Buena Vista Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017

-One-day-only event showcases one of Delaware’s most historic homes-

(DOVER, Del.—Nov. 29, 2017)—Delaware’s historic Buena Vista mansion will be decked out for a one-day-only holiday open-house on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature self-guided tours of the home, decorated for the holidays, plus crafts and other activities for children and adults, refreshments and a book drive hosted by the University of Delaware Pi Beta Phi sorority. Visitors are encouraged to bring books to benefit local schools through Read>Lead>Achieve! The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-323-4430.

Located at 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), southwest of New Castle, Buena Vista is one of Delaware’s most historic homes. The main section of the house was built between 1845 and 1847 by John M. Clayton, United States secretary of state from 1849 to 1850 under presidents Taylor and Fillmore, and United States senator from 1829 to 1836, 1845 to 1849, and 1853 until his death in 1856. The home later became the residence of C. Douglass Buck, governor of Delaware from 1929 to 1937 and United States senator from 1942 to 1948. Buena Vista and its grounds were donated to the state by the Buck family in 1965 and now serve as a conference/event center administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs.

Buena Vista: A Delaware Country Estate is administered by the Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, an agency of the State of Delaware. The division enhances Delaware’s quality of life by preserving the state’s unique historical heritage, fostering community stability and economic vitality and providing educational programs and assistance to the general public on Delaware history and heritage. The division’s diverse array of services includes operation of five museums which are accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, administration of the State Historic Preservation Office, conservation of the state’s archaeological and historic-objects collections, operation of a conference/event center and management of historic properties across the state. Primary funding for division programs and services is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, a federal agency. However, the contents and opinions expressed in the division’s programs and services do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Department of the Interior.

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Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-739-7787
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

Over One Million Motorists Traveled Through Delaware’s Toll Plazas during Thanksgiving Holiday

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announced that during the five-day Thanksgiving holiday travel period 1,200,235 vehicle trips were totaled at the I-95 Newark, SR 1 Biddles Corner, and Dover Toll Plazas. It is estimated that more than $3 million dollars in revenue was collected by Delaware’s toll plazas during this time frame.

Click on the link below to see traffic counts at each toll plaza and a comparison of traffic totals over the past three years during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Toll Plaza Traffic Counts

Governor Carney Recognizes Giving Tuesday in Delaware

DOVER, Del. – Governor Carney on Tuesday released the following statement after signing a proclamation recognizing Tuesday, November 28, 2017 as Giving Tuesday:

“Nonprofit organizations provide many services that benefit Delawareans across the state every day. I’m proud to recognize Giving Tuesday in the First State, and to support a movement about giving back. I encourage all Delawareans to give back to your community by volunteering, making a donation, or participating in a community service project

throughout the holiday season.”

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Click here to view photos from the proclamation signing.

Giving Tuesday Proclamation

SR 141/I-95 Ramp Interchange Project Will Require Nighttime Lane Shifts on I-95 NB and I-295 NB

Newport – The Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) contractor, Mumford and Miller Inc., will be shifting the I-295 northbound traffic to I-95 northbound between Exit 5 and past the SR 141 northbound interchange beginning Thursday, November 30, 2017.

The lane shift will be in place at the following times:

• 8 p.m. Thursday, November 30 until 5 a.m. on Friday, December 1
• 8 p.m. Friday, December 1 until 5 a.m. on Saturday, December 2

In addition, Exit 2/SR 141 southbound to I-295 northbound will be closed during these times.

Detour Routes:
I-295 northbound motorists will use the right lane signed for I-95 northbound and stay in the right lane of I-95 and then use the temporary crossover just past the work zone on the right to enter I-295.

SR 141 motorists traveling southbound to I-295 northbound will follow detour signs to Commons Boulevard to Churchmans Road to I-95 northbound to I-295 northbound.

Beginning Monday, December 4, I-95 northbound will be closing and shifting lanes to I-295 northbound during the following times:

• 8 p.m. Monday, December 4 until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5
• 8 p.m. Tuesday, December 5 until 5 a.m. on Wednesday December 6

Detour Routes:
I-95 northbound motorists will use the right lanes signed for I-295 northbound and stay in the left lane of I-295 and then use the temporary crossover just past the work zone to re-enter I-95 northbound.

The nighttime lane and ramp closures are necessary as work continues on the SR141 bridges over I-95.

Governor Carney, Governor Hogan Urge FERC to Expedite Review of Artificial Island Cost Allocation

As currently funded, $278 million project would unfairly burden electric ratepayers on Delmarva

WILMINGTON, Del. – Delaware Governor John Carney and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Tuesday sent a letter to members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, urging commissioners to expedite their review of the $278 million Artificial Island transmission line project and consider a financing model that does not unfairly burden electric ratepayers on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Governors Carney and Hogan urged FERC to consider alternative cost methodologies presented in June by PJM’s Board of Managers. Under PJM’s alternative methods for cost allocation, Delmarva ratepayers would fund approximately 7-10 percent of the project costs.

As currently financed, residential and commercial electric ratepayers on Delmarva would fund more than 90 percent of the cost of the project through higher electric bills, while receiving few of the project’s direct benefits. Governors Carney and Hogan previously appealed the cost allocation to FERC, and urged PJM to support a more equitable solution for ratepayers on Delmarva.

“We remain optimistic that FERC will consider a financing plan for this project that will not unfairly burden businesses and families on the Delmarva Peninsula,” said Governor Carney. “As we’ve said all along, as currently financed, this is a bad deal for Delaware ratepayers, who would be asked to finance this project, while receiving few direct benefits. Thank you to FERC commissioners for considering our request to expedite their review. And thank you to Governor Hogan for his continued partnership and leadership on this issue.”

“Our administration has expressed our repeated opposition to any proposal that unfairly and inequitably allocates the costs associated with this project,” said Governor Hogan. “Maryland will continue to stand with Delaware to protect our citizens from disproportionately paying hundreds millions of dollars in rate increases, and we will continue to work with all stakeholders to reach a speedy, reasonable, and equitable solution to this process.”

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