-Listing of museum activities through December 2016 also included-

(DOVER, Del.—Oct. 4, 2016)—The New Castle Court House Museum, located at 211 Delaware St. in New Castle, Del., will be presenting four history-related programs during the month of October 2016.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, the museum will present “William Penn Day,” a full day of programs commemorating the 334th anniversary of Penn’s disembarkment at New Castle, his first landing in the New World. Activities will include a re-enactment of the Livery of Seizen ritual in which Penn received possession of New Castle and a 12-mile circle of land surrounding it at 10:15 a.m.; a performance by De Blokfluiters recorder/flute ensemble at 11 a.m.; “The Tryal of William Penn,” a historical play exploring Penn’s trial on religious freedom and the rights of English subjects under the law at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.; “The Amazing Mrs. Penn,” a living-history performance by Jean Norvell as Hannah Penn at 2 p.m.; and a Baroque concert by the Immanuel Bach Consort at 6 p.m. Reservations for the 6 p.m. concert are required by calling 302-323-4453.

In keeping with the ghostly season, the museum will present “The Spirit of New Castle Past,” an original play by New Castle Court House historic-site interpreter David Price that will explore historical figures of New Castle’s past who return to tell their stories of conquest, murder, adultery, kidnapping, slavery and revolution. The play will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Admission is free but, due to space restrictions, reservations are required by calling 302-323-4453. No admission after the play begins.

On Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m., historic-site interpreter Bob Vander Decker will present “1781 Surrender: End of War,” part 10 of his year-long series of lectures entitled “The Founding of America in One Year” which examines important local and national events that led to the creation of the United States. Admission is free.

Finally, on Saturday, Oct. 15, between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., the museum will participate in the River Towns Ride and Festival, a twin-festival held in the historic towns of New Castle and Delaware City. Activities include a bicycling event, food, craft beer, music, pumpkin decorating and children’s games. Free admission.

One of the oldest and most historic courthouses in the United States, the New Castle Court House (main section built in 1732) served as Delaware’s first court and state capitol. Here in 1776, New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties declared their independence from Pennsylvania and England creating the Delaware State. The museum features tours and exhibits that illustrate Delaware’s unique boundaries, law and government and the Underground Railroad.

In addition to the October programs, the museum is currently featuring the exhibit “Emeline Hawkins: Her Journey From Slavery to Freedom on the Underground Railroad” which chronicles the compelling story of Emeline Hawkins and her family, and their 1845 odyssey on the Underground Railroad from slavery in Maryland, through Delaware to freedom in Pennsylvania; and Sculpture by Charles Parks, a display of works by the noted Wilmington artist featuring historical and political figures including a Minute Man, and presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George W. Bush.

The New Castle Court House Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. For additional information, call 302-323-4453.

New Castle Court House Museum activities, October–December, 2016

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016
“1781 Surrender: End of War.” Lecture by historic-site interpreter Bob Vander Decker. Part 10 of “The Founding of America in One Year,” a year-long series that examines important local and national events that led to the founding of the United States. 7 p.m. Free admission.

Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016
River Towns Ride and Festival. Festivals in historic New Castle and Delaware City frame a bicycling event between the two cities. Family-oriented festival held from 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. at the New Castle Court House Museum and The Green in New Castle will feature food and craft beer, music, pumpkin decorating and children’s games. Free admission. Note: Event originally scheduled for Oct. 1, 2016. Due to inclement weather, event rescheduled to Oct. 15, 2016.

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016
William Penn Day. Series of programs commemorating the 334th anniversary of Penn’s disembarkment at New Castle, his first landing in the New World. Activities include a re-enactment of the Livery of Seizen ritual at 10:15 a.m. in which Penn received possession of New Castle and a 12-mile circle of land surrounding it; a performance by De Blokfluiters recorder/flute ensemble at 11 a.m.; “The Tryal of William Penn,” a historical play exploring Penn’s trial on religious freedom and the rights of English subjects under the law at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.; “The Amazing Mrs. Penn,” a living-history performance by Jean Norvell as Hannah Penn at 2 p.m.; and a Baroque concert by the Immanuel Bach Consort at 6 p.m. Free admission but reservations required for the 6 p.m. concert. 302-323-4453. Note: The time for the Immanuel Bach Consort performance has been changed from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016
“The Spirit of New Castle Past.” Play by historic-site interpreter David Price explores historical figures of New Castle’s past who return to tell their stories of conquest, murder, adultery, kidnapping, slavery and revolution. 7 p.m.  Free admission but, due to space restrictions, reservations are required. No admission after the play begins. 302-323-4453.

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016
“1782-1783: Treaty Signed.” Lecture by historic-site interpreter Bob Vander Decker. Part 11 of “The Founding of America in One Year,” a year-long series that examines important local and national events that led to the founding of the United States. 7 p.m. Free admission.

Friday, Nov. 11, 2016
“Veteran’s Walking Tours.” Programs include stories and visits to grave sites of notable New Castle veterans from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, United States Colored Troops, World Wars I and II, Korean War, Vietnam and Desert Storm. Tours depart at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Free admission but advance registration requested by calling 302-323-4453.

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016
“Spirit of Christmas in New Castle.” One of the best preserved Colonial-era towns in America will feature tours of historic homes bedecked in holiday decorations, Dickens-themed holiday activities, re-enactments, programs at museums including the New Castle Court House Museum, crafts, musical entertainment and more. Festivities will conclude at 5 p.m. with the annual Christmas tree lighting at Market Square. Downtown New Castle. Free admission.

Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2016
“1784-1787: Continental Congress to Constitution.” Lecture by historic-site interpreter Bob Vander Decker. Final segment of “The Founding of America in One Year,” a year-long series that examines important local and national events that led to the founding of the United States. 7 p.m. Free admission.

-End-

Contact:
Jim Yurasek
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Phone: 302-736-7413
E-mail: Jim.Yurasek@delaware.gov
Web: http://history.delaware.gov

DOVER, DE – Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart today released Delaware’s Qualified Health Plan average rates for Plan Year 2017.

The Commissioner recommended approval of a 32.5 % average rate increase in the individual market for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware. The approved average rate increase for the small group market for Highmark’s plans is 2.74%.

Aetna Life Insurance Company received an average of 22.8 % increase in the individual market and Aetna Health Insurance Company received an average increase of 23.6 %. In the small group market, Aetna Life received an average increase of 15.2 % and Aetna Health received an average increase of 19.7 %.

The Commissioner, after a thorough actuarial review of rate requests submitted by the insurers’ in June, submitted her approved rates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in August. CMS subsequently conducted a final review of the Aetna Health and Aetna Life requests and concurred with the Commissioner’s recommendations.

The Aetna Health rate reflects a 1.4% reduction of the insurer’s individual rate request made in June, and Aetna Life’s rate is a 1.1% reduction of its June request. In the small group market, Aetna Health’s rate reflects a 3.5% reduction of the original request, and Aetna Life’s rate is 3.4% less than requested.

The Commissioner originally reduced rates requested by Highmark BCBSD and submitted them to CMS. However, CMS urged Delaware and neighboring states to reconsider their submissions and accept Highmark’s original rates as filed. Several BCBS entities have left, threatened to leave, or reduced coverage in other states’ marketplaces for 2017. Aetna recently announced they are leaving the ACA exchanges in eleven different states, but will remain in Delaware for 2017. Given this fluid environment, and to maintain a stable and competitive marketplace in Delaware, the Commissioner and her actuaries agreed with CMS’s analysis and approved the original rates requested by Highmark.

The approved rates are average rates; some consumers may pay more, some less. Under Delaware law, the Commissioner evaluates the reasonableness of rates to ensure they are not excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.

As always, in all lines of insurance, the Department recommends consumers shop around for their insurance needs. Costs can vary substantially between insurers. For the Marketplace plans, please use only the official sites, https://www.healthcare.gov and http://www.choosehealthde.com.

The Department of Insurance held public information sessions in each county in June to receive comment on the proposed rate increases. Written comments can be found at http://www.delawareinsurance.gov/departments/rates/ratefilings.shtml . All 2017 rates with justifications, along with information regarding non-marketplace health plans and on- and off-marketplace dental plans, may be found on the Department’s Rate Filings page: http://www.delawareinsurance.gov/departments/rates/ratefilings.shtml

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New location will serve as a one-stop facility to better serve the public

Georgetown, DE – Members of the public, be advised the Delaware Department of Labor’s Georgetown facility is relocating to the nearby Georgetown Shopping Plaza.

DOL’s new office is located at 8 Georgetown Plaza, Georgetown, DE 19947 and will open for business Tuesday, October 25.

The last day the current facility at 600 N. Dupont Hwy., Suite 207 in Georgetown will be open is Thursday, October 20.

ABOUT THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

The Delaware Department of Labor connects people to jobs, resources, monetary benefits, workplace protections and labor market information to promote financial independence, workplace justice and a strong economy. The department is made up of five divisions:

Division of Employment & Training
Division of Unemployment Insurance
Division of Industrial Affairs
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Office of Occupational and Labor Market Information

The combined efforts of these divisions and offices support the employment-related needs of nearly 400,000 Delaware workers and more than 20,000 businesses throughout the state.

Paths of Hurricanes are Hard to Predict: Prepare Now for Severe Weather

Dover, DE – Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart is encouraging Delaware residents to take action now to prepare for potential damages and interruptions from Hurricane Matthew. Although it is too early to predict the long-term track of the storm, residents are encouraged to review or develop an emergency plan, create or update a home inventory, and take action to make their homes as safe as possible to prevent any damage from occurring. The Atlantic Hurricane season officially ends on November 30. Even if this current storm bypasses our region there’s still plenty of time for other strong storms to form which could eventually threaten Delaware.

The Department of Insurance has a Storm Preparedness webpage filled with resources and information about what to do before, during and after a major storm.  There’s an abundance of information about protecting your home or business from damage, and tips for preparing for meeting with an adjuster if your property sustains damages. Visit the Storm Preparedness webpage here: http://delawareinsurance.gov/departments/consumer/StormPrepare.shtml

Now is an ideal time to update your personal property inventory for your home, or create one if you’ve never done it before. With today’s technology this process is easier than ever with the help of the free app for your smartphone called MyHome Scr.APP.book, created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The Department of Insurance also has a home inventory PDF that can be printed. For links to all of these resources visit the Storm Preparedness webpage. Having an up-to-date home inventory will help make the insurance claims process much easier should your home be damaged by a natural disaster.

Below is a brief list of items the Delaware Department of Insurance suggests that you review now, before a disaster strikes. For a complete list of items, visit the Storm Preparedness webpage, mentioned above in this article.

• Make sure that you understand the deductible provision of your policy.
• Keep all of your insurance policies in an easily accessible location.
• If forced to evacuate, keep your insurance records with you at all times, including the name and telephone number of your insurer or insurance agent.
• Be certain you understand the claim procedures of your insurance company.
• Make sure you have insurance up to at least 80% of the value on your home to avoid penalties under any co-insurance provision of your policy.
• Keep all necessary information regarding your health coverage, including prescription information, with your insurance records in the event of an evacuation.

For the best protection take pictures of your important documents with your smartphone, or scan these important documents and save them in your personal e-mail or online storage account. That way, if documents are lost in a disaster you can still access them from anywhere. Be prepared, you’ll thank yourself later!

The Delaware Department of Insurance also recommends that residents have evacuation plans and prepare an emergency supply kit. It is recommended that a supply kit should contain: plenty of bottled water, a first aid kit, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, non-perishable food items, blankets, clothing, prescription drugs, eyeglasses, personal hygiene supplies, and cash or traveler’s checks. Additionally, if you need to evacuate your home, turn off all utilities to reduce the chance of additional damage and electrical shock when utilities are restored. For more information on building an emergency kit and preparing an evacuation plan, visit www.ready.gov. You can also learn more about preparing for hurricanes, specifically, at https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

The Department of Insurance encourages residents to monitor the storm in the coming days. If the storm tracks toward Delaware, consider taking the following precautions at your home:

• Clear your gutters of leaves and trim branches that are hanging over your roof.
• Close and lock all doors and windows to prevent them from blowing open and allowing rain in.
• Move any items from your yard that could become projectiles and cause damage such as potted plants, grills, toys, garbage cans, lawn furniture, etc.

A note about flood insurance: Your traditional homeowners insurance will not cover your losses due to flooding and storm surges. Only flood insurance will protect your home and property from damage due to flood waters. There is typically a 30-day waiting period from the time your purchase the policy until it goes in to effect. To learn about your home’s specific risk for flooding as determined by FEMA flood maps visit https://msc.fema.gov/portal.

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State receives new trade and export promotion grant for 2016-17

Wilmington, DE – The Small Business Administration (SBA) has granted Global Delaware, the international development initiative of Delaware’s Department of State, an FY 2016 State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) Program award totaling $282,636 to support the state’s efforts to help Delaware companies enter and develop markets overseas. This year’s grant is the largest STEP award the state has ever received.

The SBA’s STEP Program gives states matching-fund awards to assist small businesses looking to enter and succeed in the international marketplace. The program’s objective is to increase the number of U.S. small businesses that export and to increase the value of these exports.

As with previous STEP grants, a significant portion of the grant will be used to directly reimburse small- and medium-sized companies for money spent on eligible, pre-approved export expenses such as international travel, trade show activities, international marketing materials and overseas interpreters.

“This grant award will give a helping hand to small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to expand into foreign markets,” said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper. “One way to create a nurturing environment for small businesses to grow and succeed is to assist them as they explore new markets overseas, and this grant will help them in the crucial first stages.”

“Small businesses in Delaware need to use their limited resources wisely, and for many of them, a business development trip out of the county is rarely an option—even though that trip might significantly help their international business prospects,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Coons. “STEP grants do just that; help companies travel to a foreign market and meet with potential or existing customers. I was glad that the Congress preserved funding for STEP grants, and I have seen the good work they have done for a number of Delaware small business.”

“The vast majority of consumers live outside of the U.S. With the STEP program, Delaware’s small businesses have more access to these markets, and are in a better position to compete, grow their customer base, and create jobs,” said Congressman John Carney. “I’d like to thank the SBA, and congratulate the team at Global Delaware for bringing these resources to our state. This is the type of investment that will continue to move our economy forward.”

“Delaware companies were able to successfully leverage STEP grants to grow their export strategies last year, and we hope to see even more activity this year,” said Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, noting that Delaware companies are anticipating over $10 million in sales as a result of last year’s export program. “What we need to see now are more companies—new companies—coming forward to take advantage of this resource to grow their businesses and contribute to job creation here in Delaware.”

The STEP award will also be used to finance export-related marketing activities, such as organizing trade missions to connect Delaware businesses with buyers and distributors abroad. Global Delaware organized trade missions to Mexico, Canada, South Korea and Germany this year. STEP grant funds are used to set up one-on-one business meetings with potential distributors and customers in the target markets, hire interpreters, and cover other costs associated with the missions, such as translating marketing presentations and paying for in-country transportation.

Delaware companies can learn more about attending a mission or applying for an export grant at global.delaware.gov/expand or by emailing global@delaware.gov