Tonight I attended the dedication of the Mary B. Neal Elementary School in Waldorf.  This is a beautiful facility and one of which all Charles County residents can be proud.  This school opened on August 25, 2008, and is an 86,880 square foot, two story building.  It has the latest design elements and will serve the county and its 623 students well.  The cost of the facility was $19.5 million, funded by Charles County and the State of Maryland.  Carol Leveillee is the first principal assigned to the school.

Wow! Opening Night at the Blue Crabs – I attended with my daughter, Katie and son-in-law, John and the apple of my eye – Bryce.  My little guy wanted to go down on the field to play with the big boys.  He had brought along his mitt but soon wanted one of those big fingers to wave.  Of course, he got one and proceeded to dance in the aisle to the beat of “Move It, Move It.”  Hilarious – but lots of fun!

The Charles Coil Conservation District held their 21^st Annual Cooperator Dinner on Wednesday.  This year Michael, Barbara, and Shirley Roberts were named the 2008 Cooperators of the Year.  They were cited for their sediment erosion control programs.

These erosion control efforts by our farmers are very important to the health of our streams, rivers, and Chesapeake Bay.  The Roberts operate Mill Spring Farm and set an example to using modern methods to address silt runoff and coaxing the most production out of the land.  My hat is off to this hard working trio.

Elmer S. (Bud) Biles, a life long resident of Charles County, received the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award today in Annapolis.  Bud grew up in Charles County and always had a love and appreciation of its local history.  When the large parcel of land that is home to Mount Aventine, a historic antebellum home built on the property in 1840 was under threat of development in the 1990′s, he joined the Friends of Mount Aventine.

He has worked tirelessly through the years, attending hearings and conducting citizen outreach until the state purchases the property in 1998 and later created Chapman State Park.

During this time Bud also traced the history of the Chapman family who owned the property from 1750 to 1914.  In 2008, Charles County observed its 350^th anniversary.  Bud developed lectures tracing the county and park history through the 350 years.  The series was included in the official 350^th Charles County Anniversary Program.  Through his outstanding volunteer service, Bud Biles has heightened awareness and knowledge of the history and culture of Charles County.   Bud was nominated by Carol Ghebelian of the Friends of Chapman State Park.

I was delighted to attend the ceremony and see Bud get this well deserved award.

The Charles County Chamber of Commerce holds an annual Legislative Wrap Up Breakfast for county business leaders to discuss the General Assembly Session with the Charles County legislators serving in the Senate and House of Delegates.

As you would expect the Chamber is most interested in legislation which will have an effect on the operation of businesses and possibly affect the finances of both the State and County for the coming year.  This year with the current economic climate, finances and budgets are of critical importance.

I appreciate the thoughtful questions asked and an opportunity to explain certain passed bills which have been sent to the Governor for possible signature.  We got a warm welcome from Chamber President Ken Weikel of Chick-fil-A in Waldorf and his staff.