Talbot Partnership Announces 2006 Awards
The Talbot Partnership for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention hosted its Annual Dinner on June 13 at the Talbot Bible Church in Easton, MD. Six awards were presented to recognize both individual and organizational contributions toward raising safe and healthy youth. Award recipients for 2006 were Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School and Saints Peter and Paul High School; Young Life; Cory Fink, Department of Juvenile Services; Christie Towers, 2005 Easton High School Graduate; and Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Drug Ministry.
Susan Pritchard, teacher at Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School, Paul Dahlen and James Nemeth, teacher and principal, respectively, from Saints Peter and Paul High School, accepted awards recognizing the schools’ drug abuse prevention activities during the past school year. Highlights of the schools’ activities included a Life Skills Program taught to children in grades 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8; three sessions of the Guiding Good Choices program for parents of children in grades four through eight; tobacco-prevention contests and celebrations; the formation of Target 2013, a family support project to graduate substance abuse-free youth; a high school youth advocacy club; and participation in adolescent focus groups on teen substance abuse.
Debbie and Blake Wise accepted an award on behalf of Young Life. This youth group has been active on the Eastern Shore for several years, attracting as many as 80 youth at a time to enjoy themselves without alcohol or drugs. Young Life is a Christian-based ministry for youth of all denominations, who have discussions on weeknights throughout the year.
JoAnn Urso accepted the award on behalf of Cory Fink with the Department of Juvenile Services. Fink developed the Talbot County Teen Court in conjunction with Talbot County Public Schools in 1999, and served as Teen Court Coordinator until 2005, when he became program director. He has been program coordinator and case manager for the Talbot County Juvenile Drug Court Program since 2002. Fink serves on the Maryland Drug Court Commission, representing the 11 Juvenile Drug Courts from across the state. Locally, he has served on the Taking A Stand Committee for the past eight years and the Law Enforcement Action Team since 2003. Fink in conjunction with the Circuit Court recently applied for a state grant to bring a full-time Drug Court Coordinator to Talbot County and has been one of the lead stakeholders in researching and evaluating the need for a Family Drug Dependency Program.
Christie Towers, a 2005 graduate of Easton High School who currently attends college in Boston, received an award for her work in raising awareness about substance abuse among Talbot County’s teens. During her high school years, Christie served on the Talbot Partnership Board of Directors; wrote and edited the YCATA CHATA Page in the Star-Democrat; attended meetings on behalf of Partnership; volunteered at First Night Talbot and at community festivals; and wrote editorials on the issue of teen substance abuse. A recent letter she wrote this past winter, in response to the County Crisis in teen substance abuse, was read at the Trappe town meeting and later published in the Talbot County Public Schools newsletters. She encourages youth to take active leadership roles, noting that “Because of the support I found during high school I have found it easy, even in college, to maintain confidence and a sense of self-respect about not using drugs.”
Tori Brummell, Anthony Lovett and Tony Mills accepted the award for the Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Drug Ministry. In the fall of 2000, these three, and a fourth man, Joe Adams, all in recovery themselves, approached Reverend Fentress Hickman of Union Baptist Church about starting a drug ministry. They recognized that drug addicts who come to church need someone to talk to, yet often feel uncomfortable. Higher Ground Drug Ministry at Union Baptist Church has been holding Friday meetings for almost six years now and also has a street ministry on Port Street. Each year they celebrate their anniversary all weekend long with speakers, workshops, and concerts. This year they inaugurated Praise in the Park at Moton Park where over 600 people turned out to talk about recovery and substance abuse prevention.
Cutline: Talbot Partnership’s 2006 Award Recipients included: front row, left to right, Christie Towers, 2005 Easton High School graduate; Nina Lovett, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry; Wanda Adams, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry; and Ella Mae Mills, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry. Middle row, left to right, are Rosalee Potter, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry; Tori Brummell, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry; Anthony Lovett, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry; Tony Mills, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry; and Paul Dahlen, Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School and High School. Back row, left to right, are Blake Wise, Young Life; Debbie Wise, Young Life; Michael Brummell, Union Baptist Church Higher Ground Ministry; and Susan Pritchard, Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary and High School.
