On Friday the 19^th I hosted a meeting to explore how the state and Newark-area non-profits serve our homeless neighbors.  Representatives from DHSS, the 211 call center, the state service agencies, the Delaware State Housing Authority and Emmaus House attended, and we are looking forward to additional productive meetings.  On Sunday the 21^st I co-hosted a booth at Newark Community Day and spoke with many area residents.  On Monday the 22^nd I attended the first meeting of the Student Retention and School Promotion Task Force in Dover, after a brief meeting with the director of the Department of Professional Regulations to discuss midwifery concerns.  I was named the chair of the Task Force.  Our next meeting is later this month, again in Dover.  On Tuesday the 23^rd I attended a Donor Appreciation Reception at the Newark Senior Center.  On Thursday the 25^th I taped two Comcast Newsmakers segments, one on Priority Schools and one on Don’t Block the Box.  On Saturday the 27^th I attended an event to celebrate the incorporation of the Krantz Farm into the White Clay Creek State Park, and later attended a fundraiser at the Arden Gild Hall for Rep Bryon Short.  On Sunday the 28^th I attended the Taste of Newark, and a reception at local sculptor Joe Moss’ studio for Cristian Vitale, a UD art student who will be representing the Delaware and Italy at an international art show in Argentina later this year.  On Monday I had a meeting to discuss student weighted funding for our public schools, and later met with the Friends of Christina School District (www.focsd.org), where the Priority School initiative was a leading topic, as was effective advocacy.  On Tuesday the 30^th I attended training in Wilmington on upcoming software for legislators and their aides, then I attended the ribbon cutting/open house at the Newark Bike Project (NewarkBikeProject.org), then drove to Wilmington for the special meeting of the Christina School District, at which my aide read my statement.

While I will be unopposed on the ballot on November 4^th, this year I have already knocked on the doors of over 2,600 district residents.  While I have been in most of our communities, there are still a few that I hope to reach in the coming five weeks.  Given that my door-knocking is not election-driven, I don’t need to stop on November 4^th.  I plan to reach homes in every development this year, and I expect to do further door knocking next year, to stay in touch with resident concerns.

By email I have worked on many issues in the past two weeks.  These include the game preserve near the Estates at Corner Ketch, timing of lights in the district, drainage issues, midwifery committee work and related issues, education task forces, the issue of the sexual harassment case at the University of Delaware, a crossover on I-95 near the 896 exit for emergency vehicles, the closure of Thompson Station Road (and the robocall to alert area residents to this matter), including hands-on CPR training in high school health classes, Lyme Disease Task Force appointees, requesting that the city of Newark avoid trash pickup along Cleveland Avenue during rush hour, when roadwork along Corbit Street will complete, PDBs found on the UD campus, and trail re-routing along White Clay Creek

There was a meeting with the city of Newark and DelDOT to address many traffic concerns.  I raised a lot of issues in advance of this meeting, and much progress was made at the meeting.  I have raised several additional issues with DelDOT, including introducing a Don’t Block the Box campaign in downtown Newark, and a four-way stop sign near Maclary Elementary School.

I have had a LOT of emails, phone calls, texts, and in person discussions on the Priority School proposal over the past two weeks.