WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday released the following statement after Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki announced he will not seek re-election when his term ends:

“The Mayor has dedicated much of his career to helping Wilmington be successful. He managed our city through some of the most challenging times in recent history, guided by compassion, fairness, and a commitment to doing the right thing. When his term ends next year, he’ll be leaving city government better than he found it, with a professional, efficient city workforce focused on improving the quality of life for Wilmington residents. We’re fortunate to have had Mike Purzycki leading our largest city for the past seven years, and Wilmington is better off because of his service.”

Update:  July 6, 2023

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office has concluded this investigation on July 6, 2023.  The fire was accidentally caused when spent fireworks were discarded inside a trash container located in the garage.  The fire erupted inside the garage and heavily damaged the home.

July 5, 2023

The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating last night’s fire that heavily damaged a Wilmington, Delaware house.

The Talleyville Fire Company responded to the 100 block of West Pembrey Drive near Foulk Road shortly after 11:30 pm for a 9-1-1 call that a house was on fire.  Firefighters arrived on the scene and encountered flames shooting from the home. Mutual aid fire companies assisted at the scene.

Deputy fire marshals are investigating the circumstances of this fire.  Heavy fire damage was estimated at $200,000.  There were no reported injuries.

This fire remains under investigation.

Office of the State Fire Marshal – Delaware

Michael G. Chionchio

Assistant State Fire Marshal

(302) 739-3312 Office Direct Line

(302) 593-9002 Cell

Charter School of Wilmington Team A won the school’s 21st straight Delaware Envirothon championship today at DNREC’s Aquatic Resources Education Center on the Delaware Bayshore near Smyrna. Left to right are team members Mukta Kantak, Tiffany Situ, Zavior Brown, Dhriti Tattari and Amber Wong. DNREC photo

Charter’s Team A Claims School’s 21st Straight Victory
in Statewide High School Environmental Competition

Charter School of Wilmington Team A is the winner of the 2023 Delaware Envirothon competition held today at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Aquatic Resources Education Center on the Delaware Bayshore near Smyrna. The latest state Envirothon championship marks Charter School of Wilmington’s school’s 21st win in the event’s 28-year history, highlighted by an unbroken winning streak in the Envirothon competition since 2002. Newark Charter High School The Thneed for Speed came in second place, while Odessa High School FFA placed third in the Envirothon competition.

A program of the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts and sponsored by DNREC, the annual environmental education competition is open to high school students statewide.

“Our high school students are today’s environmental leaders. This is helping to show their knowledge and continue to learn,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Congratulations to all the competing team members who applied their environmental knowledge to planning and presenting their inventive solutions to present-day environmental situations.”

The 16 competing Envirothon teams representing nine high schools and one 4-H club statewide – Calvary Christian Academy, Charter School of Wilmington, Middletown High School FFA, Newark Charter School, Odessa High School FFA, Polytech High School, Smyrna High School FFA, Sussex Central High School FFA, Sussex Tech High School FFA and Peach Blossom 4-H Club/Lake Forest FFA – worked hard all school year to prepare for the 2023 event held at the Aquatic Resources Education Center managed by DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Each team answered questions, reviewed specimens, and took measurements in topics dealing with aquatic ecology, soils/land use, wildlife, forestry, air quality and the current environmental issue of “Adapting to a Changing Climate.” Teams also had to give a 7-to-10-minute oral presentation of a scenario based on the current issue. After more than three hours of testing, Charter School of Wilmington Team A was crowned the 2023 state champion. The first-place team will represent Delaware at the 2023 National Conservation Foundation (NCF) Envirothon to be held at Mount Allison University in Tantramar (Sacksville), New Brunswick, Canada from July 23 to 29.

Each member of the winning team earned a $500 scholarship from the Delaware Envirothon and other prizes. The winning team will also receive an award plaque for their school. The second through seventh place teams received more than $1,300 in special team awards and cash prizes.

Prizes in the form of gift cards and ribbons were awarded to the top seven teams. The official results are as follows:

• First place – The Charter School of Wilmington Team A: Mukta Kantak, Tiffany Situ, Zavior Brown, Dhriti Tattari and Amber Wong
• Second place – Newark Charter High School Thneed for Speed: Noah Ali, Samita Bomasamudram, Andre Gill, Anna Gliwa and Sidrisha Sarbajna
• Third place – Odessa High School FFA: Zach Binnie, Joseph Delaney, Kalena Diaz, Marco Lucia, and Nate Sutton
• Fourth place – Peach Blossom 4-H/Lake Forest FFA: Ava Gallo, Aidan Garey, Brenna Geidel, Mason Hay, and Justus Moritz
• Fifth place – Polytech High School Dirt Diggers: Zoe Goodbred, Julianna Korup, Eve-Alexa Mobely, Chloe Smith, and Sadie Vaughn
• Sixth place – Odessa High School The Under Ducks: Kaelin Desrosiers, Natalie Holdren, Bruce Macolley, Taylor Mahoney, and Ella Vandervort
• Seventh place – Calvary Christian Academy Climate Heroes: Carolyn Laskey, Tiara Nichols, Dawson Shahan, John Thomas, and Michelle Thomas

Since its inception, the Delaware Envirothon has awarded $64,000 in scholarships to 135 students. The event is hosted by the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD), a voluntary, non-profit association that coordinates conservation efforts statewide to focus on natural resource issues identified by Delaware’s three local districts.

In addition to DNREC, the Delaware Envirothon is also sponsored by the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Delaware Department of Agriculture – Pesticide Management Section, FMC Corporation, and the New Castle Conservation District.

More information about the annual event can be found at delawareenvirothon.org.

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, Twitter or LinkedIn.

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

###

DOVER, Del. (April 19, 2023) – The Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE) is hosting the Fourteenth Annual DAEE Environmental Education Conference on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Brandywine Springs Elementary, Wilmington, DE. This year’s conference theme, “Nature’s Best Hope, Our Role as Educators” will showcase a full day of sessions intended to connect people with nature, integrate environmental education into the school day, and cultivate environmental leaders. Throughout the day, the Conference will explore environmental education opportunities, resources, and best practices to help increase our connection with nature for this and future generations. This conference is geared towards classroom teachers, environmental education providers, community organizations and members of the general public. Conference registration is open.

Keynote speakers:

Morning Session – Dr. Doug Tallamy, New York Times Best Selling author
Afternoon Session – Dr. Katara Moore, Environmental Justice Coordinator for DNREC

The conference will include sessions from:

• Earth Force
• Mt. Cuba Center
• Delaware Museum of Nature & Science
• Hagley Museum
• Nanticoke Watershed Alliance
• Delaware Department of Agriculture
• Caesar Rodney School District
• Delaware Historical and Cultural Affairs
• DNREC Watershed Stewardship
• UD SeaGrant
• Delaware Nature Society
• Delaware State Parks
• Delaware Native Species Commission
• Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids
• Brandywine Springs Elementary School

This year’s conference includes 18 sessions, various partner exhibitors, networking time, conference giveaways, morning refreshments and lunch.

DAEE’s Annual Conference provides insight for community leaders, educators, and citizens on how to learn about the environment, conservation methods, best practices in environmental education, sustainability initiatives, and opportunities for individuals to make a difference in their communities.

The Delaware Association for Environmental Education (DAEE) is a volunteer led and run organization focusing on two main areas: engaging professionals in environmental education and engaging communities in nature. DAEE helps to ensure that every citizen in Delaware has the opportunity to become involved in meaningful outdoor experiences. DAEE provides resources for administrators, formal and non-formal educators, and concerned citizens on how and where to introduce students of all ages, to safe, educational, and life-changing outdoor experiences that will connect them to nature and instill the importance of conservation. Visit www.daeeonline.org to find out how you can get involved!

Governor John Carney and Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski were joined by the state’s congressional delegation, Mayor Mike Purzycki, and representatives from the contracting community to celebrate the completion of the $200 million I-95 Restore the Corridor project. The project began in February 2021 and major construction was completed in November 2022 – four months ahead of the original schedule.

As part of the project, more than a million square feet of bridge deck were repaired, more than two miles of bridge joints and three miles of concrete bridge barrier were replaced.

DelDOT began planning and design for this project in 2014. In addition to rehabilitating the road surface and bridge structures, safety issues were addressed with the new Second Street on-ramp to I-95 southbound to provide a longer merge area and the widening of the I-95 northbound Brandywine River Bridge to provide a dedicated lane for traffic entering from Delaware Avenue. All existing lighting was also replaced with new LED lights to improve visibility, and a high friction surface treatment was applied on I-95 southbound approaching the Brandywine River Bridge which was also a location of frequent crashes.

“Maintaining and improving our infrastructure is critical for our communities and our economy. These projects are not easy, and I am grateful to the DelDOT team and the contractors for completing this job well and ahead of schedule,” Governor John Carney commented.

Secretary of Transportation Nicole Majeski added, “This was a fantastic team effort with planning and preparation for this project beginning back in 2014, and we had dozens of DelDOT employees from across the Department engaged in this project from its early stages to the end of construction. The Kiewit Corporation and our local contracting community did an outstanding job completing this work that will ensure I-95 through Wilmington is safe and well-maintained for decades to come.”

“Tens of thousands of motorists use the I-95 corridor, and this project will keep the efficiency and safety of this highway going for at least another 30 years,” said Senator Carper, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee in the U.S. Senate. “This project is a great example of what we can do to support the economy when we invest in infrastructure, and there are a lot more of these investments to come thanks to the once-in-a-generation investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that we passed last year.”

“For years, I’ve heard from Delawareans about the urgent need for increased investment to fix our state’s roads and bridges,” said Senator Coons. “With the completion of the I-95 Restore the Corridor project, Delaware has once again shown its transportation and infrastructure industry is among the best at completing missions ahead of schedule and under budget. Every investment like this one means more good-paying jobs for Delawareans and improved roadways for our residents and commercial economic drivers.”

“Today, we celebrate the end of major construction of the Delaware Department of Transportation’s (DelDOT) ‘Restore the Corridor’ project that repaired a 5-mile stretch of I-95 that so many Delawareans utilize every day to get to work, to bring their kids to school, or travel for a family vacation. And because of this project, the service life of this portion of I-95 will be extended for another 30 years,” said Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud that DelDOT has worked quickly to complete this project with a focus on repairing our transportation infrastructure, improving our quality of life, and building community partnerships along the way – helping us strengthen the City of Wilmington and our state.”

I-95 was originally built in 1964, and portions of the roadway and bridges were widened in 1978, at which time several on and off ramps were also constructed. The scope of the Restore the Corridor project included a five-mile section, starting at the I-495/I-95 split and ending north of the I-95 Brandywine River bridge at the Route 202 interchange. The project encompassed19 bridges including the mile-long Wilmington Viaduct which spans the Riverfront area, arterial and local streets, a bridge over the Amtrak rail lines and the repair of the Brandywine River Bridge.