DOVER – In celebration of National Fishing and Boating Week, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife invites anglers to fish, crab, and clam in Delaware waters by taking advantage of free fishing days Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, when no fishing license is required for resident or non-resident anglers.

Anglers are reminded that even though they do not need a fishing license to fish on June 1 or 2, they are still required to obtain a free Fisherman Identification Network (F.I.N.) number, available online at www.delaware-fin.com or by calling 800-432-9228. Anglers also are required to comply with Delaware’s fishing regulations, including size and daily catch limits.

With the exception of Delaware’s annual free fishing weekend, most resident anglers from the ages of 16 through 64 and most non-resident anglers who fish, crab, or clam in Delaware waters are required to purchase a fishing license. Fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses.

More fishing information is available at 2019 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk and from license agents throughout the state.

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

Event being held as part of Reclaim Our River – Nanticoke Series

BLADES – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Division of Watershed Stewardship staff will host a rain barrel-building workshop in conjunction with the Reclaim Our River (ROR)-Nanticoke Series Program from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 25 at Hardin Hall, 20 West 4th Street, Blades, DE 19973. Participation is limited and attendees are asked to preregister at eventbrite.com.

Workshop participants will receive free rain barrel conversion kits on a first-come, first-served basis, including a 55-gallon plastic drum or curbside trash can to take home as a ready-made rain barrel. The workshop will open with a brief overview about the benefits of rain barrels, the do’s and don’ts in using them, and barrel assembly and maintenance. Workshop participants can construct their own rain barrel with guidance, or request that DNREC staff or a ROR member help them with assembly. While the rain barrels are being put together, participants will also learn about watering native plants with them and about techniques to improve Delaware’s water quality.

This workshop is offered as part of the ROR-Nanticoke Series, a program designed to bring more water quality-oriented events, workshops, and recreational opportunities to the Nanticoke River watershed. The ROR program offers information on reducing nutrient and sediment pollution and improving water quality, promotes public access to waterways and provides recreational opportunities as a way to connect residents to their waterways and inspire them to make improvements. For more information on the ROR program, please visit de.gov/nps.

Rain barrels collect and store water from roofs and downspouts for future uses such as watering lawns, gardens, and house plants; cleaning off gardening tools; and washing your car. Using a rain barrel can help lower water bills, particularly during the summer, by collecting thousands of gallons of usable water a year. Rain barrels also play an important role in reducing water pollution and protecting water resources by collecting the residential stormwater runoff before it reaches local streams and rivers.

For more information on the workshop, please contact Philip Miller at 302-739-9922 or email Philip.miller@delaware.gov.

Contact: Philip Miller, DNREC Division of Watershed Stewardship Conservation Programs Section, 302-739-9922; email: Philip.miller@delaware.gov

Vol. 49, No. 129

Registration now open for May-July events throughout the state

DOVER – Do you know a child or young teen who might enjoy learning about fishing and delight in having the opportunity to catch a fish? DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife invites budding anglers age 6 through 15 to come out and learn to fish with a parent, grandparent, or guardian on six upcoming “Take a Kid Fishing!” events.

“Take a Kid Fishing!” events are offered free of charge to all participants, and will be held on the following dates:

• 9 a.m. – noon, Saturday, May 18, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 9 a.m. – noon, Saturday, June 1, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, June 8, Lums Pond State Park, Bear
• 9 a.m. – noon, Saturday, June 15, Aquatic Resources Education Center, Smyrna
• 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, July 13, Redden State Forest, Georgetown
• 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, July 20, Lums Pond State Park, Bear

Fishing equipment is also provided by the Division of Fish & Wildlife free for use by participants. To ensure that enough supplies are on hand for these events, pre-registration is required. To pre-register for a “Take a Kid Fishing!” event, or for more information about the program or about volunteering as an instructor, please email Mary Rivera at mary.rivera@delaware.gov.

“Take a Kid Fishing!” teaches youngsters fundamental fishing skills and conservation concepts, including catch-and-release. Along with the angling experience, these free fishing events also feature activity stations and prizes. Packing refreshments and a picnic lunch is encouraged.

Most parents, grandparents, or others age 16 and older who engage in fishing with “Take a Kid Fishing!” participants must have a current Delaware fishing license and a Delaware Fisherman Information Network (FIN) number. The free FIN number is included as part of a Delaware fishing license purchase. License-exempt anglers, including Delaware residents 65 and older, may visit www.delaware-fin.com or call 800-432-9228 toll-free to obtain their free FIN number.

Delaware fishing licenses are sold online, at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, and by license agents statewide. To find a participating agent, or to purchase a license online, visit Delaware Licenses.

For more information on fishing in Delaware, click on the 2019 Delaware Fishing Guide. The guide also is available in printed form at DNREC’s Dover licensing desk, and from license agents throughout the state.

“Take a Kid Fishing!” is sponsored by the DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Aquatic Resources Education Center, with host sites provided by the Division of Fish & Wildlife and DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation, and the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Some of the fishing tackle for these events is donated by Cabela’s located at the Christiana Mall.

Follow the Division of Fish & Wildlife on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/DelawareFishWildlife.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 118

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

(DOVER, Del.—April 9, 2019)—Buena Vista: A Delaware Country Estate, located at 661 S. Dupont Highway (Route 13), southwest of New Castle, will welcome visitors for a one-day-only spring open-house on Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities will include a hands-on potpourri-making demonstration, as well as self-guided tours of the mansion house, gardens and walking trails. Guests are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture the awakening of spring at one of Delaware’s most historic estates. Light refreshments will be available. The event will take place rain or shine and is free and open to the public. For additional information, call 302-323-4430.

The main section of the Buena Vista mansion 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.

-End-

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

Annabelle Fichtner performs treatment to restore a historic photograph.

DELAWARE CITY – DNREC’s Division of Parks & Recreation will host a photography preservation workshop from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 at the Grass Dale Center, 108 North Reedy Point Road, Delaware City, DE 19706. The event is free and open to the public.

The program, “Worth More Than 1000 Words: Identifying and Caring for Your Family Photographs,” will be led by University of Delaware Art Conservation student Annabelle Fichtner. The hands-on workshop will teach participants how to identify and care for common types of photographs that may be in family collections.

Participants need not have prior experience in art or photograph conservation.

For more information, contact Jacob Miller, Interpretive Programs Manager, Fort Delaware/Fort DuPont State Parks, 302-834-7941.

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

Vol. 49, No. 44