The 23rd Annual Potomac River Cleanup was held today. Organized by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, it serves as part of the larger Trash Free Potomac Watershed Initiative, which strives for a trash-free watershed by 2013. The Initiative focuses on the trash problem from a watershed-wide approach in order to improve the entire region. Last year, more than 250 tons of trash from the Potomac River Watershed was collected.

I am proud to say that many of our Charles County residents participated this year at the various cleanup sites. Teachers with students, parents with children, and even senior citizens were out working on this cloudy day, to benefit the environment and their communities. When we care for our neighborhoods, we can make them healthier, safer, and more beautiful places for us all.

This morning, the Community Partnership for Children & Families, a select group of government agencies, charitable groups, and social service organizations, came together for their monthly meeting at the Charles County Courthouse. They discussed current needs, and new progress in providing aid to families who have been through our court system. Their work helps foster kids; parents who are reconnecting broken relationships with their children; homeless teens; formerly incarcerated men working for new lives; and so many more. This organization makes a very real difference in the lives of many distressed Charles County citizens.

Tonight the Charles County Commissioners held a public hearing on the draft Water Resources Element of the Comprehensive Plan at the County Government Building. Many citizens took the opportunity to make oral statements about the draft WRE.  The question is whether the County Commissioners should vote for or against this 2006 draft. The WRE will determine how water is allocated in the county, where it will come from as the county grows, and the effect that growth will have on our creeks and rivers. The WRE has now been voted onto the agenda, and the record will be kept open for 30 days. It’s time to make your opinion known.

And so it begins. The Charles County Planning Commission held its Comprehensive Plan Kickoff meeting this evening for the public. All the members expressed their interest in making this an open process, with plenty of input from Charles County citizens  throughout the long process.  At this meeting, Smart Growth, low income housing and housing for the homeless, business development areas, transportation options, water quality, and environmental protections for our creeks and rivers were all items that were brought up to the Planning Commission for consideration. By the end of 2012, we should have a plan that incorporates ideas put forth by as many Charles County residents as possible. To make your wishes known to the Planning Commission, I encourage you to go online at www.CharlesCounty.org and fill out the survey, or just email the members to let them know what you want to see. You can also check out the schedule of public meetings, the meeting notes, and stakeholder interviews. This is our county. Let’s make it the best!

Veterans, lawmakers, and health professionals all came together at the Charlotte Hall Veterans’ Home today for Governor Martin O’Malley’s Maryland Forward Forum on Veterans. This was an opportunity to brainstorm for new ideas to address the issues most important to our veterans. Facilitators with experience in specific areas of veterans care led morning discussion sessions which included employment/job training, behavioral health, homelessness/housing, and benefits accessibility. Tele-mental health services and the mobile vet center were among the new forward thinking concepts for our local veterans’ care. Governor O’Malley led the afternoon forum which included guest speakers U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, and Maryland Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Edward Chow. Although more progress needs to be made for our large numbers of Southern Maryland veterans, forums like this one can really draw a focus to the concerns of those who most deserve our help.