During this long, hot summer, Americans are airing their political differences with plenty of words, as shown in our weekly letters to the editor. While we may be tempted to jump in from time to time, especially when national affairs will directly affect local concerns such as the Chesapeake Bay, we have mainly stayed to the sideline. We are a local paper.

But here we are in those long, hot days, looking around for something positive, and to our eyes, the cooperative efforts going forward locally—and quietly—are worth some words of encouragement. We would like to call our readers’ attention to some of the good things happening, right here. ...