I was so pleased and proud to join today with our two leaders from the Charles County Health Department, HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator Linda Fenlon and the new Health Officer Dr. Dianna Abney, to celebrate the opening ceremony for the AIDS Memorial Quilt visit to

North Point High School. I have been trying for many years to bring the quilt back to our county again after a long absence, and so I am very appreciative of their support and proactive efforts to do so.  I also thank Steve Proctor for his sponsorship of the quilt without which this visit would not be possible.

This is only a portion of the 46,000 panels that make up the entire quilt length, which now spans approximately 30 football fields. This memorial represents the tragedy that the AIDS disease inflicts on its victims, their families and their friends. It also brings hope for a long sought cure.

Here at North Point, it will also serve as a reminder and learning tool for young people that this disease can attack anyone, and only through responsible life choices can we protect ourselves from it. The students will be receiving additional information about AIDS throughout the time that the display is in the building.

I’d like to acknowledge three courageous speakers from the morning ceremony. They are Alexander (left), Toni (center), and Janis (right). Each bravely gave witness through their own HIV/AIDS stories and from Janis  Russello’s beautiful poem in order to educate us and the North Point student body on the reality of living with the disease.

This storied quilt will be on display for the public in the North Point High School gymnasium until May 2, 2013, and I urge everyone to come take a look at it. Among the stitches, you will find tributes to some famous names that you know, including tennis player Arthur Ashe, Washington Redskins’ Jerry Smith, Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury, and actors Tony Perkins, Robert Reed, and Rock Hudson. So please come see this moving tribute.

I had a terrific morning at the Career Research and Development Program Employer-Employee Breakfast today. This wonderful program allows students to learn transferable skills through real life work experience while they are still attending school. Over 100 local businesses and organizations participated in it this year, with the 134 students involved representing all 6 Charles County Public High Schools.

I was very proud to meet Ms. Sydnee E. Sullivan of Maurice J. McDonough High School who was named the 2012 – 2013 Career Research and Development Program Student of the Year. She had the opportunity to work for the Environmental Protection Agency, and will be attending the College of Southern Maryland in the fall. Congratulations to Sydnee!

I was so honored to be part of the retirement celebration for SFC Michael J. Hunter today at the American Legion Post 82 in La Plata, MD, and to have the opportunity to present him with a well deserved House of Delegates citation from the Maryland General Assembly.

SFC Hunter is a 1992 graduate of La Plata High School and his family continues to reside in Charles County. Throughout his 20 years of active duty in the United States Army, he has been decorated numerous times for his service to our country. I could not be prouder to call him one of our own as he enters a new phase in his working career. I send to Michael and his family my very best wishes and congratulations on a job well done!

Tonight the Charles County Soil Conservation District honored its 2012 Cooperator of the Year award winners, Rock Hall Farm’s Bill and Melinda Rice, at the 25th Annual Cooperator Dinner.

This was a well deserved acknowledgement to the Rices who were chosen on the basis of their best management practices to protect the properties they own from soil erosion and to prevent water runoff from their farm. These include the addition of two shallow water areas and a pond, planting riparian herbaceous buffers and critical area seeding, their use of conservation crop rotation, advanced nutrient management, and no-till residue management on the 543 acres that encompass all their operational  farms. This brings outstanding environmental benefits to our region, and I thank them for it.

Congratulations to the Rices on being good stewards of their property. Well done!

This evening’s meeting of the 4th & 5th District Democratic Club was their second meeting of 2013, but their first of the spring season. The Club’s new home is The Rivah Restaurant on Cobb Island overlooking Neal Sound. Their menu features fresh vegetables and savory entrees, making for delicious meals.

The guest speaker for the dinner was Charles County Commissioner Ken Robinson of nearby Swan Point. He gave an excellent overview of the current topics facing us as the county comes to a crossroads between the old ways and the new. These issues included the county budget’s focus on education and public safety; the new state gas tax that will bring transportation projects to our county; the study phase of new light rail transit; the need for educator pay increases to attract good teachers; his support for North Point High School Principal  Kimberly Hill’s candidacy for School Superintendent; the availability of charter government as Charles County grows to be one of the largest counties and the likelihood of a public vote on it; the possibility of new members on the Planning Commission; the Morgantown plant turning off at planned intervals when it’s not needed; the disappointing outcome of state legislative efforts for the allowance of golf carts on Cobb Island; and finally, his own 2014 re-election campaign.

This club holds informative, enjoyable dinner meetings, and I would encourage all my constituents to join in at their own local political clubs to learn about, and become involved in, county and state issues.