DOVER– The Delaware Forest Service is now accepting entries for its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for grades K to 5—open to all public, private, and home school students. For the first time, this year’s theme is “Trees are Terrific…and Perfect for Pollinators!” The contest can teach students about the important role of trees in the well-being of both people and pollinators, such as bees.

In Delaware, Arbor Day is designated as the last Friday in April (April 27, 2018). Arbor Day was started in Nebraska in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton as an occasion to both celebrate and encourage the planting of trees.

• • 2018 Perfect for Pollinators (PDF)
  • 2018 Arbor Day Poster Contest rules (PDF)
  • Teacher Resources (Google Drive) at https://goo.gl/DcmMnj

THE MEZZANINE GALLERY TO EXHIBIT HUGH PHIBB’S
“WHAT THE WATER SAID…” WATERCOLORS

Wilmington, Del. (January 24, 2018) – What the Water Said…Flowers, Places & Faces will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from February 2-23, 2018. A free opening reception to meet the artist will be held on Friday, February 2 from 5-7 p.m.

Phibbs received a 2017 Delaware Division of the Arts Established Fellowship in Works on Paper. This exhibition features floral, facial, and landscape subjects. Many of the flowers in his paintings are from his Ardentown yard alongside Naamans Creek.

Phibbs, who retired from a career in art preservation, draws on his understanding of materials as well as an appreciation of the masters of watercolor. He uses the dispersive properties of water and pigment to create space in the floral and landscape images, and to explore the drama that this space can impart. Phibbs credits the Fellowship for the confidence and freedom to return to painting imagined faces.

Learn more about Phibbs with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series.

The Mezzanine Gallery, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.

Image: Holland Days, 2016, watercolor on paper, 18″ x 24″

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

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. 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. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

DOVER — A third person has died as a result of complications due to the flu since the start of the 2017-2018 flu season in October. The Division of Public Health (DPH) announced that a 76-year-old Sussex County man passed away over the weekend in a New Castle County hospital. The man who had several underlying health conditions, is the first flu-related death from Sussex County this season. Previously, an 83-year-old female and a 47-year-old male, both from New Castle County, died from flu-related complications. Both also had underlying medical conditions.

As of January 19, there have been 912 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza in Delaware. This number only reflects laboratory-confirmed cases and the actual total in the state is likely much higher as not everyone seeks treatment for their symptoms. In comparison as of Jan. 21, 2017, there were 520 laboratory-confirmed cases and two flu-related deaths last season.

“The flu continues to hit Delaware hard, and we will likely continue to see flu activity continue for weeks to come,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “It is critically important to take preventive measures such as practicing social distancing, washing hands frequently, and covering coughs and sneezes. Everyone is at risk, and vulnerable populations, like the very young and elderly, are even more so. The flu is unpredictable, and should never be taken lightly.”

Flu symptoms come on suddenly, and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches and body aches, chills, and fatigue. Some people get complications including pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections. Social distancing means that those sick with the flu should stay home from work, school, and other gatherings and not return until they have been free of fever — with a temperature less than 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C) without the use of fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours.They should avoid close contact with well people in the household, and stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other clear liquids. Over-the-counter medicines can provide symptom relief but if you suspect you have influenza, call your doctor as he or she may decide to provide antiviral medications to help hasten recovery and prevent serious complications. This is particularly important for those who feel very sick, are pregnant, or have chronic medical conditions.

DPH also asks medical providers to begin antiviral treatment for all hospitalized patients and all high-risk patients with suspected influenza. Antivirals work best when administered within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms and are particularly important for pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions.
DPH also recommends getting your annual flu vaccine if you have not done so already. Flu vaccines continue to be available at many pharmacies and grocery stores, and through primary care physicians and some specialists. To find participating stores, enter your zip code in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) flu vaccine finder at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/. For more information about the flu, visit http://flu.delaware.gov/ or call DPH at 1-800-282-8672.

Flu shots are still available at DPH clinics located within the State Service Centers:

• Hudson State Service Center, 501 Ogletown Road, Newark. For all ages, including children age 6 months and older. Call 302-283-7587 (choose Option 2) to make an appointment Monday through Friday.
• Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover. For all ages, including children age 6 months and older. Call 302-857-5140 to make an appointment Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m.to 3:30 p.m.
• Milford State Service Center – Riverwalk, 253 N.E. Front St., Milford. For ages 9 years and older. Call 302-424-7130 to make an appointment on Mondays only, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Anna C. Shipley State Service Center, 350 Virginia Ave., Seaford. For all ages, including children age 6 months and older. Walk-ins welcome Fridays only, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. For information, call 302-628-6772.

For more information about flu surveillance in Delaware, read the weekly flu report at http://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/epi/influenzawkly.html.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

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.

New website includes information on healthcare benchmark initiative to reduce costs, improve outcomes for Delawareans

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) relaunched ChooseHealthDE.com on Tuesday to include information and resources about healthcare spending in Delaware, strategies to slow its growth and actions to better connect that spending to the health outcomes of Delawareans.

DHSS first launched ChooseHealthDE.com in 2013 as an information resource for people learning about coverage options through Delaware’s new Health Insurance Marketplace. Today, the website is expanding to include information for individuals and families, employers, healthcare providers and legislators about the value of healthcare and how to reduce the growth of spending while better linking payments to health outcomes.

“As I said last week in my State of the State, we are spending too much money on healthcare without getting good enough results. Now is the time to change the way we deliver care in our state,” said Governor Carney. “To help us understand our overall spending, we need transparency on healthcare costs. With ChooseHealthDE.com, we are taking another step in providing more transparency for individuals, families, employers, providers and legislators on how we spend our healthcare dollars and what we can do to change that trajectory.”

On Sept. 7, 2017, the Governor signed legislation authorizing DHSS to consult with stakeholders to establish a healthcare spending benchmark as a way to evaluate the total cost of healthcare in the state. Delaware ranked No. 3 in the nation in per-capita healthcare spending in 2014 – the latest year data is available – according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The CMS analysis of all insurance payers – Medicare, Medicaid and private – found per-capita spending in Delaware was $10,254, about 27 percent higher than the U.S. average of $8,045. Without changes, the analysis estimates Delaware’s total healthcare spending will more than double from $9.5 billion in 2014 to $21.5 billion in 2025. According to America’s Health Rankings, Delaware ranks No. 30 for overall health.

“In the move to value-based healthcare, the healthcare spending benchmark is a starting point,” said DHSS Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker, a board-certified family physician. “Working with hospitals and other healthcare providers, we need to transition to a point where we pay for the optimal health of consumers, rather than for hospital stays, tests and procedures, regardless of outcomes. Our goal of lowering costs while improving the overall health of Delawareans will take participation and input from all of us. ChooseHealthDE.com gives us a common portal from which to continue this work.”

ChooseHealthDE.com is divided into two sections: the Health Insurance Marketplace and the healthcare spending benchmark. In the new healthcare spending benchmark section, the site is divided among four target audiences: individuals and families, employers, healthcare providers and legislators. Each audience segment has strategies for success and a downloadable toolkit. A news and events section will provide details about upcoming events, legislation and reports, and public comment periods. A link to the Delaware Health Care Commission website provides background on previous events and reports associated with the healthcare spending benchmark.

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Delaware communities can learn how to successfully apply for a 2018 urban forestry grant at an upcoming workshop at the Delaware Department of Agriculture on February 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.

DOVER – The Delaware Forest Service is holding an “Urban and Community Forestry Grant Workshop” on Tuesday, February 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.  at the Delaware Department of Agriculture, 2320 South DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, (302) 698-4578. The event is free and open to the public, however, advance registration is required.

Attendees can sign up at this link: Urban and Community Forestry Grant Workshop Registration
Registration Contact: Sam Seo, Delaware Center for Horticulture, 658-6262, extension 112.

Urban forestry director Kesha Braunskill and The Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Sam Seo will discuss the 2018 urban and community grant program. All municipalities, homeowner associations, and certified 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations can apply. Up to $40,000 in grants for tree planting, tree care, and tree management projects on publicly owned lands is available. Grants range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management. All applications require a 50-50 cost-share match in either cash or in-kind services such as volunteer hours.

Applications are limited to one project in one project category and will be judged on a competitive basis by a grant committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. All projects must be performed on public lands within the community. Priority is given to first time applicants, Tree Friendly Communities, and cities or towns that have passed an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Resolution.

The grant workshop will discuss the 2018 urban grant guidelines and requirements, and include a question and answer session. Q and A can include: how to work with arborists and tree care contractors, and how to prepare a successful application.

For more information about the urban grant program, contact:
Kesha Braunskill, Delaware Forest Service (DFS) Urban Forestry Administrator
Office: (302) 698-4578, Kesha.Braunskill@delaware.gov