Among the hot issues on the General Assembly’s plate this session — gun control, gasoline taxes, the death penalty — offshore windpower, fracking and pesticide bills are also expected to be introduced and debated.

With those environmental issues and others in mind, the Citizens Campaign for the Environment will host its 19^th annual Legislative Summit later this month. The Annapolis event, Jan. 29, is scheduled from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Miller Senate Office Building.

Several Maryland lawmakers are expected to attend. Those wishing to attend may RSVP on the Maryland League of Conversation Voters’ website here.

As he has done for the past couple of years, Gov. Martin O’Malley is expected to make the case for the development of an offshore windpower facility off the coast of Ocean City. Silver Spring delegate Heather Mizeur has said she will introduce several bills related to fracking, including a moratorium on the process until more studies can be completed.

The Marlyand Pesticide Network and Maryland Organic Food & Farming Association are also working to get the General Assembly to create an online, public, pesticide reporting database in the state.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s 2012 “State of the Bay” report shows the health of Maryland’s favorite estuary — the largest in the U.S. — making a 10 percent improvement in less than five years. Of the 13 indicators measured in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s report, five improved, seven remained the same, and one declined.

According to the report, blue crabs in the Bay made soaring gains last year, reaching the highest winter survey results since the mid-1990s (750 million crabs). Oysters continue to struggle, earning an “F” mark in the report, but showed improved signs of life. Well over a billion oysters have been planted since 2010, according to the report.

Rockfish scored the best grade in the report, earning an “A,” but their number have declined since 2003. Still, they remain above their management target.

Overall, the Chesapeake Bay scored a 32 on a scale of 1-100, with a benchmark of 70 considered a passing grade, representing a “saved” Chesapeake Bay. The Bay’s score bumped up a point since the last report in 2010

"Continued progress shows what can be done when governments, businesses, and individuals work together to save local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay," CBF President William C. Baker said in a statement accompany the release of the report Wednesday. "While the Bay is still dangerously out of balance, I am cautiously optimistic for the future. The federal/state Clean Water Blueprint for the Chesapeake Bay is in place and beginning to work."

The entire report can be found here. The press release accompanying the report can be found here.

Pollution continues to be an enormous problem, of course. Bay nitrogen loads remained the same since 2010, receiving a failing score of 16. Phosphorus loads improved slightly, but still scored a “D” grade. Water clarity remained the same since 2010 and toxic contamination in the Bay also remained unchanged.

Underwater grasses were the one health indicator in the report to have declined, in part, according to the report, due to extreme weather conditions, including high water temperatures and heavy rainfall.

"We have made progress, but much of the Bay and many local waterways don't provide healthy habitat for fish, oysters, and other aquatic life," Baker said. "Pollution has cost thousands of jobs and continues to put human health at risk.” He also added, however, that “We have never before had this level of accountability and transparency in Bay restoration efforts. "This is indeed the moment in time for the Bay.”

Save the date, bicycle enthusiasts, transportation planners and environment activists, the 16^th Annual Bicycle Symposium, hosted by Bike Maryland, has been scheduled for Feb. 27 in Annapolis.

The all-day event, held in the President’s Conference Center of the Miller Senate Building, begins at 8:30 a.m.

From the Bike Maryland website:

“Attendees have the opportunity to hear from and talk to 15+ experts presenting on topics such as program funding, Bike Maryland's Legislative Agenda, Bikeshare successes and opportunities, developing Bike Friendly universities, businesses and communities, the Bike-Minded Programs, bicycle tourism, the new Maryland Bikeways Program, and much more. This is also a chance for non-profit, government, and community leaders to learn about key bicycle issues and ways to encourage bike friendly practices and accessibility at schools, in neighborhoods, and in the workplace.

The agenda to be announced in January.

The symposium draws over 300 experts, decision-makers, and enthusiasts, from the Mid-Atlantic region, who share an interest in alternative transportation options, innovative infrastructure, and safe practices on roadways and trails.  This event is free and open to the public.”

Bike Maryland, with 20,000-plus members, is a non-profit whose mission is to promote cycling, increase safety, improve conditions, and provide a voice for bicyclists in Maryland.”

PS - The Baltimore Bike Party's "Holiday Hangover"-themed last-Friday-of-every-month ride is scheduled for tonight, leaving from the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon promptly at 7:30 p.m. The route can be found here.

The winter solstice marks an important turning, the day when mid-December's darkness slowly begins to recede and the Earth makes its initial preparations for spring.

It’s also a good excuse for a party.

For the second year, the Friends of Druid Hill Park is celebrating the winter solstice — an ancient Celtic tradition — with an evening fire and gathering at Parkie Pavilion, including the dedication of the park’s new Druid sculptures (see below), hay rides, music, and seasonal refreshments.

The Friday night event begins at 6 p.m. and runs to 11 p.m. Hay rides are scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 9 :30 p.m.

More information can be found on the Friends of Druid Hill Park website and Facebook page.