Judge Frank Lancaster was installed as the newest judge on the Orphans Court this evening.  Judge Lancaster brings a long career in community service to this position and told me that he is ready to “get to work”.  Best wishes to the Judge!

The Charles County Public Schools recognized both students and employers at the Cooperative Education Breakfast.  The Cooperative Education Program has been a part of the educational experience in Charles County since 1971 and provides educational enhancement for students in the classroom as well as supervised work experience.

The Student of the Year Award for 2009 was presented to Stephanie Johnson from Thomas Stone High School who worked at the White Plains Medical Center during the school year.  Congratulations, Stephanie!

Tonight was the 15^th Annual Candlelight Vigil conducted by the Center for Abused Persons. This is a very moving experience for me and I attend each year to honor those who could not speak for themselves.

The Charles County Commissioners announced their new Citizen Notification Communications System today and held a Legislative Wrap Up Luncheon for the Charles County Delegation.  The event was well attended.  It was the seventh anniversary of the tornado which devastated La Plata.  Many people were without information for hours and in some instances for days until communications were reconnected.

As expected the budget was the main topic of the luncheon and how it will affect the operations of county government.  Usually, the delegation meets with the commissioners, cut Commissioner Cooper invited all of the County department heads so they could have a chance to ask questions.

Some of you may know that I participate in the Charles County Adopt-a-Road Program for road clean up and recycling.  We held our spring clean up and recovered eight bags of trash from Western Parkway along the mile and one half road from Route 228 to Acton Lane.

I feel this is an important effort to maintain our environment.  Trash knows no boundaries and blows along the road, into the storm water drains and ultimately clogging our streams.  Evidently, we are drinking a lot of fountain drinks, eating many burgers, and throwing out quite a few plastic bags along Western Parkway.