EASTON– The towns of Easton, Oxford and St. Michaels are again supporting Talbot Goes Purple with purple fireworks displays at Independence Day celebrations this year.
The purple fireworks are part of Talbot Goes Purple, an initiative from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and Tidewater Rotary that empowers our youth and our community to ‘Go Purple’ as a sign of taking a stand against substance abuse. Anyone who wishes to support the project can wear purple at the Independence Day celebrations. This is the third consecutive year for the fireworks, and the initiative.
“We’d like to again thank Al Bond at the Avalon Foundation; Amanda David, chairwoman of the St. Michael’s Fireworks Committee; and the Rotary Club of St. Michaels; and Vicky Van Loo and the board at Tred Avon Yacht Club for supporting our project,” said Lucie Hughes, of Tidewater Rotary. “This is our third straight year and we are continually amazed at the overwhelming support and generosity of our communities.”
Talbot Goes Purple promotes education and awareness, including the creation of purple clubs in our middle and high schools, through which students learn that they do not need drugs or alcohol to meet life’s challenges. The project also encourages the ‘new conversation’ between teens and parents, one that includes messages that prescription painkillers aren’t safe to use recreationally.
“We saw a decrease in overdose deaths across the state in 2018, but more progress is needed in order to drive those horrific numbers down even further,” said Talbot County Sheriff Joe Gamble. “We’ve got to continue the conversation and expand the discussion to include the ‘path to addiction’ that includes early use of substances that lead to addiction by our kids.”
Talbot Goes Purple is based upon THP Project Purple, an initiative of the Herren Project that helps people struggling with drug dependencies. Former NBA player Chris Herren founded both projects after speaking to a high school about his struggles with drug dependency. Herren visited Talbot County in the first year of Talbot Goes Purple.
For the third year of Talbot Goes Purple, a kick-off celebration is again planned for early September – more information will become available closer to the date.
Leading up to the kick-off and starting Sept. 1, 2019 local businesses and communities can again ‘Go Purple’ as a show of support and solidarity in addressing our substance abuse program. Lights and other materials are available online at www.TalbotGoesPurple.org.
Talbot Goes Purple is in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools and Mid-Shore Community Foundation.
More information is available at www.talbotgoespurple.org. Find us on Facebook @TalbotGoesPurple or contact us at talbotgoespurple@gmail.com. Anyone wearing purple is encouraged to post pictures and tag us on Facebook.
All support is tax-deductible and made through the Mid-Shore Community Foundation.
Fireworks this year are scheduled as follows: Easton – Thursday, July 4; St. Michaels – Saturday July 6; Oxford – Wednesday, July 3. Please check with each respective town for additional information on scheduled activities and rain dates.