On Tuesday July 22nd I had breakfast with UD’s Rick Deadwyler, and then headed to the old New Castle Court House for the signing of several campaign finance reform bills, including two which I prime sponsored. That evening I stopped by the community meeting for Country Hills, and then attended the quarterly meeting of the White Clay Creek Advisory Board. On the 23rd I attended a fundraiser for Hope Dining Room, and then caught the second half of the ADA (Americans for Democratic Action) meeting at the Newark Free Library. On Thursday Pam and I went to the State Fair in Harrington. On Saturday the 26th I met with Speaker Schwartzkopf at Sharkey’s in Dewey, and door knocked with Paulette Rappa, who is running to be next State Representative in the 37th district in Sussex County.
On Monday the 28th I attended the signing of the bill which prohibits the use of tanning beds for minors. On Tuesday I attended the celebration at the Newark Senior Center of their new kitchen, which is critical to their work providing affordable meals to the community’s seniors, both those who come to the NSC for lunch, and those in the Meals on Wheels program. On the 29th I delivered 100 lapel pins (50 provided by the City of Newark and 50 with Delaware themes which I provided) to the players in the Newark Nationals little league teams which won the state championship and are currently playing in the regionals in Connecticut. The players commonly trade such pins with players from other states at these regional championships.
On the 30th in the evening I stopped by the College Park home owners association meeting and then I attended the ADA forum on corporate transparency at the Kirkwood Library. On the 31st I caught the first half of the signing of four animal welfare bills at the Delaware Humane Association facility in Wilmington. On Friday morning I attended the grand opening of the combined Air/Army National Guard/Navy Reserve center near the Wilmington Airport. It is a very impressive building, which will help then collaborate while meeting the needs of our state and nation. Friday evening Pam and I attended the grand opening of the coordinated campaign headquarters near Timothy’s in Newark, and then attended the fundraiser for the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council (DCRAC) ta the World Café Live at the Queen.
I have been door knocking for the past two weeks in Fairfield, West Branch, Philips Mill, and Tip Top Farms. Christianstead, here I come!
On email in the past two weeks I have addressed several concerns raised while door knocking. One was a very tardy state income tax refund for a couple in Fairfield. I found an answer from the city of Newark regarding billing for an unused commercial property. I have assisted a resident in applying for appointment to a task force to study the reduction of Lyme Disease.
I have raised several issues with DelDOT in the past two weeks. There is a pot hole in the Estates at Corner Ketch which I reported. I have obtained answers to residents’ questions regarding the repaving of Barksdale and Casho Mill Roads, which has been very disruptive. I have raised a VERY common concern regarding the timing of the signal light at the intersection of New London Road and Cleveland Avenue. I have reported two pot holes along Capitol Trail (Kirkwood Highway). I have worked to find a solution to steep curb angles at the end of St. Regis in Chapel Woods. I reported problems with the rumble strips along route 24 in Sussex County, which interfere with the marked bike lanes. I also used Twitter and Facebook to spread the good news that southbound I-495 had re-opened.
I have arranged a visit later this month to the correctional facility in Smyrna to learn more about the use of solitary confinement in our prisons. I have learned about plans to redevelop a portion of the Glasgow Court manufactured housing community, which will displace many families by next summer. I have asked the Department of Education whether this past year’s jump in student enrollment in our public schools (which put an added strain on our state budget last and this year) was attributed to the transition of many immigrant children into homes in Sussex County. I helped the Delaware Asian American Business Association rent space from the Christina School District for their Garba event in late September and early October.
Please remember that this Wednesday is my next monthly coffee, from 7:30-9am, at the Panera Bread on Main Street.