The Delaware Division of Libraries (DDL) is pleased to announce that Delaware Libraries were voted Community Group of the Year in Technical.ly Delaware’s first annual Delaware Innovation Awards. These awards celebrate the innovators that make Delaware great. Delaware Libraries were recognized for their expansion of 3D printing and STEM literacy to many libraries throughout the state.

Technical.ly Delaware, a statewide online technology news network, announced the award winners at the closing reception celebrating Delaware Innovation Week (Nov. 13-21).

“This is a real testament to the Division’s efforts to ensure universal access to technology resources and leveraging that technology to inspire their patrons,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock.

DDL has encouraged innovation statewide through the ever evolving Inspiration Space – mini-makerspaces in libraries where people can learn about and experiment with technology, entrepreneurship, and DIY activities. DDL has provided libraries with 3D printers, green screens, video cameras, software, and training for the public to use or attend. Libraries have also partnered with several organizations to present classes on computer coding, 3D modeling, and more.

“Libraries are making experiences come alive, off the page, for our communities,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian. “Libraries are a linchpin for discovery in all subject areas, and we are working with partners and experts to make available a greater array of experiences for our communities.  So Delawareans have the opportunity they might not have otherwise to discover a passion, to develop an expertise, and to make connections to support invention and innovation.”

Emerging Technologies Librarian Sarena Fletcher said, “We’re thrilled to be recognized as a leading contributor to Delaware’s innovative growth. We provide Delawareans opportunities to explore emerging technologies while working together to create a thriving community.”

Contact:
Beth-Ann Ryan, Deputy Director
Beth-ann.ryan@delaware.gov
302-257-3002

The Delaware Division of Libraries, a state agency dedicated to unleashing the potential in all Delawareans in partnership with Delaware Libraries, offers free access to the online catalog (delawarelibraries.org); Wi-Fi; computers/internet; eBooks, programs/classes, community partnerships, and more.

DOVER,  – The Division of Public Health Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) has selected Chester County SPCA (CCSPCA) for animal sheltering services in support of the state animal control enforcement unit starting on Jan. 1, 2016. The agreement is a three-year agreement that may be renewed for up to two additional years. CCSPCA will provide services at a permanent facility located in New Castle County and satellite facilities in Kent and Sussex counties, ensuring that all Delaware animals will stay in the state for care and adoption.

The Office of Animal Welfare solicited animal sheltering bids as part of a plan to launch the second phase of Delaware Animal Services (DAS), the State’s first animal control enforcement unit. During the first phase, launched in mid-September, DAS officers began enforcing all animal cruelty and complaints concerning humans exposed to the rabies virus. Starting in January, DAS will also handle all animal control complaints, including stray dogs and seriously injured or endangered cats.

Chester County SPCA, which has been providing temporary animal control services for the City of Wilmington and Kent County, as well as emergency cruelty sheltering services for the state since September when the previous provider suddenly ended services, is expanding its Delaware-based operation, including new job opportunities in the state, to accommodate the new sheltering agreement.  CCSPCA has also built strong partnerships with other local animal shelters and rescue groups, which currently work with the CCSPCA to find placement for stray animals and have hosted joint vaccine clinic events.

“The CCSPCA has a solid reputation for delivering progressive and innovative programs to rehabilitate and rehome stray and abused animals, which is a population of animals with a unique set of needs,” says Hetti Brown, director of the Office of Animal Welfare. “The organization also prevents animal homelessness through pet owner counseling and the delivery of compassionate resources. This is the key to ensuring every healthy and treatable animal has a home in Delaware.”

CCSPCA is the only open admission shelter in Pennsylvania that does not euthanize healthy or treatable animals, and it will bring that same experience to Delaware. “We are a proud partner of the Office of Animal Welfare in the collective goal of aiding the most vulnerable animals in Delaware,” says Chester County SCPA Executive Director Adam Lamb. “We are also excited to continue to be part of a community so dedicated to the advancement of animal welfare.”

Under the new agreement, stray animals will be housed at convenient locations in the state so their owners have a chance to recover their pets. Animals that are not recovered, or animals that are the victims of animal cruelty, will be placed into the rehabilitation or adoption programs at the CCSPCA New Castle location, or transferred to one of their Delaware-based shelter or rescue partners for foster or adoption at other facilities, serving as a statewide network for animals.

The services outlined in the contract are for stray and abused animals.  Through the contract, the CCSPCA will provide all medical and sheltering, rabies quarantine, and adoption services for animals retrieved by DAS.  The contract also includes requirements for programs to minimize stress levels, address social and exercise needs, and reporting requirements.

The contract will cost a total of $6,514,500 over three years; including:

• ​$2,150,000 for year one costs
• $2,150,000 for year two costs
• $2,214,500 for year three costs

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2016, citizens wishing to report stray animals may do so through the Delaware Animal Services hotline at 302-255-4646. The DAS hotline is currently accepting calls concerning animal cruelty and rabies exposure to a human.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

Trail improvements also announced

WILMINGTON – The Nemours Foundation has donated nearly 46 acres of significant forestland to the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation’s Alapocas Run State Park, located just outside Wilmington. The announcement was made today by Governor Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary David Small and Dr. Roy Proujansky, the Nemours Foundation’s chief executive of Delaware Valley Operations.

“Alapocas Run State Park is truly an amazing urban oasis to be enjoyed not only by the residents of Wilmington, but also for visitors from the tri-state area and beyond,” said Governor Jack Markell. “This generous donation by the Nemours Foundation, along with newly upgraded trails, will enable more people to experience the beauty and benefits of nature close to where they live and work, strengthening our quality of life while supporting continued economic growth.”

“Alfred I. du Pont understood the healing and therapeutic benefits of nature, for both children and their families,” said Dr. Roy Proujansky, chief executive of Delaware Valley Operations and Executive Vice President of The Nemours Foundation. “As stewards of Mr. du Pont’s legacy, it is fitting then that these lands be transferred to the state of Delaware and improved for the enjoyment of the community. We applaud Governor Markell and his administration for their continued partnership and tireless efforts to promote healthy living and a more walkable and bikeable Delaware.”

“With this generous addition of this lush, scenic park land, residents and visitors alike have even more opportunities to enjoy the diversity of trails that are more accessible, the Can-do playground, and all of the dozens of other amenities the park offers,” said DNREC Secretary David Small. “Alapocas Run State Park is a peaceful gem in an urban setting, providing a variety of activities and preserves a lasting natural legacy that enhances the quality of life for residents and users. It’s a special place to connect with nature and provide respite.”

In addition to the land donation, a section of the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail (part of the East Coast Greenway trail that goes from Maine to Florida) and a section of the Bancroft Trail have been upgraded to a paved surface, providing more accessibility and more year-round use and the opportunity to enjoy the mature woods and the rest of Alapocas Run State Park.

The two upgraded trail sections total about one mile. The Greenway Trail goes through Nemours Woods and connects the Delaware River to Brandywine Creek, passing through Bellevue State Park to Bringhurst Woods and Rockwood county parks to Wilmington’s Rock Manor Golf Course to Alapocas Run State Park.

The Bancroft Trail connects Alapocas Run State Park to Brandywine Park and the Brandywine Zoo. It passes through the Brandywine Park Condominiums, Wilmington Friends School and the Augustine Professional Building properties. These owners generously granted a trail easement through their lands in the 2000s.

“The Environmental Protection Agency is committed to supporting these types of collaborations that protect and preserve precious greenspace,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “It truly demonstrates the successful partnership the Nemours Foundation has with the state of Delaware in making a visible difference in our local communities.”

Nemours’ donation is part of a working partnership with Delaware State Parks that dates back more than 20 years. In the 1990s, a collaborative effort was begun to protect more public open space land along Brandywine Creek and around the City of Wilmington, by combining the resources of the city, county, state and the newly-created Delaware Greenways.

Through the state’s Open Space Program, Alapocas Run State Park began with an acquisition and land donation along Brandywine Creek. The state also assumed management of some city-owned parkland. At the same time the state, county, and city came together, along with the business community and area residents, to tackle a complex plan to realign Route 202 while maintaining the Rock Manor Golf Course and keeping and expanding the AstraZeneca pharmaceutical business in its current location.

During this very active time, Nemours and the Nemours Foundation were key players in many aspects of the overall project. Not only did they continue to run the world-renowned Alfred I. du Pont Hospital for Children and the Nemours Mansion & Gardens, the Nemours Foundation also provided land for a daycare center for the AstraZeneca employees and for road expansion. The foundation also provided valuable insight and information on the historic Blue Ball Barn, formerly part of the A.I. du Pont estate, now owned by Delaware State Parks.

A critical recreation component of this complicated project was a connection from Blue Ball Barn to Brandywine Creek through the Nemours Woods. This area was always recognized as an important landscape feature, protected and maintained by the A.I. du Pont family and then the Nemours Foundation. In 1999 the Nemours Foundation donated a conservation easement of more than 70 acres of this wooded area. It ensured that the area would not be developed and enabled a public use trail. Today’s announcement reflects the donation of 46 of these acres the State, while retaining the remaining 24 acres under conservation easement.

Media Contact: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 45, No. 407

Wilmington – The Department of Correction announces that it is currently searching for a Wilmington Work Release offender. On the evening of November 21, 2015 Offender Cagney Brittingham was discovered to be missing during an evening offender count at the Plummer Community Corrections Center. Immediate attempts were undertaken to make contact with the offender and an escape warrant for his arrest was issued. Brittingham has made no attempt to return to the Plummer Center and his whereabouts are unknown at this time.

Date of Departure: November 21
Offender Name: Cagney Brittingham
Age: 19
Last Known address: Newark, DE
Race/Gender: White male
Height: 5’0”
Weight: 90
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blonde
Mustache/Beard/Goatee: N/A
Scarfs/Marks/Tattoos: Tattoos left wrist
Current Offense: Brittingham is currently serving a 1-year sentence of level 4 work release for a Violation of Probation of a conviction for theft.

Community Corrections Centers are Level 4 facilities where the Department of Correction manages offenders who are transitioning back into the community. These centers are not secured like Level 5 prisons, as offenders are permitted to the leave the facility to go to work, seek jobs or attend approved treatment sessions.

Anyone with information on this offender is asked to call (800) 542-9524 or their local police department.

This Holiday Season, Adopt-A-Family Seeks Donors to Help Provide Gifts for Delaware Children, Families and Seniors in Need

NEW CASTLE – By participating in the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, Delawareans can help bring the holiday spirit to thousands of Delaware children, adults, people with disabilities and seniors in need. There are many ways to support individuals and families in need, including an online shopping option called CommuniGift.

Each holiday season, donors are anonymously matched to a senior, individual with a disability or a family of one or more children through the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program. Adopt-A-Family provides the donor with the age and gender of each child in the family and a brief description of the circumstances that led to their need for assistance. The donor then provides gift cards or certificates for the head-of-household to use in buying holiday gifts. The recommended gift is $100 to $125 per child, with a gift certificate for the parent optional but thoughtful.

Those interested in adopting a senior or a person with a disability will be matched to an individual in need living in a nursing home. A wish list of things the individual likes and would appreciate, as well as clothing preferences and sizes, will be provided. After shopping for these residents, items can be dropped off at the Adopt-A-Family offices in New Castle County (3301 Green St., Claymont) or Kent and Sussex County (13 SW Front St., Milford).
“Through a simple gift, we can touch the hearts of children and their families or seniors in a nursing home,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “One act can have a powerful impact, especially for those most vulnerable this holiday season. I encourage people to reach out through Adopt-A-Family and showcase the best of our community holiday spirit.”

Again this year, Adopt-A-Family makes it easier to support a Delaware individual or family through a partnership with the online giving platform, CommuniGift. Donors are able to browse and learn about individuals and families in need, and then directly purchase products for them through one-click integration with retailers. To familiarize yourself with the process, go to https://holidays.communigift.com/o/aafde

Another option is to buy gift cards or shop for items in your favorite stores or your favorite online shopping sites. You can either have the items mailed to Adopt-A-Family or drop them off yourself (offices addresses below). Just include the family code with the gift cards or items, so Adopt-A-Family knows who should receive the items. Otherwise, Adopt-A-Family staff will distribute the items to the individuals or families most in need first.

A sampling of Delawareans in need:

• A Wilmington family of four is currently homeless and staying with a relative. The father is not involved with the family financially or physically. The family, including two sons, ages 8 and 6, and a daughter, age 1, would really appreciate any assistance for the holiday.
• A Dover mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer this year. She is currently undergoing radiation and will be out of work for another month at least. Her health is declining. She has two sons, ages 12 and 8, and a daughter, age 6.
• This nursing home resident in Seaford is a quiet, sweet lady. She loves her stuffed animals and writing in her notebook. She would like a radio, notebook & pencils, watch, and rosary.

“Please think about coming together as a family, a workplace, a place or worship, a school or an organization to adopt a family or a senior in need,” said Rita Landgraf, secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, which oversees the Adopt-A-Family program. “During this holiday season, your generosity on behalf of vulnerable Delawareans is greatly appreciated.”

The deadline to “adopt” a family is Dec. 14, and all gift cards and gifts must be delivered to the Adopt-A-Family Office by Dec. 18. Families who are adopted pick up their gift cards from their respective Adopt-A-Family office.

In 2014, the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program, through the leadership of the Human Services Councils of New Castle County and Kent/Sussex counties, helped 2,593 Delawareans. Most of the beneficiaries are single-parent households, children, adults with a disability, and senior citizens. Eligible recipients are referred to Adopt-A-Family by a social worker or case manager through state agencies and human service nonprofit organizations.

Year-round, the Adopt-A-Family program aids families in crisis – those struggling with illness, homelessness, domestic violence, poverty or unemployment. The program, begun in 1973, is coordinated by the Division of State Service Centers in all three counties.

In 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 12.5 percent of Delawareans lived below the poverty line. In November 2015, more than 143,000 Delawareans qualified for food benefits and more than 230,000 people are clients of Medicaid. Delaware’s unemployment rate for October 2015 was 5.1 percent.

“While the economy continues to improve, the need for our Holiday Adopt-A-Family program remains far-reaching,” Secretary Landgraf said. “So many Delaware families continue to be impacted by medical conditions, behavioral health issues, domestic violence, homelessness and unemployment. The personal stories of need are truly heart-breaking. That’s why we are grateful for your support in adopting a family, an individual with a disability, or a senior in need.”

To “adopt” an individual or family without using CommuniGift, please contact:

• New Castle County: Contact the New Castle County Adopt-A-Family at (302) 792-9538 or email lisa.mb.johnson@delaware.gov. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
• Kent and Sussex counties: Contact the Kent and Sussex Adopt-A-Family at (302) 424-7260 or email shannon.smith@delaware.gov. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For these programs, Adopt-A-Family also accepts financial and in-kind donations. Checks should be made payable to: Adopt-A-Family.

• New Castle County: Adopt-A-Family, 3301 Green St., Claymont, DE 19703.
• For Kent and Sussex Counties: Adopt-A-Family, 13 SW Front St., Milford, DE 19963.

For more information about Adopt-A-Family, go to dhss.delaware.gov or contact your nearest state service center.

For more information, contact Jill Fredel, Director of Communications, (302) 255-9047 (office) or (302) 357-7498 (cell).

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.