Public invited to June 21 garden dedication and fair

DOVER — The public is invited to attend a garden fair on Saturday, June 21, to celebrate the dedication of the Planting Hope in Delaware garden on the Herman Holloway Campus near New Castle.

The free event, from 9 a.m. to noon, will include tours of the Planting Hope sensory, community and market gardens; a honey tasting from the Delaware Beekeepers Association in celebration of National Pollinator Week; story time with PAWS for People dogs; and a meditative labyrinth for walking.

Attendees can also learn about sustainability practices, including companion planting, composting, and cover cropping, as well as backyard habitats, livable lawns, rain barrels and the Planting Hope Monarch butterfly waystation.

“There will be something for everyone as we celebrate the growth of this community-building garden,” said Faith Kuehn, environmental program manager for the Delaware Department of Agriculture and Planting Hope’s project manager. “This is an educational and ability-affirming project that is reaching more people every day.”

Begun in 2010, the Planting Hope in Delaware Garden is a joint project of the Delaware Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Social Services. The initiative is growing plants and tending gardens to enhance the well-being and improve the health of the greater Herman Holloway Campus community in Wilmington/New Castle. The goal is to grow gardens that provide fresh, healthy food, stimulate the senses, offer respite, and create common ground for people of all abilities.

DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf, who is scheduled to attend the dedication, said, the Planting Hope in Delaware garden provides many benefits to the campus and the surrounding community. “The garden gives us a way to promote healthy eating and to encourage people of all abilities to participate in tending the gardens. Plus, it opens up our campus to residents of the nearby community. I am grateful to the Department of Agriculture for helping us to embrace a healthier Delaware.”

The Holloway Campus is at 1901 DuPont Highway, New Castle. To get to the Planting Hope in Delaware garden, enter the Herman Holloway Campus from U.S. 13 and take the first exit from the traffic circle, onto Tarumianz Turn. Take the left onto Calle Carmen Nazario, and turn right onto Debnam Drive at the T intersection. Turn left into the parking lot, and the garden is across the street.

For more information, call 302-698-4587.

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Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520


Heels & Wheels: Delaware Walk & Bike Summit

For the first time ever, recreational trail users and active trail transportation commuters are gathering together for the Heels and Wheels Delaware Walk & Bike Summit 2014. The summit, designed to bring walkers, hikers, bicycle and mountain bike riders, and runners together for an educational conference, is being held at the University of Delaware’s Clayton Hall in Newark.

“The evidence is clear that many economic benefits come with trail development,” said Governor Jack Markell. “They improve quality of life, make Delaware a more attractive place to live, and help support businesses. We’ve made progress creating new and better trails and pathways, whether for recreation or commuting, and this summit will help us keep that effort moving forward.”

The summit will bring together some 250 participants, including trail commuters, recreational trail users, trail managers, businesses and planners.

“Today’s conference is a great opportunity to further integrate our goals of providing  viable transportation alternatives for connecting people with their jobs, schools  and other destinations, while concurrently offering wonderful recreational opportunities to our citizens and visitors that can contribute to healthier lifestyles,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “With Governor Markell’s leadership and working with our many partners in local and state government, the private sector and non-profit organizations, we have made huge strides in making these goals real. I am extremely grateful to all of today’s participants and their many and varied contributions to this effort, and look forward to our future successes together.”

“At DelDOT, we are committed to the idea that bicycling and walking are important pieces of the transportation network, and an important investment for our state’s future,” said DelDOT Secretary Shailen Bhatt. “We are not just about building roads. We are about providing other alternatives, creating and sustaining walkable, bikeable communities where multiple modes of transportation safely work together as the ideal transportation system.”

The summit’s keynote speaker is Dan Burden, a leading national expert on planning sustainable communities for walking and bicycling. Burden, Executive Director of the Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, has spent more than 35 years getting the world “back on its feet,” by helping 3,500 communities become more livable and walkable.

“Delaware’s transportation for the future will create greater discovery, pleasure and exchange,” said Burden. “We’ll see stronger hearts and less stewing and sitting.”

Burden’s efforts have not only earned him the first-ever lifetime achievement award issued by the New Partners for Smart Growth and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, but in 2001, he was named by TIME magazine as “one of the six most important civic innovators in the world.”

The Heels & Wheels Summit is a collaboration of the Delaware Recreation & Parks Society; DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation; DelDOT Planning; the Delaware Bicycle Council; the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization;  the Wilmington Area Planning Council; and Nemours Health and Prevention Services.


Governor Markell and Lt. Governor Denn Join DE Children’s Dept. to Announce Recipients of Mini Grants for After School Programming

Dover – Governor Jack Markell, and Lt. Governor Matt Denn joined officials from the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF/The Children’s Dept.) to announce the names of 13 organizations that are receiving funding for targeted after school programming.  They made the announcement at South Dover Elementary School, one of the sites selected.  The initiative to support positive prevention activities for youth was part of Governor Jack Markell’s FY 14 Budget proposal.  In his State of the State in January, he specifically called for more opportunities for “after-school and summer activities that get kids off the streets and give them exposure to the arts, nature, and physical activity.” The General Assembly supported his budget request with $2.2 million as part of DSCYF’s budget for after school programs this session.

“Children engaged in positive activities outside of the classroom do better in school, at home, and in society,” said Governor Markell.  “These initiatives reduce drop-out rates, reduce depression, improve self-control and self-esteem, and prevent risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use and juvenile crime. I’m pleased that my administration has been able to work with the General Assembly to give our community partners, non-profit organizations, and schools additional resources to help our children grow and thrive.”

Schools and other organizations were permitted to apply for up to $20,000 in short term funding that must be used by the end of December.  An RFP for larger funding amounts was issued at the end of August.  The deadline to respond to the RFP, which is linked to the Children’s Department home page (www.kids.delaware.gov) has been extended to Thursday, September 26th.

Programs selected for the initial round of funding cover a wide range of activities including anti-bullying, violence and suicide prevention, arts, theatre, skill and character building, health & fitness, tutoring, music, recreation, and more.

DSC_0006“These programs are addressing the overall well-being of children,” said Lt. Governor Matt Denn.  “They focus not only on their academic needs, but on their social, emotional and mental health needs as well. We’re taking a well-rounded approach to supporting our youth. ”

The selected program recipients will enter into contracts the Children’s Department’s Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services.  Four of the recipients are in Kent, four are in NcCo, and one is in Sussex County.  One program will operate in sites in both Kent and Sussex, and three more will operate in both Kent and NcCo. This initiative is partly an outgrowth of the initial recommendations by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the 2012 adolescent suicides in Kent County which pointed to a lack of after-school activities for youth in Kent and Sussex Counties.

“These after school programs will help to address the needs of children in all three Delaware counties.  We want to make sure that children statewide have the opportunity to participate in positive activities that some would not otherwise get to experience,” said DSYCF Secretary Jennifer Ranji.

The funding recipients are: Cab Calloway School of the Arts, Courageous Hearts Equine, Dover High School, Delaware State University, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay, Inner City Cultural League, Jewish Family Services, Milford Boys & Girls Club, PAL of Delaware, PS DuPont Middle School, South Dover Elementary, and University of Delaware 4H at McLane Gardens in Smyrna and Knollwood Community Center in Claymont.

South Dover Elementary will use the funds to support two of its after school programs: the Kiva Anti-Bullying program and Girls on The Run, which is a national program aimed at building the self-esteem of young girls through physical fitness.  At today’s announcement, state officials, local legislators and Capital School District officials got to see the 12 young ladies who are participating in both programs practicing their skills.  For Girls on the Run, the young ladies are working up to a 5K walk/run to be held in Milford.

South Dover Elementary School Principal Michelle Duke says funding opportunities for after school programs are important as state and federal money is usually reserved for academic programs, and private grant opportunities are disappearing.

“While we hold high academic standards for our students, we also recognize that their physical and social/emotional development has a direct connection to their academic success.  In addition, the social/emotional health and self-image these young girls possess is very important to their success in life. I am extremely proud of the team of South Dover teachers who wrote the grant and are committed to building healthy relationships with these girls and modeling healthy habits.”

The Children’s Department provides services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts, as well as prevention services targeted toward all youth. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.


Three Delaware Schools to be Awarded Brand New Live Positively Fitness Centers

Winning Schools Recognized For Outstanding Fitness Innovation by

the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils

DOVER, DE – Today, Governor Jack Markell along with Jake Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils announced the names of the winning schools that will each receive a state-of-the-art Live PositivelyTM Fitness Center as part of the National Champion Schools campaign.  This multi-million dollar physical fitness campaign has named Alexis I. du Pont Middle School in Greenville, Bancroft Elementary School in Wilmington and McCullough Middle School in Newcastle as the winning schools for demonstrating new innovative ways for promoting student physical activity and wellness.   This fall, the new fitness centers will be dedicated at ribbon cuttings ceremonies with Governor Markell and Chairman Steinfeld.

“What a great achievement for these three schools.  They’ve worked hard to bring innovative fitness ideas to their students and it’s paid off. Because of their efforts, I’m pleased to award each of these schools with a new Live Positively Fitness Center that will allow all of their students the opporutnity to add physical fitness activities into their daily routine and put them on the road to being fit and healthy,” said Jake “Body by Jake” Steinfeld, Chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils.  “I’ve always said that academics and fitness go hand in and hand and believe that if you provide the schools with the tools, students will excel beyond their wildest dreams. Not only will these students be healthier, but they’ll also have increased confidence, improved self-esteem and will achieve greater academic success.”

“Jake Steinfeld made a promise to bring fitness centers to schools in our great state and he’s made good on his word,” said Governor Markell.  “The three winning schools put their best foot forward by creating innovative fitness programs that have been embraced by our students and will lead them on a path to a bright and healthy future.  We need to support efforts that encourage our young people to be more active and I thank Jake for bringing these fitness centers to our state.”

The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils program plans to bring its challenge to all 50 states in the coming years.  An attractive and unique feature of this campaign is that the Live Positively Fitness Centers are fully funded through public/private partnerships and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding.  Live Positively™ is part of Coca-Cola’s commitment to bring people together to make a positive difference, which includes supporting physical activity programs.

The National Foundation’s goal is to build a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world.  Physical activity and exercise are shown to help prevent and treat more than 40 chronic diseases, enhance individual health and quality of life and reduce health care costs.  In schools, studies show that physical activity improves academic achievement, increases confidence and self-esteem, reduces discipline problems, cuts absenteeism and fosters better interpersonal relationships.

For more information about the National Foundation, visit www.nationalgovcouncil.org.

About the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils

The National Foundation seeks to encourage and reward innovation in the field of youth fitness by awarding fitness centers to schools that use new and unique methods to promote student physical activity and wellness.  The National Foundation envisions a fitness center in every school in the U.S., helping to build a nation that—through innovation and a “Don’t Quit” attitude—boasts the fittest kids in the world.


Delaware moves from 10th to 5th among Bicycle Friendly States

League of American Bicyclists ranks Delaware first among northeastern states

Dover – In honor of National Bike Month, the League of American Bicyclists today released its latest Bicycle Friendly States ranking. In the sixth annual assessment, Delaware achieved a fifth place ranking nationally, while placing number one in the northeastern United States.

“People want to work and live in places they are proud to call home,” said Governor Markell.  “This shows the progress we’ve been making to expand trails and pathways, offering more connected workplaces and homes. We’re on the road to making our quality of life in Delaware #1 in the country. It’s good for families and for businesses who want to grow here.”

In 2011, Governor Markell challenged the state to harness the health, recreation and economic benefits of cycling, and increase Delaware’s ranking in the annual survey of bicycle friendly states.  In doing so, Governor Markell launched the First State Trails and Pathways Initiative; a partnership between DelDOT and DNREC for the planning and construction of new bicycling and pedestrian facilities.   The goal is to enhance existing trails and pathways by making connections that extend their reach, and to construct new ones where the opportunities are greatest.  The initiative was recognized for its significance last year by the League of American Bicyclists, when Delaware moved from 18th to 10th place in the 2012 ranking.

“Safe and accessible biking facilities are a smart transportation investment for Delaware residents looking for alternative ways to get to employment, shopping and entertainment venues,” said Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt.   “Coupled with public outreach to educate cyclists and drivers about sharing our roads, these facilities help increase the ease with which bicyclists and motorists successfully interact.  DelDOT is gratified Delaware’s efforts to better serve the bicycling community are achieving the national recognition they deserve.”

“That Delaware should be ranked number-five in the list of bicycle friendly states speaks well of the progress we are making in our effort to build better connections within our communities through the Governor’s Trails and Pathways Initiative,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “Now that Delaware has been determined to be the most bicycle friendly state east of the Mississippi, we can say that without a doubt that we are making the state a healthier, more active, more vibrant and attractive place to live, work and visit. Stay tuned as we go for number one.”

About the League of American Bicyclists

The League of American Bicyclists promotes bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation, and works through advocacy and education for a bicycle-friendly America. The League represents the interests of America’s 57 million bicyclists, including its 300,000 members and affiliates. For more information or to support the League, visit www.bikeleague.org.  Learn more about the Bicycle Friendly America program at www.bikeleague.org/bfa.

Media contact: Elizabeth Murphy, Communications Manager, League of American Bicyclists, (202) 621-5458, Liz@BikeLeague.org