In Dorchester County, where many families face increasingly demanding work schedules, limited transportation options, and other barriers to accessing care, maintaining regular dental appointments can be very difficult for children.

Many parents are working during traditional office hours, others may not have reliable transportation, and some may not realize their children qualify for Medicaid-based dental coverage through the Maryland Healthy Smiles Dental Program.

Recognizing that these obstacles prevent children from receiving preventive dental care, Choptank Community Health deploys a fully equipped mobile dental office that parks at county schools on school days.

Under the banner of Choptank’s school-based health initiative, the mobile dental unit allows students to enroll and receive preventive dental services on-site — minimizing the need for parents to take time off work or arrange transportation.

Inside the mobile unit, dental hygienist Elizabeth Boyko and clinical support specialist Lisa Windsor provide routine screenings that many students may otherwise never receive. Lead hygienist Sara Czyz-Harris reports that in the last year, nearly 1,500 children participated in the program; every enrolled student gets a dental screening and oral hygiene instruction, and many go on to receive cleanings, fluoride treatments, or sealants to prevent cavities.

The care-provider team understands that for some of these children, the visit from the mobile van is both their first dental exam and the only one they will receive during the school year.

“We come to the kids, because so many of them cannot get to us,” says Boyko.

“We try to break down every barrier we can,” Czyz-Harris adds. “Sometimes parents just need someone to guide them through the next step.”

When the team identifies a cavity or other urgent dental issue, they connect families with one of Choptank’s health centers, provide authorization documents, and help arrange transportation or an escort by a responsible adult, when needed.

Their service model has steadily grown. After a temporary reduction in numbers during the pandemic, the care-provider team rebuilt its presence school by school. Enrollment forms are now sent home with students during back-to-school packets each fall.

The mobile unit may remain at larger schools for several consecutive days; while Boyko works through her patient list, Czyz-Harris ensures coordination with teachers and school staff so students are not pulled out of essential classes.

“You have to be flexible,” Czyz-Harris says. “But we always figure it out.”

School nurses serve as key collaborators. When a student reports a toothache, nurses may reach out. “Can you check if this student is enrolled?” says Windsor. “The nurses know their kids well, and they help us reach the ones who need us most.”

Within the unit, the dental team takes time to talk with each child, explain procedures, and put nervous students at ease.

“If I can give a child a few minutes where someone is asking how they are doing and really listening, that matters,” Boyko explains.

Children remember these personal interactions. The team is often recognized in community settings.

“I have had kids yell across a crowded store, ‘It’s the dental lady!’” Boyko laughs. “They remember us, and that means they feel safe coming back.”

The need in Dorchester County is clearly evident. In the first quarter of this school year, the team screened about 450 children. Only 83 were screening-only visits, meaning more than 80 percent of the children required preventive or restorative services such as cleanings, fluoride, or sealants.

“That tells you how much work we have to do,” Czyz-Harris observes.

For the care-provider team at Choptank, the work is not just busy; it is profoundly rewarding and has become an essential part of their professional lives. Boyko says she loves knowing she can ease a child’s pain or anxiety in a few minutes. Czyz-Harris, with eight years in the program, hopes to retire doing this exact work.

Windsor, with nearly 22 years at Choptank, speaks proudly of an organization committed to ensuring vulnerable children do not fall through the cracks. They agree their greatest reward is seeing a child leave the chair smiling and unafraid.

In short, this service goes far beyond preliminary screenings. The mobile van’s presence guarantees access, reduces disruption to the school day, alleviates parental burden, and gives children the opportunity to grow up without untreated dental pain — enabling better focus, better attendance, and ultimately better learning.

For many veterans, coming home means facing a different kind of battle, one that unfolds quietly, within families and communities.  And on the Mid-Shore, one in five veterans experiences post-traumatic stress or related challenges, and acknowledging that truth has become the first step toward real support.

That support now looks broader and more coordinated than ever. Mental health teams are partnering with the Veterans Administration, VAMSA in Stevensville, and state agencies to ensure access to care without long waits. They’re focusing not just on veterans themselves, but on spouses, children, and caregivers—everyone affected by the transition from service to civilian life.

This conversation for The Spy features Beth Anne Dorman, the CEO of For All Seasons, discussing how that network is being built, the progress made in understanding post-traumatic stress, and what it takes to help veterans feel seen again.

remedy and an essential building block in bringing joy back into our lives.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.  For more information about For All Seasons, please go here. 

Every autumn, we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange, and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the trees as the seasons change from summer to winter, painting the landscape with nature’s autumn palette.  How does this happen you ask?

In the fall, because of the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.  At the same time, other chemical changes may occur, which form additional colors through the development of red anthocyanin pigments. Some mixtures give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs, while others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange.

The autumn foliage of some trees shows only yellow colors. Others, like many oaks, display mostly browns. All these colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season.

The weather also affects color intensity. Temperature, light, and water supply have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color. Low temperatures above freezing will favor anthocyanin formation, producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color, yet rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors. 

Enjoy nature’s last fling before settling down for a winter’s sleep!  

Susan Covey is the Fitness Director of Acts Bayleigh Chase in Easton

 

Talking about death rarely makes it onto anyone’s to-do list. However, for Dot Mayorga and Jo Merrill, it’s the kind of conversation that can lead to peace, clarity, and a sense of control during life’s most challenging moments. Both women are experienced professionals in hospice and social work, having spent decades supporting individuals and families through the end-of-life journey.

Their upcoming workshop, “Let’s Talk… About the Hard Stuff,” encourages a small group to tackle the conversations most people avoid: discussing dying while there’s still time to prepare for what comes next.

Mayorga and Merrill are well-acquainted with the emotional landscape of grief, caregiving, and loss, having guided both clients and loved ones through these experiences. They offer not therapy or theology, but practical guidance rooted in their lived experiences—approaches that are gentle, accessible, and surprisingly hopeful.

On Saturday, October 25, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (lunch included), they will facilitate discussions that can often feel impossible to have around the dinner table, but can ultimately be one of the greatest gifts families can share.

Dot and Jo sat down with the Spy last week to talk about the workshop.

Sign up: email Jo Merrill [email protected]
Date, Saturday, October 25, from 10:00-4:00 (lunch included,) Small group limited to 12 participants

In our latest Spy conversation with For All Seasons CEO Beth Anne Dorman, we turn to the challenges of having a child or adult loved one dealing with this complex condition that robs its victims of endless time and learning experiences. Beth Anne explains that ADHD often shows up through restlessness, disorganization, or difficulty focusing, but that these symptoms can vary widely.  Our discussion also highlights how increased awareness and evolving treatment options have made it easier for individuals and families to recognize and address ADHD in ways that fit their unique needs.

This video is approximately six minutes in length.  For more information about For All Seasons, please go here. 

Mobile Integrated Health is a term that doesn’t fully capture the mission it serves in a community. It’s called MIH for short and is so vital to the country’s aging population that it now has its own awareness month in October. But what does it actually mean?

We asked Rachael Cox, a member of the Talbot County Commission on Aging and a long-time veteran of the County’s Emergency Services Management, to explain the fundamental role this important outreach service plays for some of the county’s low-income elderly residents.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about the Talbot County Commission on Aging, please go here.