Climate change affects our environment, our economy, and our way of life. It’s a very real challenge we must address, not a theoretical possibility to be debated. Increasing temperatures, changes in rainfall and rising sea levels are happening now and will become more serious in the future – impacting everything from our farmers’ crops to the infrastructure upon which our people and businesses rely.

While reducing the effects of climate change is a global challenge, we must do our part in Delaware and I’m proud of the progress we’re making. We’re reducing dirty air emissions through investments in cleaner, more reliable, and more efficient energy. We’re also preparing for inevitable climate impacts by protecting wetlands and shorelines, developing better flood plain standards and restoring coastal impoundments and dikes along the Delaware River and Bay. But more work lies ahead and we need your help.

Now through May 30, we are seeking public comment on recommendations unveiled this past week. The Climate Framework for Delaware proposes a wide range of actions to protect public health and safety, strengthen the state’s facilities and infrastructure, and improve our capacity to deliver services to Delawareans in a changing climate. I encourage you to visit delaware.gov/climateframework to review the recommendations and offer your input and ideas. It’s said, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”

Climate changes impact all of us and we all have a responsibility to take action. By working together, we can make Delaware more resilient to climate impacts, protecting our people, places and natural resources, and leaving the world better than we found it. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

(Hockessin, DE) – In his weekly message, filmed at Star-Med in Hockessin, Governor Markell addresses ongoing efforts
to support the supplier diversity community in Delaware.

“Executive Order 44, signed last spring, ensures businesses owned by individuals with disabilities and certain small
businesses are able to successfully compete for state contracts as certified diverse suppliers,” said Governor
Markell. “It builds on previous efforts to support minority, women and veteran-owned businesses throughout the state,
which, combined, has resulted in nearly a 200% increase in Delaware’s supplier diversity community over the past six
years.”

Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is
available on:

YouTube: http://youtu.be/4IiZzezShtY
Delaware.Gov: http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook: www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/governormarkell

You can view the Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Supporting Supplier Diversity to Encourage Increased Business Growth

Entrepreneurs and small businesses are a key part of Delaware’s overall economic success. Our supplier diversity community is no exception. It’s why we’re committed to providing them with the supportive environment they need to thrive – and our ongoing efforts reflect that. Executive Order 44, signed last spring, ensures businesses owned by individuals with disabilities and certain small businesses are able to successfully compete for state contracts as certified diverse suppliers. It builds on previous efforts to support minority, women and veteran-owned businesses throughout the state, which, combined, has resulted in nearly a 200% increase in Delaware’s supplier diversity community over the past six years. A community that includes businesses like Star-Med and Vel Micro Works, both located here in Hockessin. Lead by Diane Ferry, Star-Med is the only woman-owned business operating in the health information management industry in the country. Together with Vel Micro Works, a minority-owned custom software development company, they developed an electronic health records system, Star-Trac, recognized for its first-in-the-nation certification for strict privacy and security measures. Or Fayda Engineering & Energy Solutions, or Delcollo Security Technologies, both veteran-owned businesses providing support to State agencies. These are just a few of the over 2000 supplier diversity providers certified in Delaware – and the list continues to grow. By creating more opportunities for our diverse community of entrepreneurs and small business owners to succeed, we’ll encourage new innovators to step forward, putting more people back to work and further growing our economy. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

Delaware Forest Service’s 2015 Arbor Day Poster Contest and Free Seedling Program The Delaware Forest Service is holding its annual Arbor Day School Poster Contest, open to all Delaware students in grades K to 5. Public, private and home schools are encouraged to participate and posters are welcome from after-school groups and youth organizations. This year’s contest theme is “Trees are Terrific… Inside and Out.” To participate, teachers must register their classes by March 13 and submit posters by the deadline of March 27. As in previous years, classes that participate can also request free pine seedlings on a first-come, first-served basis.

• View 2014 Arbor Day Contest Winners
• Information: Email – Ashley Peebles, Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator. Phone: (302) 698-4551.

This year’s theme is designed to teach students about the structural components of trees and how these components help a tree function. This lesson can be adapted for grades K to 5 and makes an excellent addition to the K-5 science curriculum. The poster contest is also an important way for students to learn more about the role trees play in community health and well-being and can help students foster an appreciation for the natural world around them. As always, the Delaware Forest Service will provide all participating classes with free loblolly pine seedlings. The web link for contest registration is at http://2015arbordaycontest.eventbrite.com. Teachers can use the site to:

1. Register for participation in the 2015 contest
2. Reserve pine seedlings for students
3. Access the poster guidelines and rules

Important dates:

1. Deadline to register and reserve free seedlings: March 13, 2015
2. Deadline to submit posters for state contest: March 27, 2015
3. State Award Ceremony: Week of May 6, 2015 (tentative based on Governor Markell’s schedule)
4. Last year’s winning posters:  http://delawaretrees.com/2014arbordaypostercontest.html
5. Seedling delivery: Week of April 20, 2015
6. 2015 Arbor Day in Delaware: Friday, April 24

State Judging Criteria On a scale of 1-5, the following criteria are used to judge posters on the county and state level. These should be kept in mind when submitting posters:

1. Use of Theme
2. Originality
3. Neatness
4. Artistic Expression

Prizes Awarded to Winners A winner for each county (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex) will be selected for each entry category (Grades K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5). From these 12 winners, an overall state winner will be selected to represent Delaware as we celebrate Arbor Day 2015. Please note: the National Arbor Day Foundation is no longer hosting a National Poster Contest for fifth grade winners. The Delaware Forest Service is committed to continuing the Arbor Day Poster Contest at the state level. County winners receive:

1. $25 gift card
2. ceremonial tree planting held at their school
3. invitation to the State Arbor Day Ceremony (attended by the Governor)
4. “Tree inspired” children’s book
5. winning posters will be reprinted on canvas, framed for display, and given to winner as a keepsake
6. winning posters will be displayed online. Please visit delawaretrees.com to see the 2014 Arbor Day winners.
7. In addition to the previous prizes, the State Winner also receives an additional $25 gift card.

Judges will be selected by the Contest Coordinator and judging will take place at the Delaware Department of Agriculture in Dover. Winners will be announced in April and honored at the 2015 State Arbor Day Ceremony with Governor Jack A. Markell.

Posters must be received by March 27, 2015.

Entries should be mailed or delivered to:

Ashley Peebles, Contest Coordinator – Delaware Forest Service
2320 S. DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 698-4551
Email: ashley.peebles@delaware.gov

Poster guidelines and rules can be found HERE.
Lesson plan and activity guide can be found HERE.

For those interested in programs designed to increase TEACHER knowledge in trees and roles of community trees and for grant opportunities to make your school more “green,” visit www.plt.org In 2014, more than 105 classes from 41 private, public, and home schools, and youth groups participated in the annual contest, and winners were honored at the state’s Arbor Day Ceremony at McIlvaine Early Childhood Center in Magnolia.

Last year, over 3,500 seedlings were distributed to students through the annual Free Seedling Program. As they have for many years, senior volunteers from the Modern Maturity Center’s RSVP Program in Dover wrapped tree seedlings for distribution to Delaware schoolchildren. Classrooms must participate in the Arbor Day Poster Contest to be eligible for free seedlings and tree programs. Delaware Forest Service staff delivered the seedlings to public and private schools statewide.

State of Delaware offices are opening today (January 27, 2015) as regularly scheduled. Employees are to report to work as scheduled​.