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County spotlights youth projects, teen grants and bus drivers; proclaims Public Health and Telecommunicators weeks
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Summary
Commissioners recognized Character Counts volunteers and two teen grant recipients, heard student Sam Callahan describe a canine cancer charity, and issued proclamations marking National Public Health Week and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honoring dispatchers for their role in emergency response.
At the April meeting, Queen Anne's County commissioners received updates from the Character Counts program, presented teen community-grant awards and issued two proclamations recognizing public health and telecommunicators.
Melinda Ray, the county's Character Counts coordinator, updated commissioners on program activities, saying volunteers reached students across the county this school year, including K–5 classrooms, four middle schools and Ryde River Upper School, and that the program had expanded to a homeschool co-op. "We're reaching students all throughout the county whether they go to our public schools or not," Ray said.
The children's council awarded two Jackie Carter "Teen Who Cares" grants of $500 each. One recipient, Riley Korn of Kent Island High School, was unable to attend; Ray said Riley used her grant to start a pickleball program that has 30 participating students and plans to compete in upcoming tournaments. The second recipient, Sam Callahan, received a $500 grant to start the Chesapeake Canine Charity, which aims to help local dog owners cover expenses for canine cancer treatment. Sam described fundraising plans — including a breakfast event at the jetty and a table at Kent Island Days — and said the nonprofit is still in formation.
Commissioners also presented a recognition to local bus drivers as the Character Counts "spotlight" for April, honoring trustworthiness and the everyday role that drivers play transporting students to school.
Proclamations - Proclamation 25-12: National Public Health Week (April 7–13, 2025). Bryce Strang, the county health officer, accepted the proclamation and highlighted the week—s theme, "It starts here," focusing on local public-health partnerships. "The theme this year is ‘it starts here,’ and by that, it means it starts here with the boots on the ground," Strang said. - Proclamation 25-13: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 13–19, 2025). Commissioners honored dispatchers and communications staff. Phil English, communications chief, described the 24/72 shift schedule and the workload in the 9-1-1 center. Dispatchers DJ Wifty and Linda Port accepted the proclamation. DJ Wifty said staff training is ongoing: "Training, training, training. Constant bits. It's an everyday thing," he said.
Why it matters: the recognitions and proclamations highlight county volunteerism, youth civic projects and public-safety support roles that operate behind the scenes to serve residents.
Speakers quoted in the story are identified in the meeting transcript.
