NEW CASTLE COUNTY – DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin encourages volunteers to sign up for the Department-sponsored 27th annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup along the river and several tributaries next Saturday, April 14 from 8-11 a.m. at 14 sites throughout northern New Castle County.

“Clearing debris from the Christina River Watershed not only improves the landscape for residents and visitors to enjoy, it improves the health and quality of the river and its tributaries, the primary sources of public water supply for New Castle County residents and businesses. The work these volunteers do is important, and we thank them for it,” said Secretary Garvin.

The annual cleanup will be held rain or shine. For the second year, the City of Newark site will hold its Spring Community Clean Up in conjunction with the Christina River Cleanup.

Since the cleanup began in 1992, more than 360 tons of tires, appliances, household items, and plastic and styrofoam have been cleared from the Christina River, White Clay Creek, Naamans Creek and other tributaries. More than 13,000 volunteers have filled trash bags along Churchmans Marsh, White Clay Creek State Park, the City of Wilmington and various other locations.

DNREC has been a sponsor and an integral part of the Christina River Watershed Cleanup since its inception. Specifically, DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife provides planning support in addition to staff and boats to transport volunteers and to offload trash collected from remote locations. The cleanup of the river within the city of Wilmington benefits DNREC’s ongoing marsh restoration work at the Russell W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge. Three State parks – Brandywine Creek, Fox Point, and White Clay Creek – and several New Castle County parks, also serve as primary Cleanup locations.

For a complete list of cleanup sites and to register for volunteering, please visit www.ChristinaRiverCleanup.org or call 302-307-2757. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up for one of the 14 sites as soon as possible so adequate supplies can be provided to each site captain. For safety and efficiency, volunteers are encouraged to wear long sleeves and pants, boots or water-resistant shoes, hats, heavy-duty gloves, sunscreen, and insect repellant. Waders or hip boots are helpful for the City of Wilmington, Newport Boat Ramp, and Churchman’s Marsh-Christiana sites. Due to insurance requirements, volunteers under the age of 16 must have adult supervision. All participants must wear a life jacket while on board any boat.

As a thank you, volunteers will receive a Christina River Watershed Cleanup reusable tote bag, perfect for shopping trips, featuring a blue variation of Ramiro Lopez-Villalobos’ design for this year’s cleanup logo. The first 500 volunteers will also receive water bottles donated by KCI Technologies. The Delaware Department of Transportation will be providing various giveaways for younger volunteers. Water and a variety of refreshments will be provided at all locations.

More than 50 organizations and businesses sponsor the cleanup each year. In addition to DNREC, primary sponsors include: Christina Conservancy; Artesian Water Company; New Castle County; Partnership for the Delaware Estuary; Dow Chemical Company; ICNA Relief / Islamic Society of Delaware; and SUEZ Water in Delaware. DNREC has welcomed several new sponsors to the Cleanup ranks this year: Delmarva Power; DuPont Company; and IncNow, a Delaware incorporation company. Along with KCI and DelDOT, the Cleanup also is pleased to bring aboard sponsors Bloom Energy; BrightFields, Inc.; and Duffield Associates, Inc.

For more information on DNREC’s programs, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov.

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

Vol. 48, No. 76

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

NEW CASTLE (March 15, 2018) – Nominations for the Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards are being accepted by the State Office of Volunteerism through Friday, April 13, 2018.

These awards recognize the important contributions Delaware’s youth volunteers, age 17 and younger, make to their communities in the areas of arts and culture, community service, education, environment, health, human needs, public service and social justice/advocacy.

“Every year, young Delawareans across our state volunteer their time in service of others. These awards are about recognizing their contributions, spotlighting their service, and encouraging even more Delawareans to volunteer and make a difference in their communities,” said Governor John Carney. “Our communities are better places to live, work, and play because of volunteers of every age.”

Nominations must be received by Friday, April 13, 2018, by the State Office of Volunteerism, Attn: Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards, c/o April Willey, Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover, DE 19901 or emailed to dhss_VolunteerDelaware@delaware.gov.

The nomination form is available on https://volunteer.delaware.gov. Nominators may also request a nomination form by emailing dhss_VolunteerDelaware@delaware.gov or calling (302) 857-5006. Prior to submission, you may email the nomination form for review and feedback to confirm nomination submission is complete and meets all required guidelines.

Award recipients will be honored on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at a special ceremony at Polytech Adult Education Conference Center, 823 Walnut Shade Road, Woodside.
Volunteer efforts must have been performed during 2017; though prior volunteer activity can also be highlighted to show long-term commitment. The nominated individuals and group members must be age 17 or younger.

“In 2017, 2,658 Delawareans of all ages volunteered through community partners with the State Office of Volunteerism, contributing more than 700,000 hours of service to nonprofit and community organizations,” said Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. “If you were to add up the total value of those services to Delaware and its residents, it would be more than $17 million. That level of commitment to our communities is another way we are building a stronger and healthier Delaware.”

The Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor and are coordinated by the State Office of Volunteerism and the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.

For more information about the awards or volunteer opportunities, go to https://volunteer.delaware.gov, or contact April Willey, Volunteer Service Administrator, at 302-857-5006 or via email april.willey@delaware.gov.

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

DOVER – This year’s DNREC-sponsored 30th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup held Sept. 16 drew 1,567 volunteers, who collected 3.8 tons of trash from 47 sites along more than 75 miles of Delaware’s waterways and coastline stretching from Wilmington to Fenwick Island. About one-quarter of that trash was recyclables – mostly aluminum cans and glass and plastic beverage bottles.

DNREC organizes the annual cleanup with co-sponsors including: the Ocean Conservancy; Edgewell Personal Care/Playtex Manufacturing Inc., which donates gloves; and Waste Management, which hauls trash and recyclables collected by volunteers.

“In addition to marring the natural beauty of our beaches and waterways, trash is dangerous to marine life and unhealthy for water quality,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Each year, the Coastal Cleanup helps make a difference for marine life and water quality – and it’s the hundreds of dedicated volunteers, many of whom come back year after year, who make the Cleanup an annual environmental success story.”

Some of the more unusual items found during this year’s cleanup were: a wallet, wrist watch, cell phone, parmesan cheese shaker, a large heavy rug, a statue of the Virgin Mary, golf tee, ant trap, Big Wheel tire, cooler, garden hose, vacuum cleaner, trailer registration tag, toy bulldozer, green army men, half a driver’s license and credit card, handle bars, snow hat, mermaid doll, Mardi Gras beads, confetti, glowsticks, oil cans, multiple gas tanks and televisions, and, at one site, 205 liquor bottles.

Some items were notable in their numbers. Statewide, volunteers picked up 16,158 cigarette butts, up from last year’s total of 13,577. Balloons increased from 654 to 933 this year. Other items included 397 fireworks, 289 spent shotgun shells and 2,671 plastic bags.

This year, more than 22,126 pieces of food/beverage-related trash were picked up. This year’s notable numbers included 4,580 food wrappers, 4,636 plastic bottle caps, 993 lids, 1,898 straws, 2,815 plastic beverage bottles, 1,958 beverage cans, 1,004 glass bottles and 4,242 paper, plastic and foam cups, plates and take-out containers.

Delaware’s next Coastal Cleanup is set for Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. Registration will be posted on DNREC’s website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/Pages/Delaware-Coastal-Cleanup.aspxnext July, with groups of 10 or encouraged to pre-register beginning May 1 by calling 302-739-9902 or emailing Delaware Coastal Cleanup Coordinator Joanna Wilson at Joanna.wilson@delaware.gov.

Delaware’s Coastal Cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. The types and quantities of trash collected are recorded on data cards and forwarded to the Center for Marine Conservation, which compiles the information to help identify debris sources and focus efforts on elimination or reduction. For more information, please visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, at 302-739-9902.

Vol. 47, No. 242

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NEW CASTLE (Nov. 3, 2017) – In keeping with the spirit of holiday giving, the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill (DHCI) in Smyrna and the Governor Bacon Health Center (GBHC) in Delaware City are asking members of the community to sponsor a resident at either nursing home operated by the Department of Health and Social Services. Since many residents have little family involvement or support, the two nursing homes rely on the generosity of community members including neighbors, local businesses, community organizations, and volunteers to help fulfill resident wishes at the holidays through the Adopt-A-Resident Program.

“Reaching out to the residents of the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill and the Governor Bacon Health Center is about lifting up our neighbors in need and showing that we care,” Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker said. “At the holidays, I can’t think of anything more important than that. Each year, we are grateful for the outpouring of support from the community for our residents at DHCI and Governor Bacon.”

Members of the community, as individuals or as groups, can participate in Adopt-A-Resident at Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill or Governor Bacon Health Center in one of three ways:

• Adopt-A-Resident: Sponsors are provided with the identification code and the wish list of a resident. The sponsor is asked to buy the wish list items and deliver them unwrapped in a gift bag to the Volunteer Services office at the facility of their choice. Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill is at 100 Sunnyside Road in Smyrna. Governor Bacon Health Center is at 248 Kent Ave., Delaware City.

• Monetary donation: Make a donation by gift card or check and leave the shopping to staff at DHCI or GBHC. Donations may be mailed to Volunteer Services office: Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, 100 Sunnyside Road, Smyrna, DE, 19977 or Governor Bacon Health Center, P.O. Box 559, Delaware City, DE, 19706

• General donation: Buy items from the list of suggested gifts that we will email to you or you can pick up in the lobby at each facility. These items are utilized during the holidays to fill gift bags for residents who have not been adopted and also utilized throughout the year to fill resident birthday bags and special requests for residents.

To participate in Adopt-A-Resident, please email Jennifer.Bobel@delaware.gov or call 302-223-1011 and let us know how you wish to help. Please also leave your name and best way to contact you.

We ask that the items be delivered by Monday, Dec. 4, to allow us time to update each nursing home’s list, do any last-minute shopping, and ensure every resident has a gift bag to open during the holidays. Gifts may be left at the facilities switchboard reception areas seven days a week.

“Each holiday season, so many people in the community step forward to make a difference in our residents’ lives,” said Jennifer Bobel, Volunteer Services Coordinator for DHCI and Governor Bacon. “I am always grateful for the generous spirit and the kindness of those who volunteer. On behalf of the residents and staff at our two nursing homes, we offer a genuine ‘thank you’ in return.”

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The Department of Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of life of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

DOVER – Volunteers are still needed and welcomed to join the 30th annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 16. Sponsored by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the cleanup spans more than 45 sites in New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties, including river and ocean shorelines as well as wetland and watershed areas. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to preregister at DNREC’s Delaware Coastal Cleanup webpage to ensure enough supplies are readied for each site.

Preregistration will close Friday, Sept. 1. Sites that still need additional volunteers are listed below and also can be found on the DNREC website:

New Castle County
• Fox Point State Park
• Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area/Collins Beach Boat Ramp
Kent County
• Little Creek Wildlife Area/Port Mahon Road
• North Bowers Beach
• South Bowers Beach
• Big Stone Beach
Sussex County
• Slaughter Beach
• Oyster Rocks Road
• Broadkill Beach
• Beach Plum Island
• Lewes Boat Ramp
• Lewes Beach
• Cape Shores
• Boat Hole/Love Creek
• Deauville
• Dewey/Indian Beach
• South Bethany Beach
• Nanticoke Wildlife Area – Phillips Landing
• Delaware Seashore State Park – North Indian River Inlet
• Delaware Seashore State Park – South Indian River Inlet
• Delaware Seashore State Park – Keybox Road
• Fenwick Island

Delaware’s Cleanup is part of the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, the world’s largest annual clearing of trash from coastlines, rivers, streams, and lakes by volunteers. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world help each year to rid the environment of marine debris and collect detailed information on the types and quantities of refuse they find. This information is recorded on data cards and forwarded to the Center for Marine Conservation, which compiles data for all cleanups around the world. This information helps identify the source of the debris and focus efforts on eliminating or reducing it. For more information about the Ocean Conservancy and the International Coastal Cleanup, visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

For more information about the Delaware Coastal Cleanup, please email Joanna Wilson, event coordinator, or call 302-739-9902.