National Slow Down Move Over Day occurs on the third Saturday of every October to remind drivers to slow down and move over when an emergency vehicle is on the side of the road. Across our state, there have already been 54 incidents to date involving vehicles striking DelDOT equipment and personnel, a near-record number. There were 57 incidents recorded in all of 2021.

“Unsafe driving is jeopardizing the lives of DelDOT employees and contractors and it is unacceptable,” said Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski. “Slowing down and moving over is the simplest action all drivers can take to prevent an avoidable tragedy involving a first responder.”

Of the 54 incidents that have occurred, 11 have resulted in employee injuries.

On September 19, 2024, Governor John Carney signed House Bill 329 into law, increasing penalties for drivers who fail to move over and stating that a driver who is unable to safely yield the right of way must slow to at least 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit.

“The only acceptable number of roadway fatalities is zero. Everyone on the road deserves to make it home safely,” said Sharon Bryson, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety. “Seeing so many tragedies on Delaware roadways is devastating. By slowing down and moving over, we can help prevent roadside deaths.”

DOVER, Del. (October 17, 2024) – Governor John Carney and Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse, along with members of the General Assembly, the Aglands Preservation Board of Trustees, and other agricultural advocates, joined together at Shadybrook Farms, home of the Cartanza family, to unveil a new farm sign celebrating Delaware’s Agricultural Lands Preservation Program.

The original goal of the program’s founders back in 1991 was to preserve enough land to maintain agriculture for future generations, which was 50% of the available farmland at the time. Easement selections began in 1996, and 28 rounds later, the program has preserved almost 30% of Delaware farmland with 155,486 acres.

“I want to thank all of our farm families who make it possible to continue the agriculture industry in our state through your hard work and dedication to the land and by putting your farms into this program,” said Governor Carney. “As one of the best farmland preservation programs in the country, we have put significant resources into this program to make sure that generational farm families stay in the business, demonstrating that we value agriculture as an important industry in our state, along with the open space that Delaware farms provide.”

Under the Carney Administration, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) secured $78 million in state funding, with additional funding from county and federal sources, to preserve 33,409 acres of farmland on 403 family farms – the highest number of farms in the program’s history.

“It has been a pleasure working with Governor Carney, members of the General Assembly, and the Board over these past eight years to ensure a future for Delaware agriculture. I want to thank the Governor for prioritizing farmland preservation and our legislators for recognizing the need to fund this program,” said Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse. “Above all, I want to thank Delaware farmers for trusting the State of Delaware to ensure their farmland remains in production for perpetuity.”

Then, both Carney and Scuse stepped off to the side of the podium, raising the blue velvet drape to reveal the new farm sign available to landowners who have preserved their farm and would like to promote the program at the end of their farm lanes or on the farm.

Mark Collins, Chairman of the Delaware Aglands Preservation Foundation, commented, “This sign is fantastic and a great way for the public to see the family farms that have chosen to preserve their farms in Delaware, and I can’t wait to put one at my farm.”

Collins thanked Secretary Scuse for his continued commitment to Delaware farmers, noting that during his two terms as Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, the program has preserved 687 farms on 63,100 acres with funding of $122.5 million. Over 60% of the total funding since the inception of the Delaware Aglands Preservation Program has been secured under Scuse’s leadership.

“As someone with strong farming roots from Sussex County, I’m unbelievably proud of Delaware’s achievements with its Agricultural Lands Preservation Program. I’ve seen the impact of this preservation in our communities and know our continued strong production signals that we are moving in the right direction and not only investing in farmers but in the agricultural science to power farming of the future. It’s been an honor to help further these efforts as a state legislator and with the Bond Bill Committee,” said Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long. “The First State is first in the nation in the value of agricultural products per acre and I know by working together, Delaware’s economic vitality continues to blossom.”

Landowners who have preserved their farms through the Delaware Aglands Preservation Program can submit a request for a sign online at https://de.gov/aglands.

“I am dedicated to ensuring that the Foundation continues and that we ensure that families have a chance not just to survive, but to thrive,” said State Treasurer Colleen Davis. “When we have dedicated the land to agricultural production, it cannot be moved somewhere else. It means it will consistently and continually be part of our economy. And that thread is what remains a vibrant thread for our economy, and for the ability for families to thrive, and for all of us to see these beautiful places that are producing food, that ensures people are nourished well, and that we continue to have a thriving community to live in.”

The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation’s Board of Trustees includes representatives from agriculture and state agencies. Trustees are Mark Collins, chairman; James G. Vanderwende, vice-chairman; Janice Truitt, treasurer; William H. “Chip” Narvel Jr., secretary; Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse; State Treasurer Colleen C. Davis; Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Shawn Garvin; Dorothy Abbott; Robert Walls, Sr.; Robert Emerson; and H. Grier Stayton.

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WILMINGTON, Del. — Governor John Carney has appointed Caesar Rodney High School student Sage Sawhney to serve on the State Board of Education. He has reappointed Dr. Megan Szabo, the Assistant Principal at Magnolia Middle School, to serve a third term on the board.

“We need students and educators to be at the table when we are making important decisions about Delaware schools,” said Governor Carney. “I want to thank Sage for taking on this role and sharing his perspective on behalf of Delawareans, and I want to thank Dr. Szabo for her willingness to continue to serve our state.”

A senior at Caesar Rodney High, Sage serves as chapter president of the international mathematics honor society Mu Alpha Theta and is the varsity tennis captain. He is an active volunteer, teaching and mentoring in several community organizations, including as a senior SAT tutor with Schoolhouse through Khan Academy. He established the PEER tutoring program in collaboration with University of Delaware.

Dr. Szabo is a veteran educator and Delaware’s 2015 State Teacher of the Year. Prior to her role as an administrator with the Caesar Rodney School District, Dr. Szabo was the Achievement Liaison Teacher at Magnolia Middle School and a part of the leadership team that opened the building in the fall of 2021.  She worked for over a decade at Postlethwait Middle School as a science teacher and at the Caesar Rodney School District Office as the K-12 Science Resource Teacher for five years. 

“The Delaware State Board of Education values student voice; we welcome Sage and look forward to hearing his perspective about public education in Delaware,” said Shawn Brittingham, President of the Delaware State Board of Education. “Dr. Szabo has brought valuable input these last two years as an experienced educator and instructional leader.”

In 2018, the Delaware General Assembly passed House Bill 455 which added two non-voting seats to the Delaware State Board of Education. The board’s regular monthly meetings are open to the public, typically scheduled for the third Thursday evening of the month. The board rotates its meetings to be held in all three counties.

DOVER, Del. – Today, Governor John Carney hosted his annual awards ceremony to honor Delaware state employees as a part of Public Service Recognition Week observed from May 5-11, 2024. The event celebrates the dedication of government employees who play a crucial role in supporting both the operations and welfare of Delaware. Notably, this year’s event returned to an in-person format, held at the Modern Maturity Center. The Governor, joined by members of his Cabinet and the state’s business community, recognized Delaware’s public servants and the outstanding contributions of state employees.

“I am proud to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of our public servants,” said Governor Carney. “It is an honor to work with state employees who are committed to serving Delawareans each day.”

“Our state employees are the heartbeat of all we do,” said Department of Human Resources Secretary Claire DeMatteis. “They are dedicated, hard-working, compassionate, and resilient employees, and they exemplify excellence in public service. Their commitment to serving our Delaware communities is inspiring and essential.”

The following individuals and teams of state employees were honored for their excellence and commitment to public service during the 2023 calendar year.

Awards were presented in the following categories:

• Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service
• Governor’s Team Excellence Awards: Commitment Award, Champions Award, and
  GEAR P3 Innovation & Efficiency Award
• GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award
• Delaware Award for Heroism

To view the ceremony, visit https:/www.youtube.com/johncarneyde.

Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service Award

The Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service Award is presented to up to five State of Delaware employees, or small groups of up to five employees, who exemplify the highest standards of excellence and commitment in state service. Recipients of the 2023 award are:

• Caleb Bontrager, Department of Technology and Information
• Jason Gingerich, Department of Health and Social Services
• Rebecca Salmon, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Jessica Jason-Torres, Department of Health and Social Services
• Charlotte Walsh, Justice of the Peace Court

Governor’s Team Excellence Awards

This award category includes the GEAR P3 Innovation & Efficiency Award; Champions Award; and Commitment Award. The Governor’s Team Excellence Awards, presented annually to a team of six to 20 state employees, encourages teamwork by recognizing groups of state employees for their efforts to use continuous quality improvement tools to excel in leadership, team dynamics and communication to produce superior customer service and tangible results.

Commitment Award
This award recognizes teams that demonstrate a commitment to developing and applying quality improvement tools and techniques and achieving results that lead to continuous improvement in their organization. Recipients of this award are:

• Claymont Transportation Center Team – Department of Transportation
• Peer Support in Long-Term Care Team – Department of Health and Social Services

Champions Award
This award recognizes teams that demonstrate a superior knowledge of continuous quality improvement techniques, produce tangible results, and increase efficiencies, customer satisfaction, or cost savings. Recipients of this award are:

• FOCUS Team – Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families
• Delaware State Police Aviation Section Team – Department of Safety and Homeland Security
• Unifier Migration Team – Department of Transportation
• SNAP Stolen Benefit Replacement Workgroup – Department of Health and Social Services

GEAR P3 Innovation & Efficiency Award
This top award honors teams that not only use continuous improvement tools to achieve outstanding results but also develop innovative designs and processes, establish best practices, and produce verifiable results that are sustainable, scalable, and adaptable to other areas of government. These teams serve as clear role models for other organizations. The recipients of this award are:

• DHR Agile Workspace Project Team – Departments of Human Resources and Technology and Information
• DSS Unwinding Team – Department of Health and Social Services
• Continuous Quality Improvement Initiative Team – Department of Health and Social Services

GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award

The GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award provides special recognition for individuals or small teams of employees who implement projects that increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability of State government. These recipients are acknowledged for using continuous improvement tools to develop innovative processes, establish best practices, and produce verifiable results that are impactful, sustainable, and adaptable to other areas of government.
Recipients of the 2023 award are:

• Ashley Kavanagh, Department of Human Resources
• Digitization Project Team, Departments of Human Resources and Technology and Information – Ashley Lebo, Alex LeClaire and James Robinson
• Comprehensive Review Tool Project Team, Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families – Jerrica Boyer and Tina Selby Ware
• Connect Community Project Team, Department of Health and Social Services – Ke’Andra Hackett, Nicole Jingozian, Barnabas Kerkula, and Melissa Winters

The GEAR P3 Trailblazer Award and the GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award were established through the support of the Government Efficiency and Accountability Review (GEAR) Board and a Public-Private Partnership (P3) between the State of Delaware and the local business community. Corporate sponsors include, Buccini Pollin Group (BPG), Corporation Services Company (CSC), DuPont, Highmark BCBS Delaware, JP Morgan Chase Bank, M&T Bank, Morris James LLP, The Precisionists Inc. (TPI), W.L. Gore & Associates, and WSFS Bank.

“As chairman of the Governor’s Efficiency & Accountability Review (GEAR) P3 Taskforce for Governor Carney’s GEAR initiative, I am thrilled that the private sector, with the strong backing of the Delaware Business Roundtable and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, has partnered again with the State of Delaware on the Public-Private Partnership (P3) Governor’s Innovation & Efficiency, and Trailblazer Awards. This program is a terrific step toward better government, and in recognizing state employees and teams on outstanding accomplishments,” said Ernie Dianastasis, CEO of The Precisionists (TPI).

Delaware Award for Heroism

The Delaware Award for Heroism recognizes state employees who have demonstrated outstanding judgment, exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her own personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life and/or property. The 2023 recipients are:

• Juan Arroyo-Camacho, Department of Transportation
• Thomas Catalfamo, Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Delaware State Police
• Adam DeLucia, Department of Transportation
• Matthew Downes and Matthew Sampson, Department of Transportation
• Matthew Lichtenstein, Department of Transportation
• Sara Miller, Tracy Purnell and Sasha Rampersad, Department of Labor
• John Walker, Department of Transportation

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DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin congratulates recent Youth Environmentalist elementary honoree Ty Le Marchand with Governor John Carney and Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long. /DNREC photo.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is calling for nominations for its 2024 Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards. The awards program recognizes Delaware students who have shown a commitment to environmental advocacy and conservation efforts.

“DNREC’s Young Environmentalist awards provide an opportunity to spotlight student leaders who are working to protect, restore and enhance Delaware’s natural resources and environment,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “These young people are claiming a place at the table to help ensure the future of Delaware – and our Earth. We welcome them and support the work they are doing every day.”

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, June 28, 2024. A winner will be chosen from each of the following categories: elementary grades 1 to 4, middle school grades 5 to 8, and high school grades 9 to 12. Each category winner will receive a certificate, gift card and prize pack in recognition of his or her contribution to the community.

Now in its 31^st year, the Young Environmentalists program recognizes Delaware students who have initiated an innovative project, increased public awareness and/or demonstrated environmental ethics and stewardship. Nominations must be based on actions or projects which have taken place between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

An awards ceremony is scheduled for Governor’s Day, Thursday, July 25, at the Delaware State Fair. Details will be announced in the summer.

Teachers, peers, club leaders and family members are encouraged to nominate standout students. More information, including the nomination form, is available on the DNREC website at de.gov/youngenvironmentalists.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov