Governor Larry Hogan invites chefs using Maryland ingredients to submit original recipes for the Governor’s Buy Local Cookout, which will be held at Government House in Annapolis in mid-July. Chefs are encouraged to submit simple but creative recipes that showcase ways the average Maryland family can prepare delicious, nutritious meals with locally produced food. The cookout promotes the statewide Buy Local Challenge Week (July 18-26, 2015), during which all Marylanders are encouraged to eat at least one local product each day of the week. Recipes must be submitted by Friday, May 8, and include at least one ingredient from a Maryland farmer, waterman or other producer.

“The Buy Local Cookout and Buy Local Challenge have become an annual celebration of Maryland agriculture and Maryland cuisine,” said Governor Hogan. “We look forward to continuing the tradition of encouraging Marylanders to buy local products from Maryland farmers as we highlight the benefits of preserving our family farms, protecting the environment and supporting our local economies.” Selected teams will be invited to provide, prepare and share their dish at the Governor’s cookout. Chefs should note that recipes may be published in the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s 2015 Maryland Buy Local Cookout Recipes cookbook. Click here for the complete set of rules of entry and additional information.

While any season that ends in a loss comes with a bit of a sting, big-time congratulations are in order to the University of Maryland Basketball program. In the university’s first season in the Big Ten Conference, the men’s program returned to form with an impressive 28-7 season and their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2010, and the women proved once again they are one of the true powerhouses of college basketball. Coach Brenda Frese led the Lady Terps to their second consecutive Final Four appearance.

As great as 2014-15 was at the Xfinity Center, the future looks even brighter. Both squads expect key contributors to return next season, and the university is ramping up impressive new facilities. College Park is in the midst of a $155 million expansion of Cole Field House to include the Terrapin Performance Center, the Center for Sports Medicine, Health and Human Performance and the future home of the Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Developer David Hillman is building an impressive luxury 4-Diamond hotel and conference center that will greatly expand the university’s ability to hold events and welcome visitors eager to catch the Terps as they face off their new Big Ten foes. Congratulations, Maryland. Fear the turtle!