We're joined here by Delegate Charles J Otto to issue commendations from the General Assembly, on behalf of the Senate and House.

Here, a boxing champion from Prince George's County is being recognized by elected officials from PG.

A great group of Senate pages from the week! As we prepare to end another week, look at the great smiles of all these pages from across Maryland. They’re looking forward to Sine Die, the day we adjourn.

All this art and staging is from students at Worcester Preparatory School, during the night of a fabulous presentation of Beauty and the Beast by Worcester Prep students.

All this art and staging is from students at Worcester Preparatory School, during the night of a fabulous presentation of Beauty and the Beast by Worcester Prep students.

All this art and staging is from students at Worcester Preparatory School, during the night of a fabulous presentation of Beauty and the Beast by Worcester Prep students.

Here’s the Somerset County Farm Bureau dinner, featuring farmers like County Commissioner Charles Fisher and Rex Simpkins, and Ag Secretary Joe Bartenfelder.

Here’s the Somerset County Farm Bureau dinner, featuring farmers like County Commissioner Charles Fisher and Rex Simpkins, and Ag Secretary Joe Bartenfelder.

Here’s the Somerset County Farm Bureau dinner, featuring farmers like County Commissioner Charles Fisher and Rex Simpkins, and Ag Secretary Joe Bartenfelder.

Here we’re honoring Merrill Lockfaw’s 45 years of service with the Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company.

This man was honored for his 55 years with the fire company!

Here's Congressman Steny Hoyer (D­Md­5th), the US House of Representatives minority leader, addressing the Senate about the many issues of collaboration, includingthe prohibition of oil and gas drilling.

Pocomoke City Councilwoman Esther Troast, in her capacity as the Acting Mayor of Pocomoke City, is expressing her gratitude the honored firefighters on behalf of the city.

 Here’s the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce, with President Bill Buttrill, at their annual installation banquet, with Sheriff Ronnie Howard.

Here’s a fundraiser at Main Street Gym, a great turnout for a fundraiser for our youth.

At the Snow Hill Oyster Fest, here’s the Optimist Club president Steve Acton.

I was joined in Snow Hill by Mayor Charlie Dorman, as well as Doug Reynolds on the mayor’s right. My friends and I were down at the FUN­day Oyster Roast, with hundreds of other folks, like this gentleman on my left, having a great time!

Here’s Michael Day and a friend at the Snow Hill event.

All these volunteers made the Snow Hill Oyster Roast a smashing success!

As we ended a great week, Christian and I were out enjoying Berlin and the Eastern Shore. Check out tat smile and that red red. What a bundle of joy! This is why we all work together to make the Shore a great place for us, and for our future. We love you Christian! We love all the kids of the Shore.

As we ended a great week, Christian and I were out enjoying Berlin and the Eastern Shore. Check out tat smile and that red red. What a bundle of joy! This is why we all work together to make the Shore a great place for us, and for our future. We love you Christian! We love all the kids of the Shore.

29 days left to see you “Under the Dome!” Looking forward to seeing you, have a great week, please email­call­text to stay in touch. We would love to give you a tour!

Here on Maryland Arts day, we had visitors including Rena Thaler, Jan Perdue, Teresa Fields from Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council.

Here’s myself and dear friend Sen John Astle, who’s a colonel and Vietnam War pilot, he’s retiring, and he gave the George Washington address this year in the preserved Senate chambers, where GW resigned as commander in chief of the Continental Army. The photo was taken after that speech.

In the Senate chamber, It was Maryland Libraries Day, and these are Maryland state library leaders.

At the table, the gentleman on my right, Ed Goyda, he’s the Somerset County library director, the woman in the middle, Jennifer Ranck, is from Worcester, and the woman on the end of the table, Andrea Berstler, is the Wicomico County library leader. The other man is the Eastern Shore library director, John Venditta.

This picture is an oil spill ­ which we do NOT want to have happen It would be oneof our worst nightmares, and that’s why I filed Senate Joint Resolution 11

It was Dentists Day in Annapolis, and these folks with me are dentists. The woman in the turquoise jacket is Dr. Celeste Ziara, and she is the Dental Chief for Chesapeake Health. These folks also are behind an annual dental clinic at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center, called Mission of Mercy, where they spend two days doing pro bono dentistry for patients in need. We thank them, the regional dentist, for volunteering their time!

In the next photo, they’re giving me a gift of toothpaste How critically important ourdental health is to our comprehensive health!008 ­ When not at the lectern in the Senate chamber, Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr.sits in my row. There was a bill out of committee that would have allowed international observers in our polling places. Although the bill appeared to have good intentions, all the allegations involving Russian engagements in our last presidential election caused great concern among senators. The bill (SB 190) was moving, and President Miller left the lectern to speak form his seat, and urged the bill get sent back to committee. Thank you, President Miller, for keeping the integrity of the election process in Maryland!

These were two of our fine Senate pages that joined us for the week.

Fine folks in the Senate gallery coming to visit the session.

Right outside the historic Senate chamber, in a vault, is the original manuscriptthat Gen. George Washington read from when resigning his commission from the Continental Army. These are some Girl Scouts who came to visit.

These folks also visited for Maryland Arts Day.

This big group members are Eastern Shore supporters of the arts. I thank them allfor being supporters of the arts, as well as Governor Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan.

Here’s Senator Astle (far right) sitting with advocates for the blind, testifying on SB482. The woman is the executive director the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, her name is Sharon Meineke. This bill establishes the Remote Access Information Program for Deaf­Blind Individuals. The purpose of the SB 482 program is to use audio and video technology, akin to body cameras worn by police, to connect deaf­blind individuals with a human assistant, who would provide them real­time information on their whereabouts and what lays before them.

Talking with my buddy Pope Francis! Asking him to pray for all of us in the General Assembly for wisdom over the remaining 30 days.

Here we are at an event for Catholic Charities USA, alongside the Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. The younger priest isMsgr. Steve Hurley – who used to be a detective with the Ocean City Police Department! We were joined by Senator Steve Hershey (D­36) who’s a Republican, I”m a Democrat, we’re all one in the eyes of God!

The young fellow, he’s the drummer for Archbishop Spalding High School, who provided music for the evening at this Catholic Charities event. Their choir and band performed beautifully for us that evening. We're also with Senator Victor Ramirez (D­47). On my right was the late Senator Wayne Norman – who knew that in less than a week he would be gone?

A row of hierarchy here, from the Catholic Church, for Catholic Charities night. They were here to give thanks to God, and for His continued strength and wisdom as we continue on the work of the people of Maryland.

Members of the crowd enjoy their meal during the Catholic Charities event.

Front and center, this is Mark Belton, our Secretary of the Natural Resources. Mark is a great guy. He joined us at the Lower Shore delegation meeting, speaking of numerous DNR issues that affect the Lower Shore, including keeping the Ocean CIty Inlet open in order to protect our commercial and recreational fishery.

Kevin Atticks (center) works with the Brewers Association of Maryland on issues related to craft wineries and distilleries. Here he is testifying on the importance of craft beer, a robust and growing industry throughout Maryland. Here on the Lower Eastern Shore, we have several fantastic breweries, including BurleyOak Brewing Company, Evolution Craft Brewing Company, Backshore Brewing Company, Fin City Brewing Company, and others.

This is Beth Anne Langrall with For All Seasons, Inc., a behavioral health and rape crisis center serving the Lower Shore. Integration of our behavioral health and physical health needs on the Shore is critically important.

Here’s my turning over Senate Joint Resolution 11, calling on Congress and the President to NOT go forward with offshore oil and gas drilling off the Maryland coast, or any region that could affect the tides and Chesapeake Bay.