To commemorate November as Native American Heritage Month the Delaware Public Archives is featuring a display with images and documents related to Native American life in the First State. Members of the Lenape and Nanticoke tribes have lived in the area for thousands of years and continue to promote their rich traditions and heritage. Among the photographs is an image of Governor Markell signing HB 345 which formally recognizes the Lenape Tribe of Delaware. There are also photographs of the Nanticoke School and the annual Pow-Wow held in Millsboro. Reproductions of two Native American deeds dating to the seventeenth century are included in the exhibit. These materials are just some of the Native American related photographs and documents that are preserved at the Delaware Public Archives.

On Saturday, November 19, the Delaware Public Archives (DPA) will be participating in the second annual Dover High School Native American Heritage Pow-Wow. DPA’s information kiosk will feature images and documents related to Native Americans in Delaware. Along with these materials, brochures and other information about the Delaware Public Archives will be available. Sponsored by the Dover High School Native American Club, the Pow-Wow takes place at Dover High School from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Delaware Public Archives (DPA, archives.delaware.gov), an agency of the State of Delaware, is one of the oldest public archives programs in the United States. DPA serves the citizens of Delaware by identifying, collecting, and preserving public records of enduring historical and evidential value; ensuring access to public records for present and future generations; and advising and educating interested parties in the creation, management, use, and preservation of public records.The Delaware Public Archives is located at 121 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard North in Dover.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS CHAIRMAN JANE CHU
VISITS WILMINGTON AND DOVER TO MARK THE NEA’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Wilmington, DE – Chairman Chu concluded a day-long visit to the First State as part of the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Her trip included a tour at The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington Creative District, The Grand Opera House, and the Biggs Museum of American Art.

“Thank you to the Delaware Division of the Arts for a meaningful tour of the state’s cultural community,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “I saw first-hand how the Division is creating experiences that connect people through the arts, instilling beauty in their world, deepening their sense of place and purpose, transforming their communities, and drawing out their own inner creativity. You are proof of why art matters.”

The visit, held on November 1, began with a tour of The Delaware Contemporary led by teaching artist Nanci Hersh and a presentation with the NEA-supported artist-in-residence, Alma Sheppard-Matsuo. Matsuo is working with the Kingswood Community Center on a 4-month printmaking residency engaging youth in the exploration of folktales from diverse cultures.

Next, was a walking tour through the Wilmington Creative District led by Carrie Gray, Executive Director of the Wilmington Renaissance Corporation. The Creative District project received an FY 16 NEA Our Town Grant of $75,000 to support the design of pocket parks and passages in Wilmington. This tour included Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Governor Jack A. Markell, Secretary of State of Delaware Jeffrey W. Bullock, and Democratic candidate for the Office of Mayor of the City of Wilmington, Mike Purzycki.

Then, Chairman Chu, Senator Coons, and Governor Markell gave remarks during the Town Hall meeting at the baby grand which was attended by over 150 guests. Chairman Chu spoked about the NEA’s 50th anniversary and took questions from the audience to learn more about how the arts play an important role in Delaware’s art community.

From left to right: J. Mack Wathen, Chair of the Delaware State of the Arts Council; Steve Bailey, Managing Director of Programming of The Grand Opera House; Mark Fields, Executive Director of The Grand Opera House; Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA); Senator Chris Coons (D-DE); Paul Weagraff, Director of the Division of the Arts; Laura Scanlan, Director of State and Regional Partnerships at the NEA at The Grand Opera House, Wilmington.

Later, Chairman Chu visited the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, which included a tour of its galleries and an opportunity for a public meet and greet with the Kent and Sussex County arts communities.

About the Delaware Division of the Arts

The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit artsdel.org or call 302-577-8278.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

Established by Congress in 1965, the NEA is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations, and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector, the NEA supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community across America. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Arts and the agency is celebrating this milestone with events and activities through September 2016.

Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

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DOVER – To promote and provide additional hunting opportunities, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife has designated Saturday, Nov. 5 as Delaware’s annual deer hunting day for youth hunters ages 10 through 15 and for non-ambulatory disabled hunters on both public and private lands statewide.

Youth hunters must be of sufficient physical size and strength to safely handle a firearm and must be accompanied by an adult companion age 21 or older who possesses a valid Delaware hunting license or is legally exempt from purchasing a license. Youth hunters may also hunt during the regular seasons for all game if accompanied afield by an adult. Youth hunters age 13 through 15 must have completed a hunter education course, possess a certification card and purchase a Delaware junior hunting license. Youth hunters age 10 through 12 must possess a license exempt number and may take hunter education.

“Youth hunting days are an excellent opportunity for veteran adult hunters to share their knowledge and experience with the next generation, thereby continuing one of Delaware’s great conservation and outdoor recreation traditions,” said Division of Fish & Wildlife Director David Saveikis. “Hunting is an exciting outdoor activity for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.”

In addition to youth hunters, non-ambulatory disabled hunters of any age who use a wheelchair for mobility may hunt deer Nov. 5.

Standard bag limits and regulations apply, and all deer taken must be registered. On state wildlife areas that require a lottery drawing for available deer stands during the Nov. 5 hunt, the drawing will be held 2 hours before sunrise. To sign up for the lottery, participating hunters should plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the drawing. Hunters also should check each wildlife area’s rules before hunting. Adult companions accompanying participating youth must be licensed or license-exempt to hunt in Delaware, and may not possess a firearm during the hunt.

Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges, under the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Delaware State Forests, managed by the Delaware Department of Agriculture, are also open to youth and non-ambulatory disabled hunters for the annual deer hunt. For specific rules and regulations on these areas, interested hunters should check with the appropriate managing agency.

Delaware hunting licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses. Hunters not required to purchase a hunting license may obtain their license exempt number by visiting the Hunter and Trapper Registration System website or by calling 1-855-DEL-HUNT (1-855-335-4868).

To promote youth hunting, deer stand fees are waived for youth hunting on state wildlife areas on youth hunting days. These daily stand fees apply at all other times. Specialized blinds/stands and hunting locations as well as special hunting permits also are available for disabled hunters. For more information, call 302-739-9912.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click on 2016-2017 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk in the Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, and from license agents throughout the state. For information on specific wildlife areas, click Delaware Wildlife Area Maps. Printed maps also are available at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk.

The Division of Fish & Wildlife also reminds hunters to take along their cameras for a great opportunity to take photos that might be entered in the Division’s annual Delaware Hunting Photo Contest, with the winner to be published in next year’s Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. Deadline for contest entries is Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Information and forms are available on the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s website or may be requested by calling Jennifer Childears at 302-739-9910, or email jennifer.childears@delaware.gov.

This program is part of Delaware’s Children in Nature Initiative, a statewide effort to improve environmental literacy in Delaware, create opportunities for children to participate in enriching outdoor experiences, combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Delaware’s multi-agency initiative, which partners state and federal agencies with community organizations, is part of the national No Child Left Inside program.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.

Vol. 46, No. 369

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DOVER – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will hold a public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 15 on several wastewater projects proposed by the City of Rehoboth Beach, including the city’s ocean outfall. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. at the Rehoboth Elementary School, 500 Stockley Street, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.

Rehoboth’s proposed wastewater projects include a pump station, a force main and an ocean outfall. The new pump station and a 24-inch force main are required to convey the treated wastewater to the ocean outfall and through diffusers located 6,000 feet offshore in water approximately 40 feet deep.

These proposed projects require several DNREC permits and approvals, including a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, a Coastal Zone Management Act Federal Consistency Determination, a Subaqueous Lands Lease, Water Quality Certification, a Wastewater Facilities Construction Permit, and a Beach Preservation Coastal Construction Permit. Rehoboth’s permit applications and supporting documents, and a fact sheet and a draft NPDES permit are available on DNREC’s website.

The public hearing will receive comments from public speakers, with priority given to those who have preregistered followed by other speakers who choose to sign up at the public hearing. To preregister to speak at the hearing, please contact DNREC by e-mail or first class mail no later than Nov. 11 by Rehoboth_Wastewater_Comments@delaware.gov or via US Postal Service to:

John Schneider, DNREC
State Street Commons
100 W. Water Street – Suite 10B
Dover, DE 19904

As DNREC anticipates a large number of speakers, the Department accordingly will impose a five-minute time limit on each speaker. If you are unable or choose not to attend the public hearing, you may submit written comments in advance that will become part of the record. Written comments should be sent to the above contact addresses, preferably by email to Rehoboth_Wastewater_Comments@delaware.gov. The public comment period for written comments on the proposed City of Rehoboth wastewater projects began Oct. 15 and will end at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 2, 2016. If comments are submitted by USPS, they must be postmarked no later than Dec.2, 2016.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902, or John Schneider, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship, 302-739-9939

Vol. 46, No. 368

NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

DHSS Receives Federal Funds to Pilot Music & Memory Program
for Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer’s, Other Forms of Dementia

WILMINGTON (Nov. 2, 2016) – The Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection (DLTCRP) has received federal funds to launch the Music & Memory Program for nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

The division received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to use $30,300 from federal civil money penalties to offer the Music & Memory Program, which provides iPods loaded with personalized music selections to residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The goal is to enhance their memories and enrich their lives. The pilot program, which is grounded in research in how the brain responds to music, will engage 10 long-term care facilities in Delaware. At each facility, 10 residents will be identified who could benefit from the therapeutic potential of music by tapping into deep memories to reconnect with the world.

Participants will include those residents with dementia who have been reluctant to take part in group recreational activities. This project promotes a person-centered engaged activity while supporting individual life choices. Training will begin in December.

“I am grateful to the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection for embracing a personalized music program as a life-changing experience for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia,” DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf said. “We anticipate this program will demonstrate the powerful ability of music to engage, animate and support memory retrieval, and, ultimately, to improve an individual’s quality of life.”

“This program is recognized to return a sense of dignity and identity to residents who had previously been distant, detached and unresponsive,” said Renee Purzycki, MSW, Social Service Chief Administrator with the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection. Along with Purzycki, Barbara Webb, MS, Training Education Administrator, and Casey Stradley, University of Delaware Senior Intern, will oversee and support the program at the 10 skilled nursing homes. “It has been documented that residents who listen to their favorite music re-experience fond memories, thus promoting favorable outcomes such as less agitation, less need for anti-psychotic medication and increased engagement with their families, friends and staff,” Purzycki said.

DLTCRP Director Mary Peterson and Deputy Director Tom Murray, who support this project, hope to expand it to the state’s remaining 40 skilled nursing homes as funding is available, as well as upcoming initiatives such as Never2Late, which brings technology through iPad programs; Virtual Reality, a computer technology program that replicates an environment, real or imagined; and sponsorship of a geriatric certification for nurses who work in long-term care facilities.

“All these programs will immensely benefit residents’ day-to-day lives,” Peterson said. The DLTCRP is determined to see residents reach their highest level of functioning. “There are many different forms of dementia and the effects can begin to appear as early as the mid-50s,” she said. “We will help individuals engage in activities to optimize their quality of life.”

Nursing home staff members will interview families regarding each resident’s favorite songs and preferred genres of music, and DLTCRP will assist in creating music libraries for the facility and playlists specific to each participating resident. The music will be downloaded onto personal iPods.

DLTCRP and facility staff members will track the results and monitor changes in behaviors and medication doses to measure the program’s outcomes. The hope is to expand the program for all dementia residents and eventually to standardize the practice among the entire long-term care resident population.

The documentary “Alive Inside” traces Music & Memory founder Dan Cohen on his journey to support individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by listening to their favorite music. Winner of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. Documentary Audience Award, the film reveals how the healing power of music can triumph where traditional treatments fall short, and has inspired thousands of care professionals and volunteers to join his efforts. DLTCRP is working with Cohen to release the Music & Memory pilot program in Delaware.

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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.