family Navigator in your area. Caroline County - Heidi Rochon, Regional Family Navigator Director at 410-479-1146 or hrochon@mdcoalition.org For Dorchester and Talbot Counties, Bernadette Townsend at 410-901-1007 or btownsend@mdcoalition.org And Kent and Queen Anne Counties - Diane Lane at 410-810-2673 or dlane@mdcoalition.org . You can also get more information on the web at http://www.mdcoalition.org/
The Queen Anne's County Community Partnerships for Children and Families welcomed new members including from left to right: Ralph Marketto, Peg Anawalt, Michelle Johnson (Board Vice President & Secretary), G.G. Weisenfeld (Board Treasurer), Bill Duffy, Paul Stearns (Board President) and Becky Clark. New members who are not pictured are Sheriff Gery Hoffman and Geri Thompson.
