NEWARK, DE (September 12, 2012) – City of Newark officials were joined this morning by Governor Jack Markell, U.S. Senator Tom Carper, DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt and DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara to mark the long awaited grand opening of the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail. The trail was ten years in the making and a result of the City of Newark’s partnership with several agencies including DelDOT, Delaware State Parks, University of Delaware, and DART.

 The two mile long trail, built along the former Pomeroy –Newark Rail Line, is unique in that it provides direct access to a commercial area – Main Street, the Newark Shopping Center, and the University of Delaware’s Laird Campus .The trail provides safe and convenient ways to reach businesses, parks, and transit. Providing an alternative means of transportation to the area is expected to have economic benefits as well by serving a diverse group of people including students and shoppers as well as runners, walkers, and bicyclists. Additionally, the two mile trail extends north through Newark into the White Clay Creek State Park and becomes another recreation corridor that will encourage more physical activity.

 Making Delaware a healthier, more active, more vibrant and attractive place to live and work are critical elements of Governor Jack Markell’s Trails and Pathways Initiative, of which the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail is part. Trails and bike routes are essential elements of the initiative. Since July 2011, 9.1 miles of new trail have opened; 7.5 miles are under construction, and 17.3 miles are in planning and design. A vital outcome of opening trails such as the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail will be improved connections within communities and from community to community linking workplaces, schools, parks, libraries and businesses. In addition, there are nearly 12 million people who live within one hour of Delaware’s borders, in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Virginia. There is tremendous potential to boost trail tourism for both day visitors and overnight tourists as a result, in Newark and elsewhere.

 “This trail offers Delawareans a chance to hike and bike and enjoy the outdoors while making our state more walk-able, bike-able and livable,” said Governor Jack Markell.  “Residents and visitors are gaining access to something that connects them to businesses, schools and leisurely destinations.  The trail recreationally benefits its users and economically benefits the larger community.”   

“The Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail has been over a decade in the making and its completion is all due to a collaboration of all levels of government,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “The Federal Highway Administration provided $4.7 million for the design and construction of this trail. That, along with funding from the State and coordination between the City of Newark and WILMAPCO, has provided another safe and healthy way for walkers, runners and bikers to enjoy this community.”

 City officials noted that discussion of the trail began as early as the 1990’s. In 2001, support began to grow with the Newark Bicycle Committee advocating the project. A feasibility study was funded by DelDOT and then a public workshop about the project was held in 2004. Funding was approved in the federal highway budget in 2005 for consecutive years through 2009 for $4.7 million for design and construction of the trail. DelDOT funded the purchase of the trail right of ways in 2006 for $2.6 million, and the value of those lands was used as the 20% required local match. Construction on the trail began in late August 2011.

 “As we continue to rollout new trails and pathways statewide, we will be working with DNREC and others to provide a bicycle trail and pathway system that can live up to the excellence our citizens expect and visitors to our state admire,” said DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt.

 “It’s for this generation to connect our communities so that pedestrian and biking travel is possible and practical for the sake of good health, cleaner air, a stronger economy and quality of life,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “With the opening of Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail something remarkable happens:  this section of the trail fills one of the critical gaps between existing trails and pathways that will eventually give the hiker, biker, and runner continuous and safe access to more than 75 miles of trails from the James Hall Trail into White Clay Creek State Park, and the Redd and Reservoir Parks, and the Middle Run Valley Natural Areas.”

“This is a great day for Newark,” said Newark Mayor Vance Funk. “As Mayor, I am filled with pride that Newark continues to make its mark by creating amenities that you do not find everywhere. I am happy to have the Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail added to our already extensive trail system and the fact that we are able to make it safe and keep some of the history of the area for our children and grandchildren to enjoy are why Newark is such a great place to live.”

Video of the ribbon cutting can be viewed here: http://youtu.be/nq2zsY6Df-0

“Extensive” collection of images leads to $1.25 million secured bail order

Wilmington – A Delaware Child Predator Task Force undercover investigation led to the arrest of a Wilmington resident yesterday for distributing child pornography over the internet, Attorney General Beau Biden announced. Kristopher J. Loeb of 101 5th Avenue in Browntown was charged with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography and is behind bars in default of $1.25 million secured bail.

 “The vigilance and expertise of the Delaware Child Predator Task Force helps protect kids from threats both online and off,” said Attorney General Biden.

 Following an undercover investigation into the online distribution of child pornography, a search warrant permitting the seizure of any computers or digital media at the 5th Avenue residence was obtained and executed by the Child Predator Task Force on September 6. Detectives seized a laptop computer that was taken to Delaware State Police Troop 2 for forensic analysis, which revealed what detectives referred to as an “extensive” quantity of child pornography images. Twenty-five videos and numerous pictures were located depicting children engaged in sex acts, with victims ranging from 11- and 13-year-olds to babies less than one-year-old.

 Loeb, age 34, was contacted by police outside of the residence and taken to Troop 2 for questioning. Based on the files recovered from the laptop found at his residence, Loeb was arrested and charged with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography. He was arraigned via videophone at J.P. Court #2 and ordered held in default of $50,000 secured bail per count – a total of $1.25 million. Loeb was committed to James T. Vaughn Correction Center in Smyrna.

 A booking image of Loeb:

 The Delaware Department of Justice reminds the public that a charge is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Governor: Pens, pencils, laptops, netbooks and notebooks. It’s back-to-school for thousands of Delaware students, including those here at Maple Lane Elementary School in the Brandywine School District. I am joined by Secretary of Education Mark Murphy and we are welcoming back students, staff, teachers and administrators.

Secretary Murphy: Because Maple Lane operates on a balanced calendar, teachers and students are back in class here already. Like many of the children getting off their school buses today, the Governor and I both are excited for the new school year.

Governor: We know this will be an important year for our students, parents, educators and state. We deepen implementation of our Race to the Top plan; raise the bar for students with Common Core standards; and further develop the education profession with more comprehensive evaluations of performance.

Secretary Murphy: We’ll also increase our support for struggling schools through the Partnership Zone and Focus School programs.  Our teachers and students had great success last year. More than ten-thousand additional children left school proficient in reading and more than nine-thousand additional students reached proficiency in math. The gains occurred across all grades and subjects.

Governor: As excited as we are about that progress, we know our work isn’t over. We are preparing hundreds of elementary school students with four world language immersion programs and have launched new Early Childhood education initiatives. And it is the year our students will take the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, which will help us benchmark our students’ progress against the nation’s. We know that our state’s future success depends on how well we work together to prepare our children for a competitive world.

Secretary Murphy: We are on the path to success, but we must continue to work hard, making challenging decisions and difficult changes. And we must continue to evaluate openly what is working and be willing to change direction when needed.

Governor: Secretary Murphy and I want to thank educators, parents, students and communities who have worked so hard to improve student learning over the past few years. We look forward to the coming year and later celebrating with you the even greater gains to come, as we work together to keep Delaware moving forward.

WILMINGTON – Delaware Department of Education Secretary Mark Murphy joins the Governor for his weekly message, taped at Maple Lane Elementary School in the Brandywine School District, as they welcome back students for a new school year.

“We know this will be an important year for our students, parents, educators and state,” said Governor Markell.  “ We deepen implementation of our Race to the Top plan; raise the bar for students with Common Core standards; and further develop the education profession with more comprehensive evaluations of performance.  As excited as we are about that progress, we know our work isn’t over.”

“We are on the path to success, but we must continue to work hard, making challenging decisions and difficult changes,” said Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Murphy.  “And we must continue to evaluate openly what is working and be willing to change direction when needed.”

At noon every Friday, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form.  The message is available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/7iBhFrQn8fM
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/information/podcast_video.shtml
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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: A New School Year With New Challenges

Photos available for media use on Flickr

DOVER — Governor Jack Markell has appointed Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commissioner W. Duncan Patterson as new chairman and Commissioner Edward J. Stegemeier as new secretary of the commission.

Past Chairman Bernard J. Daney stepped down this summer after almost 20 years as head of the board which regulates thoroughbred and Arabian racing in Delaware, and will continue to serve as a commissioner, with the additional title of chairman emeritus. Daney served as chairman since August 1993.

Patterson thanked Daney for his long service to racing. “I am proud to call Bernard Daney a friend and colleague,” he said. “His work over the last two decades has helped make Delaware racing what it is today. I look forward to continuing his tradition of strong leadership on these important issues.”

Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee praised Daney’s passion for racing and his commitment to fair play. “Bernard Daney is a national leader on issues of racing and equine endeavors,” said Kee. “His unparalleled service as chairman has helped make Delaware a racing leader. We are doubly lucky that he will continue to serve on the commission, and that Duncan Patterson has agreed to serve as chairman.”

Commission Executive Director John F. Wayne said Daney has taken a strong stance on equine health and other issues. “His leadership on matters affecting horses and advocacy for jockeys and horsemen has been central to the success and strength of Delaware’s racing industry,” Wayne said.

Daney said he looked forward to continuing to work on issues affecting the industry. “This is a time of great opportunity in racing, and I will work hard to make certain Delaware remains in a lead position,” he said.

Daney has been a member of the board of directors of the Association of Racing Commissioners International since 1997, and is a former ARCI chairman. He was involved in the early days of the National Racing Compact, implementing a national racing license system, and serves as secretary-treasurer of the Compact. Daney also served as a board member and treasurer of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeder’s Association for more than 20 years. He and his wife, Arlene, have been breeding and racing thoroughbreds for more than 30 years. All of their four sons have ties to horses and racing.

Patterson has been a commissioner since his appointment by Gov. Michael N. Castle in 1988. He also is a national leader in the industry, as he is next in line to head the Association of Racing Commissioners International. Patterson is a former thoroughbred trainer, amateur Steeplechase rider and former board member of the National Steeplechase Association.

The Thoroughbred Racing Commission is a five-member body appointed by the Governor. It enforces commission rules, regulations and Delaware law to eliminate fraudulent activity and preventing corrupt practices.

Photos available for media use on Flickr

Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520